POMEROY — Ohio EPA has approved a water quality certification for AMP-Ohio’s planned power plant and associated structures located in Letart Falls (Meigs County).

The certification authorizes impacts to streams and wetlands and requires specific mitigation measures to offset those impacts.

AMP-Ohio wants to construct a power plant; wastewater treatment plant with an outfall to the Ohio River; water intake structure; barge unloading facility; landfill; dredge pond; transmission line and substation to connect the plant to the existing distribution grid. On April 2, 2008, Ohio EPA held an information session and public hearing to accept comments on proposed wetlands and water quality impacts related to this project.

Under the company’s preferred alternative, a total of 0.62 wetland acres and 10,584 feet of headwater streams would be filled to construct the power plant, landfill and haul roads. An additional 0.39 acres of wetlands and 1,842 feet of headwater streams could be impacted if the air emissions control technology (Powerspan) that the company intends to use does not work as anticipated. Construction of a barge fleeting facility, six unloading cells and a 60-foot wide by 15-foot deep channel for equipment unloading will impact 3,500 feet of the Ohio River. Ohio EPA also considered other alternatives resulting in lesser or no impacts.

As a result of Ohio EPA’s review, AMP-Ohio will not place any fill material into streams in order to construct the five-mile transmission line that will connect the plant to the grid. AMP-Ohio also has agreed to revise plans for the landfill to avoid 0.39 acres of wetlands and 1,842 feet of high quality streams.

AMP-Ohio will establish 1.77 acres of wetlands on-site; relocate 1,525 feet of stream on-site; preserve 25,561 feet of headwater streams both on- and off-site; and re-vegetate 2,000 feet of the Ohio River bank. AMP-Ohio also will fund the operation of an acid mine drainage treatment system within the Leading Creek watershed.

Anyone wanting to discharge dredged or fill material to waters of the state must first obtain a water quality certification from Ohio EPA and a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Ohio EPA’s review is to ensure the project will comply with Ohio’s water quality standards.

The proposed project may result in a change from the current water quality conditions in the Ohio River and upland tributaries and wetlands, but it cannot violate Ohio’s water quality standards that protect human health and the environment. Ohio EPA considered the technical, economic, social and environmental aspects of the project before deciding to issue the water quality certification.

As part of the permitting process, AMP-Ohio also applied for an air permit-to-install, a wastewater discharge permit and a solid waste permit-to-install. The air and wastewater discharge permits were finalized in 2008. A decision about the solid waste application is forthcoming.

Issuance of the certification can be appealed to the Environmental Review Appeals Commission (ERAC). Many appeals must be filed within 30 days of issuing the final action; therefore, Ohio EPA recommends that anyone wishing to file an appeal contact ERAC at (614) 466-8950 for more information.

Copies of the certification, application and related materials are available for review at Ohio EPA’s Division of Surface Water, Permits Processing Unit, 50 West Town Street, Columbus by first calling (614) 644-2001.

A copy of Ohio EPA’s responses to comments received during the comment period can be viewed online at: http://www.epa.state.oh.us/pic/amp-ohio.html.