Please, leave a comment regarding the Springerville SO2 permit either on this Sierra Club form or by emailing (see address below) by 5 p.m. today, Wednesday, Feb. 23rd. I will attach the Sierra Club's talking points.
Form:
Talking points here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aU_CFDSwWIgVOJZlCEa4HHHvL68ehXUseArMxn-thsk/edit?usp=sharing
Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is working with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to revise the permit for their three units at the Springerville coal plant - a permit that would require stricter control of asthma-causing sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions. This might sound like a great idea at first, but there is more to this issue.
Under the Clean Air Act, ADEQ was required to submit a State Implementation Plan (SIP) in 2021 as part of the second round of the Regional Haze process. This process is intended to regulate haze-causing emissions from many sources around the state, including the Springerville coal plant! But it hasn't yet done so and is way behind, and now the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may have to intervene. So why is ADEQ addressing emissions from this plant alone and separate from that process?
Springerville is one of the most polluting coal plants in Arizona, and the emissions controls that will be required in the Regional Haze plan will likely be extensive and expensive and we are concerned that ADEQ may see this permit revision as a workaround. It appears to be an attempt to keep outdated, health-harming coal plants alive despite renewable energy being a much more economic and viable power source. Creating a permit now will result in a more lax permit and confuse matters once the state implementation plan is out. ADEQ should wait on this relatively lenient permit and instead get on with the important regional haze regulation that will then inform a much more stringent permit. The proposed SO2 limits for Units 1, 2, and 3 are too lax and fall short of what the Regional Haze Program requires.
As part of the permit application, ADEQ must hold a public hearing and comment period. That's where we come in! ADEQ has opted to be less than transparent by having in-person participation only in St. Johns, Arizona, despite our request to give everyone virtual access. Not to worry! While spoken comments are the most visible, we can still have an impact by submitting written comments.
Please support clean air, environmental justice, and clear skies over our national parks and wilderness in Arizona. Submit your comment to ADEQ using our form. The deadline is February 23rd. You can also submit a letter directly to ADEQ at airpermits@azdeq.gov
Under the Clean Air Act, ADEQ was required to submit a State Implementation Plan (SIP) in 2021 as part of the second round of the Regional Haze process. This process is intended to regulate haze-causing emissions from many sources around the state, including the Springerville coal plant! But it hasn't yet done so and is way behind, and now the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may have to intervene. So why is ADEQ addressing emissions from this plant alone and separate from that process?
Springerville is one of the most polluting coal plants in Arizona, and the emissions controls that will be required in the Regional Haze plan will likely be extensive and expensive and we are concerned that ADEQ may see this permit revision as a workaround. It appears to be an attempt to keep outdated, health-harming coal plants alive despite renewable energy being a much more economic and viable power source. Creating a permit now will result in a more lax permit and confuse matters once the state implementation plan is out. ADEQ should wait on this relatively lenient permit and instead get on with the important regional haze regulation that will then inform a much more stringent permit. The proposed SO2 limits for Units 1, 2, and 3 are too lax and fall short of what the Regional Haze Program requires.
As part of the permit application, ADEQ must hold a public hearing and comment period. That's where we come in! ADEQ has opted to be less than transparent by having in-person participation only in St. Johns, Arizona, despite our request to give everyone virtual access. Not to worry! While spoken comments are the most visible, we can still have an impact by submitting written comments.
Please support clean air, environmental justice, and clear skies over our national parks and wilderness in Arizona. Submit your comment to ADEQ using our form. The deadline is February 23rd. You can also submit a letter directly to ADEQ at airpermits@azdeq.gov
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