Citizens will have the opportunity to engage in a public hearing regarding a draft permit for wastewater discharge into the Ogeechee River.

The hearing will allow citizens to comment on a draft of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for King America Finishing, Inc., according to Environmental Protection Division spokesman Kevin Chambers.

The hearing will be held June 12 at 7 p.m. at Effingham County High School. It will be confined to water quality issues only, as they relate to the draft permit, he said. Those who wish to comment must sign in before the hearing, and comments will be limited to three minutes each. EPD officials will start the hearing with a presentation.

Any questions posed by those in the audience will not be addressed during the hearing, but will be answered in writing by the EPD.

Written comments can be emailed to EPDcomments@dnr.state.ga.us and the subject line should read: "NPDES permit re-issuance- King America Finishing (Dover-Screven County)."

Other written comments can be mailed to 4220 International Parkway, Suite 101, Atlanta, GA. 30354. The deadline for comments is June 26.

The permit application, draft permit, and comments received will be available for review at that location as well, Chambers said.