PDEQ Extending Public Comment Period and Adding Public Hearing for TEP Power Plant
Feb 26, 2018
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Read More NewsThe Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) is extending the public comment period and adding an additional public hearing for the proposed revision to the existing Air Quality Permit No. 1052 to Tucson Electric Power (TEP) Irvington/H.Wilson Sundt Generating Station (IGS) located at 3950 E. Irvington Rd. TEP is proposing to modernize the station by replacing two 1950's era steam units (i.e., Units 1 and 2) with ten natural gas-fired combustion engines. TEP plans to expand renewable energy resources to 30 percent by 2030. The new engines are able to ramp up more quickly to meet community needs and balance the variability associated with solar and wind energy generation.
The project expects to cause an increase in emissions of carbon monoxide, particulate matter (fine particles PM2.5 and coarse particles PM10) and volatile organic compounds. Pima County has completed an extensive review of the permit application, examined the air quality impact analysis 
of the project and considered environmental justice to protect the health and environment of minority, low-income, tribal and indigenous populations. PDEQ has also worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Park Service to create a permit that will protect public health and meet air quality regulations while allowing TEP to update the facility to meet future customer needs. A chronological list of the documentation related to this complex process from the projects inception to the proposed permit revision is available to view on the PDEQ webpage.
PDEQ will hold a second formal Public Hearing on March 28, 2018 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Pima County Public Works Building at 201 N Stone basement Conference Room C. This is in addition to the currently scheduled formal Public Hearing to be held on March 1, 2018, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Abrams Public Health Center, 3950 S. Country Club Road, Tucson, in Conference Room 1108. The purpose of these meetings is to obtain public comments on the proposed RICE project. The official Public Comment Period, during which anyone can submit written comments to the PDEQ regarding this project, began on February 9, 2018 and has been extended from March 12 to March 29, 2018.
All written comments shall state the name and mailing address of the person, shall be signed by the person, his agent or his attorney and shall clearly set forth the reasons why the permit should or should not be issued. Grounds for comment are limited to whether the proposed permit meets the criteria for issuance prescribed in the Arizona Revised Statutes Section § 49-481 and Title 17 of the Pima County Code. Only persons who submit written comments during the official public comment period may appeal a permit decision. Comments and requests may be mailed to: PDEQ, Air Program Manager, Rupesh Patel, 33 N. Stone Avenue, Suite 700, Tucson, Arizona 85701 or via e-mail at air.permits@pima.gov. PDEQ does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, or age in its programs or activities in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Further, any person who is in need of special services (e.g., written material in large type, signer for the hearing impaired, or for free assistance in Spanish), please contact PDEQ’s Environmental Justice Program Manager, Beth Gorman, 33 N. Stone Avenue, Suite 700, Tucson, Arizona, 85701, Phone (520) 724-7446, email beth.gorman@pima.gov.