ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM PERMIT FOR DISCHARGE INTO WATERS OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND REQUEST FOR COMMENTS
AND
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

SHELBY COUNTY

Notice is hereby given that the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) will hold a public hearing on Thursday, January 9, 2020, at 6:00 p.m., at the Shelby County High School Auditorium located at 101 Washington St, Columbiana, Alabama, 35051, concerning the proposed reissuance of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit to Alabama Power Company, P.O. Box 2641, BIN 12N-0830, Birmingham, AL 35291, for its E.C. Gaston Steam Electric Plant, located at Alabama Highway 25 South, Wilsonville, Alabama 35291, Shelby County.

Alabama Power Company has applied for reissuance of NPDES Permit Number AL0003140 for its E.C. Gaston Steam Electric Plant for existing discharges resulting from once through cooling water and fire protection system waters discharging through Outfalls DSN001 & DSN002 into the Coosa River, classified as Public Water Supply, Swimming, and Fish & Wildlife in the Coosa River Basin; discharges from the wastewater management pond including the ash pond dewatering treatment system, ash pond dewatering and decanting wastewaters, legacy wastewaters, low volume wastewaters, post carbon capture low volume wastewaters, Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) wastewaters, miscellaneous cooling waters, cooling tower blowdown, coal pile runoff, chemical metal cleaning wastes, sanitary wastewaters, landfill leachate, Remote Submerged Chain Conveyors (RSCC) System overflow, fire protection system waters, and stormwater runoff associated with power plant operations discharging through Outfall DSN0042 into the Coosa River, classified as Public Water Supply, Swimming, and Fish & Wildlife in the Coosa River Basin; discharges from the wastewater management pond including low volume wastewaters, post carbon capture low volume wastewaters, FGD wastewaters, miscellaneous cooling waters, cooling tower blowdown, coal pile runoff, chemical metal cleaning wastes, sanitary wastewaters, landfill leachate, RSCC System overflow, fire protection system waters, and stormwater runoff associated with power plant operations discharging through Outfall DSN0043 into the Coosa River, classified as Public Water Supply, Swimming, and Fish & Wildlife in the Coosa River Basin; intake screen backwash water bypass, fire protection system waters, and stormwater runoff associated with power plant operations discharging through Outfall DSN013 into the Coosa River, classified as Public Water Supply, Swimming, and Fish & Wildlife in the Coosa River Basin; cooling tower blowdown overflow, vehicle rinse waters, fire protection system waters, and stormwater runoff associated with power plant operations and from the Construction and Demolition (C&D) landfill discharging through Outfall DSN019 into Yellowleaf Creek, classified as Fish & Wildlife in the Coosa River Basin; vehicle rinse waters, fire protection system waters, and stormwater runoff associated with power plant operations discharging through Outfall DSN020 into Yellowleaf Creek, classified as Fish & Wildlife in the Coosa River Basin; intake screen backwash waters and fire protection system waters discharging through Outfall DSN025 into Yellowleaf Creek, classified as Fish & Wildlife in the Coosa River Basin; and stormwater runoff from the closed ash pond footprint and fire protection system waters discharging through Outfalls DSN028 & DSN029 into the Coosa River, classified as Public Water Supply, Swimming, and Fish & Wildlife in the Coosa River Basin.  The thermal component of the discharge is subject to effluent limitations under CWA section 301 or 306.  The Permittee has filed a request for the continuation of a variance established under Section 316(a) of the Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. section 1326) which provides for alternative limitations for the thermal discharges associated with once through cooling water.  At this time, the Department has proposed the continuance of the thermal limitations established in the 316(a) thermal variance.  At this time, the Department has determined that the cooling water intake structure represents the interim best technology available (BTA) to minimize adverse environmental impact in accordance with Section 316(b) of the Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. section 1326).

The Department has tentatively determined that the proposed actions described in this notice are consistent with the Water Quality Rules and Regulations including the Department’s Anti-degradation Rules.

Copies of the draft permits, conditions, limitations and a fact sheet as applicable describing the methodology for setting the limitations and conditions and other applicable NPDES forms and related documents are available for public inspection electronically via http://adem.alabama.gov/newsEvents/publicNotices.cnt, and at the following location Monday – Friday (except legal holidays), 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.  A nominal fee for copying and/or mailing may be charged.  Arrangements for copying should be made in advance.

Russell A. Kelly, Chief
Permits and Services Division
ADEM
1400 Coliseum Blvd.
[Mailing address: PO Box 301463; Zip 36130-1463]
Montgomery, Alabama 36110-2400
(334) 271-7714
permitsmail@adem.alabama.gov

The purpose of the public hearing will be for interested parties to provide oral and written comments into the official hearing record.  Those wishing to make oral comments at the public hearing are also encouraged to submit those comments in writing at the hearing.   Any person wishing to participate in this hearing who needs special accommodations should contact the ADEM Permits and Services Division at (334) 271-7714 or permitsmail@adem.alabama.gov 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 no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 10, 2020, will also be considered and entered into the hearing record.  Written comments should be submitted to the Department's named contact above in hard copy form or via electronic mail.

In order to affect final decisions, comments must offer technically substantial information that is applicable to the proposed permit.

After consideration of all written comments, review of any public hearing record, and consideration of the requirements of the Alabama Water Pollution Control Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and applicable regulations, the Department will make a final determination.  The Department will develop a response to comments, which will become part of the public record and will be available to persons upon request.  Notice will be sent to any person requesting notice of the final action.

The Department maintains a list of interested individuals who are mailed legal notices regarding proposed permits. If you wish to receive such notices, contact the Permits & Services Division via telephone (334-271-7714), e-mail (permitsmail@adem.alabama.gov), or postal service (P.O. Box 301463, Montgomery, AL  36130-1463).

This notice is hereby given this 6th day of December, 2019, by authorization of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

_____________________________
Lance R. LeFleur,
Director

Nondiscrimination Statement:  The Department does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in the administration of its programs.