FirstLight CT Housatonic LLC, Falls Village
Notice of Tentative Decision of Intent to Issue a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit for the Following Discharges into the Waters of the State of Connecticut
TENTATIVE DECISION
The Commissioner of Department of Energy and Environmental Protection “DEEP” hereby gives notice of a tentative decision to issue a permit based on an application submitted by FirstLight CT Housatonic LLC ("the applicant") under section 22a-430 of the Connecticut General Statutes ("CGS")
for a permit to discharge into the waters of the state. The tentative decision to issue this permit also includes a tentative decision regarding section 316(a) and 316(b) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1326(b).
In accordance with applicable federal and state law, the Commissioner has made a tentative decision that the discharge will not cause pollution of the waters of the state and the Commissioner proposes to issue a permit for the discharge to the Housatonic River.
The proposed permit, if issued by the Commissioner, will require periodic monitoring to demonstrate that the discharge will not cause pollution.
APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL
FirstLight CT Housatonic LLC proposes to discharge a maximum daily flow of 91,539 gallons per day of non-contact cooling wastewaters and turbine leakage to the Housatonic River from power generating operations at a hydroelectric generation plant in Falls Village.
The name and mailing address of the permit applicant are:
FirstLight CT Housatonic LLC
143 West Street
Suite E New Milford, CT 06776
The activity takes place at:
35 Water Street
Falls Village, CT 06031
REGULATORY CONDITIONS
Type of Treatment
DSN 101: No Treatment
Effluent Limitations
This permit contains effluent monitoring only consistent with a Case-by-Case Determination using the criteria of Best Professional Judgement and which will meet Water Quality Standards when the permittee complies with all permit requirements.
In accordance with section 22a-430-4(l) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (“RCSA”), the proposed permit contains effluent monitoring requirements for effluent flow, total oil and grease, and monitoring with limits for pH.
COMMISSIONER’S AUTHORITY
The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection is authorized to approve or deny such permits pursuant to section 402(b) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 USC 1251, et. seq. and section 22a-430 of the CGS and the Water Discharge Permit Regulations
(Section 22a-430-3 and 4 of the RCSA).
INFORMATION REQUESTS
The application has been assigned the following numbers by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Please use these numbers when corresponding with this office regarding this application.
APPLICATION NO. 20221108 PERMIT ID NO. CT0030809
Interested persons may obtain copies of the application from:
Daniel Timlake
143 West Street
Suite E New Milford, CT 06776 860-350-3617
Daniel.timlake@firstlightpower.com
The application is available for inspection by contacting Patrick Bieger at 860-424-3805 or Patrick.bieger@ct.gov at the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127 from 8:30AM to 4:30PM, Monday through Friday.
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.
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 30 days of this public notice. Written comments should be directed to Patrick Bieger, Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127 or Patrick.bieger@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 30 days prior to the hearing.
Petitions for a hearing 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. Original signed petitions may be scanned and sent electronically to deep.adjudications@ct.gov or may be mailed or delivered to: DEEP Office of Adjudications, 79 Elm Street, 3rd floor, Hartford, 06106-5127. All petitions must be received within the comment period noted above. If submitted electronically, original signed petitions must also be mailed or delivered to the address above within ten days of electronic submittal. If a hearing is held, timely notice of such hearing will be published in a newspaper of general circulation. For additional information go to 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 an 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.
/s/Audra Dickson, Director
Water Permitting and Enforcement Division
Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Published in the Waterbury Republican-American on January 11, 2024.