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EPA takes action on Billings/Laurel air quality plan

Release Date: 3/27/2002
Contact Information:
EPA 303-312-6005,

Release Date: 3/27/2002
Contact Information:
EPA 303-312-6004,

Release Date: 3/27/2002
Contact Information:
EPA 303-312-6437,

Release Date: 3/27/2002
Contact Information:
EPA 303-312-6603,

Release Date: 3/27/2002
Contact Information:
EPA 800-227-8917
DENVER–EPA today announced it is partially approving the State of Montana’s air quality plan, known as a State Implementation Plan (SIP). However, the Agency also is rejecting portions of the State’s plan designed to keep air quality within the health limits for sulfur dioxide (SO2).

The SIP shows how Billings and Laurel will meet national clean air standards and includes individual pollution control plans for each SO2 source (e.g. chemical manufacturing facilities, refineries and power plants). Sulfur dioxide in the air can lead to breathing difficulty in asthmatics, worsen respiratory illnesses and contribute to other human health and environmental problems.

Agency officials said they are approving much of the State’s plan to control or reduce sulfur dioxide emissions from seven industrial facilities in the area. Once EPA approves the State’s sulfur dioxide control plan, it can be enforced by EPA and citizens, as well as the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

EPA also announced it plans to prepare a federal plan to cover the disapproved parts of the State plan. The Agency explained it will not approve parts of the State’s sulfur dioxide control plan that allow unacceptably tall smoke stacks (at Montana Sulphur & Chemical Company) to disperse sulfur dioxide emissions into the air rather than control them.

When determining whether an area’s air quality plan will meet national standards for specific air pollutants, EPA restricts the amount of credit a company may claim based on smoke stack height. Otherwise, companies could avoid installing needed pollution control equipment simply by building taller smoke stacks designed to scatter pollution downwind. Pollution dispersed downwind can affect the air quality of other communities and poses health risks and environmental problems.

EPA contends it is important for both fairness -- companies not complying with the stack height regulations have an unfair competitive advantage over those that do -- and environmental protection concerns to apply these rules in a consistent manner. If Clean Air Act goals are to be achieved, each air pollution source and each locality must do what is necessary and required.

Additionally, EPA will not approve portions of Montana’s air plan that do not address controls for sulfur dioxide gas emissions caused by flaring (from three refineries and two sulfur recovery plants). Flaring devices burn hazardous chemical compounds that would otherwise be emitted directly to the atmosphere; however, SO2 emissions are released into the air as a result of this burning process.

In a related issue, EPA announced it will propose approval, limited approval and limited disapproval of other revisions to the Billings/Laurel portion of the SIP submitted by the State. The Agency invites public comment on the proposal.

EPA plans to publish a public notice in the Federal Register describing all the steps taken concerning the final action on the State’s air pollution control plan, and the related proposed action.