Conditions applicable to all permits issued under this chapter, and which shall be incorporated into each permit expressly or by reference to this chapter are as follows. (1) The permittee has a duty to comply with all permit conditions. Failure to comply with any permit condition is a violation of the permit and statutes under which it was issued and is grounds for enforcement action, for permit amendment, revocation or suspension, or for denial of a permit renewal application or an application for a permit for another facility. (2) The permittee must apply for an amendment or renewal before the expiration of the existing permit in order to continue a permitted activity after the expiration date of the permit. Authorization to continue such activity terminates upon the effective denial of said application. (3) It is not a defense for a permittee in an enforcement action that it would have been necessary to halt or reduce the permitted activity to maintain compliance with the permit conditions. (4) The permittee shall take all reasonable steps to minimize or prevent any discharge or sludge use or disposal or other permit violation which has a reasonable likelihood of adversely affecting human health or the environment. (5) The permittee shall at all times properly operate and maintain all facilities and systems of treatment and control (and related appurtenances) installed or used by the permittee to achieve compliance with the permit conditions. For Underground Injection Control permits proper operation and maintenance includes effective performance, adequate funding, adequate operator staffing and training, and adequate laboratory and process controls, including appropriate quality assurance procedures. This provision requires the operation of back-up or auxiliary facilities or similar systems only when necessary to achieve compliance with the permit conditions. (6) The permittee shall furnish to the executive director, upon request and within a reasonable time, any information to determine whether cause exists for amending, revoking, suspending, or terminating the permit, and copies of records required to be kept by the permit. (7) The permittee shall give notice to the executive director before physical alterations or additions to the permitted facility if such alterations or additions would require a permit amendment or result in a violation of permit requirements. (8) Authorization from the commission is required before beginning any change in the permitted facility or activity that would result in noncompliance with other permit requirements. (9) The permittee shall report any noncompliance to the executive director which may endanger human health or safety, or the environment. (A) Such information shall be provided orally within 24 hours from the time the permittee becomes aware of the noncompliance. A written submission shall also be provided within five days of the time the permittee becomes aware of the noncompliance. The written submission shall contain a description of the noncompliance and its cause; the potential danger to human health or safety, or the environment; the period of noncompliance, including exact dates and times; if the noncompliance has not been corrected, the time it is expected to continue; and steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate, and prevent recurrence of the noncompliance, and to mitigate its adverse effects. (B) The following must be reported within 24 hours under this paragraph: (i) any unanticipated bypass which exceeds any effluent limitation in a Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit; and (ii) violation of a maximum daily discharge limitation for any pollutants listed in a Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit to be reported within 24 hours. (C) Holders of radioactive material licenses issued under Chapter 336 of this title (relating to Radioactive Substance Rules) shall report noncompliances/incidents to the executive director according to the requirements of §336.335 of this title (relating to Reporting Requirements for Incidents). (10) Inspection and entry shall be allowed under Texas Water Code, Chapters 26 - 28 and 32, Texas Health and Safety Code, §§361.032, 361.033, 361.037, and 401.063, and 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §122.41(i). The statement in Texas Water Code, §26.014, that commission entry of a facility shall occur in accordance with an establishment's rules and regulations concerning safety, internal security, and fire protection is not grounds for denial or restriction of entry to any part of the facility, but merely describes the commission's duty to observe appropriate rules and regulations during an inspection. (11) Monitoring and reporting requirements are as follows. (A) Monitoring samples and measurements shall be taken at times and in a manner so as to be representative of the monitored activity. (B) Except as otherwise required by Chapter 336 of this title or for records of monitoring information required by a permit related to the permittee's sewage sludge use and disposal activities, which shall be retained for a period of at least five years (or longer as required by 40 CFR Part 503), monitoring and reporting records, including strip charts and records of calibration and maintenance, copies of all records required by the permit, records of all data used to complete the application for this permit, and the certification required by 40 CFR §264.73(b)(9) shall be retained at the facility site for a period of three years from the date of the record or sample, measurement, report, application, or certification. This period shall be extended at the request of the executive director. (C) Records of monitoring activities shall include: (i) date, time, and place of sample or measurement; (ii) identity of individual who collected the sample or made the measurement; (iii) date of analysis; (iv) identity of the individual and laboratory who performed the analysis; (v) the technique or method of analysis; and (vi) the results of the analysis or measurement. (12) Any noncompliance other than that specified in this section, or any required information not submitted or submitted incorrectly shall be reported to the executive director as promptly as possible. (13) A permit may be transferred only according to the provisions of §305.64 of this title (relating to Transfer of Permits). (14) All reports and other information requested by the executive director shall be signed by the person and in the manner required by §305.128 of this title (relating to Signatories to Reports). (15) A permit may be amended, suspended and reissued, or revoked for cause. The filing of a request by the permittee for a permit amendment, suspension and reissuance, or termination, or a notification of planned changes or anticipated noncompliance, does not stay any permit condition. (16) A permit does not convey any property rights of any sort, or any exclusive privilege. (17) Monitoring results shall be provided at the intervals specified in the permit. (18) Reports of compliance or noncompliance with, or any progress reports on, interim and final requirements contained in any compliance schedule of the permit shall be submitted no later than 14 days following each schedule date. (19) Where the permittee becomes aware that it failed to submit any relevant facts in a permit application, or submitted incorrect information in an application, or in any report to the executive director, it shall promptly submit such facts or information. (20) The permittee is subject to administrative, civil, and criminal penalties, as applicable, under Texas Water Code, §§26.136, 26.212, and 26.213 for violations including, but not limited to, the following: (A) negligently or knowingly violating Clean Water Act (CWA), §§301, 302, 306, 307, 308, 318, or 405, or any condition or limitation implementing any sections in a permit issued under CWA, §402, or any requirement imposed in a pretreatment program approved under CWA, §402(a)(3) or (b)(8); (B) falsifying, tampering with, or knowingly rendering inaccurate any monitoring device or method required to be maintained under a permit; or (C) knowingly making any false statement, representation, or certification in any record or other document submitted or required to be maintained under a permit, including monitoring reports or reports of compliance or noncompliance. Cont'd... |
