Laurelbrook Farm, LLC, East Canaan
Notice of Tentative Determination of Intent to Approve General Permit Coverage for Discharges into the Waters of the State of Connecticut
1.0 TENTATIVE DETERMINATION
The Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“DEEP”) hereby gives notice of a tentative determination to approve permit coverage under the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (“CAFO”) General Permit (“CAFO General Permit”) based on an application and administrative record submitted by Laurelbrook Farm, LLC ("the applicant") authorizing a discharge into the waters of the State under section 22a-430 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
On January 1, 2023, the state of Connecticut issued a CAFO General Permit providing a simplified permitting process for eligible facilities.
In accordance with applicable federal and state law, the Commissioner has made a tentative determination that the registration and Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (“CNMP”) meet
the eligibility criteria of the CAFO General Permit and will protect the surface waters of the State from pollution.
The Commissioner will require that all wastewaters be treated to meet the applicable effluent limitations and permit conditions and periodic monitoring to demonstrate that the discharge will not cause pollution.
2.0 APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL
Applicant Name: Laurelbrook Farm, LLC
Applicant Address: 390 Norfolk Road, East Canaan, CT, 06024
The activity takes place at: 390 Norfolk Road, East Canaan, CT, 06024
3.0 REGULATORY CONDITIONS
3.1 Type of Treatment
A CNMP covers the land application of approximately 15.9 million gallons of liquid manure and 14,436 tons of daily spread manure from various locations across the operation. Approximately 13,260 tons of separated solids will be exported from the farm.
Manure generated in the Calving Barns is mixed with approximately one (1) ton of school food scraps and composted inside the compost buildings along with the separated manure solids. The Main Facility has two leachate settling ponds designed to infiltrate runoff. Excess volume is to be pumped and land applied in accordance with the CNMP.
3.2 Effluent Limits
This CNMP contains site specific nonnumeric technology based best management practices developed to ensure the treatment system as designed and properly operated will comply with the permit terms and conditions and protect surface waters of the state consistent with section 22a-430 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (“RCSA”).
4.0 COMMISSIONER'S AUTHORITY
The Commissioner is authorized to approve or deny such applications pursuant to section 22a-430 of the Connecticut General Statutes and section 22a-430-3 and 4 of the Water Discharge Permit Regulations.
5.0 INFORMATION REQUESTS
Please use the following application and permit numbers when corresponding with this office regarding this action.
Application No. 202309498 Permit No. CTCAFO006
The application is available for inspection by contacting the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127 from 8:30 to 4:30, Monday through Friday or sending a request to the CAFO Coordinator
at cafo.coordinator@ct.gov.
Any interested person may request in writing that his or her name be put on a mailing list to receive notice of intent to issue any permit to discharge to the surface waters of the state. Such request may be for the entire state or any geographic area of the state and shall clearly state in writing the name and mailing address of the interested person and the area for which notices are requested.
6.0 PUBLIC COMMENT
Prior to making a final decision to approve or deny any application, the Commissioner shall consider written comments on the application from interested persons that are received within thirty (30) days of this public notice. Written comments should be directed to the CAFO Coordinator, Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127 or cafo.coordinator@ct.gov. The Commissioner may hold a public hearing prior to approving or denying an application if in the Commissioner's discretion the public interest will be best served thereby and shall hold a hearing upon receipt of a petition signed by at least twenty-five persons. Notice of any public hearing shall be published at least thirty (30) days prior to the hearing.
7.0 PETITIONS FOR HEARING
Petitions for a hearing shall be submitted within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this public notice and should include the application number noted above and also identify a contact person to receive notifications. Petitions may also identify a person who is authorized to engage in discussions regarding the application and, if resolution is reached, withdraw the petition. The Office of Adjudications will accept electronically filed petitions for hearing in addition to those submitted by mail or hand delivered. Petitions with required signatures may be sent to deep.adjudications@ct.gov; those mailed or delivered should go to the DEEP Office of Adjudications, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106. If the signed original petition is only in an electronic format, the petition must be submitted with a statement signed by the petitioner that the petition exists only in that form. Original petitions that were filed electronically must also be mailed or delivered to the Office of Adjudications within thirty (30) days of electronic submittal. Additional information can be found at www.ct.gov/deep/adjudications.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you are seeking a communication aid or service, have limited proficiency in English, wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint, or require some other accommodation, including equipment to facilitate virtual participation, please contact the DEEP Office of Diversity and Equity at 860-418-5910 or by email at deep.accommodations@ct.gov. Any person needing accommodation for hearing impairment may call the State of Connecticut relay number - 711. In order to facilitate efforts to provide accommodation, please request all accommodations as soon as possible following notice of any agency hearing, meeting, program, or event.
Audra Dickson Director
Water Permitting and Enforcement Division
Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance
Published in the Waterbury Republican-American on May 3, 2024.
Draft Cafo GP
Laurelbrook Farm Application
Laurelbrook Farm CNMP