Draft General Permit for the Discharge of Less Than 5000 Galons of Waste Water

DISCHARGES OF TREATED SANITARY WASTEWATER AND/OR OTHER ACCEPTED WASTEWATER TYPES TOTALING LESS THAN 5,000 GALLONS PER DAY MAXIMUM EXPECTED FLOW GENERAL PERMIT NUMBER LAG530000 / AI 97167 The LDEQ, Office of Environmental Services, is accepting written comments on a draft LPDES General Permit for discharges of treated sanitary wastewater and/or other accepted wastewater types totaling less than 5,000 gallons per day maximum expected flow.   Coverage under this general permit shall be limited to facilities discharging treated sanitary wastewater and/or other accepted wastewater types totaling less than 5,000 gallons per day into surface waters of the state.  In order to be covered as a permittee under this general permit, notification must be made to this Office by the owner or operator.  Notification must be made on Notice of Intent (NOI) form WPS-G or an approved equivalent form.  Notification forms may be obtained by contacting this Office at (225) 219-9371.  Proposed facilities desiring coverage under this permit must submit the NOI at least sixty (60) days prior to commencement of discharge.  If the facility is in existence and has not been permitted, the NOI shall be submitted within thirty (30) days following the effective date of this permit.  After review of the submittal, this Office will issue written notification to those applicants who are accepted for coverage under the general permit.  An annual maintenance and surveillance fee will be assessed for each permit.  Dischargers with individual LWDPS or NPDES permits covering the discharges eligible for the general permit may apply for and be issued this LPDES permit.  Upon approval by this Office, the permittee will be notified of coverage by this general permit and of cancellation of the previous permit(s).   During the preparation of this permit, it has been determined that the discharges will have no adverse impact on the existing uses of the receiving waterbodies.  As with any discharge, however, some change in existing water quality may occur.   Comments and requests for a public hearing or notification of the final decision can be submitted via personal delivery, U.S. mail, email, or fax. Comments and  requests for public hearings must be received by 4:30 pm CST, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012. Delivery may be made to the drop-box at 602 N. 5th St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802.  U.S. Mail may be sent to LDEQ, Public Participation Group, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313.  Emails may be submitted to DEQ.PUBLICNOTICES@LA.GOV and faxes sent to (225) 219-3309.   Please see additional instructions for comment submission, hand delivery and information regarding electronic submission  at http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/Default.aspx?tabid=2256 or call (225) 219-3276.  Emails should follow the statewide email policies.  For more information regarding statewide email policies, go to http://doa.louisiana.gov/ocs/email/policies.htm.   This Department may issue general permits for certain categories of facilities or activities where individual permits are not necessary in order to adequately protect the environment or the public health.  If LDEQ finds a significant degree of public interest, a public hearing will be held.  LDEQ will send notification of thefinal permit decision to the applicant and to each person who has submitted written comments or a written request for notification of the final decision.   The draft permit, notice of intent and fact sheet are available for review at the LDEQ Public Records Center, Room 127, 602 North 5th Street, Baton Rouge, LA.  Viewing hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays).  The available information can also be accessed electronically on the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) on the DEQ public website at www.deq.louisiana.gov.   Inquiries or requests for additional information regarding this permit action should be directed toms. Ms. Rachel Davis, LDEQ, Water Permits Division, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313, phone (225) 219-3515.   Persons wishing to be included on the LDEQ permit public notice mailing list or for other public participation related questions should contact the Public Participation Group in writing at LDEQ, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313, by email at DEQ.PUBLICNOTICES@LA.GOV or contact the LDEQ Customer Service Center at (225) 219-LDEQ (219-5337).   Permit public notices including electronic access to the draft permit and fact sheet can be viewed at the LDEQ permits public notice webpage at www.deq.louisiana.gov/apps/pubNotice/default.asp and general information related to the public participation in permitting activities can be viewed at www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/tabid/2198/Default.aspx.   Alternatively, individuals may elect to receive the permit public notices via email by subscribing to the LDEQ permits public notice List Server at http://louisiana.gov/Services/Email_Notifications_DEQ_PN/.