The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Water, hereby gives notice of the following proposal regarding National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit:

Sussex County Council has filed a timely and sufficient application for reissuance of its NPDES Permit No. DE0050008 (State Number WPCC 3012F/74) to discharge treated wastewater to the Atlantic Ocean from its sanitary wastewater treatment facilities located at 33711 South Coastal Lane, Frankford, Sussex County, Delaware. The facility is a sanitary treatment plant (STP) that receives domestic waste from the southeastern portion of Sussex County, including the communities of Bethany Beach, South Bethany, and Fenwick Island. The facility is designated as major publicly owned treatment works (POTW) based on the design flow of over one million gallons per day. There are no industrial waste contributors to the collection system, and no combined sewer overflows (CSO). This STP has a single discharge (Outfall 001) of treated sanitary wastewater to the Atlantic Ocean. Wastewater treatment consists of Primary Treatment including fine screens, grit chamber, and surge tank; Secondary Treatment including activated sludge units, clarifiers, and aerobic digesters; Filtration; and Disinfection (Sodium Hypochlorite Solution). Final discharge is through the Ocean Outfall, after combining with the Town of Selbyville discharge (NPDES Permit No. DE 0020010). Waste sludge is dewatered on a belt filter press, lime stabilized, and pasteurized resulting in a “Class A” sludge product, marketed as “South Coastal Blend”. The product is suitable as a soil amendment for agricultural, horticultural, silvicultural, or other soil reclamation activities where a liming amendment may be required. Three (3) storm water outfalls (SW001, SW002, and SW003) also discharge from the site.

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 June 14, 2019, 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:

Division of Water
Surface Water Discharges Section
89 Kings Highway
Dover, Delaware 19901
(302) 739-9946