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 Bland County, Virginia.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: June 18, 2026, to July 20, 2026
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: Bastian Wastewater Treatment Plant, 411 Hicksville Road, Bastian, VA 24314, P.O. Box 510, Bland VA 24315; VPDES Permit Number VA0089583.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Bland County Service Authority has applied for reissuance of a permit for the publicly owned Bastian Wastewater Treatment Plant. The applicant proposes to release treated sewage wastewater at a rate of 0.2 million gallons per day into a water body. Dewatered sludge from the treatment process will be hauled to the Tazewell County Landfill for final disposal. The facility proposes to release the treated sewage in Wolf 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: physical and chemical properties, organic matter, solids, bacteria, and inorganics.
HOW TO COMMENT AND/OR REQUEST A PUBLIC HEARING: DEQ accepts comments and requests for public hearing on the draft permit by hand-delivery, e-mail, or postal mail. All comments and requests must be in writing and received by DEQ during the comment period. DEQ must receive hand-delivery and postal mail by close of business and email comments by 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the comment period. Submittals must include the names, mailing addresses or email addresses of the commenter/ requester and of all people 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 interest 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 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: Martha Chapman, Southwest Regional Office, 355-A Deadmore Street, Abingdon, VA 24210. Phone: (276) 608-8673; E-mail: [email protected]; The public may review the draft permit and application at the DEQ office named above or may request copies of the documents from the contact person listed above.