Public Hearing to Address Permit for Mirant

Plan Would Broaden Limits on Emissions

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality will host a briefing and public hearing in Alexandria on Monday to allow residents to comment on the proposed state operating permit for the controversial Mirant power plant.

The 6:30 p.m. public briefing and the 7 p.m. hearing will be at the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center.

"Anytime we have an issue, especially one where we know the public is concerned about it, it's very helpful to the [Department of Environmental Quality] to get public input," said Bill Hayden, a department spokesman. "In this particular case, we know there's a lot of interest in Alexandria in what happens with this permit, so our goal is to make sure we can get as much input as possible, hear everybody's perspective and then, to the extent we can, address those issues."

The comments could lead to revisions to the permit, Hayden said.

The proposed permit includes some of the same limits as the plant's current operating permit but with broader, more comprehensive parameters on a wider range of aspects. The draft permit requires the plant to monitor, test and report emissions. It sets limits for emissions, including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, and includes requirements for plant operations.

The proposal is available for review on the department's Web site at http://www.deq.virginia.gov under the "What's new at DEQ?" tab.

Comments from the hearing and recommendations from the department will be presented to the Air Pollution Control Board, which will make the final decision, said Cindy Berndt, director of regulatory affairs at the environmental department and staff liaison to the board. The board is responsible for adopting the state's environmental regulations. The department administers the regulations.

"It gives the community and the public the opportunity to voice their concerns and share that with the state Department of Environmental Quality and hopefully many of the Air Pollution Control Board members that'll be at the hearing," said William Skrabak, chief of the Division of Environmental Quality in the city's Department of Transportation and Environmental Services.

Skrabak said that the city will submit detailed written comments and that he plans to speak at the hearing.

"We think a comprehensive permit is a step in the right direction," Skrabak said. "We've been trying to get this facility permitted under a comprehensive permit for a long time. To that degree, we're happy that the state and air board are finally developing and plan to issue a comprehensive permit.

"However, as proposed, we hope there are changes to strengthen the permit," he said. The city would like stricter emission limits and additional monitoring.

"We hope the board and DEQ will listen to the community and take to heart the issues," Skrabak said.

The Mirant plant, on the banks of the Potomac River, opened in 1949. Once part of an industrial strip, it is now an incongruous sight amid the residential developments that have popped up. The plant has long been a source of contention. Residents and city officials say the plant is a health hazard. Mirant officials maintain the operation is clean and getting cleaner.

The plant, which supplies power to Maryland and the District but not Virginia, was shut down in 2005 because of environmental violations and reopened once stricter environmental controls were put in place.

"What I hope comes from this meeting is a very serious critical review of the draft state operating permit, which just doesn't have enough protection," said Elizabeth Chimento, an Alexandria resident who has been researching the plant since spring 2001. "At least this is an attempt for a comprehensive permit, but it is insufficient as it stands."

She also said that people need more information about the specifics of the plant and what's going on. "I don't think we really know what's really coming out of that plant," Chimento said.

The public hearing will conclude a 30-day comment period. Comments and requests for information on the draft permit can be e-mailed to Terry Darton, air permit manager at thdarton@deq.virginia.gov. Only comments received before the end of the hearing will be considered.