I hear from my friends on the Elk Point Gorilla forum that the DENR Board of Minerals and Environment is discussing some permit rule changes tomorrow (Thursday, Feb. 17) at 1 p.m. CST in Pierre. The board plans to officially adopt the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule, which establishes carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride as regulated air pollutants. The notice also carefully states that DENR's adoption of this greenhouse gas rule does not waive our state's right to continue appealing it.
BME also wants to revise DENR's construction permitting process to allow small businesses to start construction though not operation before receiving their construction permit. BME's rationale: if these small businesses can meet certain requirements, we shouldn't let the permit process hold them up from building before the snow flies or market conditions change.
Note I said small businesses. BME emphasizes in tomorrow's agenda packet (p. 4) that this rule change applies to small businesses only. "These proposed changes do not apply and would not allow large businesses such as Hyperion or Otter Tail Power Company to begin construction prior to obtaining its construction permit."
do u think that we will ever see that gas plant in elk point??