Assigned to NREW FOR
COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
on-site wastewater treatment facilities; permitting
Purpose
Allows an on-site wastewater treatment facility (facility) with a design flow between 3,000 and 75,000 gallons per day to discharge under a general permit if the facility complies with outlined requirements. Allows the Director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to require facilities with a total design flow of more than 50,000 gallons per day to provide adequate financial assurance by an addendum to the general permit authorization.
Background
The Director of ADEQ may issue a general permit for a defined class of facilities if : 1) the cost of issuing individual permits cannot be justified by any environmental or public health benefit that may be gained from issuing individual permits; 2) the facilities, activities or practices in the class are substantially similar in nature; and 3) the Director of ADEQ is satisfied that appropriate conditions under a general permit for operating the facilities or conducting the activity will meet the applicable requirements. Rules establishing a general permit must include terms and conditions to ensure that all discharges and facilities will meet requirements prescribed by statute relating to water quality control and provide for the collective or individual revocation of the general permit if necessary to ensure compliance (A.R.S. § 49-245).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows a facility with a design flow between 3,000 gallons and 75,000 gallons per day to discharge under a general permit if the facility complies with existing general permit rules and is operated by a service provider that is certified by the technology manufacturer.
2. Requires the Director of ADEQ to include an addendum to the general permit authorization that requires facilities to conduct maintenance, monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting in addition to the requirements of the general permit.
3. Allows the Director of ADEQ to require a facility with a design flow of 50,000 gallons per day or more or a site with multiple facilities with a collective design flow of 50,000 gallons per day or more to provide adequate financial assurance by an addendum to the general permit authorization.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
NREW 2/13/24 DPA 7-2-0-1
3rd Read 2/28/24 44-15-0-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 12, 2024
RA/SDR/slp