Report - Maryland Department of the Environment

PROCESS
The Compliance Program performs inspections of sites with surface water discharge
permits as part of its overall inspection priority scheme, with priority given to sites
that are the subject of complaints or in violation based on failure to perform permit
required self-monitoring and reporting or due to violations of the effluent limitations in
the permit. The inspector may conduct unannounced inspections and may collect
samples for independent laboratory analysis as necessary to verify compliance with
permit limits. Self-monitoring results are filed at the frequency specified by the
permit (usually monthly or quarterly) in the form of Discharge Monitoring Reports
(DMRs). DMRs are reviewed in the office and at the facilities in order to determine
whether the criteria for “Significant Noncompliance” have been met. DMR reviews
performed by the Compliance Program’s Resource Planning and Utilization Division
are included in the following Table on the line identified as “Inspections, Audits, Spot
Checks.” DMRs were reviewed for all permitted sites that require DMR submittals
as a part of their permit.
SUCCESSES/CHALLENGES
Excessive nutrients from municipal and industrial wastewater, industrial chemicals in
wastewater, and the pollutants carried by stormwater runoff all have the potential to
impact the quality of surface waters. Through the surface water discharge permitting
process, dischargers are inventoried, inspected, and enforced. Permit writers and
inspectors must be familiar with a wide range of discharge permit conditions and
prioritize their activities to effectively address pollution control for major dischargers,
as well as an increasing number of minor dischargers, to the greatest extent
possible with the available staff.
Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs)
No SEPs were authorized in FY 2009.
MDE FY 2009 Annual Enforcement and Compliance Report 99