| Torrington and Holly Sugar need each other. They've had a
steady relationship for 74 years. But the relationship has soured
recently, and the source of that discontent with some local and
out-of-state residents is the plume of smoke that spews out of the Holly
Sugar smokestacks every day.
Holly Sugar has asked the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ),
Division of Air Quality, to increase the maximum allowance for sulfur
content of the coal it can burn in its four Stirling boilers without being
penalized. That would mean some increase in sulfur dioxide emissions.
The WDEQ has proposed to approve the request to modify an existing
source of pollutants, which would increase the percent of sulfur emissions
from 0.54 percent to 0.75 percent.
Upon learning of the proposal, local and area residents submitted
comments and complaints to WDEQ - enough to warrant a public hearing,
which was held Monday night at the Eastern Wyoming College Community
Training Center in Torrington.
The purpose of the meeting was to gather information concerning the
emissions of air pollutants into the atmosphere and the impact of such
pollutants on the ambient air quality.
Dan Olson, WDEQ Division of Air Quality administrator emphasized that
after all comments have been received, a decision will be made whether or
not to grant permission for the permit to modify operations.
"All we're doing is changing one item in the existing permit that
would allow (Holly Sugar) to burn higher sulfur coal," he said.
Olson said Holly Sugar needs to receive coal that meets its
specifications on a consistent basis. For a number of years, the company
has been getting its coal from Arch mine near Hanna. Olson said the
contract with the mine has language guaranteeing its supply of coal will
meet specifications. But now the mine has indicated it cannot guarantee it
can no longer do that.
"In order to allow them to operate in compliance with the permit,
Holly Sugar is asking to get a revision in the permit that will allow them
to burn coal in excess of permitted levels," Olson said.
Olson said the WDEQ is conducting an analysis and computer modeling to
determine if Holly Sugar is currently violating air quality standards.
"I don't know if they're in violation of permit conditions yet,
but we're looking at their record right now," he said.
"Depending on what we find will determine what course of action we
take."
Kelvin Thompsen, Holly Sugar's district manager, opened the comment
portion of the hearing by stating that the corporation looks forward to
continuing to be a good neighbor to the residents of Torrington. He stated
that Holly Sugar's boilers require a higher BTU (British Thermal Units)
coal, which limits its supply options. The higher BTU often equals higher
sulfur content.
Thompsen has stated in the past that the Hanna mine is the only
economically feasible source for the higher BTU coal and research into
other coal supply options has proven too costly.
It would also be extremely expensive for Holly Sugar to install
dry-scrubbing sulfur dioxide (SO2) removal equipment or wet-scrubbers to
reduce pollution levels.
However, Thompsen did present some figures that Holly Sugar can live
with. He said that Holly Sugar is committed to spending approximately
$500,000 to alter the emission process. He also stressed Holly Sugar's
importance to the community, stating that it contributes about $26.8
million to the local economy.
"We are committed to meeting air quality requirements,"
Thompsen said. "We will re-route emissions from the current stack to
a stack that is significantly higher."
But that explanation did not convince Torrington resident Al Dahler
that the higher smokestack would make up for the increased emissions.
"It seems to me with a higher smokestack it would put emissions
higher into the atmosphere, which I understand would increase acid
rain," Dahler said. "It might not affect us here, but it could
affect someone downwind."
That is precisely why approximately 25 students from the Broadwater and
Bridgeport areas of Nebraska attended the meeting. Several of the students
stood at the podium and pleaded with WDEQ officials to deny Holly Sugar's
request because their towns are in the path of the emissions.
"I don't think you should issue the permit because of lung disease
that is caused by sulfur in the air," said Tera Foster, an
eighth-grader at Bridgeport Junior High School.
Del Ray Kraupie, also an eighth-grader from Bridgeport, talked about
prevailing winds, which blow out of the west 90 percent of the time. He
said the sulfur smell reaches Bridgeport now, and an increase in emissions
would only make it worse. "Winds blow chemicals far from their
source," Kraupie said.
He listed several ways in which sulfur can damage a human being, and he
also suggested that Holly Sugar update its boilers from the 1920s.
Eighth-grader Trevor Sterkel presented the WDEQ officials with a
petition containing 92 signatures against Holly Sugar's request.
Tammy Dean, school nurse from Bridgeport, accompanied the students to
Torrington. She said that building a higher smokestack causes her some
concern.
"It might take care of the problem for the immediate area, but I
have concern for the health of people downwind," explained Dean.
Kathy Moriarty of Torrington said many people are concerned about acid
rain. She also indicated that Holly Sugar is not willing to decrease its
profit by upgrading its equipment to combat emissions.
"We believe a number of substantive issues need to be addressed
before a permit should be issued," concluded Moriarty.
Torrington resident Janet Bass asked why Holly Sugar does not consider
an alternative form of energy, such as natural gas or electricity instead
of coal. She talked about the affects on the environment and stated that
about 700 Torrington residents are currently on oxygen support. Bass added
that Holly Sugar has been a good neighbor and hopes it continues to be a
good neighbor in the future.
Several others made their case before the hearing concluded. Ginger
McLaughlin talked about good stewardship, and that Holly Sugar needs to be
a good steward.
"I would like to retire here, but we don't like the stink,"
she said. "I already pay a lot in medical bills. I don't want to pay
more.
"Even though the emissions are legal, it doesn't make it
right," she added.
Olson said it will take approximately 30 days for the WDEQ to make a
decision. |