2nd PUBLIC NOTICE OF DRAFT DISCHARGE PERMIT MODIFICATION, STATE CONSTRUCTION PERMIT, AND 208 PLAN NPDES PERMIT NO. AR0034088, STATE CONSTRUCTION PERMIT NO. AR0034088C1, AFIN 51-00011
In accordance with Ark. Code Ann. § 8-4-203(e), the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (E&E) Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Office of Water Quality, gave notice for a 30-day public comment period for the draft major modification of NPDES Permit No. AR0034088, and issuance of State Construction Permit No. AR0034088C1 that began on April 19, 2026 and ended on May 19, 2026. At the discretion of the E&E – DEQ – Office of Water Quality, a second notice is given as follows:
Marble Falls Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Suburban Improvement District No. 1 operates a facility located at Spring Valley Road, Marble Falls, AR 72648 in Newton County. The facility is currently permitted to discharge treated municipal wastewater into an unnamed tributary, thence to Mill Creek, thence to the Buffalo River, thence to the White River in Segment 4J of the White River Basin. The permittee submitted an application on October 30, 2025, with all additional information received by February 11, 2026, for the major modification of NPDES Permit No. AR0034088, and issuance of State Construction Permit No. AR0034088C1. The applications have been reviewed by DEQ’s Office of Water Quality and have received tentative approval subject to the terms of this notice.
The 208 Plan, developed by DEQ under provisions of Section 208 of the federal Clean Water Act, is a comprehensive program to work toward achieving federal water goals in Arkansas. The initial 208 Plan, adopted in 1979, provides for annual updates, but can be revised more often if necessary. The 208 Plan is being updated to revise the facility flow from 0.01 MGD to 0.015 MGD and add a year-round instantaneous maximum NO2+NO3-N limit of 10 mg/l to the existing water quality limitations.
Proposed construction will include: bar screens, a two-stage extended aeration activated sludge system (including a selector tank, 2 aeration tanks in series, and a clarification tank), UV disinfection, and aerobic sludge digestion with a design flow of 0.015 MGD. Modification of the NPDES discharge permit is required.
Citizens wishing to examine or obtain copies of the permit applications, the draft permitting decisions, the statements of basis, or the 208 Plan, may do so at E&E headquarters located at 5301 Northshore Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72118-5317. To request a copy of one or more of the documents, please call (501) 682-0622. For those with internet access, a copy of the proposed draft permit, as well as the publication date, may be found on DEQ’s website at: https://www.adeq.state.ar.us/water/permits/drafts_pn.aspx
Comments on the draft permits will be accepted in accordance with Pollution Control and Ecology Commission (PC&EC) Rule 8.208, codified at 8 CAR § 11-208. DEQ’s contact person for submitting written comments on the draft permit, or 208 Plan, or requesting a public hearing on the draft permits, or the proposed changes to the 208 Plan, is Guy Lester, P.E., at the above address and telephone number or by email at EE.WaterComment@arkansas.gov.
The period for submitting comments on the draft permits, or 208 Plan, and for requesting a public hearing, shall begin on May 24, 2026, and end at 4:30 p.m. on June 12, 2026. Public notice, comments, and hearings will be conducted in accordance with Rules 6.104(A)(5) [40 C.F.R. §§ 124.10 through 124.12 by reference] and 8.207 through 8.210 (Administrative Procedures), codified at 8 CAR § 25-104 and 8 CAR §§ 11-207 through 210. All persons, including the permittee, who wish to comment on DEQ’s draft permitting decision must submit written comments to DEQ, along with their name and mailing address. A public hearing will be held when DEQ finds a significant degree of public interest. After the public comment period, DEQ will issue a final permitting decision. DEQ will notify the applicant and each person who has submitted written comments or requested notice of the final permitting decision. Any interested person who has submitted comments may appeal a final decision by DEQ in accordance with the PC&EC Rule 8, codified at 8 CAR Part 11.
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