Agenda Item Name:
Title
Chair Letter commenting on the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Valdosta, GA Consent Order
End
Presenter:
Stephen Hofstetter
Description:
The Middle and Lower Suwannee River and Withlacoochee River Task Force is requesting that counties in the Suwannee River Basin provide comments to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources on the proposed Valdosta GA Consent Order (EPD-WP-8904)
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Sign Chair letter
Prior Board Motions:
N/A
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
Background:
There is a proposed consent order (#EPD-WP-8904) between the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the City of Valdosta, Georgia to address numerous spills from the City’s sanitary sewer system and permit violations associated with the Withlacoochee Water Pollution Control Plants (WPCP) and Mud Creek WPCP. Numerous spills over the last decade have resulted in tens of millions of gallons of unpermitted waste water (raw sewage) discharges into Sugar Creek, which feeds the Withlacoochee River, a tributary to the Suwannee River.
Attached is a chair letter showing support for the consent order and recommending that the one-year limit on testing to the state line be extended and require the City of Valdosta perform continuous testing and require reimbursements for downstream testing expenses incurred by northern Florida counties.