ADEM has announced a Public Hearing on the Hoover NPDES Permit
Preparing for the Public Hearing
ADEM states that all comments must address the conditions of the draft permit in one of three categories.
One category is relevant to the concerns of most citizens of Hoover; “issues that have an impact on the applicant’s ability to meet applicable environmental laws, rules, and regulations to affect the final permit decision.” Our concern is the ability (and/or desire and/or will) of (the applicant) the City of Hoover to meet applicable environmental laws, rules, and regulations.
· The SWMP, MS4, and city actions show the city has not met the conditions of the previous permit. This is unacceptable to residents.
· The city has not followed and/or enforced its codes, ordinances, and regulations.
· Thus, the city has not demonstrated the ability to meet the conditions of the permit.
ADEM is accepting comments that “offer technically substantial information that is applicable to the draft permit.” Technically substantial means: consisting of or relating to substance, not imaginary or illusory but is real, true.
Comments should cite a specific section of the NPDES permit. The number and name of the sections are provided in the NPFES permit. ADEM encourages the submission of written comments to elaborate on verbal comments made at the hearing. Written comments must include the permit number (ALS000027) and are due by Friday, October 20, 2023.
Tips for organizing a comment:
1. ADEM will likely ask for the name and address of each speaker.
2. Identify a section of the NPDES draft permit that relates to your concern; six of the ten requirements are covered in the following pages.
3. Use information (technically substantial) from Hoover code, SWMP, or MS4 to document that the city is not doing what it is supposed to be doing.
4. Relate this to your situation including any interactions you have had with the city about your problem. For example, phone calls to the city not returned (include details such as dates); being told yours is a private property issue; ditches along the street are not maintained; stormwater overtopping a city street; debris clogging a culvert under a road.
5. State what you would like to see change in the permit and in the actions of the city.
Hoover prides itself on Public Safety; stormwater management is a public safety issue. It is also a public-purpose issue; clean water and safe stormwater infrastructure are critical for all of us.
Questions? email: ktt@hoovermonitor.com
Submit written comments to:
Jeffery W. Kitchens, Chief
ADEM-Water Division
1400 Coliseum Blvd.
[Mailing address: PO Box 301463; Zip 36130-1463]
Montgomery, Alabama 36110-2400
(334) 271-7823
water-permits@adem.alabama.gov
NPDES is National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
SWMPP is Stormwater Management Program Plan the Hoover submits to ADEM as a comprehensive stormwater management plan.
MS4 is Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System and is the Annual Report on Hoover's progress on the SWMPP