ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
November
2,
1978
ELECTRIC ENERGY,
INC.,
Petitioner,
v.
)
PCB 78—227
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY,
)
Respondent.
OPINION
AND
ORDER OF THE BOARD
(by Mr. Goodman):
On August 23, 1978,
Electric Energy,
Inc.,
(EEl)
filed a
variance petition before the Board.
The Agency filed its
recommendation on September
25,
1978.
EEl waived its right to
a hearing, and no hearing has been held.
Ths subject of EEl’s variance petition is the Joppa Station,
a 1050 megawatt electric generating station located in Massac
County.
In a prior variance proceeding, PCB 75-106, the Board
granted EEl a variance from Rule 204(e)
of Chapter
2:
Air Pollu-
tion Regulations,
for the Joppa Station.
EEl’s compliance plan
included the construction of three new 550 foot stacks by
October
31, 1978.
In the variance petition filed in this matter,
EEl indicates that it has experienced delays in constructing its
new stacks and requests that its variance be extended until
December 31, 1978.
EEl has completed the other portions of its compliance
program, which included installation of an ambient sulfur dioxide
monitor and implementation of a fuel blending program.
The con-
ditions which have caused delays in the construction of the stacks
are detailed in EEl’s petition.
In July of 1978,
the contractor
responsible for the stack liners and duct work indicated that
it
might not meet the schedule.
The contractor has adopted an expan-
ded work schedule, but even with this schedule it appears that all
of the stacks will not be connected to the generating units until
November
5.
EEl indicates
that, based upon experience
to date
and the tightness of the schedule, several more weeks’
delay may
occur.
32—57
—2—
The Joppa Station’s maximum sulfur dioxide emissions were
41,783 pounds per hour.
The facility’s allowable emissions under
Fule
204(e) with stack height allowance of 407.3
feet are 36,865
pounds per hour.
As required by the Order in PCB 75-106,
EEl has
implemented a coal—blending program which has reduced the rate of
SO2 emissions to 36,865 pounds per hour.
The area
in which the
Joppa Station is located is currently designated a non-attainment
area for sulfur dioxide emissions.
EEl has proceeded with its compliance program as expedi-
tiously as possible.
The two month variance sought herein is
reasonable.
EEl
is using a coal blend in
its boilers which will
limit its maximum SO2 emissions
to below 36,865 pounds per hour.
The Board
finds that denial of the requested variance would impose
an arbitrary and unreasonable hardship on EEl.
We will,
therefore,
grant EEl variance until December
31,
1978,
subject to the condi-
tions listed in our Order.
ORDER
It is the Order of the Pollution Control Board that Electric
Energy,
Inc., be and is hereby granted variance for its Joppa
Station from Rules
103,
104 and 204(e) of Chapter
2 until
December 31, 1978,
subject to the conditions listed below:
1.
EEl will construct and place in service all three
chimneys with a total height allowance of 407.3 feet as
soon as possible, but in no event later than December 31,
1978;
2.
EEl will utilize
a coal blend
in all of its boilers
at the Joppa Station which will limit the maximum sulfur
dioxide emissions to 36,865 pounds per hour;
3.
EEl will submit sulfur dioxide ambient air monitor-
ing data monthly reports
to the Agency from its monitor
which was scheduled to be installed no later than June
30,
1977,
as required by PCB Order 75—106 dated September
1,
1977, and submit monthly reports using the ‘~Saroad
Hourly Data Form”
to the Agency;
4.
Upon completion of construction
and commencement of
service of the new chimneys, EEl will apply for an oper-
ating permit indicating all modifications to previously
submitted permit applications;
32—58
—3—
5.
EEl
is hereby notified that,
in the event it fails
to achieve final compliance with Rule 204(e)
by July
1,
1979,
it will be required to pay a noncompliance penalty
pursuant to Section 120 of the Clean Air Act
a.s amended
in 1977
(42 U.S.C.
7401 et ~~j;
6.
Within 45 days of the adoption of this Order,
the
Electric Energy Co.,
Inc.
shall execute and forward to
Mr. John Williams, Technical Advisor, Illinois Environmen-
tal Protection Agency,
2200 Churchill Road,
Springfield,
Illinois
62706,
a Certification of Acceptance and Agree-
ment to be bound to all terms and conditions of this
Order.
The
45 day period shall be held
in abeyance during
any period this matter
is being appealed.
The form of
said certification shall be as follows:
I
(We),
___________________________,
having read and fully
understanding the Order of the Illinois Pollution Control Board
in PCB 78-227, hereby accept said Order and agree to be bound
by all of the terms and conditions thereof.
SIGNED ___________________________
TITLE
______________
___________
DATE ________________________________
I,
Christan
L. Moffett,
Clerk of the Illinois Pollution
Control Board, her~y certify the above Opinion and Order were
adopted on the
Q~’~
day of
fr~.4).~t
,
1978 by
a vote
of
__________
Illinois
Control Board
32—59