Public hearing draws opposition from dozens of citizens.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it will extend the public comment period for an Air Draft Permit for a proposed municipal solid waste gasification plant in Cleveland. Ohio EPA says it has extended the public comment period by 12 days after receiving requests from the community for an extension. Citizens will have until July 1 to submit their comments.
If the permit is issued as final, it would allow, Cleveland Public Power (CPP) to construct a waste-to-energy facility at 3727 Ridge Rd. in Cleveland. According to Ohio EPA, the facility would house three municipal solid waste gasifier processing lines to produce syngas. The syngas would be burned in a furnace to produce heat, which would in turn be converted to steam in a heat recovery system generator.
A meeting held June 12 with Ohio EPA and Cleveland Division of Air Quality (CDAQ) drew nearly 60 Cleveland residents who spoke out in opposition to the proposed permit, citing air emissions from the plant. The application submitted by CPP was reportedly a revised version of an earlier application. The new application reduces the number of gasifiers from four units to three units. It also increased the height of the smokestack. The modifications classify the plant as “minor source” of emissions.
Citizens may submit comments in writing to: Cleveland Division of Air Quality, Attn: David Hearne, 75 Erieview Plaza, Suite 200, Cleveland, OH, 44114. A decision on issuing a final permit will be made after considering all questions and comments submitted by July 1. A copy of the draft air permit is available at http://wwwapp.epa.ohio.gov/dapc/permits_issued/1010783.pdf.