PUBLIC NOTICE OF DRAFT NO-DISCHARGE PERMIT
PERMIT NUMBER 5443-W, AFIN 24-00536
In accordance with Arkansas Code Annotated § 8-4-203(e), the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (E&E), Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Office of Water Quality, gives the following notice:
HydroAg Environmental, LLC – Franklin and Logan County proposes to have land application on multiple farm fields in Franklin and Logan County, including one site near Branch, AR in Franklin, County. For a more detailed description of the locations for each land application site, refer to Part II of the draft permit and the waste management plan. The facility proposes to land apply industrial waste, specifically wastewater residuals from various food and vegetable processing plants, animal processing plants, and animal food processing plants. The general types of industrial wastes generated from food and animal food processing facilities include, but are not limited to, processing washdown rinse water, dissolved air flotation (DAF) skimmings, waste activated sludges, wastewater lagoon sludge, and grease trap water. This is a no-discharge system. HydroAg Environmental, LLC - Franklin and Logan County submitted an application September 10, 2024, with additional information received by May 28, 2026, for the issuance of the No-Discharge permit. The application has been reviewed by DEQ’s Office of Water Quality and has received tentative approval subject to the terms of the notice.
Citizens wishing to examine or obtain copies of the permit application, the draft permitting decision, or the fact sheet 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) 682-0650. 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 permit 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 requesting a public hearing on the draft permit, is Rachel Lipsey, at the above address and telephone number, or by email at ee.watercomment@arkansas.gov.
The period for submitting comments on the draft permit, and for requesting a public hearing, shall begin on the date of publication of the public notice, and end at 4:30 p.m. (Central Standard Time) on the 30th day after the publication date. If the last day of the comment period is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the public comment period shall expire on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. For information regarding the actual publication date along with the actual date and time the comment period will end, please contact Rachel Lipsey at the above address and telephone number or by email at ee.watercomment@arkansas.gov. Public notice, comments, and hearings will be conducted in accordance with Rules 8.207 through 8.210 (Administrative Procedures), codified at 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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