KDHE Reverses Course and Grants Third Hearing on Huge Coal Plant

Today KDHE granted a third hearing on the proposed new coal-fired power plant near Holcomb, KS. A third hearing will be held starting

6 PM on Thursday, November 16, 2006
Kansas Union
Malott Room Level 6
1301 Jayhawk Boulevard
Lawrence, KS

KDHE also extended the deadline for written comments until November 30. The new public notice is below.

The Kansas Chapter encourages everyone who already had plans to attend or testify this week, on Oct. 24 in Garden City and the morning of Oct. 26 in Topeka to go ahead with their plans. Then please use the additional time to encourage other people to attend the new hearing on November 16. Thanks for your help on this important project.

NEW PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice Concerning Proposed Kansas Air Quality
Construction Permit and Public Hearing

Notice is hereby given that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is soliciting comments regarding a proposed air quality construction permit. Sunflower Electric Power Corporation (Sunflower) has applied for an air quality construction permit in accordance with the provisions of K.A.R. 28-19-300 to construct three (3) new 700 megawatt (MW) coal-fired steam generating units and associated ancillary equipment (Holcomb expansion) at their generating station located in Holcomb, Kansas. Emission of particulate matter (PM), PM equal to or less than 10 microns in diameter (PM 10 ), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), carbon monoxide (CO), elemental lead (Pb), and sulfuric acid mist (H 2 SO 4 ) were evaluated during the permit review process.

The proposed permit is to be issued in accordance with the provisions of K.A.R. 28-19-350, Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) which adopt the federal standards, procedures and requirements of 40 CFR 52.21 by reference. These air quality regulations apply to major stationary emission sources located in areas designated as "attainment" under the federal Clean Air Act (CAA). Attainment areas are areas where the air quality meets or is better than the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).

The PSD regulations require evaluation of emission reduction techniques to identify the best available control technology (BACT) for each pollutant for which the emission rate exceeds the PSD significant level. The purpose of BACT is to affect the maximum degree of reduction achievable, taking into account energy, environmental and economic impacts for each pollutant under review. Evaluation of the estimated emissions for the proposed Holcomb expansion project indicates that the emission rate of oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, lead, and sulfuric acid mist all exceed the significance levels. Sunflower conducted the required BACT analyses. The department has reviewed Sunflower's BACT analyses and concurs with its findings that low NOx burners and overfire air with selective catalytic reduction is BACT for NOx, dry flue gas desulfurization (dry FGD) is BACT for SO 2 and H 2 SO 4 and fabric filters is BACT for Pb, PM and PM 10 for the Holcomb expansion project.

An ambient impact analysis was performed on the air emissions of PM 10, NOx, SOx, and CO from the Holcomb expansion project. The analysis demonstrated no significant impact on ambient air quality for NOx, and CO. A more detailed analysis for SOx indicated that the emissions would not contribute to any violation of ambient air standards and under worst case demonstrated that 49.8% of the Class II increment for SO 2 was consumed. Detailed analysis showed PM 10 values would not contribute to any violation of ambient air standards but were above the Class II increment for PM 10 (30 ug/m 3, 24 hr). All of these receptors that indicated the exceedance were outside of the significant impact area for the Holcomb expansion project.

An analysis of visibility was conducted for the Great Sand Dunes National Monument, the closest federal Class I area at approximately 400 km to the west of the facility. The VISCREEN model results indicate no exceedances of the perceptibility or plume contrast either inside or outside of the Class I boundaries. Analysis of the Scott Lake Class II area, located approximately 80 km to the north, was also performed. Although some of the screening analyses were exceeded, no criteria have ever been established for a Class II area. No adverse impacts on soils and vegetation in the area were expected. Any federal land manager who has reason to believe they may have a Class I area adversely impacted by the emissions from the proposed project has the opportunity to present KDHE with a demonstration of the adverse impact on the air quality-related values of the federal Class I area during the comment period.

A public comment period has been established to allow citizens the opportunity to express any concerns they may have about this proposed permitting action. The public comment period began on September 21, 2006 and will end at 5 p.m. on November 30, 2006. All comments should be submitted in writing to Rick Bolfing, Bureau of Air and Radiation, 1000 S.W. Jackson, Suite 310, Topeka, KS 66612 -1366 or presented at the public hearing.

A public hearing to receive comments on the proposed issuance of the draft air quality construction permit is scheduled at the County Commission room in the Finney County Office Building at 311 North 9th St. in Garden City, Kansas on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 7 p.m. A second hearing on the proposed issuance of the draft air quality construction permit is scheduled in Room 530 (5th floor) of the Curtis State Office Building at 1000 S.W. Jackson St., Topeka, Kansas 66612 on Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 9 a.m. A third hearing on the proposed issuance of the draft air quality construction permit is scheduled at the Kansas Union, Malott Room, Level 6, 1301 Jayhawk Boulevard, Lawrence, KS 66044, on Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 6 p.m., (parking garage adjacent). Accommodations will be available for individuals with language translation and special needs. For the hearing in Lawrence, KS please notify Rick Bolfing in writing, by November 6, 2006 as to the nature of the accommodation required. For the hearings in Garden City and Topeka, accommodations will be provided for individuals that notified Rick Bolfing prior to October 18, 2006.

A copy of the proposed permit, permit application, all supporting documentation, and all information relied upon during the permit application review process are available for public review until November 30, 2006 during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at the KDHE, Bureau of Air and Radiation (BAR), 1000 SW Jackson St., Suite 310, Topeka, KS 66612-1366. Also a copy of the proposed permit only can be reviewed, at the KDHE Northwest District Office, 2301 East 13th St., Hays, KS 67601. To obtain or review the proposed permit and supporting documentation, contact Rick Bolfing, (785) 296-1576 at the central office of the KDHE and to review the proposed permit only, contact the Air Quality District Representative at (785) 625-5663 in the KDHE Northwest District Office. The standard departmental cost will be assessed for any copies requested.

Roderick L. Bremby, Secretary
Kansas Department of Health and Environment