Overview of EPAs Proposed Effluent Guidelines for Airport Deicing

1
Overview of EPAs Proposed Effluent
Guidelinesfor Airport Deicing

• Eric Strassler
• Project Manager
• US EPA / Office of Water
• Washington, DC
• September 2009

2
Background - Clean Water Act

• All facilities discharging to surface waters must
  have NPDES permit
• Permits issued by states EPA
• General permit
• standard conditions
• permittees may also be subject to local water
  quality standards
• Individual permit (site-specific) based on
• national effluent guidelines
• best professional judgment (BPJ) of permit
  authority
• local water quality standards

3
NPDES Permit Requirements for Airports

• General permits (MSGP)
• stormwater pollution prevention plan
• implement source reduction measures
• monitor discharges in first 4 quarters of permit
  cycle BOD, COD, NH3, pH
• inspections annual/monthly
• Individual permits
• typically have additional monitoring requirements
• may have pollutant limits, BMPs or other
  site-specific requirements

4
Background - Effluent Guidelines

• National requirements for categories of
  dischargers
• based on performance of control treatment
  technologies across the industry
• not based on local water quality conditions
• consideration of costs
• often expressed as end-of-pipe numeric limits for
  various pollutants
• may include best management practices (BMPs)
• Standards are incorporated into
• NPDES permits (direct dischargers), or
• pretreatment requirements (indirect dischargers)

5
New Proposed ELG for Deicing

• Published August 28, 2009
• EPA started project in 2004
• EPA research
• Airport site visits discussions w/ industry
• Water sampling analysis
• Airport airline surveys
• Analysis of
• pollutants available technologies
• costs economic impacts to install addl.
  technology
• environmental effects of deicing discharges

6
Summary of Proposed Requirements

• Focus on largest users of aircraft deicing fluid
  (ADF)
• ADF capture requirement
• capture 60 or 20, depending on airport size
• available ADF
• ADF treatment requirement
• Direct dischargers only
• COD end-of-pipe limitation
• Urea restriction
• Use alternate airfield deicing product or meet
  stringent effluent limit

7
ADF Requirements

• Scope of Rule Primary Airport and
• gt 1,000 annual jet departures and
• gt 10,000 annual departures.
• lt 460,000 gal. ADF capture 20 of available
• gt 460,000 gal. ADF capture 60 of available
• Available 80 of sprayed deicing fluid 10 of
  sprayed anti-icing fluid
• Treat wastewater (direct discharge)
• COD 271 mg/L (daily), 154 (weekly)
• No limit for POTW or commercial disposal
• POTWs may set local limits/restrictions

8
Urea Requirements

• Certify no use of urea for airfield pavement
  deicing, or
• Meet effluent limit for airfield pavement
  discharges
• 14.7 mg/L (ammonia as N)
• This would apply to all outfalls discharging
  airfield runoff

9
Monitoring / Reporting / Records

• Airports report ADF usage on permit renewal
  application
• Demonstrate compliance w/ capture requirement
  (choose one)
• Meet technical specs in CFR no monitoring or
  mass-balance required
• Alternative technical specs by permit authority
• Monitoring specified by permit authority
• Effluent monitoring specified by permit authority
• Maintain records for 5 years (permit cycle)

10
Optional Technical Specs for ADF Capture
Demonstration - 449.20(b)(1)

• Use of these specs satisfies the compliance
  demonstration requirement
• GRV (20 capture requirement)
• Deice aircraft only in GRV areas
• Use emulsifier
• Maintain inspect equipment
• Deicing pad (60 or 20 capture reqt.)
• Deice only on pads
• Fluid collection system
• Activate drainage valves
• Pad sizing requirements

11
Implementation of ELG

• After final rule issued
• EPA modifies MSGP, publishes draft final
• Permit authorities revise their GPs and
  individual permits
• Some permits will be revised at regular renewal
  time
• Others have reopener clauses may be revised
  earlier
• EPA implementation assistance
• Webinars, guidance document (as resources allow)

12
Supporting Documents

• Technical Development Document
• Technology basis for proposed rule
• Deicing practices, pollutants, treatment systems
  costs
• Economic Analysis
• Financial impact on airports airlines
• Environmental Impact Benefits
• Pollutant effects on environment and human
  health benefits of ELG
• Documents available at epa.gov/guide/airport

13
Websites

• EPA Airport Deicing website
• epa.gov/guide/airport
• FR Notice
• Major support documents
• Index to Docket (coming soon)
• regulations.gov
• Docket with reference documents
• Submit comments online

14
Public Comment Period

• EPA is accepting comments through December 28,
  2009
• Submit comments
• at regulations.gov (preferred)
• by email
• regular mail or hand delivery
• See FR notice for details
• Refer to Docket No.
• EPA-HQ-OW-2004-0038

15
Questions

• Greg Davis
• EPA Region 8
• 303-312-6314
• davis.gregory_at_epa.gov
• (Questions only. Submit comments at
  regulations.gov)