During a lengthy public-comment period, Madison County residents raised concerns about the Mountain View Nursing Home wastewater treatment plant as the county considered DEQ's draft permit reissuance.

James Alexander, who said he submitted FOIA requests for DEQ records, argued the facility's outfall discharges to what DEQ labels an "unnamed tributary" but that the DEQ documents show zero baseline flow in that channel, meaning the facility creates surface flow where no stream exists. "The Mountain View has requested the right to pollute," Alexander told supervisors, and he presented exhibits he said show repeated exceedances of treatment limits, sample-handling problems and months with reported flows far above the plant's 15,000-gallons-per-day design (he cited 42,000 gpd entries for several months).

Operator Tim Clemens disputed that characterization, saying the plant has been monitored, monthly reports are submitted and some samples are evaluated by contract laboratories. "We're not asking for a permit to pollute," Clemens said, adding the plant is chlorinated and dechlorinated as required and that he oversees daily operation.

Staff summarized the regulatory pathway: DEQ issues a fact sheet during renewal and the county has a 30-day window to challenge an outfall location under Virginia Code Section 62.1-44.153, but that window is calculated from DEQ's notice date. County staff advised options including submitting public comment to DEQ, requesting DEQ hold a public hearing, or formally challenging the outfall location if grounds exist. After public comment and discussion, the board voted to have county staff prepare and send a letter to DEQ expressing concerns and asking the agency to consider a public hearing and additional oversight.