A public hearing regarding a local nursing home’s wastewater treatment plant permit will be held Monday.
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, inclement weather caused DEQ officials to delay the hearing until 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 was also 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.
