Feb 9: After feds step in, Department of Environmental Protection cites Massey dam
Brushy Fork coal slurry impoundment in Raleigh County, WV
CHARLESTON, WV -- "After federal officials threatened to step in, the state Department of Environmental Protection late last week cited Massey Energy for problems with the expansion of its controversial Brushy Fork coal-slurry impoundment in Raleigh County. DEP officials were aware of a stability violation at the site since late-December or early January, but took no enforcement action until the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement learned of the problem during its own inspection," Ken Ward Jr., Charleston Gazette.
MORE ON MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL
Feb 8: Baard bond resolution has expired
CLEVELAND -- "The Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA) confirmed today that it has not issued any bonds for the proposed Baard Energy Ohio Clean River Fuels plant. The company had received an agreement from the state authority in December 2006 for the issuance of $4 billion in bonds. Responding to a public records request from Ohio Citizen Action Money in Politics Project Director Catherine Turcer, OAQDA Executive Director Mark Shanahan said that, while OAQDA had taken a first step in possible issuance of the bonds with the December 2006 resolution, no further steps have been taken and the resolution expired on January 1, 2010. While OAQDA does have the power to extend the resolution, he said, 'at this time, the project has not requested such an extension nor has OAQDA considered one,'" Sandy Buchanan, Executive Director, Ohio Citizen Action. MORE ON THE PROPOSED BAARD PLANT
Feb 8: Here is what Ohio EPA permits would allow the proposed Baard coal plant to put into our air every year:
Carbon monoxide Nitrogen Oxide Particulates total Particulates (PM 10) Sulfur dioxide Volatile Organic Chemicals Hazardous air pollutants (Phase 1) Hazardous air pollutants (Thereafter) Ammonia Hydrogen sulfide |
Emissions per year 9,783,400 lbs. 1,204,400 lbs. 886,600 lbs. 727,000 lbs. 1,118,800 lbs. 556,000 lbs. 37,520 lbs. 39,160 lbs. 448,020 lbs. 25,960 lbs. |
Source: Ohio EPA permits for the proposed Baard coal plant in Wellsville, Ohio, compiled by the Natural Resources Defense Council. The permitted emissions do not take into account possible flaring due to process upsets or emergencies, when pollutants may be sent out untreated. Of the permitted pollutants, many emissions would be concentrated in start-ups and shut-downs at the facility. Hazardous air pollutants are a group of 25 pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act. They include lead, formaldehyde, and solvents such as benzene. “Particulates (PM 10)” is a subset of “Particulates total”, but are reported separately.
MORE ON THE PROPOSED BAARD PLANT
Feb 8: SunCoke commits $280M for coke plant this year
People in opposition to the SunCoke coke plant gathered for a press conference held last April. (Nick Graham/Middletown Journal)
MIDDLETOWN -- "Sunoco Inc., parent company of SunCoke Energy Inc., said it 'remains committed' to building a coke plant in Middletown and plans to invest up to $280 million this year for its construction... Since the project was announced nearly two years ago, the now estimated $360 million coke oven facility has been caught up in various permitting issues and civil lawsuits. The plant would supply metallurgical coke, a vital steelmaking raw material, to AK Steel’s Middletown Works for at least the next 20 years and add about 500 temporary and 75 permanent jobs to the area if built," Jessica Heffner, Dayton Daily News. Published February 5.
MORE ON SUNCOKE AND AK STEEL
Feb 4: West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin's impressions of Obama views on mountaintop removal
President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and several cabinet members and aides met yesterday with the governors of West Virginia, Ohio and nine other states to discuss energy policy.
WASHINGTON, DC -- "After meeting with President Barack Obama and other Administration officials yesterday, West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin told a phone press conference that mountaintop removal coal mining was one of the topics. Manchin said he told President Obama, 'Mountaintop removal, we know that's very volatile.' [Obama] says, 'Absolutely.' It was high on his radar screen. He knows all about it . . . . There's no bones about it, [the Administration], they're not a fan of mountaintop removal. They talked about it and they asked me. It's a volatile issue, we know that . . . I could tell that they've got concerns there,'" Paul Ryder, Organizing Director, Ohio Citizen Action.
MORE ON MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL
Feb 4: Judge: Small Ohio polluters can't skirt air rules; EPA improperly granted exemptions
COLUMBUS -- "Sandy Buchanan, executive director of Ohio Citizen Action, said the environmental advocacy group is pleased with the decision. Her group is part of an overall challenge to the rules EPA created under the 2006 law, which she believes may be bolstered by it. The case is pending before the state Environmental Review Appeals Commission. 'All states have to get authority from the federal government to implement their clean air rules,' she said. 'Frankly, Ohio has been on the verge of losing their status (as compliant) for some time now because they're doing such a bad job,'" Julie Carr Smyth, Associated Press.
COLUMBUS -- Ohio exceptions to Clean Air Act ruled illegal, Spencer Hunt, Columbus Dispatch.
MORE ON THE OHIO EPA
Older news
Thanks to the websites that link to this one. Others are welcome to do so without seeking permission.
Website hosting by Vision Net. Thanks to Adobe Systems for imaging software.
This site contains copyrighted material, the use of which may not have been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Ohio Citizen Action is
making it available to advance
understanding of environmental, consumer, economic and governmental
issues. This constitutes fair use of such
copyrighted material as provided for in U.S.
Copyright Law, Section 107. Accordingly, the
material on this site is made available without profit to those who
have requested it for research and educational purposes. If you wish to
use copyrighted material from this site for purposes beyond fair use,
you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Where do they stand on mountaintop removal coal mining?
Ohio Citizen Action
614 W. Superior Ave, # 1200
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
216.861.5200
216.694.6904 fax
1.888.777.7135 toll-free
Map & directions
3055 North High Street, 2d floor
Columbus, Ohio 43202
614.263.4600
614.263.4640 fax
Map & directions
2330 Victory Pkwy #100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45206
513.221.2100
513.221.2102 fax
Map & directions
Contribute to
Ohio Citizen Action
Education Fund