Spill Reporting

Deborah GoreDivision of Water Resources

G.S. 143-215.1C (a1) Report Discharge of Untreated Wastewater to the Department

Permit issued under this Part

Discharge of 1,000 gallons or moreto surface waters

Report within 24 hours

In addition to applicable permit requirements

Senate Bill 729

G.S. 143-215.1C (b) & (c) Publication of Notice of Discharge of Untreated Wastewater

Issue press release for discharge over 1,000 gallons

Changed time to issue a press release from 48 hours to 24 hours

Public Notice for spills over 15,000 gallons

Senate Bill 729

2:30 PM Sunday: Security guard at ABC Corporation notices the level of a surface impoundment that is part of their NPDES permitted wastewater treatment system is low3:30 PM: Env Manager discovers a pipe from the impoundment leaking into Green Creek4:30 PM: At this time does not know

How much has leakedThe chemical composition of the leakHow long it has been leakingIf any damage to Green Creek

Violation of G.S. 143-215.1

Scenario #1

G.S. 143-215.1C: Report orally within 24 hours.

II, E, 6: Report any noncompliance that threatens public health or environment to RO within 24 hours; written report in 5 days

II, E, 9: Report unusual circumstances to RO within 24 hours or next working day; written report in 5 days

Call the appropriate Regional Office or Emergency Operations Center [800-858-0368]

Scenario #1 (cont)

Initial report: Estimated volume of leak; when the leak started; nature of wastewater; where its leaking from and leaking to; if the water body is a drinking water supply

143-215.1C, (c) …for which a permit is issued under this Part.

Press release within 24 hours (1,000 gallons or more)

Public Notice if 15,000 gallons or more

Scenario #1 (cont)

The wastewater leaking from the impoundment has the same composition as the wastewater permitted to be discharge to Green Creek under ABC Corporation’s NPDES permit

Report orally to RO or EOC within 24 hours; follow-up written report in 5 days

Press release in 24 hours (1,000 gallons or more)Public notice in 10 days (15,000 gallons or more)

Scenario #1a

ABC Corporation operates a wastewater collection and treatment system under an NPDES permit.

ABC has a spill of 1,500 gallons untreated wastewater to the ground

II, E, 9 – Noncompliance Notification II, E, 7 – Other Noncompliance

Scenario #2

ABC Corporation operates a wastewater collection and pretreatment system that discharges to a POTW.

ABC has a spill of 1,500 gallons of untreated wastewater contained in an onsite pond.

Scenario #3

Waters of the State include any stream, river, brook, swamp, lake, sound, tidal estuary, bay, creek, reservoir, waterway, or other body or accumulation of water. They can be surface or underground, public or private, natural or artificial. Finally, they must be contained in, flow through, or border upon any portion of this State (including any portion of the Atlantic Ocean over which the State has jurisdiction).

Call within 24 hoursPress release required

Scenario #3 (cont.)

II, 6 Duty to Mitigate

II, 7 Facilities Operation, Bypass

II, 30 Potential Problems

III, Slug/Spill Control Measures

Scenario #3 (cont.)

ABC Corporation operates a wastewater collection and pretreatment system that discharges to a POTW.

ABC has a spill of 1,500 gallons of untreated wastewater contained in an concrete containment area.

Report to POTW

Scenario #3a

ABC Corporation operates a wastewater collection and pretreatment system that discharges to a POTW.

ABC has a spill of 1,500 gallons of untreated wastewater that makes it to Green Creek.

Report to POTW Call within 24 hoursPress release required

Scenario #3b

ABC Corporation operates a wastewater collection and pretreatment system that discharges to a POTW.

ABC has a spill of 20,000 gallons of untreated wastewater that makes it to Green Creek.

Report to POTW Call within 24 hoursPress release requiredPublic notice required

Scenario #3c

5 gallons of diesel fuel spilled; reaches a storm drain

Storm drain discharges to Green Creek

No evidence fuel has reached Green Creek

Scenario #4

G.S. 143-215.85 Required Notice(b) Report to Department within 24 hours if:

25 gallons or more is spilled;Causes a sheen on surface water or;Within 100 feet of surface water

G.S. 143-215.84 Removal of Prohibited DischargeAny person having control over oil or other hazardous substances… shall immediately undertake to collect and remove… restore the area affected by the discharge as nearly as may be to the condition existing prior to the discharge.

Scenario #4 (cont.)

24 gallons of diesel fuel spilled onto concrete pad

Runs into parking lot but contained at property line, 50 feet from Green Creek

Scenario #5

Fire at ABC Corporation

Fire suppression foam and process chemicals exposed during the fire are washed down to a storm basin

Reaches Green Creek

Fish kill observed downstream due to low DO

Scenario #6

G.S. 143-215.83 Discharges(a) Unlawful Discharges(b) Excepted Discharges

e. Any act or omission by or at the direction of a law-

enforcement officer or fireman

Scenario #6 (cont.)

Deborah.Gore@ncdenr.gov

919-807-6383

Contact Information