PUBLIC NOTICE - Environmental Permit - Breaks Interstate Park Commission

PUBLIC NOTICE 

Environmental Permit

    PURPOSE OF NOTICE: To seek public comment on a draft permit from the Department of Environmental Quality that will allow the release of treated wastewater into a water body in Dickenson County, Virginia.

   PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: April 29, 2026 to June 1, 2026

    PERMIT NAME: Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit – Wastewater issued by DEQ pursuant to applicable water laws and regulations.

  APPLICANT NAME, ADDRESS AND PERMIT NUMBER: Breaks Interstate Park Commission; P.O. Box 100, Breaks, VA 24607; VA0023892

    FACILITY NAME AND LOCATION: Breaks Interstate Park Camp No. 1 Sewage Treatment Plant; State Route 743, below dam, Breaks, VA 24607

   PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Breaks Interstate Park Commission has applied for reissuance of a permit for the publicly owned Breaks Interstate Park Camp No. 1 Sewage Treatment Plant.  The applicant proposes to release treated sewage wastewater from Breaks Interstate Park Camp No. 1 at a rate of 60,000 gallons per day to a water body. The sludge will be pumped and hauled to the Town of Richlands Sewage Treatment Plant for additional treatment and final disposal. The facility proposed to release the treated wastewater in Laurel Branch in Dickenson County, in the Big Sandy River watershed. A watershed is the land area drained by a river and its incoming streams. The permit will limit the following pollutants to amounts that protect water quality: physical and chemical properties, organic matter, solids and bacteria, and includes other requirements and special conditions. 

  HOW TO COMMENT AND/OR REQUEST A PUBLIC HEARING: DEQ accepts comments and requests for public hearing on the draft permit by hand-delivery, e-mail, or postal mail.  All comments and requests must be in writing and be received by DEQ during the comment period.  DEQ must receive hand-delivery and postal mail by close of business and email comments by 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the comment period. Submittals must include the names, mailing addresses or email addresses 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. A public hearing may be held, including another comment period, if public response is significant, based on individual requests for a public hearing, and there are substantial, disputed issues relevant to the permit. 

  CONTACT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, DOCUMENT REQUESTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Ethan Virts; Southwest Regional Office, 355-A Deadmore Street, Abingdon, VA 24210; Phone: (276) 608-8572; E-Mail: ethan.virts@deq.virginia.gov.  The public may review the draft permit and application at the DEQ office named above by appointment or may request copies of the documents from the contact person listed above.

4-29-2t s5-6