NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

Nov. 20, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 528

For more information contact Peder Hansen, Division of Water Resources, 302-739-9946 or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

                   Secretary’s Order Issued for Permit Modification 
                                of DuPont Edge Moor NPDES Permit

DNREC Secretary John A. Hughes has issued a Secretary’s Order for modification the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued to E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Company for surface water discharges from its facility on Hay Road in Edge Moor.

 The permit modification resolves DuPont’s pending appeal of the Nov. 29, 2006 NPDES permit and removes the numeric effluent limits for dioxins, furans and PCBs in the permit for existing discharges of treated process wastewater to the Delaware River from DuPont’s titanium chloride production at the Hay Road facility.

DNREC’s Division of Water Resources evaluated effluent data and other information that was not available when DuPont Edge Moor’s current NPDES permit was developed. Evidence shows that numeric effluent limits are unwarranted because the dioxins, furans and PCBs discharged into the Delaware River from the DuPont Edge Moor facility are lower than those present in the water that is withdrawn from the river for use within the facility. DNREC held a hearing June 18 and received public comments on removal of the effluent limits for dioxins, furans and PCBs.

The Secretary’s Order, Hearing Officer’s Report and Technical Response to Written Comments can be viewed on DNREC’s website, http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Info/Pages/SecOrders.aspx.