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Wastewater and Water Notices

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

AMENDED NOTICE OF HEARING
CITY OF DRIPPING SPRINGS
SOAH Docket No. 582-23-09218
TCEQ Docket No. 2022-0940-MWD
TCEQ Permit No. WQ0014488001
 
This Amended Notice of Hearing changes the date of the preliminary hearing.
 
APPLICATION.
The City of Dripping Springs, P.O. Box 384, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620, has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for a major amendment to TCEQ Permit No. WQ0014488001 to authorize the addition of a subsurface drip irrigation site of 13.8 acres with a flow volume not to exceed a daily average flow of 60,000 gallons per day in the final phase and the addition of a surface irrigation site of 17 acres with a flow volume not to exceed a daily average flow of 50,000 gallons per day in the final phase, an increase in the total land application acreage from 113.53 acres to 44.33 acres, and an increase in the total wastewater treatment facility flow volume in the final phase to a volume not to exceed a daily average flow from 319,000 gallons per day to 429,000 gallons per day. The existing permit authorizes the disposal of treated wastewater at a volume not to exceed a daily average flow of 133,000 gallons per day via subsurface area drip irrigation of 30.53 acres of public access land and the disposal of treated wastewater at a volume not to exceed a daily average flow not to exceed 186,000 gallons via surface irrigation of 83 acres of public access land. This permit will not authorize a discharge of pollutants into water in the state. TCEQ received this application on February 16, 2018.
 
The wastewater treatment facility and on-site subsurface disposal site are located approximately 0.55 miles east of the intersection of Ranch Road 12 and Farm-to-Market Road 150, as measured along Farm-to-Market Road 150, and from that point, approximately 1,110 feet south of Farm-to-Market Road 150, in Hays County. An existing offsite subsurface disposal area is located approximately 0.44 mile south of the intersection of U.S. Highway 290 and Ranch Road 12, as measured along Ranch Road 12, and from that point, approximately 1,280 feet east of Ranch Road 12, in Hays County. Another existing offsite surface disposal area is located approximately 1.5 miles south of the intersection of U.S. Highway 290 and Ranch Road 12, and from that point approximately 1,000 feet west of Ranch Road 12 in Hays County. The proposed subsurface disposal area will be located approximately 0.31 mile north of the intersection of U.S. Highway 290 and Ranch Road 12, along Ranch Road 12, and, from that point, approximately 0.26 mile west of Ranch Road 12, in Hays County. The proposed surface disposal site will be located approximately 1.65 miles west and 0.65 mile south of the intersection of U.S. Highway 290 and Ranch Road 12, in Hays County.
 
The wastewater treatment facility and on-site subsurface disposal site are located in Hays County, Texas 78619. All other disposal sites are located in Hays County, Texas 78620. The wastewater treatment facility and the disposal sites are located in the drainage basin of Onion Creek in Segment No. 1427 of the Colorado River Basin. This link to an electronic map of the site or facility’s general location is provided as a public courtesy and is not part of the application or notice. For the exact location, refer to the application. https://tceq.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=db5bac44afbc468bbddd360f 8168250f&marker=-98.080277%2C30.154166&level=12
 
The TCEQ Executive Director has completed the technical review of the application and prepared a draft permit. The draft permit, if approved, would establish the conditions under which the facility must operate. The Executive Director has made a preliminary decision that this permit, if issued, meets all statutory and regulatory requirements. The permit application, Executive Director’s preliminary decision, and draft permit are available for viewing and copying at Dripping Springs City Hall, 511 Mercer Street, Dripping Springs, Texas.
 
CONTESTED CASE HEARING.
Considering directives to protect public health, the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) will conduct a preliminary hearing via Zoom videoconference. A Zoom meeting is a secure, free meeting held over the internet that allows video, audio, or audio/video conferencing.
 
10:00 a.m. – March 29, 2023
 
To join the Zoom meeting via computer:
https://soah-texas.zoomgov.com/
Meeting ID: 161 077 0640
Password: TCEQ928
or
To join the Zoom meeting via telephone:
(669) 254-5252 or (646) 828-7666
Meeting ID: 161 077 0640
Password: 9131563
 
Visit the SOAH website for registration at: http://www.soah.texas.gov/ or call SOAH at 512-475-4993.
 
The purpose of a preliminary hearing is to establish jurisdiction, name the parties, establish a procedural schedule for the remainder of the proceeding, and to address other matters as determined by the judge. The evidentiary hearing phase of the proceeding, which will occur at a later date, will be similar to a civil trial in state district court. The hearing will address the disputed issues of fact identified in the TCEQ order concerning this application issued on September 15, 2022. In addition to these issues, the judge may consider additional issues if certain factors are met.
 
The hearing will be conducted in accordance with Chapter 2001, Texas Government Code; Chapter 26, Texas Water Code; and the procedural rules of the TCEQ and SOAH, including 30 TAC Chapter 80 and 1 TAC Chapter 155. The hearing will be held unless all timely hearing requests have been withdrawn or denied.
 
To request to be a party, you must attend the hearing and show you would be adversely affected by the application in a way not common to members of the general public. Any person may attend the hearing and request to be a party. Only persons named as parties may participate at the hearing.
 
In accordance with 1 Tex. Admin. Code § 155.401(a), Notice of Hearing, “Parties that are not represented by an attorney may obtain information regarding contested case hearings on the public website of the State Office of Administrative Hearings at www.soah.texas.gov, or in printed format upon request to SOAH.”
 
INFORMATION.
If you need more information about the hearing process for this application, please call the Public Education Program, toll free, at 800-687-4040. General information about the TCEQ can be found at our web site at www.tceq.texas.gov.
 
Further information may also be obtained from The City of Dripping Springs at the address stated above or by calling Mr. Robert Callegari, P.E., CMA Engineering, Inc. at 512-432-1000.
 
Persons with disabilities who need special accommodations at the hearing should call the SOAH Docketing Department at 512-475-4993, at least one week prior to the hearing.
 
Issued: February 15, 2023

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

NOTICE OF RECEIPT OF APPLICATION AND
INTENT TO OBTAIN WATER QUALITY PERMIT RENEWAL

PERMIT NO. WQ0014488003

APPLICATION. City of Dripping Springs, P.O. Box 384, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620, has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to renew Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) Permit No. WQ0014488003 (EPA I.D. No. TX0136778) to authorize the discharge of treated wastewater at a volume not to exceed a daily average flow of 822,500 gallons per day. The domestic wastewater treatment facility is located at 23127 Farm-to-Market Road 150, Driftwood, in Hays County, Texas 78619. The discharge route is from the plant site to Walnut Springs; thence to Onion Creek. TCEQ received this application on March 4, 2022. The permit application is available for viewing and copying at Dripping Springs City Hall, 511 West Mercer Street, Dripping Springs, Texas. This link to an electronic map of the site or facility's general location is provided as a public courtesy and not part of the application or notice. For the exact location, refer to the application. https://tceq.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=db5bac44afbc468bbddd360f8168250f&marker=-98.08%2C30.154166&level=12.

SOLICITUD. La ciudad de Dripping Springs, P.O. Box 384, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620 ha solicitado a la Comisión de Calidad Ambiental del Estado de Texas (TCEQ) la renovación del Permiso n.° WQ0014488003 (EPA I.D. No. TX0136778) del Sistema de Eliminación de Descargas de Contaminantes de Texas (TPDES) para autorizar la descarga de aguas residuales tratadas en un volumen que no sobrepase un flujo promedio diario de 822,500 galones por día. La planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales doméstica está ubicada en 23127 Farm-to-Market Road 150, Driftwood en el Condado de Hays, Texas 78619. La ruta de descarga es desde el sitio de la planta hacia Walnut Springs; de ahí a Onion Creek. La TCEQ recibió esta solicitud el 4 de marzo de 2022. La solicitud para el permiso está disponible para leerla y copiarla en Dripping Springs City Hall, 511 West Mercer Street, Dripping Springs, Texas. Este enlace a un mapa electrónico de la ubicación general del sitio o de la instalación es proporcionado como una cortesía y no es parte de la solicitud o del aviso. Para la ubicación exacta, consulte la solicitud. 
https://tceq.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=db5bac44afbc468bbddd360f8168250f&marker=-98.08%2C30.154166&level=12.

ADDITIONAL NOTICE. TCEQ’s Executive Director has determined the application is administratively complete and will conduct a technical review of the application. After technical review of the application is complete, the Executive Director may prepare a draft permit and will issue a preliminary decision on the application. Notice of the Application and Preliminary Decision will be published and mailed to those who are on the county-wide mailing list and to those who are on the mailing list for this application. That notice will contain the deadline for submitting public comments.

AVISO ADICIONAL. El Director Ejecutivo de la TCEQ ha determinado que la solicitud está completa en lo que refiere a lo administrativo y realizará una revisión técnica de la solicitud. Después de completar la revisión técnica, el Director Ejecutivo puede preparar un borrador del permiso y emitirá una decisión preliminar sobre la solicitud. El aviso de la solicitud y la decisión preliminar serán publicados y enviados a los que están en la lista de correo de todo el condado que desean recibir los avisos y a los que están en la lista de correo que desean recibir avisos de esta solicitud. El aviso dará la fecha límite para presentar comentarios públicos.

PUBLIC COMMENT / PUBLIC MEETING. You may submit public comments or request a public meeting on this application. The purpose of a public meeting is to provide the opportunity to submit comments or to ask questions about the application. TCEQ will hold a public meeting if the Executive Director determines that there is a significant degree of public interest in the application or if requested by a local legislator. A public meeting is not a contested case hearing.

COMENTARIO PÚBLICO / REUNIÓN PÚBLICA. Usted puede presentar comentarios públicos o pedir una reunión pública sobre esta solicitud. El propósito de una reunión pública es dar la oportunidad de presentar comentarios o hacer preguntas acerca de la solicitud. La TCEQ realizará una reunión pública si el Director Ejecutivo determina que hay un grado de interés público suficiente en la solicitud o si un legislador local la solicita. Una reunión pública no es una audiencia de caso impugnado.

OPPORTUNITY FOR A CONTESTED CASE HEARING. After the deadline for submitting public comments, the Executive Director will consider all timely comments and prepare a response to all relevant and material, or significant public comments. Unless the application is directly referred for a contested case hearing, the response to comments, and the Executive Director’s decision on the application, will be mailed to everyone who submitted public comments and to those persons who are on the mailing list for this application. If comments are received, the mailing will also provide instructions for requesting reconsideration of the Executive Director’s decision and for requesting a contested case hearing. A contested case hearing is a legal proceeding similar to a civil trial in state district court.

OPORTUNIDAD DE UNA AUDIENCIA DE CASO IMPUGNADO. Después del plazo para presentar comentarios públicos, el Director Ejecutivo considerará todos los comentarios apropiados y preparará una respuesta a todos los comentarios públicos esenciales, pertinentes o significativos. A menos que la solicitud haya sido referida directamente a una audiencia de caso impugnado, la respuesta a los comentarios y la decisión del Director Ejecutivo sobre la solicitud serán enviadas por correo a todos los que presentaron un comentario público y a las personas que están en la lista para recibir avisos sobre esta solicitud. Si se reciben comentarios, el correo también proveerá instrucciones para pedir una reconsideración de la decisión del Director Ejecutivo y para pedir una audiencia de caso impugnado. Una audiencia de caso impugnado es un procedimiento legal similar a un procedimiento legal civil en un tribunal de distrito del estado.

TO REQUEST A CONTESTED CASE HEARING, YOU MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS IN YOUR REQUEST: your name, address, phone number; applicant's name and proposed permit number; the location and distance of your property/activities relative to the proposed facility; a specific description of how you would be adversely affected by the facility in a way not common to the general public; a list of all disputed issues of fact that you submit during the comment period and, the statement "[I/we] request a contested case hearing." If the request for contested case hearing is filed on behalf of a group or association, the request must designate the group’s representative for receiving future correspondence; identify by name and physical address an individual member of the group who would be adversely affected by the proposed facility or activity; provide the information discussed above regarding the affected member’s location and distance from the facility or activity; explain how and why the member would be affected; and explain how the interests the group seeks to protect are relevant to the group’s purpose. 

PARA SOLICITAR UNA AUDIENCIA DE CASO IMPUGNADO, USTED DEBE INCLUIR EN SU SOLICITUD LOS SIGUIENTES DATOS: su nombre, dirección, y número de teléfono; el nombre del solicitante y número del permiso propuesto; la ubicación y distancia de su propiedad/actividad con respecto a la instalación; una descripción específica de la forma cómo usted sería afectado adversamente por el sitio de una manera no común para el público en general; una lista de todas las cuestiones de hecho en disputa que usted presente durante el período de comentarios; y la declaración "[Yo/nosotros] solicito/solicitamos una audiencia de caso impugnado". Si presenta la petición para una audiencia de caso impugnado de parte de un grupo o asociación, debe identificar una persona que represente al grupo para recibir correspondencia en el futuro; identificar el nombre y la dirección de un miembro del grupo que sería afectado adversamente por la instalación o la actividad propuesta; proveer la información indicada anteriormente con respecto a la ubicación del miembro afectado y su distancia de la instalación o actividad propuesta; explicar cómo y por qué el miembro sería afectado; y explicar cómo los intereses que el grupo desea proteger son pertinentes al propósito del grupo.

Following the close of all applicable comment and request periods, the Executive Director will forward the application and any requests for reconsideration or for a contested case hearing to the TCEQ Commissioners for their consideration at a scheduled Commission meeting.

Después del cierre de todos los períodos de comentarios y de petición que aplican, el Director Ejecutivo enviará la solicitud y cualquier petición para reconsideración o para una audiencia de caso impugnado a los Comisionados de la TCEQ para su consideración durante una reunión programada de la Comisión.

The Commission may only grant a request for a contested case hearing on issues the requestor submitted in their timely comments that were not subsequently withdrawn. If a hearing is granted, the subject of a hearing will be limited to disputed issues of fact or mixed questions of fact and law relating to relevant and material water quality concerns submitted during the comment period. TCEQ may act on an application to renew a permit for discharge of wastewater without providing an opportunity for a contested case hearing if certain criteria are met.

La Comisión solo puede conceder una solicitud de una audiencia de caso impugnado sobre los temas que el solicitante haya presentado en sus comentarios oportunos que no fueron retirados posteriormente. Si se concede una audiencia, el tema de la audiencia estará limitado a cuestiones de hecho en disputa o cuestiones mixtas de hecho y de derecho relacionadas a intereses pertinentes y materiales de calidad del agua que se hayan presentado durante el período de comentarios. Si ciertos criterios se cumplen, la TCEQ puede actuar sobre una solicitud para renovar un permiso sin proveer una oportunidad de una audiencia de caso impugnado.

MAILING LIST. If you submit public comments, a request for a contested case hearing or a reconsideration of the Executive Director’s decision, you will be added to the mailing list for this specific application to receive future public notices mailed by the Office of the Chief Clerk. In addition, you may request to be placed on: (1) the permanent mailing list for a specific applicant name and permit number; and/or (2) the mailing list for a specific county. If you wish to be placed on the permanent and/or the county mailing list, clearly specify which list(s) and send your request to TCEQ Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below.

LISTA DE CORREO. Si presenta comentarios públicos, un pedido para una audiencia de caso impugnado o una reconsideración de la decisión del Director Ejecutivo, la Oficina del Secretario Principal lo agregará a la lista de correo para esta solicitud específica para recibir los avisos públicos futuros. Además, puede pedir que lo agreguen a: (1) la lista de correo permanente para recibir los avisos del solicitante indicado por nombre y número del permiso específico o (2) la lista de correo de un condado especifico. Si desea que se agregue su nombre en la lista de correo permanente o del condado, especifique qué lista(s) y envíe su solicitud a la dirección de la Oficina del Secretario Principal de la TCEQ que está a continuación.

INFORMATION AVAILABLE ONLINE. For details about the status of the application, visit the Commissioners’ Integrated Database at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/cid. Search the database using the permit number for this application, which is provided at the top of this notice.

INFORMACIÓN DISPONIBLE EN LÍNEA. Para obtener detalles sobre el estado de la solicitud, visite la Base de datos integrada de los Comisionados en www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/cid. Realice la búsqueda en la base de datos usando el número de permiso para esta solicitud que se proporciona en la parte superior de este aviso.

AGENCY CONTACTS AND INFORMATION. Public comments and requests must be submitted either electronically at https://www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/, or in writing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087. Please be aware that any contact information you provide, including your name, phone number, email address, and physical address will become part of the agency's public record. For more information about this permit application or the permitting process, please call the TCEQ Public Education Program, Toll Free, at 1-800-687-4040 or visit their website at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/pep. Si desea información en Español, puede llamar al 1-800-687-4040.

CONTACTOS E INFORMACIÓN A LA AGENCIA. Todos los comentarios públicos y solicitudes deben ser presentados electrónicamente vía https://www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/ o por escrito dirigidos a la Comisión de Texas de Calidad Ambiental, Oficial de la Secretaría (Office of Chief Clerk), MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087. Tenga en cuenta que cualquier información personal que usted proporcione, incluso su nombre, número de teléfono, dirección de correo electrónico y dirección física pasarán a formar parte del registro público de la agencia. Para obtener más información acerca de esta solicitud de permiso o el proceso de permisos, llame al programa de educación pública de la TCEQ, gratis, al 1-800-687-4040 o visite su sitio web en www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/pep. Si desea información en español, puede llamar al 1-800-687-4040.

Further information may also be obtained from City of Dripping Springs at the address stated above or by calling Mr. Robert Callegari, P.E., Burgess & Niple, Inc., at 512-432-1000. 

También se puede obtener información adicional de la ciudad de Dripping Springs en la dirección indicada arriba o llamando al Sr. Robert Callegari, P.E., Burgess & Niple, Inc., al 512-432-1000.