ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
December 13, 1973
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS POWER
COMPANY
PETITIONER
v.
)
PCB 73—436
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
RESPONDENT
CIIARLES
0. WINTERS, ~TTORNEY, in behalf of SOUTHERN ILLINOIS POWER
COMP ANY
LARRY EATON, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, in behalf of the ENVIRON-
MENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD (by Mr. Marder)
This action involves a request for a variance extension by
Southern Illinois Power
Company. Relief is
sought from Rule 2-2.53
of the Rules and Regulations Governing the Control of Air Pollution
and Rule 203 of the Air Pollution Control Regulations, to allow im-
plementation of a compliance program J~y April 1975.
Southern Illinois Power Company owns and operates a power gen-
erating station in Williamson County, Illinois. As was stated in
our previous opinion, Southern Illinois Power Company generates ap-
proximately 100 megawatts of power by the burning of coal to generate
steam for its steam turbines. The plant consists of three 33-NW un-
its, each fired by double seven-foot radial cyclone burners equipped
with multiple-cyclone dust collectors. Two boilers exhaust into one
stack and a third exhausts into a separate stack. Previous testing
(1971) has shown emissions to be in the order of 0.67#/MBTU.
On February 6, 1973, Petitioner was granted a one—year variance
to the abovementioned rules (PCB 72-238)
.
The Board fully expected
an extension to be necessary, as the compliance program presented
essentially ran into 1975. The plan of action calls for the install-
ation of three electrostatic precipitators of a 96 efficiency rating.
This would bring emissions down to 0.04#/MBTU at a cost of some
$2,000,000. This plan will meet the requirements of Rule 203 (9).
The following compliance project completion schedule was submitted
in PCB 72—238.
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363
—2—
Start design
May 1972
Start erection of first May 1973
Precipitator
Startup of first Pre-
April 1974
cipitator
Startup of second Pre- October 1974
cipitator
Startup of third Pre-
April 1975
cipitator
Upon investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency, it was
found that even though some delays were encountered with regard to
steel delivery, the plan is still on schedule.
The Order of the Board in PCB 72-238 read as follows:
1. That SIPC be granted a variance from the provisions of Rule
2—2.53 of the Rules and Regulations Governing the Control
of Air Pollution and Rule 203 of the Air Pollution Control
Regulations until January 30, 1974, in order to install
three electrostatic precipitators on its coal-fired boil-
ers, subject to a construction program which will bring
all facilities into compliance by April of 1975. Any
extension of this variance shall be by further petition and
hearing and a demonstration on the part of SIPC that it is
pursuing the program of installation as outlined herein.
2. Bond in the amount of $500,000, in form satisfactory to
the Agency, shall be posted to assure compliance as to
the installation of the three electrostatic precipitators
as proposed by SIPC. Payment provision shall be made for
forfeiture in the amount of $10,000 in the event SIPC is
not in compliance with the relevant regulations by April
30, 1975. Bond shall be filed with the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency, Fiscal Services Division, 2200 Churchill
Drive, Springfield, Illinois 62706, within thirty days
from the date thereof.
3. SIPC shall pursue the ash and dust control program as de-
tailed in letter of December 7, 1972, addressed to the
Board and subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a) With respect to the coal yard, SIPC shall continue
its present policy of fugitive dust abatement and speci-
fically:
(i) In times of high wind velocity (greater than
20 MPH) in a direction to cause fugitive emissions,
coal handling shall be stopped except for the fill-
ing of coal bunkers.
(ii)
All roadways and paths of travel of coal
handling equipment shall be regularly
sprinkled
with a water tank truck to prevent dusting.
(b) SIPC
shall undertake whatever other measures are nec—
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~64
—3—
essary to insure that its coal handling facilities
are operated in compliance with Rule 203 (f).
(c) With respect to the ash control program, all fly ash
shall be sluiced to Pond #1. Fly ash shall be con-
strued as all particulate matter, generated as the
result of fuel combustion, that is separated from a
combustion gas stream by an air pollution control
device.
(d) Water content of Pond #1 shall be maintained at a
sufficient level to keep all collected fly ash from
becoming airborne.
Ce) No material collected in Pond #1 shall be removed to
any other area except with written permission from
the Agency, and subject to conditions the Agency may
impose to insure compliance with the Act and Board
regulations.
(f) All materials now deposited in ash storage Pond #1
before implementation of (c) above, shall be removed,
leveled, and covered with vegetation in such a manner
so as to prevent blowing of particulate matter.
(g) That SIPC undertake whatever other measures are nec-
essary to insure that its ash storage area is oper-
ated in compliance with Rule 203 (f).
The Agency has found, through investigation, on October 9, 1973,
that Petitioner has been carrying out the Board order diligently
and in good faith. Paragraph (g) of the above Order required Petit-
ioner to take whatever other steps it could to bring its ash storage
pile into compliance with Rule 203 (f). Plans now call for Petition-
er to seal its ash pile. The Board’s Order will require this step.
Residents of the area were interviewed by the Agency in an attempt
to judge the impact this variance has on them. Although these people
reported that at times fugitive dust was a problem, no one objected
to the continuance of the variance.
This Opinion constitutes the findings of fact and conclusions of
law of the Board.
ORDER
IT IS THE ORDER of the Pollution Control Board:
1. That Southern Illinois Power Company be granted a variance ex-
tension of one year, beginning on January 31, 1974, and ending
on January 30, 1975. Said variance shall be from Rule 2-2.53 and
Rule 203 (g)
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365
—4
2. Any request for re—extension of this variance shall be by
petition filed no later than 90 days before termination of this var-
iance grant.
3. All applicable conditions imposed by Board Order PCB 72—238
shall remain in full force and effect.
4. Petitioner shall by 30 days from the date of this order seal
its ash pile so as to reduce the possibility of fugitive particulate
emissions.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
I, Christan L. Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control
Board, certify
th~ the above 0 inion and Order was adopted by th
Board on the
/~.3
~
day of
____________,
1973, by a vote of
____
to
~
.
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366