O-1999-2355 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. e T.ne Vi~cu.g Discharge Pe:mit issued to the City of La. Pone's WasteWaIer Treatmem Plam by the Te:as Samra! R.esomces Conservation Comm;caon (Th"'Rcq tequllQ Bio- ~~ Samples be tested and results repol.tr::d for effluem toxicity on or before July :om and J~ 20m of each year. This teSt ripfP!"n'lm~ the toxicity of a plant's effiu.e:tt ,'ms< hA' ~~) by ~ teSt ~cmc to the effiDem fur a period of seven days. The mx:iciIy !eve! is d.-!~ 1I1;"~ by the I11III1her of ~cmc dying over the period of the teSt as ~ared to the ~cmc in a comrol sample. In May 1999. the Chronic Toxicity Bio-Mcnimring!eSt was nm on the piar.t emllClL T.oe !eSt failed on the sixIh day of the ~ Tne pe::miI :equires ~..est for two conse-=:nive momhs. In JUDe 1999 the first rerest was nm and passed. In July 1999 me s~ond ret-ASt was run.. It f.riled on the third day of the teSt. ~"'RCC regulations and the Plam's pe::mit require the City to perform a Toxicity Reduction Evaluation (TRE) upon the inability to get two consecutive passing samples. Wnhin 45 days of the last day of me fa1im~ l'e"'..est. the facility must submit a General Outline for inirimin~ a TRE to the Commission. W tthin 90 days of the last day of the failing retest. the :Eacility must submit a TRE Action Plan and Schedule for conducting a TRE. Tne pian is a step-~ise investig~on combining toxicity testing with physical and chemical analysis to determine actions needed to elimmm-", or reduce effiuem toxicity to a point where the oreani<m1~ are not affected. Within 30 days of submitting the TRE Action Plan. the facility must implement the TRE. The effiuent must be tested monthly for toxicity and, if fOlmcL steps must be taken to identify the to~ locate the source, and ensure the toxin will no longer be introduced into the system. This may be from industrial and/or commercial establishments discharging into the sanitary sewer system or could be from internal plant problems. The toxin may have been the result of an illegal "dump" or a one-time occurrence. Regardless, the sampling must continue for an entire 12-month period. Twelve (12) consecutive months of passing Chronic Toxicity Bio-Monitoring Samples can be used as a basis for the facility to petition the TNRCC for cessation of the TRE. Otherwise the facility has a 28-month period in which to locate and remedy the toxic release. The City of La Porte identified two Houston-area laboratories that specialize in Toxicity Reduction Evaluations. Both firms were invited to submit proposals outlining a proposed scope of work to satisfy TNRCC requirements, methodology. and experience. Public Works staff interviewed both firms, and recommends the firm ofPBS&J Environmental Toxicology Lab as the most qualified. PBS&J has a long history ofTRE services, with particular experience with municipal wastewater treatment plants. They currently hold the contract to perform TRE services for the City ofHollSton on an as-needed basis. The other firm. Stillmeadow, Inc., has extensive experience performing TRE services for industrial plants, but no municipal experience.