A public hearing regarding a local nursing home’s wastewater treatment plant permit has been rescheduled.
Madison County residents have voiced concerns about the Aroda-based Mountain View Nursing Home’s sewage situation. The facility is currently undergoing a renewal of its Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit. The permit is required for any treatment facility that discharges into a public body of water or has an outfall that reaches a public body of water. The permit is issued by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
As part of the renewal process, DEQ held a public comment period from Oct. 30 through Dec. 1. During that time, 30 comments were received with all commenters requesting a public hearing. Radiant resident James Alexander said a petition containing more than 70 signatures was also submitted.
With the threshold met, DEQ was scheduled to host a public hearing Monday, March 2. However, winter proved it’s not quite over yet with inclement weather causing DEQ officials to delay the hearing until later this month. The hearing will now be held March 16 at 414 N. Main Street, Madison. An informational presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by the hearing at 7 p.m. The public comment period has also been extended and will now run through March 31 at 11:59 p.m. Written comments can be submitted to Ben Cunningham, DEQ-Central Office, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, Richmond, VA 23219 or Benjamin.Cunningham@deq.virginia.gov Submittals must include the names, mailing addresses or email addresses of the commenter and of all persons represented by the commenter.
