Good evening,
I want to let you know that DEQ today published a public notice for a draft solid waste permit for the Possum Point Power Station in Dumfries, Prince William County. The permit proposes to close Surface Impoundment Ponds A, B, C, and E by removing coal combustion residual (CCR), all of which has been consolidated into Pond D. The CCR rule requirements as well as groundwater and surface water monitoring at the facility for all CCR Surface Impoundments are included in the draft.
The proposed permitting action does not include or authorize the closure of Pond D, which will be considered in the future and would be subject to a public hearing and participation. DEQ will not be addressing its closure during this permitting action. Dominion Energy Power previously proposed to cap Pond D in place. A prior application and draft solid waste permit for its closure had been prepared and the public given notice, but it did not receive final approval. The permit was withdrawn pursuant to a moratorium established by the General Assembly on approving closures of CCR ponds that have been proposed to be closed in place.
The draft solid waste permit includes groundwater monitoring for all four ponds, including analyzing more chemical constituents and reporting that will provide additional data and characterization of groundwater at the site. The permit also includes surface water monitoring requirements that will provide essential data to address any surface impacts. The permit provides a key next step in moving towards a sustainable and protective resolution of CCR at the site.
The public comment period is from January 11, 2019 to March 15, 2019.
A public hearing on this permit will be held at the Potomac Senior High School, 3401 Panther Pride Drive, Dumfries, VA, on Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. In the event of inclement weather and closure of Potomac Senior High School on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, the public hearing will be held on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at Potomac Senior High School, 3401 Panther Pride Drive, Dumfries, VA. Questions regarding the postponement of the public hearing due to inclement weather may be directed to the contact person given below.
Staff will be available to answer questions during an informational briefing prior to the public hearing held at the Potomac Senior High School, 3401 Panther Pride Drive, Dumfries, VA from 6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on the evening of the public hearing. Questions and comments made during this information briefing will not be part of the official public comment record.
A copy of the draft permit is available at the following link - http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/LandProtectionRevitalization/PermittingCompliance/SolidWastePermitActions.aspx
The public may also review the draft permit at the DEQ office named in the contact below.
DEQ accepts comments by hand-delivery, e-mail, fax or postal mail. All comments must include the name, address and telephone number of the person commenting and be received by DEQ within the comment period. DEQ also accepts written and oral comments at the public hearing. Comments provided by hand-delivery, postal mail, or fax should be sent to the contact identified below.
Comments submitted by e-mail should be sent to PossumPointPowerStationWastePermit@deq.virginia.gov
For other questions or to review the draft permit in person please contact Richard Doucette, Land Protection Program Manager; Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Northern Regional Office, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge, VA 22193; Telephone: (703) 583-3813; E-mail – richard.doucette@deq.virginia.gov ; Fax: (703) 583-3821.
