Dear friends.
You have a rare and limited opportunity to comment to the WV Division of Air Quality regarding a proposed Cement Batch Plant on Bakers Ridge Road, within about one-fourth mile of US 119 North (Pt. Marion Road).
The dust to be discharged will likely be rich in silica, known to cause silicosis which is not unlike coal miners respiratory disease (pneumoconiosis). There are also links to lung cancer. A public meeting in Morgantown would be useful, in my opinion.
If you can mail comments directly to the DAQ, address shown below by Saturday noon, that should work OK. Or, you have two other options: (a) you can FAX a letter on Monday to 304-926-0478, or (b) you can send me your letter by email and I will enclose it in my overnight packet which I will be mailing on Saturday at noon, or FAX one for you on Monday.
Duane Nichols, _duane330@aol.com_ (mailto:duane330@aol.com) , 599-8040.
See the following details.......... be sure to mention the "Alcon Concrete Batch Plant"
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Notice 009661, April 8, 2005, Morgantown Dominion Post.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the general public that Alcon, LLC has submitted a General Permit request to the WV DEP, Division of Air Quality, to construct a Concrete Batch Plant located near Morgantown. This plant is expected to begin operation on or about the 1st of August 2005.
This Plant is estimated to have the potential to discharge 32.48 tons per year of particulate matter (PM) and 14.79 tons per year of particulate matter smaller than 10 microns (PM-10).
All written comments must be received by the DAQ within thirty (30) days, i.e. by May 8, 2005. In the event this is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the comment period is extended until 5 pm on the following regularly scheduled business day. The Director may elect to hold a public meeting based upon the comments received. Only those written comments relevant to air quality issues will be considered.
WV DEP Division of Air Quality Permitting Section 601 57th Street Charleston, WV 25304
Telephone: 304-926-0499, ext. 1227. FAX: 304-926-0478
Note: Comments must be received by mail or FAX by 5 pm on Monday, May 9th.
The Herald-Dispatch
May 11, 1:35 AM EDT
Transmission line dispute delays construction on $1B power plant
By ERIK SCHELZIG Associated Press Writer
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- The construction of a nearly $1 billion coal-fired power plant is being held up by a dispute with an existing electricity generator over a transmission line, according to a complaint filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Longview Power LLC alleges that Allegheny Energy Inc. is blocking access to its 500-kilovolt Fort Martin Substation in violation of regulations set by FERC and regional power coordinator PJM Interconnection LLC.
"Allegheny's intransigence, if not hostility, to both the Commission's and PJM's interconnection requirements, which appear to be driven by its desire to protect its own generating facilities, has severely hampered Longview's interconnection efforts," according to the complaint.
The state Public Service Commission conditionally approved the new power plant on Aug. 27, ruling that Longview must obtain a certificate for transmission lines before construction can begin.
"Without an agreed-upon option to interconnect to the Fort Martin Substation, Longview will be unable to obtain financing for or begin construction of its proposed Generating Facility," the company said in its filing.
The Longview site is located adjacent to Allegheny's 1100-megawatt Fort Martin Power Station near Morgantown.
Allegheny wants at least $5.5 million for the transmission line, arguing that the Longview line would run through a proposed ash landfill on the Fort Martin property. But FERC and PJM rules "require a transmission provider to grant access at no cost to a generator for the construction, operations and maintenance of interconnection facilities," Longview said.
A spokesman for Allegheny declined to comment Tuesday, citing pending litigation.
Longview, a subsidiary of Needham, Mass.-based GenPower LLC, has said the plant would employ about 60 people and create up to 1,600 construction jobs. When completed, the plant would use more than 2 million tons of coal a year.
All of Longview's 600-megawatt output is slated for the wholesale electricity market outside West Virginia, while about 25 percent of the Fort Martin plant's generation currently heads to state consumers. Allegheny also owns five other power plants within 30 miles of the Fort Martin and Longview sites.
As part of a plan to have state consumers pay for the installation of environmental controls known as scrubbers at Fort Martin, Allegheny is in the process of directing all the plant's production to the West Virginia market.
Greensburg, Pa.-based Allegheny needs the guaranteed funding to receive an optimal credit rating. Otherwise, less favorable loan conditions and interests rates could more than double the estimated $400 million cost for the four-year project, according to the company.
Longview has requested that the commission resolve the complaint by June 4.
On the Net:
FERC: http://www.ferc.gov
Allegheny Energy: http://www.alleghenyenergy.com/
Longview Power: http://www.genpower.net/longview/
I will be out of town during this event, but it would be a great place to gather information and make some contacts.
From: "tscmn" tscmn@tristatecitizens.org To: "Undisclosed recipients" tscmn@tristatecitizens.org Subject: June Conference Rally & March
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1 = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"> Folks, June 7-9 is the annual National Coal Show at the convention center in Pgh. It is also the bi-annual Longwall USA conference. Tri-State is co-sponsoring some events around this industry sponsored conference (See below for details). We really want to turn people out for these events and we need to line up people to speak at the True Cost of Coal Conference on June 5th and at the Rally/March on June 7th. I need to hear back from folks fast if you can participate so we can finalize the details. Please let me know if you can participate in any part of the activates. We can set up carpooling into Pgh. Thanks. Mimi
Canaries in the Coalfields
Sunday, June 5 - The True Cost of Coal Conference - FREE!!! 10am - 5pm @ Community Activity Center - 113 N. Pacific Ave. Garfield The purpose of this conference is to confront the myths of 'clean coal' by detailing the true effects of coal mining and coal power in southwest Pennsylvania and then, armed with this knowledge, develop a vision for clean, sustainable alternatives to the coal industry that can be implemented in our communities to create quality jobs while maintaining a healthy environment for the future. E-mail us to register for the event or if you or your organization is interested in speaking at the event.
**tentative schedule** 10:00 Registration (coffee & snacks provided)
10:15 Introduction to the Conference 10:30 The True Cost of Coal Mining in Southwest PA 11:30 The Costs of Coal Power in Southwest PA 12:00 Coal Mining, Workers and Community Impacts 12:45 Mountaintop Removal and Mountain Justice Summer
1:30 Lunch (meals will be provided at no cost)
2:30 Alternatives to Coal Power - Green Energy Technologies 3:00 Developing Green Energy Policies and Practices in Pennsylvania 3:45 How Can We Have a Future With Good Jobs, Vibrant Communities and a Clean Environment? 4:30 Concluding Remarks, Everyone Goes Out to Change the World...
Monday, June 6th - Green Energy Expo 11am - 6pm @ Market Square - Market St & Forbes Ave downtown Pittsburgh We plan to exhibit tangible examples of green power technologies, conservation designs, and sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel. By doing so, we hope to demonstrate that real, even practical, alternatives to fossil fuel dependency do exist. Ideas include LED home lighting, vegetable oil-powered vehicles, solar-powered computers, etc. E-mail mailto:canariespgh@riseup.netcanariespgh@riseup.net to participate.
Tuesday, June 7th - 'Say NO! to Careless Coal' Rally & March 11:30am Meet @ The Point State Park - 101 Commonwealth Place 12:00 noon March from Point Park to David Lawrence Convention Center 12:30 Rally outside National Coal Show @ convention center Join us to speak out against the myth of 'clean coal' and demand that our government and industry divest from coal power and work to develop a clean, sustainable power supply that can provide quality jobs for our communities and a healthy future for future generations. Activists from across Pennsylvania and throughout Appalachia will come together to testify to the devastation that our dependence on coal has caused their communities. Join us for this landmark convergence of a growing movement for clean energy policy and an end to the fossil fuel wars!!!
___________________________ Mimi Filippelli, Admin. Dir. Tri-State Citizens Mining Network PO Box 1080 Washington PA 15301 ph 724-229-3550 fax 724-229-3551 www.tristatecitizens.org
Friends -
Based on Jim's last two messages regarding the FAA/Longview stack height issue, I really have to question why anyone, let alone MVCAC, would be asking the FAA to reduce the stack height.
We have no assurance that a reduced stack height will not result in an increase in pollution levels. In fact, it's almost certain that the pollution levels in Fort Martin community, Point Marion, and other nearby downwind communities will increase if the stack height is reduced. We have, in the past, argued against Longview because it represents additional pollution on top of what Fort Martin and others already generate. By arguing for a reduced stack height, we would now be saying we are happy to have still MORE pollution from Longview (over and abovve what is now contemplated) - just so we reduce the visibility of the stack. I would point out that Fort Martin community will see the stack 24/7 unless the height is nearly zero. If you want to talk about visibility, talk to them.
No offense to the visibility sensitivities of the Mon County gentry, but all I can say to them is "Breathe deep, open your eyes, and enjoy. That's what the folks in Fort Martin and Fayette County will have to do. The difference is that they'll suffer more due to the increased pollution."
I'd say the better strategy is to tell FAA that Longview has convinced us that the stack absolutely must be that high, and that if a stack of that height interferes with air safety, the FAA will just have to make a choice between (a) Longview's proposed stack with less air safety and poor public health, or (b) no Longview stack, resulting in better air safety and better public health. I think we should insist on an Environmental Impact Statement. That's always been on our wish list. Whatever can be done to put teeth into our demand for an EIS should be done.
Speaking of visibility, I'd say that everyone who supports Longview ought to demonstrate their position by walking around wearing a miniature smokestack on their head. The resemblance to a dunce cap would be purely coincidental, I'm sure. They would be known as the Smokers. They could organize into local Smoking lodges, and meet and wear their hats during the meetings, and have fun by breathing SO2, NOx, mercury, lead, arsenic, and any variety of other exotic emissions. It sounds sort of risky, but they could make it all worthwhile, of course, by drinking copious quantities of the cleaned mine water that's being produced. That should make them real happy. At least it's supposed to make Fayette County residents happy.
Dennis
P.S. Duane - If you have a list that covers people that Jim's list isn't reaching, please forward this to them. Thanks.
At 07:21 PM 5/12/2005, James Kotcon wrote:
I am sure that any significant reduction in stack height would require new modeling of pollutant dispersal. Whether it would significantly alter local pollutant levels or deposition is a question best answered by such computer dispersion models.
JBK
I agree with Dennis' suggested strategy. Linda
At 11:30 PM 5/12/05 -0400, Dennis and Marcia Groce wrote:
Friends -
Based on Jim's last two messages regarding the FAA/Longview stack height issue, I really have to question why anyone, let alone MVCAC, would be asking the FAA to reduce the stack height.
We have no assurance that a reduced stack height will not result in an increase in pollution levels. In fact, it's almost certain that the pollution levels in Fort Martin community, Point Marion, and other nearby downwind communities will increase if the stack height is reduced. We have, in the past, argued against Longview because it represents additional pollution on top of what Fort Martin and others already generate. By arguing for a reduced stack height, we would now be saying we are happy to have still MORE pollution from Longview (over and abovve what is now contemplated) - just so we reduce the visibility of the stack. I would point out that Fort Martin community will see the stack 24/7 unless the height is nearly zero. If you want to talk about visibility, talk to them.
No offense to the visibility sensitivities of the Mon County gentry, but all I can say to them is "Breathe deep, open your eyes, and enjoy. That's what the folks in Fort Martin and Fayette County will have to do. The difference is that they'll suffer more due to the increased pollution."
I'd say the better strategy is to tell FAA that Longview has convinced us that the stack absolutely must be that high, and that if a stack of that height interferes with air safety, the FAA will just have to make a choice between (a) Longview's proposed stack with less air safety and poor public health, or (b) no Longview stack, resulting in better air safety and better public health. I think we should insist on an Environmental Impact Statement. That's always been on our wish list. Whatever can be done to put teeth into our demand for an EIS should be done.
Speaking of visibility, I'd say that everyone who supports Longview ought to demonstrate their position by walking around wearing a miniature smokestack on their head. The resemblance to a dunce cap would be purely coincidental, I'm sure. They would be known as the Smokers. They could organize into local Smoking lodges, and meet and wear their hats during the meetings, and have fun by breathing SO2, NOx, mercury, lead, arsenic, and any variety of other exotic emissions. It sounds sort of risky, but they could make it all worthwhile, of course, by drinking copious quantities of the cleaned mine water that's being produced. That should make them real happy. At least it's supposed to make Fayette County residents happy.
Dennis
P.S. Duane - If you have a list that covers people that Jim's list isn't reaching, please forward this to them. Thanks.
At 07:21 PM 5/12/2005, James Kotcon wrote:
I am sure that any significant reduction in stack height would require new modeling of pollutant dispersal. Whether it would significantly alter local pollutant levels or deposition is a question best answered by such computer dispersion models.
JBK
MVCAC mailing list MVCAC@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/mvcac
Linda I. Shuster, Ph.D. website: http://www.wvu.edu/~speechpa/shust.html Associate Professor Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology PO Box 6122 805 Allen Hall West Virginia University Morgantown, WV 26506 Telephone: 304-293-4241 x1840 Fax: 304-293-7565
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Dennis and Marcia Groce -
Duane330＠aol.com -
Linda Shuster