PUBLIC NOTICE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) PERMIT AND AIR PERMIT AND REQUEST FOR COMMENTS
LEE COUNTY
Notice is hereby given that the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, at 6:00 p.m., at the Opelika Performing Arts Center at Opelika High School located at 1700 Bulldog Pkwy, Opelika, AL 36801, concerning the proposed issuance of air and water permits to Creekwood Resources, LLC for a proposed granite quarry to be located 0.6 miles from the intersection of Lee County Road 168 and US Highway 431, south of Lee County Road 168, Opelika, AL 36801.
Creekwood Resources, LLC has applied for issuance of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit, NPDES Permit Number AL0084018, for proposed discharges of treated drainage from a wet and dry preparation granite quarry and associated areas to Groundwater and to unnamed tributaries to Sougahatchee Creek (Sougahatchee Lake) and an unnamed tributary to Sougahatchee Creek, classified as Fish and Wildlife in the Tallapoosa River Basin. The Department has tentatively determined that the proposed actions described in this notice are consistent with the Water Quality Rules including the Department’s Anti-degradation Rules.
Creekwood Resources, LLC, Inc. has also applied for an Air Permit, Facility No. 206-0050, which would authorize the construction and operation of a granite crushing, screening, and conveying operation. Emissions of particulate matter would be minimized by the use of wet suppression. The Department has determined that the equipment/operations proposed by the company should be able to meet State and federal air pollution control requirements.
Pursuant to applicable regulations, the Department issued a public notice of a 30-day public comment period on January 21, 2020, on the Department’s website during which any interested person could submit written comments on the permit applications or draft permits. During this comment period, the Department received sufficient requests 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. on Wednesday, April 1, 2020.
Copies of the complete project file are available for public inspection electronically via http://www.adem.alabama.gov/newsEvents/pubHearings.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
permitsmail@adem.alabama.gov
The purpose of the public hearing will be for interested parties to make oral and written comments into the public hearing record. Those wishing to make oral comments at the public hearing are also encouraged to submit those comments in writing. All comments must address the conditions of the proposed permits; the Department’s adherence to the applicable environmental laws, rules, and regulations in development of the proposed permits; or issues that have an impact on the applicant’s ability to meet applicable environmental laws, rules, and regulations to affect the final permit decision.
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 public hearing record. Written comments received prior to the close of the public comment period will also be considered and entered into the public 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.
After consideration of all oral and written comments and consideration of the requirements of the Alabama Air Pollution Control Act, the federal Clean Air Act, the Alabama Water Pollution Control Act, the federal Water Pollution Control Act, and all other applicable regulations, the Department will make a final determination. The Department will develop a response to comments which will be posted 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 or facility 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 on this 20th day of February, 2020 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.
