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Longview Power in the news
by Paula Hunt 09 Aug '08

09 Aug '08

I am subscribed to Google News Alerts for "Longview Power" and recently received alerts for what is essentially the same article by the same author in three different news outlets. The first is August 8, 2008 Charleston Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.com/Business/200808070355 . The other two are http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewarticle+articleid_2491731.html and http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/1515457/mammoth_power_plant_taking_sh… . It says Longview is a "sprawling" complex and "... the 10,000 tons of steel used in the boiler building and the 2,800 tons in the turbine deck were made and fabricated in China, shipped to Houston, then trucked overland to the construction site." How many West Virginia workers were in China for the fabrication, I wonder? Longview Power's general manager Charlie Huguenard claims that the project "is ahead of schedule and on budget. " I suppose that depends on which schedule and which budget you choose. .... certainly not the $940 million plant that will be online in 2007 budget and schedule we were told originally. Duane sent out a July 30, 2008 letter to this list from Longview's attorney (Leonard Knee) to the WV Public Service Commission that said, Longview is about 40% complete with the construction of the Power Plant. Most of the foundations have been constructed, and steel erection is well under way. To date, Longview has spent about $770 million of the anticipated $1.8 billion construction cost, About 550 craft workers are currently employed. By the end of the year, approximately 1500 craft workers will be working, with the number growing to about 2000 craft workers in 2009. Plant construction is ahead of schedule, and the plant is on track to be operational in the last quarter of 2010. It will be interesting to see if there ever will be 1,500 or 2,000 workers on that site. Nothing else they have said has come to pass. The photos in the article show the steel frame. A resident of the Fort Martin Community pointed out to me that no equipment (boilers, etc.) is on site, and wonders how the large equipment will be squeezed into the erected steel frame if it ever does get on site. Apparently, power plants are usually built one floor at a time with the equipment being installed as they go up with the steel. It doesn't look 40% done. The coal is apparently all coming out of Pennsylvania and will be delivered to the site by a 4+ mile conveyor and by truck. I assume there will be no WV severance tax on that coal (?). How does that work? - paula

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Lung disease in WV and US
by Duane330＠aol.com 04 Aug '08

04 Aug '08

_Two New Asbestos Suits Filed in West Virginia_ (http://www.asbestos-post.com/two-new-asbestos-suits-filed-in-west-virginia.…) July 26th, 2008 Two new asbestos-related lawsuits filed in West Virginia in June name more than 100 defendants between them. The first was filed by Mary Kathryn Black on behalf of the estate of her deceased husband, Steve Black. The second was filed on behalf of Joseph M. Hutchison III and his wife, Ann Hutchison. Both lawsuits were filed in Kanawha County Circuit Court on June 6. Mary Kathryn Black, the widow of steelworker Steve Black, claims that her husband died as a result of asbestos exposure which caused him to develop lung cancer and esophageal cancer. Steve Black worked for companies such as Armco Steel. Other defendants in the suit include six corporations which reside in West Virginia: McJunkin Corporation, Ohio Valley Insulating, State Electric Supply, Union Boiler Company, Vimasco Corporation and West Virginia Electric Supply. The suit alleges that Steve Black developed asbestos-related cancers as a result of working for companies involved in the manufacture, distribution, sale, installation, and removal of products containing asbestos. According to the lawsuit, Steve Black’s lifespan and enjoyment of life was greatly diminished as a result of his asbestos exposure. His widow, Mary Kathryn Black, is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. The second lawsuit was filed on June 6 on behalf of Joseph M. Hutchison III and his wife, Ann Hutchison. The lawsuit names a total of 79 different defendant companies, and claims that the defendants are responsible for Joseph M. Hutchison III having developed asbestosis and mesothelioma. Joseph Hutchison worked in South Charleston as a laborer, and was employed with Union Carbide. Hutchison was also student and faculty member of West Virginia University. The lawsuit claims that Joseph Hutchison was exposed to asbestos while working with and around products in use at sites where he was employed. The sites were located in and across West Virginia. The suit includes fifteen counts, relating to the financial, physical, and emotional losses suffered by both Joseph and Ann Hutchinson. They are seeking compensatory and punitive damages for their losses. [Note. Joseph Hutchinson died July 26th in Morgantown, as shown in the Obituary below. He was a leader in the founding of the National Youth Science Camp, held each year at Bartow in West Virginia. For the National Youth Science Camp, see the following: _http://www.nysc.org/_ (http://www.nysc.org/) ] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> _Mass Asbestos Lawsuit Dismissal in West Virginia_ (http://www.asbestos-post.com/mass-asbestos-lawsuit-dismissal-in-west-virgin…) July 18th, 2008 A mass dismissal of asbestos-related lawsuits in West Virginia has left many plaintiffs dismayed over the decision. People suffering from asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma must now wait much longer for their day in court. The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals this week dismissed more than one thousand asbestos-related lawsuits laid by railroad workers against the companies they once worked for. The more than one thousand plaintiffs had filed lawsuits against their employees, CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern. Previously, Circuit Judge Arthur Recht of Wheeling had dismissed the lawsuits. Following an appeal by plaintiffs, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals upheld Circuit Judge Arthur Recht’s decision to dismiss all one thousand suits. In upholding the decision, the Supreme Court of Appeals has rejected a plea that the United States Constitution provides every American with the right to sue in West Virginia, regardless of whether or not they have a real connection to the state. In West Virginia, as in many other states, a plaintiff can file a lawsuit even if they live out of state. To do so, however, they must be able to show that either a plaintiff or a defendant in the case has some type of connection to West Virginia. The Court chose to ignore a 2006 decision known as Morris vs. Crown Equipment, which had granted West Virginia jurisdiction to a dispute which originated in another state. The Court says that this decision did not apply because in the Morris case, one of the defendants was a West Virginia corporation. The claims were filed under the Federal Employers Liability Act, which applies to railroad and some other types of workers, regardless of where they live. After the suits had been filed, the Supreme Court of Appeals consolidated them into the Kanawha County Circuit Court, and assigned them all to Judge Recht. The railway companies had already asked for a move to dismiss the cases while the Supreme Court of Appeals was discussing whether or not the plaintiffs could file their suits in West Virginia. Judge Recht then granted the defendants ’ motion, saying that the Morris case was not applicable, and that the railroad workers could not file suit in West Virginia. The plaintiffs’ appeal was subsequently rejected, and now all one thousand cases have been freed and may be tried in other state courts. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> _ALA Report finds Deaths from Lung Disease Increasing_ (http://www.asbestos-post.com/ala-report-finds-deaths-from-lung-disease-incr…) July 26th, 2008 The latest report from the American Lung Association, entitled Lung Disease Data, indicates that death rates due to lung disease are on the increase, and death rates due to other leading causes of death, such as cancer, heart disease, and stroke, are decreasing. The American Lung Association publishes the Lung Disease Data report periodically to provide a resource with information about information about lung disease trends in the United States for the media, healthcare professionals, researchers, patients, and the public. The report indicates that lung disease rates are increasing so rapidly that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be the third leading cause of death as early as 2020. Lung diseases include any diseases or disorders in which impairment of lung function is an effect or result of the condition. Lung diseases may be caused by cigarette smoking, exposure to smoke, air pollution, and exposure to occupational hazards such as asbestos and silica dusts. Bernadette Toomey, President and CEO of the American Lung Association, says, “Every year, about 400,000 Americans die from lung disease. With our report, Lung Disease Data, we hope to provide valuable information on lung disease to the public, especially to people who become ill and their family members who are caring for them.” Types of lung disease covered in the ALA report data include the following: • Obstructive lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, as well as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. All of these diseases affect the person’s airways, and limit or block the flow of air in or out of the lungs. • Lung cancer, caused by uncontrolled growth of abnormal lung cells. Lung cancer may be caused by a variety of factors, including cigarette smoking and exposure to asbestos. • Infectious diseases such as influenza, pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus, and tuberculosis, caused by viruses or bacteria which can affect both lung tissue and the membrane which surrounds, protects, and supports the lungs. • Respiratory failure, pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hy-pertension. These diseases are caused by problems with gas exchange and blood flow in the lungs. • Pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis. These diseases are characterized by stiffen¬ing and scarring of the lungs, which prevents normal lung function. • Occupational diseases, such as mesothelioma and asbestosis, caused by expo¬sure to hazardous substances such as asbestos and silica dust. These occupational diseases have no other known causes apart from exposure to inhalable toxic dusts. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Source of above three entries: _http://www.asbestos-post.com/_ (http://www.asbestos-post.com/) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Submitted by: Duane Nichols, Ph.D., President of CLEAR [Cheat Lake Environment & Recreation Assn.] and Spokesperson for MonValley Clean Air Coalition [MVCAC], Address: 330 Dream Catcher Circle, Morgantown, WV 26508 Phone: 304-599-8040 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> OBITUARY FOR JOSEPH HUTCHINSON **************Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/cars-BMW-128-2008/expert-review?ncid=aolaut00050000000… )

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Re: [MVCAC] Longview Power Plant Updates
by James Kotcon 04 Aug '08

04 Aug '08

This clearly demonstrates the flaws in Longview's "Desigh/Build" approach, and shows why the PSC should have required complete engineering plans up front, before the start of construction. Jim Kotcon >>> "Paula Hunt" <pjhunt(a)xemaps.com> 8/4/2008 9:11 AM >>> ================================================================ Updates on Longview's Continuing Troubles -- paula ================================================================ Longview Power plans to obtain its water from the Mon River, not from treated mine water. Longview obtained approval to do this from Pennsylvania, where the intake will be located. It turns out that treating all that water by the very expensive process of reverse osmosis is cost prohibitive. * As if they didn’t know that from the very beginning ….. * Construction on the Longview Power Plant, located in the Community of Fort Martin near Maidsville, WV (just north of Morgantown), has begun but is going very slowly. Rumor has it that they are fighting subsidence problems on site and are having trouble finding workers. * Where are all those unemployed union workers that packed the public meeting, I wonder… ? * Bids are being accepted until the end of August 2008 to buy part or all of Longview Power, LLC. Merrill Lynch is conducting the auction and PPL Corp (PPL EnergyPlus), FirstEnergy, PSEG, International Power America, and Energy Investors Funds are thought to be bidders. PPL EnergyPlus has already committed to taking 300 megawatts (MW) of the 695 MW. Goldman Sachs and WestLB have funded part of the construction, putting $1.15 billion into the project last year. Apparently that wasn’t enough, and another $950 million was supposed to come from other sources. The original $900 Million power plant has turned into a $2 Billion power plant (and counting). It appears that this new $950 Million funding is no longer available. Presumably this is why the auction is needed. GenPower supposedly wants $3,500 per kW or more, which is higher than the $3,000-3,250 per kW, which is usual for electricity from a new plant. ================================================= _______________________________________________ MVCAC mailing list MVCAC(a)cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/mvcac

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US-EPA releases report
by Duane330＠aol.com 24 Jul '08

24 Jul '08

EPA RELEASES REPORT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN HEALTH The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a report developed by _The U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP)_ (http://www.climatescience.gov/) titled "Analyses of the Effects of Global Change on Human Health and Welfare and Human Systems." The report identifies strategies on how to respond to the challenges of a changing climate and identifies near- and long-term research goals that address data and knowledge gaps. The report is thus far the most up-to-date scientific assessment on the impact of global change on human health, welfare and settlements in the country. For more information, go to _Information on Analyses of the Effects of Global Change on Human Health and Welfare and Human Systems_ (http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=197244) and _The Office of Research and Development's Global Change Research Program_ (http://www.epa.gov/ord/npd/globalresearch-intro.htm) **************Get fantasy football with free live scoring. Sign up for FanHouse Fantasy Football today. (http://www.fanhouse.com/fantasyaffair?ncid=aolspr00050000000020)

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Old news on Longview
by Duane330＠aol.com 07 Jul '08

07 Jul '08

Moody's release on Longview Power Llc Wed Feb 7, 2007 7:59 pm GMT Market News (The following statement was released by the ratings agency) Feb 7 - Moody's Investors Service has assigned a Ba3 rating to Longview Power, LLC's $1.1 billion senior secured credit facilities, including $900 million in term and construction loans, a $100 million revolver, and a $100 million synthetic letter of credit facility. The outlook is stable. Along with $930 million of equity, proceeds of the term and construction loans will be used to help finance the construction of a $1.8 billion coal-fired power plant. The revolver will be available to fund working capital needs while the synthetic LC will be used to fulfill the debt service reserve requirement upon substantial completion and post LCs to the project's counterparties. The Ba3 rating reflects the strong economics of the project, driven by low variable costs. Supported by the significant equity commitment, projected operating company financial metrics are robust for a single-asset merchant plant despite the high capital costs. According to Moody's analyst Aaron Freedman, these fundamental strengths offset multiple risks, related to both construction and operations, though most of these are adequately mitigated while few are very significant on their own. Longview will be a 695 MW supercritical pulverized coal-generating station with an 8,600 Btu/kWh heat rate located in Maidsville, WV, just south of the Pennsylvania border and approximately 70 miles south of Pittsburgh. The project sponsor is a fund managed by First Reserve, a private equity firm specializing in energy industry investments. The developer is GenPower LLC. The plant will have a five year, 300 MW power purchase agreement (PPA) with PPL Energy Plus for energy and capacity (guaranteed by PPL Energy Supply, LLC; Baa2 sr. sec.), with the balance of its capacity and energy expected to be sold on a merchant basis in PJM's wholesale energy and capacity markets. The project's very low variable costs are expected to result in around the clock dispatch. The project will be constructed by Aker Kvaerner Songer, with equipment including the turbine island supplied by Siemens North America and the boiler supplied by Foster Wheeler pursuant to a separate fixed price, date certain engineer-procure-construct (EPC) contracts wrapped by a coordination agreement. Aker Kvaerner SA and Siemens North America will provide a joint and several guarantee of their subsidiaries pursuant to the coordination agreement, including performance and liquidated damages. The boiler design incorporates a first-of-its kind design innovation intended to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs. Coal is expected to be provided by an adjacent mine through a long term supply contract; currently, however, only half of the facility's expected demand has been secured with a binding letter of intent. Water supply will be provided from water pumped from nearby flooded mines and treated by a non-profit joint-venture to which Longview is a party. The water treatment process, which involves a novel application of existing technology, has reportedly garnered environmental support for the project. Moody's has identified the following project strengths and weaknesses: Strengths/Opportunities - Robust projected financial metrics at the operating company are supported by significant equity contribution, including potential additional debt issued by an intermediate holding company. - With good economics resulting from low variable costs, the project is expected to dispatch whenever available. - Efficient design with a heat rate up to 10% lower than new conventional sub-critical plants results in lower fuel requirements and emissions, while the relatively large boiler allows greater use of cheaper, unwashed coal. - Located adjacent to a coal mine that is expected to provide a long-term source of low cost, high quality fuel, helping to reduce transportation and coal washing costs relative to alternatives and resulting in a delivered cost 30% lower on a BTU basis. - Additional locational advantages include proximity to the Monongahela River, which provides access to alternative sources of fuel and a potential backup water supply, a limestone quarry 10 miles away, and a nearby ash landfill. - 300 MW PPA locks in energy and capacity prices for 43% of the project's 695 net capacity for five years with an investment grade counterparty. Capacity payments commence June 1, 2011, but energy payments do not commence until January 1, 2012, ten months after scheduled substantial completion. - Long-term firm transmission rights have been secured to various nodes in PJM, assuring access to PJM's well established, transparent, and liquid wholesale energy market. PJM is projected to demonstrate continued growth in demand and a reduction in reserve margins, helping to sustain an expected robust pricing environment. - Adequate construction risk mitigants include a joint-and-several guarantee provided by experienced, reputable contractors of their obligations under the fixed-price, date-certain EPC contract, adequate liquidated damages, and a reasonable provision for contingencies in the construction budget. - Financing and corporate documentation will provide standard project lender protections and effective ring-fencing, including a waterfall, a conservative restricted payments test, and dividend limitations, with a 100% cash sweep after restricted payments that is expected to result in rapid debt paydown under the sponsor's base case scenario. Weaknesses/Risks - Merchant risk, particularly in the first year of operation, exposes the project to potential wholesale power market volatility. - PJM's new capacity market price setting mechanism is unproven and could produce lower than expected capacity revenues, though these are not expected to account for a significant portion of the project's total revenues. - High capital costs ($2,200/ net kW excluding fees and interest during construction), due in part to use of supercritical technology. - Prospect of a significant amount of additional leverage at the holding company could reduce the rate of senior debt paydown and increase refinancing risk, though the potential impact is limited by deep structural subordination and the expectation that interest on the holding company debt will either be equity funded or become payment-in-kind (PIK) if the operating company's conservative restricted payments test is not met. - Significant portion of the equity commitment is provided by an unrated entity, albeit one with ample financial resources. No bank LC backstops this portion of the equity, which is not expected to be provided until midway through construction. Failure to provide the equity could result in an insufficiency of funds to complete construction. - Developer's lack of significant experience with coal plants could increase risk of change orders, cost overruns, and operational challenges. - Construction risk - this is a complex, greenfield project with new technology. Additionally, the debt service reserve fund LC will not be issued until substantial completion is reached, which could cause liquidity problems in the event of a delay in completion. - Already high projected water supply costs could potentially exceed expectations due to uncertainties relating to the cost of pumping and treatment of water in sufficient quantities to meet expected demand. - Coal costs could potentially exceed expectations due to issues related to the ability of the adjacent mine that is the expected source of supply to produce sufficient quantities of coal to supply the plant's full requirements at projected cost levels. Alternative sources of fuel are expected to be significantly more costly. - Absence of signed operating agreement could result in higher operating and maintenance costs than currently projected. Operating risks are potentially higher t **************Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars. 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WV-DEP: 2009 Proposed Rules.
by Duane330＠aol.com 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

=========================================================== Thursday, July 3, 2008 @ 5:37 PM =========================================================== Public Notice -- 2009 Proposed Rules The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled public hearings for its 2009 proposed legislative rules. All hearings will take place at the DEP’s Charleston headquarters, 601 57th Street S.E., Charleston, WV 25304. Oral and written comments will be limited to the proposed revisions and will be made a part of the rulemaking record. Copies of the rules are available from the Secretary of State’s office or from the DEP at www.wvdep.org/2009rules after Monday, July 7. You may also obtain hardcopies of the information by calling the phone numbers listed below. Written comments may be submitted to the Public Information Office at the above address. Comments may also be e-mailed to comments(a)wvdep.org. The hearing dates, locations and comment deadlines are as follows: Secretary’s Office 60CSR3 – Voluntary Remediation and Redevelopment Rule The public hearing will take place at 6 p.m. on August 4, 2008 in the Coopers Rock Training Room. The comment period will end at the conclusion of the hearing. For more information call 304-926-0455. Division of Air Quality 45CSR1 – Control & Reduction of Nitrogen Oxides from Non-Electric Generating Units as a Means to Mitigate Transport of Ozone Precursors 45CSR8 – Ambient Air Quality Standards 45CSR13- Permits for Construction, Modification, Relocation and Operation of Stationary Sources…(minor source permits) 45CSR14 – Permits for Construction and Major Modification of Major Stationary Sources of Air Pollution for the Prevention of Significant Deterioration 45CSR16 – Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources 45CSR25 – Control of Air Pollution from Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities 45CSR26 – NOx Budget Trading Program as a Means of Control and Reduction of Nitrogen Oxides from Electric Generating Units 45CSR34 – Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants 45CSR37 – Mercury Budget Trading Program to Reduce Mercury Emissions The public hearing for all air quality rules will take place at 6 p.m. on Aug. 11 in the Coopers Rock Training Room. The comment period will end at the conclusion of the hearing. Upon authorization and promulgation of revisions to 45CSR8, 45CSR13 and 45CSR14, the DAQ will submit the rules to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as revisions to the State Implementation Plan pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act (CAA). Rules 45CSR16, 45CSR25 and 45CSR34 will also be submitted to EPA to fulfill other federal obligations under the CAA, including delegations, plans and program approvals. Rules 45CSR1, 45CSR26 and 45CSR37 are proposed to be repealed. For more information on any of the DAQ rules call 304-926-0475. Division of Mining and Reclamation 38CSR2 – WV Surface Mining Reclamation Rule The public hearing will take place at 6 p.m. on August 12, 2008 in the Coopers Rock Training Room. The comment period will end at the conclusion of the hearing. 47CSR30 – WV/NPDES Rules for Coal Mining Facilities The public hearing will take place at 6:30 p.m. on August 12, 2008 in the Coopers Rock Training Room. The comment period will end at the conclusion of the hearing. For more information on any of the DMR rules call 304-926-0490. Division of Water and Waste Management 33CSR20 – Hazardous Waste Management System The public hearing will take place at 7 p.m. on August 12, 2008 in the Coopers Rock Training Room. The comment period will end at the conclusion of the hearing. 33CSR 24 – Hazardous Waste Management Fee The public hearing will take place at 7:30 p.m. on August 12, 2008 in the Coopers Rock Training Room. The comment period will end at the conclusion of the hearing. 47CSR32 – Regulations Governing Environmental Laboratories Certification and Standards of Performance The public hearing will take place at 6 p.m. on August 14, 2008 in the Coopers Rock Training Room. The comment period will end at the conclusion of the hearing. 33CSR22 – Assessment of Civil and Administrative Penalties (Hazardous and Solid Waste) The public hearing will take place at 6:30 p.m. on August 14, 2008 in the Coopers Rock Training Room. The comment period will end at the conclusion of the hearing. 47CSR56 – Assessment of Civil and Administrative Penalties (Groundwater) The public hearing will take place at 7 p.m. on August 14, 2008 in the Coopers Rock Training Room. The comment period will end at the conclusion of the hearing. 47CSR34 – Dam Safety The public hearing will take place at 7:30 p.m. on August 14, 2008 in the Coopers Rock Training Room. The comment period will end at the conclusion of the hearing. 47CSR2 – Requirements Governing Water Quality Standards The public hearing will take place at 6 p.m. on August 18, 2008 in the Coopers Rock Training Room. The comment period will end at the conclusion of the hearing. 47CSR 31 – State Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund Program The public hearing will take place at 7 p.m. on August 18, 2008 in the Coopers Rock Training Room. The comment period will end at the conclusion of the hearing. For more information on any of the Water And Waste Management Rules call 304- 926-0495. **************Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars. (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007)

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Update on EPA ....
by Duane330＠aol.com 26 Jun '08

26 Jun '08

EPA AWARDS GOLD MEDALS TO CLEAN AIR ACT SETTLEMENT LITIGATION TEAM EPA's Richard Killian, Donna Mastro and Doug Snyder received gold medals from EPA Headquarters at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. on May 20, for their nearly ten year effort in the investigation, litigation and settlement of the largest environmental case in history. The outcome of the case against American Electric Power significantly reduced the level of air pollution in many states, (including Indiana, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia). Eight states, a dozen environmental groups and the EPA brought the lawsuit against AEP in 1999, accusing the energy company of rebuilding coal-fired power plants without installing pollution controls as required under the Clean Air Act. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Carbon Pollution Regulation in U.S. Moving Ahead With EPA Rules By Jim Efstathiou Jr., www.bloomberg.com June 20 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, after seven years of declining to regulate carbon- dioxide emissions under President _George W. Bush_ (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=George+W.+Bush&site=wnews&client=wnews… getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1) , is taking its first steps to control the main gas blamed for global warming. Ordered to act by the U.S. Supreme Court, the EPA will begin developing limits on greenhouse gases emitted by power plants, vehicles and large manufacturers. In April 2007, the U.S. high court ruled that carbon dioxide is a pollutant subject to government regulation. Next week, the EPA will formally seek public and industry comment on how the U.S. should respond to the court ruling, the first step in developing new rules, agency spokesman _Timothy Lyons_ (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Timothy Lyons&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8 &oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1) said in a June 17 interview. While new gas limits aren't likely to emerge during the Bush administration, utility and refinery lobbyists say they see the EPA action as a prelude to setting caps on carbon emissions. ``Anybody that wants to build anything is extremely concerned with what EPA may do in regulating global greenhouse gases,'' said _Scott Segal_ (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Scott+Segal&site=wnews&client=wnews&pr… wnews&outpu t=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1) , a partner in the Washington law offices of Bracewell & Giuliani LLP who represents energy companies. The EPA will give industry 90 days to respond to the landmark Supreme Court ruling, according to a draft of the public comment notice obtained by Bloomberg. Offering industry time to comment will slow down rule-setting process, environmental groups say. The request for comment amounts to ``a step back from regulation,'' _David Bookbinder_ (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=David+Bookbinder&site=wnews&client=wne… etfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1) , chief climate counsel for the _Sierra Club_ (http://www.sierraclub.org/) , said in an interview June 19. ``The industry will put in 10,000 pages of stuff each on this. It will take years to go through the information.'' Industry Conversations _Michael McKenna_ (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Michael+McKenna&site=wnews&client=wnew… lter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1) , president of the Washington consulting firm MRW Strategies, a lobbyist for Southern Co., a utility that is the second largest U.S. coal burner, declined to speculate on what form regulation might take. Utilities collectively are the world's biggest industrial producers of gases that create the warming, greenhouse effect. Power companies are ``starting to have some relatively serious conversations with career staff at EPA,'' McKenna said in a June 16 interview. Southern is based in Atlanta. The likelihood that the U.S. will set emission limits for utilities and refiners such as Southern and San Antonio-based Tesoro Corp., as well as automakers, will increase after January when EPA Administrator _Stephen Johnson_ (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Stephen+Johnson&site=wnews&client=wnew… tylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&s ort=date:D:S:d1) and other political appointees will be replaced by a new president. That's because both Senators _John McCain_ (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=John+McCain&site=wnews&client=wnews&pr… xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1) and _Barack Obama_ (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Barack+Obama&site=wnews&client=wnews&p… getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1) say a climate-change law will be a priority if they become president. `Environmental Threat' ``You can almost guarantee one of the first acts of the new president is to declare that global warming is an environmental threat,'' _Frank O'Donnell_ (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Frank+O'Donnell&site=wnews&client=… &proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields= wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1) , president of _Clean Air Watch_ (http://www.cleanairwatch.org/) , said in a June 12 interview. ``That will set in motion administrative attempts to reduce carbon dioxide.'' In Europe, a potential model for a U.S. pollution plan, 11,000 power plants and factories must buy permits to emit carbon if they exceed their government allowance. A 2008 permit to release one ton of CO2 cost 27.64 euros ($42.83) yesterday, on the European Climate Exchange in London. U.S. utilities spew about 2.3 billion tons a year into the skies. Every hour, fossil-fuel combustion generates 3.5 million tons of emissions worldwide, helping create a warming effect that ``already threatens our climate,'' the Paris-based International Energy Agency said in a June 6 report. The IEA, the energy adviser to 27 oil-consuming nations, said inaction may allow global temperatures to climb by 6 degrees Celsius (10.8 degrees Fahrenheit) by the year 2100. `Very Substantial' ``In the end, a final rule will lead to something very substantial and address greenhouse gas emissions and perhaps a regulatory framework,'' Lyons, the EPA spokesman said from his office in Washington. The EPA's request for comment will delay actual regulations, said _David Doniger_ (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=David+Doniger&site=wnews&client=wnews&… =wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1) , policy director at the New York-based Natural Resources Defense Council, in a June 12 telephone interview. The Supreme Court's ruling last year said the EPA needed to determine whether carbon dioxide is a harmful pollutant as defined by 1963 Clean Air Act. Congress failed this month in its first bid to promote laws to control CO2 from electricity plants and factories. Their debate exposed partisan divides over global-warming measures and tensions within the Democratic Party between advocates of regulation and lawmakers from states that mine coal, the dirtiest fuel for power plants. The EPA already used the Clean Air Act, amended in 1990, to control the release of sulfur dioxide, called acid rain, from power plants through emissions trading. That is the closest model the U.S. has for a possible cap-and-trade system for carbon dioxide. Obama and McCain both have said they would support a cap and trade approach. Last Updated: June 20, 2008 00:01 EDT **************Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars. (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007)

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Air Monitoring Stations
by Duane330＠aol.com 29 May '08

29 May '08

EPA LAUNCHES INTERACTIVE MAP OF REGIONAL AIR POLLUTION MONITORING STATIONS EPA Region 3's Web site has launched an interactive map utilizing the Microsoft Virtual Earth® geospatial technology platform pinpointing the locations of its mid-Atlantic region air pollutant monitoring stations including those of some surrounding states. The user-friendly geographical search features lo cate air quality condition in any county, city, state or street address and can be used to identify the area's air quality monitor locations in the event of a chemical spill or other environmental release. View the map at _http://www.epa.gov/reg3artd/airquality/r3monitors.htm_ (http://www.epa.gov/reg3artd/airquality/r3monitors.htm) . For information on air pollution monitoring stations nationwide, visit _EPA's AirData web site_ (http://www.epa.gov/air/data/) . **************Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4&?NCID=aolfod00030000000002)

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Air particulates & health talk....
by Duane330＠aol.com 17 May '08

17 May '08

Hi. I just wanted to let you know that Dr. Timothy Nurkiewicz, Ph.D. will be presenting "Airborne Particle Pollution and Cardiovascular Health" at our the Mended Hearts, Inc. Chapter # 209 meeting next week. Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Time: 7pm Location: Ruby Memorial Hospital, 10th Floor Conference Room The meeting is open to all. Individuals do not have to be a member of Mended Hearts, only interested in the topic to be presented. The presentation portion of our meetings usually lasts about 1 hour and the business portion of the meeting follows. If you think that any one from the Mon Valley Clean Air Coalition would be interested in hearing this presentation, please pass along. Thanks. Peggy Filios for Mended Hearts Chapter # 209 (and MVAC member **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)

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Slow down, save gas, save our air ...
by Duane330＠aol.com 16 May '08

16 May '08

To: Mon Valley Clean Air Coalition .................. Memorial Day Weekend is coming and -- in spite of gas prices -- more Americans than ever are planning to getaway by car. (1) But that doesn't have to cost as much as you think. There are lots of ways to save gas (checked your tires lately?) but the easiest and most effective way is to slow down (just a little bit). When you add up the savings, it's like getting paid to relax. So before you get behind the wheel for the upcoming holiday, show us what you're made of. Pledge to Drive 55 (or whatever the speed limit is on the roads you're traveling) for Memorial Day Weekend. Poor _Sammy Hagar can't do it_ (http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=K0EE88vsX0xIF2X7I0EUBw..) , but we bet you can. After all, even jets are slowing down to save money! (2) The Union of Concerned Scientists tells us that dropping from 70 to 60 mph improves fuel efficiency by an average of 17.2 percent. Dropping from 75 to 55 improves fuel efficiency by 30.6 percent!(3) Put another way, in a family sedan, every 10 mph you drive over 60 is like paying 54 cents per gallon more for gas you bought at $3.25 a gallon. (4) That extra cost is even higher for big SUVs and other less-efficient vehicles. And the time you save by going easy on the accelerator may not add up to as much as you thought. On a 300-mile trip, driving 65 instead of 70 mph would cost you only 20 minutes -- but save money and spew less carbon. _Take the Pledge_ (http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=MLlaQD-R7muoxlV-dnimcA..) ! Learn about _other ways to avoid a "pain in the gas"_ (http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=LvJfbgitA5VeS7uPoLDU3A..) when it comes to getting from here to there. Is driving to your destination more fuel-efficient than flying? _Take our "How Green Is My Getaway" quiz_ (http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=ro80sPmCebsJ6gRc-aNa9g..) . You might be surprised. Our April 29 post about driving the speed limit in our Green Life blog led many to share the wisdom of their personal road trip experiences. _You can read all of them here, and share your own_ (http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=W8WDiDX9DvZx3nq9EyFsQQ..) . Have a great Memorial Day, Greg Haegele Director of Conservation, The Sierra Club **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)

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