RANGELY I Citizens and groups keeping a close eye on an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision that could affect local coal mine and power plant operations could have six more weeks to wait.
The EPA’s original deadline to decide whether a Title V air quality permit for Deseret Power Electric Cooperative’s Bonanza Power Plant would be issued — with or without requirements to upgrade its current pollution controls — was Aug. 29. The new deadline is Oct. 25.
Moon Lake Electric Association (MLEA) General Manager/CEO Grant Earl said he is unsure why the EPA extended the deadline.
“We had every indication (Aug. 29 was) when we’d get the decision,” Earl said. “I don’t think this kind of delay is unusual. The EPA has been sitting on this permit, quite honestly, for a number of years. The fact that they’re wanting another 60 days isn’t of real concern.”
Currently, the Title V permit draft does not require the Bonanza plant to install the most up-to-date pollution controls, or Best Available Control Technology (BACT), but the final Title V could.
Opponents say mandated upgrades would be unfair given the plant’s current controls, and they argue that requiring the plant to install BACT could cost the cooperative up to $200 million, raising consumer costs by up to 40 percent.
Environmental group WildEarth Guardians, which brought the Title V suit against the EPA late last spring and which is pursuing another lawsuit to halt a 3,000 acre, 21-million ton coal lease by which the Rangely area Deserado Mine will continue to provide coal to the Bonanza power plant, say upgraded controls are long overdue.
Earl believes the October decision will be favorable to Deseret Power, its six rural electrical cooperatives and their supporters.
“It’s just kind of the feeling of our attorney after his discussion (with the EPA),” he said. “We think they’re going to be willing to issue the permit, we hope, without conditions.
“At this point, we’re cautiously optimistic.”
In its decision-making process, the EPA is required to consider several thousand comments submitted at a public hearing in Fort Duchesne, Utah, on June 3 and submitted electronically by government entities, citizens, environmental groups and businesses.
To read the current draft permit and a partial list of comments, go to www2.epa.gov/region8/draft-title-v-permit-operate-deseret-power-electric-cooperative-bonanza-power-plant.
