PURPOSE OF NOTICE:  To seek public comment on a draft permit from the Department of Environmental Quality that will allow the release of treated wastewater into a water body in Wythe County, Virginia. 

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The comment period lasts for 30 days from this date, January 15, 2022. 

PERMIT NAME: Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit – Wastewater issued by DEQ, under the authority of the State Water Control Board 

APPLICANT NAME, ADDRESS AND PERMIT NUMBER:
Name:  Wythe County Board of Supervisors
Address:  340 South Sixth Street – Administration Building, Wytheville, VA  24382
Permit No.:  VA0067059

FACILITY NAME AND LOCATION:
Name:  Austinville Sewage Treatment Plant
Address:  334 Kohler Avenue, Austinville, VA  24312

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:  The Wythe County Board of Supervisors has applied for reissuance of the permit for the publically owned Austinville Sewage Treatment Plant. The applicant proposes to release treated sewage wastewater at a rate of 20,000 gallon per day into a water body.  Stabilized sewage sludge will be removed from the sand drying beds as needed and hauled to the New River Resource Authority’s Waste Management Facility (DEQ Permit No. 548) located in Dublin, VA, for co-disposal in the landfill. The facility proposes to release the treated sewage wastewater in Buddle Branch of New River in the New River watershed. A watershed is the land area drained by a river and its incoming streams. The permit will limit the pollutants to amounts that protect water quality for bacteria, organic matter, physical and chemical properties, inorganics and solids.  

HOW TO COMMENT AND/OR REQUEST AND PUBLIC HEARING: DEQ accepts comments and requests for public hearing hand-delivery, by e-mail, fax or postal mail. All comments and requests must be in writing and be received by DEQ during the comment period. Submittals must include the names, mailing addresses and telephone numbers of the commenter/requester and of all persons represented by the commenter/requester. A request for public hearing must also include: 1) The reason why a public hearing is requested. 2) A brief, informal statement regarding the nature and extent of the interest of the requester or of those represented by the requestor, including how and to what extent such interest would be directly and adversely affected by the permit. 3) Specific references, where possible, to terms and conditions of the permit with suggested revisions. A public hearing may be held, including another comment period, if public response is significant, based on individual requests for a public hearing, and there are substantial, disputed issues relevant to the permit.

CONTACT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, DOCUMENT REQUESTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Name:  Steve E. Atrip
Address: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Southwest Regional Office, 355-A Deadmore Street, Abingdon, VA  24210
Phone: (276)676-4808
Fax: (276) 698-4178
Email: steve.artrip@deq.virginia.gov

The public may review the draft permit, fact sheet and application at the DEQ office named above by appointment or may request copies of the documents from the contact person listed above.

Wythe County customers have in recent years been able to use credit cards for water, tax bills, permits and other county transactions without an additional credit card convenience fee or processing fee. The county's bank absorbed those charges, and savings were passed along directly to county customers. However, the bank ended that practice December 31, 2021. Effective January 1, 2022, all county credit card transactions for fees, services or taxes will be assessed a three percent transaction fee. Customers may avoid transaction fees by using cash or check. Signage has been placed at all customer service stations to notify customers.

The January 3, 2022, Planning Commission meeting has been postponed until January 10, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.

The County of Wythe, the Town of Wytheville and the Town of Rural Retreat will jointly hold a public hearing Monday, November 29, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as practical. The meeting will be held at the Wytheville Meeting Center, 333 Community Boulevard, Wytheville, VA  24382. The public hearing will be one part of a joint governing bodies meeting. 

Purpose: The County and Towns may apply jointly or separately in 2022 for funding from the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) to support housing development, blight removal, economic development and/or other community improvements, either through state budgeted funds or available federal programs administered by DHCD. 

Public Input: The joint governing bodies seek input from their residents regarding public priorities for applications and funding for DHCD application(s). Speakers are invited to bring specific ideas, observations and requests, but may be limited on time. Public input may also be offered by emailing sherryc@wytheville.org or mailing comments to Town Clerk Sherry Corvin, CMC, Town of Wytheville, P.O. Box 533, Wytheville, VA  24382. 

The joint governing bodies are committed to receiving comments from all residents. Please email sherryc@wytheville.org if you require special accommodations to participate in the public hearing.

In compliance with the Code of Virginia of 1950, and amendments thereto, the Wythe County Board of Supervisors will conduct a public hearing to consider reenactment of the Ordinance titled, "Supervisors District & Voting Precinct Ordinance of Wythe County, Virginia." The Board of Supervisors shall hear comments from citizens concerning the reenactment of this ordinance. The reenactment of this ordinance will not change the existing supervisor districts but updates the ordinance in accordance with the latest census.

The public hearing shall be held on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, at 6:05 p.m. in the Board Room of the Wythe County Office Building, 340 South Sixth Street, Wytheville, Virginia.

A copy of the proposed reenacted ordinance may be found by clicking HERE.