PUBLIC NOTICE –
ENVIRONMENTAL PERMIT
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 Tazewell County, Virginia.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: First public notice issue date:
February 24, 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:
The Sanitary Board of Bluefield
ADDRESS:
100 Rogers Street, P.O. Box 998, Bluefield, WV 24701
PERMIT NO.:
VA0025054
FACILITY NAME AND
LOCATION:
NAME:
Greater Bluefield Westside
Wastewater Treatment Plant
LOCATION:
203 Parsley St.,
Bluefield, VA 24605
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Sanitary Board of Bluefield has applied for reissuance of the permit for the publicly owned Greater Bluefield Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant. The applicant proposes to release treated sewage wastewater into a water body at the rate of 8.1 miIlion gallons per day (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 three options: (1) Transporting the dewatered sludge to the Mercer County West Virginia Landfill; (2) Transporting the de-watewred sludge to the Tazewell County Virginia Landfill; (3) Land application to farm sites in West Virginia.
The applicant proposes to release the treated sewage wastewater into Bluestone River Clinch River, 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 and inorganic matter, physical and chemical properties, and solids. The permit also includes special conditions regarding: compliance reporting, control of significant dischargers, sludge management, whole effluent toxicity testing, and other requirements and special conditions.
HOW TO COMMENT AND/OR REQUEST A 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 email and fax 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 a 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 requester, 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 and 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 E-mail: [email protected]
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.
ID: 776785