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Department of Ecology News Release - Aug. 25, 2003
03-171
YAKIMA - After evaluating concerns raised by local citizens, the Department of Ecology (Ecology) has issued a revised air-quality permit for the Goldendale Energy Center now being constructed by the Calpine Corporation.
The revised permit will allow the energy plant to emit more sulfur than originally approved by Ecology in 2001, but emissions will still be within accepted ranges. The agency has added requirements that Calpine continuously monitor the sulfur content of the natural gas, test for sulfuric acid mist and respond to any complaints of odor more quickly than originally required.
In July 2002, Calpine asked Ecology to amend an existing permit to allow the company to increase annual sulfur emissions by about six times. The company informed Ecology that the sulfur content in its natural-gas source from British Columbia was higher than previously thought. In January, Ecology conducted a hearing in Goldendale to accept comment on the proposal to amend the energy plant's emissions permit.
"We really have enjoyed our dialogue with the thoughtful folks in Goldendale and elsewhere who took a very active interest in this permit," said Sue Billings, an air quality manager for Ecology in Yakima. "We certainly would prefer that the company use low-sulfur natural gas rather than natural gas with higher sulfur content, but the bottom line is that even the higher-sulfur natural gas meets the regulatory standards."
Natural gas is piped to Washington state primarily from three geographic areas: British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, and from gas fields throughout the western U.S. British Columbia natural gas contains more sulfur than the natural gas coming from Alberta or the U.S. west. Depending on market conditions, the Goldendale energy plant will burn natural gas from British Columbia or gas from western U.S. pipelines.
A copy of the revised permit and a report responding to comments made to Ecology are available online at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/goldendale.html. Those who commented should receive a copy of related documents in the mail. Reports also may be obtained by calling 509-454-7861. The permit may be appealed to the Pollution Control Hearings Board.
The Goldendale Energy Center will be subject to two more air quality permits. People wishing to receive information on future air quality issues for the Goldendale Energy Center may be put on a mailing list by contacting Karen Schuster in writing at Department of Ecology, 15 W. Yakima Ave., Suite 200, Yakima, Wash., 98902, by fax at 509-575-2809, or by e-mail at kasc461@ecy.wa.gov.
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Media contact: Joye Redfield-Wilder, public information manager, (509) 575-2610
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
