ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
NOTICE OF PROPOSED REISSUANCE OF
GENERAL NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) PERMIT FOR
DISCHARGES INTO WATERS OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA
AND REQUEST FOR COMMENTS
PUBLIC NOTICE
STATEWIDE
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management is proposing to reissue the General National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Number ALG870000 for discharges from the application of biological or chemical pesticides that leave a residue to waters of the State of Alabama. All discharges authorized by this general permit involve applications of pesticides to waters of the State (in or over waters) in order to control pests, or applications to control pests near water in which pesticides will make unavoidable contact with the water.
Coverage under this general permit will be initiated by submitting a Notice of Intent (NOI) for any operator who will exceed an annual treatment area threshold defined in Part I.C.3 of the general permit. Pursuant to ADEM Admin Code r. 335-6-6-.23(15)(c), and given the type and expected number of discharges, the Department is proposing that other operators that do not exceed an annual treatment threshold may be authorized to discharge under this general permit without having to submit a NOI.
The Department has tentatively determined that the reissuance of the General Permit is consistent with State and federal Water Quality regulations.
Copies of the draft permit, 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.
Jeffery W. Kitchens, Chief
ADEM-Water Division
1400 Coliseum Blvd.
[Mailing address: PO Box 301463; Zip 36130-1463]
Montgomery, Alabama 36110-2400
(334) 271-7823
water-permits@adem.alabama.gov
Persons wishing to comment may do so, in writing, to the Department's named contact above within 30 days following the publication date of this notice. COMMENTERS SHOULD IDENTIFY THE NPDES PERMIT NUMBER ON THE FIRST PAGE OF THEIR COMMENTS. In order to affect final decisions, comments must offer technically substantial information that is applicable to the draft permit. All comments must be received in the ADEM Main Office in Montgomery no later than 5:00 P.M. on the last day of the comment period.
A written request for a public hearing may also be filed within that 30-day period and must state the nature of the issues proposed to be raised in the hearing. The Director shall hold a public hearing whenever it is found, on the basis of hearing requests, that there exists a significant degree of public interest in the permit application or draft permit. The Director may also hold a hearing if he determines that it would clarify one or more issues involved in the permit decision.
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. The Department will post responses to comments as well as the final permit determinations to the Department’s website at http://app.adem.alabama.gov/eFile/. To find the response to comments and final permit determination, you may search by the permit number listed in this notice.
The Department maintains a list of interested individuals who are emailed legal notices regarding proposed permits. If you wish to receive such notices, please sign up here by entering your email address on the left side of the page and clicking the submit button.
This notice is hereby given this 8th day of July, 2021, 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.