Cheswick Plant Fails Key Air Pollution Tests, Sierra Club Seeks Remedy

Pittsburgh, PA - The Sierra Club today issued a Notice of Intent to Sue NRG Energy and GenOn Americas Generation for failure to meet key Clean Air Act (CAA) and Pennsylvania State Implementation Plan (SIP) pollution protections at their Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale, PA. Via publicly available air quality monitoring data, Sierra Club has discovered that the Cheswick plant is emitting nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution at levels beyond those allowed in its operating permit, despite having available technology installed in the plant that should ensure that pollution protection requirements are met. NRG will have 60 days to respond to the notice.

“NRG has had every opportunity to run pollution protections at the Cheswick plant and has failed to do so adequately,” said Thomas Schuster, Senior Campaign Representative for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. “In making that choice, they have elected to not only violate their operating permit, but have also put local communities at increased risk of asthma attacks and other serious health conditions. Pennsylvanians deserve clean air, and the promise of clear skies and healthy communities shouldn’t be put at risk just so Cheswick’s owners can bolster their bottom line.”

NOx is a key component in the creation of smog that is formed when pollution from coal plants,  tailpipes, and other sources mix with warm air. According to the American Lung Association, inhaling smog pollution is like getting a sunburn on your lungs and often results in immediate breathing trouble. Long-term exposure to smog pollution is linked to chronic respiratory diseases like asthma attacks, reproductive and developmental harm, and even premature death. Vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, and people with preexisting medical conditions are especially susceptible to the negative health impacts of smog. According to the most recent American Lung Association State of the Air report, Allegheny County has received an F grade for both high ozone days and particle pollution.

“I have witnessed firsthand the terrible pollution, particulates, and coal dust on my property,” said Marti Blake, a long time Springdale resident who has lived across from the plant since 1990. “The Cheswick plant has been polluting our community, our water and our air for decades. The plant has a responsibility to this community - they must ensure that their power doesn’t come at the expense of our health.”

Additionally, the Notice of Intent to Sue points to Cheswick’s long history of coal dust and fly ash pollution infiltrating the surrounding communities, in violation of the plant’s operating permit. Both coal dust and coal ash waste typically contain many toxic chemicals, including heavy metals like arsenic, lead, mercury and chromium. These toxics raise the risk for cancer, heart disease, and stroke, and can inflict permanent brain damage on children. Studies done by the Allegheny County Health Department as far back as 1995 found significant deposits of coal dust and soot deposits in Springdale, and more recent studies have found coal ash in those deposits. NRG is required to take all reasonable action to prevent this pollution from becoming airborne.

“From smog causing air pollution, to coal dust escaping into the local community, to water pollution fouling the Allegheny River, NRG’s failure to meet its responsibility to protect us from Cheswick’s pollution has real and lasting consequences for local communities. It’s time NRG was held accountable,” concluded Schuster.