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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 24-594

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Draft Safe Drinking Water General Permit for Community Water System Finished Water Storage Tank Painting

[54 Pa.B. 2327]
[Saturday, April 27, 2024]

 The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is announcing the availability of a draft General Permit—Safe Drinking Water General Permit 01 (SDWGP-01) for painting of the interior of finished water storage tanks by community water systems. To access the draft SDWGP-01 and related documents, visit the Department's eLibrary at www.depgreenport.state.pa.us/elibrary/ (select ''Permit and Authorization Packages,'' then ''Safe Drinking Water,'' then ''SDWGP-01: Safe Drinking Water General Permit 01—Community Water System Finished Water Storage Tank Painting (3940-PM-BSDW0004) (Draft)'').

 The Department is authorized under section 4 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (35 P.S. § 721.4) and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 109, Subchapter E (relating to permit requirements) to issue general permits for a specific category of modifications if the Department determines that the modifications meet the requirements in 25 Pa. Code § 109.511(1)—(3) (relating to general permits).

 The proposed SDWGP-01 is intended to provide permit coverage to public water systems to repaint the interior of finished water storage tanks (storage tanks) in compliance with 25 Pa. Code § 109.511.

 If a storage tank painting project (project) is ineligible for SDWGP-01, the public water system will be required to obtain a Public Water System Minor Amendment Construction Permit that meets the requirements of 25 Pa. Code § 109.503 (relating to public water system construction permits).

 To be eligible for SDWGP-01, the project must meet, at a minimum, the following conditions:

 1. SDWGP-01 Application: The Permittee shall submit a complete Safe Drinking Water General Permit—01 (SDWGP-01): Community Water System Finished Water Storage Tank Painting Application (3940-PM-BSDW0004) to the Department.

 2. SDWGP-01 Authorization: If the application is approved by the Department, the Permittee shall receive a signed copy of SDWGP-01 from the Department authorizing coverage under SDWGP-01.

 3. Eligibility:

 a. Finished water storage tanks used to provide the required 1.0-log Giardia or 4.0-log virus inactivation chlorine contact time for the entry point do not qualify for SDWGP-01. Instead, the public water system will be required to obtain a Public Water System Minor Amendment Construction Permit that meets the requirements of 25 Pa. Code § 109.503, with a detailed explanation of how the required chlorine contact time will be achieved while the storage tank is out of service.

 b. The Department may require the Permittee to apply for and obtain a Public Water Supply Minor Amendment Construction Permit by notifying the Permittee based on review of the SDWGP-01 application.

 4. ANSI/NSF Standard 61: The Permittee shall only utilize coatings that are certified to American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/NSF Standard 61 (see https://www.nsf.org/knowledge-library/nsf-ansi-standard-61-drinking-water-system-components-health-effects).

 5. Coating Application: The Permittee shall mix and apply to the coatings in accordance with the ANSI/American Water Works Association (AWWA) Standard D102 Coating Steel Water Storage Tanks (see https://engage.awwa.org/PersonifyEbusiness/Bookstore/Product-Details/productId/28484).

 6. Surface Preparation: The Permittee shall prepare interior steel surfaces in accordance with the ANSI/AWWA Standard D102 Coating Steel Water Storage Tanks.

 7. Interior Preparation: The Permittee shall follow the AWWA Standard D100 Welded Steel Tanks for Water Storage (see https://engage.awwa.org/PersonifyEbusiness/Bookstore/Product-Details/productId/101843325) while welding the interior of the tank.

 8. Pressure and Peak Demands: The Permittee shall provide a detailed explanation on how pressure will be maintained and peak demands will be met while the storage tank is out of service.

 9. Pressure and Peak Demands Testing: The method for maintaining pressure and meeting peak demands while the storage tank is out of service must be tested with the storage tank full and isolated from the system. This allows the storage tank to be returned to service if necessary (to maintain pressure or meet peak demands) and other options can be explored. While the storage tank is isolated from the system, a 0.2 mg/L disinfectant residual must be maintained within the storage tank.

 10. Fire Protection: If the system provides fire protection, the Permittee shall verify the local fire department was notified of any potential fire flow deficiencies with the storage tank being out of service.

 11. Disinfection: After the work is completed, the Permittee shall disinfect the interior of the tank utilizing one of the procedures set forth in the latest edition of AWWA Standard C652 Disinfection of Water Storage Facilities (see https://www.nsf.org/knowledge-library/nsf-ansi-standard-61-drinking-water-system-components-health-effects). Special conditions will be included in the permit for this requirement.

 12. Disinfectant Residual: After disinfecting the storage tank, the Permittee shall maintain a disinfectant residual of at least 0.2 mg/L in the storage tank at all times until the tank is placed back into service. If the residual falls below 0.2 mg/L, the water supplier shall disinfect the tank again and obtain satisfactory bacteriological test results before placing the tank into service. Special conditions will be included in the permit for this requirement.

 13. Volatile Organic Chemical (VOC) Testing: After the project is completed, the Permittee shall have the water from the storage tank sampled at least 24 hours after the tank is filled and have the samples analyzed by a Department-accredited laboratory for VOCs (EPA Methods 502.2, 524.2 or 524.3). A special condition will be included in the permit for this requirement.

 14. Expiration: The base general permit, SDWGP-01, will expire 5 years from the date of its issuance. If the Department reissues SDWGP-01 upon expiration or modifies SDWGP-01 during its current term, a Permittee with approval under SDWGP-01 may perform the approved work with the terms and conditions of the modified or reissued SDWGP-01, unless the Department notifies the Permittee in writing that a new application is required.

 15. Other Requirements: No condition of SDWGP-01 releases the Permittee from any responsibility or requirements under other Federal, State or local regulations, statutes or ordinances.

 Applicants must submit to the Department a complete SDWGP-01 application, a $500 permit fee, an engineer's report and the coating specifications. The complete application must be submitted, signed and sealed by a Professional Engineer licensed in this Commonwealth.

 Special conditions for the authorization of SDWGP-01, at a minimum, will include:

 1. The Permittee shall comply with the terms and conditions of the SDWGP-01.

 2. The Permittee's failure to comply with the terms, conditions or limitations of the SDWGP-01 is grounds for the Department to take an enforcement action or to terminate or revoke coverage under SDWGP-01.

 3. Authorization of SDWGP-01 does not authorize any activities other than the construction or modification as per the terms and conditions of SDWGP-01.

 4. The Permittee's coverage under SDWGP-01 will expire 2 years from the date of its approved authorization.

 5. The Permittee shall notify the Department at least 48 hours prior to isolating and draining the storage tank.

 6. Prior to returning the storage tank to operation, the storage tank and related appurtenances shall be properly disinfected in accordance with 25 Pa. Code § 109.711 (relating to disinfection of facilities prior to placing them into service) and the most recent procedures established by AWWA. Water from the storage tank shall be tested for total coliforms in accordance with AWWA standards. The samples shall be analyzed by a Department-accredited laboratory. Copies of all microbiological test results shall be submitted to the Department within 24 hours of receiving the results.

 7. After disinfecting the storage tank, the Permittee shall maintain a disinfectant residual of at least 0.2 mg/L in the storage tank at all times until the tank is placed back into service. If the residual falls below 0.2 mg/L, the system shall disinfect the tank again and again obtain satisfactory bacteriological test results before placing the storage tank into operation. The Permittee shall sample chlorine residual at least daily and take one sample that is within 4 hours of returning to operation.

 8. Prior to returning the storage tank to operation, water from the storage tank shall be sampled and tested for VOCs utilizing EPA Method 524.2 or EPA Method 502.2. The storage tank shall be filled with water for at least 24 hours prior to the collection of the VOC sample. The sample shall be analyzed by a Department-accredited laboratory.

 9. If any of the bacteriological results are positive, any regulated VOC concentration exceeds a maximum contaminant level or any nonregulated VOC is found to be present at a concentration that is greater than the method detection limit, the storage tank may not be returned to service until the Department first approves its use, in writing.

 10. Upon completion of construction and testing, the Permittee shall submit to the Department a Certificate of Construction (3900-FM-BSDW0062) available on the Department's eLibrary website at www.depgreenport.state. pa.us/elibrary/ (select ''Forms,'' then ''Safe Drinking Water,'' then ''Certificate of Construction 3900-FM-BSDW0062'') copies of the bacteriological test results, chlorine residual results and VOC test results. The Certificate of Construction form shall be provided to the Department within 24 hours of returning the storage tank to operation or the next business day.

 The Permittee's authorization approval under SDWGP-01 will expire 2 years from the approval date. Failure to comply with the terms, conditions or effluent limitations of the SDWGP-01 will be grounds for the Department to take an enforcement action or terminate or revoke coverage under SDWGP-01.

 Written Comments: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding the draft SDWGP-01 and associated documents on or before Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Commentators are encouraged to submit comments using the Department's online eComment system at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment. Written comments can also be submitted by e-mail to ecomment@pa.gov or by mail to the Department of Environmental Protection, Policy Office, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063. Comments, including comments submitted by e-mail, must include the originator's name and address. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted.

 Contact: Questions regarding the draft SDWGP-01 can be directed to Michael Hess, Permits Division Program Manager, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, michess@ pa.gov, (717) 772-5679.

JESSICA SHIRLEY, 
Interim Acting Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 24-594. Filed for public inspection April 26, 2024, 9:00 a.m.]


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