ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM PERMIT FOR DISCHARGE INTO WATERS OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND REQUEST FOR COMMENTS

The following applicants have applied for an NPDES permit to discharge treated wastewater into waters of the State of Alabama:

Industrial Facilities

MORGAN COUNTY

Decatur Energy Center, LLC, 2024 Highway 20 West, Decatur, Alabama 35601, NPDES Permit Number AL0073989, located at the same address, for reissuance of a permit, which authorizes discharges resulting from wastewaters associated with electric power and steam generation including cooling tower blowdown, low volume wastes, chemical metal cleaning wastes, water treatment filter backwash and demineralization regeneration waters discharging through Outfall DSN001 into the Tennessee River (Wheeler Lake), classified as Swimming and Fish & Wildlife, in the Tennessee River Basin; stormwater runoff associated with the production of steam and electricity discharging through Outfalls DSN002, DSN003, and DSN004 into the Tennessee River (Wheeler Lake), classified as Swimming and Fish & Wildlife, in the Tennessee River Basin.  The Department has made a determination that the cooling water intake structure represents the best technology available (BTA) to minimize adverse environmental impact in accordance with Section 316(b) of the Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. section 1326).

Hexcel Corporation, 3300 Mallard Fox Drive, Decatur, Alabama 35601, NPDES Permit Number AL0065137, located at the same address, for reissuance of a permit, which authorizes discharges resulting from fire system test waters discharging through outfall DSN002 into the Tennessee River (Wheeler Lake), classified as Swimming and Fish & Wildlife, in the Tennessee River Basin; stormwater runoff associated with the manufacture of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers and carbon fibers discharging through outfalls DSN003, DSN005, DSN006, DSN011, DSN012, DSN015, DSN016, DSN018, and DSN019 into the Tennessee River (Wheeler Lake), classified as Swimming and Fish & Wildlife, in the Tennessee River Basin; stormwater runoff associated with the manufacture of Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers and carbon fibers including HVAC condensate and underground infiltration discharging through outfall DSN007 into the Tennessee River (Wheeler Lake), classified as Swimming and Fish & Wildlife, in the Tennessee River Basin; stormwater runoff associated with the manufacture of Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers and carbon fibers including HVAC condensate and fire test system overflow discharging through outfall DSN017 into the Tennessee River (Wheeler Lake), classified as Swimming and Fish & Wildlife, in the Tennessee River Basin.  The Department has determined that the entity providing water to the Permittee is a public water system in accordance with Section 1401 of the Safe Drinking Water Act; therefore, the Permittee is exempt from the requirements of Section 316(b) of the federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. section 1326) and rules adopted under this section.

Mineral Extraction Facilities

BALDWIN COUNTY

Atlas, Inc. – Atlas Pit #1, PO Box 1948, Daphne, Alabama 36526, NPDES Permit Number AL0076881, located at 18380 Mills Road, Foley, Baldwin County, Alabama, for issuance of a permit that limits discharges of treated drainage from a sand and/or gravel and shale and common clay mine and associated areas, discharging to Groundwater and Magnolia River, classified as Outstanding Alabama Water, swimming and Other Whole Body Water-Contact Sports, and Fish and Wildlife, in the Mobile River Basin.

Baldwin County Commission – Kelly Pit, 312 Courthouse Square Suite 12, Bay Minette, Alabama 36507, NPDES Permit Number AL0073245, located on County Road 26, Foley, Baldwin County, Alabama, for issuance of a permit that limits discharges of treated drainage from a dry preparation sand and/or gravel mine and associated areas, discharging to Groundwater and an unnamed tributary to Magnolia River, classified as Fish and Wildlife, in the Mobile River Bay Basin.

JACKSON COUNTY

Ralph Sisk – Sisk Rock Pit, 551 County Road 9, Estillfork, Alabama 35745, NPDES Permit Number AL0084470, located on County Road 111, Fackler, Jackson County, Alabama, for issuance of a permit that limits discharges of treated drainage from a dry preparation sandstone mine and associated areas, discharging to Groundwater and unnamed tributaries to Mud Creek (Houston Creek), classified as Fish and Wildlife, in the Tennessee River Basin.

Public, Semi-Public and Private Facilities

DE KALB COUNTY

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 64 North Union Street Room 483, Montgomery, AL 36104. NPDES Permit Number AL0046701, for reissuance of a permit which limits the discharge of pollutants from treated domestic wastewater from DeSoto State Park WWTP/HCR Lagoon, 7104 DeSoto Parkway NE, Fort Payne, AL 35967, for the purpose of meeting federal and state water quality regulatory standards.  The subject permit regulates the discharge of treated wastewater to West Fork Little River, classified as Public Water Supply, Swimming, Fish and Wildlife, and Outstanding National Resource Water in the Coosa River Basin.

ELMORE COUNTY

City of Millbrook, PO Box 1072, Millbrook, AL 36054, NPDES Permit Number AL0049921, for reissuance of a permit which limits the discharge of pollutants from treated domestic wastewater, golf course irrigation, and stormwater runoff from Millbrook WWTP, 627 Thornfield Drive, Millbrook, AL  36054, for the purpose of meeting federal and state water quality regulatory standards. The subject permit regulates the discharge of treated wastewater to the Alabama River (Woodruff Lake), which is classified as Fish and Wildlife, in the Alabama River Basin; treated wastewater for golf course irrigation in the Alabama River Basin, located in the drainage basin of Coosada Creek, a waterway classified as Fish and Wildlife, in the Alabama River Basin;and stormwater runoffto the an unnamed tributary to Coosada Creek, which is classified as Fish and Wildlife, in the Alabama River Basin.

JEFFERSON COUNTY

Jefferson County Commission, 716 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Suite A300, Birmingham, AL  35203, NPDES Permit Number AL0023655, for reissuance of a permit which limits the discharge of pollutants from treated domestic and industrial wastewater and stormwater runoff from Valley Creek WRF, 3923 Clearwater Drive, Bessemer, AL  35023, for the purpose of meeting federal and state water quality regulatory standards. The subject permit regulates the discharge of treated wastewaterand stormwater runoffto Valley Creek, which is classified as Limited Warmwater Fishery, in the Black Warrior River Basin.

LIMESTONE COUNTY

Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority, Post Office Box 110, Athens, AL  35611, NPDES Permit Number AL0055514, for reissuance of a permit which limits the discharge of pollutants from treated domestic wastewater from Owens Elementary School WWTP, 21465 AL Highway 99,  Athens, AL  35614, for the purpose of meeting federal and state water quality regulatory standards. The subject permit regulates the discharge of treated wastewaterto UT to Big Creek, which is classified as Fish and Wildlife, in the Tennessee River Basin.

MARSHALL COUNTY

Arab Water Works, 526 Cullman Road, Arab, AL 35016, NPDES Permit Number AL0082040, for reissuance of a permit which limits the discharge of pollutants from filter backwash and ion exchange from Arab Water Treatment Plant, 66 Waterworks Road, Guntersville, AL 35976, for the purpose of meeting federal and state water quality regulatory standards.  The subject permit regulates the discharge of filter backwash to UT to Browns Creek (Guntersville Lake), classified as Public Water Supply, Swimming, and Fish and Wildlife, in the Tennessee River Basin.

MORGAN COUNTY

Living Water Utilities, LLC, 160 Piper Lane, Alabaster, AL 35007, NPDES Permit Number AL0051853, for reissuance of a permit which limits the discharge of pollutants from treated domestic from Brewer High School WWTP, Highway 61 at Florette, Somerville, AL  35670, for the purpose of meeting federal and state water quality regulatory standards. The subject permit regulates the discharge of treated wastewater to Six Mile Creek, which is classified as Fish and Wildlife, in the Tennessee River Basin.

TALLADEGA COUNTY

Talladega County Board of Education, Post Office Box 887, Talladega, AL  35161, NPDES Permit Number AL0058823, for reissuance of a permit which limits the discharge of pollutants from treated domestic from Winterboro School Lagoon, 22401 Alabama Highway 21, Alpine, AL  35014, for the purpose of meeting federal and state water quality regulatory standards. The subject permit regulates the discharge of treated wastewater to Weewoka Creek, which is classified as Fish and Wildlife, in the Coosa River Basin.

WALKER COUNTY

Town of Oakman, PO Box 267, Oakman, AL 35579, NPDES Permit Number AL0025348, for reissuance of a permit which limits the discharge of pollutants from treated domestic wastewater from Oakman Lagoon HCR, Wateroak Street South, Oakman, AL 35579, for the purpose of meeting federal and state water quality regulatory standards.  The subject permit regulates the discharge of treated wastewater to Cane Creek, classified as Limited Warmwater Fishery, in the Black Warrior River Basin.
The Department has tentatively determined that the proposed actions described in this notice are consistent with the Water Quality Program regulations; and for those in the coastal area, are consistent with the Alabama Coastal Management Program.

Copies of the draft permits, conditions, limitations and a fact sheet as applicable describing the methodology for setting the limitations and conditions and other applicable NPDES forms and related documents are available for public inspection electronically via http://adem.alabama.gov/newsEvents/publicNotices.cnt, and at the following location Monday – Friday (except legal holidays), 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.  A nominal fee for copying and/or mailing may be charged.  Arrangements for copying should be made in advance.

Jeffery W. Kitchens, Chief
ADEM-Water Division
1400 Coliseum Blvd.
[Mailing address: PO Box 301463; Zip 36130-1463]
Montgomery, Alabama 36110-2400
(334) 271-7823
water-permits@adem.alabama.gov

Persons wishing to comment may do so, in writing, to the Department's named contact above within 30 days following the publication date of this notice.  COMMENTERS SHOULD IDENTIFY THE APPROPRIATE NPDES NUMBER ON THE FIRST PAGE OF THEIR COMMENTS.  In order to affect final decisions, comments must offer technically substantial information that is applicable to the draft permit. All comments must be received in the ADEM Main Office in Montgomery no later than 5:00 P.M. on the last day of the comment period.

A written request for a public hearing may also be filed within that 30-day period and must state the nature of the issues proposed to be raised in the hearing.  The Director shall hold a public hearing whenever it is found, on the basis of hearing requests, that there exists a significant degree of public interest in the permit application or draft permit.  The Director may also hold a hearing if he determines that it would clarify one or more issues involved in the permit decision.

After consideration of all written comments, review of any public hearing record, and consideration of the requirements of the Alabama Water Pollution Control Act, the federal Water Pollution Control Act, and applicable regulations, the Department will make a final determination.  The Department will develop a response to comments, which will become part of the public record.  The Department will post responses to comments as well as the final permit determinations 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 appropriate permit 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 this 15th day of March, 2023, by authorization of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

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.