Public Hearing — Thurs, 4 May — proposed log fumigation facility

Ashton Woods Community,

We promised to keep you all updated regarding the permit request for a log fumigation facility in Baker. There will be a public hearing on Thursday, 4 May for people to share their concerns.

Below is a recent email from the WV Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) about the public hearing and other important information. If you have any questions, please reach out to the point of contact at the end of this note.
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Bottom line up front in the email: The WV DEP has agreed to grant a public hearing at 6:00 PM on Thursday, 4 May 2023. People who want to participate must register. Below are details regarding how to register, provide comments, and participate online, by phone, or in a conference room at the Hardy County Courthouse.

Email from the WV Dept of Environmental Protection:
Subject: Permit application R13-3595 to construct a log fumigation facility near Baker, WV.

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) will hold a virtual public meeting beginning at 6:00 PM on Thursday, May 4, 2023, to provide information, answer questions, and accept public comments regarding Allegheny Wood Products air quality permit application.

To participate online or by telephone, registration is required by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

To register, please complete the registration form at: Allegheny Wood Products Public Meeting Registration. There will be a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please indicate “yes” you want to ask a question on the registration form. After we have taken questions there will be an opportunity to submit oral public comments for the record. Please indicate “yes” if you want to provide oral comments on the record, when you register. A confirmation email will be sent with information on how to join the public meeting.

If you do not have internet access and want to register to participate via telephone, please contact Nicole Ernest at (304) 926-0499 x41256. Oral comments are limited to five (5) minutes. Video demonstrations and screen sharing by commenters is not permitted.

Additionally, the Hardy County Commission will be hosting an event in the Hardy County Commission Meeting Room at the County Courthouse at 204 Washington Street, Moorefield WV where residents may participate in the virtual meeting.

Please note that during the public meeting, DAQ will call on people one by one to ask their question or provide their comment. Therefore, it is important that everyone follow the registration procedure above, even if you will be participating at the location provided by the Hardy County Commission.

The comment period has been extended seven (7) days. Written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on Friday, May 12, 2023. Email written comments to Steven.R.Pursley@WV.gov with “Allegheny Wood Products Comments” in the subject line. Mail hard copy comments to Steven Pursley, WV Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Air Quality, 601 57th Street, SE, Charleston, WV 25304.

It may be informative to review the publicly available documents concerning the proposed facility. You can find those documents by copying and pasting the links below and following the directions on the DAQ website.

Public Hearing Registration Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHTDUyQ797xfmcMzVkxZNv5wP_erAdHxYBQyHeXkuZBHiveQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3oFXJ2akCM-LjdrkQYresnpQqPF4qW_hnf66LLTMPdkdZcfvlHCvRl5c8

Construction Permit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i_3LShFVlVYgtjUoot6NgExJ-Vbe7biq/view?fbclid=IwAR2q0NJSrcMUV7ugf4T8NJO47-P4IenjMePF8jEmdIj8eVGz86xKZDB1Ae4&pli=1

Engineering Fact Sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XY47fQHp6KbSXknVp6b_WqEIMMCJ_bhr/view?fbclid=IwAR19PK4H2dTNHjJz4R11xIM2zFjA_WcjTjaxfg9kPhwhin7xM00QGdjuiMU

Sincerely,
Steven R. Pursley, PE
WV Division of Air Quality
(304) 926-0499 x41900
Steven.R.Pursley@WV.gov