Compliance Guide for the Concentrated Aquatic Animal Production Point Source Category United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water Washington, DC 20460 (4303T) EPA-821-B-05-001 March 2006 Compliance Guide for the Concentrated Aquatic Animal Production Point Source Category Engineering and Analysis Division Office of Science and Technology U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20460 March 2006 Acknowledgments The Engineering and Analysis Division, Office of Science and Technology has prepared this compliance guidance and approved it for publication. Tetra Tech, Inc., Contract 68- C-99-263, supported the preparation of the guidance under the direction and review of the Office of Science and Technology. Technical experts in the concentrated aquatic animal production (CAAP) industry prepared the document Best Management Practices for Flow-Through, Net-Pen, Recirculating, and Pond Aquaculture Systems by Tucker, C., S. Belle, C. Boyd, G. Fornshell, J. Hargreaves, S. LaPatra, S. Summerfelt, and P. Zajicek (2003). It provided valuable background information for EPA in the development of this compliance guide. Disclaimer The discussion in this document is intended solely as guidance. The statutory provisions and regulations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) described in this document contain legally binding requirements. This document is not a regulation itself, nor does it change or substitute for those provisions and regulations. Thus, it does not impose legally binding requirements on EPA, States, or the regulated community. This guidance does not confer legal rights or impose legal obligations upon any member of the public. While EPA has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the discussion in this guidance, the obligations of the regulated community are determined by statutes, regulations, or other legally binding requirements. In the event of a conflict between the discussion in this document and any statute or regulation, this document would not be controlling. The general descriptions provided here may not apply to particular situations based upon the circumstances. Interested parties are free to raise questions and objections about the substance of this guidance and the appropriateness of the application of this guidance to a particular situation. EPA and other decision-makers retain the discretion to adopt approaches on a case-by-case basis that differ from those described in this guidance where appropriate. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for their use. This document may be revised periodically without public notice. EPA welcomes public input on this document at any time. Neither the United States government nor any of its employees, contractors, subcontractors, or other employees makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for any third party’s use of, or the results of such use of, any information, apparatus, product, or process discussed in this report, or represents that its use by such a third party would not infringe on privately owned rights. Table of Contents Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction .......................................................................................................1-1 How do I use the symbols contained in this document? ..............................................1-1 Who should use this guide? .........................................................................................1-2 Who is in charge of the CAAP permitting program where I live – EPA or the state? 1-3 What does this guide cover? ........................................................................................1-3 How should I use this guide? .......................................................................................1-3 How can I get a copy of the federal regulations?.........................................................1-5 Chapter 2: What is the CAAP Regulation? ........................................................................2-1 What is the NPDES Program? .....................................................................................2-1 What are the Effluent Limitations Guidelines for CAAPs?.........................................2-1 Why is this regulation important?................................................................................2-2 Do other laws regulate CAAPs? ..................................................................................2-3 Chapter 3: Does the CAAP Regulation Affect Me?............................................................3-1 What operations are CAAPs under the NPDES regulation?........................................3-1 What operations are covered under the CAAP ELGs? ................................................3-2 What is the difference between NPDES and ELGs for CAAPs?.................................3-2 What is considered a facility? ......................................................................................3-3 What if I have more than one type of production system at my facility? ....................3-3 Are there any aquaculture facilities that do not need an NPDES permit? ...................3-4 How do I know if I am not covered by these regulations?...........................................3-5 What if I discharge to a POTW?..................................................................................3-5 What part of my CAAP is regulated? ..........................................................................3-5 Chapter 4: What Do I Need to Know About NPDES Permits?.........................................4-1 How do I apply for an NPDES permit? .......................................................................4-1 What is an NPDES general permit?.............................................................................4-1 What is an NPDES individual permit?.........................................................................4-2 What information do I have to include in my NOI or permit application?..................4-3 When do I have to get an NPDES permit?...................................................................4-3 Existing CAAP Facilities .................................................................................4-4 New Dischargers ..............................................................................................4-4 New Sources ....................................................................................................4-5 When will my NPDES permit expire?.........................................................................4-6 How long should I keep my NPDES permit? ..............................................................4-6 What if I make significant changes to my operation while I have an NPDES permit?............................................................................................................4-7 Chapter 5: What Requirements Will My NPDES Permit Contain?.................................5-1 What are the elements of an NPDES permit for a CAAP facility?..............................5-1 What effluent limitations will be included in my NPDES permit?..............................5-2 Effluent limitations for flow-through and recirculating facilities....................5-2 Effluent limitations for net pen facilities .........................................................5-3 EPA-821-B-05-001 i March 2006 Table of Contents What are special conditions?........................................................................................5-3 What special conditions will be included in my CAAP NPDES permit?....................5-3 What are the standard conditions of all NPDES permits? ...........................................5-4 What records do I have to keep?..................................................................................5-4 What are the record-keeping requirements for all CAAPs, under the ELGs? .5-4 What monitoring do I have to perform under my NPDES permit? .............................5-4 What monitoring do I have to perform under the ELGs? ................................5-5 What do I have to report to the permitting authority?..................................................5-5 What else do I have to report?..........................................................................5-5 What other requirements might my permit contain?....................................................5-6 Chapter 6: General Reporting Requirements for Flow-through, Recirculating, and Net Pen Facilities ............................................................................................................6-1 What is an INAD drug? ...............................................................................................6-1 What is extralabel use of a drug? .................................................................................6-1 What am I required to do if I use an INAD drug? .......................................................6-2 What am I required to do if there is extralabel drug use at my CAAP facility? ..........6-2 What am I required to do if there is a failure in, or damage to, the structure of an aquatic animal containment system?...................................................................6-3 Chapter 7: Narrative Requirements for Flow-through, Recirculating, and Net Pen Facilities ............................................................................................................7-1 What is required for solids control?.............................................................................7-1