KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT BILL GRAVES, GOVERNOR Gary R. Mitchell, Secretary

September 19, 1997

Contact: Don Brown

785-296-1529

State Proposes General Wastewater Permit

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has put on public notice a draft general permit addressing the discharge of hydrostatic test water from new or used pipelines and storage tanks which will contain or have contained crude oil or other petroleum products. The general permit, being issued in accordance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) guidelines, applies to all members of the group that conduct similar activities and with similar discharges.

The public notice period for the draft permit extends through October 10. Comments and requests for a copy of the draft permit should be made to the KDHE Bureau of Water, Technical Services Section, Forbes Field Building 283, Topeka, Kansas, 66620.

The general permit contains conditions, prohibitions, reporting and record keeping requirements similar to individual permits. Permittees seeking a general permit for discharging hydrostatic test water to surface waters of the state are required to submit a notice of intent and the $60 annual permit fee to KDHE. If the project meets general permit requirements, the department will provide the applicant a general permit.

The general permitting procedure results in permits being issued in less time compared to the currently used individual NPDES permits. The general permit is placed on public notice only one time.

Permit conditions and limits set for the discharged wastewater are pursuant to the requirements of the Kansas Surface Water Quality Standards and federal surface water criteria. KDHE reserves the right to determine, on a case by case basis, the suitability of this general permit for projects that discharge to Critical Water Quality Management Areas, Special Aquatic Life Use Waters, or Outstanding Natural Resource Waters.

The Department could hold a public hearing on the general permit if responses indicate significant public interest.