Originally Posted by Si modo

That would be involved in an operating permit. This is a permit for compliance with current regulations for new power generation. They've already complied with those requirements.

Originally Posted by Tanngrisnir3

And if it came to light that corner's were cut, certain things were 'overlooked', so to speak, favors were done outside of regulation to certify the plant and it's compliance level, you're telling me that there is nothing to be done?

Originally Posted by Imperator

dude you are like so stretching, read the entire article come back and we'll start again. Let me just say that when the EPA gives you paperwork to build that’s one thing, when they okay you for operation is another as the state then gets invloved etc. as they have their own bureaus of air quality mangement and effluent treatment etc. to satisfy.

Originally Posted by Tanngrisnir3

I'm not stretching; I'm asking.

I read the article, but was asking on a theoretical basis, given that the article doesn't cover the regulations that would govern revocation of permits on a point-by-point basis.

Originally Posted by Imperator

just want to get this on the record. he said years ago how he felt, last week, the epa decides that co2 is officially on the no no list and declared it a threat to the environ..

Pulling this permit stinks. Of course its just cooincidence right?



EPA pulls the plug on Desert Rock coal-fired power plant
By Marjorie Childress 4/28/09 1:11 AM
ALBUQUERQUE — In a dramatic move yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) withdrew the air quality permit it issued last summer for the Desert Rock coal-fired power plant, which is slated to be built on the Navajo Nation in the Four Corners region just southwest of Farmington, New Mexico.

The action drew praise from critics of the plant and blistering commentary from its proponents.

Assistant New Mexico Attorney General Seth Cohen, who has been one of the primary litigators working on the state’s appeal of the original permit, said the decision by the new administration at the EPA marked “a huge victory.”

“The EPA was supposed to file their final brief today in opposition to our arguments, but had asked for an extension, so we were hopeful,” Cohen told NMI. “Today, in effect, they agreed with us that EPA had cut corners in issuing the permit last summer. It’s a huge victory for public health and the environment in New Mexico.”

But Jeff Holmstead, former head of the air program at EPA and now head of the Environmental Strategies Group at Bracewell & Giuliani, the law firm representing the plant’s developer, Sithe Global, said in a statement that he has “never seen anything like it.”

“I don’t think anyone ever imagined that the new team at EPA would seem to have such little regard for due process or basic notions of fairness,” Holmstead said. “Everyone understands that a new Administration has discretion to change rules and policies prospectively. But I’ve never seen any Administration try to change policies and rules retroactively.”

New Mexico Independent EPA pulls the plug on Desert Rock coal-fired power plant

Originally Posted by Commodore

Well, Obama did say he was going to destroy the coal industry.

When do we march on the EPA to demand a replacement megawatt for megawatt?

Originally Posted by Commodore

Its not their job to deny us electricity either, but they don't seem to have problem doing that.

Originally Posted by Andrewl

i did a bit of research into this and it seems that back in July of 08 when the permit was issued this was already a highly contentions issue. The permit was actually issued in response to a lawsuit filed by Sithe Global intended to force the EPA to make a decision on a permit Sithe applied for in 2004.

The controversy stems around the issue of the EPA's responsibility to perform an analysis of the pollutants on the environment. This analysis is required for any air permit and the EPA apparently did not perform one to the proper standards, making it impossible for the EPA know if the air from the coal plant would meet federal clean air standards. In addition, the EPA did not consult the fish & wildlife agency to assess the effects on endangered species....

New Mexico Independent EPA pulls the plug on Desert Rock coal-fired power plant
Coal is Dirty | Desert Rock Coal Plant Update: Permit To Pollute
AG: New Info Affects Desert Rock Power Plant Permit... Asks EPA to Consider Air Quality Stats for Four Corners - NM Attorney General
Desert Rock - SourceWatch

It seems to me that the EPA issued a permit in response to legal action, instead of through careful consideration of the environmental effects of adding another coal planet to this region.

Given that their mandate is environmental protection it seems the permit was not issued in that spirit.

The other suspicious aspect to all this is the former assistant administrator for air and radiation under Bush, Jeff Holmstead, is now the lawyer representing Sithe Global... the musical chairs between government agencies, lobby groups, and private sector corporations never ceases to amaze me...

Another important issue in all this is the division this has created in the navajo community.

Dine CARE - Citizens Against Ruining or Environment
CorpWatch*:*US: Navajos and Environmentalists Split on Power Plant

Andrew

Originally Posted by Imperator

after 4 year’s in the works if I was running the co. that had to put this plant together I would have done same, ( and many have, they are far from the first) and this is a whole other issues as to extremely lengthy time it takes to get a permit as to the environmental impact reports etc. the green lobby counts bon co’s throwing in the towel when faced with court battles and the like which can take 7-10 years.

And frankly you didn't address the point that the epa did issue the permit. And as I said, having a lot of experience in this area, its almost unheard of, to then revoke it like this. IF they revoked a permit every time they think we had a new device to lower mission nothing would ever be built.

The way it works is after the operating permit is exercised and the plant is up and running modifications down the road may be called for, and the plant is given time to fund and build it in, they would have positive cash flow to make it happen. I have been involved in these process many times, that’s the way it works.

And if you think we have seen the last of this, you’re dreaming, they have already started in on solar ‘patches’ and wind farms ala the transmission lines necessary to carry the power from the source to the end user, their aim is lunatic, no new anything, even wind and solar, if anyone thinks different, well, you’ll see.

Originally Posted by Andrewl

Their job is to protect the environment, which will on occasion mean denying permits for coal burning power plants.