Public Notice of Hearing Mississippi Environmental Quality Permit Board P.O. Box 2279 Jackson, MS 39225 Telephone No. (601) 961-5527   Public Notice Start Date: September 16, 2025  Deadline for Comment: October 23, 2025 MDEQ Contacts: James Matheny Carrie Barefoot   Thornton Construction Company, Inc., Grants Ferry Mine has applied to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) for the following actions: A Surface Mining Permit (A2132) to mine open pit mine 33 acres and coverage under the Mining Storm Water General Permit (MSR32088) to discharge stormwater associated with mining activities. MDEQ will hold a public hearing on these permitting actions at 6:00 PM on October 23, 2025, at the Rankin County Safe Room and Conference Center located at 651 Marquette Road, Brandon, MS 39042.   Thornton Construction Company, Inc. has proposed to open pit mine 33 acres to a total depth of 20 feet for borrow material. The site is located north of Grants Ferry Road, within Section 3, Township 5 North, Range 3 East, in Rankin County, Mississippi. Reclamation will consist of blended 4 to 1 slopes and grass cover. In conjunction with the surface mining operation, the applicant is required to obtain coverage under a Mining Storm Water General Permit. This permit contains requirements to manage stormwater runoff from the site and prevent degradation to waters of the State. The staff of the Permit Board has developed these draft permits based on information submitted to the Permit Board by the applicant, appropriate State and Federal agencies and other interested parties. The staff of the Permit Board is soliciting all relevant information pertaining to the proposed activity, including public comment, to ensure that the final staff recommendation to the Permit Board complies with all State and Federal regulations. Public review and comment on the draft permits and supporting documentation is an important element in the staff evaluation and resulting recommendation to the Permit Board. The draft permit conditions have been developed to ensure compliance with all State and Federal regulations but are subject to change based on information received as a result of public participation.   Persons wishing to comment upon or object to the proposed project are invited to participate in the Public Hearing on October 23, 2025, and/or submit comments in writing to James Matheny for the Surface Mining Permit application and Carrie Barefoot for the Mining Storm Water application at the address shown above, no later than October 23, 2025. All comments received by this date will be considered in the formulation of the final recommendations regarding the applications. The Permit Board is limited in the scope of its analysis to environmental impact. Any comments relative to zoning or economic and social impacts are within the jurisdiction of local zoning and planning authorities and should be addressed to them.   The Permit Board is created by Mississippi Law for the purpose of issuing or denying, under such conditions and limitations as it may prescribe, environmental protection permits to control or prevent the release of contaminants into the air and waters of the State. By law, the Board is composed of the Chief of the Bureau of Environmental Health within the State Department of Health; the Director of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks; the Director of the Office of Land and Water Resources within the Department of Environmental Quality; the Supervisor of the State Oil and Gas Board; the Director of the Department of Marine Resources; the Director of the Office of Geology within the Department of Environmental Quality; and the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. The purpose of this hearing is to explain the proposed project and to receive comments from the public regarding the project and particularly the draft permits. Upon arrival at the public hearing, everyone will be asked to register and note if they expect to make a statement. Statements will be received in the order of registration (i.e. first to register will be the first to give public comment). However, everyone will be given an opportunity to comment including those who indicated during registration that they did not expect to comment. Persons commenting will not be limited to any specific time so long as the comments are reasonably concise and relate, at least generally, to the responsibilities of the Permit Board. However, because a large number of people often wish to speak, comments should be as brief as reasonably possible. Comments can be presented in writing if preferred. In order to help facilitate understanding between citizens and the Permit Board staff, the staff will attempt to answer questions at the hearing. However, such interchanges should be as brief as possible so that everyone who wants to speak has the opportunity as promptly as possible. All comments made during this public hearing will be transcribed and made a part of the Permit Board file in this matter. Before making any decision, the Board will consider all issues and concerns raised regarding environmental protection. Any interested party aggrieved by the decision of the Permit Board may file a written request for a formal hearing, after which the Permit Board will make its final decision in the matter. Any person aggrieved by that decision may appeal to the chancery court in the county of the proposed project.   Additional details about the application are available by calling the MDEQ Mississippi Public Records office at 601-961-5171. Please bring the foregoing to the attention of persons whom you know will be interested. 9/17, 9/24, 10/01/2025 #11666456