Public Concerns Over Proposed Peaking Turbine Near Libertyville Should Be Focused at Local Level

Springfield, Ill. -- In response to a request that the permit issued in February to a proposed Indeck peaking turbine in Libertyville be revoked and a public hearing be held, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has reaffirmed that the facility has met the preliminary requirements for an air construction permit.

"There simply is no provision in the law for reopening the permit based on the information we have received to date. Indeck has met the requirements for issuance of a construction permit. At this point, the issues concern zoning and land use, matters that under Illinois law are left to local government -- in this case, the Village of Libertyville," Illinois EPA Director Thomas Skinner said.

"If this facility receives local zoning approval and is constructed, Illinois EPA will rigorously monitor and enforce the air emission limits and other terms of the permit. In addition, the facility will be subject to Illinois' stringent noise control standards," he added.

There will also be an opportunity for a public hearing and comment before the Agency makes a decision on an operating permit, Skinner also noted.

Under the law, Illinois EPA only has authority to consider potential air pollution impacts of a proposed facility and cannot base its decision on such issues as land use, property value impact and esthetics that are subject to local jurisdiction.

Before the facility can receive an operating permit, it must demonstrate that it meets the air pollution limits and other conditions in the construction permit.

During the period from December 10, 1998 through February 25, 1999, when the Indeck/Libertyville permit application was under review, no requests for public hearing were submitted to Illinois EPA and Illinois EPA was not made aware of any public concern about the project.

Typically, peaking plants operate only two or three months a year when there is high electric demand. Recent deregulation in the electric industry has spurred plans for several such facilities.

The proposed Indeck facility in Libertyville has a nitrogen oxides emission limit of 173 tons per year, qualifying it as a minor source, since the threshold for a major source starts at 250 tons per year.

The turbine proposed for Indeck/Libertyville also substantially exceeds New Source Performance Standards limiting nitrogen oxide emissions to 75 parts per million. The Libertyville application reflects an emission rate of only 15 parts per million.

The facility would use natural gas as a fuel, which essentially eliminates concerns over particulate matter (soot) and sulfur dioxide emissions that are a concern when coal or oil is used.