Ohio EPA Issues Draft Discharge Permit to Ashtabula Energy; Schedules Second Public Meeting
Ohio EPA will hold a public meeting on Thursday, March 19, 2015, regarding a draft wastewater discharge permit issued to Ashtabula Energy for a proposed industrial processing plant to be located on the south side of Lake Road East, just east of EMC Ashtabula LP, in
Ashtabula.
An information session and public hearing is set to begin at 6 p.m. at Kent State University, Ashtabula Campus, Blue-Gold Room, 3300 Lake Road West, Ashtabula.
Ashtabula Energy seeks to build a plant to convert natural gas to diesel fuel and other liquids. If issued final, the permit would allow the facility to discharge up to 1.625 million gallons of wastewater per day into Lake Erie. The discharge water would consist mostly of non-contact cooling water, but also would include water treatment plant residuals, non-process storm water, sanitary wastewater and process waste streams. The process and sanitary wastewaters would be treated prior to being discharged.
This is the second public meeting in Ashtabula to discuss the requested permit. Approximately 60 people attended the first meeting, held on Jan. 22, concerning receipt of the company’s permit application. A copy of the draft permit, response to comments from the first hearing, and related documents are available here or by contacting Ohio EPA’s Northeast District Office in Twinsburg by first calling (330) 963-1200.
Comments concerning the draft permit may be presented at the March 19 hearing or submitted in writing to: Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water, Permits Processing Unit, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049, or EPA.DSWComments@epa.ohio.gov, please include ID#3IN00387 in all correspondence. The public comment period ends March 27.