The National Categorical Pretreatment Standards defined in 40
CFR Chapter I, Subchapter N, Parts 405 through 471, shall be and are
incorporated by reference herein and made a part hereof. Unless otherwise
provided, any reference in this article to a code, standard, rule,
regulation, or law enacted, adopted, established, or promulgated by
any private organization, or by any element or organization of government
other than the Township, shall be construed to apply to such code,
standard, rule, regulation, or law in effect, or as amended or promulgated,
from the date of enactment of this article.
Through the procedures of reconsideration and appeal, a user
may contest actions, determinations, or decisions of the Department
which result from its construction, application and enforcement of
this article. The procedures contained within this section govern
reconsideration and appeal with respect to construction, application,
and enforcement of this article.
(a) Selection of reconsideration or of appeal.
(1)
Except for those actions, determinations, or decisions which
are expressly identified as subject only to appeal, reconsideration
may be requested by any permit applicant, permittee, authorized industrial
wastewater discharger or other discharger who is adversely affected
by any action, determination, or decision that is made by or on behalf
of the Department by the Director, or an authorized representative,
and that interprets, implements or enforces the provisions of this
article.
(2)
An appeal may be requested by any permit applicant, permittee,
authorized industrial wastewater discharger or other discharger who
is adversely affected i) by a permit issued as final by the Department,
or ii) by an administrative order entered after a show cause order
and hearing, or after a hearing for reconsideration.
(3)
Unless otherwise expressly provided for by this article, a request
for reconsideration or appeal must be signed by an authorized representative,
and received at the Department's General Offices, within 20 days from
the date of the occurrence of the action, determination, or decision
in dispute. A request for reconsideration shall contain the requester's
name and address, a brief statement of the reason(s), and the factual
basis underlying the request.
(4)
A request for reconsideration shall be filed in triplicate either
by hand delivery or by certified mail to the General Offices of the
Department. Where a request for reconsideration or appeal either is
not filed within the time period provided for in this subsection or
is improperly made, the action, determination or decision of the Director,
or the Department's authorized representative, is final, and any right
to reconsideration appeal may be deemed waived.
(b) Reconsideration. Within 15 days after receipt of a timely and proper
request for reconsideration, the Department shall notify the applicant
of the time and place for a hearing.
(1)
A hearing for reconsideration shall be conducted by a hearings
officer who is designated by the Director and may be an employee of
the Department. The decision of the hearings officer shall be in the
form of a recommendation to the Director and embodied in an administrative
order. Except for an administrative consent order that was negotiated
and agreed to by both parties, an administrative order is appealable
in accordance with Subsection (c) of this section.
(2)
Where improperly or untimely submitted, the Department may reject
a request for reconsideration. The Department shall notify the requester
in writing that the request has been rejected.
(3)
Unless the date is mutually extended by both parties, the hearing
shall be conducted neither less than 10 days nor more than 30 days
after mailing of the notice. For cause and at the discretion of the
hearings officer, the hearing may be continued for a reasonable time.
(4)
The hearing for reconsideration shall be an informal consultation
and conference where the requester, in person or by counsel, shall
present his or her argument, evidence, data, and proof in connection
with the issue(s) being reconsidered. The parties shall not be bound
by the Michigan Rules of Evidence. The hearing shall be transcribed,
and the requester may obtain a copy of the hearing transcript, as
appropriate, from the Department or from the court reporter.
(5)
Within 30 days after the close of the hearing, the hearings
officer shall issue a final decision, which shall contain a recommendation
to the Director. The hearings officer shall send such decision to
the requester by certified mail.
(6)
Unless such action is necessary to prevent pass-through, interference
or other harm to the POTW, to the public or to the waters of this
state, the filing of a request for reconsideration in accordance with
this section shall stay the action by the Department that is the subject
of the hearing for reconsideration.
(c) Appeal. Within 30 days after receipt of a timely and proper request
for an appeal, the Department shall notify the applicant in writing
regarding the time and place for a hearing. The hearing shall be conducted
in accordance with procedures set by the Board until rules are promulgated
pursuant to Section 2-111 of the 1997 Detroit City Charter. In addition:
(1)
Any request for an appeal must be made within 20 days of the
Department's action, determination or decision regarding the request
for reconsideration or any permit issued in accordance with this article.
(2)
Where a request either is not filed within the time period contained
in this subsection or is improperly made, the action, determination
or decision of the Director, or the Department's authorized representative,
is final, and any right to appeal may be deemed waived. Where untimely
or improperly submitted, the Department may reject the request for
an appeal and shall notify the requester in writing that such request
has been rejected.
(3)
The Department shall appoint a hearings officer. The hearings
officer shall review the evidence, and within 15 days after the close
of the hearing shall issue a written recommendation to uphold, modify
or reverse the action, determination, or decision of the Department.
(4)
The written recommendation of the hearings officer shall be
submitted to the Board, which shall render a final decision within
30 days of its next regularly scheduled meeting.
(5)
In accordance with applicable law, the user or the Department
may appeal any final decision of the Board to a court of competent
jurisdiction.
(6)
Unless such action is necessary to prevent pass-through, interference,
or other harm to the POTW, to the public or to the waters of this
state, the filing of a request for appeal in accordance with this
section shall stay the action by the Department that is the subject
of the appeal.