On July 20, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it will hold a public hearing Thursday, August 4, 2022, regarding M&G Realty, Inc.’s application for a DEP individual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to construct a convenience store in Antis Township, Blair County.

The hearing will be held at the Pinecroft Volunteer Fire Company, 2134 Old 6th Avenue Road, Altoona, PA 16601, beginning at 6:30 PM.

M&G Realty proposes to construct a Rutter’s convenience store with fuel dispensing on 19.25 acres at the northwest corner of the intersection of Pleasant Valley Boulevard and Sabbath Rest Road, Altoona, PA 16601.

Stormwater discharges from the proposed project would be to an unnamed tributary to Sandy Run wetlands.

The permit application, draft individual permit, and fact sheet, are available for public review on the DEP Southcentral Regional Office’s webpage.

Individuals who wish to offer testimony at the public hearing should register with John Repetz, community relations coordinator for DEP’s Southcentral Region, at 717-705-4904 or by email at jrepetz@pa.gov  by 4:00 PM on Wednesday, August 3, 2022.

Oral comments are limited to five minutes per person. Relinquishing time to other speakers will be prohibited, and groups are asked to designate one speaker. Registration is not required simply to attend the hearing.

Written comments on this application or the draft NPDES permit are also being accepted until 4:00 PM on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, and may be submitted to RA-EPWW-SCRO@pa.gov  or mailed to the SCRO, Waterways and Wetlands Program, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110-8200. 

To assist with mail routing, it is requested that mailed comments contain the following on the envelope: “Comments on Rutter Store #82, PAD070014.”

All comments, whether delivered orally during the hearing or submitted in writing, carry equal weight and consideration with DEP. Notice of this public hearing was published in the July 2, 2022 Pennsylvania Bulletin and the Altoona Mirror newspaper on June 30, 2022.

DEP representatives will be available from 5:45-6:15 PM to answer any question the public may have about the individual NPDES permitting process and regulatory requirements.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter, sign up for DEP Connects events, sign up for DEP’s eNotice, visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

[Posted: July 20, 2022]

7/25/2022