News Release: Settlement with Dominion Energy Reduces Harmful Pollution in Three States and Downwind Communities
04/01/2013
CONTACT:
Dale Kemery (News media only)
Dale Kemery (News media only)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2013
Settlement with Dominion Energy Reduces Harmful Pollution in Three States and Downwind Communities
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that Dominion Energy has
agreed to pay a $3.4 million civil penalty and spend approximately $9.8
million on environmental mitigation projects to resolve Clean Air Act
(CAA) violations.
The
settlement will result in reductions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur
dioxide, and particulate matter by more than 70,000 tons per year,
across three of the utility’s coal-fired power plants, located in
Kincaid, Ill., State Line, Ind., and Somerset, Mass.
“Today’s settlement substantially reduces harmful pollution from coal-fired power plants in and around communities with significant air pollution concerns,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Along
with the pollution reductions at the three power plants covered by the
agreement, the settlement also requires Dominion to invest over $9
million in pollution reducing projects in neighboring communities."
“This
settlement will improve air quality in states in the Midwest and
Northeast by eliminating tens of thousands of tons of harmful air
pollution each year,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, assistant attorney general
for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources
Division. “These reductions mark the latest step in our continuing
efforts, along with EPA, to protect public health and the environment
through rigorous enforcement of the Clean Air Act.”
Under
the settlement, Dominion must install or upgrade pollution control
technology on two plants, and permanently retire a third plant. Dominion
will be required to continuously operate the new and existing pollution
controls, and will be required to comply with stringent emission rates
and annual tonnage limitations. The actions taken by Dominion to comply
with this settlement will result in annual reductions at the Brayon
Point and Kincaid plants of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)
emissions by 52,000 tons from 2010 levels. The retirement of the State
Line plant will result in an additional reduction of 18,000 tons of SO2 and NOx.
The
settlement also requires Dominion to spend $9.75 million on projects
that will benefit the environment and human health in communities
located near the Dominion facilities. A total of $9 million will be
spent on such projects as ; 1) wood stove changeouts, including $2
million for changeouts in southeastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and
eastern Connecticut; 2) switcher locomotive idle reduction for Chicago rail yards, 3) land acquisition and restoration adjacent to, or near, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, 4) energy efficiency and geothermal/solar projects for local schools and food banks, and 5) clean
diesel engine retrofits for municipalities and school districts.
Dominion must also pay a total of $750,000 to the United States Forest
Service and the National Park Service, to be used on projects to address
the damage done from Dominion’s alleged excess emissions.
Reducing
air pollution from the largest sources of emissions, including
coal-fired power plants, is one of EPA’s National Enforcement
Initiatives for 2011-2013. SO2 and NOx, two key
pollutants emitted from power plants, have numerous adverse effects on
human health and are significant contributors to acid rain, smog, and
haze. These pollutants are converted in the air to fine particles of
particulate matter that can cause severe respiratory and cardiovascular
impacts, and premature death. Reducing these harmful air pollutants will
benefit the communities located near Dominion facilities, particularly
communities disproportionately impacted by environmental risks and
vulnerable populations, including children. Because air pollution from
power plants can travel significant distances downwind, this settlement
will also reduce air pollution outside the immediate region. The
total combined sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emission reductions
secured from all power plant settlements to date will exceed nearly 2
million tons each year once all the required pollution controls have
been installed and implemented.
The
settlement was lodged today in the U.S. District Court for the Central
District of Illinois, and is subject to a 30-day public comment period
and final court approval.
More information about the settlement: www.epa.gov/enforcement/air/
More information about EPA’s national enforcement initiative: www.epa.gov/compliance/data/
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