Public Notice -- DEQ Seeking Public Comment on a Draft Permit for the Withdrawal of Groundwater in Sussex County

Public Notice -- DEQ Seeking Public Comment on a Draft Permit for the Withdrawal of Groundwater in Sussex County


Public Notice – Environmental Permit

PURPOSE OF NOTICE: To seek public comment on a draft permit from the Department of Environmental Quality for the withdrawal of groundwater in Sussex County, Virginia.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: January 12, 2017 to February 13, 2017.

PERMIT NAME: Groundwater Withdrawal Permit issued by DEQ, under the authority of the State Water Control Board

APPLICANT NAME, ADDRESS AND PERMIT NUMBER: Southeast 4-H Educational Center, 15189 Airfield Road, Wakefield, VA 23888, GW0006401

NAME AND LOCATION OF WATER WITHDRAWAL: Southeast 4-H Educational Center, 15189 Airfield Road, Wakefield, VA 23888

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Southeast 4-H Educational Center has applied for a reissuance of a water withdrawal permit for use to support their educational mission for 4-H campers, and use as a campground and conference center in Sussex County Virginia. The permit would allow the applicant to withdraw an average of 119,520 gallons per day. The groundwater withdrawal will support a non-municipal, non-public water supply system for human consumption with some agricultural/livestock usage, primarily for arena conditioning and occasional equine care. The proposed withdrawal will utilize the Potomac aquifer at a depth between 284 feet to 304 feet below the land surface at the withdrawal site. An aquifer is a body of rock or layer of sediment in the ground in which groundwater is stored and transported. DEQ has made a tentative decision to issue the permit.

AFFECTED AREA: Computer modeling predicts that the aquifer will not experience one foot of drawdown due to the withdrawal.

HOW TO COMMENT AND OR REQUEST A PUBLIC HEARING: DEQ accepts comments and requests for public hearing 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. DEQ may hold a public hearing, including another comment period, if public response is significant and there are substantial, disputed issues relevant to the proposed permit.

CONTACT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, DOCUMENT REQUESTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: SHANA MOORE, Department of Environmental Quality-Central Office, 629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219; Phone-804.689.4051; E-mail: Shana.Moore@deq.virginia.gov; FAX: 804.698-4032. The public may review the draft permit and application at the DEQ office named above by appointment.