Licence conditions for pollution studies and reduction program


  

Licence conditions for pollution studies and reduction programs

Summary
 
Licence number: 211
Title: PRP 700: Review of Dry Weather Leakage Monitoring Program Pollution Reduction Program
Start date: 23 Apr 2012
 
Licence Condition
700.1 The objective of this PRP is to improve the effectiveness of the dry weather leakage program by requiring the licensee to: a) review and assess the effectiveness of the program since its commencement in July 2005 in identifying dry weather leakage across the system and driving rectification works; b) review the current monitoring requirements to develop and recommend a revised monitoring program which factors in the risk of leakage from various parts of the system and that can be tailored to the sewage characteristics of each individual SCAMP or system; and c) identify and prioritise SCAMPs known to require intensive catchment investigation / rehabilitation works in order to inform negotiation of further licence specific works based PRPs.
700.2 The licensee must undertake a review of the results of the dry weather leakage monitoring program since its commencement in July 2005 and submit a report to the EPA by 31st May 2012. The report must include, but does not need to be limited to: i) detailed analysis and interpretation of the sampling data to identify trends in detected dry weather leakage across the system and also to identify the factors that are primarily contributing to the patterns of leakage identified; ii) details of responses to the detection of dry weather leakage including a description of investigation and rectification works undertaken to remedy the leakage (including a cost of these works) as well as works identified but not yet undertaken.
700.3 The licensee must undertake a review of the effectiveness of the current dry weather leakage monitoring program and submit a recommendation to the EPA for a revised risk based monitoring program for on-going monitoring of SCAMPS across the Sydney Water network by 30th June 2012. This report must include an indication of the implications for the costing of the proposed monitoring program associated with any recommended changes. The proposed monitoring program does not need to be limited to bacterial parameters, but can be extended (with justification based on known sewage characteristics each SCAMP/system) to other parameters that enable the detection of dry weather sewage overflows in receiving waters.
700.4 The licensee must undertake a review of all SCAMPs that consistently have sampling results above the investigation threshold of 10 000cfu/100mL and submit a recommendation for an investigation and works prioritisation program to the EPA by 31 July 2012. The review must include but is not limited to: i) a framework for prioritising SCAMPS ii) timeframes to undertake priority investigations and works identified using the framework established by i) above iii) a proposed approach and schedule for undertaking priority works for consideration by the EPA.
The EPA intends to implement further PRPs on the licences to require timely works in the poorest performing SCAMPs as negotiated with the licensee.
(a) A financial assurance in the form of an unconditional and irrevocable and on demand guarantee from a bank, building society or credit union operating in Australia as "Authorised Deposit-taking Institutions" under the Banking Act 1959 of the Commonwealth of Australia and supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA) must be provided to the EPA. The financial assurance must be in favour of the EPA in the amount of one hundred and eighty thousand dollars ($180,000). The financial assurance is required to secure or guarantee funding for works or programs required by or under this licence. The financial assurance must contain a term that provides that any monies claimed can be paid to the EPA or, at the written direction of the EPA, to any other person. (b) The licensee must provide to the EPA, along with the original counterpart guarantee, confirmation in writing that the financial institution providing the guarantees is subject to supervision by the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA).
The financial assurance must be maintained during the operation of the facility and thereafter until such time as the EPA is satisfied the premises are environmentally secure.
The financial assurance must be replenished by the full amount claimed or realised if the EPA has claimed on or realised the financial assurance or any part of it to undertake a work or program required to be carried out by the licence which has not been undertaken by the licence holder.
The EPA may require an increase in the amount of the financial assurance at any time as a result of reassessment of the total likely costs and expenses of rehabilitation of the premises.
The licensee must provide to the EPA the original counterpart guarantee within five working days of the issue of: (a) the financial assurance required by condition E2.1; or (b) the adjusted financial assurance as required by condition E2.3 and E2.4