The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is planning to hold a public hearing to allow for testimony regarding the draft air permit for the Riverview Energy coal-to-diesel plant proposed for a site in Dale.
The state agency has tentatively set the hearing for 5:30 p.m. ET Thursday November 29th at the Southridge High School auditorium in Huntingburg.
At the hearing, according to IDEM, citizens will have an opportunity to submit written comments and make statements concerning the draft permit, which will be available online at www.in.gov/ai/appfiles/idem-caats.
IDEM says all statements will be documented and be considered part of the official record. They will make no responses to comments and questions during the public hearing.
IDEM says comments that will be most helpful will address the technical or legal basis for the permit conditions, or suggest additional requirements that IDEM could put into the permit to control air pollution.
IDEM will respond to all comments in writing in the Addendum to the Technical Support Document. It will be included with the final permit decision documents.
After the public comment period ends for the draft permit, IDEM will prepare a written response to all formal comments received during the public notice period. When the final decision regarding the permit is made, the agency will send a notice to each person on the permit mailing list.
The agency says any person may appeal IDEM’s decision. The notice will contain information on how to do so.
IDEM says its Office of Air Quality issues air pollution control permits to sources that emit regulated levels of pollutants to the air.
Since plans for the proposed coal-to-diesel plant were made public earlier this year, a group of concerned citizens — Southwestern Indiana Citizens for Quality of Life — have banded together, opposing the plant because of pollution and health reasons.
They will host the third in a series of public forums about the project at 6 p.m. CT on Nov. 1 at the Heritage Hills High School auditorium.
In response to their opposition, union members and other citizens have voiced support for the project, saying it will create jobs and spur economic development in the area.
