IDEM Draft Water Permit Another Step Forward for Indiana Gasification

IG Will Use No Water from Area Aquifers

ROCKPORT, Ind., June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Indiana Gasification is pleased that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has issued a public notice of its draft Clean Water Act permit for the company's world-class, clean coal facility. In May, IDEM filed a proposed air permit with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  

"Together, these decisions advance the development of the cleanest coal plant ever permitted in the United States. The IG facility will help fuel Indiana's energy future, reduce America's dependence on foreign oil and create at least 1,500 high-paying jobs here. Plus, IG guarantees Hoosier ratepayer savings of at least $100 million over 30 years," said Bill Rosenberg, a partner in Indiana Gasification and a former assistant administrator for air at EPA.  

The draft permit reflects Indiana Gasification's use of an advanced zero liquid discharge system that will filter and reuse most of the wastewater coming from the gasification process and evaporate the rest. With this design, no process wastewater will be discharged from the facility.   

"With our zero liquid discharge approach, the environmental benefits are two-fold.  We'll have no discharge of process wastewater, which prevents pollution, and we will reuse wastewater, thereby reducing overall water needs.  Combined with our unique design for capturing and using stormwater at the facility, Indiana Gasification has designed a system dramatically reducing overall water use and discharge," said Rosenberg.

No water will come from area aquifers. Ohio River water, stormwater and recycled water supply the project's needs. River water usage will be managed to average about 0.2 percent of low river flow conditions. Also, stormwater collected from various areas of the plant will be used in the process to reduce both river water use and the potential for discharge of coal-contaminated stormwater. 

Water discharges will include stormwater and non-process waters from the cooling tower and boiler feedwater system. All of these discharges will meet the requirements of the IDEM permit and Clean Water Act regulations.

Construction on this state-of-the-art facility will not begin until after IDEM issues the environmental permits.  If all goes as planned, construction will begin in 2013.

To view IDEM's draft permit, please visit:  http://www.in.gov/idem/5338.htm

SOURCE Indiana Gasification