Effluent Guidelines

Seafood Processing Effluent Guidelines

Salmon processing plant in AlaskaEPA promulgated the Seafood Processing Effluent Guidelines and Standards (a.k.a. Canned and Preserved Seafood Category; 40 CFR Part 408) in 1974 and 1975. The regulation covers wastewater discharges from facilities that preserve and can seafood. The Seafood Processing Effluent Guidelines and Standards are incorporated into NPDES permits.
 
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What is Seafood Processing?

Seafood preserving and canning facilities receive raw or frozen seafood from harvesting operations (e.g. fishing, trapping, netting). The facilities prepare the seafood products by butchering and cleaning. Prior to packaging, the seafood may be preserved typically by curing, cooking, or freezing. Wastewater may be generated from each stage in the process.

These activities are included within NAICS codes 311711, Seafood Canning, and 311712, Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing. (Note: the NAICS group listing is provided as a guide and does not define the coverage of the Seafood Processing regulations. For precise definitions of coverage, see the applicability sections in 40 CFR Part 408.)

Facilities Covered

The Seafood Processing effluent guidelines apply to preserving and canning facilities in 33 subcategories:

  1. Farm-Raised Catfish
  2. Conventional Blue Crab
  3. Mechanized Blue Crab
  4. Non-Remote Alaskan Crab Meat
  5. Remote Alaskan Crab Meat
  6. Non-Remote Alaskan Whole Crab & Crab Section
  7. Remote Alaskan Whole Crab & Crab Section
  8. Dungeness & Tanner Crab in the Contiguous States
  9. Non-Remote Alaskan Shrimp
  10. Remote Alaskan Shrimp
  11. Northern Shrimp in the Contiguous States
  12. Southern Non-Breaded Shrimp in the Contiguous States
  13. Breaded Shrimp in the Contiguous States
  14. Tuna
  15. Fish Meal
  1. Alaskan Hand-Butchered Salmon
  2. Alaskan Mechanized Salmon
  3. West Coast Hand-Butchered Salmon
  4. West Coast Mechanized Salmon
  5. Alaskan Bottom Fish
  6. Non-Alaskan Conventional Bottom Fish
  7. Non-Alaskan Mechanized Bottom Fish
  8. Hand-Shucked Clam
  9. Mechanized Clam
  10. Pacific Coast Hand-Shucked Oyster
  11. Atlantic & Gulf Coast Hand-Shucked Oyster
  12. Steamed & Canned Oyster
  13. Sardine
  14. Alaskan Scallop
  15. Non-Alaskan Scallop
  16. Alaskan Herring Fillet
  17. Non-Alaskan Herring Fillet
  18. Abalone

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Current Activities: Alaskan Seafood Processing - Final Rule

EPA is developing an amendment to the Part 408 regulations. The Agency plans to issue a final rule, covering the Alaskan seafood processing subcategories, in spring 2017.

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Rulemaking History

1975 Rulemaking – Phase II

Established requirements for Subparts O-AG
  • Documents, including:
    • Final Rule: 40 FR 55770, 12/1/1975
    • Development Document
    • Interim Final Rule: 40 FR 4582, 1/30/1975
    • Proposed Rule: 40 FR 4608, 1/30/1975
Established PSES requirements for Subparts A-N
  • Documents, including:
    • Final Rule: 40 FR 6432, 2/11/1975
    • Proposed Rule: 39 FR 23154, 6/26/1974

1974 Rulemaking - Phase I

Established BPT, BAT, NSPS and PSNS requirements for Subparts A-N
  • Documents, including:
    • Final Rule: 39 FR 23134, 6/26/1974
    • Development Document
    • Proposed Rule: 39 FR 4708, 2/6/1974

Additional Information

For additional information regarding Seafood Processing Effluent Guidelines, please contact Meghan Hessenauer (hessenauer.meghan@epa.gov) or 202-566-1040.

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Effluent Guidelines