R 323.2220 Characterization of waste or wastewater to be discharged.

Rule 2220. (1) Before a permit can be issued under R 323.2218, an applicant shall properly characterize the waste or wastewater to be discharged. To properly characterize the waste or wastewater, the applicant shall determine the pollutants that may be present in the waste or wastewater in light of the process by which it is generated. The applicant shall use the methods described in this rule to make the determination. (2) Samples of effluent collected to determine the presence of inorganic substances shall be unfiltered. (3) For a substance for which there is an analytical method approved by the department for purposes of monitoring under this part, the waste or wastewater shall be representatively sampled using sampling procedures specified in the EPA document entitled "Test Methods for the Evaluation of Solid Waste, Physical-Chemical Methods," SW-846, 3rd Edition, September 1986, as updated through the effective date of these rules and analyzed using analytical procedures specified in either SW-846 or the publication entitled "Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants," 40 C.F.R. Part 136, or other methods approved by the department for purposes of monitoring under this part. SW-846 and updates and the guidelines are adopted by reference in these rules and are available for inspection at the Lansing office of the department of environmental quality, waste management division. The documents may be purchased from the United States Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15250-7954, or the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Waste Management Division, P.O. Box 30241, Lansing, Michigan 48909, at a cost at the time of adoption of these rules of $319.00 and $36.00, respectively, plus shipping and handling. (4) Reporting levels shall be those approved by the department as the lowest level routinely quantifiable with acceptable precision and accuracy by standard laboratory methods. Not less than 4 discrete samples are necessary to be considered representative, unless a lesser number is approved by the department. (5) For any other substance that may be present, an estimate of the substance concentration in the discharge shall be made with a mass balance calculation or other estimate approved by the department. The estimate shall use the annual average use rate for the substance and annual average discharge volume, except when an alternative is approved by the department. (6) For a facility not yet operating, the discharger shall characterize the anticipated discharge using the best available information. The discharger shall identify the source of the information in the application. (7) The department may require the characterization of sludge generated by the wastewater treatment process as it relates to the ability of the discharge to meet the standards of R 323.2222 as a condition of authorizing a discharge under these rules. The characterization shall be done according to the procedures described in subrule (3) of this rule. (8) The department may require the characterization of other environmental media affected in the treatment of wastewater as a condition of authorizing a discharge under these rules. The characterization shall be done according to the procedures described in subrule (3) of this rule. (9) The department may waive the requirements of this rule if the nature of the material to be characterized is sufficiently well understood to ensure that the conditions of R 323.2204(2)(a) will be met.