ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 442

Effluent Limitations Guidelines, Pretreatment Standards, and New
Source Performance Standards for the Transportation Equipment Cleaning Point Source Category

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This regulation establishes technology-based effluent
limitations guidelines, new source performance standards, and
pretreatment standards for the discharge of pollutants into waters of
the United States and into publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) by existing and new facilities that perform transportation equipment
cleaning operations. Transportation equipment cleaning (TEC) facilities
are defined as those facilities that generate wastewater from cleaning
the interior of tank trucks, closed-top hopper trucks, rail tank cars,
closed-top hopper rail cars, intermodal tank containers, tank barges,
closed-top hopper barges, and ocean/sea tankers used to transport
materials or cargos that come into direct contact with the tank or
container interior. Facilities which do not engage in cleaning the
interior of tanks are not considered within the scope of this rule.

EPA is subcategorizing the TEC Point Source Category into the
following four subparts based on types of cargos carried and
transportation mode: Subpart A--Tank Trucks and Intermodal Tank
Containers Transporting Chemical & Petroleum Cargos; Subpart B--Rail Tank Cars Transporting Chemical & Petroleum Cargos; Subpart C--Tank Barges and Ocean/Sea Tankers Transporting Chemical & Petroleum Cargos; Subpart D--Tanks Transporting Food Grade Cargos.   

For all four subparts, EPA is establishing effluent limitations guidelines for existing facilities and new sources discharging wastewater directly to surface waters. EPA is establishing pretreatment standards for existing facilities and new sources discharging wastewater to POTWs in all subparts except for Subpart D, applicable to Food Grade Cargos. EPA is not establishing effluent limitations guidelines or pretreatment standards for facilities that generate wastewater from cleaning the interior of hopper cars.    

The TEC limitations do not apply to wastewaters associated with
tank cleanings performed in conjunction with other industrial, commercial, or POTW operations so long as the facility cleans only
tanks and containers that have contained raw materials, by-products,
and finished products that are associated with the facility's on-site
processes.   

The wastewater flows covered by this rule include all washwaters
which have come into direct contact with the tank or container interior
including pre-rinse cleaning solutions, chemical cleaning solutions, and final rinse solutions. Additionally, the rule covers wastewater generated from washing vehicle exteriors, equipment and floor washings, and TEC contaminated stormwater at those facilities subject to the TEC
effluent limitations guidelines and standards. Compliance with this rule is estimated to reduce the annual discharge of priority pollutants by at least 60,000 pounds per year and result in annual benefits ranging from $1.5 million to $5.5 million. The total annualized compliance cost of the rule is projected to be $16.1 million (pre-tax).

You can find the full text of this regulation on the Federal Register Web Site.   This regulation appeared in the August 14, 2000 issue, Vol. 65 No. 157 and begins on page 49665.