Permit sought for sewer plant to serve 1,900 people in developments near Virginia line

A Virginia developer has renewed his efforts to get a discharge permit for a private sewer system that could serve up to 1,900 people at two large residential subdivisions in Morgan County near the Virginia line
The system would treat wastewater from more than 400 homes in the planned Sleepy Creek and Mountain Springs subdivisions, which would be located several miles apart along U.S. 522 near Fish Hatchery Road.

The application for the sewer permit indicates the wastewater treatment system would discharge up to 157,300 gallons of treated water per day into Sleepy Creek.

Developer Wade Clements began the sewer permit process back in 2007, according to West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection documents.

On October 21, the draft permit was approved and public notice was given about the application. Citizens have until November 25 to send their comments to the state environmental agency.

Clements and his company, Sovereign Homes, received Phased Preliminary Plat approval for his Creekside Village from the Morgan County Planning Commission in May, 2009.

Under planning rules, Clements has two years to submit drawings for the first phase of the project. The phased preliminary plat approval is good for five years, but Clements must meet further subdivision requirements before getting approval to proceed with work on the development.

County planners have been
aware of the project for many years. Earlier concerns about a community water supply for the development surfaced when test wells for the
subdivision impacted private wells nearby.

County Planner Alma Gorse said the developer’s renewed interest in securing necessary permits for the subdivision could be tied to the time limit on the phased preliminary plat approval.

Comments about the sewer discharge permit can be sent by November 25 to: Director, Division of Water and Waste Management, DEP; ATTN: Lori Derrick, Permitting Section; 601 57th Street SE; Charleston, WV 25304-2345.

A public hearing about the permit may be held if enough citizens request such a hearing, according to the Department of Environmental Protection.