The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Surface Water Discharges Section (DNREC – SWDS) will conduct a public hearing on the proposed renewal of Draft National Pollutant Discharges Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Large, Medium, & Designated Poultry Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) – Manure Generation Facilities Only (DE 5000N/11) and the proposed issuance of Draft NPDES General Permit for Large, Medium, & Designated Non-Poultry & Diversified CAFOs – Manure Generation and Land Application Facilities (DE 0051250).

NPDES CAFO General Permit Issuance and Renewal

Notice is hereby given that DNREC intends to issue two General Permits related to the NPDES CAFO program. A CAFO permit is a point source permit authorized by the Federal Clean Water Act that is required by Federal and State regulations for CAFOs that discharge pollutants into waters of the state, including streams or drainage ditches. DNREC intends to issue these General Permits, under which CAFO operations can seek discharge authorization. In the State of Delaware, DNREC and DDA cooperate in implementing the CAFO program. The purpose of the CAFO permit is to regulate activities at CAFOs involving the management of nutrients and to help improve and maintain the quality of waters of the state. Applicable farms will be subject to certain effluent limitations and conditions under Section 9.5 of 7 Del. Admin. Code §7201 – State of Delaware Regulations Governing the Control of Water Pollution.

Public Hearing

A virtual public hearing on the above draft permits (Docket #2021-P-W-0013) will be held on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, beginning at 6pm. The draft permits, associated materials, and web link to the virtual hearing can be accessed through the DNREC Public Hearings site at de.gov/dnrechearings. When joining the virtual hearing, if prompted for a password, use CAFO. To access the audio-only portion of the virtual hearing, dial in at 1-408-418-9388 and enter event code 173 464 0322. Closed captioning is available by request if made at least 7 days before the event.

Those wishing to offer verbal comments during DNREC virtual public hearings must pre-register no later than noon on the date of the virtual hearing at de.gov/dnreccomments or by telephone at 302-739-9295.

The Department will also accept written public comments through the close of business on Thursday, July 15, 2021. Comments pertaining to the above matter will be accepted in written form via email to DNRECHearingComments@delaware.gov, using the online form at de.gov/dnreccomments, or by U.S. mail to the address below:

Lisa A. Vest, Hearing Officer
Office of the Secretary
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19901

Related Topics:  animal feeding, cafo, NPDES, permitting and regulation, public comment, public hearing, public notice, water