Public Hearing Regarding Proposed Store Construction in Antis

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will hold a public hearing Aug. 4 regarding M&G Realty, Inc.'s application for a DEP individual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to construct a convenience store in Antis Township, Blair County. The hearing will be held at the Pinecroft Volunteer Fire Company, 2134 Old 6th Avenue Road, Altoona, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

M&G Realty proposes to construct a Rutter's convenience store with fuel dispensing on 19.25 acres at the northwest corner of the intersection of Pleasant Valley Boulevard and Sabbath Rest Road, Altoona, PA 16601. Stormwater discharges from the proposed project would be to an unnamed tributary to Sandy Run wetlands.

The permit application, draft individual permit, and fact sheet, are available for public review on the DEP Southcentral Regional Office's webpage, https://bit.ly/3POYG0e

Individuals who wish to offer testimony at the public hearing should register with John Repetz, community relations coordinator for DEP's Southcentral Region, at 717-705-4904 or by email at jrepetz@pa.gov by 4 p.m. Aug. 3. Oral comments are limited to five minutes per person. Relinquishing of time to other speakers will be prohibited, and groups are asked to designate one speaker. Registration is not required simply to attend the hearing.

Written comments on this application or the draft NPDES permit are also being accepted until 4 p.m. Aug. 16 and may be submitted to RA-EPWW-SCRO@pa.gov or mailed to the SCRO, Waterways and Wetlands Program, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110-8200. To assist with mail routing, it is requested that mailed comments contain the following on the envelope: "Comments on Rutter Store #82, PAD070014."

All comments, whether delivered orally during the hearing or submitted in writing, carry equal weight and consideration with DEP.

DEP representatives will be available from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. to answer any question the public may have about the individual NPDES permitting process and regulatory requirements.