U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Facility: Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS Owner/Operator: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers oEPA Fact Sheet #1 Public Comment Period (45-days) From August 1, 2018 to September 14, 2018 July 2018 Introduction The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing an environmental permit renewal for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Waterways Experiment Station (herein after "Facility"). On the permit, the owner/operator and permittee is the USACE. EPA has been in consultation with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Protection (MDEQ). The permit is under the congressional law called the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), specifically the portion of the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA). RCRA is the principal federal law in the United States governing the disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste. The EPA is inviting the public to comment on the proposed HSWA Permit for the Facility which will be renewed for a ten (10) year period. The public is also invited to comment on several proposed corrective actions/ remedies for seven ()7 areas of the Facility. EPA will be soliciting public comments for 45 days. Public Notice of Draft Permit Renewal and Proposed Remedies This EPA draft HSWA Permit renewal is consistent with the previous HSWA Permit, with no significant changes. The EPA has solicited comments on the draft HSWA Permit from MDEQ and the Facility. EPA is placing the public on notice regarding the draft HSWA Permit and the proposed remedies which includes: • Permit Conditions and Corrective Action. The draft HSWA Permit includes standard conditions applicable to all hazardous waste management facilities and the specific corrective action requirements with which the Permittee must comply. • Proposed Remedies. The seven (7) areas of the Facility that are proposed for final remedies, or corrective actions include: Motor Pool Area; Diesel Fuel Tank; Landfill A; Landfill B; Landfill C; Acid Disposal Pit; and Waste Oil Tank. More information on these areas and the remedies is provided within EPA's draft documents. Public Comment Instructions EPA is committed to fostering meaningful public involvement in environmental decision making. Interactive communications enable the public and other stakeholders to provide input. The information on EPA's proposed draft HSWA Permit, the proposed remedies and the supporting documentation is available for public review and comment for 45-days, from August 1 to September 14, 2018. For local residents, information can be obtained in several ways: 1. Online at the EPA Region 4 website at www.go.usa.gov/xNHKx 2. Visit the local library which serves as an information repository to view the materials in person. The Warren County-Vicksburg Library is located at 700 Veto Street, Vicksburg, MS 39202. Call (601) 636-6411 for hours of operation. We want to hear from you! The 45-day public comment period for the proposed draft permit lasts from August 1 to September 14, 2018 Follow the instructions on p. 1-2 to submit your comments. ------- Public Comment Instructions (cont.) The EPA Southeast Region 4 office is soliciting all public comments and relevant information pertaining to this proposed HSWA Permit and proposed remedies so these actions comply with all State and Federal regulations. Comments can be forwarded, with a time-stamp or postmark no later than midnightSeptember 14, 2018 using these methods: • Via email, using iohnston.john(5)epa.gov; or • Via US mail or other service, using this address: U.S. EPA Region 4 Office, Atlanta Federal Building, Attention: John Johnston, RCRD, 61 Forsyth St, SW, Atlanta, GA 30303-8960. Public review and comment on the draft HSWA Permit and supporting documentation is an important element in the evaluation and resulting recommendations. The final approval rests with the EPA Region 4 Director of the Resource Conservation and Restoration Division. To learn step-by-step tips on writing effective public comments, refer to this EPA website, https://go.usa.gov/xUyPS. Any and all comments are encouraged by the public and will be properly documented. Also, any interested person may request a Formal Public Hearing during the public comment period. A request for a hearing must be made in writing and express opposition to the permit or proposed remedies. Next Steps EPA will review all written public comments submitted within the 45-day comment period (deadline of September 14, 2018). The draft HSWA Permit and proposed remedies are subject to change based on information received as a result of public participation. If a public hearing is requested per the guidelines, then EPA will hold a hearing at a local venue. The EPA's Response to Comments (RPC) document will be created to record the EPA's response to public comments and identify the impact of those comments on the draft HSWA permit. The RPC will be sent to the stakeholders that commented and placed in the information repositories, with the EPA-approved final HSWA permit and final selected remedies for the seven (7) areas of the Facility. It is noted that the EPA's draft HSWA Permit for the Waterways Experiment Station, once finalized, will be renewed for an approximate ten (10) year period Facility Background The Waterways Experiment Station (WES) established in 1929, in response to the Mississippi River Flood of 1927. The WES is located on a property consisting of approximately 700 acres in Warren County, about 5 miles south of downtown Vicksburg. Their mission has expanded from hydraulic research to aid in the control of floods in the lower Mississippi River Valley to include research, development, and testing to support civil and military missions of the USACE, other government agencies, and private clients on a contractual basis. Map of the Waterways Experiment Station Facility (i.e., property boundaries in green) showing areas where the EPA has proposed environmental remedies or corrective action (refer to yellow stars). ------- CONTACTS FOR MORE INFORMATION Information Repositories: Electronic Repository at EPA Region 4 website: www.go.usa.gov/xNHKx Local Information Repository: Warren County - Vicksburg Library, at 700 Veto Street, Vicksburg, MS 39202 EPA Community Engagement Coordinator Brian Holtzclaw 404-821-0697 (cell) holtzclaw. brianffi epa.gov Please contact Brian Holtzclaw if you wish to be added to the email mailing list. EPA Technical Project Manager John Johnston 404-562-8458 (office) iohnston. iohn@epa.gov ------- |