LEGAL AUTHORITY 40 CFR 403.8 f1

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25th Annual U.S. EPA Region VI Pretreatment
Association Workshop Liquid Waste
Transporter Enforcement Stories August 5, 2009
Ms. Erin La Rue Pretreatment Compliance
Specialist City of Austin Austin Water Utility
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What are the Goals of a Liquid Waste Transporter
Program?

• Protect Publicly Owned Treatment Works
• Reduce Sanitary Sewer Overflows
• Protect Public Health and the Environment

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Levels of Authority

• Congress Legislation Clean Water Act
• EPA Federal Code of Regulation, Title 40
• TCEQ Texas Water Code Vernons Civil Statues
  Adopts Federal Regulations
• Local POTW Austin Water Utility Wastewater
  Regulations, Chapters 15-5 and 15-10 of the
  Austin City Code of Ordinances Empower
  Rulemaking Implement and Interpret TX US
  Regulations

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Texas Transporter Regulations

• Texas Administrative Code, Title 30,Part 1,
  Chapter 312, Subchapter G
• Texas Administrative Code, Title 30, Part 1,
  Chapter 312, Subchapter B
• Texas Administrative Code, Title 30, Part 1,
  Chapter 330, Subchapter A

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City of Austin OrdinancesLWT Regulation

• City of Austin, Code of Ordinances, Chapter 15-5
  Private Sewage Facilities, Article 2 Liquid Waste
  Haulers.
• City of Austin, Code of Ordinances, Chapter 15-10
  Wastewater Regulations, Article 9 Regulation of
  Liquid Waste Haulers

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Authority and Procedural Considerations

• Federal Waste Regulation 40 CFR Authority to
  Investigate
• LWT Program Procedures Manual
• Control Mechanisms annual permits (explicit and
  detailed requirements/vary requirements for
  permittee history of non-compliance), POTW
  discharge privileges, case-by-case special POTW
  discharge authorizations process, wastewater
  service contracts

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Compliance Monitoring

• Samples are collected from all waste vehicles at
  the
• time of discharge at the POTW by receiving
  station
• Subset of samples are randomly selected daily by
• laboratory staff for testing (pH, COD)
• Special emergency sample bottle kits are kept
  at the POTW receiving station e.g. Staff notice
  unusual odors,
• colors, etc. (for more extensive tests FOGs and
  Organics)
• Detailed information required on manifest ticket
  for each
• separate waste generator load (except chemical
  toilet
• waste, where multiple trips can combine to one
  loaddocument
• number of toilets serviced on each ticket of
  combined toilet waste)

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LWT Program Violations

• Falsifying records or reports
• No Manifest Trip Ticket
• Illegal Discharge
• Operating Without Current Annual Permit/Annual
  Vehicle Inspection
• Other Ordinance Violations
• History of Non-Compliance

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LWT Investigations

• Illegal dumping by Liquid Waste Transporters
• Most likely to occur at
• - Manholes
• - Large Grease Traps (2000 gal. or larger)
• - Creeks, Lakes, Watersheds
• - Storm Sewers
• - Cleanouts
• - Treatment Facilities (direct slug to POTW)
• - Package Plants (haulers with access)
• - During transport (open valve slightly)

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Ideal LWT Compliance Case

• Educate PublicObserve Report
• Ability to respond at the time/location witness
  reports violation occurring
• Obtaining time/date stamped still photos and/or
  video (no audio)
• Obtaining sufficient detail (license plate,
  suspect physical description) on a signed witness
  statement
• Obtaining valid suspect identification (line-up
  recognition)

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Illegal Dumping?
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Assisting Other Environmental Law Enforcement
Investigations

• What We Can Do For You
• - Regulatory Files and Permits
• - Provide Technical Knowledge of Wastewater
  Operations and Standard Industry Practices
• - Provide Scientific Knowledge
• - Sampling Methodology (Standard Methods)
• - Laboratory Analysis (access save you )
• - TV sewer lines (placement of video cameras)
• - Membership in Local Environmental Task Force

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Real World Issues

• Incident 06/08/09 A liquid waste hauler may not
  knowingly accept and transport a hazardous waste
• 15-5-24 (B) Prohibition Hazardous Wastes
  (EPA definition)
• Sample collected correctly
• Valid Chain of Custody
• Gas Detector Alarm Records
• Gas Detector Calibration Records
• Complete Witness Statement
• Multiple WitnessesCoherent Picture
• Plant Flow Schematics

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Overview

• What are our goals?
• How can we improve our local regulations?
• How can we utilize existing resources (people,
  equipment, media coverage)?
• Elements for pursuing legal action?
• GOOD LUCK!!

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Erin La Rue Pretreatment Compliance
Specialist erin.larue_at_ci.austin.tx.us Tel (512)
972-1060 Fax [phone]