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 Botetourt County.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: November 4, 2020 to December 4, 2020
PERMIT NAME: Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System – Wastewater issued by DEQ, under the authority of the State Water Control Board
APPLICANT NAME, ADDRESS, AND PERMIT NUMBER: Town of Fincastle, PO Box 250, Fincastle, Virginia 24090; VA0060364
NAME AND ADDRESS OF FACILITY: Fincastle WWTP, 1478 Botetourt Road, Fincastle, Virginia 24090
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Town of Fincastle has applied for a reissuance of a permit for the public Fincastle WWTP in Botetourt County. The applicant proposes to release treated sewage wastewaters at a rate of 0.125 million gallons per day from the current facility and 0.1875 million gallons per day from the upgraded facilities into a water body. Sludge from the treatment process will be disposed of at a landfill. The facility proposes to release the treated sewage wastewater into Catawba Creek in Botetourt County in the Catawba Creek Watershed (VAW-I25R). 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, solids. The facility is subject to the requirements of 9VAC25-820 and has registered for coverage under the General VPDES Watershed Permit Regulation for Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus Discharges and Nutrient Trading in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in Virginia. As a condition of this permit, the permittee will be required to offset in advance, any loads of total nitrogen or total phosphorus that are expected to be discharged in a given calendar year, in excess of those levels previously allowed by the facility’s VPDES permit. The permittee may opt to install nutrient removal treatment that will maintain the existing load of nutrients discharged.
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, fax 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 and telephone numbers of the commenter/requester and of all 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 interest 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:
Kevin A. Harlow, DEQ Blue Ridge Regional Office, 901 Russell Drive, Salem, VA 24153; PHONE: (540) 562-6700; E-MAIL ADDRESS: Kevin.Harlow@deq.virginia.gov; FAX: (540) 562-6725. 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.
