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Groups Appeal Mingo County Coal-to-Liquids Facility Air Permit

Updated Monday, March 29, 2010; 12:31 PM

From: The State Journal ( Charleston , West Virginia )

 

Sierra Club, Coal River Mountain Watch and others say the proposed plant's air pollution emissions have been underestimated.

Story by Pam Kasey

 

CHARLESTON -- State environmental groups filed an appeal March 29 of the permit for a coal-to-liquids plant proposed for Mingo County by TransGas Development Systems of New York.

 

The plant’s air pollution emissions have been underestimated by the company and by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, according to appellants the Sierra Club, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, Coal River Mountain Watch and West Virginia Highlands Conservancy.

 

By classifying the facility as a “minor” rather than a “major” source of pollutants, they argue, the WVDEP Division of Air Quality is allowing the developers to avoid expensive analyses and control technologies.

 

TransGas first proposed the plant in December 2008.

As proposed, the $3 billion plant would require 3 million tons of locally mined coal each year and would produce more than 6.5 million barrels of gasoline, along with other products; it would employ 3,000 during construction and 200 thereafter.

 

WVDEP’s DAQ issued an air pollution permit on Feb. 25 allowing the company to begin construction.

But TransGas and DAQ did not properly estimate the plants emissions, according to the appeal filed with the West Virginia Air Quality Board.

 

Among other questions, the appellants are asking the board to determine whether the TransGas facility has the potential to emit greater than 100 tons per year of sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and/or volatile organic compounds and should therefore be issued a “major source” rather than a “minor source” permit.

 

The appeal would require TransGas and DEP to reveal all expected air pollution and to include control technology to protect human and environmental health.

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