COLUMBUS — Yesterday the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency approved a final solid waste permit-to-install for a new landfill at American Municipal Power-Ohio’s proposed coal-fired power plant in Letart Falls.

This was one of the last pending state permits to be approved for AMP-Ohio though its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and Air Permits, approved final by the state, are currently under appeal by various opponents. In addition to the permits under appeal, AMP-Ohio still has to have its 404 water quality permit issued by the US Army Corps of Engineers. According to the Ohio EPA, the company has yet to apply for a required wastewater treatment/disposal system permit-to-install for activities associated with the power plant.

The Ohio EPA held a public information session on the draft landfill permit in August of last year. AMP-Ohio’s landfill would be located on Hill Road between Ohio 124 and East Letart Road. It would accept flyash, bottom ash and possibly gypsum from the power plant though AMP-Ohio hopes to reduce gypsum in its landfill by using the Powerspan process. Powerspan converts some of the waste which would normally go into a landfill into a byproduct for fertilizer, according to the company.

According to the Ohio EPA, the landfill would have several sedimentation ponds to control erosion and remove sediment from storm water runoff. The 133-acre disposal area would have a capacity of approximately 27.4 million cubic yards. The anticipated daily waste receipt at the facility would be 2,200 tons and the anticipated life of the facility would be approximately 41 years.

The Ohio EPA also went on to say AMP-Ohio’s design includes a composite liner system which consists of an 18-inch recompacted soil liner and a high density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane; a leachate collection system; a surface water management system; a ground water monitoring system; and a final closure cap system. The permit also incorporates 15 years of post-closure care and financial assurance for closure and post-closure care.

Issuance of the permit can be appealed to the Environmental Review Appeals Commission (ERAC). Many appeals must be filed within 30 days of issuing the final action; therefore, Ohio EPA recommends that anyone wishing to file an appeal contact ERAC at 614-466-8950 for more information.

The Ohio EPA added, as part of the permitting process, AMP-Ohio also applied for an air permit-to-install, a wastewater discharge permit and a water quality certification. The air and wastewater discharge permits were finalized in 2008, and the water quality certification was issued as a final action in January. Copies of AMP-Ohio’s approved permits and other related information are available for review at Ohio EPA’s Southeast District Office, 2195 Front Street, Logan by first calling 740- 385-8501 or Division of Surface Water, Permits Processing Unit, 50 West Town Street, Columbus by first calling 614-644-2001.

More information is online at: www.epa.state.oh.us/pic/amp-ohio.html.