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EPA to hold two public hearings on proposed pollution controls at Reid Gardner Generating Station

Release Date: 04/30/2012
Contact Information: Margot Perez-Sullivan, (415) 947-4149, [email protected]

SAN FRANCISCO—The EPA recently proposed to limit nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions at Reid Gardner Generating Station in Moapa Valley, Nevada, as part of a national effort to reduce regional haze that impairs visibility at protected national parks and wilderness areas. The proposal published on April 12, 2012 would establish lower limits for NO_x emissions under Federal and state plans that require the facility to install Best Available Retrofit Technology to control these emissions.

On Thursday, May 3, 2012 the EPA will host two separate public hearings as well as informational sessions in advance of the public hearings. The first hearing is at the Big Auditorium in the Administration Building of Moapa Band of Paiutes on 1 Lincoln Street in Moapa from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, with an informational session from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. The second hearing is at the Ron Dalley Theater of Moapa Valley Empowerment High School on 2400 St. Joseph Street in Overton from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, with an informational session from 5:00 to 6:00 pm.

Any person may provide written comments, oral comments and/or data pertaining to the proposal at either the public hearings or directly to EPA on or before June 4, the close of the public comment period. The Agency intends to respond to comments and take final action no later than July 13.

The proposed actions are designed to reduce the fine particle air pollution that results in visibility impairment, known as regional haze. This haze obscures the view of scenery and objects at a distance, reducing the beauty of our protected natural areas.

Congress set the goal of the “prevention of any future, and the remedying of any existing, impairment of visibility in mandatory Class I Federal areas which impairment results from manmade air pollution.” These Class I areas include 156 national parks and wilderness areas such as the Grand Canyon National Park. Under EPA’s Regional Haze Rule, the states are required to establish long-term strategies for making reasonable progress toward achieving natural visibility in Class 1 areas.

For more information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/region9/air/actions/nv.html