Department of Environmental Protection Hosts Public Hearing on Updated Cheswick Water Pollution Permit

Pittsburgh, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of the Environmental Protection (DEP) hosted a public hearing today on its drafted update to the water pollution permit for the Cheswick coal-fired power plant. The plant has been polluting Pittsburgh’s air and water since 1970 and discharging wastewater into the Allegheny River and Little Deer Creek.

A recent report found that Cheswick released 387 lbs of lead into the Allegheny River in 2015, and the discharges in 2016 appear to be even higher. Shockingly, the plant has been allowed to operate and pollute at this level with a Clean Water Permit that has been expired since August 2012. The plant is just upstream of six drinking water intakes for the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.

In response, Patrick Grenter, Pennsylvania Senior Campaign Representative for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign said the following:

“Cheswick’s water pollution permit must be updated as soon as possible, with pollution controls implemented at the earliest possible date, to protect Pittsburgh’s right to clean and safe water. The plant is an aging and unnecessary facility that cannot compete with clean and renewable energy sources. It has continuously failed to control both its air and water pollution, and is now seeking extra time to comply with pollution standards for lead and mercury discharges, while Pittsburgh is in the midst of a drinking water crisis. DEP must not allow Cheswick to operate with a free pass to pollute.”