STATE OF WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY NOTICE TO CONSTRUCT A NEW AIR POLLUTION SOURCE
The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) has received application to construct a new air pollution source.
The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) has received application to construct a new air pollution source. Microsoft Corporation has proposed installation of thirteen new 2.5 megawatt electrical generators powered by diesel engines at the Columbia Data Center, located at 501 Port Industrial Parkway, Quincy, in Grant County. The Columbia Data Center had previously been approved to install and operate twenty-four 2.5 megawatt electrical generators for a total of 60 megawatts of emergency backup electrical power. The current project will add 32.5 megawatts of emergency backup electrical power to the facility. Diesel engine exhaust particulate from the diesel-fired engines is a toxic air pollutant. The project therefore required a third-tier Health Impact Assessment to evaluate health risks posed by the project. After review of the completed Notice of Construction application and other information on file with the agency, Ecology has decided that this project proposal will conform to all requirements as specified in Chapter 173-400 of the Washington Administrative Code. After review of the completed third-tier Health Impact Assessment, Ecology has concluded that the potential health risks to the community are acceptable and the proposed project will conform to all requirements as specified in Chapter 173-460 of the Washington Administrative Code. Copies of the Notice of Construction Preliminary Determination, the Third Tier Petition Approval, and supporting application documents are available for public review at the Department of Ecology, Eastern Regional Office, 4601 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA 99205-1295, and at the City of Quincy, 104 B Street SW, Quincy, WA 98848. A public hearing has been scheduled to start at 5:30 PM on September 28, 2010, in the Council Chambers at the Quincy City Hall located at 104 B Street SW in Quincy. The public hearing will begin with presentations by Ecology on the proposed project, the air quality regulatory requirements, and the results of our review of the health impacts of the project. An opportunity for the public to ask questions will follow the presentations. Public testimony will be taken starting at 7:00 PM. If you require special accommodations please contact Ecology's Air Quality Program 509-329-3530. Persons with hearing loss can call 711 for Washington Relay Service. Persons with a speech disability can call 877-833-6341. In addition to public testimony taken at the public hearing, the public is invited submit written comments about the project proposal postmarked no later than October 4, 2010, to Gregory Flibbert at the Department of Ecology, Eastern Regional Office, 4601 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA 99205-1295, or via email to gfli461@ecy.wa.gov.
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Pub.: August 26, 2010