Subject:
Title
Ordinance amending the Pinellas County Code by revising Article IV-County Sewer System, further defining permit requirements for non-domestic waste users and ensuring the County has legal authority to implement new regulations in the Dental Amalgam Rule and Pharmaceutical Hazardous Waste Ban.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Adopt the ordinance amending the Pinellas County Code by revising Article IV-County Sewer System, further defining permit requirements for non-domestic waste users and ensuring the County has legal authority to implement new regulations in the Dental Amalgam Rule and Pharmaceutical Hazardous Waste Ban.
• Federal and state regulations/administrative codes require we make these revisions, which are written to be the least restrictive necessary.
• Requirements added for dental facilities and dental discharges.
• Revisions pertaining to Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Sewer Ban.
• Updated language included for Industrial Wastewater Permit as a prohibited discharge.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Providing planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community
Practice Superior Environmental Stewardship
3.3 Protect and improve the quality of our water, air, and other natural resources
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.3 Ensure effective and efficient delivery of county services and support
Summary:
Summary
The revisions proposed through the Ordinance bring Pinellas County into compliance with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) and Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C) with necessary updates to further define permit requirements for non-domestic waste users and ensure Pinellas County has proper legal authority to implement new regulations in the Dental Amalgam Rule and Pharmaceutical Hazardous Waste Ban, pursuant to the Clean Water Act and relevant F. A. C. boards and or committees.
Major revisions to Article IV - County Sewer System are summarized as follows:
The federal rule Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Dental Category (Dental Amalgam Rule) helps prevent mercury from dental facilities that place and remove amalgam from entering our collection system and treatment plants. There are approximately one hundred forty (140) known dental dischargers to County wastewater reclamation facilities. Section 126-366 is revised with requirements for dental facilities.
The federal Pharmaceutical Hazardous Waste Sewer Ban helps prevent hazardous waste pharmaceuticals from being discharged into the County sanitary sewer collection system and to County treatment plants, from defined banned facilities. Definitions are added to define facilities that are banned from disposing pharmaceuticals into the sanitary sewer collection system, as well as what constitutes pharmaceuticals. Section 126-327 is revised to add Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals as a prohibited discharge.
Language is updated for the Industrial Wastewater Permit to include industries that perform federally regulated processes and do not discharge process wastewater but have potential to discharge to the sanitary sewer collection system. The revised language more accurately defines the County’s position of having a control mechanism for these industries.
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Background Information:
The County is empowered to manage, operate, and control a wastewater collection, transmission, treatment, and disposal system; to require industrial surcharges and pretreatment; to charge connection fees; and to require and regulate connection to such wastewater system, pursuant to Section 153, Florida Statutes, and the Clean Water Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. 1251.
The Pinellas County Charter, Chapter 80-590, Laws of Florida, provides that the County shall have all special and necessary power to develop and operate regional sewage treatment facilities in accordance with Federal law, State law, and existing or future interlocal agreements, exclusive of municipal sewage systems. The regulations adopted by this Ordinance are the least restrictive means necessary to achieve the afore mentioned goals and promote and protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the County’s citizens.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Staff Member Responsible:
Megan Ross, Director, Utilities
Partners:
N/A
Attachments:
Proposed Ordinance
Proposed Ordinance - Redline