Middletown News, Info and Happenings - EPA Issues Air permit to Middletown Coke Company

Taken from the Middletown City Manager's Weekly update to Middletown city Counicl. To read the entire report click here; http://www.middletownusa.com/view_news.asp?a=4897 - Weekly Update to City Council from the City ManagerFebruary 21, 2010

The Ohio EPA has issued a final air permit-to-install to Sunoco’s Middletown Coke Company or Suncoke. The plant will provide coke to AK Steel, Middletown Works for its steel-making operation. The new permit has the most stringent requirements in the country for coke-making facilities and sets a new standard for similar coke-making facilities. State–of –the-art controls are required for particulate, sulfur-dioxide (CO2) and mercury. Hazardous air pollutants emissions and other combustion pollutants are controlled by the combustion processes inherent in the design. The permit contains multiple systems designed to ensure compliance including, but not limited to:

The requirements to continuously monitor SO2 emissions and mercury emissions from the main stack;

Extensive monitoring, record keeping and reporting key operational information to verify the plant is operating in compliance;

The requirement to purchase (so the Hamilton County Depart. Of Environmental Services [HCDES] can install and operate) multiple ambient concentrations of particulate (both PM10 and PM 2.5), volatile organic hazardous air pollutants and SO2.

Ohio EPA analyzed the technologies and emission rates proposed and compared them to state and federal regulations and guidelines as well as other state air regulations to ensure that the proposed technologies and emission rates meet all applicable rules and are protective of human health and the environment. This is the 2nd air permit issued. The “Netting permit”, issued Nov. 25, 2008, was based on a permitting scenario that did not include the more stringent requirements stated above. The 2nd permit (the PSD/NNSR permit) requires compliance with these regulations. Both permits meet applicable air pollution rules and regulations.

Both AK Steel and Suncoke have certified that they meet all requirements of the Ohio EPA. The Ohio EPA believes that these certifications meet all requirements under the NNSR rules. The Ohio EPA held a public hearing @ MUM to discuss the 2nd draft. All comments were considered and responded to in writing before the final decision was made. You may access a copy of the final permit and responses @ http://www.epa.ohio.gov/pic/middletowncoke.aspx - http://www.epa.ohio.gov/pic/middletowncoke.aspx . Any appeals must take place within 30 days of issuing the final action by the Environmental Review Appeals Commission.