The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public meeting followed by a public hearing to accept comments on a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit application for the discharge of storm water associated with construction activities submitted by Clean Earth Inc. for the proposed Wellsboro-Johnston Airport expansion project in Shippen and Delmar townships in Tioga County.
The public meeting will be held at 6 p.m., followed by the public hearing at 7:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the Wellsboro Fire Department Annex, 21 East Avenue. During the public meeting, DEP staff will explain the NPDES application review process and applicable regulations and the applicant will explain the proposed project to the audience. These presentations will be followed by a question and answer session.
During the public hearing, citizens will have an opportunity to present up to five minutes of oral testimony regarding the permits. Written testimony of any length also will be accepted. The testimony will be recorded by a court reporter and transcribed into a written document. DEP will provide a written response to all relevant testimony provided during the public hearing. Those who wish to present oral testimony may register on-site prior to the hearing. Written comment will also be accepted and can be mailed to David W. Garg, P.E., Environmental Program Manager, Waterways and Wetlands Program, PADEP, 208 West Third Street, Williamsport, PA 17701 through the close of business March 12. DEP will provide a written response to all significant testimony or written comment provided during the public hearing and public comment period. The Department will consider all comments in review of the application.
Clean Earth Inc. is proposing a three-phased project to use treated drill cuttings from the natural gas industry as engineered fill for several construction projects at the airport. The first phase, currently under technical review, would allow Clean Earth to transport treated drill cuttings to the airport. The cuttings would be stored and used as fill to support construction of a hanger for future use by Clean Earth and the airport.
The construction of this hanger is the second phase of the project. Finally, the third phase of the project would be to utilize drill cuttings processed on site for the extension of the airport runway.
In this first phase of the project, the cuttings could not be used anywhere else on the airport property. The proposed total earth disturbance area for the three phases is 32.2 acres. The airport is located within the Pine Creek Watershed.
In addition to the NPDES permit, DEP’s Waste Management program also must issue a site-specific approval for Clean Earth’s Research and Development General Permit that was renewed in February 2014 for the project to proceed. The public meeting and hearing will address the NPDES permit and the Research and Development General permit as it relates to this project.
A copy of the NPDES permit application is available for review weekdays by appointment at DEP’s North-central Regional office in Williamsport from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Those interested should call 570-327-0550 to schedule an appointment. The application can also be reviewed at the Tioga County Conservation District office in Wellsboro from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Documents relating to the Waste Management General Permit as it relates to this project will be available on the DEP web page at www.dep.state.pa.us, click on “Regional Resources,” then “North-central,” then “Community Information”, or they may be obtained by contacting Patrick H. Brennan, Environmental Program Manager, Waste Management Program, PADEP, 208 West Third Street, Williamsport, PA 17701 or Stephen Socash, Environmental Program Manager, Waste Management Program, PADEP, 400 Market Street, Fl 14, Harrisburg, PA 17106..
Persons with a disability who wish to attend the hearing and require auxiliary aid, service or other accommodations to participate in the proceedings should call Daniel Spadoni at 570-327-3659 or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 1-800-654-5984 (TDD) to discuss how the department may accommodate your needs.