The Division of Water will hold a virtual public hearing on the reissuance of Mountaire Farms Inc.’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit for its facility in Selbyville (Docket #2021-P-W-0017). Comment period closed.

Mountaire Farms Inc., has applied for reissuance of its NPDES Permit No. DE0050326 (State Number WPCC 3026F/75) to discharge storm water from its poultry processing plant in Selbyville to Sandy Branch, which leads to the Bunting Branch, and ultimately discharges to the Isle of Wight Bay in Maryland. The facility is located at Hosier St. and Railroad Avenue in Selbyville.

The nine current outfalls at the facility only discharge storm water runoff to Sandy Branch. No process wastewater is discharged from this facility.

The site houses processing buildings, warehouses, maintenance facilities and office buildings. All process wastewater is pretreated onsite and discharged into the collection system for the Town of Selbyville for treatment and disposal at the Selbyville Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Based on a preliminary staff review of the permit application, and the application of lawful standards and regulations, the Department proposes to re-issue this permit, subject to certain effluent monitoring requirements. The proposed determinations are tentative pending review and consideration of any public comments that are received.

For additional information, contact Wenjia Fan, Division of Water, Surface Water Section, 89 Kings Hwy., Dover, DE 19904, by phone at (302) 739-9946, or by email at Wenjia.Fan@delaware.gov.

The Department will accept public comment through the close of business on Nov. 17, 2021. Comments will be accepted in written form via email to DNRECHearingComments@delaware.gov, using the online form at de.gov/dnreccomments, or by U.S. mail to the address below.

Public Hearing Officer

Lisa A. Vest
DNREC Office of the Secretary
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19901

Transcript

Public Hearing Transcript

DNREC Exhibits

Exhibit 1: Application for NPDES Permit​, including Form 1, Form 2F and a Storm Water Plan​

Exhibit 2: Draft Permit and Factsheet​

Exhibit 3: Regulations​

1. 40CFR Title 40 Part 432 — Meat and Poultry Products Point Source Category​
2. Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) Analysis for ​Buntings Branch, Delaware​
3. US EPA NPDES MSGP for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity​

​Exhibit 4: Public Hearing​

1. Hearing Public Notice advertised on Sept. 29, 2021​
2. Hearing Public Notice News Journal Affidavit
3. Hearing Public Notice State News Affidavit​​
4. State Public Meeting Calendar Notice
5. Public Hearing Webpage​ (This page)

Exhibit 5: Public Hearing Presentation

Public Comments

Sylvia Lam, Environmental Integrity Project (11/17/21)

Gabrielle Ross, Assateague Coastkeeper (11/17/21)

Sussex Health and Environmental Network (11/17/21)