According to a legal ad that ran in last weekend’s edition of the Nelson County Times, the public comment period began last Thursday and continues through Jan. 6, 2017.
The application, submitted by Baltimore-based national waste conversion company Synagro Central LLC, is for the modification of an existing permit. If approved, the permit would authorize the land application of biosolids and water treatment plant residuals to an additional 1,923 acres in the county.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality defines biosolids as “solid, semisolid, or liquid materials removed from municipal sewage and treated to be suitable for recycling as fertilizer.”
The biosolids would be used by property owners as fertilizer. All landowners who had applied to participate in the DEQ biosolids application program would be able to participate for free if the permit is approved.
According to the ad, a public hearing on the proposed permit has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 8 in the General District courtroom at the Nelson County courthouse in Lovingston. The public is invited to participate in an interactive informational session prior to the public hearing, from 6 to 6:45 p.m., in the same location.
According to permit writer Sarah Mundy, with the DEQ, the public hearing only is necessary in the event DEQ receives 25 or more comments during the public comment period. However, given the amount of feedback received already, she said DEQ decided to move forward with scheduling and advertising a public hearing because the department believes it will receive at least the required number of comments.
At a public meeting on the permit in June, dozens of Nelson residents said they were concerned about how they believe the application of biosolids in certain areas could pose risks to the environment and the health of the public.
According to the ad, “the permit limits the application of nutrients, metals, and pathogens contained in these materials to amounts that protect water quality and human health.”
The ad states DEQ’s “preliminary decision is to issue a permit.” The final decision on the permit will be made by the State Water Control Board, which is composed of Virginia residents appointed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
According to Neil Zahradka, manager of DEQ’s Office of Land Application Programs, a statement from DEQ about a tentative decision on whether to approve or deny any proposed permit is required for every public advertisement.
Comments should include the names, mailing addresses and telephone numbers of the person or people commenting and include a brief, informal statement on how the proposal affects the commenter(s).
0 Comments