Public Comment Period for Limestone Open Until Novemer 13, 2025
Update to comment time frame, how to leave a comment and links to documents
PERMIT DEADLINE HAS BEEN ADJUSTED DUE TO PUBLIC NOTICE SIGN RELOCATION: NEW DEADLINE NOVEMBER 13th, 2025
This is a time sensitive update regarding Limestone. We had been waiting to hear from TDEC when the permit application from Limestone will be made public for a 30 day comment window. We are there, TDEC engineering has approved the plans for public comment and what the community now submits will be weighed into TDEC’s final decision regarding Limestone Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). The public notice sign was moved to allow for more visibility and the date has been extended 2 weeks from it’s previous timeframe.
This substack includes:
1. The links to public permit documents for you to review on TDEC dataviewer.
2. Overview of Limestone design plans.
3. Steps on how to submit a public comment.
4. Information on how to request a public hearing be held.
1. LINKS TO TDEC DATAVIEWER
TDEC Limestone dataviewer page with information on permit and complaints
Please excuse my mistake, the subsequent links for the approval letter and sign posting requirements, the engineering plan as well as the engineering drawings are not active because they are links from documents that I downloaded. The most reliable way to access these is to access the TDEC Dataviewer link above, which does work. The other documents are listed on the dataviewer page if you scroll down to the sub box labeled “Permit Documents”. Sorry about the extra hassle. *(Edit from October 15)
TDEC public notice requirements and letter on how to file a comment
Engineering Report for facility upgrade and expansion
Engineering plans & renderings of specific pumps and system components etc.
2. HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF WHAT LIMESTONE IS REQUESTING
* The permit application is for an expansion of current facility.
* Current design capacity is .25 million gallons a day (MGD) of sewage treatment. This means 250,000 gallons on the average with allowance for temporary peak treatment if we have had significant rain.
* The new design is for an increased capacity of .45 MGD of sewage treatment per day. So, 450,000 gallons on the average a day.
3. STEPS ON SUBMITTING PUBLIC COMMENT
It will be important to note that this 30 day comment period is specifically for their facility upgrade and expansion plans and is not for comments on their rate. The rates are handled by a different agency, TPUC. We should constrain these comments to the facility upgrade and expansion plans to maintain the most traction.
If you wish to submit a comment regarding their facility upgrade plans here are the steps to do so.
1. email comments to:
Comment must Include:
Applicant Name: Limestone Water Utility Operating Company, LLC
Permit Number: TN0027278
2. mail comments to:
Division of Water Resources
Davy Crockett Tower, 9th Floor
500 James Robertson Pkwy
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
ATTN: Wade Murphy, Permit Writer
Comment must Include:
Applicant Name: Limestone Water Utility Operating Company, LLC
Permit Number: TN0027278
4. HOW TO REQUEST A PUBLIC HEARING
Interested persons may also request in writing that the Division hold a public hearing on any application. The request must be filed within the comment period and must indicate the interest of the person requesting and the reasons why a hearing is warranted. When there is sufficient public interest, the director shall hold a hearing in accordance with Rule 0400-40-05-.06 (12). After consideration of comments submitted during the public comment period, the hearing record, if any, and the requirements of federal and State law, the director of the Division will make a determination regarding the final action on the permit.
Here’s a couple thoughts, regarding the notion of basically doubling the current capacity.
Don’t do it.
Find a place within the acres of new construction and build it there.
Redirect the current waste flow to the new facility, including River Rest. At a minimum, use the new construction to handle all the demands added to our facility after its initial build.
Please excuse my mistake, the subsequent links for the approval letter and sign posting requirements, the engineering plan as well as the engineering drawings are not active because they are links from documents that I downloaded. The most reliable way to access these is to access the TDEC Dataviewer link above, which does work. The other documents are listed on the dataviewer page if you scroll down to the sub box labeled "Permit Documents". Sorry about the extra hassle.