PUBLIC NOTICE Environmental Permit - Coeburn-Norton-Wise Regional Wastewater Treatment Authority

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 in Wise County, Virginia.

   PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: 8/19/2025 – 9/18/2025

    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: Coeburn-Norton-Wise Regional Wastewater Treatment Authority, P.O. Box 1296, Norton, VA 24273

    FACILITY NAME AND LOCATION: Coeburn-Norton-Wise Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, 11550 Pine Camp Road, Coeburn,  VA 24230

   PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Coeburn-Norton-Wise Regional Wastewater Treatment Authority has applied for reissuance of a permit for the Coeburn-Norton-Wise Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. The applicant proposes to release treated sewage wastewaters at a rate of 6.5 million gallons per day into a water body.  The treated residuals will be disposed of by hauling the dewatered sludge to the Wise County Sanitary Landfill, or by land application of Class B biosolids at locations in Wise, Scott, and Russell Counties.  The facility proposes to release the treated sewage in the Guest River in Wise County, in the Clinch 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, bacteria, and inorganics.  

  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 requester, 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: Martha Chapman, Southwest Regional Office, 355 A Deadmore Street, Abingdon, VA 24210; Phone: (276) 608-8673; E-mail: martha.chapman@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.

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