This order commenced and concluded an action for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. In particular, Region 5 alleges that LBWL's replacement of the secondary superheater, economizer, and a portion of the waterwall tubing in 2010 and 2012 at Erickson Unit 1 were major modifications resulting a significant increase of both NOx and SO2 emissions and triggering New Source Review (NSR) permitting requirements.
The terms of the settlement include:
o operating the existing selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) at the Erickson Station to meet an interim NOx emission rate of 0.170 lbs/mmbtu until 2025;
o meeting declining system-wide NOx and SO2 emission caps;
o paying a civil penalty of $150,000; and
o spending at least $400,000 on an electric vehicle mitigation project.
LBWL has two coal-fired power plants: the Erickson Station and the Eckert Station, both located in Lansing, Michigan. The Erickson Station has one coal-fired steam electric generating unit (Unit 1), with about 166 MWg generating capacity and the Eckert Station with 6 smaller coal-fired steam electric generating units (Units 1-6), each with a capacity of 35 to 70 MWg. All units operate with low NOx burners, but have no SO2 emission controls. Erickson also has a SNCR system installed but it is not currently being operated.
The alleged modification at Erickson Unit 1 resulted in approximately 17,785 tons of excess SO2 emissions and 4,255 tons of excess NOx emissions from