Category: Water Quality

Maintaining Sawmills in Compliance with Environmental and Safety Rules and Regulations

Posted on by Conversion Technology

Conversion Technology Inc. (CTI) is an environmental, health, and safety (EHS) Consulting firm located in Norcross, GA. We have been in business since 1986 working with clients across all industries.

CTI specializes in maintaining sawmills in compliance with Environmental and Safety rules and regulations. The following is a partial list of consulting services that we provide to our sawmill clients: Continue reading “Maintaining Sawmills in Compliance with Environmental and Safety Rules and Regulations” →

2025 Environmental Deadlines

Posted on by Conversion Technology

With a new year comes the never-ending requirements for environmental permit submittals, agency notifications, and chemical reporting. Because of these requirements it is always important for a facility to examine upcoming environmental deadlines. This ensures that the facility maintains current knowledge of its environmental obligations and lays the foundation for annual planning to meet those obligations.

The following is a compilation of a wide range of environmental deadlines in 2025 that may assist your facility in preparing to maintain environmental compliance in the upcoming year: Continue reading “2025 Environmental Deadlines” →

Staying in Compliance with Your General Stormwater Permit

Posted on by Conversion Technology

What is the General Stormwater Permit?

Most facilities that conduct industrial activity exposed to stormwater are familiar with the NPDES Industrial Storm Water General Permit and are aware that it is issued by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). The current General Stormwater Permit was issued in March 2017 and will continue through May 2022. This is the earliest effective date for reissuance of the permit. Facilities with a permit are authorized to discharge stormwater associated with industrial activity to the waters of the state of Georgia in accordance with the limitations, monitoring requirements and other conditions set forth in the permit.

What is the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan? Continue reading “Staying in Compliance with Your General Stormwater Permit” →

Staying in Compliance with Your General Stormwater Permit

Posted on by Conversion Technology

What is the General Stormwater Permit?

Most facilities that conduct industrial activity exposed to stormwater are familiar with the NPDES Industrial Storm Water General Permit and are aware that it is issued by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). The current General Stormwater Permit was issued in March 2017 and will continue through May 2022. This is the earliest effective date for reissuance of the permit. Facilities with a permit are authorized to discharge stormwater associated with industrial activity to the waters of the state of Georgia in accordance with the limitations, monitoring requirements and other conditions set forth in the permit.

What is the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan?
Continue reading “Staying in Compliance with Your General Stormwater Permit” →

Georgia Set To Release New General Stormwater Permit in 2022

Posted on by Conversion Technology

With the release of the EPA’s 2021 Stormwater Multisector General Permit (MSGP), the GA EPD, like many other states, is planning to adopt significant changes from the 2021 EPA MSGP to their Industrial General Permit (IGP) in May of 2022. These changes will apply to most if not all industry sectors covered under the current 2017 IGP. The EPD has confirmed the following as the “most significant changes” that have been added to the draft permit: Continue reading “Georgia Set To Release New General Stormwater Permit in 2022” →

What is a Smoke & Dye Test and Why is it Required?

Posted on by Conversion Technology

With the release of the 2012 Industrial General Stormwater Permit (IGP) the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) introduced the Smoke and Dye Testing requirement for any facility with sinks and floor drains in industrial areas that were installed prior to 2006. This requirement was rolled over into the 2017 IGP when it was released in June 2017 that all applicable permittees should conduct the Smoke and Dye Testing prior to the end of the permit cycle which is schedule to be May 30, 2022.
Continue reading “What is a Smoke & Dye Test and Why is it Required?” →

Staying in Compliance with Industrial Wastewater Streams

Posted on by Conversion Technology

If your industrial processes generate wastewater, then you need to know how to properly dispose of that wastewater. Process wastewater of any kind cannot simply be discharged into the sewer or outside where it can leave your property without first obtaining the proper permits. The most common options of disposing process wastewater include: Continue reading “Staying in Compliance with Industrial Wastewater Streams” →

White Paper on Managing Lumber Kiln Condensate

Posted on by Conversion Technology

Over the past decade, there has been a push by lumber manufacturers to install continuous dry kilns, or CDKs, to supplement or replace batch kilns. There are numerous benefits with CDKs, including higher quality lumber, more efficient combustion of fuel, pre-heating of green, undried lumber with heat that would be lost with a batch kiln, and elimination of charge turnover resulting in a significant increase in production efficiency.   With all these benefits, comes a substantial problem: a dramatic increase in the generation of kiln condensate.

The regulations that apply to kiln condensate are complex and typically require stringent permits or alternative management techniques. CTI’s white paper provides an overview of the regulations that are applicable to kiln condensate, and it details the legal options lumber manufacturers have in managing it.

Click here for access to the white paper

Have You Conducted Your Smoke and Dye Test?

Posted on by Conversion Technology

swq_sdt1Under the Georgia Industrial Storm Water Permit, all covered facilities are required to conduct a smoke, dye, or equivalent test of all floor drains and sinks in industrial areas. These tests are to ensure that these sinks and floor drains do not discharge to storm water conveyances, and must be conducted by the end of the permit, May 31, 2017.

Continue reading “Have You Conducted Your Smoke and Dye Test?” →

Georgia Issues Draft Industrial Stormwater Permit

Posted on by Adam Haroz, EIT

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GAEPD) has posted a draft of the 2017 NPDES General Permit No. GAR050000 for Storm Water Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity. The current (2012) version of the permit is set to expire on May 31, 2017, and this revision will replace it. Most facilities with industrial activities exposed to stormwater are required to have a permit to allow the stormwater to discharge. Some facilities have individual permits, but the majority of industrial facilities are able to obtain coverage under this General Permit, which establishes requirements that are applicable to all covered facilities. Continue reading “Georgia Issues Draft Industrial Stormwater Permit” →