Conservation Groups Challenge Air Pollution Permit for TransAlta Corp.

Conservation and energy groups have taken a drastic step in challenging the air pollution permit for TransAlta Corp.'s coal-burning power plant in Centralia. The groups, led by Earthjustice, are calling for the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to object to the permit renewal, citing the failure of the Southwest Washington Clean Air Agency to adhere to state and federal clean air laws. The renewed permit contains no mercury or global warming controls, and the coal-fired plant is the state's biggest single polluter, contributing 10 percent of the climate-warming emissions released in Washington.

Key Takeaways:

• The Southwest Washington Clean Air Agency recently renewed TransAlta Corp.'s permit, ignoring state and federal clean air laws that protect people, property, and natural resources.
• The renewed permit contains no mercury or global warming controls and fails to require the best controls for haze-pollution over Mount Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades National Parks.
• The TransAlta coal-fired plant is the state's biggest single polluter, contributing 10 percent of the climate-warming emissions released in Washington.
• The petition was filed with EPA on November 2, 2009, asking the agency to block the renewed permit.
• The groups challenging the permit are concerned that the TransAlta/Ecology agreement is inadequate to reduce pollutants of concern.
• The TransAlta coal-fired plant will have to be reviewed and renewed with necessary modifications every five years to ensure compliance with air pollution laws.

Statistics:

• The TransAlta coal-fired plant contributes 10 percent of the climate-warming emissions released in Washington.
• The renewed permit was issued on September 17, 2009.
• The petition was filed with EPA on November 2, 2009.

Sources:

• National Parks Conservation Association
• EarthJustice
• Sierra Club
• Northwest Environmental Defense Center