A.
For the purposes of this Section:
1.
Bypass means the intentional diversion of wastestreams 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 or damage to the environment, which can reasonably be expected not 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 a bypass to occur if it does not cause pretreatment standards or requirements to be violated and is for essential maintenance to assure efficient operation.
C.
Any other bypass must meet the following requirements:
1.
Users knowing in advance of the need for a bypass must submit prior notice to the Plant Superintendent and Member Entity, at least ten (10) days before the bypass wherever possible; and
2.
Users must tell the Plant Superintendent and Member Entity of any unanticipated bypass that exceeds applicable pretreatment standards within twenty-four (24) hours of becoming aware of the bypass. Users must provide a written follow-up report within five (5) days. The Plant Superintendent and Member Entity may waive the written report if the oral report was timely and complete. Unless waived, the written report must contain:
a.
A description of the bypass (volume, pollutants, etc.);
b.
What caused the bypass;
c.
When, specifically, the bypass started and ended;
d.
When the bypass is expected to stop (if ongoing); and
e.
What steps the User has taken or plans to take to reduce, eliminate, and prevent the bypass from reoccurring.
D.
Bypass is prohibited unless:
1.
Bypass was unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage;
2.
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 preventive maintenance; and
3.
The User submitted notices as required under Section 12.C.
E.
The Plant Superintendent and Member Entity may approve an anticipated bypass, after considering its adverse effects, if the Plant Superintendent and Member Entity determine that it will meet the three (3) conditions listed in Section 12.D.