A public hearing regarding a local nursing home’s wastewater treatment plant permit has been delayed again.
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. Due to inclement weather, it was postponed to March 16. Now it’s been delayed again.
On Monday, forecasters predicted heavy storms, placing much of the state at a Level 4 severe weather risk out of five. Due to the forecast, DEQ opted to again postpone the hearing, this time with no rescheduled date mentioned.
“The safety of all hearing participants is our highest priority,” DEQ Water Permit Writer Ben Cunningham said via email. “The severity of the expected weather presents unacceptable risks for travel and holding of the hearing and DEQ is unwilling to place members of the public or agency personnel in harm’s way.”
Cunningham said equally important to the agency is the opportunity for “meaningful public engagement on the environmental permit that was the subject” of the hearing and a postponement is not taken lightly.
“DEQ is deeply committed to a thorough and inclusive public participation process, and we believe that a well-attended, safe, and productive hearing serves the public interest far better than one held under dangerous conditions,” Cunningham wrote. “DEQ will promptly reschedule this public hearing and will provide adequate notice of the new date, time and location.”
As of Wednesday, no new date had been announced.
The public comment period continues 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.
