DEQ Hearing in Coos Bay, June 28

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality will hold a public hearing on June 28, 2018 to accept comments on a proposed renewal of a water quality permit for GMA Garnet. The hearing will be at 6 p.m. in the Coos Bay Public Library, Myrtlewood Room, 525 Anderson Ave. GMA Garnet plans to operate a new garnet sand processing facility at 63776 Mullen Road, Coos Bay. GMA started working with Oregon Resources Corporation in May 2017 and submitted an updated National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit renewal application to DEQ in December 2017. GMA took control of the property in March 2018. The facility will handle unprocessed and spent garnet sand. It will use municipal water from North Bend Water Board to wash unprocessed garnet sand. Wash water will be directed to a wastewater treatment system before being discharged to Coalbank Slough. Besides an individual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. GMA also holds a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 1200-Z industrial stormwater general permit from DEQ. DEQ will accept written and oral comments at the hearing. DEQ is also accepting written comments on the proposal through 5 p.m. Tuesday July 10. Send written comments to Andrea Bean by mail (DEQ 4026 Fairview Industrial Dr. SE Salem, OR 97302), fax (503-378-4196) or email (bean.andrea@deq.state.or.us). For more information on the proposal view the public notice at: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/get-involved/documents/…