ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM AT KSC
Permitting & Compliance - Water Quality Program - Industrial Wastewater Program
Overview
Kennedy Space Center (KSC) categorizes wastewater as either industrial wastewater or domestic wastewater. Industrial wastewater must be properly treated and managed to ensure public health, safety, compliance with regulations, and protection of the environment. Industrial wastewater generation, treatment, and disposal may require a permit. Organizations must contact the NASA Environmental Assurance Branch (EAB) to determine if a permit is required for their industrial wastewater activities. KSC currently has industrial wastewater permits for the following activities:
- Launch Complex 39A deluge water capture, treatment, and discharge
- Launch Complex 39B deluge water capture, treatment, and discharge
- Seawater Water Immersion Facility (SWIF) operational water discharge
KSC maintains an inventory of all non-permitted industrial wastewater activities called the Kennedy Industrial Wastewater Inventory or KIWI (contact the NASA Environmental Assurance Branch for the latest version of this inventory). Organizations are responsible for adding their industrial wastewater activities to the KIWI (if not already listed) by contacting the NASA EAB.
Industrial Wastewater Impacts and Compliance
Industrial wastewater permits for Launch Complex 39A, Launch Complex 39B, and the SWIF are specific to those operations. Each permit has specific operational, testing, and reporting requirements. Any process/procedure variation, system modification, or deviation from permit requirements must be approved by FDEP. NASA EAB will evaluate and coordinate any permit deviation or modification with FDEP. Organizations are responsible for determining if their industrial wastewater activity is already in the KIWI. If not found in the KIWI, the organization requesting permission to discharge must submit a narrative description to the NASA EAB describing the operation. This narrative will be submitted to FDEP for a determination on disposal options. Examples of non-permit industrial wastewater discharges include:
- Surface Cleaning/Washing and Water/Wet Blasting Operations
- Minor Groundwater Discharges (including potable water) such as eyewash testing or potable water system flushing
- ECS/HVAC Condensate and Air Compressor/Air Dryer Condensate
- Utility Tunnel, Duct Bank, Valve Pit Dewatering
The process of cleaning and/or washing buildings and other structures has been evaluated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection under the KIWI. The document titled “Best Management Practices for Effluent from Surface Cleaning/Washing and Water/Wet Blasting Operations at Kennedy Space Center” has been developed to provide guidance to KSC organizations on how to conduct these operations. Contact the NASA EAB for the latest version of this document.
In some cases, non-permit industrial wastewater will be discharged into the domestic wastewater treatment system. These discharges must be approved through the Process Waste Questionnaire/Technical Response Package (PWQ/TRP) process described in KNPR 8500.1.
Production of Industrial Wastewater, Construction or Modification Industrial Wastewater Treatment Systems
The organization responsible for a project that produces industrial wastewater, modifies, maintains, or repairs the KSC industrial wastewater system, whether a permit is necessary or not, will ensure that regulatory criteria, best engineering practices, codes, specifications and standards are followed. Construction projects involving production of industrial waste water or work on the KSC industrial wastewater systems require varying degrees of regulatory oversight depending on the nature of the project and the work involved. KNPR 8500.1 lists the levels of regulatory action required for projects at KSC and the permitting process associated with each project.
All correspondence with regulatory agencies regarding the KSC industrial wastewater management is to originate from the NASA EAB. All NASA and contractor organizations (including design, construction, environmental, or O&M organizations) shall process all notifications, permit applications, requests for approval, compliance monitoring, reports, requests for clearance, and any other submittals to a regulatory agency through the NASA EAB.
Industrial Wastewater Program Points of Contact
- Doug Durham (321-867-8429)
- Tom Price (321-867-8988)
- Diane Ely (321-867-1083)