Published: March 30, 2006 11:14 pm         

DEP holds hearing on Greenbrier co-gen plant

CRAWLEY — Barely a whisper of comment was heard Thursday night during a public hearing held by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection on the expected pollutants that will be generated from the coal-waste fired electric producing Western Greenbrier Co-Generation plant.

Not even one person went on record to voice their objections. A few asked some questions.

A permit which says power plant emissions will not violate any current federal or state air quality standards must be issued before construction can begin at the proposed site in Rainelle. A preliminary draft of the permit has already given the green light by DEP officials.

One possible reason why no one objected could be because the $215 million power plant — fueled by a 400 acre mountain of coal gob — is expected to emit very little pollutants into the air, according to DEP permit engineer Joe Kessler.

Although toxic lead, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and mercury will be spewed into the air by a 280 feet tall smoke stack, scrubbers and filters will reduce some emissions by up to 99.9 percent.

Kessler said two types of geographical areas — listed as class one or class two — are considered when issuing air quality permits.

Air quality standards for class one areas — implemented by Congress in 1977 — are stricter and require a higher level of air pollutant control.

There are only two class one areas in West Virginia, Dolly Sods Wilderness and Otter Creek Wilderness areas. Both are located in Tucker and Randolph counties and are part of the Monongahela National Forest.

The closest class one locale is James River Face Wilderness area, 75 miles away in Virginia’s Jefferson National Forest. The rest of West Virginia is considered a class two.

Kessler said complicated computer models are used to predict the maximum output of emissions for the plant.

“Based on the proposed computer models, the estimated impact of pollutants is not deemed significant in class one areas,” Kessler said.

WCG officials were then required to submit data which would include their emissions combined with emissions from outside sources to see if the mixing of the two would violate any federal or state air quality standards. None were found.

“We are confident that based on this modeling and our preliminary determination that the proposal will meet all applicable state and federal air quality rules,” he said.

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The plant is expected to burn 157 tons of coal waste per hour and produce 90 megawatts of electricity. Limestone will be injected into the ash to help absorb pollutants.

Ash from the kiln will be added to limestone with gypsum and alumina to make a cement product, which will be sold separately. Another product, known as woodbricks — made from the ash and wood — is still scheduled to be produced, but not by WCG. Marshal University will have a demonstration plant in the planned Eco-Park to produced the woodbrick products, according to WCG officials.

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While DEP officials painted a rosy picture as far as air quality emissions, a Greenbrier West High School biology teacher asked whether or not mercury produced by the plant could seep back into the ecosystem even though scrubbers are being used.

As part of a remediation plan to clean up the gob waste pile fuel source on Anjean Mountain — which DEP officials have called a toxic nightmare — leftover ash, which contains trace pollutants will be spread over what’s left of the gob pile to reduce acid mine drainage into Little Clear Creek.

Each year the state spends over $220,000 to prevent the watershed in the area from being polluted. The state picked up the tab after the last owners of the coal mine went bankrupt.

DEP Division of Air Quality director John Benedict said he was unable to answer the question.

The DEP will be taking comments on the power plant until close of business on April 10. A final determination could come at the end of April. WCG groundbreaking ceremonies are scheduled for August 2006.

— E-mail: cgiggenbach@register-herald.com