DEQ grants air permit to TVRR
Saturday, March 17, 2007 11:47 PM PDT
Larry Meyer and John Braese Argus Observer
Ontario
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality approved a Standard Air Contaminant Discharge Permit for Treasure Valley Renewable Resources’ proposed bio-refinery south of Ontario July 28.
“We are really pleased,” TVRR spokesman John Hamilton said of the decision. “I think the DEQ really put some pride in their answers to the questions that were brought forth and provided some in-depth comments.”
The Standard Air Contaminant Discharge Permit is just one of several key charters from the state agency necessary to pave the way for TVRR to build its multi-million dollar plant.
For the past several months, TVRR officials have been in the process of obtaining the necessary permits to allow them to begin construction. These have included the site permit from the county, the air contaminant discharge permit and water quality permit, both from the DEQ.
Supporters of the plant assert it will give the local economy a needed boost, but a group of local residents opposed to the venture have filed an appeal of a county planning commission site review for the facility.
TVRR plans to build the bio-refinery to process wheat, corn and other crops into food-grade products and ethanol.
Steve Penn, a spokesman for Concerned Citizens of Malheur County (CCMC), the group of local residents opposed to the construction of the facility, said he was not surprised by the DEQ judgment on the air contaminant discharge permit.
“From early on, there was a government commitment to the plant,” Penn said. “DEQ just followed through covering that commitment as a government agency.”
Penn said he had not yet thoroughly reviewed the permit and attached comments from DEQ personnel, but disagrees with the DEQ designation of TVRR as an organic plant.
The Malheur County Court will hear an appeal of a Malheur County Planning Commission site review of the plant filed by CCMC Wednesday.
“We are waiting for the appeal on Wednesday,” Hamilton said. “We have not changed our time frame for the facility. The air permit from DEQ was the largest hurdle for us.”
Opponents question plant
emissions
DEQ staff held a public hearing on the draft permits for both air quality and water quality July 13, but no oral testimony was presented.
The record was open from June 8 and to July 19 to accept written testimony.
DEQ’s reply to the comments were prepared by Thane Jennings, senior environmental engineer, who is the air quality permit writer. The hearings report also addressed the water quality issues.
Individuals and groups submitting testimony included Penn, who lives south of the proposed bio-refinery site, CCMC, the Sierra Club, Oregon Center for Environmental Health, Energy Justice Network, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Oregon Toxics Alliance, Barbara Struthers, American Board of Toxicology, Jan Wilson, attorney representing Concerned Citizens, and Melinda Kathriner, a member of Concerned Citizens of Malheur County.
In its letter, CCMC raised questions about emissions and about the process that TVRR plans to use in producing ethanol.
CCMC challenged statements the gasification process will not produce any emissions.
The group’s other main argument is by altering the proposal from fermentation to gasification, TVRR’s application is substantially different now — contrary to Oregon law regarding exceptions processes.
“It is actually and additionally a “thermochemical” process producing industrial ethanol through gasification not reflected or accounted for in current permits,” CCMC’s letter said. “This is no longer considered food-grade ethanol and contains impurities not fit for human consumption.”
Jennings replied for the DEQ there are several potential sources of emissions from the gasification unit and burner.
They are the particulate emission collected by a cyclone and baghouse and the gasification burner, he said.
“There are not other emission sources from this unit, in fact the permit strictly forbids the venting of any gas or emission from gasification units directly to the atmosphere,” Jennings said in his statement. “This requirement applies at all times including start-up and shut-down.”
As for the processes, Jennings said TVRR’s operations fall under three different Standard Industrial Codes — crop preparation services for market, flour and other grain mill products and industrial organic chemical manufacturing.
More information sought by
concerned citizens
In a related matter, Penn said members of CCMC experienced problems when contacting Malheur County personnel with questions regarding the appeals hearing.
Kathriner said she called the county with questions and did not receive many answers from personnel.
“I called and spoke with the courthouse secretary,” Kathriner said. “She said she needed to consult with somebody on the questions I had. I asked her if the entire group had to be present, if we needed to verbally testify and if we needed a lawyer. When she called back, she really did not answer any of my questions.”
Malheur County Counsel Stephanie Williams said she was disappointed Kathriner did not receive the answers she was looking for.
“I am sorry she did not find us helpful,” Williams said. “Ms. Kathriner was asking for items she needed to discuss with her attorney. Who and how they make their presentation is up to them.”
According to Williams, both sides of the issue will be allocated 20 minutes for a presentation. A question and answer period may follow the presentations. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.
