West Virginia Code > Chapter 22 > Article 11 > § 22-11-6 - Requirement to comply with standards of water quality and effluent limitations
Current as of: 2010
All persons affected by rules establishing water quality standards and effluent limitations shall promptly comply therewith: Provided, That where necessary and proper, the chief may specify a reasonable time for persons not complying with such standards and limitations to comply therewith, and upon the expiration of any such period of time, the chief shall revoke or modify any permit previously issued which authorized the discharge of treated or untreated sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes into the waters of this state which result in reduction of the quality of such waters below the standards and limitations established therefor by rules of the board or director. The Legislature finds that there are concerns within West Virginia regarding the applicability of the research underlying the federal selenium criteria to a state such as West Virginia which has high precipitation rates and free-flowing streams and that the alleged environmental impacts that were documented in applicable federal research have not been observed in West Virginia and, further, that considerable research is required to determine if selenium is having an impact on West Virginia streams, to validate or determine the proper testing methods for selenium and to better understand the chemical reactions related to selenium mobilization in water. For existing NPDES permits, the department may extend the time period for achieving water quality-based effluent limits for selenium discharges into waters supporting aquatic life uses to July 1, 2012, upon compliance with all federally required public notice requirements for such modifications, upon a finding that the permittee cannot comply with its existing compliance schedule and that an extension is not in violation of any state or federal laws, rules or regulations. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is hereby directed to undertake a comprehensive study relating to selenium and prepare a report detailing such findings and submitting the report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance no later than January 1, 2010. In conducting such study, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection shall consult with, among others, West Virginia University and the West Virginia Water Research Institute.________________________________________________________________________
Questions & Answers: Water PollutionWest Virginia Laws: Water PollutionU.S. Code Provisions: Water PollutionFederal Regulations: Water PollutionRelated Articles: Water Pollution
 |
|
|
Email
Print