Department of Environmental Protection, Departmental

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

NOTICE OF APPLICATION AND PUBLIC MEETING

The Department of Environmental Protection gives notice and announces receipt of an application for permit by the City of Tarpon Springs for the discharge of Reverse Osmosis (RO) concentrate from a proposed Potable Water Treatment Plant (WTP) to serve the City of Tarpon Springs. The Department PA File Number is FL0571580-001-IW5A. This proposed WTP will be located in Pinellas County, at 1624 L & R Industrial Blvd., Tarpon Springs, Florida 34689. The permit application requests the discharge of up to a maximum of 2.79 million gallons per day of industrial wastewater (RO concentrate) to waters of the State. The RO concentrate will be conveyed via force main from the City of Tarpon Springs WTP in Pinellas County to Pasco County for final disposal. The outfall location for the discharge of the RO concentrate will be 50-feet north of Progress Energy Florida, Inc.’s point of compliance within the cooling water canal, located adjacent to its Anclote Power Generation Facility, Permit Number FL0002992. The RO concentrate outfall will be located at latitude 28°11'21.95" N, longitude 82°47'10" W, in Pasco County.

The discharge of the RO concentrate may not meet all surface water quality criteria for Class III marine waters as required by Chapter 62-302, F.A.C. Because of this, the permittee has sought relief for eight surface water quality parameters under the Department’s mixing zone rule, Section 62-4.244, F.A.C. The application has provided reasonable assurance that the following mixing zones can be attained for the following constituents with their corresponding size (the discharge must meet water quality standards for each parameter at the edge of the mixing zone):

The permit application is being processed and is available for public inspection during normal business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays, at the Department’s Southwest District Office, 13051 North Telecom Parkway, Temple Terrace, Florida 33637-0926. Please phone ahead to schedule an appointment to review the file. You may contact the Department at [phone], extension 303.

The Department of Environmental Protection’s Southwest District Office also announces a public meeting to which all persons are invited.

DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, September 23, 2009, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

PLACE: Tarpon Springs City Hall, Auditorium, 324 East Pine Street, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

PURPOSE: To obtain public comments on the application for the discharge of RO concentrate with mixing zones from the proposed City of Tarpon Springs WTP.

A copy of the agenda may be obtained by writing: Southwest District Office, 13051 North Telecom Parkway, Temple Terrace, Florida 33637-0926, calling Astrid Flores Thiebaud at [phone], ext. 325, or by e-mail: [e-mail].

Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this meeting/workshop/hearing is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the meeting/workshop/hearing by calling the Bureau of Personnel Services at [phone], or by calling 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice) via the Florida Relay Service.