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Coal-fired Power Plant, Other Fossil Fuels Let Off the Hook Over Their Air Pollution
Contact: Jeremy Nichols (303) 573-4898 x 1303

Denver—WildEarthGuardians is leading the charge to strengthen a clean air plan for the State ofNevada, which would actually allow more air pollution from coal-fired powerplants under a proposal from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In comment submitted late Monday, August 22^nd,Guardians pointed out a number of serious flaws in the EPA’s proposal, whichwould approve a plan to reduce haze pollution within and outside of the Stateof Nevada. Among the flaws:

• The plan actually allows more sulfur dioxidepollution from the Reid Gardner coal-fired power plant east of Las Vegas, eventhough the Clean Air Act requires emission reductions;

• The plan would allow the use of a third-rate controltechnology to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from the Reid Gardner coal-firedpower plant, even though the Clean Air Act requires that best availabletechnology be used to reduce emissions;

• The plan settles for the least possible progressin reducing haze pollution, even though the Clean Air Act requires thatprogress be based on the availability of cost-effective pollution controls;

• The plan fails to ensure that publichealth-based air quality standards are fully protected.

“Basically, Nevada settled on the cheapest clean air planand unfortunately, we stand to get what we paid for,” said Jeremy Nichols,WildEarth Guardians’ Climate and Energy Program Director. “This plan is a sham, plain and simple,and sadly, it’s public health and the environment that stand to lose most. It’s a shame that EPA has proposed toapprove it.”

Under the Clean Air Act, states have been obligated forseveral years to develop plans to reduce haze pollution, focusing on Class Iareas, which include most National Parks and Wilderness Areas. In Nevada, the Jarbidge Wilderness Areais the only Class I area, although several other Class I areas, including GrandCanyon National Park, lie within reach.

To reduce haze, states are required to adopt a number ofrequirements. Among them is arequirement that older and dirtier industrial facilities be retrofitted withthe best available pollution controls.

In Nevada, the 612 megawatt Reid Gardner coal-fired powerplant is the most significant source of air pollution subject to the retrofitrequirements. Every year, theplant releases 4,064 tons of smog and haze forming nitrogen oxides, 1,238 tonsof sulfur dioxide, and more than 3.4 million tons of carbon dioxide. According to the Clean Air Task Force,the plant every year contributes to four premature deaths, 5 heart attacks, and74 asthma attacks at a cost of more than $26 million annually.

Despite this, Nevada’s plan would allow Reid Gardner tocontinue to pollute at almost the same levels that it currently does.

In 2009, the EPA found that Nevada had failed to submit alegally required plan to reduce haze. This finding set an ultimatum for Nevada—submit a legally adequate planor the EPA will adopt its own federal plan to limit pollution in the State. Although the State ultimately submitteda plan, it is questionable whether EPA’s proposed approval will pass legalmuster.

“We are incredibly disappointed by the EPA’s proposedapproval of Nevada’s regional haze plan,” said Nichols. “Instead of tackling the very realthreat of air pollution, it gives a break to Nevada’s biggest polluters.”

The EPA now has two options: one, either finalize its proposal or two, reject Nevada’splan and adopt its own federal plan. In its comments, Guardians called on the EPA to adopt a federal planuntil Nevada agrees to adopt a legally adequate pollution reduction strategy.