DEQ Application for Pacific Connector Meetings, Jan. 26

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality will hold meetings in Medford and North Bend to discuss the status of the industrial wastewater permit application for Pacific Connector. The application is for the disposal of water used to pressure test the proposed natural gas pipeline for the Jordan Cove Energy project. Pacific Connector applied November 18, 2015 for a Water Pollution Control Facility water quality permit. The permit would allow Pacific Connector to apply test water to nearby land for seepage into the area soils. No discharges to surface waters will be permitted. DEQ will hold the meetings at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26 in Medford at City Hall, 411 W. 8th and at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27 at the North Bend Library, 1800 Sherman Ave. If DEQ determines a permit can be issued for this activity, a public comment period and public hearings on the draft permit will be held in a few months. DEQ will provide notice of the hearings on the draft permit at least 40 days in advance. View the permit application at http://www.oregon.gov/deq/WR/Documents/JCwpcfApp.p… and the public notice at http://www.oregon.gov/deq/pub/020516pacConnect.pdf for the informational meetings. Comments on the application can be emailed to PacificConnectorWPCF@deq.state.or.us.