DEP Holds Aug. 3 Hearing On Warren Nonattainment Area Air Plan Revision

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it will hold a public hearing on August 2 at 10:00 a.m. to receive comments on changes to the proposed State Implementation Plan designed to bring the Warren area into compliance with federal air emissions standards.

The hearing will be held at DEP’s Warren District Office, 321 North State Street, North Warren, PA 16365.

The area is designated nonattainment for the 2010 1-hour Federal National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide (SO2). Short term exposure to SO2 has been linked to respiratory conditions in humans.

DEP estimates that by 2018 sulfur dioxide emissions will be reduced by 482 tons, or by 48 percent, from levels emitted in 2011, thanks to operational changes at the United Refining Company in Warren, PA.

The purpose of the public hearing is to receive comments on the proposal, which is available on the Department’s eComment webpage or by contacting Roma Monteiro at 717-787-9495 or or send email to:  rmonteiro@pa.gov.

Persons with a disability who wish to attend the hearing and require an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation to participate in the proceeding should contact Roma Monteriro at 717-878-9495 or send email to: rmonteiro@pa.gov.

TDD users may contact the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 to discuss how the department can best accommodate their needs.

The department must receive comments no later than August 4, 2017. Commentators are encouraged to submit comments using the Department’s eComment system at or by email to: ecomment@pa.gov.
Written comments can be submitted to the Policy Office, Department of Environmental Protection, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063.  Use “Warren 2010 SO2” as the subject line in written communications.

Questions should be direct to: Melanie Williams, DEP Northwest Regional Office, 814-332-6615.