The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Water, hereby gives notice that the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK) has applied for reissuance of its National Pollutant Discharge System (NPDES) Permit No. DE0050962 (State Number WPCC 3089G/85) to discharge storm water runoff associated with industrial activity and groundwater from the Wilmington Maintenance Facility located west of I-495, closer to 12th Street, at 4001 Vandever Avenue in Wilmington, Delaware. There are six (6) outfalls at this site which discharge storm water runoff and groundwater to Brandywine Creek and Shellpot Creek. Major activities of the Wilmington Amtrak Facility are overhauling, rebuilding, and repairing of electric and diesel locomotives, metal cutting and turning, fueling operations and aqueous degreasing of parts and engine. Engine parts are cleaned with steam and detergent. The effluent from the cleaning is pretreated before being discharged to the City of Wilmington sewer system. Groundwater pumped from sumps within the Administration Building is treated using granulated activated carbon before being discharged to the storm water conveyance system.

Based on a preliminary staff review and application of lawful standards and regulations, the Department proposes to re-issue this permit, subject to certain effluent limitations and conditions. The proposed determinations are tentative. Persons wishing to comment upon or object to the proposed determinations are invited to submit same in writing to the Surface Water Discharges Section of the Division of Water, at the address listed below, no later than 30 days from this notice. All comments received prior to said date will be considered in the formulation of final determinations regarding this application.

A public hearing on the above will NOT be held unless the Secretary of DNREC receives a request by 4:30 pm on January 27, 2023, or if the Secretary determines that a public hearing is in the public interest. A request for a hearing shall be in writing and shall state the nature of the issues to be raised at the hearing. It must also show familiarity with the proposal and a reasoned statement of the permit’s probable impact.

The applications, fact sheets, and permits are available for inspection or copies may be obtained by contacting:

George Mwangi, P.E.
Commercial and Government Services Section
89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901
(302) 739-9946

Related Topics:  NPDES, permitting and regulation, public notice, runoff, stormwater, surface water discharges, water