DEP to hold hearing on expansion proposal
JEFFERSON – The state Department of Environmental Protection will hold an open house and formal public hearing Tuesday on a proposed air quality permit requested by Equitrans to expand the capacity of its Jefferson Compressor Station.
The open house and public hearing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Company social hall.
The compressor station on Denny Hill Road has been in operation for less than two years and was constructed in conjunction with the company’s Sunrise pipeline project.
The company plans to triple the capacity of the station by adding a new 16,301 horsepower turbine to the site for natural gas compression. The site now operates with three, natural-gas fired engines each rated at 4,735 horsepower.
The additional compressor will increase the amount of natural gas the company can move through the station from about 300 million cubic feet a day to 950 million cubic feet a day, Equitrans said in its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission filing.
The new turbine will be housed in a 2,700 square foot addition to an existing building at the site. Acoustical insulation and silencers will be used to reduce noise from the operations to comply with federal and township noise regulations.
Plan approval has been conditioned to ensure compliance with all emission limits, DEP said. According to DEP, plant emissions with the additional turbine will remain below “major source” levels for all pollutants except nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide equivalents. As a major source of nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide equivalents, the company will be required to obtain a “Title V” operating permit once operations begin.
As part of the open house, DEP will make a brief presentation explaining the plan approval process. Equitrans will outline the project and company representatives will be available to answer questions.
Following the open house, a hearing will be held for members of the public to make formal testimony for public record. Those who wish to participate in the formal hearing should contact John Poister, DEP community relations coordinator, at 412-442-4203 or by email at jpoister@pa.gov to register. People can also register at the social hall prior to the hearing. Only those who register may present testimony.
Those unable to attend the hearing can send written comments to Devin Tomko, Pa. DEP Bureau of Air Quality, Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. All written comments must be received by Jan. 31.
For more information, visit www.dep.state.pa.us or call 412-442-4000.