Permit acquired for coal-to-fuel plant

STAFF REPORT

COLUMBUS — The second of three state permits needed for a planned coal-to-liquid fuel plant in Wellsville has been approved.

Mike Settles, an Ohio Environmental Protection Agency spokesman, released the information Friday.

The second permit will allow the Baard Energy plant to discharge up to 9.7 million gallons per day of treated wastewater into the Ohio River.

The OEPA earlier approved a plan for wetlands restoration at the site after construction.

The approval of the second permit can be appealed to the Environmental Review Appeals Commission.

A public hearing will be at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at Wellsville High School to get public comments on the third permit, which concerns air quality.

Settles has said the third permit is the most important.

Baard Energy plans to build about a $5 billion plant that would create several hundred local jobs. An estimated 2,000 workers would be involved in the construction.