The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will host a public hearing to take testimony from residents regarding an application by Panther Creek Power Operating, LLC for a Title V Operating Permit renewal regarding its facility in Nesquehoning.

The hearing will take place from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at Panther Valley Junior/Senior High School Auditorium, 912 Coal Region Way, Lansford.

Representatives from the Department’s Air Quality Program, which is reviewing the permit renewal application and Panther Creek will be in attendance.

The Title V Operating Permit Renewal allows Panther Creek to continue utilizing two existing circulating fluidized bed combustors, both currently permitted to combust culm and No. 2 fuel oil.

The Title V Operating Permit will include testing, monitoring, record-keeping and reporting requirements designed to keep the sources operating within all applicable air quality requirements.

The department received the application for renewal on May 23, 2023, and a 90-day public comment period for the application ended on May 27, 2024.

Those wishing to testify at the hearing are requested to submit a written notice of their intent. The notice should be sent to Mark Wejkszner P.E, Northeast Region Air Quality Program Manager, Department of Environmental Protection, Air Quality Program, Wilkes-Barre Regional Office, 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701-1915. Or by email at mwejkszner@pa.gov.

The department will accept notices up to the day of the public hearing. People attending the hearing will have the opportunity to testify if they so desire; however, individuals who preregister to testify will be given priority on the agenda.

Written public comments regarding the permit renewal application will be accepted by the department until 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15. Each written comment must contain the following: name, address and telephone number of the person submitting the comments; identification of the proposed renewal Operating Permit, Title V No. 13-00003 and a concise statement regarding the relevancy of the information or any objections to the issuance of the Operating Permit.

Copies of the applications, the department’s technical reviews, and other supporting documents are available for public inspection between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Department’s Northeast Regional Office, 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701-1915. Appointments for scheduling a review may be made by calling 570-826-2511.

Persons with a disability who wish to testify and require an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation should contact Colleen Connolly, 570-826-2511 or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 800-654-5984 (TDD) to discuss how the Department can meet their needs.