MVCAC December 2009

mvcac@lists.osenergy.org

2 participants
4 discussions

Longview is back at the PSC
by James Kotcon 22 Dec '09

22 Dec '09

In a filing on Nov. 11, Longview opened a new proceeding by asking the PSC to approve that Industrial Revenue Bonds to be issued by the WV EDA "do not offend the public interest", and further asked that this not be considered a "material modification" of the 2006 certificate. Staff filed a response on Dec. 14 indicating they had no objection, but asked the PSC to order Longview to file a notice to all parties in the earlier proceedings and allow time for public comment. Longview on Dec. 21 filed a one-paragraph letter indicating they had no response to Staff's recommendation. The IRB's would be used to finance "solid waste facilities" such as scrubbers, and other air pollution control equipment, including "solid waste disposal and recycling facilities" and "solid waste landfills". Although Longview claims that the footprint of the facility has not changed, I would point out that a MepCo subsidiary, Coresco, LLC. has pending an application for surface mine permit modification to expand a flyash disposal landfill to serve Longview on property immediately west of the current Longview site. In that application, Coresco indicates that they are exempt from solid waste landfill regulations because the disposal constitutes a "beneficial use". The IRBs would also be used to finance wastewater systems including discharge process water, storm water runoff, and sanitary sewage. Longview included a map indicating to location of the water treatment plant and pipelines running from the Mon River to the plant. In a separate matter, Longview filed a request on Dec. 16 asking that the 2008 complaint about the alternate water source be dismissed because the various regulatory agencies have all granted the appropriate permits to approve their new water treatment plant and pipeline to the plant. Does anyone else think that these changes, if approved, would constitute the PSC's blessings for al that Longview wants to do, as well as the dismissal of the 2008 complaint. Merry Christmas. JBK

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Re: [MVCAC] Diesel Resolution
by James Kotcon 05 Dec '09

05 Dec '09

As a general rule, I tend to be leery of anti-diesel stuff, but this one is from the Clean Air Task Force (which has loads of good stuff) and appears to be a very credible proposal. My only concern is that "Plans" are overly vague, but this would be a good start and I recommend that WVEC and MVCAC consider it. Diesel smoke is substantially more toxic than the particulates from power plants, so cleaning these up is a good start. I especially like the part about retro-fitting old diesels. JBK --- On Thu, 12/3/09, Ryan Bodanyi <rbodanyi(a)catf.us> wrote: From: Ryan Bodanyi <rbodanyi(a)catf.us> Subject: Re: Jim, the Sierra Club, and Diesel Date: Thursday, December 3, 2009, 3:37 AM Hi Jim, My name is Ryan Bodanyi, and I work with the Clean Air Task Force. I’m writing to ask for your chapter's support for the attached “Diesel Clean-up Platform,” which has already been endorsed by five chapters of the Sierra Club nationwide – Connecticut, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Why clean up diesel emissions? Here’s a few reasons: 1. Health.Fine particle pollution produced by diesel engines causes 21,000 deaths a year – on a par with drunk driving (17,000), HIV/AIDS (14,000) and firearm homicide (12,000). (1) Diesel engines are known for their durability, but older engines emit a toxic mixture of particles, metals, and gases, including over 40 “hazardous air pollutants” as classified by EPA. On average, the US cancer risk posed by diesel pollution is 7 times greater than the cancer risk from all other 133 air toxics tracked by EPA combined. 2. Climate Change. As a warming pollutant, black carbon in diesel pollution is about 2000 times more potent than CO2. Diesels account for over half of the US black carbon emissions. The lifetime of soot in the air (weeks to months) is much less than carbon dioxide (50 to 200 years). As such, removing soot emissions may have a faster effect on slowing global warming than removing carbon dioxide emissions. (2) 3. West Virginia. In West Virginia alone, diesel emissions contribute to 73 premature deaths, 79 non-fatal heart attacks, and 6,616 lost work days each year (see http://www.catf.us/projects/diesel/dieselhealth/state.php?site=0&s=54 ), with the monetized value of health impacts estimated at $580 million. 4. Children. Children breathe 50% more air per pound than adults, and therefore consume more airborne pollution. Additionally, particles are known to pose a host of health risks to children such as lung growth retardation and asthma. 5. Worker Safety. Workers are exposed to unnecessary levels of diesel pollution on the job from construction equipment, transit buses, long-haul trucks and other diesel sources. For example, a study of diesel mechanics, train crewmen, and electricians working in a closed space near diesel generators suggested that diesel exposure may have caused both airway obstruction and serious impairment to the central nervous system. The report concluded that “impaired crews may be unable to operate trains safely.” (3) Studies have documented a 50% higher chance of heart disease in truckers and have found heartbeat irregularities in otherwise healthy, young North Carolina state troopers. (4) (5) (6) 6. Environmental Justice. EJ communities are often most impacted due to proximity to polluting sources. 7. Economic. Using accepted valuation methodology employed by the EPA in recent regulatory impact analyses, Abt Associates finds that the total monetized cost of the U.S. diesel fleet’s fine particle pollution will be a staggering $139 billion in 2010. (7) However an analysis by Keybridge Associates estimates that a $1B investment in clean diesel technology would yield 19,000 jobs. About the Platform Your support for the platform does not include support for any legislation. Instead it is a broad call to action which has already been endorsed by 320 groups nationwide, including the American Lung Association, Environmental Defense, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, and others. A complete list can be found in the attached platform. How to Endorse Simply email me – Ryan Bodanyi – at rbodanyi(a)catf.us ( about:/mc/compose?to=rbodanyi@catf.us ), and I’ll be sure to add you! Questions? If you’d like more information about any of the points I’ve mentioned above, or more information in general, simply email me at rbodanyi(a)catf.us ( about:/mc/compose?to=rbodanyi@catf.us ) and I’ll respond to your request straightaway! In the meanwhile I hope you’ll look over the platform and consider giving it your endorsement! Yours sincerely, Ryan B. Citations (1) Diesel and Health in America: The Lingering Threat by Conrad G. Schneider and L. Bruce Hill, Ph.D. Published by the Clean Air Task Force, February 2005. Available online at http://www.catf.us/publications/view/83. (2) See http://news.stanford.edu/pr/02/jacobsonJGR1023.html. (3) Kilburn, K.H., Effects of Diesel Exhaust on Neurobehavioral and Pulmonary Functions, Archives of Environmental Health, Vol. 55, No. 1, (2000), pp. 11-17. (4) Riediker, M., Cascia, W., Griggs, T., Herbst, M.m Bromberg, P., Neas, L., Williams, R., and Devlin, R. (2004). Particulate matter exposure in cars is associated with cardiovascular effects in healthy young men. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, v. 169, p. 934-940. (5) Riediker, M, Williams, R., Devlin, R., Griggs, T., and Bromberg, P. (2003). Exposure to particulate matter, volatile organic compounds and other air pollutants inside patrol cars. Environmental Science and Technology, v. 37, p. 2084-2093. (6) Laden, F., Hart, J., Smith, T., Davis, M., and Garshick, E. (2007) Cause-specific mortality in the trucking industry. Environmental Health Perspectives, v. 115, no. 8. p. 1192-1196. (7) Diesel and Health in America: The Lingering Threat by Conrad G. Schneider and L. Bruce Hill, Ph.D. Published by the Clean Air Task Force, February 2005. Available online at http://www.catf.us/publications/view/83. *************** Ryan Bodanyi Special Projects Coordinator, Diesel Campaign Clean Air Task Force http://www.catf.us/ rbodanyi(a)catf.us Cell: (401) 829-6192

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Fwd: GASPalert: Let PA DEP know you want strong Coal Combustion Waste regulat...
by Duane330＠aol.com 04 Dec '09

04 Dec '09

For your information. Duane

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PUBLIC CAN TRACK SO2 AND NOx EMISSIONS
by Duane330＠aol.com 30 Nov '09

30 Nov '09

PUBLIC CAN TRACK SO2 AND NOx EMISSIONS AT COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS VIA WEBSITE EPA has improved its interactive tracking tools on EPA's website to help the public track sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from coal-fired power plants and other indicators at individual coal-fired power plants subject to the _Acid Rain Program_ (http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/progsregs/arp/index.html) . The Acid Rain Program requires power plants to reduce emissions of SO2 and nitrogen oxides (NOx) - the primary causes of acid rain - and since 1995 has achieved significant environmental and public health benefits. In 2008, electric generating units (subject to the market-based cap and trade SO2 program) emitted 7.6 million tons of SO2, a level well below the current annual emission cap of 9.5 million tons. The interactive tracking tool and quarterly updates of emissions data from coal-fired plants is available at _http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/quarterlytracking.html_ (http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/quarterlytracking.html) Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser.

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MVCAC December 2009