AMERICAN FALLS, Idaho—The Shoshone-Bannock tribes are joining with two conservation groups to oppose an air quality permit issued by the state for a coal gasification plant proposed in eastern Idaho.
The Department of Environmental Quality signed off on the permit last month for Southeast Idaho Energy, the New York-based developer that wants to build the $1 billion plant.
Tribal officials say they are concerned about public health and air pollution because the Fort Hall Indian Reservation would be downwind of the plant.
The tribes are teaming up with the Idaho Conservation League and the Sierra Club to oppose the permit, greenhouse gas emissions and other issues, and have filed an appeal with the DEQ.
Representatives from the tribes and conservation groups planned to meet Tuesday with the company in San Francisco to try to resolve differences over the permit and emissions.
“This is scheduled to be all day; lock the doors and get down and see if we can’t work with them on the issues all three entities have pertaining to air quality,” Cherese McLain, an attorney for the tribes, told the Idaho State Journal.
Southeast Idaho Energy spokesman John Burk confirmed Tuesday that company representatives were at the meeting, but declined to offer more details.
Martin Bauer, air administrator for the DEQ, said the parties hope to avoid an administrative appeal process. Bauer said the tribes and environmentalists have agreed to stay their appeal until April 17.
The Power County Advanced Energy Center, proposed for a 450-acre site two miles from American Falls, was approved last summer by Power County and has the backing of economic development officials in the region. Company officials hope to begin construction this fall and say the project should take three years to complete and create more than 1,300 jobs during that period.
The plant would import about 2,000 tons of coal each day, mostly from Colorado, and use advanced technology to keep emissions low. Still, the state estimates the plant would emit 2.3 million tons of carbon dioxide a year, an amount that would account for 5 percent of Idaho’s total annual carbon dioxide emissions.
The DEQ permit allows yearly emissions of up to 166 tons of carbon monoxide, 5.1 tons of volatile organic compounds, 109 tons of nitrogen oxide, 23.4 tons of sulfur oxide and 60.2 tons of particulate matter of 10 micrometers or less.
McLain said she was hopeful about the talks with the company.
“It’s been a very positive experience on all ends, honestly,” she said. “The company has been very open and has stressed their willingness … to be a clean-burning company. These negotiations will really show whether they’re being serious about that or not.”
