Opportunity for Comment
Kingfish Maine Draft Combination Maine Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MEPDES) permit #ME0037559/Maine Waste Discharge License (WDL) #W009238-6F-A-N
Comment deadline: June 7, 2021
Please take notice that, pursuant to 38 M.R.S. 413, 414-A, and 464(4)(F) and 06-096 C.M.R. ch. 2, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Department) intends to issue a draft combination Maine Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MEPDES) permit #ME0037559/Maine Waste Discharge License (WDL) #W009238-6F-A-N ("the draft permit") for a formal 30-day public comment period. Kingfish Maine Inc. is seeking authorization to discharge up to 6.5 million gallons per day (MGD) of treated fish culture water and up to 22.2 MGD of heat recovery water from a land-based recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility to be located in Jonesport, Maine.
On July 8 and July 15, 2020, Kingfish Maine Inc. published a Notice of Intent to file an application for a combination MEPDES/WDL with the Department in the Machias Valley News Observer. Pursuant to 38 M.R.S. 464, the legal advertisement stated the application proposed a new discharge that may lower existing receiving water quality within its legal classification, and the application contained a statement regarding important social and economic benefits resulting from the activity causing the discharge. In accordance with 38 M.R.S. 464(4)(F), the draft permit contains findings that total nitrogen from this project would consume 20% or more of the remaining assimilative capacity of the receiving water for that component, which would be considered lowering of the water quality pursuant to the State of Maine's antidegradation policy; however, this would not result in toxicity or in a change in the designated uses or classification of the receiving water. The draft permit contains a finding that the anticipated discharge is necessary to achieve important economic or social benefits to the State and that the project will not cause or contribute to the failure of the waterbody to meet the standards of its assigned classification.
The Department intends to issue the proposed draft permit on or about May 5, 2021 for a 30-day public comment period. A copy of the draft permit, the application, the States antidegradation policy, and other relevant documents may be obtained from the Departments website or by contacting the Department as provided below.
Persons wishing to comment on the proposed draft permit may do so in writing via conventional mail, electronic mail, fax or the Departments public comment webpage. Persons wishing to request a public hearing on the draft permit may do so during the 30-day public comment period. Requests must state the nature of the issues(s) to be raised. To ensure consideration, all comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the 30th day following the issuance date of the proposed draft permit/license and must include the commenters name, and affiliation if representing an organization. Written comments should be directed to: Cindy Dionne, Division of Water Quality Management, Bureau of Water Quality, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, 17 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0017. E-mail: Cindy.L.Dionne@maine.gov. Telephone: 207-287-7823. Fax: 207-287-3435.