Company wants discharge permit

The Terrebonne Parish Council decided to ask the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to hold a public hearing in Terrebonne concerning American Advanced Technolo-gies’ request for a state permit to discharge treated oily wastewater into the Houma Navigation Canal at the company’s Houma Oil Recovery Facility.

The site is located at 2266 Denley Road, between the canal and Louisiana Highway 57.

Since the comment time for AAT’s permit application lasts only until Friday, the DEQ would have to extend the public input period to allow for a hearing in Terrebonne Parish.

AAT is also asking for permission from the state to discharge treated sanitary wastewater and non-processed area storm water into the canal from its used oil recovery facility.

Most of Houma’s fresh-water supply is taken from the Intracoastal Waterway, which connects to the Houma Navigation Canal near the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.

DEQ has determined AAT’s discharge will have no adverse impact on the canal, but warned that any release could cause a change in water quality.

The agency called the canal a source for the propagation of fish and wildlife.

DEQ last held a public hearing in Terrebonne Parish on Oct. 18 concerning Plains All American’s permit application to construct an oil storage tank facility in Gibson.