OBJECTIVE C - Management Action 1
Promote pollution prevention planning and alternatives to discharge, where feasible, for all point sources to reduce the volume and toxicity of discharges.
Explanation:
Assimilative capacity is the ability of a river basin to safely absorb pollutants. Basinwide planning should ensure that this capacity is used in a way that sustains long-term growth. However, planning for long-term growth also must consider how secondary impacts such as runoff from new roads will affect water quality.
Critical Steps:
- OWR's Pollution Prevention Program and DEM's Facility Assessment Unit would strengthen coordination to provide technical and regulatory assistance.
- With assistance from DEM, OWR would prioritize and target those facilities found in violation of their NPDES permit or municipal pretreatment permit.
- OWR would coordinate with all permitted facilities concerning the implementation of pollution prevention planning.
- To establish compliance with NPDES and municipal pretreatment permits and to reduce waste generation, industries would seek technical assistance and policy support from DEM and OWR.
- Municipal wastewater treatment plants, with state approved pretreatment programs, would be encouraged to develop pollution prevention programs to assist indirect dischargers with implementing industrial pollution prevention programs.
- DEM would require the use of non-discharge alternatives where feasible.
Evaluation Methods
- DEM would document the status (improvement) of that facility's compliance record.
- Comparisons can be made of previous compliance records versus present status. Documentation of improvement in plant performance could be the result.
- Timely reports would be prepared by DEM and OWR including updated compliance information.
Costs and Economic Considerations
With recent increases in staffing, this action is not anticipated to require an additional increase in staff or funding in OWR or in DEM's Facility Assessment Unit. Better inter-governmental coordination and cooperation can help reduce the costs of ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. In addition, coordinating DEM's Compliance Group and OWR is a cost-effective method that uses existing government programs to target firms that may need technical assistance and training to establish pollution prevention methods and technology in their plants. Although costs may be incurred to establish pollution prevention programs in industrial plants, many firms have found that waste reduction often results in savings in operating costs that more than offset the costs of implementing the plan.
Funding Strategy
No additional funding is necessary to implement this management action.