Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 23, 2024

Title 40 - Protection of Environment last revised: Nov 21, 2024
§ 421.230 - Applicability: Description of the primary nickel and cobalt subcategory.

The provisions of this subpart are applicable to discharges resulting from the production of nickel or cobalt by primary nickel and cobalt facilities processing ore concentrate raw materials.

§ 421.231 - Specialized definitions.

For the purpose of this subpart the general definitions, abbreviations, and methods of analysis set forth in 40 CFR part 401 shall apply to this subpart.

§ 421.232 - Effluent limitations guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best practicable control technology currently available.

Except as provided in 40 CFR 125.30 through 125.32, any existing point source subject to this subpart shall achieve the following effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best practicable technology currently available:

(a) Raw Material dust control.

BPT Limitations for the Primary Nickel and Cobalt Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of copper, nickel, and cobalt in the crushed raw material
Copper0.1460.077
Nickel0.1480.098
Ammonia (as N)10.2604.512
Cobalt0.0160.007
Total suspended solids3.1571.502
pH( 1)( 1)

1 Within the range of 7.5 to 10.0 at all times.

(b) Nickel wash water.

BPT Limitations for the Primary Nickel and Cobalt Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of nickel powder washed
Copper0.0640.034
Nickel0.0650.043
Ammonia (as N)4.5151.985
Cobalt0.0070.003
Total suspended solids1.3890.660
pH( 1)( 1)

1 Within the range of 7.5 to 10.0 at all times.

(c) Nickel reduction decant.

BPT Limitations for the Primary Nickel and Cobalt Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of nickel produced
Copper24.12012.700
Nickel24.37016.120
Ammonia (as N)1,692.000743.900
Cobalt2.6661.143
Total suspended solids520.500247.600
pH( 1)( 1)

1 Within the range of 7.5 to 10.0 at all times.

(d) Cobalt reduction decant.

BPT Limitations for the Primary Nickel and Cobalt Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of cobalt produced
Copper40.66021.400
Nickel41.08027.180
Ammonia (as N)2,852.0001,254.000
Cobalt4.4941.926
Total suspended solids877.300417.300
pH( 1)( 1)

1 Within the range of 7.5 to 10.0 at all times.

§ 421.233 - Effluent limitations guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available technology economically achievable.

Except as provided in 40 CFR 125.30 through 125.32, any existing point source subject to this subpart shall achieve the following effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available technology economically achievable:

(a) Raw material dust control.

BAT Limitations for the Primary Nickel and Cobalt Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of copper, nickel, and cobalt in the crushed raw material
Copper0.0990.047
Nickel0.0420.028
Ammonia (as N)10.2604.512
Cobalt0.0110.005

(b) Nickel wash water.

BAT Limitations for the Primary Nickel and Cobalt Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of nickel powder washed
Copper0.0430.021
Nickel0.0190.013
Ammonia (as N)4.5151.985
Cobalt0.0050.002

(c) Nickel reduction decant.

BAT Limitations for the Primary Nickel and Cobalt Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of nickel produced
Copper16.2507.744
Nickel6.9824.697
Ammonia (as N)1,692.000743.900
Cobalt1.7770.889

(d) Cobalt reduction decant.

BAT Limitations for the Primary Nickel and Cobalt Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of cobalt produced
Copper27.39013.050
Nickel11.7707.917
Ammonia (as N)2,852.0001,254.000
Cobalt2.9961.498
[50 FR 38359, Sept. 20, 1985; 50 FR 41144, Oct. 9, 1985]
§ 421.234 - Standards of performance for new sources.

Any new source subject to this subpart shall achieve the following new source performance standards:

(a) Raw Material Dust Control.

NSPS for the Primary Nickel and Cobalt Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of copper, nickel, and cobalt in the crushed raw material
Copper0.0990.047
Nickel0.0420.028
Ammonia (as N)10.2604.512
Cobalt0.0110.005
Total suspended solids1.1550.924
pH 1 1

1 Within the range of 7.5 to 10.0 at all times.

(b) Nickel wash water.

NSPS for the Primary Nickel and Cobalt Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of nickel powder washed
Copper0.0430.021
Nickel0.0190.013
Ammonia (as N)4.5151.985
Cobalt0.0050.002
Total suspended solids0.5080.406
pH 1 1

1 Within the range of 7.5 to 10.0 at all times.

(c) Nickel reduction decant.

NSPS for the Primary Nickel and Cobalt Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of nickel produced
Copper16.2507.744
Nickel6.9824.697
Ammonia (as N)1,692.000743.900
Cobalt1.7770.889
Total suspended solids190.400152.300
pH 1 1

1 Within the range of 7.5 to 10.0 at all times.

(d) Cobalt reduction decant.

NSPS for the Primary Nickel and Cobalt Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of cobalt produced
Copper27.39013.050
Nickel11.7707.917
Ammonia (as N)2,852.0001,254.000
Cobalt2.9961.498
Total suspended solids321.000256.800
pH 1 1

1 Within the range of 7.5 to 10.0 at all times.

§ 421.235 - [Reserved]
§ 421.236 - Pretreatment standards for new sources.

Except as provided in 40 CFR 403.7, any new source subject to this subpart which introduces pollutants into a publicly owned treatment works must comply with a 40 CFR part 403 and achieve the following pretreatment standards for new sources. The mass of wastewater pollutants in primary nickel and cobalt process wastewater introduced into a POTW shall not exceed the following values:

(a) Raw material dust control.

PSNS for the Primary Nickel and Cobalt Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of copper, nickel, and cobalt in the crushed raw material
Copper0.0990.047
Nickel0.0420.028
Ammonia (as N)10.2604.512
Cobalt0.0110.005

(b) Nickel wash water.

PSNS for the Primary Nickel and Cobalt Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of nickel powder washed
Copper0.0430.021
Nickel0.0190.013
Ammonia (as N)4.5151.985
Cobalt0.0050.002

(c) Nickel reduction decant.

PSNS for the Primary Nickel and Cobalt Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) nickel produced
Copper16.2507.744
Nickel6.9824.697
Ammonia (as N)1,692.000743.900
Cobalt1.7770.889

(d) Cobalt reduction decant.

PSNS for the Primary Nickel and Cobalt Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of cobalt produced
Copper27.39013.050
Nickel11.7707.917
Ammonia (as N)2,852.0001,254.000
Cobalt2.9961.498
§ 421.237 - [Reserved]
authority: Secs. 301, 304 (b), (c), (e), and (g), 306 (b) and (c), 307 (b) and (c), 308 and 501 of the Clean Water Act (the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, as amended by the Clean Water Act of 1977) and the Water Quality Act of 1987 (the “Act”); 33 U.S.C. 1311,1314,c,e,and, 1316 (b) andc, 1317 (b) andc,1318; 86 Stat. 816, Pub. L. 92-500; 91 Stat. 1567, Pub. L. 95-217; 101 Stat. 7, Pub. L. 100-4
source: 49 FR 8790, Mar. 8, 1984, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 40 CFR 421.236