Notice is hereby given that the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) will hold a public hearing on Thursday, January 17, 2013, at 6:00 p.m., in the auditorium of the Madison County Elementary School, located at 173 Wood Street, Gurley, Alabama 35748, concerning a proposed modification to an existing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination (NPDES) Permit for proposed discharges from a limestone quarry and associated areas. The quarry, known as Gurley Quarry, is located at 5937 Highway 72 East, Gurley, Madison County, Alabama.

Vulcan Construction Materials, LP, 1200 Urban Center Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35242, has applied for modification of NPDES Permit Number AL0075507 regulating proposed discharges of treated drainage from a wet preparation limestone quarry and associated areas, to an unnamed tributary to Sand Branch, to an unnamed tributary to Hurricane Creek, and to Hurricane Creek, all classified as Fish and Wildlife, in the Tennessee River Basin. The Department has tentatively determined that the proposed actions described in this notice are consistent with the Department’s Water Quality and Anti-degradation regulations.

Pursuant to applicable regulations, the Department issued in the Huntsville Times on November 28, 2012, the public notice of a 30-day public comment period during which any interested person could submit written comments on the permit application and draft permit. The Department has determined that there is sufficient public interest to warrant a public hearing. Therefore, the Department is announcing a public hearing, and is extending the public comment period until 5:00 p.m. January 18, 2013.

Copies of the complete project file are available for public inspection electronically via http://http://adem.alabama.gov/newsEvents/pubHearings.cnt, and at the following location Monday-Friday, except legal holidays, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. A nominal fee for copying and /or mailing may be charged. Arrangements for copying should be made in advance.

The purpose of the public hearing will be for interested parties to make oral and written comments to be placed into the official hearing record. Those wishing to make oral comments at the public hearing are also encouraged to submit those comments in writing.

Any person wishing to participate in this hearing who needs special accommodations should contact the ADEM Permits and Services Division at (334) 271-7714 at least three working days prior to the hearing.

Attendance at the public hearing is not necessary in order to have comments included in the official administrative record. Written comments received prior to the close of the public comment period will also be considered and entered into the hearing record. Written comments should be submitted to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), Attention: Mr. Russell A. Kelly, at the above Montgomery address.

All comments must address issues that have an impact on the applicant’s ability to meet applicable environmental laws, rules, and regulations to affect the final permit decision.

After consideration of all written comments, review of the public hearing record, and pursuant to the Alabama Water Pollution Control Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and applicable regulations, the Department will make a final determination. The Department develops responses to comments which will become part of the public record and will be available to persons upon request.

This notice is hereby given on December 16, 2012, by authorization of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.