State DEP sets water discharge hearing for NRG's Cheswick Generating Station in April
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public hearing April 25 to hear from residents regarding the DEP's tentative decision to issue a permit for discharges from the Cheswick Generating Station.
The NRG plant, located in Springdale, is Allegheny County's only remaining coal-fired power plant and continues to operate under an extension to a permit that expired in August 2012.
It has two discharges of industrial wastewater into the Allegheny River.
The DEP says the power plant has four additional discharges, one of industrial wastewater and three of stormwater into Little Deer Creek, about 5 miles from where it flows into the Allegheny River.
Hearing details
The hearing will be held April 25 at Springdale Jr./Sr. High School, 501 Butler Road, Springdale. Registration begins at 6 p.m. and the hearing will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Residents will have the opportunity to present up to five minutes of testimony relevant to the permit application and draft permit.
Those who are interested should register in advance by contacting DEP's community relations coordinator Lauren Fraley at lfraley@pa.gov or 412-442-4203.
Registration will be taken through noon on April 24.
Individuals will be called to testify in the order they registered. If there's time left over, those not registered will be given the chance to testify.
DEP requests that organizations designate one person to speak on their behalf.
DEP will record testimony and accept written comments throughout the hearing. Those testifying should bring at least one copy of their testimony and exhibits for submission to DEP.
People unable to attend the hearing can submit three copies of a written statement and exhibits within 10 days after the hearing to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Clean Water, P.O. Box 8774, Harrisburg, PA, 17105-8774.
Written submittals must contain the following:
• Name, address and telephone number of the person submitting the comments.
• Identification of the proposed draft NPDES Permit No. (PA0001627).
• Concise statements regarding the relevancy of the information in support of or objections to issuance of the NPDES Permit.
Emily Balser is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-226-4680, emilybalser@tribweb.com or on Twitter @emilybalser.
