RACINE — The upcoming meeting/hearing on a draft permit modification to American Municipal Power-Ohio’s air permit will focus on federal regulations that were not in existence when the air permit was made final in February 2008.

The agency who approved the final air permit, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, will be the ones considering the draft modification to apply Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) to AMP-Ohio’s project. The original permit used the guidelines of the Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR), a federal law which was also overturned last year. The previous air permit was written assuming the mercury rule was still in place. MACT requirements are applicable to the emissions of hazardous air pollutants such as mercury, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, etc.

Rod Windle, who is with the Ohio EPA’s division of air pollution, said there will be no increases in permitted mercury emission when incorporating MACT regulations as opposed to guidelines used for CAMR. Windle said AMP-Ohio voluntarily took emission limitations they believed to be equivalent to MACT just in case the CAMR was vacated, so by virtue of volunteering for those restrictions, proposed emissions wound up basically being at the same level as current MACT guidelines.

Windle said the meeting is meant to be informational as far as how the new rules work and provide an opportunity for public comment on the analysis which was performed as well as a look at different emission control options. Windle said the meeting also gives the public an opportunity to speak on what they feel the answer should be in this situation.

The meeting/hearing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., June 2 at the Southern Elementary School cafetorium. A presiding officer will be present and may limit oral testimony to ensure that all parties are heard. All interested persons are entitled to attend or be represented and give written or oral comments on the draft permit at the hearing. Written comments must be received by the Ohio EPA at the close of business on June 5. Comments received after this date will not be considered to be part of the official record. Written comments may be submitted at the hearing or sent to: Dean Ponchak, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Southeast Ohio District Office, 2195 Front Street, Logan, 43138.

Further information concerning this application may be secured for inspection from Ponchak of the Ohio EPA Southeast Ohio District Office at the above address during normal business hours. Call 740-385-8501 for more information.

For more information on the proposed modification go to Ohio EPA’s website at http://www.epa.state.oh.us/pic/amp-ohio.html.

AMP-Ohio’s final air permit is currently being appealed before the Ohio Environmental Review Appeals Commission with a hearing scheduled in August. A prehearing conference on the appeal of AMP-Ohio’s final air permit-to-install issued by the Ohio EPA is scheduled for 10 a.m., July 27 while the de novo hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m., Aug. 3 - Aug. 21 in Columbus. The air permit is being appealed by Natural Resources Defense Council, Ohio Environmental Council, Sierra Club and National Parks Conservation.

A prehearing conference has been set for 10 a.m., Jan. 20, 2010 in regards to the appeal before ERAC of AMP-Ohio’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. The appeal was filed by the NRDC, OEC and Sierra Club. The actual de novo hearing on the appeal is scheduled for 10 a.m., Jan. 25-Jan. 29, 2010 in Columbus.