Public Notice – Environmental Permit

Purpose of notice: To seek public comment on a draft permit from the Department of Environmental Quality that will allow the release of industrial storm water runoff into a water body in Southampton County, Virginia.

Public comment period: Thirty (30) days from the first date of this public notice: 10/14/2015

Permit name: Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit – Industrial storm water, issued by DEQ, under the authority of the State Water Control Board.

applicant Name, address and permit number: Cox Industries, Incorporated; PO Box 1124, Orangeburg, SC 29116; VA0059056

Facility name and location: Atlantic Pole – Virginia, LLC; 21366 General Thomas Highway, Newsoms, Virginia, 23874

Project description: Cox Industries, Inc. has applied for reissuance of a permit for the private Atlantic Pole – Virginia, LLC. The applicant proposes to release industrial storm water at a rate of 1.3 millions of gallons (MG) into a water body. The facility proposes to release the industrial storm water in the unnamed tributary to Darden Mill Run, in Southampton County, in the Chowan River and Dismal Swamp Basin 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 – pH, total petroleum hydrocarbons, and a regulatory prohibition on the discharge of process wastewater pollutants.

HOW TO COMMENT AND/OR REQUEST A PUBLIC HEARING: DEQ accepts comments and requests for public hearing hand-delivery, by e-mail, fax, or postal mail. All comments and requests must be in writing and be received by DEQ during 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: Carl D. Thomas; Tidewater Regional Office, 5636 Southern Boulevard, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462; Phone: 757.518.2161; E-mail: carl.thomas@deq.virginia.gov; Fax: 757.518.2009. 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.