In order to ensure the proper collection, treatment, and disposal of wastewater and sewage sludge and adequate treatment of industrial wastewater within the Narragansett Bay Commission District (District); to encourage the recovery and recycling of wastes and the proper operation and maintenance of interceptor sewers and the treatment facilities within the District; to comply with the requirements of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM); and, to provide for the keeping of records of the Narragansett Bay Commission Wastewater Facilities (Facilities), this Part governing the use of the Facilities within the District is adopted by the Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) as provided by R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-25-1 et seq. In the event of future wastewater facility acquisitions and/or annexations to the NBC, this Part shall become incorporated by reference and binding thereon, and all previous Rules and Regulations of said facility/facilities shall be abolished. Upon acquisition and/or annexation, any and all site-specific facility limitations necessary and/or appropriate to remain in full force and effect shall be incorporated by reference and retained by way of appendices to this Part. All such modifications shall be subject to the necessary public notice and hearing requirements for major modifications as mandated by 40 C.F.R. § 403.18 (2018), incorporated herein by reference, not including amendments prior to incorporation.

A. "Act" or "the Act" means the Narragansett Bay Commission Act, R.I. Gen. Laws Chapters 46-25 and 46-25.1, as amended.

B. "Appurtenance" means auxiliary structures attached to a sewer, which shall include, but not be limited to, pump stations, slots, regulators, outfalls, force mains, manholes, catch basins, tide gates, monitoring devices, and metering chambers.

C. "Authorized employees" or "Agents of the NBC" means a person who by reason of his or her general position, contract, or job description with the NBC has specific duties and responsibilities to perform on behalf of the NBC.

D. "Authorized representative of user" means:

1. If the user is a corporation, authorized representative shall mean:

a. The President, a Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer of the corporation in charge of a principal business function, or any other person who performs similar policy or decision-making functions for the corporation, or

b. The manager of one (1) or more manufacturing, production, or operating facilities, provided the manager is authorized to make management decisions that govern the operation of the regulated facility including having the explicit or implicit duty of making major capital investment recommendations, and initiate and direct other comprehensive measures to assure long-term environmental compliance with environmental laws and Regulations; can ensure that the necessary systems are established or actions taken to gather complete and accurate information for submittal of permit applications, complying with permit, reporting and submittal requirements, et al, and where authority to sign documents has been assigned or delegated to the manager in accordance with corporate procedures or bylaws.

2. If the user is a partnership, association, or sole proprietorship an authorized representative shall mean a general partner or the proprietor.

3. If the user is representing Federal, State or local governments, or an agent thereof, an authorized representative shall mean a director or highest official appointed or designated to oversee the operation and performance of the activities of the government facility.

4. The individuals described in §§ 1.2(D)(1) through (3) of this Part may designate another authorized representative if said authorization is submitted to the NBC in writing and specifies the individual or position responsible for the overall operation of the facility from which the discharge originates or having overall responsibility for environmental matters of the company.

E. "Batch discharge" means a discharge that does not flow on a continuous basis or the discharge of all or part of the contents of a tank that occurs intermittently or over a short period of time. A holding tank or equalization tank which receives concentrated batch discharges that are then discharged or "bled" into the sewer system over an extended period of time shall be considered a batch discharge.

F. “Best management practices” or “BMP” means a practice or combination of practices determined to be effective and practical means of preventing or reducing the amount of pollution generated. BMPs may include technological, economic, and institutional methods.

G. "Biochemical oxygen demand" or "BOD" means the quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure for five (5) consecutive days at twenty degrees Centigrade (20° C) (sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit (68° F)) expressed in terms of weight and concentration (milligrams per liter (mg/l)).

H. "Biologicals" means preparations made from living organisms and their products, including vaccines, cultures, etc., intended for use in diagnosing, immunizing, or treating humans or animals or in research pertaining thereto.

I. "Blood products" means any products derived from human blood, including, but not limited to, whole blood, blood plasma, platelets, red or white blood corpuscles, and other derived licensed products, such as interferon, etc.

J. "Board of Commissioners" means the Narragansett Bay Commission sitting as a governing body at a duly authorized meeting with a quorum being present.

K. "Body fluids" means liquids emanating or derived from humans including blood, blood products, cerebrospinal, pleural, peritoneal and pericardial fluids, amniotic fluids, and semen and vaginal secretions, but excluding feces, urine, nasal secretions, sputum, sweat, tears, saliva, and breast milk, unless any such excluded substance contains visible blood or is isolation waste.

L. "Building drain" means that part of the lowest horizontal piping within a building that carries water, wastewater, or stormwater to a building sewer.

M. "Building sewer" or “house connection” means the sewer pipe or drain line connecting a building or other structure to the public sewer for wastewater disposal.

N. "Bypass" means the intentional diversion of waste streams from any portion of a user's treatment facility.

O. "Categorical industrial user" means industrial users subject to EPA categorical pretreatment standards.

P. “Catch basin” means a cistern located at the point where a street gutter discharges into the sewer and designed to catch and retain matter that would not readily pass through the sewer. It also means a reservoir or well into which surface water may drain off.

Q. "Categorical pretreatment standard" or "Categorical standard" means any Regulation containing pollutant discharge limits promulgated by the EPA in accordance with §§ 307(b) and (c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, which applies to a specific category of users and which appears in 40 C.F.R. Chapter I, Subchapter N, Parts 405-471 (2018) incorporated herein by reference, not including amendments.

R. "Chemical oxygen demand" or "COD" means a measure of the amount of oxygen required to oxidize organic and oxidizable inorganic compounds in water.

S. "Clean Water Act" means the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.

T. "Color" means the optical density at the visual wavelength of maximum absorption, relative to distilled water, one hundred percent (100%) transmittance is equivalent to zero (0.0) optical density.

U. "Combined sewer" means a sewer intended to receive and convey both wastewater and surface runoff from storms.

V. "Commission" means the Narragansett Bay Commission in its capacity as a public corporation or acting though its authorized employees and agents. (See "Board of Commissioners" definition, § 1.2(J) of this Part.)

W. "Composite sample" means the sample collection technique resulting from the combination of individual wastewater grab samples taken at selected intervals based on either an increment of flow or period of time.

X. "Concentrated discharge" means either a batch or continuous discharge with a mass load exceeding one hundred percent (100%) of the daily maximum allowable mass load, as calculated for each individual user for any parameter regulated under § 1.5 of this Part. The concentrated discharge mass load shall be calculated as follows:

Y. "Contact cooling water" means any water used for cooling purposes which comes into direct contact with the object being cooled such as any raw material, intermediate product, waste product or finished product.

Z. "Dilution" means the addition of water or wastewater to another wastewater stream in order to change the concentration of certain pollutants or pollution causing agents.

AA. "Discharge" means the introduction of water, wastewater, and/or pollutants into the NBC's facilities from any source.

BB. "District" or "Narragansett Bay Commission District" is defined per R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 46-25.

CC. "Direct connection" means the connection of a building sewer directly to a sewer owned by the NBC.

DD. “Drainlayer” or licensed plumber shall mean either an individual, partnership, or corporation to whom a license has been issued to install and repair sewers, sewer connections, house connections, during the period when such license is valid, and the proper agents and representatives of such drainlayer. A drainlayer may be a state-licensed underground utility contractor or master plumber.

EE. "Easement" means the acquired legal right to use land owned by others for a specific purpose.

FF. “Emerging pollutants of concern” means any pollutant or class of pollutants with potential deleterious impacts to the environment and/or public health and which is increasingly being detected in the environment. Long-term impacts of such pollutants may be poorly understood, and regulatory controls on their release may be lacking or under development.

GG. "Environmental Protection Agency" or "EPA" means the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or, where appropriate, the term may also be used as a designation for the Regional Water Management Division Director or other duly authorized official of said agency.

HH. "Executive director" means the Executive Director of the Narragansett Bay Commission or his or her designee.

II. "Existing source" means, but is not limited to, any source of discharge, the construction or operation of which commenced prior to the publication of proposed categorical pretreatment standards under §§ 307(b) and (c) (33 U.S.C. § 1317) of the Clean Water Act, which will be applicable to such source if the standard is thereafter promulgated in accordance with § 307 of the Clean Water Act.

JJ. "Facility" or "Facilities" (See "Wastewater facilities" definition).

KK. “Flow monitoring” means methods such as approved open channel flow meters with pressure and velocity sensors, instantaneous level and velocity survey during peak flow hours, or volumetric weir survey during peak flow hours.

LL. "Garbage" means, but is not limited to, the wastes resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and serving of food, and from the handling, storage, and sale of produce.

MM. "Garbage disposal unit" or "Garbage grinder" means a mechanical device used for grinding, shredding, or macerating garbage to a small particle size before discharge to the sewer.

NN. "Grab sample" means a sample which is collected on a one-time basis with no regard to the flow quantity or volume and without consideration of time.

OO. "Grease" means volatile and non-volatile residual fats, oils, fatty acids, soaps, waxes, mineral oils, and other materials of similar composition.

PP. "Grease removal device" means a device for removal of grease and/or oil from a wastewater discharge.

QQ. “Green infrastructure” refers to the range of measures that use plant or soil systems, permeable pavement or other permeable surfaces or substrates, stormwater harvest and reuse, or landscaping to store, infiltrate, or evapotranspirate stormwater and reduce flows to sewer systems or to surface waters.

RR. "Indirect connection" means a building sewer connection that is not a direct connection; and whose wastewater discharge shall, notwithstanding the passage in its normal course through other sewers or conduits, ultimately discharge in whole or in part through NBC sewers.

SS. "Industrial wastes" means wastewater from industrial processes, trade, or business as distinct from domestic or sanitary wastes.

TT. "Infectious wastes" means wastewater contaminated by or containing any agent or organism, such as a virus or bacteria, capable of being communicated by invasion and multiplication in body tissues and capable of causing disease or adverse health impacts in humans.

UU. “Interceptor sewer” means sewer lines that receive wastewater from a trunk sewer and convey it to the treatment facility and does not refer to a grease interceptor. These are the largest diameter sewer lines.

VV. "Interference" means a discharge which, alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources, both: inhibits or disrupts the NBC's facilities, treatment processes or operations, or sludge processes, use, or disposal; and therefore is a cause of a violation of any requirement of the NBC's RIPDES permit (including an increase in the magnitude or duration of a violation) or of the prevention of sewage sludge use or disposal in compliance with any of the following statutory/regulatory provisions or permits issued thereunder (or more stringent State or local Regulations): § 405 of the Clean Water Act; the Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA) (42 U.S.C. Chapter 82), including Title II commonly referred to as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); State Regulations contained in any State sludge management plan prepared pursuant to Subtitle D of SWDA; the Clean Air Act; the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. Chapter 53); and the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (33 U.S.C. § 1401 et seq.).

WW. "Isolation waste" means biological waste and discarded materials contaminated with blood, excretion, exudates, or secretions from humans who are isolated to protect others from certain highly communicable diseases, or isolated animals known to be infected with highly communicable diseases and specified by the Center for Disease Controls (CDC) as classification 4.

XX. “Low impact development” or “LID” refers to methods of land development that strive to mimic natural processes for managing stormwater on the site while still achieving water protection goals. LID strategies work to improve onsite water management through the use of features that support infiltration and the natural irrigation of the landscape.

YY. "May" means permissive.

ZZ. "Medical waste" means any solid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment (e.g., provision of medical services), or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals.

AAA. "Municipality" means any city, town, State authority, or sewer district that discharges wastewater into facilities owned by the NBC.

BBB. “Municipal sewer system” means the system of public sewers, consisting of pipes, catch basins, storm drains, and pump stations owned, operated, and maintained by the cities and towns and not part of the NBC Facilities.

CCC. "National pretreatment standard" means any Regulation containing pollutant discharge limits promulgated by EPA in accordance with §§ 307(b) and (c) of the Clean Water Act, which applies to a specific category of Industrial Users.

DDD. “NBC sewer line” means any sewer owned and maintained by the Narragansett Bay Commission. This excludes all sewers owned and maintained by towns, municipalities, or private entities.

EEE. "New source" means any source of a discharge, the construction or operations of which commenced after the publication of proposed Categorical Pretreatment Standards under § 307(c) of the Clean Water Act, that will be applicable to such source if the standards are thereafter promulgated in accordance with § 307(c),

1. Provided that:

a. No other source is located at that site; or

b. The source completely replaces the process or production equipment that causes the discharge of pollutants of an existing source at that site; or

c. The new wastewater generating process of the source is substantially independent of an existing source at that site; and the construction of the source creates a new facility rather than modifying an existing source at that site.

2. For purposes of this definition, construction or operation has commenced if the owner or operator has:

a. Begun, or caused to begin, as part of a continuous on-site construction program:

(1) Any placement, assembly, or installation of facilities or equipment; or

(2) Significant site preparation work including clearing, excavation, or removal of existing structures or facilities that is necessary for the placement, assembly, or installation of new source facilities or equipment; or

b. Entered into a binding contractual obligation for the purchase of facilities or equipment that are intended to be used in its operation within a reasonable time. Options to purchase or contracts that can be terminated or modified without substantial loss, and contracts for feasibility, engineering, and design studies do not constitute a contractual obligation under this definition.

FFF. "Noncontact cooling water" means water used for cooling which does not come into direct contact with any raw material, intermediate product, waste product or finished product.

GGG. "Non-significant categorical user" refers to an industrial user subjected to EPA categorical pretreatment standards discharging no more than one hundred (100) gallons of categorical wastewater daily to the NBC sewer system. This classification of user shall not discharge untreated concentrated wastes and must consistently comply with Pretreatment Standards and Requirements. This definition was established by the EPA through the Pretreatment Streamlining Regulations to ease the regulatory burden on sewer agencies. The NBC may reclassify an industrial user as a non-significant categorical user strictly at the sole discretion of the NBC.

HHH. "Outfall" means the mouth of a sewer, drain, or conduit where an effluent is discharged into the receiving waters.

III. "Owner" or "Operator" means any person who owns, leases, operates, controls, or supervises a source.

JJJ. "Pass through" means a discharge that exits the NBC's facilities into waters of the United States in quantities or concentrations that, alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources, causes a violation of any requirement of the NBC's RIPDES permit (including an increase in the magnitude or duration of a violation).

KKK. "Person" means any individual, partnership, firm, company, corporation, association, joint stock company, trust, estate, municipality, any local, State or Federal agency, or any other legal entity, or their legal representatives, agents, or assigns.

LLL. “PFAS” or “per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance” means any of a man-made class of compounds that have multiple fluorine atoms attached to an alkyl chain (e.g., PFOA, PFOS, GenX); PFAS are considered emerging pollutants of concern.

MMM. "pH" means the logarithm (to the base 10) of the reciprocal of the hydrogen ion concentration in moles per liter (m/l) of solution. Neutral wastewaters are numerically equal to seven (7), the number increases to show increasing basicity and decreases to show acidity.

NNN. "Pollutant" means any dredged spoil, solid waste, incinerator residue, sewage, garbage, sewage sludge, munitions, medical wastes, chemical wastes, industrial wastes, biological materials, radioactive materials, heat, wrecked or discarded equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt, and agricultural and industrial waste that affect the characteristics of wastewater (i.e., pH, temperature, TSS, turbidity, color, BOD, COD, toxicity, odor).

OOO. "Pollution" means the man-made or man-induced alteration of the chemical, physical, biological, and radiological integrity of water.

PPP. "Pretreatment" or "Treatment" means the reduction or elimination of pollutant properties in wastewater or their alteration to a less harmful state thereby rendering them less harmful to the facilities prior to or in lieu of discharging or introducing such pollutants into the NBC's facilities. The elimination, reduction, or alteration can be accomplished by physical, chemical, or biological processes, process changes, or by other means, except as prohibited by 40 C.F.R. § 403.6(d) (2018), incorporated herein by reference, not including later amendments.

QQQ. "Pretreatment standards and requirements" means any substantive or procedural requirement related to pretreatment, including National pretreatment categorical standards and prohibitive discharge standards imposed upon a user.

RRR. "Publicly owned treatment works” or "POTW" means the facility defined by § 212 of the Clean Water Act owned by the NBC, including any devices and systems used in the storage, treatment, recycling, and reclamation of municipal sewage and industrial waste. The systems include sewers, pipes, and equipment used to carry wastewater to the treatment facility.

SSS. "Receiving stream" or "Waters of the state" means all streams, lakes, ponds, marshes, watercourses, waterways, wells, springs, reservoirs, aquifers, irrigation systems, drainage systems, and all other bodies or accumulations of water, surface or underground, natural or artificial, public or private, that are contained within, flow or border upon the State of Rhode Island or any portion thereof.

TTT. “Record plan” or “As-built plans” means a revised set of drawings and/or plans submitted by a contractor upon completion of a project that reflects all the changes made during the construction process. The Record Plans show the exact dimensions, geometry, and locations of all the elements included in the project as constructed.

UUU. "Regulated medical waste" means a special category of solid waste that includes specific types of medical waste that includes solid, semisolid, or liquid materials, but does not include domestic sewage materials. This waste is subject to the handling and tracking requirements of Rhode Island DEM. Categories of regulated medical waste are defined as blood, blood products, body fluids, contaminated sharps, discarded cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals, isolation wastes, pathological waste, and oncological waste.

VVV. "Residential users" means persons only contributing sanitary wastewater to the municipal wastewater system.

WWW. "Rhode Island Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit" or "RIPDES Permit" means a permit issued pursuant to § 402 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1342).

XXX. "Sanitary sewer" means a sewer that is designed to carry liquid and water-carried wastes from residences, commercial buildings, industrial plants, and institutions together with minor quantities of ground, storm, and surface wastes that are not discharged intentionally.

YYY. "Sewage" means human excrement and gray water (e.g. household showers, dish washing operations, etc.).

ZZZ. "Septage" means the liquid, solid, and gaseous contents of a septic tank, holding tank, chemical toilet, camper, and/or trailer.

AAAA. "Septic tank" means an underground tank used for the disposal of domestic wastes.

BBBB. “Service connection” or “Building connection”, means the connection between the building sewer pipe and the public sewer pipe.

CCCC. "Sewer" means a pipe, conduit, and/or other appurtenance, typically underground, designed to transport wastewater and/or stormwater.

DDDD. "Sewer use fee" means a charge levied on users for use of the wastewater treatment and collection system.

EEEE. "Shall" means mandatory.

FFFF. "Significant industrial user" means any industrial user that is classified under any of the following:

1. Industrial user subject to categorical pretreatment standards;

2. Any other industrial user that:

a. Discharges an average of five thousand (5,000) gpd or more of process wastewater; or

b. Contributes a process waste stream which makes up five percent (5%) or more of the average dry weather hydraulic or organic capacity of the NBC's treatment plant; or

c. Is designated as significant by the NBC on the basis that the user has a reasonable potential for adversely affecting the POTW's operation or for violating any pretreatment standard or requirement.

GGGG. "Significant noncompliance" means:

1. Chronic violations of wastewater discharge limits, defined here as those in which sixty-six percent (66%) or more of all measurements taken during a six (6) month period exceed (by any magnitude) a numerical Pretreatment Standard or Requirement for the same pollutant parameter;

2. Technical Review Criteria (TRC) violations, defined here as those in which thirty-three percent (33%) or more of all of the measurements for the same pollutant parameter taken during a six (6) month period equal or exceed the product of the numerical Pretreatment Standard or Requirement multiplied by the applicable TRC (TRC = 1.4 for BOD, TSS, fats, oil, and grease and 1.2 for all other pollutants except pH);

3. Any other violation of a pretreatment effluent limit (daily maximum or long-term average) that the NBC determines has caused, alone or in combination with other discharges, Interference or Pass Through (including endangering the health of NBC personnel or the general public);

4. Failure to meet, within ninety (90) days after the schedule date, a compliance schedule milestone contained in an NBC notification, permit or enforcement order, for starting construction, completing construction or attaining final compliance;

5. Failure to provide, within thirty (30) days after the due date, required reports such as baseline monitoring reports, ninety (90) day compliance reports, self-monitoring compliance reports, and reports on compliance with compliance schedules;

6. Any other violation or group of violations which the NBC determines has adversely affected the operation or implementation of the Industrial Pretreatment Program.

HHHH. "Sludge" means the solids, residues, and precipitate separated from or created in water and wastewater by the unit processes of a publicly owned treatment works, industrial pretreatment system, or water treatment or purification processes.

IIII. "Slug" means any discharge of a non-routine, episodic nature, including but not limited to, an accidental spill or a non-customary batch discharge.

JJJJ. "Source" means any building, structure, facility, or installation from which there is or may be the discharge of pollutants.

KKKK. "Standard methods" means methods for the examination of water and wastewater published jointly by the American Public Health Association, the American Water Works Association, and the Water Pollution Control Federation.

LLLL. "Standard industrial classification code" or "SIC code" means a classification pursuant to the Standard Industrial Classification Manual issued by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

MMMM. "Storm sewer" means a sewer that carries stormwater and other wash waters or drainage, but excludes domestic, sanitary, commercial, and industrial wastes. Also called a "storm drain."

NNNN. "Stormwater" means surface water and any other source of run-off. It is normally collected in sewers separate from the sanitary sewers and receives minimal, if any, treatment prior to discharge to receiving waters.

OOOO. "Subdivision" means the division or re-division of a lot, tract, or parcel of land into two (2) or more lots, tracts, and/or parcels. Any adjustment to existing lot lines of a recorded lot by any means shall be considered a subdivision. The division of property for purposes of financing constitutes a subdivision.

PPPP. "Surface water pollutant" means stormwater or other wash water or drainage carrying any pollutants which affect the characteristics of wastewater.

QQQQ. "Suspended solids" means:

1. Insoluble solids that either float on the surface or are suspended in water, wastewater, or other liquids;

2. Solid organic or inorganic particles (colloidal, dispersed, coagulated, flocculated) physically held in suspension by agitation or flow; or

3. The quantity of material removed from wastewater in a laboratory test, as prescribed in "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater" (2017) or the most current edition in publication and referred to as nonfilterable residue.

RRRR. "Toxic pollutants" means any substance listed as toxic under § 307(a)(l) of the Clean Water Act, and listed under the Hazardous Substances Right-to-Know Act, R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-21-1 et seq., and as may otherwise be designated by the NBC.

SSSS. "Treatment plant effluent" means any discharge from an NBC wastewater treatment plant into waters of the State.

TTTT. "Turbidity" means a condition in water or wastewater caused by the presence of suspended matter, resulting in the scattering and absorption of light rays and determined by measurement of light diffraction, usually reported in arbitrary turbidity units.

UUUU. "User" means any person, firm, corporation, government or other entity that discharges, causes or permits the discharge of wastewater into the NBC's facilities.

VVVV. "Wastewater" means all the spent water of a community. It may include, but not be limited to, a combination of the liquid and water-carried wastes from residences, commercial buildings, industrial plants, institutions, and governmental facilities, whether treated or untreated, together with any groundwater, surface water, and stormwater that may be present which are contributing to the NBC's facilities.

WWWW. "Wastewater facilities" or "Facilities" means the structures, equipment, and processes required for the collection, treatment, and disposal of wastewater and sewage sludge that are owned and operated by the NBC.

XXXX. "Wastewater treatment plant" or "Treatment plant" means an arrangement of devices and structures for treating wastewater and sludge. Sometimes used as synonymous with waste treatment plant, sewage treatment plant, or wastewater treatment works.

YYYY. "Zero discharge wastewater pretreatment system" means a pretreatment system with no process wastewater discharges to the sewer system.

ZZZZ. ABBREVIATIONS. The following abbreviations shall have the designated meanings:

1.3.1 Municipal Permit Application

A. Each municipality shall obtain a permit from the NBC for all existing and new municipal sewer connections to the NBC's Facilities. Examples of new municipal connections include sanitary or stormwater flows that previously were not discharged to the NBC Facilities resulting from new sewer pipes, redirecting of sewer pipes, and/or as a result of NBC acquiring existing treatment facilities from a city or town not previously in the District. Application for this permit shall be made on a form provided by the NBC. The permit application is to be prepared by the municipality at its own expense and submitted as required by the NBC.

B. Application Review

1. Each municipality shall furnish all necessary information and data in accordance with any guidelines established by the NBC.

2. The NBC shall evaluate the adequacy of data furnished with the permit application. If insufficient data has been furnished the NBC shall require the municipality to provide additional data within a specified time. After reviewing the data, the NBC may issue the permit and may stipulate special conditions and terms upon which the permit will be issued.

C. Amendments by the NBC

The NBC may change the conditions of a permit from time to time as circumstances, including law or Regulations enacted or promulgated by the State or Federal government or its agencies, may require. A municipality may request a hearing on proposed amendments to its permit in accordance with the provisions of § 1.10 of this Part.

D. Municipal Applications to Amend Permit

Any municipality proposing a new connection or the elimination of an existing connection to the NBC's Facilities shall apply for an amendment to its permit prior to constructing or eliminating the connection. The municipality shall furnish all necessary data in accordance with any guidelines established by the NBC. After reviewing the data, the NBC may issue or deny an amendment to the permit for the proposed connection or for the elimination of an existing connection. No new connection or elimination of an existing connection may be made without first being granted such an amendment.

1.3.2 Municipality Notification and System Responsibilities

A. Municipal User Lists. Each municipality shall furnish the NBC with a list of all new users within the municipality on a monthly basis.

B. Each municipality that has authority over building permits shall require all persons proposing to connect to the facilities and who are required to obtain a permit from the NBC to do so prior to the issuance of a building permit by said municipality. Each municipality shall notify the NBC of all applications for building permits for structures subject to the provisions of § 1.4 of this Part.

C. Municipalities should not approve the shedding of stormwater into the NBC Facilities from new or existing building sites.

D. Each municipality must notify the NBC in advance of performing any activities that would impact proper flow in the NBC Facilities. This may include flushing of fire hydrants, and flushing of sewer lines to free blockages, etc. The flushing of materials causing blockages in the NBC Facilities is prohibited.

E. Each municipality must immediately notify the NBC of emergency situations that could impact the NBC Facilities, such as breaks in water main distribution lines and spills of chemicals, toxic or hazardous materials that could impact the NBC Facilities.

F. Each municipality is responsible for operating and maintaining their sewage collection transport infrastructure, including pumping stations, pipes, catch basins, etc.

G. Municipal and public water supply utilities providing potable water that ultimately discharges to the NBC Facilities must notify the NBC a minimum of sixty (60) days in advance of instituting any significant changes in chemicals used that could alter the quality of influent or effluent at an NBC wastewater treatment plant.

1.4.1 Mandatory Connections

The owner of any building or property generating sanitary or industrial wastewater situated within the District and abutting on any street, alley, or right-of-way in which a public sewer is located, is required, at his or her own expense, to construct a building sewer and connect it to the public sewer. Structures required to connect shall include, but not be limited to, industrial and commercial facilities, single family or multi-family residential properties, all subdivisions, publicly owned buildings, and non-profit institutions.

1.4.2 Direct Connections

The requirements of this section shall apply to all persons that directly discharge or propose to discharge to the NBC Facilities. No person(s) shall uncover, make any direct connection with or opening into, use, disturb, tamper with, construct, enlarge, alter, move or change the use or occupancy of a building or structure or increase flow by more than twenty percent (20%) to any NBC owned sewer or appurtenance thereof without first being granted a written permit from the NBC. The NBC may require the owner at his or her own expense to perform appropriate testing, monitoring or inspections of the NBC Facilities and any non-NBC owned facility related to the proposed sewer connection.

1.4.3 Indirect Connections

The requirements of this section shall apply to all persons that indirectly discharge or propose to discharge to the NBC facilities via an indirect connection through sewer lines owned by a local municipality or other entity. No person(s) shall make any connection or construct, enlarge, alter, move or change the use or occupancy of a building or structure that is indirectly connected to the NBC’s Facilities that will increase the flow by more than twenty percent (20%) to any NBC owned sewer or appurtenance thereof without first being granted a written permit from the NBC. The NBC may require the owner, at his or her own expense, to perform appropriate testing, monitoring or inspections of the NBC Facilities and any non-NBC owned facility related to the proposed sewer connection.

1.4.4 Stormwater Connections

A. No person(s) shall make direct or indirect connections or shed stormwater from roof down spouts, foundation drains, areaway drains, or other sources of stormwater, which in turn are connected to any public sewer, unless the NBC determines that a combined sewer is the only reasonable means available for disposal, such connection receives NBC approval, and the NBC issues a sewer connection permit. Prior to issuance of such permit, the applicant shall be required to execute and bear the cost of developing a Stormwater Management Plan Application, if required by the NBC. The Storm Water Management Plan Application may require, but may not be limited to, the following studies and/or evaluations:

1. A site plan showing all stormwater flows from the site or drainage area and all points of discharge;

2. Investigation of mitigating measures to eliminate or reduce storm flow from the project;

3. The use of LID and design methods that utilize green infrastructure and other technologies to eliminate or reduce storm flow from the project;

4. BMP approach to stormwater management to eliminate or reduce storm flow from the project;

5. Investigation of alternative options available to direct discharges into natural waterways.

B. The NBC also shall consider the following factors when determining if a combined sewer is the only reasonable means available for disposal and whether to permit the discharge of stormwater to the sanitary sewer system: (Not in any order of priority)

1. The present condition of the areaway basin at the point of the proposed storm connection;

2. The potential impact of the proposed connection on the existing downstream connection;

3. The economic impact of the proposed connection on the NBC and the applicant; and

4. Any measures taken by the applicant to separate present and future flows, and to mitigate storm flows from the project.

1.4.5 Sewer Alteration Permit

A. Any person(s) planning to initiate construction which will modify or expose structures such as, but not limited to, manholes, catch basins, and sewers owned by the NBC shall obtain a sewer alteration permit before performing any alterations to the NBC's Facilities. The sewer alteration permit application shall be obtained from the NBC and the applicant shall submit the completed application and any required information prior to the issuance of a sewer alteration permit. The sewer alteration permit application information required includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Contact name, company name, address and phone number.

2. Description of the project along with a sketch or map identifying the location of the project and a drawing which indicates at least two (2) points of reference (typically closest NBC-owned manholes) with distance measurements corresponding to each structure or connection to be altered.

3. Method(s) and material(s) to be used to construct the alteration.

4. Method(s) which will be utilized to prevent debris from entering NBC sewers.

5. Record Plans prepared at the completion of the alteration confirming the details of the changes made to the NBC sewers and appurtenances.

1.4.6 Sewer Connection Permits Required

The owner(s) of any property subject to the provisions of §§ 1.4.2, 1.4.3, 1.4.4, or 1.4.5 of this Part must obtain a permit in accordance with those provisions. Such permit shall be effective for one (1) year from the effective date of the permit and shall be renewable at the NBC's option for one (1) additional year. Said renewal shall be requested by the owner at least two (2) weeks prior to the expiration date.

1.4.7 Transfer of Permits

Permits are not automatically transferable. Permits are issued to a specific applicant for a specific use and connection. A permit shall not be reassigned, transferred, or sold to a new owner, new user, different premises, or a new or changed operation without prior written NBC approval.

1.4.8 Sewer Connection Permit Application

A. Persons seeking a sewer connection permit must complete and file an application with the NBC, together with any applicable permit fee. The sewer connection permit application shall include, but not limited to, the following information:

1. Name of owner/applicant and address of premise(s) which applicant wishes to connect to the NBC's Facilities;

2. Name and signature of property owner;

3. Overall site plan and plot plan;

4. Detailed plans of the proposed sewer connection;

5. The location of each connection to the sewer line;

6. The proposed use of the property to be connected to the sewer;

7. Any other pertinent features, specifications, or information which the NBC may require to assist in its evaluation of the application.

B. The NBC may require that designs and/or drawing plans which include mechanical or plumbing components be stamped by a licensed Rhode Island Professional Engineer. All applications for building sewer connection permits must be signed by the owner of the premises and the licensed plumber or licensed drainlayer who is constructing the sewer connection. The NBC shall evaluate the data furnished by the owner and may require additional information pertinent to the application. Based on the application, the NBC may issue a building sewer connection permit, subject to the terms and conditions enumerated in the permit. The NBC may deny a request for a permit when the information supplied indicates the user will be unable to reasonably meet the NBC's standards, or if it is determined that the NBC Facilities cannot accommodate the quantity or quality of proposed sewage. Any person denied a permit may request a hearing in accordance with the provisions of § 1.10 of this Part.

1.4.9 Fees

All permits referenced in § 1.4 of this Part shall be subject to applicable fees as set forth in the NBC’s Tariffs as approved by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission.

1.4.10 Expedited Permit Process

Application for an expedited permit is permissible and shall be made in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 42-117.

1.4.11 Permit Conditions

A. Persons seeking sewer connection and/or sewer alteration permits are subject to specific permit provisions contained in the permit as well as to provisions of this Part and all other Regulations, user charges, and fees established by the NBC. Permit conditions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Compliance with Federal, State, and other governmental laws, Rules and Regulations;

2. Submittal of Record Plans within sixty (60) days after the final inspection by the NBC, indicating, at a minimum, pipe sizes, materials, slope, details of pipe trench, details of connections to the NBC Facilities, pipe to pipe details, cleanout (including cap) and specifications of all materials and other components utilized for the connection. All non-NBC utilities shall be indicated on the plan. The plan shall show, at minimum, the building to be connected, the building connection and the NBC Facility to be connected to in plan and profile view. Commercial plans shall be stamped by a Professional Engineer registered in the State of Rhode Island;

3. Use of water-conserving fixtures in the proposed structure or dwelling;

4. Implementation of LID and BMP approach to stormwater management and mitigation;

5. Obtaining necessary town or city permit and compliance with any applicable town or city requirements;

6. Provision for authorized NBC personnel and agents to enter and inspect the premises;

7. Posting of performance bonds for materials and/or labor costs associated with such permitted sewer connection;

8. Posting of the sewer connection permit on site until the construction is completed;

9. Televising the sewer line before and after the construction to ensure the structural integrity;

10. Monitoring the soil activity near and around all NBC Facilities in the area of construction; and

11. Any other reasonable conditions necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-25-1 et seq.

1.4.12 Sewer Connection Plans

A. Persons seeking a sewer connection permit must submit plans in accordance with the requirements set out in § 1.4.8 of this Part. In addition, such plans must meet the following specifications:

1. All plans must show a "North" arrow and shall be oriented so the "North" arrow points upward or to the right-hand side of the plan; and

2. All plans must be identified by titles which describe the nature of the project or the work encompassed on the plan; and

3. All plans submitted for subdivision developments must bear the stamp, seal and signature of a licensed Rhode Island Professional Engineer responsible for the design.

B. Such plans and specifications shall be in conformance with applicable and appropriate standards of the ASTM and WEF or other standards the NBC may require or deem appropriate. Review by the NBC does not constitute any form of guarantee or insurance with respect to performance of the sewers or other wastewater facilities proposed. The NBC does not assume responsibility for means, methods or techniques used, or for the safety of construction work on the site, or for compliance with applicable laws and Regulations.

1.4.13 Flow Monitoring/Impact Analysis

Persons seeking a sewer connection permit who anticipate the flow into the sewer from their proposed structure or dwelling to exceed two thousand (2,000) gallons per day may be required by the NBC to demonstrate through flow monitoring that the NBC sewer line, into which the person proposes to connect, has the capacity to accept the proposed additional flow.

1.4.14 Discharge from Swimming Pools

The NBC shall be notified by the owner of the proposed discharge of water from a swimming pool to a public sewer. The NBC shall have the right to approve or deny the request, designate the time and rate of flow permitted, and to enter upon the premises to inspect the project prior to and during that operation. If an owner fails to provide such notification or disregards instructions, whether accidentally or intentionally, the owner will be held responsible for any damage that may be caused from such discharge subject to the enforcement powers contained in this Part, and the NBC shall not be held liable for said violation.

1.4.15 Connection Costs

All costs and expenses attributable to the installation of the main sewer line as determined by the Commission using method(s) reasonably related to the Commission’s cost of construction may be borne by the owner(s); all costs and expenses attributable to the installation and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner(s). The owner(s) shall indemnify and hold harmless the NBC from any loss or damage that may result from the installation of the building sewer.

1.4.16 Building Sewers

A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every newly constructed building. All building plans that involve altering a pre-existing shared building sewer must construct a new separate and independent building sewer for each building. All building sewers shall conform to all Federal, State, and local governmental laws, Rules and Regulations.

1.4.17 Existing Building Sewers

Existing building sewers or service connections may not be used for direct or indirect connections for a new building.

1.4.18 Building Sewer Construction

The size, slope, alignment, materials of construction of a building sewer, and the methods to be used in excavating, placing the pipe, jointing, testing, and back filling the trench, shall all conform to the requirements of applicable governmental codes or other Rules and Regulations of the NBC. In the absence of code provisions, the materials and procedures set forth in appropriate specifications of the ASTM and WEF Manual of Practice No. 9 shall apply.

1.4.19 Building Sewer Elevation

Building check valves shall be installed as per 510-RICR-00-00-3, Rhode Island Plumbing Code. At a minimum, if the elevation at which the building sewer enters the building is lower than the elevation of the crown of the public sewer at the point of connection, at least one (1) check valve shall be installed in the building sewer or building drain in an accessible location to prevent backflow. In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such building drain shall be lifted to the public sewer by a pump and a check valve shall be installed in an accessible location to prevent backflow. Whenever a check valve is installed in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph, it shall be installed and maintained at the owner's expense.

1.4.20 Temporary or Permanent Connection Abandonment

A. An owner may abandon a sewer connection on a temporary or permanent basis with formal written notice to the NBC. All abandoned sewer connections shall be properly capped. Such cap shall be securely installed to prevent the escape of wastewater, gases, and the infiltration of groundwater and/or debris. Sewer connections shall be capped and sealed in accordance with the requirements established by the NBC and local municipalities.

B. If an owner desires to disconnect the sewer connection from the publicly owned sewer, the owner shall not be permitted to remove that portion of the sewer between the publicly owned sewer and the property line unless that portion of the sewer has been determined to be non-functional by a drainlayer or licensed plumber.

C. If an owner desires to permanently abandon the sewer connection, at the owner's expense the sewer shall be capped at said property line and removed from the property line to the initial point of connection.

D. New sewers installed to replace abandoned sewers shall comply with all new sewer connection permit requirements as specified herein.

1.4.21 Clean Outs

Clean outs shall be installed in accordance with 510-RICR-00-00-3, Rhode Island Plumbing Code. House connections may require the installation of clean outs at the property line to serve as the required cleanout for the house connection within the public right-of-way. Clean outs shall be made by installing a "Y" and one eighth (1/8) bends of the same diameter as the building sewer, up to a maximum of four inches (4”). For house connections larger than eight inches (8”), a manhole may be required. The clean out shall be brought to the finished ground level and be properly capped. The location of the property line clean out shall be properly documented and reported to the NBC.

1.4.22 Safety Requirements

All excavations for building sewer installation shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights so as to protect the public from hazard. Streets, sidewalks, parkways, and other public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored in a manner satisfactory to the NBC and the municipality.

1.4.23 Interference with Traffic Flow

No contractor shall block any driveway, street, road or railroad at any time without the permission of the controlling agencies. Every effort shall be made to permit the movement of vehicular traffic at all times. Whenever it becomes necessary to cross or interfere with roads, walks, or drives, whether public or private, the contractor shall maintain, at its expense, safe bridges or other means of ingress and egress.

1.4.24 Notice to the NBC

A. After a permit has been issued, the NBC shall be given advanced notice as specified in the approved permit before any construction or excavation work is begun on any direct or indirect connection. All work shall be performed by a licensed plumber or drainlayer. If the NBC has not been properly notified, it may require the completed work to be uncovered for examination, at the owner's expense. (See § 1.10 of this Part).

B. Requests for inspections scheduled after normal business hours will require an additional payment be made to the NBC within sixty (60) days of the inspection to cover the NBC’s additional expenses.

1.5.1 Authority

The NBC may limit, reject or prohibit any direct or indirect discharge of pollutants or combination of pollutants, as defined by applicable Federal or State law or as described below, into the facilities. The NBC may, in its discretion, affix labels to those tanks which contain substances which are prohibited from being discharged to the facilities or which may not be discharged to the facilities without adequate pretreatment.

1.5.2 General Discharge Limitations and Prohibitions

A. In addition to those limitations and prohibitions specified in §§ 1.5.3, 1.5.4, 1.5.5, and 1.5.6 of this Part, no person shall discharge or cause or allow to be discharged directly or indirectly into the facilities any other substances, water, or wastewater that either singly or by interaction with other substances will, or is likely to:

1. Interfere with the operation of the facilities by:

a. Harming either the sewerage system or wastewater treatment process;

b. Being otherwise incompatible with the treatment process; or

c. Contaminating the sludge or contributing to sludge disposal problems; or

2. Violate applicable Federal or State law, including Federal or State hazardous waste regulations, or the terms of the NBC's Federal and State permits, including but not limited to, the NBC's RIPDES Permits; or

3. Endanger the environment by adversely affecting receiving waters or otherwise; or

4. Endanger the health or welfare of persons.

1.5.3 Specific Discharge Limitations

A. No person shall discharge or cause or allow to be discharged either directly or indirectly into the facilities any substance, water, or wastewater which has:

1. Heat in amounts which will inhibit biological activity in the NBC's Facilities resulting in Interference, but in no case heat in such quantities that the temperature at the NBC's Wastewater Treatment Plants exceeds forty degrees Centigrade (40° C) (one hundred four degrees Fahrenheit (104° F)).

2. Pollutants that result in the presence of toxic gases, vapors, or fumes within the NBC's facilities in a quantity that may cause acute worker health and safety problems.

3. Any water, waste, or chemical which by itself or by interaction with other materials, emits chemical contaminants into the atmosphere of any confined area of the wastewater system at levels in excess of short term exposure limit Threshold Limit Value (TLV-STEL) established for air borne contaminants by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

4. Unusual concentrations of dissolved solids such as, but not limited to, sodium sulfate.

5. A discharge effluent with a pH outside of the approved pH range or having any other corrosive properties capable of causing damage or hazard to facility equipment or structures or which may be injurious to NBC personnel. The pH range for Field's Point is 5.0 standard units (s.u.) to 11.0 s.u. The pH range for Bucklin Point is 5.0 s.u to 11.0 s.u.

6. Any radioactive wastes or isotopes of such half-life or concentration as may exceed limits established by State or Federal laws or Regulations.

7. Color or turbidity in such an amount that it will impact or discolor the influent wastewater of the treatment facilities or prevent the NBC from discharging a treated effluent in compliance with any State or Federal Rules, Regulations or permit requirements.

8. Petroleum oil, non-biodegradable cutting oils, waste oils, or products of mineral oil origin that would result in a Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon concentration greater than twenty-five (25) mg/l.

9. Fats, wax, grease, or oils of vegetable or animal origin with concentrations in excess of one hundred (100) mg/l or containing other substances which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between zero degrees Centigrade (0° C) (thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit (32° F)) and forty degrees Centigrade (40° C) (one hundred four degrees Fahrenheit (104° F)). Waters or wastes containing such substances, excluding normal household waste, shall exclude all visible floating oils, fats and greases. The use of chemical or physical means (such as temperature variation, emulsifying agents, mechanical mixers) to bypass or release fats, oils and greases into the wastewater facilities is prohibited.

10. Total Oil and Grease (Fats, Oils and Grease) (FOG) of mineral, animal, vegetable and other origins is not to exceed one hundred twenty-five (125) mg/l.

11. Any garbage that has not been properly shredded to at least particles less than one half inch (1/2") in any dimension. Garbage grinders may be connected to public sewers from homes and residential units. Hotels, institutions, restaurants, hospitals, catering establishments or similar places where garbage originates from the preparation of food in commercial facility kitchens may be permitted, providing that all requirements of § 1.8.8(A)(7) of this Part are satisfied. The installation and operation of any garbage grinder equipped with a motor of three quarters (3/4) horsepower (0.76 hp metric) or greater shall be subject to the review and approval of the NBC.

12. Chlorine demand in such quantities as to constitute a significant load on the wastewater facilities or which may cause the effluent from the NBC's Wastewater Treatment Facilities to violate any State or Federal Rules, Regulations or permit requirements, including, but not limited to, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and Rhode Island Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (RIPDES) permits.

1.5.4 Specific Facility Limitations

A. No person shall discharge or cause or allow to be discharged either directly or indirectly into the facilities, any substance, water, or wastewater which has concentrations of the substances listed below in excess of the assigned discharge limitations. There will be no waivers or exceptions granted with respect to compliance with any of the limits listed below.

1. Field's Point Discharge Limitations:

+ Seasonal Limit applicable from May 1st to October 31st

* Applies to all users not subject to mass-based limits

++ Concentrations exceeding these limits may be subject to a surcharge as determined by rates set and approved by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission.

2. Field’s Point Mass-based Limits:

3. Bucklin Point Discharge Limitations:

+ Seasonal Limit applicable from May 1st to October 31st

* Applies to all users not subject to mass-based limits

++ Concentrations exceeding these limits may be subject to a surcharge as determined by rates set and approved by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission.

4. Bucklin Point Mass-based Limits:

1.5.5 General Discharge Prohibitions

No person shall discharge or cause or allow to be discharged either directly or indirectly into the NBC's Facilities, any substance, water, or wastewater which may cause Pass Through or Interference.

1.5.6 Specific Discharge Prohibitions

A. Certain substances are specifically prohibited from being discharged into the NBC's Facilities. These prohibited substances include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Groundwater, stormwater, and surface waters, roof runoff, tidewater, subsurface drainage, non-contact cooling water, and uncontaminated industrial process waters, unless approved by the NBC (See § 1.4 of this Part)

2. Slugs as defined in § 1.2 of this Part

3. Sludge or deposited solids of any type, including but not limited to, those generated from an industrial or commercial pretreatment, water treatment, or wastewater treatment process (e.g., hydroxide or degreaser sludge)

4. Concentrated discharges as defined in § 1.2 of this Part

5. Batch discharges as defined in § 1.2 of this Part unless prior written approval is granted from the NBC

6. Any material identified as hazardous waste according to 40 C.F.R. Part 261 (2018), incorporated herein by reference, not including later amendments, except as may be specifically authorized by the NBC

7. Any wastewater having a lethal concentration of fifty percent (LC50) as determined by a toxicity test of ninety-six (96) hours or less using one hundred percent (100%) of the industrial user's discharge and aquatic test species chosen by the NBC

8. Gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil, or other flammable or explosive liquids, solids, or gases

9. Any substances which by reason of their nature or quantity may create a fire or explosion hazard in the NBC's Facilities or be injurious to NBC personnel or to the operation of the NBC's Facilities including, but not limited to, waste streams with a closed cup flash point of less than sixty degrees Centigrade (60° C) (one hundred forty degrees Fahrenheit (140° F)) using the test methods specified in 40 C.F.R. § 261.21 (2018)

10. Any solid or viscous pollutants in amounts which may cause obstruction to the flow in a sewer or may result in interference with the operation of the collection system or waste treatment facilities such as, but not limited to: grease, garbage with particles greater than one half inch (1/2") in any dimension, wipes (even those labelled as “flushable”) or any material which can be disposed of as trash, ashes, bones, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, underground garbage, whole blood, hair and fleshings, entrails, paper or Styrofoam dishes, cups, milk containers, lime slurries, and grease from deep-frying operations

11. Any trucked or hauled pollutants except at discharge points designated by the NBC

12. Black boils, pickling solutions, acid etches, acid activators, and brite dip acids

13. Solvents in concentrations exceeding the NBC discharge limitation specified in § 1.5.4 of this Part. Solvents include but are not limited to trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, xylene, Freon, paint thinners, and strippers.

14. Cyanide, acid, or solvent-based stripping solutions

15. Concentrated plating baths or solutions

16. Waste oils

17. Isolation Wastes or Regulated Medical Waste (See definitions under § 1.2 of this Part)

18. Any substance which may cause a public nuisance, cause hazard to life or prevent entry into the sewers for maintenance or repair

19. Concentrated dyes and pigments that have not been thoroughly exhausted through the coloring process and colored wastewater in concentrations that would cause discoloration of the influent to the NBC Wastewater Treatment Facilities

1.5.7 Federal Categorical Pretreatment Standards

Users subject to categorical pretreatment standards are required to comply with applicable standards as set out in 40 C.F.R. Chapter I, Subchapter N (2018) incorporated herein by reference, not including later amendments.

1.5.8 Dilution Prohibition

No user shall, by increasing the use of wastewater or water, in any way, attempt to dilute a discharge as a partial or complete substitute for adequate treatment to achieve compliance with the limitations contained in the Federal Categorical Pretreatment Standards, 40 C.F.R. Chapter I, Subchapter N (2018), or in any other pollutant specific limitation developed by the NBC. The NBC shall, in its sole discretion, use EPA formulas or any other reasonable method for determining discharge levels where dilution is reasonably suspected.

1.5.9 Remedies

A. If any wastewater is discharged or is proposed to be discharged to the wastewater facilities in violation of the limitations or prohibitions described in § 1.5 of this Part, the NBC may in its sole discretion:

1. Reject the wastes;

2. Require a discharger to demonstrate and implement those in-plant modifications which will reduce or eliminate the discharge of such substances to conform with this Part;

3. Require pretreatment, including storage facilities or flow equalization necessary to reduce or eliminate the objectionable characteristics or substances, so that the discharge will not violate this Part;

4. Require controls to be installed which will regulate the quantities and rates of discharge;

5. Require surcharge payments to be made to the NBC to cover its added cost of handling, monitoring, and treating the wastes which exceed threshold values in accordance with rates set and approved by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission;

6. Revoke a discharger's permit; and

7. Take any other administrative sanctions, enforcement actions, and remedial actions as may be desirable, necessary, or permitted to achieve the purpose of this Part.

No person shall maliciously, willfully, or negligently break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface, or tamper with any NBC owned structure, appurtenance or equipment. No person shall dump garbage, fill, refuse, or other materials on land easements, rights-of-way, or other structures, including manholes, which are part of the wastewater facilities. Persons initiating construction activities that may alter NBC structures must be permitted pursuant to the requirements outlined in § 1.4 of this Part. Persons causing such interference shall be billed by the NBC for any actual damages, the cost of correcting the interference and may be subject to civil and/or criminal penalties pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-25-25.2, and § 1.10 of this Part.

1.7.1 General Powers

A. Inspections shall be conducted at the discretion of the NBC. Duly authorized employees and agents of the NBC, upon presenting identification and appropriate credentials, are authorized:

1. To enter without delay and at reasonable times those premises (public or private) of any person or class of user either receiving services from the NBC or applying for services from the NBC in which a discharge source or treatment system is located or which records required to be maintained pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-25-25 are kept;

2. During regular working hours and at other reasonable times, and within reasonable limits and in a reasonable manner, to have access to and to copy any records, inspect any monitoring equipment or method required pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-25-25 and sample and/or analyze any effluents which the owner or operator of such discharge source is required to sample and/or analyze under R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-25-25 and any Rules and Regulations adopted pursuant thereto; and

3. During such on-site inspections, to carry out all inspections, surveillance, and monitoring procedures necessary to determine, independent of information supplied by any person discharging into the facilities, compliance or noncompliance with NBC pretreatment requirements.

1.7.2 User Documentation

A. The NBC may, by Regulation, order, permit, or otherwise, require any person who discharges into the facilities to:

1. Establish and maintain records;

2. Make reports;

3. Install, calibrate, use and maintain monitoring equipment or methods (including where appropriate, biological monitoring methods);

4. Sample and/or analyze discharges and effluents (in accordance with the method, at the locations, at the intervals, and in the manner as the NBC shall prescribe); and/or

5. Provide other information relating to discharges into the facilities of the project as the NBC may reasonably require to ensure compliance with prescribed pretreatment. Such information shall include, but not be limited to, those records, reports and procedures required by applicable State and Federal law.

1.8.1 Wastewater Discharge Permits Required

A. Existing Sources: All industrial and commercial users connected to the NBC's Wastewater Facilities must obtain a wastewater discharge permit. All industrial and commercial users proposing to connect to or discharge into any part of the NBC's Wastewater Facilities must obtain a wastewater discharge permit before connecting to or discharging to the facilities.

B. New Sources: New industrial and commercial sources must obtain a wastewater discharge permit before connecting to or discharging to the facilities. The industrial and commercial user must be in compliance with effluent limitations upon start-up of operations. Any required pretreatment must be installed and operational in accordance with plans and approved by the NBC. The pretreatment system shall be inspected and approved by NBC personnel before a wastewater discharge permit will be issued.

1.8.2 Compliance Required

No permit holder shall discharge industrial wastewater in excess of the quantity, rate of discharge, concentrations, or any other limits specified in the permit. Any person desiring to modify his or her permit must first apply for an amended permit.

1.8.3 Expedited Permit Process

Application for an expedited permit is permissible and shall be made in accordance with the Expedited Permit Process, R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-117-1 et seq.

1.8.4 Wastewater Discharge Permit Application

A. Industrial users seeking a wastewater discharge permit must have completed and filed with the NBC an application on the prescribed form, together with any applicable fee. In support of this application, the user shall submit the following information:

1. Name, business address, name of owner or business, name of building owner, location of the facility (if different from business address) and Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) number of the applicant;

2. Total water consumption from all sources and supporting documentation when appropriate;

3. Type, frequency, volume of discharge, and amount of raw materials processed (average and maximum per day);

4. Average daily and thirty (30) minute peak wastewater flow rates, including daily, monthly, and seasonal variations, if any;

5. Site plan, floor plans, mechanical and plumbing plans, pretreatment plans and details to show all building connections and appurtenance by size, location, and elevation;

6. Description of activities, pretreatment facilities, and plant processes conducted on the premises including all materials and types of material that could be discharged;

7. Type(s) of product(s) produced;

8. Number of employees, number of shifts, and hours of work;

9. The name and concentration of any pollutants in the discharge, for a minimum of four (4) consecutive operating days, as required under § 1.9 of this Part, that are regulated by the NBC, the State, or the Federal government; and a written statement as to whether or not applicable pretreatment standards are being met, and if not, whether additional in-plant modification and additional pretreatment is required for the user to meet such applicable pretreatment standards;

10. If additional pretreatment or in-plant modification will be required to meet the pretreatment standards, the user will provide a schedule by which to achieve the standards in the shortest possible time. This schedule will be reported as the Pretreatment Compliance Schedule. The following conditions shall apply to this schedule:

a. The schedule shall contain increments of progress in the form of dates for the commencement and completion of major events leading to the construction and operation of additional pretreatment required for the user to meet the applicable pretreatment standards (e.g. hiring an engineer, completing preliminary plans, executing contracts for major components, commencing construction, completing construction). No increment shall exceed nine (9) months.

b. Not later than fourteen (14) days following each completion date in the schedule, the user shall submit a progress report to the NBC including at minimum, whether or not, the user complied with the increments of progress. If such increment of progress was not completed on time, the user shall also report the date on which the user expects to complete the increment of progress, the reason for the delay, and the steps being taken by the user to return to the schedule established. In no event shall completion dates be more than nine (9) months apart;

11. Signatory requirements; and

12. Any other pertinent information as may be needed to evaluate the permit application.

B. The NBC shall evaluate the data furnished by the user and may require additional information. Based on the application, the Executive Director may issue a wastewater discharge permit subject to the terms and conditions enumerated in the permit. A fact sheet explaining the basis of the permit shall be on file at the Pretreatment Office for inspection upon request.

C. The Executive Director may deny a request for a permit when the information supplied indicates the user will be unable to comply with the NBC's standards. Any person denied a permit may request a hearing in accordance with the provisions of § 1.10 of this Part.

1.8.5 Permit Conditions

A. Wastewater discharge permits shall be expressly subject to specific permit provisions contained therein as well as to provisions of this Part and all other regulations, user charges, and fees established by the NBC. Wastewater discharge permits may include such conditions as are reasonably deemed necessary by the NBC to prevent Pass Through or Interference, protect the quality of the water body receiving the treatment plant's effluent, protect worker health and safety, facilitate sludge management and disposal, protect ambient air quality, and protect against damage to the NBC's facilities. Such conditions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. The average and maximum wastewater constituents and characteristics permitted in the process water discharges;

2. Limits on rate and time of discharge or requirements for flow regulation and equalization;

3. Requirements for installation of inspection and sampling facilities and specifications for self-monitoring;

4. Requirements for the submission of periodic self-monitoring compliance reports, which shall include, but not be limited to, volume or rates of flow, concentrations of controlled pollutants, or other information that relates to the generation of waste;

5. Requirements for maintaining and submitting technical reports and plant records relating to wastewater discharges;

6. Daily average and daily maximum discharge rates, or other appropriate conditions when pollutants subject to limitations and prohibitions are proposed or present in the user's wastewater discharge permit;

7. Compliance schedules;

8. Requirements for installation of pretreatment systems, spill and slug-prevention control plans and solvent-management plans;

9. Provisions for authorized NBC employees and agents to enter and inspect the premises, including provisions for copying records, inspecting monitoring equipment and sampling effluent;

10. Compliance with Federal, State, and other governmental laws, Rules, and Regulations;

11. Fees and costs including supplemental fees assessed because of the special nature of the user's effluent in accordance with the provisions of § 1.5 of this Part and additional costs and fees based on the costs of enforcing these Regulations or the permit, in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-25-5(10);

12. Signatory requirements; and

13. Any other reasonable conditions necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-25-1 et seq., or any State and Federal laws, Rules, and Regulations.

1.8.6 General Pretreatment Requirements

A. Users shall provide wastewater treatment as required to comply with this Part, and shall achieve compliance with all Federal, State, and NBC pretreatment standards within the time limitations specified by the Federal, State, and/or NBC pretreatment Regulations. Any equipment or systems required to pretreat wastewater to a level acceptable to the NBC shall be provided, operated, and maintained at the user's expense. The user is responsible for following all equipment instructions provided by the manufacturer. Detailed plans showing the pretreatment equipment, systems, and operating procedures shall be submitted to the NBC for review and shall be acceptable to the NBC prior to construction and operation of the facilities. The design of industrial process wastewater treatment systems must be executed in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-8. The following paragraphs set out the minimum requirements for pretreatment and water using process plans. The NBC may require additional documentation and/or detail of plans whenever it determines that such information is necessary to evaluate the pretreatment system or process operations.

B. Any review and inspection conducted by the NBC is for the sole purpose of determining compliance with the technical provisions of these Regulations. The NBC does not assume responsibility for means, methods, or techniques used, or for the safety of construction work, the site, or for compliance by users with applicable laws and Regulations other than this Part.

C. Review by the NBC does not constitute any form of guarantee or insurance with respect to the performance of the equipment and processes. The review of such plans and operating procedures will in no way relieve the user from the responsibility of modifying the equipment as necessary to produce an effluent acceptable to the NBC under the provisions of this section. Any subsequent significant changes in the pretreatment equipment or method of operation shall be reported to and be acceptable to the NBC prior to the user's initiation of the changes.

1. Pretreatment Plans: The plans for pretreatment systems and process operations must be of professional quality. The NBC may require that said plans be stamped by a Professional Engineer registered in the State of Rhode Island. The NBC may require that said plans/drawings include, but not be limited to, the following:

a. All treatment tanks, their size, material of construction, and the projected daily flow(s) to each treatment tank;

b. All pumps, piping, valves, mixers, controls, probes, etc.;

c. A description of the treatment procedure for each treatment process;

d. Type, volume, and/or quantity of ion exchange resin or media. Manufacturer's specific data for all pretreatment process components (i.e. resins, membranes, etc.) for all pretreatment components utilized.

e. A process schematic of the pretreatment system;

f. A plant layout showing the pretreatment system, water using process tanks, and location of each tank in the facility;

g. All sumps, pumps, or effluent transfer stations;

h. The wastewater sampling location;

i. Side view or elevation drawings of all interconnected pretreatment tanks showing inlet and outlet connections; and

j. An original stamp and signature of a registered and licensed Rhode Island Professional Engineer.

2. Water Using Process Plans: The NBC may require that water using process plans/drawings include, but not be limited to, the following:

a. All tanks, their contents, and volume;

b. Identification and quantification of the wastewater discharge from each process tank or process operation, including:

(1) Continuous discharges – flowrate (gpm or gpd);

(2) Batch discharges – volume and frequency;

c. Where the tank discharges (if the discharge is to pretreatment, the specific pretreatment tank must be indicated);

d. All floor drains, trenches, and sumps, including their point of discharge and discharge destination;

e. The location of all sewer connections;

f. Original stamp and signature of a registered and licensed Rhode Island Professional Engineer.

D. All process tanks with a batch or continuous discharge must be hard piped to the point of discharge.

1.8.7 Installation of Zero Discharge Pretreatment Systems

A. Prior to installation of a Zero Discharge Pretreatment System, the user must submit a Zero Discharge Pretreatment System design plan for NBC acceptance. Said plan must be executed in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-8-1 et seq. In order to obtain NBC acceptance, the user must demonstrate that they will provide full pretreatment of all wastewater and will cease to discharge process wastewater to the facilities by an effective date prescribed by the NBC, and the user must obtain a Zero Discharge permit from the NBC. The Zero Discharge permit may require, among other things, that:

1. The zero discharge system be installed as proposed and be fully operational;

2. All sewer drain lines in the facility to be capped off and sealed as detailed in § 1.4.20 of this Part;

3. The user notify the NBC in writing, and obtain a revised wastewater discharge permit from the NBC before resuming discharge if they wish to reconnect to the sewer; and/or

4. NBC personnel be authorized to enter such premises without delay and at reasonable times for the purpose of inspection and as otherwise authorized under R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-25-25.1.

1.8.8 Grease Removal Systems

A. Grease removal systems must be installed at all connections to the NBC's Facilities from users conducting food preparation or food processing operations including, but not limited to, restaurants, nursing homes, schools, hospitals, or other connections which discharge or have the potential to discharge quantities of grease to the NBC's Facilities in excess of allowable standards. Installation of a grease removal system shall be required when the NBC determines that such discharge or accumulations of grease could result in obstruction to flow in the sewer. Grease removal systems must be installed according to the following specifications:

1. No wastewater, other than from kitchen fixtures or food processing equipment, shall discharge into the grease removal system unless first approved by the NBC in writing. Wastewater from sanitary sources such as toilets and bathroom sinks is prohibited from being discharged to the grease removal system.

2. Any user required to install a grease removal system must install either:

a. An outdoor passive in-ground grease interceptor, or

b. An automatic electrical/mechanical grease removal unit.

3. In-ground grease removal systems shall have a minimum depth of four feet (4’) and a minimum capacity of five hundred (500) gallons, and shall have sufficient capacity to provide at minimum a twenty-four (24) hour detention period for the process flow. The minimum process flow shall be based on fifteen (15) gallons per seat or chair per day or based upon actual water usage for existing facilities.

4. A suitable sampling location shall be provided for sampling of the discharges from grease removal systems. Any plans for such grease removal systems as required in this section shall be submitted for NBC review and approval prior to installation. All automatic electrical/mechanical grease removal systems must have a sampling valve installed on the discharge piping with a minimum clearance of eight inches (8”) for the installation of sampling bottles.

5. The owner(s) shall be responsible for cleaning and maintaining the grease removal system(s) and shall maintain records of the dates of cleaning and means of disposal, subject to review by the NBC. Any removal and hauling of the collected materials not performed by the owner(s) must be performed by licensed waste disposal firms.

6. All wastewater from food preparation operations and/or washing and clean-up operations, including, but not limited to, pot sinks, pre-rinse stations, work stations, soup kettles, braising pans, mop sinks and wastewater generated from exhaust fan hood cleaning operations must discharge to the grease removal device. All automatic dishwasher wastewater, excluding pre-rinse stations, must bypass the grease removal device and be discharged directly into the sewer system.

7. Garbage disposal units may only be installed in facilities with properly sized and operational in-ground passive type grease interceptors which have been properly designed for retention of settleable solids. Garbage disposal units are prohibited in all other commercial or industrial facilities. Garbage disposal waste shall not be discharged into automatic electrical/mechanical type grease removal systems.

1.8.9 Best Management Practices (BMP)

A. Permitted users may be required to comply with BMPs. When applicable, these BMPs will be included in the facility’s Wastewater Discharge Permit. BMPs may include the following, but are not limited to:

1. Installation of pretreatment equipment;

2. Maintenance requirements;

3. Submittal of Certification of Compliance;

4. Record keeping requirements;

5. Training requirements.

B. Failure to comply with any BMP may result in the issuance of a Notice of Violation and may result in the user being in Significant Non-Compliance.

1.8.10 Compliance Certification

Any user who discharges or proposes to discharge process wastewater into the NBC's Facilities without pretreatment shall submit a certification to the NBC stating that all discharge limitations will be met and explaining in detail how discharge limitations will be met without pretreatment. Such certification must be prepared, certified, and stamped by a registered Rhode Island Professional Engineer.

1.8.11 Spill and Slug Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plan

A. Users that store hazardous substances shall not contribute to the NBC's Facilities after the effective date of this Part unless a spill prevention plan has been approved by the NBC. Approval of such plan shall not relieve the user from complying with all other laws and Regulations governing the use, storage, and transportation of hazardous substances.

1. The NBC may evaluate each significant user at least once every two (2) years, and other users as necessary, to determine whether such user needs a plan to control slug discharges. If the NBC decides that a slug control plan is needed, the plan shall contain, at a minimum, the following elements:

a. Description of discharge practices, including non-routine batch discharges;

b. Description of stored chemicals;

c. Procedures for immediately notifying the NBC of slug discharges, including any discharge that would violate a prohibition under §§ 1.5.4 or 1.5.5 of this Part, with procedures for follow-up written notification within five (5) days;

d. If necessary, procedures to prevent adverse impact from accidental spills, including inspection and maintenance of storage areas, handling and transfer of materials, loading and unloading operations, control of plant site run-off, worker training, building of containment structures or equipment, measures for containing toxic organic pollutants (including solvents), and/or measures and equipment for emergency response.

2. Each user shall provide protection from accidental discharge of prohibited materials or other substances regulated by this Part that may interfere with the NBC's Facilities by developing spill prevention plans. Equipment necessary to implement these plans shall be provided and maintained at the owner's or user's own cost and expense. Detailed plans showing equipment and operating procedures to provide this protection shall be submitted to the NBC for review, and must be approved by the NBC before construction. It is understood that any review and inspection conducted by the NBC is for the sole purpose of determining compliance with the technical provisions of these Regulations. Review by the NBC does not constitute any form of guarantee or insurance with respect to the performance of the equipment and processes.

3. All existing users shall also complete such a plan as required by a compliance schedule or permit. No new user proposing to discharge into the facilities shall be permitted to introduce pollutants into the facilities until accidental discharge procedures have been approved by the NBC. Review and approval of such plans and operating procedures shall not relieve the user from the responsibility of modifying the user's equipment as necessary to meet the requirements of this Part.

1.8.12 Duration of Permits/Reissuance of Permits

Permits shall be issued for a specified time period, not to exceed five (5) years. A permit may be issued for a period of less than one (1) year or may be stated to expire on a specific date. The user shall apply for permit reissuance at least one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the expiration of the user's existing permit.

1.8.13 Modification of Permits

A. A user may apply for modification of a discharge permit by filing a new application form showing substantial, significant, and/or material changes that have been proposed since filing the original application. No application for modification will be considered unless it demonstrates such changes.

B. After review of the application and inspection of the facility, the NBC may, at its discretion, modify the original permit. If such application is rejected, the existing permit shall remain in full force and effect.

C. The terms and conditions of the permit may be subject to modification and changed by the NBC during the life of the permit. The NBC may, in its sole discretion, place further restrictions, limitations and conditions in a permit to carry out the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-25-1 et seq. The user shall be informed of any proposed changes in his or her permit at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of change. Any changes or new conditions in the permit shall include a hearing on modifications to his or her permit in accordance with the provisions of § 1.10 of this Part.

1.8.14 Transfer of Permits

A. Wastewater discharge permits may be reassigned or transferred to a new owner and/or operator only if the permittee gives at least ninety (90) days advance notice to the NBC and the NBC approves the wastewater discharge permit transfer. The notice to the NBC must include a written certification by the new owner and/or operator, which:

1. States that the new owner and/or operator has no immediate intent to change the facility's operations and processes.

2. Identifies the specific date on which the transfer is to occur.

3. Acknowledges full responsibility for complying with the existing wastewater discharge permit.

B. Failure to provide advance notice of a transfer renders the wastewater discharge permit void on the date of facility transfer.

1.8.15 Wastewater Discharge Permit Revocation

A. Wastewater discharge permits may be revoked for the following reasons:

1. Failure to notify the NBC of significant changes in the quantity and quality of wastewater discharged prior to implementing such changes

2. Misrepresentation or failure to fully disclose all relevant facts in the wastewater discharge permit application

3. Falsifying self-monitoring reports

4. Tampering with monitoring equipment

5. Refusing to allow the NBC timely access to the facility premises and records

6. Failure to meet effluent limitations

7. Failure to pay fines

8. Failure to pay user fees

9. Failure to meet compliance schedules

10. Failure to complete a wastewater survey or the wastewater discharge permit application

11. Failure to provide advance notice of the transfer of a permitted facility

12. Violation of any pretreatment standard or requirement, or any terms of the wastewater discharge permit or the ordinance

B. Wastewater discharge permits shall be voidable upon non-use, cessation of operations, or transfer of business ownership. All wastewater discharge permits are voidable upon the issuance of a new wastewater discharge permit.

1.8.16 Suspension of Permit

A. The Executive Director may suspend the wastewater discharge permit of any user who ceases operations for any period exceeding one (1) month. The suspension will not act as a revocation of the permit, but rather as a temporary suspension of the user's rights under the permit while operations have ceased. During such suspension, the user's connection to the facilities shall be plugged. The user shall still be required to pay the permit fee, since the permit itself will not be revoked. During such suspension, the user shall be disconnected from the facility. The NBC shall have the authority to make periodic inspections during this time to determine whether the user is continuing to discharge regulated wastewater. Such discharge may be considered grounds for revocation of the wastewater discharge permit.

B. The user shall give NBC personnel written notice five (5) working days prior to reactivating operations. The user shall not reactivate operations until after receiving written approval from the NBC following an NBC inspection.

1.8.17 Reinstatement of Permit

Before any further discharge of industrial wastewater may be made by a user whose permit has been revoked, the user must apply for, and be granted, a reinstatement of the terminated permit, or a new permit, as the Executive Director may require, and pay any delinquent fees and all fines, charges, and other costs occasioned by the violation. Costs shall include, but not be limited to: inspection, monitoring, sampling, and related expenses; restitution to other affected parties; reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the NBC in enforcing the permit; disconnecting and reconnecting the user to the facility; and other actual damages incurred due to the violation. Any such fines, fees, charges and costs shall be paid for by the user before any new permit will be issued. When costs cannot be readily determined the NBC may require and accept a bond or irrevocable letter of credit that it considers sufficient and will be subject to appropriate adjustment after all costs have been determined.

1.9.1 Records and Monitoring

A. All users who discharge or propose to discharge wastewater directly or indirectly to the facilities shall maintain records that substantiate any information supplied in permit applications. Such records shall include, but not be limited to, pH tapes, chemical usage data, log sheets, hazardous waste manifests, water meter readings, effluent monitoring reports, self-monitoring compliance reports and any other informational requirements of this Part or required by a user's wastewater discharge permit or any applicable State and Federal laws and Regulations. These records are to be kept for a period of three (3) years unless there is a pending dispute or pending litigation involving the subject of these records, in which case these records are to be kept for a period of three (3) years following resolution of such dispute or litigation.

B. Access to Information/Confidential Information

1. All such records described in § 1.9.1(A) of this Part shall be available, in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-25-25.1 upon request, to the NBC.

2. Information and data (other than effluent data) about a user obtained from reports, questionnaires, permit applications, permits, monitoring programs, and inspections shall be available to the public unless the user specifically requests and is able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the NBC that the release of such information would divulge processes or methods of production entitled to protection as trade secrets of the user. Any such request must be asserted at the time of submission of the information or data. When such a confidentiality claim is asserted, the information shall be treated as confidential until a determination is made by the NBC. Effluent data shall be available to the public without restriction.

3. If the NBC determines that the information is entitled to protection as a trade secret, the portions of a report that might disclose trade secrets or secret processes shall not be made available for inspection except by the State or EPA for uses related to this Part, the permit, or the pretreatment program. Confidential portions of a report shall be available for use by the state or EPA in judicial review or enforcement proceedings involving the person furnishing the report. Effluent data will not be recognized as confidential information.

C. The NBC may require a user to install, at his or her own cost, suitable monitoring or metering equipment to facilitate the accurate observation, sampling, and measurement of the wastewater discharge. Such equipment shall be maintained in proper working order by the user and shall be kept safe and accessible at all times. The monitoring and metering equipment shall be located and maintained on the user's premises. When such a location would be impractical or cause undue hardship to the user, the NBC may allow such facility to be constructed in the public street or sidewalk area, with the approval of the public agency having jurisdiction over such street or sidewalk, and located so the discharge will not be obstructed by public utilities, landscaping, or parked vehicles.

D. When more than one (1) user discharges into a common sewer, the NBC may require installation of separate monitoring and metering equipment for each user. When there is a significant difference in wastewater constituents and characteristics produced by different operations of a single user, the NBC may require that separate monitoring and metering facilities be installed for each separate discharge.

E. Whether constructed on public or private property, the monitoring facilities shall be constructed in accordance with this Part and any applicable construction standards required by the NBC or by local, State, or Federal law.

1.9.2 Inspection and Sampling

A. The NBC shall have the right to enter the facilities of any user to ascertain whether the purposes of this Part are being met and all requirements are being complied with. Users shall allow the NBC ready access to all parts of the premises for the purposes of inspection, sampling, records examination and copying, and the performance of any additional duties.

1. Where a user has security measures in force that require proper identification and clearance before entry into their premises, the user shall make necessary arrangements with its security guards so that, upon presentation of suitable identification, personnel from the NBC, State, and/or EPA will be permitted to enter, without delay, for the purposes of performing their specific responsibilities.

2. The NBC, the State, and EPA shall have the right to set up or require installation of, on the user’s property, such devices as are necessary to conduct sampling and/or metering of the user’s operations.

3. The NBC may require the user to install monitoring equipment, as necessary. The facility’s sampling and monitoring equipment shall be maintained at all times in safe and proper operating condition by the user at the user’s expense. All devices used to measure wastewater flow and quality shall be calibrated periodically to ensure their accuracy.

4. Safe and easy access must be provided for NBC personnel. Any temporary or permanent obstruction to safe and easy access in and around the facility to be inspected and/or sampled shall be promptly removed and/or repaired by the user at the written or verbal request of the NBC. The costs associated with said removal and/or repair shall be borne by the user.

5. Unreasonable delays in allowing NBC personnel access to the user’s premises shall be a violation of this Part.

1.9.3 Monitoring and Analysis of Process Wastewater

A. Sampling and analysis of industrial wastewater for the purpose of compliance determinations with respect to § 1.5 of this Part shall be done through industry self-monitoring and through monitoring performed by the NBC. All analyses, including sampling results submitted in support of any application reports, evidence, or as required by any permit or order shall be performed in accordance with the techniques prescribed in 40 C.F.R. Part 136 (2018) incorporated herein by reference, not including later amendments, or, if 40 C.F.R. Part 136 (2018) does not contain sampling or analytical techniques for the pollutant in question, in accordance with procedures approved by EPA. The NBC may, at its sole discretion, require any user to monitor for any parameter which may pose a public health risk, may adversely impact NBC facilities, cause treatment plant process Interference or Pass through, and/or impact receiving water quality, including but not limited to, any new pollutants such as emerging pollutants of concern, which include, but are not limited to, PFAS compounds, pharmaceuticals, etc. The NBC may, at its discretion, require an independent laboratory to conduct the sampling and analysis at the user's own cost.

1. Self-Monitoring Requirements

a. Self-monitoring results must be accompanied by a certified laboratory analysis sheet, indicating the EPA approved test procedure for each parameter analyzed. The user must also submit a self-monitoring report with the results on a form prescribed by the NBC.

b. All Self-Monitoring Reports must be signed and certified in accordance with § 1.9.10 of this Part.

c. If any sampling performed by a user indicates any violation(s) of discharge limitations, the user shall notify the NBC within twenty-four (24) hours of becoming aware of the violation(s). The user shall repeat the analysis immediately for the parameters determined to be in violation and submit the resampling results to the NBC within thirty (30) days after becoming aware of the violation(s).

2. Sample Collection

a. Except as indicated in § 1.9.3(A)(3) of this Part below, wastewater samples collected for the purpose of determining user compliance with pretreatment standards and requirements must be obtained using flow proportional composite sample collection techniques. In the event that flow proportional sampling is not feasible, the NBC may authorize the use of time proportional sampling.

b. For automatic samplers, the intake line hose must be at least one quarter inch (1/4”) (0.6 cm) internal diameter and the velocity in the intake line must be maintained at least at two feet (2’) per second.

c. Samples for oil and grease, temperature, pH, cyanide, phenols, toxicity, sulfides, and volatile organic chemicals must be obtained using a grab sample.

3. Analysis of Wastewater Samples

Laboratory analysis and sample preservation of industrial wastewater samples for user self-monitoring and compliance monitoring by the NBC shall be performed in accordance with EPA approved methods. Where applicable, the laboratory must be certified by the State in which it is located.

1.9.4 Baseline Monitoring Report

A. Within one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date of a categorical pretreatment standard, or the final administrative decision on a category determination under 40 C.F.R. § 403.6 (2018) incorporated herein by reference, not including later amendments, whichever is later, existing significant industrial users subject to such categorical pretreatment standards, and currently discharging to or scheduled to discharge to the NBC's Facilities shall be required to submit to the NBC a report that contains the information listed below. At least ninety (90) days prior to commencement of their discharge, new sources, including sources that become users subsequent to the promulgation of an applicable categorical standard, including existing users who have changed their operation or processes so as to become new sources, shall be required to submit to the NBC a report that contains the information listed below. A new source shall also be required to report the method of pretreatment it intends to use to meet applicable pretreatment standards, estimates of its anticipated flow, and estimates of the quantity of pollutants to be discharged.

1. The information required by this section includes:

a. Identifying Information: The name and address of the facility including the name of the operator and owner(s);

b. Wastewater Discharge Permits: A list of any environmental control wastewater discharge permits held by or for the facility;

c. Description of Operations: A brief description of the nature, average rate of production, and standard industrial classifications of the operation(s) carried out by such user. This description should include a schematic process diagram that indicates points of discharge to the NBC's sewer system from the regulated processes;

d. Flow Measurement: Information showing the measured average daily and maximum daily flow, in gallons per day, to the NBC's sewer system from regulated process streams and other streams as necessary to allow use of the combined waste stream formula set out in 40 C.F.R. § 403.6(e) (2018);

e. Measurements of Pollutants

(1) Identify the categorical pretreatment standards applicable to each regulated process;

(2) Submit the results of sampling and analysis identifying the nature and concentration (and/or mass, where required by the standard or NBC) of regulated process. Instantaneous daily maximum and long-term average concentrations (or mass, where required) shall be reported. The sample shall be representative of daily operations and shall be performed in accordance with procedures set out in 40 C.F.R. Part 136 (2018).

f. Certification: A statement reviewed by an authorized representative of the user and certified by a qualified professional, indicating whether pretreatment standards are being met on a consistent basis, and if not, whether additional operation and maintenance and/or additional pretreatment is required in order to meet the pretreatment standards and requirements;

g. Compliance Schedule: If additional pretreatment and/or operations and maintenance will be required to meet the pretreatment standards; the shortest schedule by which the user will provide such additional pretreatment and/or operations and maintenance shall be applied. The completion date in this schedule shall not be later than the compliance date established for the applicable pretreatment standard; and

h. Signatory Certification: All baseline monitoring reports must be signed and certified in accordance with § 1.9.10 of this Part below.

1.9.5 Compliance Schedule Progress Report

The following conditions shall apply to the schedule required by § 1.9.4(A)(1)(g) of this Part. The schedule shall contain progress increments in the form of dates for the commencement and completion of major events leading to the construction and operation of additional pretreatment required for the user to meet the applicable pretreatment standards (such events include hiring an engineer, completing preliminary and final plans, executing contracts for major components, commencing and completing construction, beginning and conducting routine operation). No increment referred to above shall exceed nine (9) months. The user shall submit a progress report to the NBC no later than fourteen (14) days following each date in the schedule and the final date of compliance including, as a minimum, whether or not it complied with the increment of progress, the reason for any delay, and, if appropriate, the steps being taken by the user to return to the established schedule. In no event shall more than nine (9) months elapse between such progress reports to the NBC.

1.9.6 Report on Compliance with Categorical Pretreatment Standard Deadline

Within ninety (90) days following the date for final compliance with applicable categorical pretreatment standards, or in the case of a new source following commencement of the introduction of wastewater into the NBC's Facilities, any user subject to such pretreatment standards and requirements shall submit to the NBC a report containing the information described in § 1.9.4 of this Part. For users subject to equivalent mass or concentration limits established in accordance with the procedures in 40 C.F.R. § 403.6 (2018), this report shall contain a reasonable measure of the user’s long-term production rate. For all other users subject to categorical pretreatment standards expressed in terms of allowable pollutant discharge per unit of production (or other measure of operation), this report shall include the user's actual production during the appropriate sampling period. All compliance reports must be signed and certified in accordance with § 1.9.10 of this Part.

1.9.7 Periodic Compliance Reports

A. Any significant industrial user subject to a pretreatment standard shall, at a frequency determined by the NBC but in no case less than twice per year, submit a report indicating the nature and concentration of pollutants in the discharge that are limited by such pretreatment standards and the measured or estimated average and maximum daily flows for the reporting period. All periodic compliance reports must be signed and certified in accordance with § 1.9.10 of this Part.

B. All wastewater samples must be representative of the user's discharge. Wastewater monitoring and flow measurement facilities shall be properly operated, kept clean, and maintained in good working order at all times. The failure of a user to keep its monitoring facility in good working order shall not be grounds for the user to claim that analytical results are not representative of its discharge.

C. If a user subject to the reporting requirement in and of this section monitors any pollutant more frequently than required by the NBC, using the procedures prescribed in § 1.9.3(A)(2) of this Part, the results of this monitoring shall be included in the report.

1.9.8 Notification/Reporting Requirements

A. Report of Changed Conditions

Users are required to submit written notification to the NBC in advance of any substantial change to the user's pretreatment operations or system that might alter the nature, quality, or volume of its wastewater at least thirty (30) days prior to instituting any such change, including the listed or characteristic hazardous wastes for which the user has submitted initial notification under 40 C.F.R. § 403.12(p) (2018).

B. Sampling Violations

If sampling performed by a user indicates a violation of discharge limitations, the user must notify the NBC within twenty-four (24) hours of becoming aware of the violation. The user shall also repeat the sampling and analysis and submit the results of the repeat analysis to the NBC within thirty (30) days of becoming aware of the violation.

C. Potential Problems

1. Notification of Accidental Spills

In the case of an accidental discharge into the facility, it is the responsibility of the user to immediately contact the NBC and inform them of the incident at the emergency phone numbers referenced in the user’s permit. The notification shall include location of discharge, type of waste, concentration and volume, and corrective actions. Within five (5) days following an accidental discharge into the facilities, the user shall submit a detailed written report describing the nature and cause of the discharge and the measures to be taken by the user to prevent similar future occurrences. Such notification shall not relieve the user of any expense, loss, damage, or other liability resulting from the discharge. Notification will not exempt the user from any fines, civil or criminal penalties, or any other liability that may be imposed under this Part or other applicable State or Federal law.

2. In the case of any discharge, including but not limited to, discharges of a non-routine, episodic nature, a non-customary batch discharge, or a slug load that may cause potential problems for the NBC (including a violation of the prohibited discharge standards in § 1.5 of this Part), it is the responsibility of the user to immediately telephone and notify the NBC of the incident at the emergency phone numbers referenced in the user’s permit. The notification shall include location of discharge, type of waste, concentration and volume, and corrective actions. Within five (5) days following an accidental discharge into the facilities, the user shall submit a detailed written report describing the nature and cause of the discharge and the measures to be taken by the user to prevent similar future occurrences. Such notification shall not relieve the user of any expense, loss, damage, or other liability resulting from the discharge. Notification will not exempt the user from any fines, civil or criminal penalties, or any other liability that may be imposed under this Part or other applicable State or Federal law.

3. Failure to notify the NBC of potential problem discharges shall be deemed a separate violation of this Part.

4. A notice shall be permanently posted on the user's bulletin board or other prominent place advising employees whom to call in the event of a discharge described in § 1.9.8 of this Part. Employers shall ensure that all employees, who may cause or suffer such discharge to occur, are advised of the emergency notification procedure.

D. Selling, Closing, or Moving a Business

Any user who will be selling, closing, or moving a business from its present location must notify the NBC in writing thirty (30) days before disposing of any process waste associated with the move or the cessation of business. The NBC has a facility shutdown procedure that must be adhered to upon selling, closing, or moving a business or operation. Failure to notify the NBC prior to such change may subject the user to civil or criminal penalties in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 46-25-25.2 and 46-25-25.3.

E. The facility shutdown procedure includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. An inventory specifying the amount of each chemical and each solution on the premises, whether in storage drums or in process tanks;

2. A written plan detailing how each chemical and solution is to be disposed of (e.g. discharged to sewer with or without pretreatment, sold, returned to the supplier, or hauled off as hazardous waste);

3. The information required in §§ 1.9.8(E)(1) and (2) of this Part above must be reviewed and approved by the NBC prior to any solutions or chemicals being disposed of. Only those solutions approved by the NBC may be discharged to the sewer system. The NBC must be informed at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of when chemicals are to be shipped off-site or discharged to the sewer. A copy of each hazardous waste manifest form for any chemicals or solutions disposed of off-site must be submitted to the NBC as soon as they are completed. A copy of each sales receipt, credit slip, etc., for any chemicals or solutions that are sold or returned to the supplier must be submitted to the NBC as soon as they are completed.

1.9.9 Hazardous Waste Notification

A. Any user, except as specified in § 1.9.9(E) of this Part, that discharges to the NBC's Facilities any substance that, if disposed of, would be listed or characterized as hazardous waste under 40 C.F.R. Part 261 (2018) incorporated herein by reference, not including later amendments, shall notify the NBC in writing of such discharge.

B. All hazardous waste notifications shall include:

1. The name of the hazardous waste as set forth in 40 C.F.R. Part 261 (2018);

2. The EPA hazardous waste number;

3. The type of discharge (continuous, batch, or other); and

4. A certification that the user has a program in place to reduce the volume and toxicity of hazardous waste generated to the degree it has determined to be economically practical.

C. In addition to the information submitted in § 1.9.9(B) of this Part, users discharging more than one hundred kilograms (100 kg) of hazardous waste per calendar month to the NBC's Facilities shall include the following information to the extent such information is known and readily available to the user:

1. An identification of the hazardous constituents contained in the waste;

2. An estimation of the mass and concentration of such constituents in the waste stream discharged during that calendar month; and

3. An estimation of the mass of constituents in the waste stream expected to be discharged during the following twelve (12) months.

D. Discharge of more than fifteen kilograms (15 kg) of non-acute hazardous wastes in a calendar month, or of any quantity of acute hazardous wastes as specified in 40 C.F.R. §§ 261.30(d) (2018) incorporated herein by reference, not including later amendments, and 261.33(e) (2018) incorporated herein by reference, not including later amendments, requires a one (1) time notification.

E. Dischargers are exempt from the requirements of §§ 1.9.9(A) through (C) of this Part during a calendar month in which they discharge no more than fifteen kilograms (15 kg) of hazardous waste unless the wastes are acute hazardous wastes as specified in 40 C.F.R. §§ 261.30(d) (2018) and 261.33(e) (2018).

1.9.10 Signatories and Certification

All wastewater discharge permit applications and user's reports shall contain a certification statement as outlined in 40 C.F.R. § 403.6 (2018) and shall be signed by an authorized representative of the user.

1.10.1 Administrative Enforcement Options

A. The NBC may implement any combination of the following administrative and/or judicial responses if a user is in violation of any provision of State or Federal requirements, R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 46-25, this Part, a permit, or an order issued by the NBC.

1. Issue a Notice of Violation;

2. Require the user to attend a mandatory compliance meeting at the NBC Corporate Office during business hours, or at any other reasonable time, to discuss its violations or alleged violations, the remedial actions that it might take, and the actions the NBC might take under the Act and this Part;

3. Issue an Administrative Order requiring any action that the NBC is authorized to require;

4. Enter into a Consent Order or Settlement Agreement with the user;

5. Revoke, modify, deny, suspend, or refuse to renew a permit issued under the Act;

6. Terminate or suspend sewer services provided to the user;

7. Assess a civil administrative penalty;

8. Institute a court action for civil penalties, criminal fines and/or other criminal punishment, injunctive relief, reimbursement of costs and/or damages resulting from a violation or threatened violation; and/or any other relief authorized by law or Regulation.

1.10.2 Notice of Violations

Whenever the NBC finds that a user has violated or is violating this Part, the Act, a permit, or order issued by the NBC, the NBC may serve upon said user written notice of the violation. The Notice of Violation ("NOV") shall identify each requirement the NBC asserts was violated, the occasion that each requirement was violated, and may require the user to comply by a date certain with the requirement(s) identified in the NOV and/or submit to the NBC by a date certain a written report describing the measures the user will take to achieve compliance with the requirements identified in the NOV and the date by which such measures will be taken. The issuance of a NOV does not preclude the NBC from taking any additional enforcement action it deems necessary and appropriate. The NOV may direct the user to submit written proposals for achieving compliance, may direct the user to increase the frequency of self-monitoring, or may require the user to comply with any other requirements the NBC deems necessary and appropriate to address the noncompliance. Submission of any plan to achieve compliance shall in no way relieve the user of liability for any violations occurring before or after receipt of the NOV. Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of the NBC to take any action, including emergency actions or any other enforcement action, without first issuing a Notice of Violation.

1.10.3 Administrative Orders

A. Immediate Compliance Order

When the NBC finds that a user has violated or continues to violate this Part, the Act, a permit or order issued by the NBC, or any other pretreatment standard or requirement, the NBC may issue an order to the user responsible for the discharge, directing that the user come into compliance within a reasonable time period established by the NBC. Compliance Orders may also contain such other requirements as may be reasonably necessary and appropriate to address the noncompliance, including, but not limited to, the installation of pretreatment technology and/or additional self-monitoring and management practices designed to minimize the amount of pollutants discharged to the sewer. A Compliance Order does not relieve the user of liability for any violation, including any continuing violation. Issuance of a Compliance Order shall not be a prerequisite to taking any other action against the user, including, but not limited to, assessment of an Administrative Penalty.

B. Cease and Desist Orders

1. When the NBC finds that a user is violating this Part, the Act, a permit or any order issued by the NBC, or any other pretreatment standard or requirement, or that the user's violations are likely to reoccur and/or continue, the NBC may issue an order to the user directing the user to halt all illegal or unauthorized discharges to the NBC's Facilities immediately.

a. If the NBC determines that an emergency exists, the Cease and Desist Order may be given verbally and/or telephonically.

b. Issuance of a Cease and Desist Order shall not be a prerequisite to taking any other action against the user, including but not limited to, assessment of an Administrative Penalty.

1.10.4 Consent Orders

When the NBC is able to reach an agreement with the user responsible for the noncompliance, the NBC and the user may enter into a Consent Order, Assurance of Voluntary Compliance, or other similar document establishing the agreement with the user. Such orders typically include: specific actions to be taken by the user within a particular time frame; a schedule for payment of the fines and enforcement costs; and stipulated penalties. Consent Orders shall have the same force and effect as Administrative Orders and shall be judicially enforceable.

1.10.5 Suspension of Permit or Service

The NBC may suspend wastewater treatment service and/or a permit to effectively halt or prevent any actual or threatened illegal or unauthorized discharge of pollutants into the NBC's Facilities. The NBC shall notify the user of the suspension, by certified and regular mail, at which time the user may utilize the hearing procedures included herein.

1.10.6 Emergency Suspensions

A. Whenever the NBC determines that suspension of wastewater treatment service or of a permit is necessary to stop an actual or threatened discharge presenting or causing an imminent or substantial endangerment to the health or welfare of persons, the POTW, or the environment, the NBC may give the user informal notice of the suspension. Informal notice shall consist of a telephone call to the discharging facility's owner or any agent or officer of a corporation. The order to suspend discharging shall become effective notwithstanding the inability to contact the user. A registered or certified letter, return receipt requested, that states the existence of the violation and the action deemed necessary will be sent within five (5) days to the user. No request for a hearing prior to the issuance of the Emergency Order to suspend discharging may be made.

B. Any user notified of an emergency suspension of their wastewater treatment service and/or suspension of their wastewater discharge permit shall immediately stop or eliminate its contribution. In the event of a user’s failure to immediately comply voluntarily with the Suspension Order, the NBC shall take such steps as deemed necessary, including immediate severance from the sewer facilities, to prevent or minimize damage to the NBC, its receiving stream, or any individuals. The NBC shall allow the user to recommence its discharge when the endangerment has passed, unless proceedings are initiated to terminate the user’s permit.

C. A user that is responsible, in whole or in part, for imminent endangerment to the health and welfare of persons shall submit a detailed written statement describing the causes of the harmful contribution and the measures taken to prevent any further occurrence to the NBC within five (5) days of the occurrence that led to the emergency suspension.

1.10.7 Termination of Permit and/or Wastewater Treatment Service

A. Grounds for termination of a permit and/or wastewater treatment service include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Failure to apply for and/or obtain a required permit from the NBC prior to discharge into the NBC’s Facilities.

2. Violation of any of the conditions outlined in the user’s permit.

3. Violation of any of the provisions of this Part, the Act, any permit or order issued by the NBC, or any applicable State or Federal law.

B. Any user issued an Administrative Order terminating their permit and/or their wastewater treatment service shall be entitled to utilize the hearing procedures included herein.

1.10.8 Security Requirements

A. Performance Bonds. The NBC may decline to reissue a permit to any user that has failed to comply with the provisions of this Part, the Act, any order or previous permit issued hereunder unless such user first files with the NBC a satisfactory bond, payable to the NBC, in a sum not to exceed a value determined by the NBC to be necessary to achieve consistent compliance.

B. Liability Insurance. The NBC may decline to reissue a permit to any user that has failed to comply with the provisions of this Part, the Act, or any previous permit issued hereunder, unless the user first submits proof that it has obtained financial assurance sufficient to restore or repair NBC damage caused by its discharge.

1.10.9 Administrative Penalties

A. Notwithstanding any other section of this Part, any user who is found to have violated any provision of this Part, or a permit or order issued hereunder, may be fined in an amount not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) per day per violation. Each day during which noncompliance occurs or continues shall be deemed a separate and distinct violation.

1. Such assessments may be added to the user's next scheduled sewer service charge.

2. Unpaid charges, fines, and penalties may constitute a lien against the individual user's property.

3. Interest on the unpaid balance of charges, fines, and penalties shall accrue at a rate established by the NBC and approved by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission.

4. Users desiring to dispute fines assessed by the NBC must file a written request for hearing within ten (10) days of receipt of the order assessing the fine, in accordance with the hearing procedure outlined herein.

5. The NBC may impose escalating fines in instances of repeated violations.

6. The NBC shall calculate the fine in accordance with § 1.10.10 of this Part herein.

7. Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of the NBC to impose the maximum Administrative Penalty for violation of any provision of Federal or State laws or Regulations, this Part, or any permit or order issued pursuant thereto.

1.10.10 Calculation of Administrative Penalty

A. Penalties may be calculated according to the following penalty matrix for violations of R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-25-25 and all Rules and Regulations, permits and orders issued pursuant thereto. In accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-25-25.2, penalties are assessed for each day of noncompliance.

1. Type of Violation. Refers to the nature of the legal requirement allegedly violated. "Type" includes, but is not limited to, the following examples:

a. Type I

(1) Violations of legal requirements identified by the NBC as directly related to the protection of the public health, safety, welfare, or environment

(2) Violation of wastewater discharge limits

(3) Violations of compliance schedule milestones

(4) Failure to provide reports (compliance schedules, self-monitoring data, BMR & FCMR)

(5) Failure to accurately report noncompliance

(6) Failure to obtain required permit from the NBC

(7) Failure to take remedial action to mitigate a known harm

(8) Any other violation or group of violations that the NBC considers to be significant including a pattern of Type II and Type III violations

b. Type II

(1) Violation of legal requirements indirectly related to public or environmental protection, e.g., late reports (but with notification to the NBC that sampling has been performed)

(2) Failure to comply with an equipment or design specification or any other operational methods or procedure required by the NBC or specified in this Part, which is indirectly related to protection of the public health and welfare and/or the environment, e.g. the discharge of noncontact cooling water without approval

(3) A pattern of Type III violations

c. Type III

Violation of legal requirements identified by the NBC as important but incidental to the protection of the plant workers and environment, e.g. late sampling.

2. Deviation from Standard. Refers to the degree to which the violation is out of compliance with the requirement allegedly violated. The NBC will evaluate the circumstances of each case to assess whether a violation is a minor, moderate, or major deviation from the standard with reference to the following factors:

a. The extent to which the act or failure to act was out of compliance;

b. Environmental conditions;

c. The amount, toxicity, and/or nature of the pollutant;

d. The duration of the violation;

e. The areal extent of the violation;

f. Whether the user took reasonable and appropriate steps to prevent and/or mitigate the non-compliance;

g. The user's history of noncompliance;

h. The degree of willfulness or negligence, including but not limited to, how much control the violator had over the occurrence of the violation and whether the violation was foreseeable;

i. Willingness to participate in supplemental environmental projects that are directly related to addressing compliance problems of the industry within which the violation took place. Such projects are subject to the NBC’s approval and control;

j. The economic benefit achieved by noncompliance;

k. Any other factor(s) that may be relevant in determining the amount of a penalty, provided that, said other factor(s) shall be set forth in the Notice of Violation, Order, or other written notice of the Assessment of Penalty.

1.10.11 Administrative Hearings

A. Right to Hearing

Any order or assessment of Administrative Penalty shall inform the user that a written request for a hearing on the alleged violations, order, and/or penalty must be filed within ten (10) days after service of the notice to preserve the user's right to hearing. The notice will be deemed properly served upon the user if a copy is served upon him or her personally, or sent by registered or certified mail to his or her last known address, or if he or she is served with notice by any other method of service now or hereafter authorized in civil actions under the laws of the State. In an emergency situation, if written request for a hearing is not made by the user within ten (10) days of the service of notice, the user will be foreclosed from hearing regarding any penalty assessed. In a non-emergency situation if written request for a hearing is not made by the user within ten (10) days of the service of notice, the user will be foreclosed from hearing regarding both the order and any penalty assessed.

B. Hearing Request and Conference Option

As stated immediately above, a written request for hearing must be filed within ten (10) days from service to preserve the user's rights. At that time, the user may also request a conference with the NBC prior to the scheduling of an administrative hearing. Said conference will include appropriate members of the NBC from the pretreatment and enforcement staffs. Violations and penalties will be explained and discussed. Electing this option does not foreclose and/or affect the user's right to hearing provided that the written request for hearing was filed within ten (10) days of service as noted above. The purpose of this option is to provide the user with an informal forum within which to discuss the alleged violations and to expedite conclusion and/or resolution of outstanding enforcement actions. If resolution is not reached within ninety (90) days from the date of the scheduled conference, the NBC shall schedule the matter for formal hearing. In any event, either party may request a formal hearing at any point during the conference proceedings.

C. Scheduling of Hearing/Appointment of Hearing Officers

If a user wishes to proceed directly to hearing, without exercising the conference option, the Executive Director shall appoint a hearing officer within ten (10) days of the receipt of said hearing request. If the user requests a conference prior to hearing, the appointment of a hearing officer shall be postponed until further request by NBC staff and/or the user. The hearing officer shall set the procedures and schedules for the hearing.

D. Designation of Hearing Officers

1. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the NBC bylaws or any other Rule and Regulation of the NBC, and in accordance with the criteria promulgated by the NBC, the Board of Commissioners shall designate certain persons to act as hearing officers in cases arising under this Part.

2. With the adoption of this Part, the Executive Director is empowered to appoint persons who are duly designated by the Board of Commissioners and who are not involved in the enforcement action to act as hearing officers. A person designated as a hearing officer shall be a person who meets specific qualifications adopted by the Board of Commissioners.

3. The hearing officer shall:

a. Have the right to issue subpoenas in the name of the NBC, to compel the appearance of witnesses and the production of any books, records, or other documentation

b. Take evidence

c. Transmit in a timely manner a report of the evidence and hearing, including transcripts and other evidence, together with findings of fact and conclusions of law and recommendations of action to the Executive Director. The hearing officer may also issue findings as to the number of days during which the violation occurred and appropriate penalties. In establishing any penalty, the hearing officer and the Executive Director shall take into account the factors used to determine the severity of a violation outlined in § 1.10.10 of this Part.

E. Other Hearings

All other provisions for public hearings not specifically described herein shall be in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-9.

F. Orders by the Executive Director

After the Executive Director has reviewed the Administrative Decision of the hearing officer, he or she may issue an order to the violator to cease and desist committing such violations, assess fines, to remedy such violations, to revoke the violator's discharge permit, and to recover statutory enforcement costs. Such enforcement costs include, but are not limited to, the costs of implementing any action, as well as any administrative costs incurred therein, such as the reasonable expenses of the hearing officer, stenographer, staff, expert witnesses and reasonable attorney's fees. The decision may include a finding as to the number of days during which the violation occurred. Every day in which the violation occurred shall be deemed a separate offense. The Superior Court shall have jurisdiction to enforce such order and the Executive Director may institute civil or criminal proceedings in the name of the NBC.

1.10.12 Equal Access to Justice Application

Within thirty (30) days of the conclusion of any administrative hearing or within thirty (30) days of the informal disposition or termination of any hearing by the NBC, the prevailing party may apply to the hearing officer for the award of reasonable litigation expenses incurred by that party in connection with the proceeding, in accordance with the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-92-1 et seq. The hearing officer shall not award fees or expenses to the prevailing party if he or she finds that the NBC was substantially justified in the actions leading to the hearing and in the hearing itself. The hearing officer may, at his or her discretion, deny fees or expenses if special circumstances make an award unjust. The decision of the hearing officer shall be made part of the record and shall include written findings and conclusions. The Executive Director may not review the award. Any party dissatisfied with the fee determination by the hearing officer may appeal to the Superior Court. The terms "substantial justification" and "prevailing party" shall be defined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-92-1 et seq.

1.10.13 Petitions for Declaratory Rulings

A. Any person affected by any statutory provision administered by the NBC or affected by any rule or order of the NBC may, in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-8 and this Part, petition the Executive Director for a declaratory ruling as to the applicability of such statute, Rule, or order. The petition shall clearly and concisely identify:

1. The precise statute, rule, or order under which a declaratory ruling is sought;

2. How the petitioner is affected by the statute, Rule, or order;

3. The petitioner's position on how the applicable statute, Rule, or order should be interpreted, including citations to any applicable documents or law that support the petitioner's position.

1.10.14 Judicial Remedies

A. If any person discharges sewage, industrial wastes, or other wastes into the wastewater disposal system contrary to the provisions of this Part, the Act, a permit or order issued by the NBC, or any other pretreatment requirements, the NBC may commence an action for appropriate legal and/or equitable relief in the Superior Court.

1. Injunctive Relief

Whenever a user has violated or continues to violate the provisions of this Part, the Act, a permit or order issued by the NBC, or any other pretreatment requirements, the NBC may petition the Court for the issuance of a preliminary injunction, permanent injunction, or both (as may be appropriate) which restrains or compels the activities on the part of the user.

2. Civil Penalties

a. Any user who has violated or continues to violate the Rules and Regulations, the Act, a permit or order issued by the NBC, or any other pretreatment requirements shall be liable to the NBC for a civil penalty of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) per violation per day for each day during which the violation occurs plus actual damages incurred by the NBC for as long as the violation occurs. In addition to the above described penalty and damages, the NBC may recover reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, and other expenses associated with the enforcement activities, including sampling, monitoring and analysis expenses.

b. The NBC shall petition the Court to impose, assess, and recover such sums. In determining the amount of liability, the Court shall take into account all relevant circumstances, including, but not limited to, the extent of harm caused by the violation, the magnitude and duration, any economic benefit gained through the user's violation, corrective actions by the user, the compliance history of the user, and any other factor as justice requires.

3. Criminal Prosecution

Any user who willfully or negligently violates any provision of this Part, the Act, a permit or order issued by the NBC, or any other pretreatment requirements shall upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) per violation per day or imprisonment for not more than one (1) year.

1.10.15 Costs

A. In addition to such administrative, civil, or criminal fines as may be imposed, any user who violates any provision of this Part or any condition of a permit, or plan approval related thereto, shall be financially responsible and liable to the NBC, in addition to normal service charges and surcharges for industrial investigation and monitoring of compliance with this Part, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Cost of mileage, labor, and materials incurred in detecting and correcting the violation;

2. Laboratory analysis costs associated with detecting and correcting the violation;

3. Additional treatment costs caused by the violation or associated with detecting and correcting the violation;

4. Costs of any additional equipment acquired or expended by the NBC for detecting or correcting the violation.

5. Repair and/or replacement of any part of the facility damaged by the violation;

6. Any liability, damages, fines, or penalties incurred by the NBC as a result of the violation;

7. Costs incurred in enforcing compliance, including prosecution and/or settlement of outstanding violations;

8. Other costs as are associated with the prosecution, negotiation and/or settlement of a violation.

1.10.16 Annual Publication of Users in Significant Noncompliance

The NBC shall publish annually in the largest daily newspaper circulated in the service area, a description of those users who are found to be in significant noncompliance, as defined in § 1.2 of this Part, with any provisions during the period since the previous publication. Users found to be in significant noncompliance must reimburse the NBC for their pro rata share of the cost of the public notice.

1.10.17 Denial of Access

If the NBC or its duly authorized employees and agents, upon presenting identification and appropriate credentials, are denied access to carry out inspection, surveillance, and/or monitoring procedures as described under R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-25-25.1, the Executive Director may immediately institute civil proceedings, including proceedings for necessary injunctive relief, or criminal proceedings in Superior Court.

1.10.18 Inspection of Connections

If any person shall construct, install, alter, or repair any sewer or connect to any sewer in violation of the requirements of this Part, the NBC may, in its discretion, order or direct such person to uncover and fully expose any or all portions of such sewer or connection and allow the NBC and its representatives adequate opportunity for examination and inspection of the work. If the connection and appurtenances thereto shall be found not to be in full accord with the requirements of this Part and the standards established under its provisions, then the NBC may serve the offender with a written notice as provided in § 1.10 of this Part.

1.10.19 Affirmative Defenses to Discharge Violations

A. Upset Provisions

1. For the purposes of this section, "Upset" means an exceptional incident in which there is unintentional and temporary noncompliance with pretreatment standards because of factors beyond the reasonable control of the user. An Upset does not include noncompliance to the extent caused by operational error, improperly designed treatment facilities, inadequate treatment facilities, lack of preventive maintenance, or careless or improper operation.

2. An Upset shall constitute an affirmative defense to an action brought for noncompliance with pretreatment standards if the requirements of § 1.10.19(A)(3) of this Part are met.

3. A user who wishes to establish the affirmative defense of Upset shall demonstrate, through properly signed, contemporaneous operating logs, or other relevant evidence that:

a. An Upset occurred and the user can identify the cause(s) of the Upset;

b. The facility was at the time being operated in a prudent and workman-like manner and in compliance with applicable operation and maintenance procedures;

c. The user has submitted the following information to the NBC within twenty-four (24) hours of becoming aware of the Upset (if this information is provided orally, a written submission must be provided within five (5) days);

(1) A description of the discharge and cause of noncompliance;

(2) The period of noncompliance, including exact dates and times or, if not corrected, the anticipated time the noncompliance is expected to continue;

(3) Steps being taken and/or planned to reduce, eliminate, and prevent recurrence of the noncompliance.

d. In any enforcement proceeding the user seeking to establish the occurrence of an Upset shall have the burden of proof; and

e. The user shall control production of all discharges to the extent necessary to maintain compliance with pretreatment standards upon reduction, loss, or failure of its treatment facility until the facility is restored or an alternative method of treatment is provided. This requirement applies in the situation where, among other things, the primary source of power of the treatment facility is reduced, lost, or fails.

B. Bypass

1. "Bypass" means the intentional diversion of waste streams from any portion of the user's treatment facility.

2. "Severe property damage" means substantial physical damage to property, damage to the treatment facilities that causes them to become inoperable, or substantial and permanent loss of natural resources that can reasonably be expected to occur in the absence of a Bypass. Severe property damage does not mean economic loss caused by delays in production.

3. A user may allow Bypass to occur where it does not violate pretreatment standards or requirements, and only if it is necessary to assure efficient maintenance and/or operation. These bypasses are not subject to §§ 1.10.19(B)(4), (5) and (6) of this Part.

4. If a user knows in advance of the need for a Bypass, it shall submit prior notice to the NBC, if possible, at least ten (10) days before the date of the Bypass.

5. A user shall orally notify the NBC of an unanticipated Bypass that exceeds applicable pretreatment standards or requirements within twenty-four (24) hours of becoming aware of the Bypass. A written submission shall also be provided within five (5) days of becoming aware of the Bypass, including exact times and dates, and if the Bypass has not been corrected, the anticipated time it is expected to continue; and steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate, and prevent recurrence of the Bypass.

6. Bypass is prohibited, and the NBC may take enforcement action against an individual user for a Bypass, unless:

a. Bypass was unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage;

b. There are no feasible alternatives to Bypass, such as use of auxiliary treatment facilities, retention of wastes, or maintenance during normal periods of downtime. This condition is not satisfied if adequate back-up equipment should have been installed to prevent Bypass, which occurred during normal periods of equipment downtime or preventative maintenance; and

c. The user submitted notices as required by § 1.10.19(B) of this Part.

7. The NBC may approve an anticipated Bypass, after considering its adverse effects, if the NBC determines that it will meet the three (3) conditions listed in § 1.10.19(B)(6) of this Part.

1.11.1 Construction

The provisions of this Part with respect to the meaning of technical terms and phrases, the restrictions as to what wastes may be discharged into sewer interceptors, the Regulations with respect to making connections to sewer interceptors, and other technical matters shall be interpreted and administered by the Executive Director.

1.11.2 Captions

Captions and headings are for reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning of the paragraphs thereunder.

1.11.3 Severability

If any provision of this Part or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Part shall not be affected thereby. The invalidity of any section or sections or parts of any section or sections shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Part.

The Rules and Regulations established herein may be amended, from time to time, as may, in the opinion of the NBC, be necessary. Whenever the NBC shall amend any such Rules and Regulations, it shall do so and give notice of such amendment in accordance with the procedures outlined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-1 et seq. and R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-25-1 et seq.

1.14.1 Septage Permitting System

A. Licensed septage haulers shall obtain a valid permit from the NBC and comply with all the conditions of this permit and this Part. The permit may be suspended or revoked according to the policies outlined in § 1.8 of this Part. Haulers shall apply for this permit on forms provided by the NBC and shall submit, together with the permit fee, an application containing the following information:

1. Name, company name, address, telephone number;

2. Vehicle identification, make, and capacity;

3. Copy of septage hauler's license from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management;

4. Any additional information requested by the NBC;

5. Signed and notarized statement certifying that the information presented in the application is correct.

1.14.2 Septage Sources

Septage discharged to the receiving facilities of the NBC must have been generated from residential septic systems within the boundaries of the State of Rhode Island.

1.14.3 Payment for Septage Loads

A. Septage haulers shall be responsible for payment of septage loads discharged at the NBC's Facilities. Septage haulers will be billed on rates approved by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission. The billing procedures may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Septage haulers may be required to create and maintain an account with the NBC with a credit balance;

2. The volume of each permitted truck and/or trailers may be periodically calculated by NBC personnel for billing purposes;

3. The NBC may equip each permitted truck and/or trailer with a computer chip provided by the NBC to track vehicle information such as owner, tank volume, etc.;

4. The amount due for each septage load may be automatically deducted from the septage hauler's account.

B. The NBC septage billing procedures may be revised at any time.

1.14.4 Septage Disposal

A. Septage shall only be discharged to one (1) of the NBC's authorized septage receiving facilities, or other authorized location as the NBC may designate. The septage hauler shall be responsible for cleaning the area surrounding the discharge disposal location after discharge.

B. Septage shall be discharged only within the hours specified by the NBC and only under the supervision of the NBC. Gallonage and hours for delivery of waste may be reduced, extended, increased, or otherwise changed or altered by and at the discretion of the NBC. NBC personnel may require that the load be dumped over a period of a half-hour or more, depending upon the flow and characteristics of the incoming sewage at the NBC's treatment plant.

C. Each septage hauler shall adhere to disposal procedures established by the NBC. These procedures may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Completed Septage Load Manifest forms, provided by the NBC, must be submitted by the septage hauler upon arrival to the septage receiving station;

2. The septage hauler may be required to collect septage samples from the truck/trailer, under the supervision of the NBC operator, prior to the septage hauler discharging to the NBC system;

3. The NBC operator may collect or direct the septage hauler to collect additional samples of the load during the discharge period;

4. Once the discharge of the load has been completed, the septage hauler shall disconnect from the system and clean the area.

D. The hauler shall keep a copy of his or her official permit in the truck, and display the NBC issued permit sticker on the windshield.

E. If the NBC wastewater treatment plant and/or the NBC wastewater facilities can accept some but not all of the septage offered for disposal, priority will be given to such waste which is generated within the geographic boundaries of the District.

1.14.5 Septage Prohibitions

Septage haulers shall not discharge specifically prohibited waters, wastewaters, or substances to the NBC Facilities in accordance with § 1.5 of this Part.

1.14.6 Septage Records

Vehicles shall be maintained and records shall be kept in accordance with DEM's Rules and Regulations for Hazardous Waste Management, 250-RICR-140-10-1.

1.14.7 Compliance Required

No statement contained in § 1.14 of this Part shall exempt the hauler from complying with all Federal, State, or local requirements.