23 Sep 2019

PTTGCA Reaches Agreement with Environmental Organizations

Posted by Dan Williamson

Pact Resolves All Issues Related to the Appeal of the Final Air Permit From Ohio EPA

 PTTGC America LLC (PTTGCA) announced today it has reached an agreement with three environmental organizations settling the appeal of the air permit-to-install issued in December of 2018 by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) for the proposed petrochemical complex in Belmont County. In working with the organizations, PTTGCA agreed to enhance environmental protection and public transparency measures beyond what is required by OEPA if the project goes forward. Sierra Club, Earthworks and FreshWater Accountability Project agreed to withdraw their appeal of the air permit. PTTGCA has not made a final investment decision on the project.

Highlights of the agreement include:

  • An enhanced leak detection and repair program;
  • A commitment to publishing all information reported to OEPA on a publicly available website;
  • A commitment to perform additional stack testing.

“We respect Sierra Club, Earthworks and FreshWater Accountability Project for working with us on this agreement,” said Mr. Toasaporn Boonyapipat, president and CEO for PTTGCA. “The resolution of these issues is a tribute to their commitment to environmental protection. We also thank the people of the Ohio Valley community for their enthusiasm and support as we continue to work toward a final investment decision.”

 

06 Mar 2019

PTTGCA and Daelim Begin Clearing Trees Around Project Site

Posted by Dan Williamson

PTTGC America and Daelim have contracted with a local business for the removal of trees of more than 3 inches in diameter in an area of approximately 140 acres at the the site of the proposed petrochemical complex in Belmont County.

The tree removal will be completed prior to March 31 to ensure that no Indiana Bats are impacted, in accordance with the federal Endangered Species Act.

PTTGCA and Daelim continue to work toward a final investment decision; no decision has been made at this time.

11 Jan 2019

PTTGCA and Daelim Thank Governor Kasich

Posted by Dan Williamson

As he wraps up two successful terms as Ohio governor, PTTGC America and Daelim extend our sincerest gratitude toward John Kasich for his strong leadership and close partnership on the proposed world-scale petrochemical complex in Belmont County. While PTTGCA and Daelim continue to pursue a final investment decision on the project, the consistent support from the Kasich administration, JobsOhio  and numerous other partners at the national, state and local level has been of great benefit to us. We have been inspired by Governor Kasich’s vision of economic prosperity for all the people of Ohio, and it has been a pleasure to work with him and his outstanding team. We wish Governor Kasich all the best in the future.

11 May 2018

PTTGCA and Daelim Commit to Environmental Protection

Posted by Dan Williamson

PTTGCA-Daelim U.S Petrochemcial Project’s Commitment to Protecting the Environment

PTTGCA-Daelim’s U.S. Petrochemical Complex is being designed and will be constructed and operated to be protective of human health and the environment in a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable manner.  This is and will continue to be achieved  by the following actions.

Protection of Land Natural Resources and Local History

  • The cleanup and redevelopment of more than 400 acres of industrial land: Land use since the 1920s included a coal mine, sand and gravel quarry, asphalt batch plant and coal-fired power plant. Portions of the site were used for the storage and/or disposal of coal refuse material, coal bottom ash and fly ash and former underground petroleum strorage tanks.
  • Protection of the biodiversity by avoiding impacts to threatened and/or endangered species.
  • Protection and avoidance of sensitive archeological and cultural resources through the completion of cultural resource surveys and archaeological and geoarchaeological field surveys and investigations.
  • Protection, preservation and improvement of Dilles Bottom Cemetery for the local community in memory of the first families that settled in Dilles Bottom:  We will work with Mead Township to support the restoration and resetting of gravemarkers, construction of a protective decorative fence around the cemetery, and ongoing maintenance of the Cemetery.

Protection of Water Quality

  • Increasing the net acreage of U.S. waters (i.e., wetlands and surface waters) of equivalent or better quality through the in-lieu fee mitigation program of the Stream and Wetlands Foundation.
  • Improving the water quailty of Big Run Stream by reshaping, adding soil cover and revegetating the unreclaimed portions of the GOB piles facing Big Run Stream.
  • Obtaining a wastewater discharge permit: The discharge limits and continuous monitoring requirements protect the Ohio River so it can continue to be used for drinking, recreation, other water supply needs and to support a healthy aquatic life.
  • Providing Best Available Demonstrated Control Technology treatment levels that will produce effluent quality that will not degrade the Ohio River.
  • Minimizing freshwater consumption by using closed-cycle cooling systems, recycling excess process water back to the cooling tower water basin, and using mist eliminators in the cooling towers to minimize water losses.

Protection of Air Quality

  • Obtaining air permit: Air emissions from the plant will not prevent or interfere with the attainment or maintenance of National Ambient Air Quality Standards that were established by the U.S. and Ohio Environemntal Protection Agencies to protect human health and the environment. Emissions will be within the allowable Prevention of Significant Deterioration Class II area standards and will not cause adverse impacts on soil and vegetation or decrease visibility in the surrounding area.
  • Providing Best Available Control Technology to minimize the amount of air emissions.
  • Using natural gas and ultra Low-NOx burners to minimize the emissions from the steam boilers.
  • Using recycled tail gas as the primary fuel source for the ethane cracking furnaces: The recycled tail gas is a byproduct of the ethane cracking furnaces.
  • Using Low-NOx burners and Selective Catalytic Reduction to minimize the ethane cracking furnace NOx emissions.
  • Using Thermal Oxidizers to destroy hydrocarbons from the ethane cracker unit and HDPE process vents, and vents from the hydrocarbon storage tanks, hydrocarbon liquid railcar loading and wastewater treament operations.