2013 Maryland Code
ENVIRONMENT
§ 9-329 - Chlorine systems

§9-329.

(a) Except as otherwise prohibited in subsection (b) of this section, the Department may issue a permit that allows the use of chlorine or chlorine compounds in treatment of wastewaters discharged from any publicly or privately owned sewage treatment plant to any surface waters of this State only if the treatment of the wastewaters includes dechlorination.

(b) (1) This subsection is not effective unless matching federal funds are available to implement the provisions of paragraph (4) of this subsection.

(2) This subsection does not apply to sewerage treatment facilities that discharge an amount of treated sewage less than 1 percent of the 7-day, 10-year low flow of the receiving stream.

(3) The Department may not issue a permit that allows the use of chlorine or chlorine compounds in the treatment of wastewaters discharged into any waters of this State that are designated by the Department as natural trout waters and their tributaries.

(4) (i) This subsection applies to any local subdivision that owns or operates an existing treatment system that is required to convert from use of chlorination to another system in order to be permitted under this subtitle.

(ii) If the local subdivision applied for assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency on or before September 30, 1981, the conversion costs not funded by the Environmental Protection Agency may be covered with State funds as provided in the State budget.

(iii) If the local subdivision failed to apply for assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency on or before September 30, 1981, conversion costs ordinarily met by the Environmental Protection Agency and this State shall be the responsibility of the local subdivision.

§ 9-329 - 1. Chlorine systems -- Publicly or privately owned sewage treatment plants

(a) Applicability of section. -- This section does not apply to:

(1) A publicly or privately owned sewage treatment plant; or

(2) The discharge of any chlorine or chlorine products that are present due to their occurrence as a natural constituent of saline water.

(b) Discharge levels during April and May. -- A person who has a discharge permit may not discharge chlorine or chlorine products into the Chesapeake Bay or its tributaries during April and May of any year at a level that is greater than the chlorine discharge level that is applicable to a publicly or privately owned sewage treatment plant under § 9-329 of this subtitle.

§ 9-329 - 2. Discharge of chlorine into Chesapeake Bay or its tributaries

(a) Prohibited. -- Except as provided in this section and notwithstanding any other provision of this article, on or after July 1, 1988 a person may not discharge any chlorine or chlorine products into the Chesapeake Bay or its tributaries in excess of a concentration that the Department of the Environment, in consultation with the Department of Natural Resources, determines to be the lowest practicably attainable concentration.

(b) Determination of allowable concentrations. -- To determine the allowable concentrations of chlorine or chlorine products under this section, the Secretary of the Environment, in consultation with the Secretary of Natural Resources, shall adopt regulations that:

(1) Use the best practicable management technologies; and

(2) Set forth approved monitoring technologies.

(c) Application for exceptions. --

(1) A person may apply to the Department of the Environment for an exception under subsection (a) of this section.

(2) The Department of the Environment, in consultation with the Department of Natural Resources, may grant an exception under subsection (a) of this section to an applicant if the application sets forth compliance schedules acceptable to the Department.

(d) Exceptions for vessels equipped with marine sanitation device. -- An owner of a vessel that is equipped with a marine sanitation device that meets the requirements of 33 C.F.R. 159 shall automatically be excepted from the provisions of subsection (a) of this section.