Wilkes-Barre, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is hosting a public hearing to take testimony from the public regarding Panther Creek Power Operating, LLC's application for a plan approval to burn tire-derived fuel (TDF) as a supplemental fuel source at its facility in Nesquehoning, Carbon County. TDF is fuel made up of shredded scrap tires, and may be mixed with coal or other fuels.
The hearing will take place on Monday, December 18 from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM at Panther Valley Junior/Senior High School, located at 912 Coal Region Way, Lansford, PA 18232. Representatives from DEP’s Air Quality Program will be in attendance to listen to public testimony.
If approved, the plan would allow Panther Creek to burn TDF as a supplemental fuel up to 15% by weight on a monthly basis. TDF will be chipped and processed before being delivered to Panther Creek, by other non-affiliated parties to meet the definition of a fuel under EPA’s Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials Rule (NHSM). If approved the plan approval would be incorporated into Panther Creek’s existing Title V operating permit through an administrative amendment at a later date. That action would be published as a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
DEP received Panther Creek’s application on June 15, 2023. The public comment period for the plan approval began on November 18, 2023 and ends on December 28, 2023.
DEP requests that those who wish to testify at the hearing submit a written notice of their intent. The notice should be sent to Northeast Region Air Quality Manager, Mark Wejkszner P.E, at mwejkszner@pa.gov. Requests can also be mailed to 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701-1915. The Department will accept notices up to the day of the public hearing. This written notice should include the person’s name, address, telephone number, and a brief description as to the nature of the testimony.
Persons with a disability who wish to testify and require an auxiliary aid, service, or other accommodation should contact Colleen Connolly at coconnolly@pa.gov or the Pennsylvania Hamilton Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD) to discuss how DEP can meet their needs.
The Panther Creek plan approval application is available for review on DEP’s Northeast Office Community Information webpage or at the DEP Northeast Regional Office located at 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701. For further information, contact Colleen Connolly, Community Relations Coordinator of the Department's Northeast Regional Office at (570) 826-2035.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, please visit the website or follow DEP on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
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