Northrop Grumman requests environmental permit for Waynesboro facility

Northrop Grumman has addressed its environmental emissions permit application for its Waynesboro facility currently under construction.

The new manufacturing facility sits on 87 acres and could employ up to 330 people at full capacity, according to the Northrop Grumman’s website page on the Waynesboro location. The company requested a state operating permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), which posted a public notice on the application, including a draft permit, to its website.

“Northrop Grumman recently submitted an environmental permit application to the Department of Environmental Quality as part of our standard construction process related to our forthcoming Blue Ridge Advanced Manufacturing Center,” the company said in a statement to The News Leader. “The draft permit reflects our ongoing efforts to operate responsibly and in accordance with applicable air quality regulations. This state-of-the-art facility will deliver advanced radars, communications antennas, and electronic warfare capabilities. We remain committed to working with the community to protect the environment and being a strong partner in Waynesboro.”

The draft permit for the facility in Waynesboro limits emissions to 9.9 tons per year for individual compounds and 24.9 tons per year for combined emissions. The potential emissions include some volatile organic compounds used as a solvent and polysulfides mitigated by an air filtration system. Odor concerns can be submitted to the DEQ Valley Regional Office Air Compliance Manager at (540) 217-7480.

According to DEQ, the facility does not have any permits related to water emissions once construction is complete and regular operations have begun. There is an active water permit, but this is a construction stormwater general permit, rather than one for operations. This permit is held by Shenandoah Village Drive Owner LLC.

According to a letter to Shenandoah Village Drive Owner LLC from DEQ, in addition to general regulations for permitted projects, Northrop Grumman will also be required to provide soil stabilization, regulated disposal of polychlorinated biphenyl, and allow inspections as part of the permit.

A public notice seeking public comment on the facility’s environmental permit is on the DEQ website. The comment period ends on April 13.

Lyra Bordelon (she/her) is the public transparency and justice reporter at The News Leader. Do you have a story tip or feedback? It’s welcome through email to [email protected]. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Northrop Grumman addresses environmental permit application

Reporting by Lyra Bordelon, Staunton News Leader / Staunton News Leader

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