(1) With respect to any discharge which is found by the council not to be in compliance with applicable effluent standards and limitations, applicable water quality standards, or other legally applicable requirements listed in WAC 463-76-053 (1)(b) and (c), the permittee shall be required to take specific steps to achieve compliance with the following:

(a) Any legally applicable schedule of compliance contained in:

(i) Applicable effluent standards and limitations;

(ii) Water quality standards; or

(iii) Legally applicable requirements listed in WAC 463-76-053; or

(b) In the absence of any legally applicable schedule of compliance, the permittee shall take the required steps in a reasonable period of time, such period to be consistent with the guidelines and requirements of the act.

(2) In any case where the period of time for compliance specified in paragraph (1)(a) of this section exceed nine months, a schedule of compliance shall be specified in the permit which will set forth interim requirements and the dates for their achievement; however, in no event shall more than nine months elapse between interim dates. If the time necessary for completion of the interim requirement (such as construction of a treatment facility) is more than nine months and is not readily divided into stages of completion, interim dates shall be specified for the submission of reports of progress toward completion of the interim requirement. For each NPDES permit schedule of compliance, interim dates and the final date of compliance shall, to the extent practicable, fall on the last day of the months of March, June, September and December.

(3) Either before or up to fourteen days following each interim date and the final date of compliance, the permittee shall provide the council with written notice of the permittee's compliance or noncompliance with the interim or final requirement.

(4) If a permittee fails or refuses to comply with an interim or final requirement in a permit, such noncompliance shall constitute a violation of the permit for which the council may modify or revoke the permit or take direct enforcement action.