The state Department of Environmental Protection has announced a public hearing to be held on September 13th to discuss a proposed plan to bring our area’s coal-fired power plants into compliance with 2010 federal air quality standards.
The Indiana area, which is defined by the state as all of Indiana County and Plumcreek Township, South Bend Township, and Elderton Borough in Armstrong County. That encompasses the two power plants in Seward, the Homer City Generating Station, and the Keystone Generating Station in Shelocta. The region is currently termed a “non-attainment” area, which means it has failed to reach the standards, and must therefore implement a revised State Implementation Plan to the federal government.
Computer models of the revised plan predict that the four power plants will achieve attainment by the mandated date of October 4th next year.
Although the public meeting is in regard to the Indiana area, DEP for some reason scheduled it in Pittsburgh, at its Southwest Regional Office at 500 Waterfront Drive. It’s scheduled to get underway at one o’clock, and again, that’s on September 13th.
