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Fact Box

IF YOU GO

WHAT: DEP public

informational meeting on Terra-Aqua permit

WHEN: 6:30 p.m., July 8

WHERE: Loyalsock Township High School auditorium, 1801 Loyalsock Drive

After receiving more than 100 written comments regarding a permit application from Terra-Aqua to treat and discharge gas well drilling waste water into the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, the state Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public meeting to answer questions and address concerns.

"In this particular case, we've certainly received far more comments than we normally do on a permit application," said Daniel T. Spadoni, community relations coordinator for the DEP Northcentral Office in Williamsport. "But some (applications) by their very nature generate more comment than others."

The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. July 8 at the Loyalsock Township High School auditorium, 1801 Loyalsock Drive. Representatives from Terra-Aqua Resource Management LLC of Williamsport and the department will be available for comments and questions from the public.

"We thought it was very important to properly explain our new permitting strategy for high total dissolved solids wastewater discharges and answer any questions the public may have," said Robert Yowell, DEP Northcentral Regional director.

Spadoni said most of the comments deal with the interim limits for total dissolved solvency, which were developed by the department and other affected agencies.

"The interim strategy was developed by the Marcellus Shale Wastewater Partnership," he said. "That partnership was created by DEP and the natural gas drilling industry in 2008."

According to DEP, Terra-Aqua plans to treat and discharge 400,000 gallons of waste water per day.

During the meeting, written comments from the general public will be accepted, but no responses will be provided until after a public hearing in August, which will provide another forum for concerned citizens to voice their opinions, according to Spadoni.

"During the public hearing, individuals will be able to present 5 minutes of oral testimony and also, if they wish, additional written testimony," he said. "All of the testimony will be transcribed into a written document, and the DEP will respond to all of the relevant questions and concerns at the time we make a final decision."

The time, date and location of the public hearing will be announced "in the near future," Spadoni said.

Spadoni also said he did not know when a final decision concerning the Terra-Aqua application would be reached.

The permit application is available for public review from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the DEP Northcentral Regional Office, at 208 W. Third St., Suite 101. Appointments are necessary to review the document and may be made by calling 327-3693.