O-2003-2642 - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INDUSTRIAL WASTE ORDINANCE An Industrial Waste Survey of all of the commercial and industrial establishments in La Porte was performed in 2000 as a requirement of the City of La Porte's Wastewater Treatment Plant Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System discharge permit administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The survey results were forwarded to the TCEQ. The survey indicated there were seven (7) Significant Industrial Users discharging into the city sewer system. (A Significant Industrial User is an industry which discharges an average of more than 25,000 gallons per day of process wastewater into the city sewer system.) Of these seven, four (4) industries were determined to be Categorical Industrial Users. (A Categorical Industrial User discharges or has the potential to discharge pollutant(s) which are regulateq by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.) Several Non-Significant Industrial Users also discharge into the sewer system. (A Non-Significant Industrial User discharges in lower quantities usually with non-significant discharges; however, these industries have the potential for discharging pollutants and must be permitted and monitored. ) For the above reasons and due to the Upper Galveston Bay section into which the City of La Porte Wastewater Treatment Plant discharges its effluent being placed on the Clean Water Act of 1999 List of Impaired Water Bodies, the City of La Porte is required to develop and implement a fully approved Pre-Treatment Program. In order to be approved, the City must have an Industrial Waste Ordinance meeting all of the requirements of the Federal and State agencies. This ordinance must give the City the authority to administer the program and list the penalties of non-compliance. An ordinance was developed and approved by City Council on March 19, 2001 and submitted, along with a formal Program submission, to the TCEQ in April 2001. The TCEQ notified the City on May 12, 2003 that it had reviewed the City's Progranl submission and that several portions of the Ordinance and Program needed revisions because: 1. Specific authority provided by the ordinance was inconsistent with current federal regulations; or 2. Changes were recommended to strengthen of clarify the City's ordinance. The proposed ordinance would repeal the existing ordinance Chapter 74, Utilities, Article II, Industrial Waste, Sections 74-36 through 74-211, both inclusive as codified in the City of La Porte Code of Ordinances. Additionally, the TCEQ requires a "Funding Resolution" by the governing body to ensure that adequate funding is provided for the operation and maintenance of the City's Pretreatment Program for the protection of the City's treatment works, personnel; and the public. The City has operated a pretreatment program since the early 1980's, and has funded the operation and maintenance since that time.