ENB Region 7 Completed Applications 02/16/2005

Trigen Syracuse Energy Corporation, located at 56 Industrial Drive, Geddes (T), operates five coal fired boilers, two of which have been modified to cofire a waste paper/plastic supplemental fuel.  The heat input capacity of each boiler is 275 mmBtu/hr.  Particulate matter emissions are controlled with a common baghouse.  The facility operates SO2, NOx and CO continuous emission monitors as well as an opacity monitor.

The current permit limits emissions of particulate matter, NOx and SO2.  There is an annual NOx emissions cap of 1552 tons; an annual limit of 438,000 TPY of coal that can be fired; a maximum heat input of 1,250 mmBtu/hr; and limits on the amount of chlorine that can be contained in the alternative fuel (waste paper).

Trigen Syracuse is planning on adding a flue gas desulfurization system to allow it to burn higher sulfur coal.  The facility will install a single adsorber chamber in which lime slurry will be injected.  The gas stream will be cooled, and acid gases will be removed.  

There will be a small reduction in emissions of SO2 because the outlet emission rate will be reduced from 1.2 to 1.1 lb SO2/mmBtu.   There will be a reduction in HCl emissions of about 250 to 270 tons per year as HCl is scrubbed more easily than SO2.  There will be an increase in the particulate matter loading to the baghouse, as both SO2 and HCl will be converted to a particulate salt, and lime Ca(OH)2 is added to the scrubber.  The current particulate emission rate of 0.05 lb/mmBtu will remain in effect.

The EPA has determined that if the facility complies with an emission limit of 1.1 pounds SO2/mmBtu, the installation will qualify as an air pollution control project under the provisions of the NSPS.  The permit also requires that the project not be subject to PSD.

In accordance with 6NYCRR Parts 621.5(d)(9) and 201-6.4(c), the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has the authority to bar issuance of any Title V Facility Permit if it is determined not to be in compliance with applicable requirements of the Clean Air Act or 6NYCRR Part 201.

The Department has prepared a draft permit and has made a tentative determination to approve this application. Persons wishing to inspect the subject Title V files, including the application with all relevant supporting materials, the draft permit, and all other materials available to the DEC (the "permitting authority") that are relevant to this permitting decision should contact the DEC representative listed below.  It is recommended that an appointment be made to confirm the availability of the subject files. The DEC will endeavor to make the files available within 2 business days of contact, during normal business hours (8:30 am through 4:45 pm), unless the requester wishes to inspect the files at a later date. Comments of support or objection may be made by filing a written statement by the deadline date indicated.

DEC will evaluate the application and the comments received on it to determine whether to hold a public hearing.  A public hearing may be legislative or adjudicatory.  A legislative public hearing is a proceeding which provides an additional opportunity for public comment.  DEC's determination to hold a legislative public hearing will be based on whether a significant degree of public interest exists.   If a legislative public hearing is to be held, a Notice of Hearing will be published which will include the time and place of the hearing and submitting comments.   The applicant and all persons who  have filed comments on the permit will be notified by mail of the public hearing.  Comments and requests for a legislative public hearing should be in writing and addressed to the Department representative listed below.

An adjudicatory public hearing is a trial type proceeding which provides the opportunity for adjudication on the basis of evidence, including direct testimony and cross examination.  An adjudicatory hearing is held only if substantive and significant issues relating to any findings or determinations the Department is required to make pursuant to the Environmental Conservation Law exist.   A copy of the Department's permit hearing procedures is available upon request or on the Department web site at: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/ohms/gudph1.htm

This modification will not alter combustion, although higher sulfur fuels will be burned. As such, neither NOx, CO nor other noncombustibles will increase.

The applicant proposes to construct a 27 lot residential subdivision along the north bank of the Seneca River due west of the Baldwinsville Seneca Knolls Sewage Treatment Plant.  Re-grading for a proposed stormwater basin and the rear yards of three proposed lots would disturb approximately 1.2 acres of the regulated 100 foot buffer of state wetland BAL-17.  A copy of the application is available for review in the Syracuse Office.