62-620.610. General Conditions for All Permits

All permits, except General and Generic Permits, issued by the Department under this chapter shall include the following conditions:

(1) The terms, conditions, requirements, limitations and restrictions set forth in this permit are binding and enforceable pursuant to Chapter 403, F.S. Any permit noncompliance constitutes a violation of Chapter 403, F.S., and is grounds for enforcement action, permit termination, permit revocation and reissuance, or permit revision.

(2) This permit is valid only for the specific processes and operations applied for and indicated in the approved drawings or exhibits. Any unauthorized deviation from the approved drawings, exhibits, specifications, or conditions of this permit constitutes grounds for revocation and enforcement action by the Department.

(3) As provided in Section 403.087(7), F.S., the issuance of this permit does not convey any vested rights or any exclusive privileges. Neither does it authorize any injury to public or private property or any invasion of personal rights, nor authorize any infringement of federal, state, or local laws or regulations. This permit is not a waiver of or approval of any other Department permit or authorization that may be required for other aspects of the total project which are not addressed in this permit.

(4) This permit conveys no title to land or water, does not constitute State recognition or acknowledgment of title, and does not constitute authority for the use of submerged lands unless herein provided and the necessary title or leasehold interests have been obtained from the State. Only the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund may express State opinion as to title.

(5) This permit does not relieve the permittee from liability and penalties for harm or injury to human health or welfare, animal or plant life, or property caused by the construction or operation of this permitted source; nor does it allow the permittee to cause pollution in contravention of Florida Statutes and Department rules, unless specifically authorized by an order from the Department. The permittee shall take all reasonable steps to minimize or prevent any discharge, reuse of reclaimed water, or residuals use or disposal in violation of this permit which has a reasonable likelihood of adversely affecting human health or the environment. It shall not be a defense for a permittee in an enforcement action that it would have been necessary to halt or reduce the permitted activity in order to maintain compliance with the conditions of this permit.

(6) If the permittee wishes to continue an activity regulated by this permit after its expiration date, the permittee shall apply for and obtain a new permit.

(7) The permittee shall at all times properly operate and maintain the facility and systems of treatment and control, and related appurtenances, that are installed and used by the permittee to achieve compliance with the conditions of this permit. This provision includes the operation of backup or auxiliary facilities or similar systems when necessary to maintain or achieve compliance with the conditions of the permit.

(8) This permit may be modified, revoked and reissued, or terminated for cause. The filing of a request by the permittee for a permit revision, revocation and reissuance, or termination, or a notification of planned changes or anticipated noncompliance does not stay any permit condition.

(9) The permittee, by accepting this permit, specifically agrees to allow authorized Department personnel, including an authorized representative of the Department and authorized EPA personnel, when applicable, upon presentation of credentials or other documents as may be required by law, and at reasonable times, depending upon the nature of the concern being investigated, to:

(a) Enter upon the permittee’s premises where a regulated facility, system, or activity is located or conducted, or where records shall be kept under the conditions of this permit;

(b) Have access to and copy any records that shall be kept under the conditions of this permit;

(c) Inspect the facilities, equipment, practices, or operations regulated or required under this permit; and,

(d) Sample or monitor any substances or parameters at any location necessary to assure compliance with this permit or Department rules.

(10) In accepting this permit, the permittee understands and agrees that all records, notes, monitoring data, and other information relating to the construction or operation of this permitted source which are submitted to the Department may be used by the Department as evidence in any enforcement case involving the permitted source arising under the Florida Statutes or Department rules, except as such use is proscribed by Section 403.111, F.S., or Rule 62-620.302, F.A.C. Such evidence shall only be used to the extent that it is consistent with the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure and applicable evidentiary rules.

(11) When requested by the Department, the permittee shall within a reasonable time provide any information required by law which is needed to determine whether there is cause for revising, revoking and reissuing, or terminating this permit, or to determine compliance with the permit. The permittee shall also provide to the Department upon request copies of records required by this permit to be kept. If the permittee becomes aware of relevant facts that were not submitted or were incorrect in the permit application or in any report to the Department, such facts or information shall be promptly submitted or corrections promptly reported to the Department.

(12) Unless specifically stated otherwise in Department rules, the permittee, in accepting this permit, agrees to comply with changes in Department rules and Florida Statutes after a reasonable time for compliance; provided, however, the permittee does not waive any other rights granted by Florida Statutes or Department rules. A reasonable time for compliance with a new or amended surface water quality standard, other than those standards addressed in Rule 62-302.500, F.A.C., shall include a reasonable time to obtain or be denied a mixing zone for the new or amended standard.

(13) The permittee, in accepting this permit, agrees to pay the applicable regulatory program and surveillance fee in accordance with Rule 62-4.052, F.A.C.

(14) This permit is transferable only upon Department approval in accordance with Rule 62-620.340, F.A.C. The permittee shall be liable for any noncompliance of the permitted activity until the transfer is approved by the Department.

(15) The permittee shall give the Department written notice at least 60 days before inactivation or abandonment of a wastewater facility or activity and shall specify what steps will be taken to safeguard public health and safety during and following inactivation or abandonment.

(16) The permittee shall apply for a revision to the Department permit in accordance with Rules 62-620.300, F.A.C., and the Department of Environmental Protection Guide to Permitting Wastewater Facilities or Activities Under Chapter 62-620, F.A.C., at least 90 days before construction of any planned substantial modifications to the permitted facility is to commence or with subsection 62-620.325(2), F.A.C., for minor modifications to the permitted facility. A revised permit shall be obtained before construction begins except as provided in Rule 62-620.300, F.A.C.

(17) The permittee shall give advance notice to the Department of any planned changes in the permitted facility or activity which may result in noncompliance with permit requirements. The permittee shall be responsible for any and all damages which may result from the changes and may be subject to enforcement action by the Department for penalties or revocation of this permit. The notice shall include the following information:

(a) A description of the anticipated noncompliance;

(b) The period of the anticipated noncompliance, including dates and times; and,

(c) Steps being taken to prevent future occurrence of the noncompliance.

(18) Sampling and monitoring data shall be collected and analyzed in accordance with Rule 62-4.246, Chapters 62-160 and 62-601, F.A.C., and 40 C.F.R. 136, as appropriate.

(a) Monitoring results shall be reported at the intervals specified elsewhere in this permit and shall be reported on a Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR), DEP Form 62-620.910(10), or as specified elsewhere in the permit.

(b) If the permittee monitors any contaminant more frequently than required by the permit, using Department approved test procedures, the results of this monitoring shall be included in the calculation and reporting of the data submitted in the DMR.

(c) Calculations for all limitations which require averaging of measurements shall use an arithmetic mean unless otherwise specified in this permit.

(d) Except as specifically provided in Rule 62-160.300, F.A.C., any laboratory test required by this permit shall be performed by a laboratory that has been certified by the Department of Health Environmental Laboratory Certification Program (DOH ELCP). Such certification shall be for the matrix, test method and analyte(s) being measured to comply with this permit. For domestic wastewater facilities, testing for parameters listed in subsection 62-160.300(4), F.A.C., shall be conducted under the direction of a certified operator.

(e) Field activities including onsite tests and sample collection shall follow the applicable standard operating procedures described in DEP-SOP-001/01 adopted by reference in Chapter 62-160, F.A.C.

(f) Alternate field procedures and laboratory methods may be used where they have been approved in accordance with Rules 62-160.220 and 62-160.330, F.A.C.

(19) Reports of compliance or noncompliance with, or any progress reports on, interim and final requirements contained in any compliance schedule detailed elsewhere in this permit shall be submitted no later than 14 days following each schedule date.

(20) The permittee shall report to the Department any noncompliance which may endanger health or the environment. Any information shall be provided orally within 24 hours from the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances. A written submission shall also be provided within five days of the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances. The written submission shall contain a description of the noncompliance and its cause; the period of noncompliance including exact dates and times, and if the noncompliance has not been corrected, the anticipated time it is expected to continue; clean up actions taken and status; and steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate, and prevent recurrence of the noncompliance. For noncompliance events related to sanitary sewer overflows, bypass events, or unauthorized discharges, these reports must include the data described above (with the exception of time of discovery) as well as the type of event (e.g., sanitary sewer overflow, bypass, unauthorized discharge); type of sanitary sewer overflow structure (e.g., manhole); the discharge location address and latitude/longitude; type of water discharged; discharge volumes and volumes recovered; volume discharged to surface waters and receiving waterbody name; types of human health and environmental impacts of the sanitary sewer overflow, bypass event, or unauthorized discharge (e.g., beach closure); whether the noncompliance was caused by a thrid party; and whether the noncompliance was related to wet weather. The written submission may be provided electronically using the Department’s Business Portal at http://www.fldepportal.com/go/ (via “Submit” followed by “Report” or “Registration/Notification”). Notice required for public notice of pollution under paragraph (d) may be provided together with the written submission using the Business Portal. All noncompliance events related to sanitary sewer overflows or bypass events submitted after (September 14, 2021), shall be submitted electronically.

(a) The following shall be included as information which must be reported within 24 hours under this condition:

1. Any unanticipated bypass which causes any reclaimed water or the effluent to exceed any permit limitation or results in an unpermitted discharge,

2. Any upset which causes any reclaimed water or the effluent to exceed any limitation in the permit,

3. Violation of a maximum daily discharge limitation for any of the pollutants specifically listed in the permit for such notice; and,

4. Any unauthorized discharge to surface or ground waters, except for discharges to ground water of reclaimed water meeting Part III or Part V treatment standards under Chapter 62-610, F.A.C.

(b) Oral reports as required by this subsection shall be provided as follows:

1. For unauthorized releases or spills of treated or untreated wastewater reported pursuant to subparagraph (a)4., that are in excess of 1,000 gallons per incident, or where information indicates that public health or the environment will be endangered, oral reports shall be provided to the Department by calling the State WATCH OFFICE toll free number [phone], as soon as practicable, but no later than 24 hours from the time the permittee becomes aware of the discharge. The permittee, to the extent known, shall provide the following information to the State Watch Office:

a. Name, address, and telephone number of person reporting,

b. Name, address, and telephone number of permittee or responsible person for the discharge,

c. Date and time of the discharge and status of discharge (ongoing or ceased),

d. Characteristics of the wastewater spilled or released (untreated or treated, industrial or domestic wastewater),

e. Estimated amount of the discharge,

f. Location or address of the discharge,

g. Source and cause of the discharge,

h. Whether the discharge was contained on-site, and cleanup actions taken to date,

i. Description of area affected by the discharge, including name of water body affected, if any; and,

j. Other persons or agencies contacted.

2. Oral reports, not otherwise required to be provided pursuant to subparagraph (b)1., above, shall be provided to the Department within 24 hours from the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances.

(c) If the oral report has been received within 24 hours, the noncompliance has been corrected, and the noncompliance did not endanger health or the environment, the Department shall waive the written report.

(d) In accordance with Section 403.077, F.S., unauthorized releases or spills reportable to the State Watch Office pursuant to subparagraph (b)1. above shall also be reported to the Department within 24 hours from the time the permittee becomes aware of the discharge. The permittee shall provide to the Department information reported to the State Watch Office. Notice of unauthorized releases or spills may be provided to the Department through the Department’s Public Notice of Pollution web page at https://floridadep.gov/pollutionnotice or by reporting electronically using the Department’s Business Portal at http://www.fldepportal.com/go/ (via “Submit” followed by “Report” or “Registration/Notification”).

1. If, after providing notice pursuant to paragraph (d) above, the permittee determines that a reportable unauthorized release or spill did not occur or that an amendment to the notice is warranted, the permittee may submit a letter to the Department documenting such determination at [e-mail].

2. If, after providing notice pursuant to paragraph (d) above, the permittee discovers that a reportable unauthorized release or spill has migrated outside the property boundaries of the installation, the permittee must provide an additional notice to the Department that the release has migrated outside the property boundaries within 24 hours after its discovery of the migration outside of the property boundaries.

(e) Unless discharged to surface waters, a spill, release, discharge, upset or bypass involving reclaimed water meeting Part III or Part V treatment standards under Chapter 62-610, F.A.C., shall not be considered to endanger health or the environment and shall be reported under subsection (21) of this permit.

(21) The permittee shall report all instances of noncompliance not reported under subsection (17), (18) or (19), of this permit at the time monitoring reports are submitted. This report shall contain the same information required by subsection (20) of this permit.

(22) Bypass Provisions.

(a) Bypass is prohibited, and the Department may take enforcement action against a permittee for bypass, unless the permittee affirmatively demonstrates that:

1. Bypass was unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage; and,

2. There were no feasible alternatives to the bypass, such as the use of auxiliary treatment facilities, retention of untreated wastes, or maintenance during normal periods of equipment downtime. This condition is not satisfied if adequate back-up equipment should have been installed in the exercise of reasonable engineering judgment to prevent a bypass which occurred during normal periods of equipment downtime or preventive maintenance; and,

3. The permittee submitted notices as required under paragraph (22)(b), of this permit.

(b) If the permittee knows in advance of the need for a bypass, it shall submit prior notice to the Department, if possible at least 10 days before the date of the bypass. The permittee shall submit notice of an unanticipated bypass within 24 hours of learning about the bypass as required in subsection (20), of this permit. A notice shall include a description of the bypass and its cause; the period of the bypass, including exact dates and times; if the bypass has not been corrected, the anticipated time it is expected to continue; and the steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate, and prevent recurrence of the bypass.

(c) The Department shall approve an anticipated bypass, after considering its adverse effect, if the permittee demonstrates that it will meet the three conditions listed in subparagraphs (22)(a)1. through 3., of this permit.

(d) A permittee may allow any bypass to occur which does not cause reclaimed water or effluent limitations to be exceeded if it is for essential maintenance to assure efficient operation. These bypasses are not subject to the provision of paragraphs (22)(a) through (c), of this permit.

(23) Upset Provisions.

(a) A permittee who wishes to establish the affirmative defense of upset shall demonstrate, through properly signed, contemporaneous operating logs, or other relevant evidence that:

1. An upset occurred and that the permittee can identify the cause(s) of the upset,

2. The permitted facility was at the time being properly operated,

3. The permittee submitted notice of the upset as required in subsection (20), of this permit; and,

4. The permittee complied with any remedial measures required under subsection (5), of this permit.

(b) In any enforcement proceeding, the burden of proof for establishing the occurrence of an upset rests with the permittee.

(c) Before an enforcement proceeding is instituted, no representation made during the Department review of a claim that noncompliance was caused by an upset is final agency action subject to judicial review.

Rulemaking Authority 403.061, 403.077, 403.087 FS. Law Implemented 403.051, 403.061, 403.077, 403.087, 403.088, 403.0885 FS. History–New 11-29-94, Amended 12-24-96, 10-23-00, 4-17-02, 12-23-04, 2-7-06, 9-14-21.