The LDEQ, Office of Environmental Services, is accepting written comments on a draft Louisiana Sewage Sludge and Biosolids Use or Disposal General Permit LAJ650000.

 

 

Facilities that have previously submitted a Sewage Sludge & Biosolids Use or Disposal Permit Application to the Department and meet the eligibility requirements for this general permit may be issued coverage under this general permit. Existing facilities conducting activities that are eligible for coverage under this general permit but which are not permitted by LDEQ should submit an NOI immediately.  Proposed facilities desiring coverage under this general permit must submit an NOI at least one hundred eighty (180) days prior to conducting activities covered by this general permit.

 

Existing facilities and proposed facilities shall submit proof of public notice indicating their intent to be covered under this general permit within sixty (60) days after the NOI seeking coverage is determined administratively complete.  Existing facilities with a valid individual Sewage Sludge & Biosolids Use or Disposal Permit which covers this activity are not required to public notice their intent to seek coverage under this permit since the individual permit has been public noticed. The public notice of this general permit will serve as public notice for those facilities which the Department has received a sewage sludge use or disposal permit application and determined the application to be administratively complete prior to the public notice of this general permit.

 

For all other facilities, the public notice shall be published in the local newspaper, or in the absence of a local newspaper, a newspaper of general circulation at that location, a public notice using the format included in the NOI, announcing the intent to seek coverage under the general permit.  An affidavit proving publication along with a copy of the public notice and the date of publication shall be provided to this Office by the applicant.

 

If the applicant does not public notice the intent to seek coverage under this general permit and submit proof of publication within sixty (60) days of administrative approval of the NOI by this Office, the NOI will be considered withdrawn by the applicant and authorization under this permit will not be granted unless a new NOI and proof of publication are submitted in accordance with the requirements of this general permit.

 

Any permittee covered by an individual sewage sludge permit may submit an NOI and request that the individual sewage sludge permit be canceled if the permitted source or activity is also eligible for coverage under this general permit.

 

After review of the submittal of the NOI, this Office will issue written notification to those applicants who are accepted for coverage under the general permit.

 

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 4314, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313. Written comments and/or requests must be received by 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 25, 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, fact sheet, and notice of intent are available for review at the LDEQ, Public Records Center, Room 127, 602 North 5^th Street, Baton Rouge, LA. Viewing hours are from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, 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 Mr. Eura DeHart, LDEQ, Water Permits Division, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313, telephone number (225) 219-3092, Mr. Melvin C. Mitchell by telephone at (225) 219-3013, or Ms. Yvonne Baker by telephone at (225) 219-3073.

 

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 sheet can 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.