ENB Region 5 Completed Applications 06/14/2006

The Department has prepared a draft permit inresponse to a recent request to modify the above referenced permit.The applicant has submitted an application to add an existing outfall that discharges an average of 100 gallons per day from the school bus garage to the current permit for the referenced facility.  The Department has prepared a draft permit that contains the additional outfall and renews the current permit for a ten year term.

The Department has drafted a revised State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES)  permit as the result of its' review of the existing SPDES permit through the Environmental Benefit Permit Strategy (EBPS) process.  The revised permit was originally public noticed in March 2002 however as a result of additional information received from the applicant some additional permit modifications have been made. Changes include a increase in the monitoring frequency for all process and cooling water outfalls in accordance with agreed upon sampling frequency.  Addition of Post-Lagoon Upgrade Project (LUP) Outfalls 020 (process) and 021 (storm water overflow) to address ongoing changes to the facility in accordance with the Order on Consent. Limits for these outfalls are based upon the existing limits at Outfall 02A (if limits are not present for Outfall SUM) for Outfall 020, and the concentration equivalents of these limits for Outfall 021 except as noted in this Fact Sheet.  Updated pre- and post- LUP spill reporting, chemical pad management, and CBS/PBS management conditions to incorporate facility-specific language and conditions.  Included short term study for Oil and Grease to determine whether sampling at the newly constructed sampling station and the actual Outfall are similar, phenols to determine the source of this parameter, and a requirement to submit sampling results for the first year of operation of Outfall 020 and 021 to determine the final effluent limits for this Outfall.  Included compliance schedule requirement to evaluate production processes for incidental spurious PCB congener production, with report to be submitted under confidential cover due to proprietary production process information.  Modified the TKN limits for Outfalls 02a and SUM to account for treatment system modifications.  Eliminated Outfall 02B based upon the inclusion of LUP upgrades.  Numerous administrative and typographical changes.  EDPM has been set at 10/01/06 at the permittee's request to allow time to set up sampling and reporting regimens. A copy of the revised permit is available by contacting the contact person listed above at 518 623-1281.

The applicant proposes to rehabilitate the Middle Falls hydroelectric dam in the Battenkill (Class C - navigable) to meet FERC and NYS DEC  dam safety and discharge requirements. the proposal includes upgrading the spillway structure, increasing spillway discharge capacity, and replacing the existing wooden flashboard system with a gated spillway crest. The improvements will also lower headwater levels, maintain downstream tailwater levels, and reduce the potential for adverse impacts to the north SR 29 bridge abutment and adjacent historic structural remains.