U.S. EPA, GE-Housatonic River Site Virtual Public Hearing

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Disclaimer: EPA will use your registration information solely for this event. We will not share your information with any third party.ATTENTION: In the event the comments only registration for the GE-Housatonic River Virtual Hearing is full/sold out, please be aware that there are many other ways you can comment through Friday, September 18th 2020, please see the below: Other Ways to Comment section.(NOTE: Pre-Registration is only required if you wish to make a comment for the record during a Hearing. Those not wishing to testify do not need to register and can observe the hearing via Adobe Connect. See website for details: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/ge-housatonic" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.epa.gov/ge-housatonic</a>)EPA will host three formal Virtual Public Hearings to allow an opportunity to provide oral comments for the record. In order to adhere to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and state and local restrictions on large gatherings, these hearings will be conducted virtually and can be accessed on-line or via telephone.The virtual Public Hearings will be held Wednesday, August 26th, 2020 and on Tuesday, September 15th, 2020.•	There will be two sessions on Wednesday, August 26th -- the first session will be held from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm and the second session from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm.•	The Tuesday, September 15th session will be held from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm.At the hearing, EPA will provide a brief overview of the proposed permit changes, followed by an opportunity for the public to make comments for the record. These comments will be recorded, transcribed, and included in the site Administrative Record. EPA will not respond to these comments at the hearing. Written responses to comments will be included as part of EPA’s final Permit decision. The brief overview presentation will be posted on YouTube at: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADM5xUkRFDA" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADM5xUkRFDA</a> so the public may review it before or after the hearing. This overview will be broadcast at the beginning of both the 1:00 pm and 6:30 pm sessions.The Virtual Public Hearing sessions will be conducted via Adobe Connect—a platform that allows those with computers to listen on-line. No pre-registration is required for those not wishing to make a formal comment. Instructions on how to access Adobe Connect are provided below.Only those members of the public wishing to provide oral comments during a Hearing must register at least one day in advance via EventBrite to be placed in the queue during the comment period. EPA will then follow up with those individuals via email with instructions on how to provide comments via telephone. All interested persons who register will be given the opportunity to comment. To afford all interested persons an opportunity to comment, time allotments will be limited for each speaker depending on the number of registrations.Closed Captioning services will be provided via Adobe Connect. The Hearing will also be simulcast on local public access cable television -- Pittsfield PCTV and South County Public TV and may be available on additional cable stations.

<h3> Instructions for Pre-Registration: </h3>Reminder: Members of the public wishing to speak during the Hearing must register at least one day in advance via EventBrite to be placed in the queue during the comment period. Follow the steps below if you wish to make a statement during the Hearing, as you will need to pre-register as stated.1. Click 'SELECT A DATE' 2.	Choose which session time you would like to attend (due to time constraints space may be limited for oral testimony).3. Click 'REGISTER'.4. Provide your first name, last name, phone number you will be calling from during the hearing, email, and affiliation.5.	After submitting your registration, you will receive an Eventbrite confirmation. Instructions on how to access the hearing via telephone in order to give testimony will be sent prior to the meeting.NOTE: Those wishing to make a comment at the hearing will also need to connect to the Hearing via Adobe Connect (see instructions below).

<h3>Instructions for logging into the Adobe Connect for the Hearing:</h3>1.	Adobe Connect meeting attendees will open a browser and navigate to the virtual meeting room at <a href="https://epawebconferencing.acms.com/gepublichearing?sso=no" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://epawebconferencing.acms.com/gepublichearing?sso=no</a>. You will be directed to a meeting page that includes the meeting title and the terms of use statement. 2.	The meeting page will prompt you to enter your first and last name as a Guest. Enter your name and then click 'Enter Room'. NOTE: Participants are strongly encouraged to run a system test and try to connect in advance to ensure they can connect. Depending on the device you are using, you may have to download and install the Adobe Connect Add On (For Windows or For Macintosh) before the meeting. If attending via a mobile device, please install the free Adobe Connect mobile app from your app store. 3.	You will then be directed to the virtual meeting room. 4.	You should hear background music. If you do not, check to see that your computer audio is on. For members providing comments, please mute your computer or phone audio when providing comments over the telephone to avoid background noise. Note: For those experiencing technical difficulties online, the presentation will be posted to the<a href="https://epa.gov/ge-housatonic" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> https://epa.gov/ge-housatonic </a>website. In addition, the Hearing will be recorded and a transcript will be published at a later date. Participants are strongly encouraged to run a system test in advance and install the Adobe Connect Add On (For Windows or For Macintosh) before the meeting. If attending via a mobile device, please install the free Adobe Connect mobile app from your app store.

<h3>Other ways to comment:</h3>You do not need to attend or speak at the Hearing in order to make a comment for the record. To provide EPA with your written comments about the Draft Revised 2020 Permit, please email (r1housatonic@epa.gov), fax (617-918-0028) or mail comments, postmarked no later than September 18, 2020 to: GE-Housatonic River Site Public Comments EPA Region 1 - 5 Post Office Square (Mail Code SEMD-07-01)Boston, MA 02109-3912If you would like to make oral comments but cannot do so at the Hearing and/or do not have access to a computer for that purpose, EPA has also established a dedicated voice mail box where the public can submit comments of up to five minutes in length. Should you wish to leave a comment via voice mail, please call 617-918-1700 and follow the instructions. Comments provided via this method will also be transcribed and responded to in EPA’s Response to Comments.EPA is only seeking public comment on the proposed changes contained in the Draft Revised 2020 Modification to the Permit issued in 2016. All other cleanup requirements in the 2016 Permit remain unchanged. For convenience, the changes are in redline/strikeout format.For further information on the Hearing and how to comment, you may also contact:ZaNetta Purnell, Community Involvement Coordinator, EPA Region 1, 617-918-1306, purnell.zanetta@epa.gov

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U.S. EPA, GE-Housatonic River Site Virtual Public Hearing

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