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 Montgomery County, Virginia.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: October 23, 2021 to November 22, 2021
PERMIT NAME: Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit – Wastewater issued by DEQ, under the authority of the State Water Control Board
APPLICANT NAME AND ADDRESS: Town of Christiansburg, 100 East Main St, Christiansburg, VA 24073
FACILITY NAME, LOCATION AND PERMIT NUMBER: Christiansburg Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF), 2557 Crab Creek Rd, Christiansburg, VA 24073; VA0061751
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Town of Christiansburg has applied for reissuance of a permit for the publicly-owned Christiansburg WWTF. The applicant proposes to release treated sewage wastewaters with industrial contributions at a rate of six million gallons per day into a water body. The permit also authorizes a potential expansion to eight million gallons per day. Biosolids (sewage sludge) from the treatment process will be treated and land applied; new land application fields are being added through this permit reissuance. The facility proposes to release the treated sewage and industrial wastewater into the New River in Montgomery County in the Lower 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, and bacteria.
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: Lynn V. Wise, Blue Ridge Regional Office, 901 Russell Dr., Salem, VA 24153; Phone: (540) 562-6787; E-mail: lynn.wise@deq.virginia.gov Fax: (804) 698-4178. 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.