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Additional plant hearing set
dbryce@journalnet.com
POCATELLO -- Southeast Idaho Energy LLC, which proposes a coal-gasification plant to make fertilizer near American Falls, posted its most recent permit application on Sept. 22 and three public meetings were scheduled for the project. But Greg Helm, of Pocatello, said the degree of public interest generated by the proposed plant called for an additional public hearing. The Department of Environmental Quality agreed and scheduled a fourth informational meeting and public hearing at Pocatello City Hall on Oct. 20.
Helm said the permits will regulate emissions generated by the fertilizer manufacturing plant, which will use coal gasification technology. The DEQ determined that operation at the facility under the proposed permit will not cause or contribute to violation of ambient air quality standards and will not harm or affect human or animal life or local vegetation.
The $1 billion facility would be located near American Falls and would use coal gasification to produce the fertilizer. Southeast Idaho Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of Refined Energy Holdings, LLC, is the permit applicant. During the Sept. 22 meeting, DEQ officials said the facility's operations shouldn't exceed air quality standards for several controlled emissions, including particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.
However, officials said that the facility, like most other industrial plants, will release large amounts of carbon dioxide, but added that it's not regulated as a pollutant. DEQ spokesman Tom Hornyak said the plant will emit CO2 for a period of years, but a 120-mile pipeline to Wyoming, where the gas would eventually be used to enhance oil recovery, is planned.
The Oct. 20 information meeting is scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. By Debbie Bryce
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