Part I: Commissioner Brady speaks at EPA hearing on regional haze

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

Emery County has a chance to comment on proposed EPA regulations concerning regional haze. These new regulations would effect the three Hunter and two Huntington power generation units. On Jan. 26 there was a meeting to take public comments at the Salt Lake County Library.
Bowie Resources took a busload of employees to the hearing. Several local officials went to the hearing. Sen. David Hinkins attended the meeting on behalf of his constituents.
If the Emery County units are forced to comply with additional regulations beyond what they have already complied with, it would come at a hardship to the consumer, PacifiCorp and to the community.
The Emery County Units have complied with the State EPA standards for regional haze. The comment period going on now until March 10 is to garner input as to whether the units will be forced into additional regulations.
Regional haze standards are set to keep pollution levels at the five National Parks in Utah to a minimum.
Karra Hillam from the Southeastern Utah Energy Producers shared her thoughts on the hearing, “Thanks to the wonderful citizens, workers and government leaders of Carbon and Emery Counties, our area was very much represented and supported at this hearing. We would like to give a shout out to Bowie for taking bus loads of employees, as well as to the many other companies and concerned citizens which were present to have their voices heard.
“As I sat and listened to over three hours of testimonials, I had to question if this was really about a clean power plan and regional haze issue, or just another overreaching tactic by the EPA to shift blame to a company requiring them to fix a problem that may not be the main source of the problem to begin with.
“In the end, I felt those in support of the EPA enforcing option 2 (requiring Hunter & Huntington Power Plant to install SCR scrubbers to the tune of $700 million dollars) provided testimonials primarily based on personal beliefs, but fell short to provide specific scientific evidence that this will solve, or significantly reduce the problems with our air quality.
“I was present when Commissioner Potter spoke, and was pleased with how he represented the people, businesses, and organizations in Carbon and Emery counties. He provided detailed facts showing how Hunter and Huntington Power Plants have already made the improvements required for EPA’s option 1 proposal. Since 2007, the power plants have installed low NOx burners, sulfur dioxide scrubber, (and then a couple of years later scrubber upgrades), and a baghouse on Units 1 & 2. Those significant projects have cost more than $500 million, and has fully implemented them in accordance with the BART requirements. Commissioner Potter questioned the “real” intension of the hearing held in Salt Lake City (when our area has clear blue skies despite surrounded by the power plants, and SLC’s skies were covered with thick haze and pollution).
“It was frustrating watching the news media report on only bits and pieces of this important issue. However, this is a long fight that is far from over. There is a public comment period open now where you have an opportunity to write valuable facts & information that will help in the decision process. The EPA needs to hear from you so please take this opportunity to voice your concerns, and support the jobs and industry so important to us all.
Emery County Commissioner Keith Brady said, “I was able to attend the hearing at the Salt Lake City Public Library. I listened and offered my comments to the panel. There was a lot of support for Rocky Mountain Power and the work that they have done according to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) haze rule. I presented right before the 5 pm break. I will also be inviting the EPA and its panel to Emery County so they can see first hand our blue skies and lack of haze.
“You can make your comments at www.regulations.gov, docket ID No. EPA-R08-OAR-2015-0463. Comment period is open until March 14, 2016.
“I am in support of the State’s Implementation Plan in its entirety and ask you to do the same. According to the SIP Rocky Mountain Power acted in good faith and has met or exceeded the reduction of particulate matter, SOx and NOx. They have complied according to the SIP and implemented Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) bag houses for particulate matter, scrubbers for SOx and used alternative methods that meet or exceed BART levels for NOx with low NOx burners, overfire air, and closure on Carbon Units 1 and 2 last April 2015.
“Rocky Mountain Power has spent over $500 million to meet or exceed requirements to reduce particulate matter, SOx and NOx emissions. The cost to implement Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCRs) in the four BART eligible units is estimated at an additional $700 million. That cost is always passed onto the rate payer. The further reduction of the NOx with the SCRs would not make a visible difference.
“I have visited the plant, seen the operations and met with the employees. They have a clean working environment and the employees seem to love their jobs. The economic impact of the Hunter and Huntington Power Plants is a large portion of our economy in Emery County. The economic impact Rocky Mountain Power has had to Emery County in direct and indirect is 800+ jobs. They have been a good partner in the area. I mention this because of all the direct and indirect cost to the power plants, coal is still the lowest cost and a clean energy producer in our area. According to our regional health department there have been no deleterious health effects to the citizens of Emery County by these power plants compared to surrounding counties.
“Due to Emery County having the power plants located within its borders it would seem logical that Emery County would have the highest levels of haze from the power plants. Our blue skies would say otherwise. The further you get from the power plants the more dispersed the haze would become. With the actions Rocky Mountain Power has taken to be in compliance with the State Implementation Plan, it is questionable if additional actions would have any visible improvement to reducing haze over Class I areas.
“It seems that a majority of the number of worst haze days over the Class I areas last year were due to forest fires in California and government controlled burns in Utah. If those areas want to reduce haze they should look at themselves with the number of visitors and car emissions, and look at ways to reduce emissions near their Class I areas. I have seen no evidence, only speculation, models and anecdotal information, that the haze over Class I areas comes from the Hunter and Huntington power plants.
“The problem we have is that people making rules for areas to which they have never been. I am disappointed in the EPA for many reasons by having their meeting in Salt Lake City. One reason in particular: this hearing is about the Hunter and Huntington Power Plants. Two hours of this hearing could have been in Emery County where you could have witnessed first hand the lack of haze these power plants produce. The blue skies we have is the rule, not the exception. I am also submitting photos of our county I took yesterday officially with my remarks.
“Again, I encourage you to support the State’s Implementation Plan in its entirety,” concluded Commissioner Brady.
PacifiCorp submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency outlining what they have done to keep pollutants at a minimum from the five units.
Four of the units are best available retrofit technology (“BART”) eligible under the Regional Haze Rules. These units include:
o Hunter Unit 1 (BART-eligible; 2042 approved depreciable life; 1978 in-service)
o Hunter Unit 2 (BART-eligible; 2042 approved depreciable life; 1980 in-service)
o Hunter Unit 3 (not BART-eligible; 2042 approved depreciable life; 1983 in-service)
o Huntington Unit 1 (BART-eligible; 2036 approved depreciable life; 1977 in-service)
o Huntington Unit 2 (BART-eligible; 2036 approved depreciable life: 1974 in-service)
PacifiCorp retired two coal-fired generating units in 2015. These units are:
Carbon Unit 1 and Unit 2 (retired in April 2015 because of MATS and state’s Regional Haze SIP)