NJPDES Proposed Rule Changes

The NJ Dep. of Env. Protection recently proposed changes to the regulations of wastewater discharge. COA is concerned that these rule changes will decrease water quality and harm aquatic and marine life.

• COA Comments May, 2008

NJPDES Renewal Permits

Wastewater dischargers are required to obtain a permit to discharge the wastewater, pursuant to the Clean Water Act. The permits, termed New Jersey Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) permits, expire every five years and must be renewed. Thus, the public has an opportunity to comment on the permit renewal application every five years. Clean Ocean Action comments on permit renewals for the 17 wastewater dishargers that discharge to the ocean. A list of these comments follow:

• Draft of NJPDES Renewal Permit for Asbury Park Wastewater Treatment Facility, #NJ0025241 Oct. 28, 2008
• Draft of NJPDES Renewal Permit for Ocean County Central Water Pollution Control Facility, #NJ0029408 Aug. 8, 2008
• Draft of NJPDES Renewal Permit for Long Branch Sewerage Authority, #NJ0024783 July 11, 2008
• Draft of NJPDES Renewal Permit for the Bayshore Regional Sewerage Authority #NJ0024708 May, 22, 2008
• Draft of NJPDES Renewal Permit for the Township of Ocean Sewerage Authority #NJ0024520 Feb. 5, 2008
• Draft of NJPDES Renewal Permit for the Ocean City Regional Treatment Facility #NJ0035343 Aug. 1, 2007
• Draft of NJPDES Renewal Permit for Ocean County Northern Water Pollution Control Facility, #NJ0028142 July 30, 2007
• Draft of NJPDES Renewal Permit of the Township of Middletown Sewerage Authority #NJ0025356 July 18, 2007
• Draft NJPDES Renewal Permit for the Monmouth County Bayshore Outfall Authority, #NJ0024694 May 18, 2007
• Draft of NJPDES Renewal Permit for Cape May County Municipality Utility Authority (7 mile/Middle), #NJ0052990 Mar. 12, 2007
• Draft of NJPDES Renewal Permit for the Wildwood/Lower Region Water Treatment Plant, #NJ0053007 Feb. 8, 2007
• Draft NJPDES Renewal Permit for the Two Rivers Water Reclaimation Authority, #NJ0026735 Nov. 6, 2006
• Draft NJPDES Renewal Permit for the Township of Neptune Sewage Authorities' Treatment Plant, #NJ0024872 May 24, 2006
• Draft NJPDES Renewal Permit for the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority, #NJ0020371 Oct. 2, 2005
• Draft NJPDES Renewal Permit for the Lower Township Municipal Utilities Authority, #NJ0023809 Oct. 5, 2005

Draft NJPDES Permit Modification for the Middlesex County Utilities Authority (MCUA) #NJ0020141

NJ DEP proposed the modification to MCUA's permit to incorporate requirements of the National Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Policy. The modification requires MCUA to determine the feasibility and cost of receiving, treating and discharging additional sewage flows as a means of reducing CSO discharges. COA submitted comments urging the state to focus on altermatives that will maximize water quality improvements of the Raritan Bay. We also expressed our support for the extensive public participation component of the requirement. Here is a link to our comments.

 NJPDES Master General Permit for Reclaimed Water for Beneficial Reuse

On November 16, 2005, NJDEP proposed to issue a NJPDES Master General Permit, No. NJ0142581, to authorize distribution of Reclaimed Water for Beneficial Reuse (RWBR) for restricted access applications in the DEP Bulletin. Restricted access reuse involves the use of treated wastewater where the possibility of exposure to the general population is minimal and/or worker contact is controlled. Such applications include sanitary sewer jetting, street sweeping, sewage treatment plant washdown, fire protection, irrigation of landscaping within a secured perimeter (fenced area) and certain industrial processes. COA submitted Comments on the Beneficial Reuse General Permit Proposal.