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 Sierra Club: Prior to Public Hearing and Comments, NH DES “Intends to Issue Permit” for $457 million Mercury Scrubber on Coal PlantNEW HAMPSHIRE SIERRA CLUB News Release Contact: Kurt Ehrenberg (603) 498-2275 Art Cunningham (603) 491-8629 Prior to Public Hearing and Comments, NH DES “Intends to Issue Permit” for $457 million Mercury Scrubber on Coal Plant Concord, NH – In advance of a scheduled January 15 public hearing and during an open public comment period, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services has indicated that they intend to issue a controversial construction permit to Public Service Company of New Hampshire for construction of a $457 million scrubber on the coal burning plant in Bow, New Hampshire. A letter from DES Air Resources Division Director Robert R. Scott was sent by email on Tuesday January 13, 2009 to over 100 people that have submitted comments on the permit application. In the letter Mr. Scott states that “based on the information received to date, [DES] intends to issue a permit for the project.” “These remarks by a high level DES official are premature if not evidence of bias. The legally required public process is far from over and to make such a statement on the eve of an official DES public hearing is clearly out of line.” said Arthur Cunningham, Attorney for the New Hampshire Sierra Club. The cost of the mandated scrubber project estimated in 2006 by PSNH at $250 million has now ballooned to $457 million in recent PSNH filings. The NH Sierra Club along with other organizations and individuals have questioned the completeness of the information provided to DES and believe substantially more information is necessary to determine the true scope of work on the coal plant planned under this permit. “It is NH DES that is charged with the duty of insuring that PSNH is following the Clean Air Act, and the information they have at this point is woefully inadequate to do so in this case.” Cunningham said. The DES hearing is scheduled for 6pm on Thursday January 15, 29 Hazen Drive in Concord.
Addendum: Letter from Robert R. Scott Dear Interested Party The Department of Environmental Services (DES) Air Resources Division has received your recent correspondence regarding the planned installation of a scrubber at the Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH) Merrimack Station in Bow, NH. PSNH was required to file an air permit application by June 8, 2007 for the installation of this device in accordance with RSA 125-O:13, I. Upon receipt of the air permit application, DES conducted a completeness and technical review of the application to ensure that the project would meet all applicable state and federal requirements. On December 11, 2008, DES issued a public notice announcing it had received the aforementioned application and based on the information received to date, intends to issue a permit for the project. The notice indicated that DES would receive and consider public comments received no later than January 23, 2009. In addition, the notice indicated that DES would hold a public hearing on January 15, 2009 at 6 PM at the DES offices located at 29 Hazen Drive in Concord, NH.You have requested that DES ensure that PSNH explain the increased cost of installing the scrubber prior to issuance of a construction permit as such information is necessary to follow regulations outlined in the Clear Air Act. Secondly, you have expressed concerns that PSNH has not provided enough information about its construction plans to ensure that the scrubber will follow environmental regulations. As an administrative agency, DES is authorized to issue construction permits under state and federal air pollution statues and promulgated regulations. The purpose of said construction permits is to authorize the construction, installation and operation of devices subject to permit requirements. A permit issued by DES must ensure that a device as designed will operate in compliance with all applicable regulations and will contain sufficient monitoring, performance testing, recordkeeping and reporting requirements to ensure compliance. With respect to your request regarding the cost or subsequent increased cost of this project, DES notes that there is no applicable requirement either in state or federal statute or promulgated rule for this consideration. As such, DES is not required nor authorized to consider this issue in the granting of this permit. In regards to your second concern about whether the installation will follow environmental regulations, DES believes that the draft permit establishes limits based on applicable regulations, in particular RSA 125-O, and contains sufficient applicable monitoring, performance testing, recordkeeping and reporting requirements to ensure compliance with applicable air statutes and regulations. DES will consider your correspondence as part of the public comments received during the public comment period on this draft permit. DES would also encourage you to continue your participation in this process if you have additional comments that are germane to the issuance of the air permit. Robert R. Scott Back to Granite State Progress  |