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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2012

Contact: Lawrence Ragonese (609) 292-2994
Lawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795

CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION INTERVENES IN FEDERAL COURT CHALLENGE
TO NEW JERSEY CLEAN AIR ACT PETITION

(12/P10) TRENTON - The Department of Environmental Protection has filed a motion today in federal court to intervene in a Pennsylvania power plant’s challenge to a federal Clean Air Act permit that requires it to substantially reduce air emissions that are harming New Jersey’s air quality. The power plant, located in Portland, Pa., releases hundreds of tons of pollutants a day into several North Jersey counties, said Commissioner Bob Martin.

The state is seeking permission from the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals to intervene in response to the power company’s appeal of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision in the matter. The EPA last year granted a request by DEP, under Section 126 of the Clean Air Act, to force GenOn Energy, owner of the Portland plant, to cut emissions 60 percent by 2013, and by at least 81 percent in three years.

EPA’s decision was a significant victory for thousands of North Jersey residents who are impacted by air emissions from the Portland facility. It was the first time EPA had granted a petition regarding a power plant across state borders.
 
“It is a priority of the Christie Administration to improve air quality in New Jersey and that includes continuing to target out-of-state sources of air pollution,’’ said Commissioner Martin. “We support EPA in this challenge for the benefit of air quality in New Jersey and for the health of our residents.’’

“The amount of emissions coming from the Portland plant is staggering,’’ added Commissioner Martin. “The continuing negative effects on public health cannot be tolerated. We intend to press the courts to force GenOn to meet Clean Air Act requirements.’’

In 2010, the Portland plant emitted more than 30,000 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), plus mercury and other contaminants into the air across the Delaware River and directly onto residents Warren County. It also negatively impacts air quality in Morris, Sussex and Hunterdon counties, and also Pennsylvania. It pumps out more sulfur dioxide than all of New Jersey’s power plants combined.

The Christie Administration has taken a tough stance against out of state air pollution. In addition to the action against the Portland plant, New Jersey has joined New York, Pennsylvania and the U.S. government in a lawsuit against the Homer City Station, a 1,884-megawatt power plant in western Pennsylvania that is one of the most polluting power plants in the nation.

New Jersey also has joined Connecticut, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania in a lawsuit seeking to require Greensburg, Pa.-based Allegheny Energy Inc. and subsidiaries of First Energy to install pollution-control equipment, as required by the federal Clean Air Act and Pennsylvania law, to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide at three power plants. First Energy recently announced one of those plants would be shut down.

In 2011, the DEP’s air monitoring station in Knowlton Township, Warren County, which is 1 mile from the Portland, Pa. power plant, recorded the highest short-term sulfur dioxide levels in New Jersey, due to emissions from the Portland generating station. The sulfur dioxide coming from the plant is known to cause a variety of adverse health effects, including asthma and respiratory failure, and environmental impacts such as acid rain and decreased visibility.

Air pollution from this plant is not limited to sulfur dioxide, but also includes high levels of nitrogen oxides, mercury, hydrochloric acid, lead and other air pollutants.

The EPA, in granting the State’s 126 Petition, provided the owners of the power plant with flexibility to choose the most cost-effective strategy for meeting these emissions limits, including installing proven and widely available pollution control technologies. The DEP wants modern air pollution controls, including a scrubber, to be installed to substantially reduce the Portland plant’s emissions.

For a copy of DEP’s motion to intervene in the Section 126 Petition appeal, visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/docs/petition20120206.pdf

Full text of New Jersey’s 126 petitions on the Portland/RRI issue can be found at:
http://www.nj.gov/dep/baqp/petition/126petition.htm

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