Legal Notice

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Groundwater Discharges Section (DNREC-GWDS) will conduct a public hearing (Hearing Docket #2020-P-W-0014) on the application and draft construction permit and associated modification and renewal draft permit for Mountaire Farms of Delaware, Inc.’s On-Site Wastewater Treatment and Disposal System.

Public Hearing

This virtual public hearing will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2020, beginning at 6:00 PM.

Virtual Meeting Information

A web link to the virtual meeting will be posted on the DNREC Public Hearings site at de.gov/dnrechearings. To access the audio-only portion of the virtual hearing, dial in at 1-408-418-9388 and enter event code 716 374 068. If prompted for a password, please use WaterMtairePermi.

Construction Permit

Mountaire Farms of Delaware Inc. has applied for a State of Delaware Construction Permit for significant upgrades of the existing wastewater treatment facility at the Millsboro, Delaware poultry processing complex in order to provide enhanced wastewater effluent treatment capabilities. The proposed upgrades will allow the wastewater treatment system to treat wastewater to a total nitrogen concentration of 10 mg/L or less. The proposed wastewater treatment system upgrade project includes the installation of improvements to the activated sludge biological nitrogen removal (BNR) treatment system components. The project also includes the installation of a new tertiary sand filtration system for final effluent polishing and a new stormwater first flush/off-spec lagoon. A new screw press sludge dewatering system will be installed to increase waste activated sludge handling capacity. The existing spray storage lagoon will continue to be used for final effluent storage prior to disposal in the existing spray irrigation fields. A new spray storage lagoon will be installed to expand the final effluent storage volume.

Spray Irrigation Permit

Mountaire Farms of Delaware Inc. has applied to modify and renew their State of Delaware Spray Irrigation Operations Permit for Mountaire’s wastewater treatment facility to receive and treat poultry processing wastewater, stormwater, and sanitary waste. After the completion of construction upgrades, the wastewater treatment facility will discharge treated wastewater effluent with a total nitrogen concentration of 10 mg/L or less. The effluent will be spray irrigated onto approximately 893.63 acres. Seven center pivot spray irrigation systems are located north of State Route #24 and are designated as WHBJ Systems Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. In addition, six center pivot spray irrigation systems are located south of Route #24 and are designated as Center Block Systems Nos. 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3DE, and 3DW.

For additional information on the above matters, and to review the application, associated documents, and draft permits online, visit de.gov/dnrechearings or contact John Rebar, Jr., Division of Water, Groundwater Discharges Section, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE, 19901; by phone at 302-739-9948; or, by email, at John.Rebar@delaware.gov.

Please note that live comments will not be accepted during the virtual hearing. Written comments may be submitted to the Hearing Officer via the online comment form at dnrec.delaware.gov/publichearings/comment-form/, via email to DNRECHearingComments@delaware.gov, or via USPS to the below address. The Department will accept public comment through the close of business on Monday, June 22, 2020.

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