West Virginia Rivers Coalition
Deadline for Public Comments on Two Projects Due by August 12th
[Your Comments Needed by 5 pm, Tomorrow, 8/12/16]
The WVDEP is currently accepting comments on two 401 Water Quality Certification Applications. What is a 401 permit? Read our 401 fact sheet to learn more. The permit application for these large projects should be very detailed, but both lack information that WVDEP needs to certify the projects will not impact our water.
Rover Pipeline 401 Application
The proposed Rover pipeline would install approximately 60 miles of new 24 and 36-inch pipelines through Hancock, Marshall, Wetzel, Doddridge and Tyler counties to transport natural gas to markets in Ohio and Michigan. The project would impact approximately 175 streams and involve 3 crossings under the Ohio River. To submit comments to the WVDEP on Rover’s inadequate 401 application click here.
Antero 401 Application
The proposed Antero landfill and wastewater treatment facility encompasses approximately 486 acres in Doddridge and Ritchie Counties. The facility would treat fracking wastewater for re-use and dispose of the salt byproducts in the attached landfill. It is still unclear how they plan to dispose of the sludge byproduct. The project would impact 89 streams and 11 wetlands and is located 4 miles upstream of Harrisville’s drinking water intake. To submit comments to WVDEP on Antero’s insufficient 401 application click here.
Comments on each 401 application must be submitted separately. Please send your comments on these projects by 5pm, tomorrow, August 12.
>>> For more information contact West Virginia Rivers Coalition,
www.wvrivers.org – (304) 637-7201
###=====================================
Notice Issued by WV Department of Environmental Protection
[Antero Project Comment Period Extended to August 23rd]
Thursday, August 11, 2016 @ 8:35 AM
=====================================
The public comment period for a state water quality certification requested by Antero Landfill Project and Antero Treatment LLC has been extended to August 23rd.
The comment period was initially slated to end on August 12th but was extended by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Water and Waste Management due to significant public interest.
Pursuant to Section 401 of the Federal Clean Water Act, the state may either certify, certify with conditions, deny or waive certification that the proposed activity will comply with Sections 301, 302, 303, 306 and 307 of the Federal Clean Water Act and other appropriate requirements of state law.
When issuing certification, the WVDEP may consider the proposed activity’s impact on water resources, fish and wildlife, recreation, critical habitats, wetlands and other natural resources under its jurisdiction. Procedural and interpretive regulations governing the scope of the department’s certification, public comment, hearings and appeals are in Title 47, Series 5A.
The 401 permit application is connected to a project that involves construction of a non-commercial industrial solid waste disposal landfill located in Ritchie and Doddridge Counties. The landfill would accommodate salt generated from the adjacent Antero Clearwater Water Treatment and Reuse Facility. Construction of the site would include an access road between the landfill and the treatment facility.
The Water Quality Certification application is available for inspection between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the following location:
WV Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Water and Waste Management
401 Certification Program
601 57th Street SE
Charleston, WV 25304
Comments and information relating to Section 401 Water Quality Certification for this activity will be considered if postmarked prior to August 23rd. All such comments and information should be mailed to the address above or emailed to dep.comments@wv.gov.
===========================================
To view past notices of open public comment periods, login at:
http://apps.dep.wv.gov//MLists2/
Point Your RSS Reader to FrackCheckWV.net/feed/
