Greens Farms Academy, Inc., Westport
Notice of Tentative Determination of Intent to Issue an Underground Injection Control Permit for the Following 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 issue a permit based on an application submitted by Greens Farms Academy, Inc. ("the applicant") authorizing a discharge into the waters of the State under section 22a-430
of the Connecticut General Statutes.
In accordance with applicable federal and state law, the Commissioner has made a tentative decision that the installation of a new alternative sewage treatment system to treat the domestic sewage discharge would protect the waters of the state from pollution.
The Commissioner proposes to issue the final groundwater discharge permit, which contains a compliance schedule authorizing construction of the proposed alternative sewage treatment system for the Southwest Shoreline watershed.
The proposed individual permit, if issued by the Commissioner, will supersede the existing permit (Permit No. GSSD000111) and will require that all wastewaters be treated to meet the applicable effluent limitations, permit conditions and requirements, and perform periodic monitoring, to demonstrate that the discharge will not cause pollution.
2.0 APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL
Greens Farms Academy, Inc. proposes to treat and discharge a total maximum daily flow of twelve thousand four hundred (12,400) gallons per day, based on the design flow of the system.
The name and mailing address of the applicant for permit is: Greens Farms Academy, Inc., 35 Beachside Avenue, Westport, CT 06880.
The activity takes place at: Greens Farms Academy, Inc., 35 Beachside Avenue, Westport, CT 06880.
3.0 REGULATORY CONDITIONS
3.1 Type of Treatment
The alternative sewage treatment system consists of septic tanks, followed by a two train Klean-Tu alternative treatment systems comprised of two submerged aeration chamber and two denitrification chamber, followed by a dual pump dosing station and a valve vault distributing flow to three existing
pressure distribution leaching fields. Greens Farms Academy, Inc. is proposing to maintain the existing conventional system serving the headmaster house, consisting of a septic tank and a pump chamber followed by a leaching field.
3.2 Effluent Limits
This permit contains effluent and ground water discharge limitations applicable to internal and external outfalls, developed to ensure the treatment system as designed and properly operated, will protect ground waters of the state consistent with section 22a-430 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (“Regs. Conn. State Agencies”), DEEP’s “Guidance for Design of Large-Scale On-Site Wastewater Renovation Systems,” (February 2006), and a case-by-case determination using the criteria of Best Professional Judgement.
3.3 Compliance Schedule
The proposed permit includes a compliance schedule requiring the applicant to: 1) record the permit in the town’s land records; 2) submit a Subscriber’s Agreement for the Commissioner’s review to submit their DMR’s via NetDMR; 3) submit plans and specifications for the installation of the alternative sewage treatment system; 4) submit a Groundwater Monitoring Plan identifying proposed upgradient and downgradient monitoring wells, and a proposed schedule for installation; 5) provide verification that the alternative treatment is operating in accordance with the approved plans and specification and is achieving compliance with all permit limits and conditions; 6) submit an Abandonment Plan for the abandonment of the five (5) existing conventional treatment systems; and 7) submit the results of a detailed permit compliance audit every two (2) years.
4.0 COMMISSIONER'S AUTHORITY
The Commissioner is authorized to approve or deny such permits pursuant to section 22a-430 of the Connecticut General Statutes and section 22a-430 of the Water Discharge Permit Regulations, and section 1421 of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act 42 USC et. seq.
5.0 INFORMATION REQUESTS
The application has been assigned the following application and permit numbers.
Please use these numbers when corresponding with this office regarding this application or draft permit.
Application No. 202309494 Permit No. UI0000525
Interested persons may obtain copies of the application from
Mr. David Seche
Tighe & Bond, Inc.
1000 Bridgeport Ave. Suite 320
Shelton, CT 06484
Telephone Number: (845)516-5837
Email: dtseche@tighebond.com
The application is available for inspection by contacting Lauren Jones at 860-424-3155 or Lauren.Jones@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 8:30 to 4:30, 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.
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 Lauren Jones, Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127 or DEEP.UICPermitting@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.
Petitions 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. Upon receipt of a petition, the Commissioner shall take action as required by relevant laws, including Public Act 25-84, which was effective upon passage in June 2025. 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 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 Godfrey Director
Water Permitting and Enforcement Division
Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance