WI DNR: PUBLIC NOTICE - WPDES Permit - Nor-Lake, Inc.

(Pub. June 14, 2012)

STATE OF WISCONSIN

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT TO REISSUE A WISCONSIN POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (WPDES) PERMIT No.WI-0057843-05-0

Permittee: Standex International, PO Box 248, Hudson, WI 54016

Facility Where Discharge Occurs: Nor Lake Inc., NW1/4 NW1/4 Section 22 T29N R19W, near Hudson, Wisconsin

Receiving Water and Location: the groundwaters of the Lower Willow River Watershed, located in the St. Croix River Basin in St. Croix County

Brief Facility Description and Summary of Proposed Changes: Nor-Lake is a refrigerator and freezer manufacturer. Nor-Lake had disposed of metal cleaning solvents in their on-site septic system in the 1960’s and 1970’s. The solvents migrated from the waste system through the soil and bedrock and contaminated groundwater beneath the plant. Nor-Lake has been involved in the investigation and clean-up of this groundwater contamination source since 1984. The groundwater remediation system consists of three wells, which pump an average of 136 gallons per minute, 24 hours/day to the surface for treatment via airstripping methods to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Post treatment, the water is conveyed to a seepage cell for groundwater recharge. Groundwater quality is monitored by three groundwater monitoring wells. The reissuance also allows for discharge of non-contact cooling water (NCCW) generated at the facility from mechanical welders to an absorption ditch on site. No major operational changes are proposed in the upcoming permit term. Significant monitoring or limit changes proposed for this permit term are as follows: 1) reduction in the groundwater monitoring from quarterly to semiannual, 2) removal of the groundwater monitoring requirements for hardness, alkalinity and total dissolved solids, and 3) reduction in the effluent limits for most of parameters at the land treatment outfall to reflect groundwater preventative action limits.

Permit Drafter: Holly Heldstab, DNR, WCR Headquarters, 1300 W. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54702, (715) 839-1634, holly.heldstab@wisconsin.gov

Basin Engineer: Peter Skorseth, DNR, 890 Spruce Street, Baldwin, WI 54002, (715) 684-2914, peter.skorseth@wisconsin.gov

The Department has tentatively decided that the above specified WPDES permit should be reissued.

Limitations and conditions which the Department believes adequately protect the receiving water are included in the proposed permit. Land application of waste shall be done in accordance with permit conditions and applicable codes. All land application sites shall be approved prior to their use. To receive a list of approved sites, or to be notified of potential approvals, contact the basin engineer.

Persons wishing to comment on or object to the proposed permit action, or to request a public hearing, may write to the Department of Natural Resources at the permit drafter’s address. All comments or suggestions received no later than 30 days after the publication date of this public notice will be considered along with other information on file in making a final decision regarding the permit. Anyone providing comments in response to this public notice will receive a notification of the Department’s final decision when the permit is issued. Where designated as a reviewable surface water discharge permit, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is allowed up to 90 days to submit comments or objections regarding this permit determination. If no comments are received on the proposed permit from anyone, including U.S. EPA, the permit will be issued as proposed.

The Department may schedule a public informational hearing if requested by any person and shall schedule a public informational hearing if a petition requesting a hearing is received from 5 or more persons or if response to this notice indicates significant public interest pursuant to s. 283.49, Stats. Requests for a public informational hearing shall state the following: the name and address of the person(s) requesting the hearing; the interest in the proposed permit of the person(s) requesting the hearing; the reasons for the request; and the issues proposed to be considered at the hearing.

Information on file for this permit action, including the draft permit and permit information form (PIF), may be inspected and copied at the permit drafter’s or basin engineer’s office, Monday through Friday (except holidays), between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Please call the permit drafter or basin engineer for directions to their office location, if necessary. Information on this permit action may also be obtained by calling the permit drafter at (715) 839-1634 or by writing to the Department. Reasonable costs (usually 20 cents per page) will be charged for copies of information in the file other than the public notice and PIF. Permit information is also available on the internet at: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/ww/drafts/pubnot.htm.

Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodation, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be made to qualified individuals upon request.

________________________________________ WNAXLP

Tags: public notices, general legals