La Palma Municipal Code Div. 3 Fog Wastewater Discharge Permits

(a) Any person required to obtain a FOG wastewater discharge permit shall submit an application for a permit prior to commencing discharges. The applicable fees shall accompany this application. At a minimum, the applicant shall submit, in units and terms appropriate for evaluation, the following information:

(1) Name, address, telephone number, and assessor's parcel number for the discharge establishment. If the discharge establishment is located in a leased space, the name and address of the property owner or lessor and the property manager where the discharger is located shall be provided;

(2) Name, address, and contact information of any and all principals/owners/major shareholders of the discharge establishment;

(3) Description of the establishment, including hours of operation, cuisine (if applicable), service activities, or clients using the applicant's services;

(4) Site plans, floor plans, mechanical and plumbing plans, and details to show all sewers, FOG control devices, grease interceptors, or other pretreatment equipment and appurtenances by size, location, and elevation;

(5) Description of best management practices to be implemented to control FOG;

(6) Proof of a valid City business license or a business license application to be approved concurrently with the FOG permit; and

(7) Any other information as specified in the application form or as required by the FOG Control Program Manager to properly evaluate the application.

(b) After evaluation of the data furnished, the FOG Control Program Manager may issue a FOG wastewater discharge permit, request additional information, or deny the application.

(c) All new commercial facilities requiring construction will undergo New Grease Control Plan Check and pay any applicable fees be established by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. No. 2022-13, § 1, 12-13-2022)

The issuance of a FOG wastewater discharge permit may be subject to any of the following conditions or limits:

(1) Limits on discharge of FOG and other priority pollutants;

(2) Requirements for proper operation and maintenance of grease interceptors and other grease control devices;

(3) Grease interceptor and other grease control devices maintenance frequency and schedule;

(4) Requirements for implementation of best management practices;

(5) Requirements for maintaining and reporting status of best management practices;

(6) Requirements for maintaining and submitting logs and records, including waste hauling records and waste manifests;

(7) Requirements to self-monitor;

(8) Requirements to construct, operate, and maintain a FOG control device and/or sampling facilities; and

(9) Additional requirements as otherwise determined to be reasonably appropriate to protect the City's system or to ensure compliance with this article.

(Ord. No. 2022-13, § 1, 12-13-2022)

The FOG wastewater discharge permit fee shall be paid by the applicant concurrently with the submittal of an application and prior to the issuance or renewal of a permit in an amount adopted by resolution of the City Council. A permittee shall also pay any delinquent invoices in full prior to permit renewal and address any issues stated on a renewal form regarding a grease removal device. Payment of a fee for the FOG wastewater discharge permit does not exempt the permit holder from any other sewer fees or any other charges established by the City or required by this Code.

(Ord. No. 2022-13, § 1, 12-13-2022)

(a) The terms and conditions of an issued permit may be subject to modification by the FOG Control Program Manager should the information that was used as the basis for determining the original terms and conditions change during the life of the permit.

(b) At any time, the permittee may request a modification to the terms and conditions of an issued permit, in writing, stating the requested change and the reasons for the change. The FOG Control Program Manager shall review the request, make a determination on the request, and prepare a written response within 30 days.

(c) The permittee shall be informed of any change in the permit limits, conditions, or requirements at least 45 days prior to the effective date of change. Any changes or new conditions in the permit shall include a reasonable time schedule for compliance.

(Ord. No. 2022-13, § 1, 12-13-2022)

FOG wastewater discharge permits shall be issued for a period not to exceed four years. Upon expiration of the permit, the user shall apply for renewal of the permit in accordance with the provisions of this division.

The addition and/or change of an owner which triggers a business license change will also require the permittee to complete a new FOG application to determine whether the facilities GRD (grease removal device) is adequate for use, whether a new device will need to be installed, or whether additional BMPs and/or a new FOG control program will have to implemented.

(Ord. No. 2022-13, § 1, 12-13-2022)

Permits issued under this article are for a specific establishment or a specific operation and create no vested rights. No permit holder shall assign, transfer, or sell any FOG wastewater discharge permit or use any such permit for or on any facilities or discharges not expressly encompassed within the underlying permit. Any permit which is transferred to a new owner or operator or to a new facility is void.

(Ord. No. 2022-13, § 1, 12-13-2022)

(a) All pumping and waste oil collection companies shall be permitted through the City's Business License Department.

(b) All FOG waste removing companies shall provide the City upon request adequate records showing all necessary information as defined in this article for each type of waste removal below.

(1) All grease interceptor pumping companies shall provide the customer with FOG totals, condition of interceptor, and any failures in the device at time of pumping.

(2) All used cooking oil or yellow grease renderers shall provide secondary containment for all grease containers when stored outdoors.

(Ord. No. 2022-13, § 1, 12-13-2022)