On June 5, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it will host a public hearing to take testimony from residents regarding an application for a National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System Permit (NPDES) for the proposed warehouse 180-115 C-1 Site, LLC Project in Blakeslee, Monroe County.

The public hearing will take place on Thursday, June 20, 2024, from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM at the Tunkhannock Township Fire Hall located at 1539 Long Pond Road, Long Pond, PA 18334.

Representatives from DEP’s Waterways & Wetlands Program, the Monroe County Conservation District, and I-80-115 C-1 Site, LLC will be in attendance.

On August 31, 2022, DEP received the NPDES Permit application. The application was deemed administratively complete on December 16, 2022. Written public comments were received during the public comment period and a public hearing was held on April 24, 2023.

On March 30, 2024, a draft permit was published in the PA Bulletin and written public comments were received during the public comment period.

DEP will hold the June 20  public hearing to accept additional comments on the documentation and plans associated with the Individual NPDES application for the discharge of stormwater from construction activities to the following receiving watercourses:

-- EV Wetlands to Mud Pond Run, which is considered an exceptional value waterway. (EV)

-- EV Wetlands to Tunkhannock Creek, which is also considered an exceptional value waterway. (EV)

DEP requests that individuals wishing to testify at the hearing submit a written notice of intent to Colleen Connolly, Regional Communications Manager, DEP Northeast Regional Office at: coconnolly@pa.gov. 

DEP will accept requests up to the day of the hearing. DEP requests that individuals limit their testimony to five minutes so that all individuals have the opportunity to testify. DEP can only review comments made regarding the NPDES application, documentation, and plans.

Written copies of oral testimony are requested. All comments, whether delivered orally during the hearing or submitted in writing, will carry equal weight and consideration with DEP.

Individuals attending the hearing will have the opportunity to testify if they so desire, however, individuals who preregister to testify will be given priority on the agenda. 

Written public comments on the NPDES permit application will be accepted by DEP until Friday, July 5, 2024, at 4:00 PM; those can be emailed to Pam Kania, Program Manager, DEP Waterways and Wetlands at: pkania@pa.gov. 

Persons with a disability who wish to testify and require an auxiliary aid, service, or other accommodation should contact Colleen Connolly at: coconnolly@pa.gov or the Pennsylvania Hamilton Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD) to discuss how DEP can meet their needs.

The NPDES permit application documentation and conceptual plans are available for review at the Monroe County Conservation District Office, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg, PA 18301 (570) 629-3060 and/or DEP’s Northeast Regional Office, 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA (570) 826-2511.

For further information, contact Colleen Connolly at (570) 826-2035.

A copy of the permit application can be found on the DEP website.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Report Emergencies, Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; 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: June 5, 2024]

6/10/2024