UPDATE: NEW COMMENT DEADLINE - April 17, 2000

April 5, 2000 - BREDL's comments on Duke Energy's Riverbend and Dan River Title V power plant permits.

The NC Division of Air Quality has announced the first Title V public hearing on two Duke Power coal-fired power plants.  The hearing on the Dan River and Riverbend plants will be on April 3rd at 7 PM in Statesville.

These two coal-fired electric generating plants are two of the smallest operated by Duke but together they emit approximately 7,000 tons of nitrogen oxide, NOx, (a precursor to ozone) and 24,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, SO2, (contributes to acid rain) every year (1996 data).  They also emit hundreds of tons of fine particles and thousands of pounds of toxic compounds.

These are the first Clean Air Act Title V permits to be drafted for coal-fired power plants in North Carolina.  They may set the pattern for the remaining Title V permits, including the huge Belews Creek plant which emits 82,000 tons of NOx and 78,000 tons of SO2 annually.

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NOTICE FOR PUBLIC HEARING AND COMMENT PERIOD
INTENT TO ISSUE AIR QUALITY PERMITS FOR DUKE POWER COMPANY

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF AIR QUALITY
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA

     The North Carolina Division of Air Quality (DAQ) hereby gives notice of its intent to issue Air Quality Permits to Duke Power Company, Riverbend Steam Station located at 175 Steam Plant Road, Mount Holly, Gaston County and Dan River Steam Station located at 900 South Edgewood Road, Eden, Rockingham County. Duke Power Company applied for Air Quality Title V Operation Permits (Title V permits) for these facilities which meet the requirements specified in 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 2Q .0500.

     The DAQ will issue the Title V permits with terms and conditions, unless comments are received, in accordance with the following procedures, that result in a different decision or significant change in the terms and conditions.

     This notice serves as a notice of public hearing and opportunity for public comment. A public hearing on the DRAFT Title V permits will be held at 7 PM April 3, 2000 at The Statesville Civic Center, which is located in Statesville, North Carolina. Persons wishing to present oral comments at the hearing should prepare their presentation to be three minutes or less.

Written Comments

Persons wishing to submit written comments are invited to do so. To be considered, comments must be postmarked by March 28, 2000 and should be addressed to: Rahul Thaker, P.E., QEP, Division of Air Quality, North Carolina Department of Environment, and Natural Resources, 1641 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27699-1641. Please specify which facility you are addressing.

     Interested persons may obtain additional information, including copies of the DRAFT permits, applications, all other relevant supporting materials, and all other materials available to the DAQ that are relevant to the permit decision by writing to Mr. Thaker at the above address or calling Mr. Thaker at 919-715-6238. Interested persons are encouraged to review these materials during normal business hours at either of the following locations: Division of Air Quality, 2728 Capital Boulevard, Raleigh, the Mooresville Regional Office, 919 North Main Street, Mooresville, 704-663-1699 (for the Riverbend facility) or the Winston Salem Regional Office, 585 Waughtown Street, Winston Salem, 336-771-4600 (for the Dan River facility).

     Following the closing of the public hearing and comment period, the DAQ will send the PROPOSED Title V permits to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, Atlanta, Georgia for their review and comments. After weighing all relevant comments received, the DAQ will act on the Duke Power Company applications.