EPA: No objection to refinery permit

BY TAMMY KRIKORIAN
Mar 22, 2005

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency decided Monday that it does not object to the draft air permit for a proposed oil refinery in Yuma County.

Wendy Chavez, EPA spokeswoman, said the EPA had 45 days to review the permit and worked with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to ensure that all federal requirements were satisfied by Arizona Clean Fuels, the Phoenix-based company that wants to build the refinery.

Chavez said the permit will now go to a 60-day petition period, during which public commentors can petition the EPA in support or opposition of the permit. Only issues addressed during the previous comment period may be raised.

However, Steve Owens, director of ADEQ, and Ian Calkins, spokesman for Arizona Clean Fuels, both said they are not aware of any such comment period.

"There is no requirement for an additional comment period," said Owens. "They did not object to the permit, we've done all our public notice and comment".

Owens said the ADEQ will need to make a few minor technical changes to the 500-page permit to meet the EPA requirements, and they anticipate finalizing the permit by the end of next week.

"We're obviously pleased with the EPA's decision, it's something we've been expecting for a while," Owens said.

Owens said ADEQ has worked very closely with the EPA throughout the entire process and it's the toughest permit that's ever been posed for a refinery.

"If built, it will be the cleanest refinery ever built," Owens said.

"We had every reason to believe that the EPA was not going to object," Calkins said. "It's no surprise to us. We had gone backwards and forwards with our permit application to make sure we were complying. ... We're delighted that the EPA has allowed the permit now to proceed. It allows us to move on to the next step, to secure remaining permits and secure investment capital."

Calkins said it is just a matter of process for ADEQ to finalize the permit.

By not objecting, the EPA "confirms for us that our permit application is complete and demonstrates full compliance. ... For that we're excited, and we move on to next phase of the project," Calkins said.

Erin Horner, spokeswoman for Yuma Citizens for Clean Air, could not be reached for comment Monday, but told The Sun prior to the decision that the group would consider appealing if the EPA approved the permit.

After the permit went through several revisions, the ADEQ set maximum allowable emissions standards at 1,891 tons of pollutants per year.

Once ADEQ issues the permit, ACF will seek approval on about two dozen other federal, state and local permits needed to build and operate the refinery.

The Bureau of Land Management will produce an environmental impact statement before ACF can move forward. The statement is expected to be complete in late 2005.

Tammy Krikorian can be reached at tkrikorian@yumasun.com or 539-6847

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