The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Water, hereby gives notice that Occidental Chemical Corporation has applied for reissuance of its National Pollutant Discharge System (NPDES) Permit No. DE0050911 (State Number WPCC 3080F/82) to discharge treated groundwater and storm water to the Delaware River and stormwater to the Red Lion Creek from their facility located at 1657 River Road in New Castle County, Delaware. The facility operated as a chlor-alkalai plant producing chlorine, hydrogen, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) and potassium hydroxide (caustic potash) via a mercury cell process until Fall 2005.  The only remaining activity is pumping and treating groundwater and storm water.

Based on a preliminary staff review and application of lawful standards and regulations, the Department proposes to re-issue this permit, subject to certain effluent limitations and conditions.  The proposed determinations are tentative. Persons wishing to comment upon or object to the proposed determinations are invited to submit same in writing to the Surface Water Discharges Section of the Division of Water, at the address listed below, no later than 30 days from this notice.  All comments received prior to said date will be considered in the formulation of final determinations regarding this application.

A public hearing on the above will NOT be held unless the Secretary of DNREC receives a request by 4:30 pm on June 2, 2020, or if the Secretary determines that a public hearing is in the public interest.  A request for a hearing shall be in writing and shall state the nature of the issues to be raised at the hearing.  It must also show familiarity with the proposal and a reasoned statement of the permit’s probable impact.

The applications, fact sheets, and permits are available for inspection or copies may be obtained by contacting:

Division of Water
Surface Water Discharges Section
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19901
302-739-9946