Ohio Environmental Protection Agency : EPA to Hold Public Meeting, Receive Comments Concerning Draft Air Permit for Proposed Wadsworth Compressor Station

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

Ohio EPA will hold an information session and public hearing on Feb. 16, 2016, about a draft air permit for a proposed natural gas compressor station in the Wadsworth/Guilford Township area of Medina County. The compressor station would be located just north of I-76 on Guilford Road and is intended to facilitate delivery of natural gas along the Nexus Gas Transmission (NGT) pipeline.

The Feb. 16 meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Cloverleaf Elementary School, 8337 Friendsville Rd, Seville, during which the public can submit comments for the record concerning the draft permit.

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

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, 31.2 tons per year of nitrogen oxides, 6.24 tons per year of particulate, 3.24 tons per year of sulfur dioxide and 29.3 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.

Interested parties may review the draft permit online at: http://wwwapp.epa.ohio.gov/dapc/permits_issued/1365527.pdf.

Written comments are considered equally with oral testimony presented at the hearing. Written comments must be received by Akron Regional Air Quality Management District (ARAQMD) by the close of business on February 22, 2016, and should be mailed to ARAQMD, 1867 West Market Street, Akron, OH 44313; or 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.