[Ord. No. 8020, 11-13-2017]
A. For the purposes of this Section, "upset" means an exceptional incident
in which there is unintentional and temporary non-compliance with
categorical pretreatment standards because of factors beyond the reasonable
control of the user. An upset does not include non-compliance to the
extent caused by operational error, improperly designed treatment
facilities, inadequate treatment facilities, lack of preventative
maintenance, or careless or improper operation.
B. An upset shall constitute an affirmative defense to an action brought for non-compliance with categorical pretreatment standards if the requirements of Subsection
(C) below, are met.
C. A user who wishes to establish the affirmative defense of upset shall
demonstrate, through properly signed, contemporaneous operating logs,
or other relevant evidence that:
1.
An upset occurred and the user can identify the cause(s) of
the upset;
2.
The facility was at the time being operated in a prudent and
workmanlike manner and in compliance with applicable operation and
maintenance procedures; and
3.
The user has submitted the following information to the Wastewater
Treatment Superintendent within twenty-four (24) hours of becoming
aware of the upset. If this information is provided orally, a written
submission must be provided within five (5) days; and
a.
A description of the indirect discharge and cause of non-compliance;
b.
The period of non-compliance, including exact dates and time;
or, if not corrected, the anticipated time the non-compliance is expected
to continue; and
c.
Steps being taken and/or planned to reduce, eliminate and prevent
recurrence of the non-compliance.
D. In any enforcement proceeding, the burden of proof shall be upon
the user seeking to establish the occurrence of an upset.
E. Users will have the opportunity for a judicial determination on any
claim of upset only in an enforcement action brought for non-compliance
with categorical pretreatment standards.
F. Users shall control production of all discharges to the extent necessary
to maintain compliance with categorical pretreatment standards upon
reduction, loss, or failure of its treatment facility until the facility
is restored or an alternative method of treatment is provided. This
requirement applies in the situation where, among other things, the
primary source of power of the treatment facility is reduced, lost,
or fails.
[Ord. No. 8020, 11-13-2017]
A. A user shall have an affirmative defense to an enforcement action
brought against it for non-compliance with the general discharge standards
prohibitions of this Chapter or the specific discharge standard prohibitions
of this Chapter, if it can prove that it did not know, or have reason
to know, that its discharge, alone or in conjunction with discharges
from other sources, would cause pass through or interference and that
either:
1.
A local limit exists for each pollutant discharged and the user
was in compliance with each limit directly prior to, and during, the
pass through or interference; or
2.
No local limit exists, but the discharge did not change substantially
in nature or constituents from the user's prior discharge when
the City of Maryville was regularly in compliance with its NPDES permit,
and in the case of interference, was in compliance with applicable
sludge use or disposal requirements.
[Ord. No. 8020, 11-13-2017]
A. For the purpose of this Section:
1.
"Bypass" means the intentional diversion of waste streams from
any portion of a user's treatment facility.
2.
"Severe Property Damage" means substantial physical damage to
property, damage to the treatment facilities which causes them to
become inoperable, or substantial and permanent loss of natural resources
which can reasonably be expected to occur in the absence of a bypass.
Severe property damage does not mean economic loss caused by delays
in production.
B. A user may allow any bypass to occur which does not cause pretreatment standards or requirements to be violated, but only if it also is for essential maintenance to assure efficient operation. These bypasses are not subject to the provision of Subsection
(C) and
(D) of this Section.
C.
1.
If a user knows in advance of the need for a bypass, it shall
submit prior notice to the Wastewater Treatment Superintendent at
least ten (10) days before the date of the bypass.
2.
A user shall submit oral notice to the Superintendent of an
unanticipated bypass that exceeds applicable pretreatment standards
within twenty-four (24) hours from the time it becomes aware of the
bypass. A written submission shall also be provided within five (5)
days of the time the user becomes aware of the bypass. The written
submission shall contain a description of the bypass and its cause;
the duration of the bypass, including exact dates and times, and,
if the bypass has not been corrected, the anticipated time it is expected
to continue; and steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate, and
prevent recurrence of the bypass.
3.
If the oral report has been received within twenty-four (24)
hours, the Wastewater Treatment Superintendent may waive the written
report requirement on a case-by-case basis.
D.
1.
Bypass is prohibited, and the Superintendent may take an enforcement
action against a user for a bypass, unless:
a.
Bypass was unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury,
or severe property damage;
b.
There were no feasible alternatives to the bypass, such as the
use of auxiliary treatment facilities, retention of untreated wastes,
or maintenance during normal periods of equipment downtime. This condition
is not satisfied if adequate back-up equipment should have been installed
in the exercise of reasonable engineering judgment to prevent a bypass
which occurred during normal periods of equipment downtime or preventative
maintenance; and
c.
The user submitted notices as required under paragraph C of
this Section.
2.
The Wastewater Treatment Superintendent may approve an anticipated bypass, after considering its adverse effects, if the Wastewater Treatment Superintendent determines that it will meet the three (3) conditions listed in Subsection
(D)(1) of this Section.