EPA
backs permit
Agency
plans public hearings, meetings on Desert Rock project
By
Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau
July 20, 2006
WINDOW ROCK
— The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed
a Clean Air permit for the Desert Rock Energy Project
and will formally publish a public notice in the Farmington
Daily Times and Navajo Times in a few weeks, kicking
off the public comment period.
EPA also
will host informational workshops for Navajo Nation
residents and nearby communities about the proposed
permit before returning in October for a formal public
hearing. The affected public has the right to request
a hearing in their area. The deadline for public comment
is Oct. 27.
The federal
agency said the emission limits required by the proposed
permit for the 1,500 megawatt power plant planned by
Sithe Global Inc. and the Navajo Nation are some of
the most stringent in the country and would set a new
level of performance for coal-fired plants in the United
States.
The proposed
permit is based on best available control technology
to limit the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen
dioxide chemicals primarily responsible for acid rain
and fine particulates, and detailed technical studies
to ensure that pollution levels safeguard public health
and the environment, EPA said.
Deborah Jordan,
EPA Region 9 air programs director for the Pacific Southwest,
said, "We encourage Navajo Nation residents and
other interested citizens to learn about the proposal
and participate in the comment process."
The proposed
permit and other related documents are available on
EPA's Web site (www.epa.gov/region09/air/permit/desertrock/).
Several documents have yet to be posted but are forthcoming,
according to EPA.
Navajo residents
who are not computer literate can request hard copies
of the documents from EPA/Region 9.
Premit conditions
The permit for Desert Rock will become invalid if construction
is not begun within 18 months after approval, or if
construction is discontinued for 18 months or more,
or if it's not completed within a reasonable time.
EPA did not
offer a timeline for "reasonable time."
All equipment,
facilities and systems at the plant must be maintained
in good working order and be operated as intended to
minimize air pollution emissions, according to the proposed
permit conditions.
Sithe must
notify EPA within two working days of any air pollution
control equipment or process equipment failure or unusual
event resulting in a release in air emissions above
allowable EPA standards.
The permit
calls for use of low sulfur fuel oil sulfur content
of no more than 0.05 percent to be used to operate the
auxiliary boilers.
It is proposed
that all emissions of pollutants from each of the boilers
will be averaged over a three-hour period.
Sulfur dioxide
(SO2) emissions discharged to the atmosphere will be
limited to 4.38 pounds per hour.
Nitrogen
dioxide (NOx) is not to exceed 8.64 pounds per hour;
carbon dioxide, 3.09 lb/hr, volatile organic compounds,
0.21 lb/hr, and particulate matter, 2.04 lb/hr.
Critical
permit
Stephen B. Etsitty, executive director of Navajo Nation
Environmental Protection Agency, said recently that
while the tribal agency does not have a regulatory role
in the Desert Rock project just yet, Navajo EPA has
been consulted by U.S. EPA on the Draft PSD Permit,
or Potential for Significant Deterioration.
"This
PSD permit is critical. It's a preconstruction permit."
The application has been in EPA offices for more than
two years.
Etsitty said
Navajo EPA is helping the federal agency establish workshops
on the reservation and in the affected area. The timing
hinges on publication of the draft PSD permit in the
Federal Register.
"If
they happen to get the PSD permit and construction moves,
then we're going to have probably some water quality
permits they're going to have to apply for in terms
of storm water protection plans and other Clean Water
Act stuff," he said.
"When
they need an operating permit, then they're going to
apply for the operating permit from us. From that point
on, we'll be regulating them under the Title V Operating
Permit Program," Etsitty said.
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