The LDEQ, Office of Environmental Services, is accepting written comments on a draft for the reissuance of a LPDES General Permit for discharges from dewatering of petroleum storage tanks, tank beds, new tanks, and excavations.

 

Coverage under this general permit is available to facilities operating a source or conducting an activity that results in a discharge into the waters of the state. Discharges covered under this general permit include ballast water used in the installation of new tanks; wastewater from dewatering petroleum storage tanks; wastewater from dewatering underground petroleum tank beds or cavities; and wastewater from dewatering of excavations related to the surface cleanup of spills or leaks resulting from the handling of petroleum. This Department may issue general permits for certain categories of facilities or activities where individual permits are not necessary in order to adequately protect the environment or the public health. 

 

To be covered as a permittee under this general permit, a Notice of Intent (NOI) form DPST-G, or an equivalent, must be submitted to this Office by the owner or operator at the site. Notification forms may be obtained by contacting this Office at (225) 219-3181 and will be available on the LDEQ web page at http://www.deq.state.la.us/permits/index.htm.

 

Unless notified otherwise by the Secretary or his designee, owners or operators eligible for coverage under this general permit will become permittees authorized to discharge upon the receipt of a hand-delivered, correctly completed NOI by the Office of Environmental Services, Water Permits Division or 48 hours after the postmark date on the envelope that contains the correctly completed NOI. Submission of an NOI is an acknowledgement that the conditions of this general permit are applicable to the proposed discharge, and that the applicant agrees to comply with the conditions of the general permit. 

 

Dischargers who are currently permitted under the LPDES version of this permit that expires on December 31, 2009, are not required to submit a new NOI provided there are no facility changes precluding applicability under the new permit. These permitted dischargers will be automatically covered under the reissued LPDES permit; permit conditions in the reissued permit are effective for these automatically authorized permittees three days after the postmark date of the notification of coverage. Any permittees covered by an individual permit may submit an NOI for coverage under this permit and request cancellation of the individual permit if the permitted source or activity is also eligible for coverage under this general permit. Upon approval by this Office, the permittee will be notified of coverage by this general permit and of cancellation of the previous permit(s).  

 

An annual maintenance and surveillance fee will be assessed for this permit.

 

During the preparation of this permit, it has been determined that the discharges will have no adverse impact on the existing uses of the receiving waterbodies. As with any discharge, however, some change in existing water quality may occur.

 

Written comments, written requests for a public hearing or written requests for notification of the final decision regarding this permit action may be submitted to Ms. Soumaya Ghosn at LDEQ, Public Participation Group, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313. Written comments and/or written requests must be received by 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 14, 2009.  Written comments will be considered prior to a final permit decision.

 

If LDEQ finds a significant degree of public interest, a public hearing will be held. LDEQ will send notification of the final permit decision to the applicant and to each person who has submitted written comments or a written request for notification of the final decision.

 

The draft permit, NOI form, and fact sheet are available for review at the LDEQ Public Records Center, Room 127, 602 North 5^th Street, Baton Rouge, LA. Viewing hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays). The available information can also be accessed electronically on the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) on the DEQ public website at www.deq.louisiana.gov.

 

Inquiries or requests for additional information regarding this permit action should be directed to Linda Gauthier, LDEQ, Water Permits Division, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313, phone (225) 219-0801. 

 

Persons wishing to be included on the LDEQ permit public notice mailing list or for other public participation related questions should contact the Public Participation Group in writing at LDEQ, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313, by email at deqmaillistrequest@la.gov or contact the LDEQ Customer Service Center at (225) 219-LDEQ (219-5337).

 

Permit public notices including electronic access to the draft permit and fact sheetcan be viewed at the LDEQ permits public notice webpage at www.deq.louisiana.gov/apps/pubNotice/default.asp  and general information related to the public participation in permitting activities can be viewed at www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/tabid/2198/Default.aspx.

 

Alternatively, individuals may elect to receive the permit public notices via email by subscribing to the LDEQ permits public notice List Server at www.doa.louisiana.gov/oes/listservpage/ldeq_pn_listserv.htm

 

All correspondence should specify AI Number 116224, Permit Number LAG300000, and Activity Number PER20090001.