Chapter Presses for Pollution Controls at San Juan Coal Plant

August 4 - The Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club and 7 other advocacy groups have sent a letter to Governor Richardson and Secretary of NM Environmental Department (NMED) Ron Curry supporting NMED's Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) for the San Juan Generating Station. This proposed plan would upgrade PNM's San Juan Generating Station with cost-effective controls for nitrogen oxide emissions and other pollutants and also lead to greater sulfur dioxide reductions, presents a tremendous opportunity to protect New Mexico’s enchanted landscapes, safeguard public health and welfare, promote economic prosperity, and keep New Mexico in control of its clean air legacy.

There is much at stake with the proposed SIP as New Mexico faces increasing air quality challenges. Haze continues to mar vistas in a number of New Mexico’s defining landscapes, including areas protected as Class I under the Clean Air Act such as the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Bandelier National Monument, the
Gila Wilderness, Pecos Wilderness, Salt Creek Wilderness, San Pedro Parks Wilderness, Wheeler Peak Wilderness, and the White Mountain Wilderness. NMED’s modeling for its Regional Haze plan shows that within these Class I areas, visibility is approximately twice as bad as the worst natural background conditions. This modeling shows that the San Juan Generating Station contributes to 80% of the visibility impairment in Mesa Verde National Park, 70% in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness, 45% in Bandelier National Monument, and 40% in the Pecos Wilderness.

The complete letter to the Governor and the Secretary is attached.

To get involved, contact David Van Winkle. david@vw77.com