Appeal is filed over second permit for Baard Energy fuel plant

STAFF REPORT

COLUMBUS — The National Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club, both in Chicago, have filed an appeal of the second permit needed for the Baard Energy coal-to-liquid fuel plant.

The action was filed Wednesday with the Environmental Review Appeals Commission of Ohio.

Defendants are Chris Korleski, the director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and Ohio River Clean Fuels of Vancouver, Wash.

The OEPA recently approved the wastewater permit for the $6 billion plant that would be built in Wellsville by Baard Energy. John Baardson of Vancouver, Wash., plans to make the liquid fuel for use by the U.S. military.

The appeal contends the permit does not use the best available technology.

Nachy Kanfer, a spokesman for the Sierra Club, said the appeal may not be heard until well into 2009.

The OEPA previously approved a wetland protection permit and is working on the air quality permit that is the last permit needed to be approved to start the project, which would create thousands of construction jobs.