The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a January 21 open house and a February 11 public hearing on plans by Tenaska Pennsylvania Partners, LLC for a natural gas fired power station in South Huntington Township, Westmoreland County.

In order to begin construction, the company must obtain an air quality plan approval and a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit from DEP.

In the air quality plan approval application, Tenaska requests permission to construct and temporarily operate the gas-fired facility. The company’s NPDES application requests to discharge water used to cool the power generation equipment into the Youghiogheny River.

DEP has issued draft approvals for both requests which include conditions specifying how these air emissions and wastewater discharges must be controlled.

An open house and environmental justice listening session has been scheduled for January 21 at the Turkeytown South Huntington Volunteer Fire Department hall (Huntington Place), located at 90 Supervisor Drive, West Newton, to get public input on these draft approvals. The open house begins at 6:00 p.m.

Representatives from Tenaska and DEP will make brief informational presentations. Attendees will be able to ask questions and discuss the proposed project with company representatives.

On February 11, a formal public hearing will be held at the same location. The hearing will begin at 6:00 p.m. Members of the public will be able to provide testimony on the draft approvals at the hearing.

Those wishing to make comments should register with Community Relations Coordinator John Poister either by email to: jpoister@pa.gov  or call 412-442-4203. There will also be an opportunity to register on-site on the evening of the hearing.

Those unable to attend the hearing may submit written comments to the Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Please note on the envelope that you are commenting on the Tenaska proposals.

The public comment period will close on February 23.

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1/12/2015