CLEARFIELD – A handful of people turned out Tuesday night to learn the specifics of a construction air quality permit applied for by Bionol Clearfield, a subsidiary of Bioenergy International LLC, Tuesday night at St. Francis School.
The application in question is for the construction of the proposed 108-million-gallon-per-year ethanol plant scheduled to be built on the site of the Clearfield Technology Park in Clearfield Borough. The operation of the facility is not included in the current permit application and will require a separate permit but not a separate public hearing.
The evening began with presentations from both BioEnergy and the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Both BioEnergy and the DEP answered questions from the audience.
Sam McConnell, vice president of development for BioEnergy, said the plant will be a “minor source” of air emissions, according to the DEP and federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.
McConnell outlined the company’s plan to use natural gas to fire boilers and dryers that are part of the process used to produce ethanol. This fuel, McConnell noted, is cleaner than some other options that could be used in the process.
He said the company also has worked in a wet scrubber, a device that uses water to remove pollutants, and an RTO or regenerative thermal oxidizer. The RTO’s function is to control a certain type of pollutant referred to as a volatile organic compound.
VTOs come from a variety of sources, including such household products as paint and aerosol sprays.
Of the company’s emissions control measures, McConnell said, “The combination of all this achieves the maximum control for an ethanol facility of this size.”
David Aldenderfer, air quality program manager for the DEP, agreed, noting that the company had already passed the “Best Available Technology” test the department uses to determine whether an air quality permit should be considered for a public hearing, the step presented Tuesday.
Following the hearing, the DEP used a court reporter to record testimony from four people, two for and two against the project. Those who did not comment at the hearing or did not attend may submit their comments and questions through Tuesday by submitting their comments, in writing, to the DEP.
All questions will be answered in writing before a permit can be approved or denied by the DEP.
During the hearing, Clearfield County Commissioner Mark McCracken said, “This project by BioEnergy is a key component to bringing new industry to Clearfield County.”
“I think that they will pollute the air just by having the emissions,” said Teri Smith of Clearfield, who commented that she learned the term “greenwashing” through her research on ethanol plants.
There is a 30-day window in which the public may comment on the permit. That time limit expires Sept. 10.
Those who would like to view the permit may do so by contacting Kathy Arndt at the DEP office in Williamsport at (570) 327-3693. Anyone who would like to make an appointment is advised to do so at least a week in advance before traveling to Williamsport to view the permit.
After the public comment period expires, Aldenderfer said the DEP could make their decision on the permit within that week.