May 16, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 228

For more information, contact John DeFriece, Division of Water Resources, 302-739-9946; or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.  

DNREC to Hold June 18 Public Hearing
on DuPont Edge Moor Discharges

            The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Water Resources will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 18 to receive public comment on the Department’s tentative decision to remove a numeric effluent limit from the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit issued to E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company for its titanium chloride production facility on Hay Road in Edge Moor. The public hearing will be held in the public meeting room at DNREC’s New Castle office, 391 Lukens Drive, Riveredge Industrial Park in New Castle.  

            The NPDES permit was issued to DuPont on Jan. 1, 2007 for existing discharges of treated wastewater to the Delaware River from the Edge Moor facility. DuPont appealed the permit and provided new river intake and wastewater discharge data that were not available when the current permit was developed. The new data indicate that the numeric effluent limit is unwarranted because the levels of PCBs, dioxins and furans discharged into the Delaware River from the Edge Moor facility are lower than those present in the water that the facility draws in from the river for use in the facility.

            As outlined in the Delaware Code, all persons will be given the opportunity to submit verbal or written comments or to provide additional information for the Department to consider before making a final decision. Statements submitted should be limited to the proposed removal of the numeric effluent limit for PCBs, dioxins and furans. Verbal comments may be made in person during the hearing.

            Written comments will be accepted prior to the hearing and should be mailed to John DeFriece, Surface Water Discharges Section, Delaware Division of Water Resources, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, emailed to john.defriece@state.de.us, or faxed to his attention at 302-739-8369.

The proposed amendment is available for public review by appointment. For more information or to request copies or schedule an appointment, please call 302-739-9946.