UNC-Chapel Hill’s air quality permit application decision coming soon

COMMUNITY NEWS

CHAPEL HILL – A decision by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) on UNC-Chapel Hill’s air permit application should be completed in the coming weeks, NCDEQ Public Information Officer Shawn Taylor told TLR on Monday.

Last month’s public hearing for UNC-Chapel Hill’s draft air quality permit for their cogeneration plant occurred on Jan. 16, and the public comment period ended on Jan. 23. The hearing was well-attended with over 300 comments received by the Hearing Officer.

“The Hearing Officer is in the process of reviewing all public comments and preparing a Hearing Officer’s Report for the Division of Air Quality Director’s consideration, which may contain recommendations for changes to the draft permit and/or draft technical review based on public comments,” said Taylor.

According to Tayor, the Division of Air Quality Director Mike Abraczinskas will review the Hearing Officer’s Report and decide which (if any) recommendations should be acted upon before the Division takes final action on the draft permit. This process should be completed in the coming weeks as well. We will announce our final action on UNC’s air permit application in a press release that will include a link to the Hearing Officer’s Report.

What is the NCDEQ?

The mission statement of the North Carolina Department of Air Quality reads:

The Division of Air Quality (DAQ) works with the state’s residents to protect and improve outdoor, or ambient, air quality in North Carolina for the health, benefit and economic well-being of all. To carry out this mission, the DAQ operates a statewide air quality monitoring network to measure the level of pollutants in the outdoor air, develops and implements plans to meet future air quality initiatives, issues clear and comprehensive permits, assures compliance with air quality rules, and educates, informs and assists the public with regard to air quality issues.

The DAQ determines if UNC-Chapel Hill’s cogeneration plant UNC’s cogeneration facility located at 575 W. Cameron Ave. in Chapel Hill will be allowed to amend its Title V air quality permit to burn engineered pellets to supplement its current usage of fuels. The plant currently burns coal and natural gas to produce electricity and steam for the UNC campus, including the UNC-Chapel Hill hospital. The pros and cons of the revision were presented in this TLR article prior to the hearing.

UNC’s coal-burning cogeneration facility abutting residences on Cameron Avenue. Photo by Michelle Cassell.

TLR will continue to follow this important story relevant to our community.

Michelle Cassell is a seasoned reporter who has covered everything from crime to hurricanes and local politics to human interest over the course of 35 years. As editor, she hopes to encourage writers of a wide range of backgrounds and interests in TLR’s coverage of Southern Orange County news.
This reporter can be reached at: Information@TheLocal Reporter.press.