ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR NPDES PERMIT APPLICATION AND REQUEST FOR COMMENTS
PUBLIC NOTICE - 210
Tuscaloosa County
Notice is hereby given that the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) will hold a public hearing on Thursday, July 18, 2019, at 6:00 p.m., at the Mary Ann Phelps Center-Community Room, located at 2200 Rock Quarry Drive, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35406, concerning the proposed issuance of an National Pollutant Discharge Elimination (NPDES) Permit to authorize discharges to surface water from a proposed new source coal mine and its associated areas. The proposed mine is located at 13413 Lake Harris Road, Tuscaloosa, in Tuscaloosa County.
Cahaba Resources, LLC, Post Office Box 122, Vance, Alabama 35490, has applied for the issuance of an NPDES Permit, proposed NPDES Permit No. AL0083551, to authorize discharges of treated drainage from Deerlick West Mine, a proposed new source coal mine and its associated areas, to Cypress Creek, Yellow Creek, and unnamed tributaries to Yellow Creek, all classified as Fish and Wildlife in the Black Warrior River Basin. Some proposed discharges would occur upstream of Lake Harris, a state waterbody classified as Public Water Supply. 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.
Pursuant to applicable regulations, the Department issued a public notice of a 30-day public comment period on April 10, 2019, in the Tuscaloosa News during which any interested person could submit written comments on the permit application and draft permit. During this comment period, the Department received sufficient request 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. July 19, 2019.
Copies of the complete project file are available for public inspection electronically via http://adem.alabama.gov/newsEvents/publicNotices.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.
Russell A. Kelly, Chief
Permits and Services Division
ADEM
1400 Coliseum Blvd.
[Mailing address: P. O. Box 301463-1463]
Montgomery, AL 36110-2400
(334) 271-7714
The purpose of the public hearing will be for interested parties to make 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.
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.
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 and 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 on June 14, 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.