PURPOSE OF NOTICE: To seek public comment on a draft permit from the Department of Environmental Quality that will allow the release of treated wastewater into a water body in Wythe County, Virginia.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: First public notice issue date June 26, 2024. The comment period lasts for 30 days from this date.
PERMIT NAME: Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit – Wastewater, issued by DEQ pursuant to applicable water laws and regulations.
APPLICANT NAME, ADDRESS AND PERMIT NUMBER:
NAME: Wythe County Board of Supervisors
C/O Mr. Stephen D. Bear, Wythe County Administrator
ADDRESS: 340 South Sixth Street, Administration Building, Wytheville, VA 24382-2598
PERMIT NO.: VA0092843
FACILITY NAME AND LOCATION:
NAME: Shorts Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
LOCATION: 186 Castleton Road (State Route 607), Austinville, Virginia 24312
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Wythe County Board of Supervisors has applied for reissuance of the permit for the publicly owned Shorts Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The applicant proposes to release treated sewage wastewater into a water body at the flow rate of 0.02 million gallons per day (MGD) and a potential future flow rate of 0.04 MGD. The permittee shall conduct all biosolids (sewage sludge) use and disposal activities in accordance with the sludge management plan approved with the reissuance of this permit.
The sludge (biosolids) management plan consists of transporting the sludge to New River Resource Authority in Dublin, Virginia.
The applicant proposes to release the treated sewage wastewater into Shorts Creek, in the New River Watershed. A watershed is the land area drained by a river and its incoming streams. The permit will limit the following pollutants to amounts that protect water quality: bacteria, nutrients, organic matter, physical and chemical properties, and solids. The permit also includes special conditions regarding compliance reporting, control of significant dischargers, sludge management, and other requirements and special conditions.
HOW TO COMMENT AND/OR REQUEST AND PUBLIC HEARING: DEQ accepts comments and requests for public hearing by hand delivery, e-mail, or postal mail. All comments and requests must be in writing and be received by DEQ during the comment period. DEQ must receive hand-delivery and postal mail by close of business and e-mail comments by 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the comment period. Submittals must include the names, mailing addresses or e-mail addresses of the commenter/requester and of all the persons represented by the commenter/requester. A request for public hearing must also include: 1) The reason why a public hearing is requested. 2) A brief, informal statement regarding the nature and extent of the requester or of those represented by the requestor, including how and to what extent such interest would be directly and adversely affected by the permit. 3) Specific references, where possible, to terms and conditions of the permit with suggested revisions. A public hearing may be held, including another comment period, if public response is significant, based on individual requests for a public hearing, and there are substantial, disputed issues relevant to the permit.
CONTACT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, DOCUMENT REQUESTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
NAME: Fred M. Wyatt
ADDRESS: DEQ, Southwest Regional Office
355-A Deadmore Street
Abingdon, VA 24210
PHONE: 276-608-8498 or 276-676-4800
E-MAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The public may review the draft permit and application at the DEQ office named above by appointment or may request copies of the documents from the contact person listed above.