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NOTICE: The public hearing has been cancelled in response to current guidance on public gatherings. Please see additional information regarding the hearing here.
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February 18, 2020
TO: DEQ-DWR-Wetlands-Public Listserv
FROM: Jeff Poupart, N.C. Division of Water Resources, Water Quality Permitting Section
RE: Water Quality Certification Application for Biltmore Farms, LLC
The purpose of this Public Notice is outlined below. This notice is available electronically at http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/water-resources-permits/wastewater-branch/401-wetlands-buffer-permits/401-public-notices.
Public Notice and Notice of a Public Hearing on March 19, 2020 for Biltmore Farms, LLC 401 Water Quality Certification; DWR #20191577 Version 1
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that on November 12, 2019, Biltmore Farms, LLC (One Town Square Boulevard, Suite 330, Asheville NC 28803) applied to the N.C. Division of Water Resources (DWR) for a 401 Water Quality Certification pursuant to Section 401 of the Federal Clean Water Act and Title 15A NCAC 02H .0500. In accordance with the application submitted on November 12, 2019, Biltmore Farms, LLC is seeking the certification to permanently impact 0.067 acres of 404 jurisdictional wetlands and 141 linear feet of jurisdictional stream, and to temporarily impact 116 linear feet of jurisdictional stream to construct a bridge over the French Broad River in Buncombe County.
A video presentation on the Biltmore Farms LLC water quality certification application is available for the public to view on the DEQ website [u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net]. The public hearing to gather comments on the application, scheduled for Thursday, March 19 at the Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, has been cancelled on the current guidance to avoid large gatherings to help minimize the spread of COVID-19.
The Division of Water Resources will consider all comments submitted by April 20 before taking final action. The public is invited to comment in writing on the application. Written comments must be received by DWR no later than 5 p.m. on Monday April 20, 2020. Please mail written comments to: 401 Permitting, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC, 27699-1617. Written comments may also be submitted via email to: PublicComments@ncdenr.gov. Please include “Biltmore Farms, LLC” in the email’s subject line.
The application is available online at: https://edocs.deq.nc.gov/WaterResources/Browse.aspx?dbid=0&startid=1071308. The application is also available at the DWR Asheville Regional Office, located at 2090 U.S. 70 Highway Swannanoa, NC 28778, and may be inspected with an appointment between 8 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays. For questions or to schedule an appointment, contact Andrew Moore at 828-296-4500. File materials may not be removed from any DWR office; copy machines are available for use upon payment of the cost thereof to DWR pursuant to G.S. 132-6.2.