Denver Post
Just when Colorado was in the midst of considering stricter mercury emissions than the Federal program allows, new monitoring data suggests the mercury emissions in the state may be higher than previously reported.
The new emissions data were submitted to the state air-pollution control commission in November. The commission is considering, for the first time, placing limits on the mercury that coal-fired power plants can release. A decision is expected in late January.
The monitors found that Comanche was discharging the equivalent of 3.9 pounds of mercury for a set amount of heat produced from coal and that Pawnee was emitting 9.9 pounds.
In reports to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, Xcel had estimated Comanche emitted 2.7 pounds and Pawnee 3.5 pounds.
"We believe the (continuous emission-monitoring system) data is the most accurate, and it's how we plan on demonstrating compliance in the future," Magno said. Tri-State Generation officials, however, said the new systems are "not 100 percent reliable." "We're still evaluating it and strategizing what will work best for us," said Barbara Walz, environmental services manager for Tri-State, which serves Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming.
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