Skip Maine state header navigation

Agencies | Online Services | Help

Skip First Level Navigation | Skip All Navigation

L&W Home > Permits & Standards > Waste Discharge > Special Topics > Ships & Boats > Commercial Passenger Vessels > LCPVs > General Permit Parts 5 & 6

Large Commercial Passenger Vessels (LCPVs)

PDF Version

GENERAL PERMIT FOR THE DISCHARGE OF GRAYWATER OR A MIXTURE OF GRAYWATER AND BLACKWATER FROM LARGE COMMERCIAL PASSENGER VESSELS TO COASTAL WATERS

Part 5. Standard conditions

PL 2003, ch. 650(8)(2) provides that this general permit must be consistent with the requirements in rules adopted by Department regarding general permits for certain wastewater discharges, except that the rule provision that authorizes Department to require a person otherwise authorized under a general permit to apply for an individual permit does not apply. Chapter 529(3)(j), General Permits for Wastewater Discharges, provides in part that the conditions listed in Chapters 523(2) and 523(3) apply to discharges pursuant to any general permit.

The conditions listed in Chapter 529, 523(2) and 523(3) are incorporated herein as if fully set forth.

Part 6. Special conditions

A. Effluent quality. The discharge to coastal waters must satisfy the minimum level of effluent quality specified by the secondary treatment standards as provided in Chapter 532.

B. Test results. Prior to any such discharge occurring, the owner, operator or master, or other person in charge of a LCPV shall demonstrate test results as provided in Chapter 532. The owner, operator, master or other person in charge of the LCPV shall also demonstrate continued compliance through periodic sampling as provided in the approved VSSP. Such sampling and test results are considered environmental compliance records that must be made available upon request of the Department.

Samples must be processed by a laboratory certified by the State of Maine . Information concerning laboratories certified by the State of Maine is available on the Department's website.

C. Reporting discharge

1. Discharge of blackwater. The owner or operator of a LCPV that discharges blackwater within a no-discharge zone, or outside a no-discharge zone in a manner inconsistent with this general permit, shall immediately report that discharge to the Department. The owner or operator shall submit a written report concerning the discharge to the Department within 30 days of the discharge.

2. Discharge of graywater. The owner or operator of a LCPV that discharges graywater in a manner inconsistent with this general permit shall immediately report that discharge to the Department. The owner or operator shall also submit a written report concerning the discharge to the Department within 30 days of the discharge.

3. Written report. The written report required in subsections (1) and (2) must contain a description of the noncompliance and its cause; the period of noncompliance, including exact dates and times, and if the noncompliance has not been corrected, the anticipated time it is expected to continue; and steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate, and prevent reoccurrence of the noncompliance. (1)

4. Other noncompliance. The permittee shall report all instances of noncompliance not reported under (1), (2) or (3) of this section, at the time monitoring reports are submitted. The written submission shall contain the following information: a description of the noncompliance and its cause; the period of noncompliance, including exact dates and times, and if the noncompliance has not been corrected, the anticipated time it is expected to continue; and steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate and prevent reoccurrence of the noncompliance. (2)

FOOTNOTES

(1) See Ch. 523(2)(l)(7).

(2) NOTE: Ch. 523(2)(l)(6), refers to "twenty-four hour reporting" of noncompliance which may endanger health or the environment. This permit incorporates the timing of reporting requirements at 38 MRSA 423-D(3) concerning discharges of graywater inconsistent with the general permit. It incorporates the requirements from Ch. 523 that describe the content of the written report. It also includes a requirement that a discharge of blackwater inconsistent with the general permit be reported. Note that report of a discharge of graywater inconsistent with a general permit is required by 38 MRSA 423-D(3)(B).