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DEP Sets July 27 Hearing On Crawford Renewable Energy Air Permit
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The Department of Environmental Protection will host an informational public meeting and hearing July 27 on Crawford Renewable Energy’s draft air quality permit, also known as an air plan approval.
The company proposes to build a tires-to-energy plant at Keystone Regional Industrial Park in Greenwood Township, Crawford County, that will combust waste tire chips and capture heat to generate electricity.
The 6:30 p.m. public meeting will be at the Conneaut Lake High School Auditorium, 10331 U.S. Highway 6, in Conneaut Lake. DEP will explain its plans for review of the application and a question-and-answer session will follow the presentation. Crawford Renewable Energy representatives will be at the meeting to respond to questions about the proposed project.
In addition to the air plan approval, Crawford Renewable Energy has submitted applications for other permits or authorizations that will address several issues, including tire processing and storage, erosion and sedimentation control during and after construction, wetlands encroachment and industrial wastewater disposal. DEP staff will address the audience’s questions about those permit applications, as well.
At the conclusion of the public meeting, DEP will begin a public hearing, during which a stenographer will record testimony for the public record.
Unlike a public meeting, where the public can question DEP staff or applicants about specific topics and receive responses, a public hearing is a formal session where those wishing to testify will have a maximum of five minutes to present their verbal testimony about the draft air plan approval.
Those who have testimony that will extend beyond five minutes will be asked to submit that additional testimony in writing, either that evening or within a ten-day period following the hearing.
During a public hearing, DEP and the applicant are active listeners, but they do not respond to questions raised during testimony.
Those who wish to present oral testimony at the hearing should contact DEP Community Relations Coordinator Freda Tarbell at 814-332-6945 by July 20 to reserve a time to present testimony. Those who testify should bring three written copies of their oral testimony to the hearing. Organizations are encouraged to designate one witness to present testimony on behalf of the organization.
The Crawford Renewable Energy draft air plan approval appeared in the June 25 Pennsylvania Bulletin.
That announcement started a 30-day public comment period on the draft air plan approval, which will end July 25. The July 27 public meeting and public hearing will open the public comment period for another ten days.
Crawford Renewable Energy submitted its air quality permit application to DEP on Aug. 13, 2010, and the other permit applications followed.
The applications are available for review during normal business hours at DEP’s Northwest Regional Office Records Center, 230 Chestnut St., Meadville. Residents who would like to review any of the applications at DEP’s Northwest Regional Office should call Linda Conaway at 814-332-6340 to schedule an appointment.
The applications are also available for review at the Meadville Public Library, 848 N. Main St., Meadville.
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7/11/2011 |
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