This news item expired on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
The Western North Carolina Regional Air Quality Agency (WNCRAQA) announces the issuance of Title V Permit No. 11-628-16 to Duke Energy Progress, Inc. - Asheville Steam Electric Plant located at 200 CP&L Drive in Arden, North Carolina.
The Asheville Steam Electric Plant operates two coal-fired boilers and two natural gas / No. 2 fuel oil-fired, simple-cycle combustion turbines. The permit was renewed as required every five years. The primary purpose of the Title V permit is to consolidate and identify existing local and federal air quality requirements applicable to Duke Energy Progress, Inc. - Asheville Steam Electric Plant, and to provide practical methods for determining compliance with these requirements. The permit has been prepared in accordance with WNCRAQA Air Quality Code, Chapter 17, Section .0500 – “Title V Procedures” and Title V of the Federal Clean Air Act. This permit is enforceable by WNCRAQA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and citizens as defined under the Federal Clean Air Act.
A public hearing was requested and held on April 29, 2015. The public comment period ran through May 7, 2015. The agency received 690 comments on the draft permit. The draft permit was amended in response to comments. No EPA comments were received during the 45-day review period, which ended on May 30, 2016. Subsequently, the WNCRAQA Board of Directors approved the permit at their meeting on July 11, 2016.
The final permit, the permit application and other relevant information are available for public review at the following address: Western North Carolina Regional Air Quality Agency, 125 South Lexington Avenue, Suite 101, Asheville, NC 28801. Materials are available for review during the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
For additional information, please contact Ashley Featherstone, Permitting Program Manager, at (828) 250-6778 or ashley.featherstone@buncombecounty.org.