US EPA probes Xcel plant for possible air emissions violations

Washington (Platts)--27Jan2004

The US Environmental Protection Agency is launching an investigation into Xcel Energy subsidiary Louisiana Generating and its Big Cajun-2 coal-fired plant for possible violations of the Clean Air Act's new source review requirements, an agency spokeswoman said Tuesday. EPA, in a Jan 22 letter to the Louisiana Generating, requested specific information about projects at each of the 1,848-MW plant's three units. Louisiana Generating has 30 days to provide the information, including all work done on the units between 1990 to present and future projects through 2009. The agency also wants all documents related to air pollution compliance reviews, annual emission inventories of the plant and whether the Louisiana plant has installed or plans to install pollution control equipments to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide between 1997 and 2009. EPA also has stepped up its request for information from Salt River Project's 822-MW, two-unit Coronado Generating Station. In a Jan 23 letter to SRP, EPA requested specific information about the Arizona state-run power provider's coal-fired plant as part of its investigation into whether the plant is in compliance with the Clean Air Act. EPA said SRP has yet to provide the information despite the agency's request a year ago. SRP has 45 days to comply with EPA's request. NSR requirements call for coal-fired units that undergo modifications or upgrades that boost their emissions output to obtain new permits or install pollution control technologies.