Article published Feb 9, 2008

Board delays appeal of plant's air-quality permit

By KARL PUCKETT

Tribune Staff Writer

Members of the state Board of Environmental Review raised concerns Friday about the emissions-control technology that's planned for fine particulate matter at the proposed coal-fired Highwood Generating Station.

Changes in pollution guidelines are possible for fine particulate in the near future, which is a big issue for some board members as they consider an appeal of the Highwood plant's air-quality permit.

"When it comes to the public health of Montana, I think we can do better," said Robin Shropshire, a board member from Helena. "I know we can do better."

The 250-megawatt coal-fired power plant is planned about eight miles east of Great Falls.

The concerns were raised Friday during a hearing on the appeal of the plant's air-quality permit.

Board members voted to postpone a decision on the appeal until their April 3-4 meeting after a motion by Bill Rossbach of Missoula, who said he needed more time and information.

"This is as big of a decision as we're being called upon to make," he said. "We're talking about a plant that has a 30- to 50-year lifespan. We're talking about a very dangerous pollutant."

The Highwood plant's permit has an emission limit for particulate that's 10 microns in size or smaller, called PM10.

But there's no specific limit for fine particulate 2.5 microns or smaller. PM2.5 is considered the biggest threat to public health, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly or those with respiratory diseases.

Citizens for Clean Energy of Great Falls and the Helena-based Montana Environmental Information Center are appealing the permit. They contend that the power plant can't legally proceed until DEQ requires SME to install pollution controls to reduce emissions of PM2.5.

The state Department of Environmental Quality and Southern Montana Generation & Transmission, the plant's developer, say the Environmental Protection Agency has not issued guidelines for measuring PM2.5, allowing states to use studies of PM10 or smaller as a "surrogate."

SME General Manager Tim Gregori said after the meeting that no other state in the country is requiring power plants to specifically control PM2.5.

"The standard hasn't even been fully fleshed out by the Environmental Protection Agency," he said.

The Highwood plant meets or exceeds every law or rule on the books, but can't be expected to meet a standard that hasn't been set, he said.

Board members said they were apprehensive about the state approving the permit when the EPA could come out with revised guidelines for particulate matter soon.

"It bothers me a great deal we're using this old surrogate thing EPA put out 10 years ago for a plant that's going to be online for 50 years," said board member Don Marble of Chester.

It might be time for the state to go to work on creating a new rule for particulate matter, he said. The board previously did that with mercury by approving a more stringent standard than federal rules require.

Board member Larry Mires said the DEQ didn't violate any laws in reviewing the permit, but that he's disappointed because "we didn't go the extra mile."

However, he advised against using the Highwood appeal to make a new rule.

"We need to be doing this on the front end of the project rather than the back end," he said.

The board could require the state DEQ to go back to the drawing board on the Highwood plant's air-quality permit or it could deny the appeal.

Chairman Joe Russell said the state is caught in a transition because of an uncertain regulatory future for fine particulate. He said he is concerned for the public's health and wants to ensure that the cost of electricity remains affordable.

"SME needs to move forward and Montana needs energy," he said.