General permit establishing effluent units for nitrogen

Notwithstanding any provision of section 22a-430 or 22a-430b and notwithstanding nitrogen limits specified in individual discharge permits issued pursuant to said section 22a-430, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall issue a general permit for publicly-owned treatment works specifying effluent limits for nitrogen in accordance with the total maximum daily load and may issue a general permit for private-sector entities that discharge nitrogen into state waters that may include, but not be limited to, marketable permits, effluent reduction credits or other economic incentives. In order to meet water quality standards, the commissioner may incorporate compliance schedules into permits issued under this section and said sections 22a-430 and 22a-430b. The general permit shall establish effluent limits for nitrogen and shall establish an annual compliance schedule for nitrogen for each publicly-owned treatment works and for each private-sector entity that discharges nitrogen into state waters. Under the general permit, the commissioner may require publicly-owned treatment works to (1) meet effluent limits and other conditions for discharging nitrogen to the waters of the state pursuant to their individual waste load allocations, (2) comply with monitoring requirements as set forth in the general permit, and (3) comply with any other requirements as determined by the commissioner necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. Publicly-owned treatment works may participate in the nitrogen credit exchange program in order to comply with effluent limits for nitrogen specified in the general permit.