Public hearing Wednesday for Springdale power plant permits
The state Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public hearing Wednesday on whether to grant permits for waste water discharges from NRG's Springdale power plant.
DEP tentatively decided to issue a permit for discharges from the plant into the Allegheny River. At the hearing, residents will have the opportunity to present up to five minutes of testimony relevant to the permit application and draft permit.
The Cheswick Generating Station is Allegheny County's only remaining coal-fired power plant and continues to operate under an extension of a permit that expired in August 2012.
It has two outflows of industrial wastewater into the Allegheny River.
The DEP says the plant has four additional discharges, one of industrial wastewater and three of stormwater into Little Deer Creek, about 5 miles from where it flows into the Allegheny River.
Individuals will be called to testify in the order they registered. If there's time left over, those not registered will be given the chance to testify.
DEP will record testimony and accept written comments throughout the hearing. Those testifying should bring at least one copy of their testimony and exhibits for submission to DEP.
People unable to attend the hearing can submit three copies of a written statement and exhibits within 10 days after the hearing to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Clean Water, P.O. Box 8774, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8774.
Written submittals must contain the following:
• Name, address and telephone number of the person submitting the comments.
• Identification of the proposed draft NPDES Permit No. (PA0001627).
• Concise statements regarding the relevancy of the information in support of or objections to issuance of the NPDES Permit.
Emily Balser is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-226-4680, emilybalser@tribweb.com or on Twitter @emilybalser.
