Ohio Environmental Protection Agency : EPA Opens Public Comment Period for Draft Air Permit for the Waterville Compressor Station

1/15/16
PUBLIC INTEREST CENTER, [phone]
MEDIA CONTACT: James Lee
CITIZEN CONTACT: Mike Settles

Ohio EPA is accepting public comments until February 16, 2016 on a draft air permit for a proposed natural gas compressor station in the Waterville area of Lucas County. The compressor station would be located off of Moosman Drive (south of Neapolis Waterville Road) and is intended to facilitate delivery of natural gas along the Nexus Gas Transmission (NGT) pipeline.

The draft permit would allow the installation and operation of equipment associated with the compressor station's operation, which produces air emissions.

Before issuing the draft air permit-to-install-and-operate, Ohio EPA reviewed the company's application to ensure that emissions would comply with federal and state air pollution control standards, laws and regulations.

If the permit is approved, Nexus' total maximum air emissions would not be allowed to exceed levels that protect public health and the environment. This permit would allow emissions up to 7.81 tons per year of carbon monoxide, 31.08 tons per year of nitrogen oxides, 6.24 tons per year of particulate, 3.24 tons per year of sulfur dioxide and 30.8 tons per year of volatile organic compounds.

Ohio EPA does not have regulatory authority over issues such as: siting; eminent domain; setbacks to homes, schools and businesses; noise levels; traffic; zoning; pipeline safety or impacts on property values. An Ohio EPA factsheet detailing the Agency's role in issuing air permits and considerations related to natural gas compressor station emissions can be viewed on the Agency website: http://epa.ohio.gov/Portals/47/nr/CompressorStations.pdf.

Citizens may request a public hearing or to be placed on an interested parties list by contacting the Public Interest Center at [phone]. Interested parties may review the draft permit online at: http://wwwapp.epa.ohio.gov/dapc/permits_issued/1365557.pdf.

Related comments must be received by the close of business on February 16, 2016 and should be mailed to: Matthew Stanfield, Toledo Department of Environmental Services, 348 South Erie Street, Toledo, OH 43604; or sent via email: [e-mail].

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The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency was created in 1972 to consolidate efforts to protect and improve air quality, water quality and waste management in Ohio. Since then, air pollutants dropped by as much as 90 percent; large rivers meeting standards improved from 21 percent to 89 percent; and hundreds of polluting, open dumps were replaced with engineered landfills and an increased emphasis on waste reduction and recycling.