The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Policy opened the public comment period for the “second draft” of the Warren Generating Station NPDES Operating Permit on September 5, 2020. The notice was published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
The public now has an opportunity to submit a comment, request a public hearing, or request an extension to the comment period.
An email from PA DEP stated that “Due to COVID-19 and the inability to currently hold an in-person public information meeting, the Department has prepared a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) webpage to address the various public concerns.” (Apparently, DEP will not provide an online public information meeting via any of the commonly used online meeting methods.)
For members of the public with Internet access, this online FAQ provides more information about the Warren Generating Station, the purpose of the NPDES permit, and some of the environmental issues involved, including such topics such as discharge into the Allegheny River of Hexavalent Chromium, Mercury, and radioactive elements.
On this FAQ webpage, DEP has also provided a PDF copy of a letter which includes the second draft permit. According to the letter, it will be emailed to those who previously commented on the “first draft” of the permit. Note that The Allegheny Voice has redacted the email addresses of the commenters in this copy of the letter and second draft permit.
Editor’s comment: Be aware that for all those who submit comments, names and some contact information of all commenters, such as email addresses, become publicly available. Obviously, the publication of email addresses is an antiquated and unnecessary violation of privacy, and one that can now be only seen as an intentional disincentive to those contemplating commenting.
For those who wish to submit comments, request a hearing, request an extension of the moment period, submit comments or requests to:
Northwest Regional Office
Clean Water Program Manager
230 Chestnut Street, Meadville, PA 16335-3481
Phone: 814.332.6942
Email: RA-EPNPDES_NWRO@pa.gov
The DEP official supervising the permit process is Justin C. Dickey, P.E. Environmental Engineer, Manager of the Clean Water Program. His email is judickey@pa.gov.
