Sierra Club files suit against the DEP over Cheswick power plant’s expired permit.
Tom Wolf and the DEP to take action by renewing the expired permits at Pennsylvania power plants, and to announce that the Sierra Club has filed suit against the DEP in commonwealth court.
“I’m here on behalf of our 130,000 members and supporters in Pennsylvania to demand that Governor Wolf and the Department of Environmental Protection meet their legal obligation to protect Pennsylvania residents from toxic pollution entering our streams and rivers from coal-fired power plants,” said Patrick Grenter, senior campaign representative with the Beyond Coal campaign of the Sierra Club.
It is located in Springdale, upstream from the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority facility on the Allegheny River, which is a source of drinking water for more than 300,000 people.
The plant releases toxic pollutants like lead, arsenic and mercury into the river.
“These Clean Water Act permits are required to be reconsidered and renewed every five years.
Since Cheswick has not been issued a new permit since 2007, they are still operating above the federal limits set in 2015.
Lead exposure is good for neither wildlife nor people.” Due to its failure to renew the permit in a timely manner, the Sierra Club has filed suit against the DEP in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.
Cheswick is just one of 11 power plants in Pennsylvania operating under expired permits.
He walked away from important standards like the Clean Power Plant and Stream Protection Rule,” said Grenter.