COLUMBUS — The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency will host an information session and public hearing on an administrative modification to American Municipal Power-Ohio’s air permit at 6:30 p.m., June 2 at the Southern Elementary School cafetorium.

According to the Ohio EPA, the request for administrative modification is meant to add Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) requirements that AMP’s Meigs County project became subject to after the Feb. 7, 2008 issuance of the air permit. The Ohio EPA says there are no substantive changes in the terms and conditions of the permit granted on Feb. 7, 2008. The MACT requirements are applicable to the emissions of hazardous air pollutants such as mercury, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, etc.

As for the information session / hearing, a presiding officer will be present and may limit oral testimony to ensure that all parties are heard. All interested persons are entitled to attend or be represented and give written or oral comments on the draft permit at the hearing. Written comments must be received by the Ohio EPA at the close of business on June 5. Comments received after this date will not be considered to be part of the official record. Written comments may be submitted at the hearing or sent to: Dean Ponchak, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Southeast Ohio District Office, 2195 Front Street, Logan, 43138.

Further information concerning this application may be secured for inspection from Ponchak of the Ohio EPA Southeast Ohio District Office at the above address during normal business hours. Call 740-385-8501 for more information.

AMP-Ohio’s air permit is current being appealed before the Ohio Environmental Review Appeals Commission with a hearing scheduled in August. A prehearing conference on the appeal of AMP-Ohio’s final air permit-to-install issued by the Ohio EPA is scheduled for 10 a.m., July 27 while the de novo hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m., Aug. 3 - Aug. 21 in Columbus. The air permit is being appealed by Natural Resources Defense Council, Ohio Environmental Council, Sierra Club and National Parks Conservation.

A prehearing conference has been set for 10 a.m., Jan. 20, 2010 in regards to the appeal before ERAC of AMP-Ohio’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. The appeal was filed by the NRDC, OEC and Sierra Club. The actual de novo hearing on the appeal is scheduled for 10 a.m., Jan. 25-Jan. 29, 2010 in Columbus.