Ohio EPA to hold hearing on draft wastewater permit for DP&L facilities in Adams County
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Ohio EPA will hold a public hearing on Feb. 2, 2012, to accept comments about a draft permit issued to the Dayton Power and Light Company (DP&L) related to wastewater discharges from the J.M. Stuart electric power generating station, located at 745 U.S. Rt. 52 in Aberdeen, and the proposed Carter Hollow Landfill, located off Ginger Ridge Rd., in Sprigg Township. J.M. Stuart discharges cooling water and other wastewaters to Little Threemile Creek, Buzzard’s Roost Creek and the Ohio River.
Public Hearing
The information session and public hearing will be held on at 6 p.m. at the Manchester Community Center (400 Pike St., Manchester). Ohio EPA places a high priority on public involvement and encourages citizens to become involved in the decision-making process. During the information session, Ohio EPA will explain the draft permit and answer questions about it. During the hearing, the public can submit comments for the record that will be considered before Ohio EPA issues or denies the final permit.
J.M. Stuart Station Discharges
Cooling water from the J.M. Stuart facility discharges directly to Little Threemile Creek. In 1990, the company received a variance from water quality standards related to the temperature of the discharge. An alternate thermal limit is allowed by the Clean Water Act as long as the facility protects fish and other aquatic life.
In 2008, Ohio EPA issued a draft permit renewal for J.M. Stuart station and proposed to continue the alternate thermal limit. While Ohio EPA recognized potential impacts, data available to the Agency at the time appeared to show the thermal plume was not jeopardizing aquatic life over the long term.
In 2010, U.S. EPA objected to Ohio EPA’s draft permit renewal for J.M. Stuart station, stating “the record does not demonstrate that the temperature limits in Ohio EPA’s proposed permit would adequately protect aquatic life in Little Threemile Creek.”
On March 23, 2011, U.S. EPA held a public hearing in Georgetown, OH, at DP&L’s request, and accepted public comments until late April. In September, U.S. EPA reaffirmed its objection to Ohio EPA’s 2008 draft permit and requested a revised permit from Ohio EPA. After discussions with U.S. EPA and DP&L, Ohio EPA issued a revised draft wastewater discharge permit.
The revised draft permit contains a compliance schedule for DP&L to choose within six months to either meet thermal limits in Little Threemile Creek (82 degrees F average and 85 degrees F maximum in the hottest months) or to remove the discharge from Little Threemile Creek and reroute it to the Ohio River and meet thermal limits there.
DP&L would have approximately four years to comply with the new limits. Thermal limits in the permit would vary based on calendar month and whether the discharge is to Little Threemile Creek or the Ohio River.
The draft permit contains a schedule for DP&L to erect warning signs by May 1, 2012, and develop a plan within three months to limit public access to Little Threemile Creek when cooling water discharge temperatures are exceeded. These requirements would protect the public from possible contact with high temperature water.
Proposed Carter Hollow Landfill Discharges
DP&L also proposes to construct a 245-acre residual waste management facility to primarily accept flue-gas desulfurization gypsum from DP&L’s J.M. Stuart and Killen Stations. Ohio EPA included conditions in DP&L’s revised draft wastewater discharge permit to address the new landfill leachate and sediment pond discharges to Buzzard’s Roost Creek.
Mercury would be limited to 12 parts per trillion in the discharge and the company would have a compliance schedule to evaluate treatment options for mercury and other metals in the leachate. Ohio EPA previously issued the company a water quality certification, a general storm water permit for discharges from the ponds during the construction period, and final air permits for this project. The Agency is still considering a permit-to-install application for a portion of the leachate pipeline and solid waste permit application. DP&L also has applied to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a Section 404 permit.
Public Comment Period
In addition to oral comments provided at the Feb. 2 public meeting, Ohio EPA will equally consider written comments received through Mon., Feb. 6, 2012. Interested parties can send comments to Ohio EPA, Attn: Tim Fulks, Division of Surface Water, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, OH 43216-1049.
More Information
The revised draft wastewater discharge permit and fact sheet are available for review at Ohio EPA’s website; Division of Surface Water (Lazarus Government Center, 50 W. Town St., Suite 700, Columbus) by first calling (614) 644-2001; and Southeast District Office (2195 Front Street, Logan, Ohio 43138) by first calling (740) 385-8501 or (800) 686-7330.
Other related information is online at U.S. EPA's DP&L J.M. Stuart Station web page. Interested parties also may write to Ohio EPA at the above address for more information.[[In-content Ad]]
Public Hearing
The information session and public hearing will be held on at 6 p.m. at the Manchester Community Center (400 Pike St., Manchester). Ohio EPA places a high priority on public involvement and encourages citizens to become involved in the decision-making process. During the information session, Ohio EPA will explain the draft permit and answer questions about it. During the hearing, the public can submit comments for the record that will be considered before Ohio EPA issues or denies the final permit.
J.M. Stuart Station Discharges
Cooling water from the J.M. Stuart facility discharges directly to Little Threemile Creek. In 1990, the company received a variance from water quality standards related to the temperature of the discharge. An alternate thermal limit is allowed by the Clean Water Act as long as the facility protects fish and other aquatic life.
In 2008, Ohio EPA issued a draft permit renewal for J.M. Stuart station and proposed to continue the alternate thermal limit. While Ohio EPA recognized potential impacts, data available to the Agency at the time appeared to show the thermal plume was not jeopardizing aquatic life over the long term.
In 2010, U.S. EPA objected to Ohio EPA’s draft permit renewal for J.M. Stuart station, stating “the record does not demonstrate that the temperature limits in Ohio EPA’s proposed permit would adequately protect aquatic life in Little Threemile Creek.”
On March 23, 2011, U.S. EPA held a public hearing in Georgetown, OH, at DP&L’s request, and accepted public comments until late April. In September, U.S. EPA reaffirmed its objection to Ohio EPA’s 2008 draft permit and requested a revised permit from Ohio EPA. After discussions with U.S. EPA and DP&L, Ohio EPA issued a revised draft wastewater discharge permit.
The revised draft permit contains a compliance schedule for DP&L to choose within six months to either meet thermal limits in Little Threemile Creek (82 degrees F average and 85 degrees F maximum in the hottest months) or to remove the discharge from Little Threemile Creek and reroute it to the Ohio River and meet thermal limits there.
DP&L would have approximately four years to comply with the new limits. Thermal limits in the permit would vary based on calendar month and whether the discharge is to Little Threemile Creek or the Ohio River.
The draft permit contains a schedule for DP&L to erect warning signs by May 1, 2012, and develop a plan within three months to limit public access to Little Threemile Creek when cooling water discharge temperatures are exceeded. These requirements would protect the public from possible contact with high temperature water.
Proposed Carter Hollow Landfill Discharges
DP&L also proposes to construct a 245-acre residual waste management facility to primarily accept flue-gas desulfurization gypsum from DP&L’s J.M. Stuart and Killen Stations. Ohio EPA included conditions in DP&L’s revised draft wastewater discharge permit to address the new landfill leachate and sediment pond discharges to Buzzard’s Roost Creek.
Mercury would be limited to 12 parts per trillion in the discharge and the company would have a compliance schedule to evaluate treatment options for mercury and other metals in the leachate. Ohio EPA previously issued the company a water quality certification, a general storm water permit for discharges from the ponds during the construction period, and final air permits for this project. The Agency is still considering a permit-to-install application for a portion of the leachate pipeline and solid waste permit application. DP&L also has applied to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a Section 404 permit.
Public Comment Period
In addition to oral comments provided at the Feb. 2 public meeting, Ohio EPA will equally consider written comments received through Mon., Feb. 6, 2012. Interested parties can send comments to Ohio EPA, Attn: Tim Fulks, Division of Surface Water, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, OH 43216-1049.
More Information
The revised draft wastewater discharge permit and fact sheet are available for review at Ohio EPA’s website; Division of Surface Water (Lazarus Government Center, 50 W. Town St., Suite 700, Columbus) by first calling (614) 644-2001; and Southeast District Office (2195 Front Street, Logan, Ohio 43138) by first calling (740) 385-8501 or (800) 686-7330.
Other related information is online at U.S. EPA's DP&L J.M. Stuart Station web page. Interested parties also may write to Ohio EPA at the above address for more information.[[In-content Ad]]