Public submissions to the Environment Protection Authority’s review of Vales Point Power Station’s nitrogen dioxide emissions close at 5pm this Wednesday, November 10. [1]
Hundreds of people have added their name to a joint online submission by the NSW Nature Conservation Council. Central Coast Community group Future Sooner and many individuals have also made submission.
“Vales Point is one of the state’s biggest polluters and should not be granted another five-year exemption from the Clean Air Regulation,” Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian said.
“The cost of installing low-NOx burners is a fraction of the company’s profit but it would halve the nitrogen dioxide pollution the plant releases into the community.”
Vales Point’s current Environmental Protection Licence allows up to 1500 milligrams of nitrogen dioxide to be emitted per cubic metres of exhaust, while under the NSW Clean Air Regulation, polluting facilities of the same age must emit around half as much pollution, at 800 milligrams per cubic metre. [2]
EPA Vales Point consultation page
REFERENCES
[1] Vales Point Power Station emission exemption application open for public comment, NSW EPA, 21-10-21.
[2] Schedule 3, p83, Protection of the Environment (Clean Air) Regulation 2002