Tire burning plan draws concern in Nesquehoning
A Carbon County group that aims to support the environmental issues is voicing concerns over a proposal that would allow a Nesquehoning business to burn tires as a fuel.
On Wednesday, three members of Save Carbon County approached Nesquehoning Borough Council to urge them to take action to stop an application from Panther Creek Power Operating LLC to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection requesting a permit to mix up to 15% tire-derived fuel in its burning operation monthly. The company currently uses coal culm and No. 2 fuel in its burning operations at 4 Dennison Road.
The permit application asks for DEP approval to allow the two existing Panther Creek circulating fluidized bed combustors, which are both currently permitted to combust coal culm and No. 2 fuel oil, to also combust tire-derived fuel.
The tire shreds would be chipped and processed at another location and shipped to Panther Creek for use.
“TDF has long been recognized as a valuable fuel in well-controlled power plants, as well as cement plants,” Panther Creek cites in its application. “In a 1991 report, EPA concluded ‘Based on the experience and the emissions data from power plants burning tire or TDF, the use of tires and TDF as supplemental fuel is viable. In many cases, the quality of the emissions actually improves with increased use of tires or TDF as supplemental fuel.
“Additionally, DEP has permitted the combustion of tires and/or TDF as a supplemental fuel at several facilities in Pennsylvania, including Northampton Generating, Hercules Cement,
Lafarge, Lehigh Cement, ESSROC, and Viking Energy.”
In a letter to Carbon County in June, Osman Environmental Solutions LLC wrote that Panther Creek had already tested the boilers’ ability to handle this type of fuel under a temporary DEP permit and is continuing to introduce the fuel under that temporary approval until DEP’s recommendation is made.
Lucy Freck of Save Carbon County said that she is concerned because air quality for residents of the community could be contaminated by the tire burning.
“There is no offsetting benefit to the county and its residents,” she said. “Currently, Panther Creek does not monitor polyaromatic hydrocarbon emissions and has no plans to do so in the future. Add to the mix burning tires and the smoke and particulates in the air would permeate and degrade the quality of life and have detrimental health impacts on Nesquehoning residents.
“ ... Panther Creek is a profitable business with or without the burning of tires so jobs are safe. The question now is does Panther Creek want to be a good citizen of Carbon County? Taking the needed steps, investing in any and all equipment that would mitigate the detrimental impacts of their operations.”
Marialina Blado of Save Carbon County asked if council had spoken to anyone from the power plant on this matter.
Council President David Hawk said that he works at Panther Creek, but recuses himself on the borough’s solicitor’s recommendation, from making any comments on the proposal due to it being a conflict of interest.
Blado asked what tire burning has to do with the operation of Bitcoin mining; which Hawk again said he would not respond to based on his employment at the company.
She also asked if there has been any operation at previous meetings regarding this matter.
Council said that this was the first time it has been brought before council.
Councilwoman Mary Fox said that the borough can make requests to DEP, but the agency doesn’t have to accommodate those requests.
She cited a recent case in Ashland, where residents are dealing with brown water coming from their faucets and begging DEP to help, and nothing has been done so far.
“Welcome to Pennsylvania, the most ludicrous state in the union,” Blado responded.
Mayor Tom Kattner said that he understands the group’s concerns, but there is only so much the borough can do in these instances.
He suggested going to state legislators to see if they can help further.
Councilwoman Abbie Guardiani said she has been in contact with DEP regarding this matter and the bottom line is the plant meets DEP guidelines.
“That was what I found out,” she said. “I didn’t like it and DEP told me tough noogies.”
Guardiani recommended the group go after, not the tire portion of the proposal, but the equipment that would help with what particulates are emitted from the burning.
“You might want to fight for them to put the extra things on their stacks,” she said. “If I was to say to go for something, go for that. Go for something realistic. You’re fighting a dead deal here. They’re going to get the permit. Go for whatever you think extra needs to go on the stacks.”
Panther Creek submitted the application for an amended permit in June and is still awaiting word on the review from DEP.