Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Kaine launches review of Glen Lyn power plant and Covington paper mill
RICHMOND — Appalachian Power’s coal-fired power plant in Giles County and MeadWestvaco’s paper mill in Covington will participate in a state evaluation of pollution emissions from older facilities that were exempted from the federal Clean Air Act, Gov. Tim Kaine announced this morning.
Virginia officials said they believe that no other state has conducted such a review of facilities that were exempted under the 1970 Clean Air Act.
"There isn’t any reason why we shouldn’t do systematic analysis of grandfathered sources," Kaine said.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality will determine whether emissions from those two facilities and a Dominion Virginia Power plant in Chesterfield County comply with National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The three companies have agreed to assist in the review, which Kaine initiated as part of an environmental and energy agenda he has dubbed "Renew Virginia."
Kaine said the state is focusing on large, older facilities that either produce significant emissions because of their size or are located near population centers. The three facilities identified today are the first of 15 older power plants and industrial facilities that would be evaluated by the state over the next five years under Kaine’s plan.
The state will analyze emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particles at those facilities. The companies will work with DEQ to collect sire-specific emissions data and conduct computer modeling of pollutant levels. The state would have the authority to require the companies to reduce emissions if they are exceeding air quality standards, DEQ Director David Paylor said.
Virginia has about 300 pollution sources that were grandfathered under the federal law, Kaine said. But the state’s effort to survey emissions from larger facilities does not imply that those companies are violating air quality standards, Kaine said.
"I want to make very clear we are not going after folks that we think are doing something wrong," Kaine said.
Executives from all three companies attended Kaine’s announcement at Dominion’s Chesterfield County plant and said they are eager to participate in the survey. Representatives from Appalachian Power and MeadWestvaco said their companies have taken significant steps to minimize the effects their operations have on air quality.
"We have always operated our facilities in compliance with all regulatory obligations," said Dana Waldo, the president and chief operating officer of Appalachian Power.
The 335-megawatt Glen Lyn plant in Giles County will mark its 90th anniversary of operations next week, Waldo said.
MeadWestvaco has made major investments in equipment and technology upgrades at its Covington plant over the past two decades, including about $400 million for "state-of-the-art environmental controls," said Mark Watkins, the company’s senior vice president for technology.
"We’ve basically turned a 100-year-old paper mill into one of the most modern facilities of its kind," Watkins said.
Virginia officials said they believe that no other state has conducted such a review of facilities that were exempted under the 1970 Clean Air Act.
"There isn’t any reason why we shouldn’t do systematic analysis of grandfathered sources," Kaine said.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality will determine whether emissions from those two facilities and a Dominion Virginia Power plant in Chesterfield County comply with National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The three companies have agreed to assist in the review, which Kaine initiated as part of an environmental and energy agenda he has dubbed "Renew Virginia."
Kaine said the state is focusing on large, older facilities that either produce significant emissions because of their size or are located near population centers. The three facilities identified today are the first of 15 older power plants and industrial facilities that would be evaluated by the state over the next five years under Kaine’s plan.
The state will analyze emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particles at those facilities. The companies will work with DEQ to collect sire-specific emissions data and conduct computer modeling of pollutant levels. The state would have the authority to require the companies to reduce emissions if they are exceeding air quality standards, DEQ Director David Paylor said.
Virginia has about 300 pollution sources that were grandfathered under the federal law, Kaine said. But the state’s effort to survey emissions from larger facilities does not imply that those companies are violating air quality standards, Kaine said.
"I want to make very clear we are not going after folks that we think are doing something wrong," Kaine said.
Executives from all three companies attended Kaine’s announcement at Dominion’s Chesterfield County plant and said they are eager to participate in the survey. Representatives from Appalachian Power and MeadWestvaco said their companies have taken significant steps to minimize the effects their operations have on air quality.
"We have always operated our facilities in compliance with all regulatory obligations," said Dana Waldo, the president and chief operating officer of Appalachian Power.
The 335-megawatt Glen Lyn plant in Giles County will mark its 90th anniversary of operations next week, Waldo said.
MeadWestvaco has made major investments in equipment and technology upgrades at its Covington plant over the past two decades, including about $400 million for "state-of-the-art environmental controls," said Mark Watkins, the company’s senior vice president for technology.
"We’ve basically turned a 100-year-old paper mill into one of the most modern facilities of its kind," Watkins said.
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