AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES TO DISCHARGE VIOLATIONS

Oklahoma City Municipal Code ch. 47, art. V

in effect

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 47-121 Upset.

§ 47-121. - Upset. (a) For the purposes of this section, "upset" means an exceptional incident in which there is unintentional and temporary noncompliance with categorical pretreatment standards and/or local pretreatment standards because of factors beyond the reasonable control of the user. An upset does not include noncompliance to the extent caused by operational error, improperly designed treatment facilities, inadequate treatment facilities, lack of preventive maintenance, or intentional, careless or improper operation. (b) An upset shall constitute an affirmative defense to an action brought for noncompliance with categorical pretreatment standards and/or local pretreatment standards if the requirements of Paragraph (c) are met. (c) A user who wishes to establish the affirmative defense of upset shall demonstrate, through properly signed, contemporaneous operating logs, or other relevant evidence that: (1) an upset occurred and the user can identify the cause(s) of the upset. (2) the facility was at the time being operated in a prudent and workmanlike manner and in compliance with applicable operation and maintenance procedures. (3) the industrial user has submitted the following information to the City within 24 hours of becoming aware of the upset (if this information is provided orally, a written submission must be provided within five days): a. a description of the indirect discharge and cause of noncompliance. b. the period of noncompliance, including exact dates and times or, if not corrected, the anticipated time the noncompliance is expected to continue. c. steps being taken and/or planned to reduce, eliminate and prevent recurrence of the noncompliance. (d) In an enforcement proceeding, the user seeking to establish the occurrence of an upset shall have the burden of proof. (e) The user will have the opportunity for a judicial determination on any claim of upset only in an enforcement action brought for noncompliance with categorical pretreatment standards and/or local pretreatment standards. (f) The user shall control production of all discharges to the extent necessary to maintain compliance with categorical pretreatment standards and/or local pretreatment standards upon reduction, loss or failure of its treatment facility until the facility is restored or an alternative method of treatment is provided. This requirement applies in the situation where, among other things, the primary source of power of the treatment facility is reduced, lost or fails. (Code 1980, § 41-13.1; Ord. No. 19830, § 1, 9-29-92; Ord. No. 22053, § 2, 10-8-02; Ord. No. 27272, § 3, 1-31-23)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 47-122 General/specific prohibitions.

§ 47-122. - General/specific prohibitions. A user shall have an affirmative defense to an enforcement action brought against it for noncompliance with the general and specific prohibitions of this chapter if it can prove that it did not know or have reason to know that its discharge, alone or in conjunction with discharges from other sources, would cause pass-through or interference and that either: (a) a local limit exists for each pollutant discharged and the user was in compliance with each limit directly prior to, and during, the pass-through or interference, or (b) no local limit exists, but the discharge did not change substantially in nature or constituents from the user's prior discharge when the City was regularly in compliance with its NPDES permit, and in the case of interference, was in compliance with applicable sludge use or disposal requirements. (Code 1980, § 41-13.2; Ord. No. 19830, § 1, 9-29-92; Ord. No. 27272, § 3, 1-31-23)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 47-123 Bypass.

§ 47-123. - Bypass. (a) For purposes of this section: (1) Bypass means the intentional diversion of waste streams from any portion of an industrial user's treatment facility. (2) Severe property damage means substantial physical damage to property, damage to the treatment facilities which causes the facilities to become inoperable, or substantial and permanent loss of natural resources which can reasonably be expected to occur in the absence of a bypass. Severe property damage does not mean economic loss caused by delays in production. (b) A user may allow any bypass to occur which does not cause pretreatment standards or requirements to be violated, but only if it also is for essential maintenance to assure efficient operation. These bypasses are not subject to the provisions of Paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section. (c) (1) if a user knows in advance of the need for a bypass, it shall submit prior notice to the City, at least ten days before the date of the bypass if possible. (2) a user shall submit oral notice of an unanticipated bypass that exceeds applicable pretreatment standards to the City within 24 hours from the time it becomes aware of the bypass. A written submission shall also be provided within five days of the time the user becomes aware of the bypass. The written submission shall contain a description of the bypass and its cause; the duration of the bypass, including exact dates and times, and, if the bypass has not been corrected, the anticipated time it is expected to continue; and steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate and prevent reoccurrence of the bypass. The City may waive the written report on a case-by-case basis if the oral report has been received within 24 hours. (d) (1) bypass is prohibited, and the City may take enforcement action against a user for a bypass, unless: a. bypass was unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury or severe property damage. b. there were no feasible alternatives to the bypass, such as the use of auxiliary treatment facilities, retention of untreated wastes, or maintenance during normal periods of equipment downtime. This condition is not satisfied if adequate backup equipment should have been installed in the exercise of reasonable engineering judgment to prevent a bypass which occurred during normal periods of equipment downtime or preventive maintenance; and c. the user submitted notices as required under Paragraph (c) of this section. (2) the Director may approve an anticipated bypass, after considering its adverse effects, if the Director determines that the industrial user will meet the three conditions listed in Paragraph (d)(1) of this section. (Code 1980, § 41-13.3; Ord. No. 19830, § 1, 9-29-92; Ord. No. 22053, § 2, 10-8-02; Ord. No. 27272, § 3, 1-31-23)

Source: City of Oklahoma City, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ok/oklahoma_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OKMUCO2020_CH47SESEDI_ARTVAFDEDIVIFetched: 10/28/2026