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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0000272_Public Hearing Announcement_20220401Roy Cooper, Governor Michael S. Regan, Secretary Department of Environmental Quay DE NORTH CAROLINA Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Anna Gurney Date: January 15, 2021 Phone: 919-707-8604 New Public Hearing Date Announced for Blue Ridge Paper Products' Proposed Wastewater Permit Renewal and Variance Removal Public Hearing Hearings Rescheduled from Previous Date of January 20, 2021 RALEIGH — The Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) Division of Water Resources (DWR) will conduct an online public hearing Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 6:00 PM, to review proposed amendments to the Blue Ridge Paper Products, LLC's (d/b/a Evergreen Packaging) effluent discharge permit. Public comments will be accepted through April 30, 2021. The hearings were originally scheduled for January 20, 2021 and have been rescheduled to the new date. The permit sets limits and guidelines to the discharge of industrial, stormwater, municipal and landfill leachate wastewaters into waters of the state. Blue Ridge Paper has requested renewal of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) discharge permit for its facility located at the Blue Ridge Paper Products Wastewater Treatment Plant, located off Highway 215 (175 Main Street), in Canton, to receiving waters designated as the Pigeon River, French Broad River Basin. Revisions include changes in current monitoring requirements at the Fiberville Bridge and removal of a color variance. DWR agrees with the removal of the color variance, based on improved stream conditions noted during a reevaluation, including significant improvements to instream concentrations of color in the Pigeon River. DWR concludes the variance is no longer necessary. A summary of the history of the variance, review of applicable regulations, and a reevaluation of the stream conditions may be viewed here. DWR also agrees with the proposed renewal of the federal 316(a) temperature variance. A fact sheet summarizes DWR's rationale in developing the NPDES permit limits and monitoring conditions. ONLINE PUBLIC HEARING To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the hearing will be held remotely. Members of the public may participate online or by phone. Date: April 14, 2021 Time: 6 pm WebEx link: https://ncdenrits.webex.com/ncdenrits/onstage/g.php?MTID=e6dd914ab0c9b2593dbb23321 a36af245 WebEx password: Nk2BCEzm7P2 WebEx phone number: 1-415-655-0003 WebEx access code: 171 787 6586 (Please see information below regarding registering for, joining, and commenting at the public hearing.) Registration must be completed by 12:00 pm on April 14, 2021. For online registration issues, please call 919- 707-9011 or email peter.johnston@ncdenr.gov by the registration deadline of 12:00 pm on January 20, 2021. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD Website: www.deq.nc.gov Facebook: www.facebook.com/ncdeq Twitter: @NCDEQ 1601 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1601 Public comments are being received through April 30, 2021. Public comments may be emailed with "Blue Ridge Paper Products" in the subject line to publiccomments@ncdenr.gov, or mailed through the USPS at: Wastewater Permitting Attn: Blue Ridge Paper Products Permit 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, N.C., 27699-1617 Comments will be considered in the final determinations of permit issuance and provisions, and variance removal. Website: www.deq.nc.gov Facebook: www.facebook.com/ncdeq Twitter: @NCDEQ 1601 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1601