UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER POSTAGE AND FEES PAID U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY EPA-335 US.MAIL A Environmental News Ryan (202) 755-0344 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1976 EPA, UTILITIES TO TEST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY FOR CONTROLLING AIR POLLUTION FROM COAL COMBUSTION U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Russell E. Train today announced that EPA and two electric utility companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly undertake a three-year project demonstrating the effectiveness of physical coal cleaning as a cost-effective method for meeting Federal and State air pollution laws. The project, costing over $4 million,, will be conducted near Indiana, Pennsylvania at the Homer-City Generating Complex, which is owned and is currently being built by the Pennsylvania Electric Company and the New York State Electric and Gas Corporation. Physical coal cleaning is considered a possible alterna- tive to flue gas desulfurization systems, or "scrubbers," which are currently the primary method of controlling sulfur oxides (SOx) from coal-fired power plants. Unlike scrubbers, which remove SOx from gas streams after coal combustion, physical coal cleaning is a pre-combustion process in which the coal is crushed and then put in a liquid medium where the specific gravity is such that the pollutants sink to the bottom and the clean coal remains on top. (more) Return this sheet if you do NOT wish to receive this material ~, or if change of address is needed ~ (indicate change, including zip code). EPA FORM 1510-1 (REV. 8-72) R-176 ------- -2- The physical, coal cleaning process is most effective with coal containing large percentages of pyritic (inorganic) sulfur and relatively low percentages of organic sulfur. It is anticipated that the process will have wide application in cleaning eastern U.S. coals, particularly those mined in central Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia. About 100 million tons of coal mined each year in these areas will probably be suitable for physical cleaning. "This project," Train said, "will enable EPA and the electric utility industry to demonstrate the effectiveness of physical coal cleaning in countering the adverse environmental effects of America's ever-expanding use of coal. We presently feel that it offers cost advantages over the scrubber method, and also eliminates the sludge disposal problem associated with the latter. It should be stressed, however, that while physical coal cleaning will probably be practical for wide- spread commercial use within the next several years, flue gas desulfurization is expected to dominate the new power plant market through the mid-1980's." While the total cost of the Homer City Coal Cleaning Plant is estimated at $53 million, the coal cleaning demon- stration itself will run about $4.1 million. It is estimated that EPA will provide $2.5 million of the test program costs, and the utility industry $1.6 million. The memorandum of understanding was signed today by Stephen J. Gage, EPA's Deputy Assistant.Administrator for Energy, Minerals and Industry; Wells P. Allen, Jr., NYSEG Executive Vice-President; and J. Franklin Smith, PENELEC President. The memorandum sets forth the basic principles and guidelines under which EPA and the utilities intend to work in achieving the project objectives. It also describes the contemplated activities, organization, resources and esti- mated costs involved in implementing the demonstration project # # # Headquarters and Ctem^alLibraries EPA West Bldg Room 3340 US EPA bra vtftioi uiuy ¦ ~ ' Maiicode 340--T 1301 Constitution Ave NW Washington DC 20004 1301 Const1 ?n?-566-0556 :02-566-0556 R-176 ------- |