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Public Meeting Scheduled on Draft Permit for Pilgrim's Pride

Release Date: 4/30/1998
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 will hold a public meeting and a public hearing May 7 to explain and to obtain comments about a proposed permit for a Pilgrim's Pride poultry processing facility in Titus County. Both the meeting and formal hearing will be held in the Titus Country Civic Center at 1800 N. Jefferson St., Mt. Pleasant, Texas.

A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit is required by the Clean Water Act if pollutants will be discharged into our nation's waterways. The permit spells out the types and amounts of allowable discharges and is written to protect human health and preserve aquatic life.

Specific conditions in the proposed permit will be explained during the public meeting, which will begin at 2 p.m. The meeting will provide an informal setting for citizens to ask questions about the proposed permit.

The hearing, which will begin at 7 p.m., will allow for public input into the permitting process. Citizens' comments will be officially recorded and EPA staff will respond to these comments before the final permit is issued. Concerns presented at the hearing will be considered when the final permit is written. Registration for those wishing to speak at the public hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Citizens may include written comments in the official record, or obtain copies of the draft permit or more information by writing or calling:
Ms. Wilma Turner
Customer Service Branch (6WQ-CA)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1445 Ross Avenue
(214) 665-7516

The Clean Water Act does not set a timeline for finalizing proposed NPDES permits.