[StBernard] LDEQ permit public notice for St. Bernard Parish

[Westley Annis]

PUBLIC NOTICE
LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (LDEQ) MURPHY OIL USA, INC. / MERAUX REFINERY PUBLIC MEETING, PUBLIC HEARING AND REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON A  WATER DISCHARGE PERMIT AND THE ASSOCIATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT STATEMENT (EAS)
 
The LDEQ, Office of Environmental Services, will conduct a public meeting and a public hearing on a  Louisiana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (LPDES) permit and the associated environmental assessment statement prepared for Murphy Oil USA, Inc., Meraux Refinery, Post Office Box 100, Meraux, Louisiana 70075.  The facility is located at 2500 East St. Bernard Highway, Meraux, St. Bernard Parish.  Upon the effective date of the final permit, the LPDES permit shall replace the previously issued LPDES permit.
The public meeting is intended to be an informal process that facilitates the exchange of information and promotes better understanding by the general public of the permitting process and the regulatory requirements proposed in the draft permit.
The public hearing is a formal process where interested parties may have their comments recorded and made part of the administrative record for the permitting action.
The public meeting and public hearing will be held on Thursday, November 10, 2011.
The public meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m., at the St. Bernard Parish Council Meeting Room, 8201 West Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, LA 70043.
At the close of the public meeting, the public hearing will convene at the same location.  However, the public hearing will start no earlier than 7:00 p.m. and no later than 7:30 p.m.  During the hearing, all interested persons will have an opportunity to present oral statements, views, recommendations, opinions and information on the proposed permit.  Additionally, written statements and other documents such as charts, data, and tabulations may be filed with the hearing officer at the hearing.
 
The principal discharge from this  source  made into the Mississippi River (Outfalls 001 and 002), Twenty Arpent Canal (Outfalls 003, 004, 015, 016, 017, 018, 019 and 021), and Meraux Canal (Outfalls 020 and 021), waters of the state classified for primary contact recreation, secondary contact recreation, propagation of fish and wildlife, and drinking water supply (Mississippi River discharges only).  Under the SIC  2911, the applicant proposes to discharge treated process wastewater, stormwater runoff, utility wastewaters, washdown wastewater and sanitary wastewater (Outfalls 001 and 002), stormwater runoff and the potential discharge of process wastewater (Outfall 003), and stormwater runoff and hydrostatic test wastewater (Outfalls 004, 015, 016, 017, 018, 019, 020 and 021) from an existing petroleum refinery.
 
During the preparation of this permit, it has been determined that the discharge will have no adverse impact on the existing uses of the receiving waterbody.  As with any discharge, however, some change in existing water quality may occur.
 
The public hearing will be conducted in accordance with La. R.S. 30:2017, which addresses the authority of the hearing officer, provides for the order in which speakers will be allowed to speak and the length of time allocated to each speaker.  A hearing officer will preside over the public hearing.  This will be a formal hearing for the purpose of gathering facts and information.  It will not include a “question and answer” component.  In accordance with La. R.S. 30:2016, the hearing will be transcribed and become a part of the official public record.
 
Comments and requests for notification of the final decision can be submitted via personal delivery, U.S. mail, email, or fax.  Comments must be received by 4:30 pm CST, Monday, November 14, 2011.  Delivery may be made to the drop-box at 602 N. 5th St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802.  U.S. Mail may be sent to LDEQ, Public Participation Group, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313.  Emails may be submitted to DEQ.PUBLICNOTICES at LA.GOV <mailto:DEQ.PUBLICNOTICES at LA.GOV>  and faxes sent to (225) 219-3309.
 
Please see additional instructions for comment submission, hand delivery and information regarding electronic submission  at http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/Default.aspx?tabid=2256 <http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/Default.aspx?tabid=2256>  or call (225) 219-3276.  Emails should follow the statewide email policies.  For more information regarding statewide email policies, go to http://doa.louisiana.gov/ocs/email/policies.htm <http://doa.louisiana.gov/ocs/email/policies.htm> .
 
The permit application, draft permit, fact sheet, fee sheets, environmental assessment statement, Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan, US EPA No Objection letter, US FWS No Objection Letter and additional information are available for review at the LDEQ, Public Records Center, Room 127, 602 North 5th Street, Baton Rouge, LA.  Viewing hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays).  The available information can also be accessed electronically on the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) on the DEQ public website at www.deq.louisiana.gov <http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/> .
 
An additional copy of the documents may be reviewed at the St. Bernard Parish Library-Headquarters, 7701 W. Judge Perez Avenue, Arabi (Chalmette), LA.
 
A previous notice was been published in the St. Bernard Voice on Friday, July 15, 2011.
 
Individuals with a disability, who need an accommodation in order to participate in the public meeting and public hearing, should contact Ms. Laura Ambeau at the above address or by phone at (225) 219-3277.
 
Inquiries or requests for additional information regarding this permit action should be directed to Melanie Connor, LDEQ, Water Permits Division, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313, phone (225) 219-3594.
 
Persons wishing to be included on the LDEQ permit public notice mailing list or for other public participation related questions should contact the Public Participation Group in writing at LDEQ, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313, by email at DEQ.PUBLICNOTICES at LA.GOV <mailto:DEQ.PUBLICNOTICES at LA.GOV>  or contact the LDEQ Customer Service Center at (225) 219-LDEQ (219-5337).
 
Permit public notices including electronic access to the draft permit and fact sheet can be viewed at the LDEQ permits public notice webpage at www.deq.louisiana.gov/apps/pubNotice/default.asp <http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/apps/pubNotice/default.asp>  and general information related to the public participation in permitting activities can be viewed at www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/tabid/2198/Default.aspx <http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/tabid/2198/Default.aspx> .
 
Alternatively, individuals may elect to receive the permit public notices via email by subscribing to the LDEQ permits public notice List Server at http://louisiana.gov/Services/Email_Notifications_DEQ_PN/ <http://louisiana.gov/Services/Email_Notifications_DEQ_PN/> .
 
All correspondence should specify AI Number 1238, Permit Number LA0003646, and Activity Number PER20090003.
 
Scheduled Publication Date: October 7, 2011