News about Marshalltown, IA coal plant
Kelly Fuller
There’s lots of news about the proposed new Marshalltown, IA coal plant:
1. Last week, Community Energy Solutions, Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the Iowa Renewable Energy Society filed a lawsuit against the Iowa Utilities Board’s decision to approve the Marshalltown coal plant. Plains Justice is their legal counsel.
News coverage: http://tinyurl.com/bnnq3c
The legal petition: http://tinyurl.com/dyhura
2. Last Friday, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) extended the public comment period for the draft air permit for the coal plant from 30 days to 90 days. The extension came after the public flooded the DNR with requests for more time and more public hearings. You now have until May 18, 2009 to send in your comments.
The DNR also announced that it would schedule additional public hearings in Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Iowa City, and the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area. These hearings will probably be held in May, with exact locations and dates to be determined later. As of today, March 2, the currently scheduled public hearings are:
March 16, 2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Iowa Veterans’ Home, Whitehill Chapel, 1501 Summit Street Marshalltown
March 16, 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m., Iowa Veterans’ Home, Marshalltown
March 17, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m., Meskwaki Tribal Center, 346 Meskwaki Road, Tama
March 17, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m., Meskwaki Tribal Center, Tama
More information is available at the DNR website: http://www.iowadnr.gov/news/09feb/air.html
More information about the draft air permit is posted on the Plains Justice website: http://plainsjustice.org/marshalltown-coal-plant-draft-air-permit/
Continued public involvement is crucial. The Iowa Environmental Council has suggestions for points you can make in your comments letter: http://tinyurl.com/IEC-suggestions
Plains Justice would like to thank everyone who contacted the Iowa DNR to ask for more time and additional public hearings. Your action has made a difference!
Thanks for your support,
Kelly Fuller
Communications Director
Plains Justice
P.O. Box 251
Vermillion, SD 57069
(605) 659-0298
Plains Justice serves northern plains communities from offices in Cedar Rapids, IA and Vermillion, SD.