April 06, 2004

By: Neil Webber
Website: http://www.1st-in-wellness.com

TDEC and air pollution control board to hold public meetings

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Betsy L. Child and the Tennessee Air Pollution Control Board today announced a series of public meetings will be held across the state to share information and receive public input on new federal New Source Review provisions prior to the formal rulemaking process begins in Tennessee.

It is vital that all interested parties have a complete understanding of this important issue, Board Chairman Rick Bolton said. The board believes these meetings will provide quality public input from across the state and those comments will be instrumental in assisting with the decision making process.

Recent EPA reforms to the NSR portion of the Clean Air Act clarify when the federal government expects power plants and regulated industry to purchase and install new anti-pollution technologies when performing routine maintenance on facilities.

The goal of the public meetings is to provide a technical explanation of the new federal NSR rules and to receive public comment regarding the impact of the new rules on Tennessee’s economy and environment. These comments may also be used for guidance and direction as the board moves forward with the formal rulemaking process in Tennessee.

It is important for TDEC to take this aggressive approach to public outreach, said Child. The information gathered at these meetings will be a real asset to the board as they prepare for the formal rulemaking process on NSR. I applaud all the stakeholders who are involved and supportive of these unprecedented outreach activities.

We commend the board and TDEC for initiating this public review process, added Stephen Smith, Executive Director for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. We remain committed to seeking a balanced approach to NSR and the clean air challenges facing our state.

About The Author:

Neil Webber is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-wellness.com.  Obtaining and keeping good health through healthy living, natural healing, great mental health and healthy finances.