Dunn Paper-East Hartford, LLC
Notice of Tentative Determination of Intent to Renew a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Discharge into the Waters of the State of Connecticut
1.0 TENTATIVE DECISION
The Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“the Commissioner”) hereby gives notice of a tentative determination to renew a permit based on an application and administrative record submitted by Dunn Paper – East Hartford, LLC ("the Applicant") under Section 22a-430 of the Connecticut General Statutes ("CGS") for a permit to discharge into the waters of the state.
In accordance with applicable federal and state law, the Commissioner has made a tentative determination that continuance of the existing system to treat the discharge would protect the waters of the state from pollution, and the Commissioner proposes to renew a permit for the discharge to the Hockanum River.
The proposed permit, if issued by the Commissioner, will require that all wastewater be treated to meet the applicable effluent limitations and periodic monitoring to demonstrate that the discharge will not cause pollution.
2. APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL
Dunn Paper – East Hartford, LLC proposes to discharge a maximum of 500,000 gallons per day of tissue paper manufacturing wastewater to the Hockanum River from paper manufacturing operations at a paper mill.
The name and mailing address of the permit Applicant are: Dunn Paper – East Hartford, LLC, 40 Forbes Street, East Hartford, CT 06108.
The activity takes place approximately 250 feet upstream of the Forbes Street bridge over the Hockanum River and approximately 50 feet downstream of the Cellu Company Dam, on the southern bank of the Hockanum River.
3.0 REGULATORY CONDITIONS
3.1 Type of Treatment
DSN 001-1: pH adjustment, coagulation, flocculation, solids removal with dissolved air floatation, ultraviolet (“UV”), and a disc filter
3.2 Effluent Limitations
This permit contains effluent limitations consistent with Best Available Technology (“BAT”) and Best Practicable Technology (“BPT”), and which will meet Water Quality Standards including the Anti-Degradation Policy, when the Applicant complies with all permit requirements.
In accordance with Section 22a-430-4(l) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, the permit contains effluent limitations for the following types of toxic substances: heavy metals and acid organic compounds.
3.3 Compliance Schedule
This permit contains enforceable compliance schedules which require the Applicant to:
1) Conduct a thermal verification study and submit the report to the Commissioner.
2) Develop, submit for the Commissioner’s approval, and implement a per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances
(“PFAS”) sampling plan.
3) Achieve compliance with the new pH effluent limits.
4.0 COMMISSIONER’S AUTHORITY
The Commissioner of the Department 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).
5.0 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. 201301708 PERMIT ID NO. CT0002127
Interested persons may obtain copies of the application from from Jeffrey Brashich, Dunn Paper – East Hartford, LLC, 40 Forbes Street, East Hartford, CT 06108, 860-466-4181 or BrashichJ@BiOriginSP.com.
The application is available for inspection by Joseph Grandelski at joseph.grandelski@ct.gov, at the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 061065127 from 8:30-4:30, 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 30 days of this public notice. Written comments should be directed to Joseph Grandelski, Environmental Engineer 1, Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 061065127 or DEEP.IndustrialNPDESPublicComments@ct.gov and should indicate the Permit ID No. CT0002127 in the subject line. 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 or may be mailed or delivered to DEEP Office of Adjudications, 79 Elm Street, 3rd floor, Hartford, 06106-5127. 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 Dickson, Director
Water Permitting and Enforcement Division
Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Published in the Hartford Courant on June 17, 2025.