oEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency How to comment You may comment on the proposed permit modifications in writing. Please refer to Morton Salt Company, permit MI-101-3G-A001. Mail or email your comments to: Andrew Greenhagen U.S. EPA, Water Division UIC Branch (WU-16J) 77 W. Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60604-3590 Email: greenhagen.andrew@epa.gov Phone: 312-353-7648 Comment period EPA will accept written comments until January 14 (midnight postmark). Information repository You may see the statement of basis, draft modified permit pages, and the current permit at: Manistee County Library 95 Maple Street Manistee, Michigan or at http://go.usa.gov/3JwFP. Administrative Record You may see the full administrative record, including all data Morton Salt Inc. submitted, at the EPA's Chicago regional office (address above), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. For an appointment to see the files, contact Andrew Greenhagen (see above). Right to appeal You have the right to appeal any final permit decision if you make an official comment during the comment period or participate in the public hearing. A public hearing is not planned at this time. The first appeal must be made to the Environmental Appeals Board. EPA Plans to Modify an Existing Class III Area Permit Morton Salt, Inc. Manistee County, Michigan December 2015 J I I I I L The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to modify what it calls a Class III area permit for Morton Salt, Inc., 180 Sixth Street, Manistee, Michigan. The existing area permit covers 9 wells used for salt solution mining north of Preuss Road and east of Maple Road in Manistee County, Michigan. EPA first issued a permit for this activity on October 24, 1990. The proposed modifications update well testing procedures and define inactive wells. Only the conditions proposed for modification are reopened for comment. EPA is accepting comments from the public on these proposed permit modifications (see box, left). The public comment period, which ends Thursday, January 14, 2016, includes 30 days for comments as required by law, plus an additional three days for any delay caused by mailing. During the comment period, you may ask EPA - in writing - to hold a formal public hearing (see address, left). Be sure to say specifically what issues you want to raise. EPA will hold a hearing if there is significant interest. If there is a hearing, EPA will publish a notice at least 30 days prior. You will have an opportunity to make oral comments or submit written comments. EPA will consider all comments it receives, and then issue a final decision along with a response to significant comments. The Safe Drinking Water Act requires EPA to regulate the underground injection of fluids through wells to protect the quality of underground sources of drinking water. Issuing permits is one way EPA does this. You can find the regulations governing underground injection wells at Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 144 and 146. To learn mor e about EPA's Underground Injection Control program, or to join our mailing list visit http://go.usa.gov/3JwFP. ------- |