WildEarth Guardians

Tuesday, August 23, 2011
WildEarth Guardians Calls on EPA to Strengthen Clean Air Plan for Nevada

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

Denver—WildEarth Guardians is leading the charge to strengthen a clean air plan for the State of Nevada, which would actually allow more air pollution from coal-fired power plants 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, which would approve a plan to reduce haze pollution within and outside of the State of Nevada.  Among the flaws:

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

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

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

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

“Basically, Nevada settled on the cheapest clean air plan and 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 to approve it.”

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

To reduce haze, states are required to adopt a number of requirements.  Among them is a requirement that older and dirtier industrial facilities be retrofitted with the best available pollution controls. 

In Nevada, the 612 megawatt Reid Gardner coal-fired power plant is the most significant source of air pollution subject to the retrofit requirements.  Every year, the plant releases 4,064 tons of smog and haze forming nitrogen oxides, 1,238 tons of 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, and 74 asthma attacks at a cost of more than $26 million annually.

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

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

“We are incredibly disappointed by the EPA’s proposed approval of Nevada’s regional haze plan,” said Nichols.  “Instead of tackling the very real threat 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’s plan and adopt its own federal plan.  In its comments, Guardians called on the EPA to adopt a federal plan until Nevada agrees to adopt a legally adequate pollution reduction strategy.