MiddletownJournal.com

MIDDLETOWN — The Ohio EPA has received SunCoke Energy's newest air pollution control permit application for the proposed Middletown Coke facility. 

The new permit application is more stringent than the company's current one, but does not include the same requirement for emissions credits. The company is seeking the new permit "to eliminate any doubt" it can meet air quality requirements, said Ryan Osterholm, project manager for the $340 million facility.

The new application request is for a major New Source Review permit, a provision of the Clean Air Act, said Heather Lauer, spokeswoman for the agency.

It ensures that companies that want to construct and operate new or modified facilities in areas that do not meet federal air quality standards do so without slowing progress toward improving air quality. 

"The bar is pretty high for these (permits). They are difficult permits to get," Lauer said. "They have to show improvements in air quality are going to continue to be better, it's not going to be worse and this is how (they're) going to do it."

Butler County meets federal air quality standards for large particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide, but not for fine particulate matter and ozone, according to the Ohio EPA.

Concerns have been raised regarding SunCoke's current permit and the interpretation of air emission credits from the closing of AK Steel's sinter plant in June 2003. Such concerns have led to a Clean Air Act lawsuit filed by the city of Monroe.

The application, which was received late Monday, is still under review by the Ohio EPA.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.