Tell the DEP to Protect our Air and Health and Request a Public Hearing on Sullivan Co. Compressor Station
The PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is ready to approve an application from Central New York Oil & Gas, LLC to construct a compressor station in Davidson Township, Sullivan County, PA. This will lead to an increase in emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxide, particulates and hazardous pollutants. Since most of Davidson Township is in a valley, the toxins are more easily trapped in these low lying communities, negatively impacting human health.
These pollutants are a direct threat to human health and the environment. Ground-level ozone causes a variety of respiratory problems including asthma and the emission of these kinds of hazardous air pollutants has been linked to elevated levels of cancer and neurological health issues.
There is a great need for widespread public involvement to ensure that the DEP does its job by properly analyzing and accounting for the environmental and human health impacts of natural gas operations. We all need to request a public hearing for this application so that more people can voice their concerns and have their questions answered in person by the DEP.
Please copy/paste and send the the letter below to mzaman@state.pa.us
mzaman@state.pa.us
Dear Mr. Zaman,I am concerned about the cumulative environmental and human health impacts that could result from approving one compressor station after another in North-central Pennsylvania. The Central New York Oil & Gas Compressor station application is just the most recent in a long line of applications that have recently been approved or are currently under consideration.
I am very concerned about the health impacts of air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), particulate matter, carbon monoxide and hazardous air pollutants that are emitted by compressor stations. These pollutants have been linked with a variety of health issues including respiratory conditions, cancers and even death.
I was happy to see that the DEP acknowledged its responsibility under the Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule by performing an analysis of GHG emissions. I was also pleased to see some emissions limitations set on each source. What criteria did the DEP use to determine if the equipment in this application qualifies as the Best Available Technology? I urge the DEP to develop more stringent emission thresholds (ie: lower emissions standards) for determining what constitutes a Best Available Technology. I urge the DEP to require annual stack tests on priority pollutants.
I urge the DEP to perform a proper aggregation analysis to determine the cumulative effects of all Central New York Oil & Gas facilities and to ensure that individual facility emissions are truly kept under the thresholds set for major sources. This will help protect the air and health for communities close to this compressor station, those living down-wind, and other Pennsylvania residents.
I also request that the DEP host a public hearing for this permit application. I am concerned about the cumulative effects of multiple natural gas facilities operating in North-central Pennsylvania – often under the same ownership or as part of an interrelated system. A public hearing would provide more opportunity for comments, as more people in the community would likely be able to attend a hearing than submit written comments. A public hearing is likely the DEP’s most efficient way to respond to public comments as people can have their concerns answered directly and instantly.Thank you for this opportunity to comment, and please keep me updated on any actions related to Plan Approval No. 41-00078C
Sincerely,
(You)
