- Nov. 24, 2004: ADEQ Air Quality Permit for Carlota Mine Upheld by Court Decision
- Nov. 5, 2004: ADEQ Director Steve Owens Applauds Decision Giving the Navajo Nation EPA Authority to Issue Air Quality Permits
- Nov. 5, 2004: ADEQ Holds Hearings on Proposed
Air Quality Permit for Refinery in Yuma County
PHOENIX (Nov. 24, 2004) -- Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Director Steve Owens today announced that the air quality permit for the Carlota Copper Company's proposed open-pit copper mine and processing facility near Miami has been upheld by the Superior Court of Arizona.
The Court's ruling, issued last week, affirms that the decision made by ADEQ in February 2003 to renew Carlota's air permit was proper under both the federal Clean Air Act and applicable state law. ADEQ's permitting decision was appealed to the Superior Court by Friends of Pinto Creek. The Court rejected that appeal with its recent ruling.
"We are very pleased with the Court's decision," Owens said. "The permit issued by ADEQ not only will protect air quality in the area, it also will enable Carlota to continue to move forward with its efforts to open the mine and create much-needed jobs in the Globe-Miami area."
Under the permit, Carlota would employ a variety of water sprays and other methods throughout the construction process to reduce the amount of dust generated by rock crushers, conveyor belts and truck traffic.
The permit limits the facility's emissions of the following pollutants: oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulates as well as sulfuric acid mist from the electrowinning tankhouse, and volatile organic compounds from storage tanks and the solvent extraction process.
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PHOENIX (Nov. 5, 2004) -- Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Director Steve Owens today applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's decision to give the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency (NNEPA) the authority to issue air quality permits under the federal Clean Air Act. U.S. EPA announced this decision late yesterday.
The NNEPA is the first tribal agency in the country to receive "delegation" under the Clean Air Act. The historic decision authorizes NNEPA to issue Title V air quality permits. Title V permits are required for "major sources" which emit over 100 tons of air pollutants per year.
The Navajo Nation requested the delegated authority earlier this year. In July, Director Owens sent a letter to EPA expressing his strong support for the NNEPA and its request.
"This decision is extremely important for the Navajo Nation and all of Indian country," Owens said. "Governor Napolitano and I greatly respect the sovereignty of the Navajo Nation, and we have worked closely and cooperatively with the Navajo Nation and the NNEPA to protect Arizona's environment."
Owens also pointed out that last year, he and Governor Napolitano successfully sought the repeal of a state law that had been on the books for several decades that purported to give the State regulatory authority over air quality on the reservation.
"That statute was an affront to tribal sovereignty, and we worked very hard go get it repealed," Owens said.
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PHOENIX (Nov. 5, 2004) -- The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) will hold three public hearings to receive public comments regarding the proposed air quality permit for the Arizona Clean Fuels Yuma refinery in Yuma County.
The hearings will be held Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2004, at 6:00 p.m. at Antelope High School in Wellton; Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 6:00 p.m. at the Phoenix Museum of History in Phoenix; and Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 6:00 p.m. at Castle Dome Middle School in Yuma.
The proposed air quality permit would put strict limits on potential emissions from the refinery and would be the most stringent air quality permit ever proposed for a refinery.
The refinery, proposed by Arizona Clean Fuels Yuma, LLC, would be located on an approximately 1,450-acre site and could produce approximately 150,000 barrels per day of motor fuels, including approximately 85,000 barrels per day of motor gasoline, 35,000 barrels per day of diesel fuel and 30,000 barrels per day of jet fuel.
"We want to make sure that the people of Yuma County have every opportunity to express their views about this proposed air quality permit. These are the toughest pollution control requirements ever imposed on a refinery," ADEQ Director Steve Owens said.
This series of public hearings follows three public meetings held during the month of October in Wellton, Yuma and Phoenix.
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