The Department of Environmental Quality is reminding those interested that there will be a question and answer session regarding a draft air permit for a proposed installation of a 78-megawatt circulating fluidized bed solid fuel-fired boiler and its associated cooling tower and material handling operations at the existing James DeYoung Plant in Holland. Concurrently, the company is proposing to remove an 11.5 megawatt pulverized coal-fired boiler. This informational session in panel format will be held on Tuesday, December 16, from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center, Grand Ball Room, 650 East 24th Street, in Holland. A panel of DEQ staff will address questions about the application for the proposed project, the state and federal requirements, the emissions, the draft air permit, and the public participation process.

Formal public hearings on the proposed air permit will take place on Monday and Tuesday, January 12 and 13, at the same location. DEQ staff will also be available to answer questions in an open-house format. Written comments may be sent to Mary Ann Dolehanty, Acting Permit Section Supervisor, Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division, P.O. Box 30260, Lansing, Michigan 48909-7760. Comments may also be submitted from the Web page at http://www.deq.state.mi.us/aps/cwerp.shtml (click on "Submit Comment" under the Holland Board of Public Works, James DeYoung Plant - Permit to Install No. 25-07 listing). All comments received by Friday, January 30 will be considered by the decision-maker prior to final permit action.

For more information, go to http://www.deq.state.mi.us/aps/cwerp.shtml or contact staff of the DEQ's Air Quality Division at 517-373-2098.

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised December 15, 2008 by Pat Watson