The Idaho Conservation League on Monday notified Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Director Curt Fransen it intends to contest Dynamis’ air quality permit if issued.
Dynamis Energy wants to build a garbage-gasification plant at the Ada County landfill.
“Our initial review indicates the air quality data and modeling provided by Dynamis is insufficient to ensure protection of air quality in the Treasure Valley and that Dynamis’ emissions will exceed allowable limits under Idaho’s air quality rules and the Federal Clean Air Act,” the Idaho Conservation League wrote to the DEQ.
The Idaho Conservation League also asked DEQ to allow a 90-day public-comment period and provide a public hearing on the draft permit, if issued.
Dynamis responded by battening down its hatches, saying Wednesday, “(A)s a result of the ICL's letter, all discussion regarding the Ada County project has now entered a new permitting/legal realm and Dynamis will not be commenting until the IDEQ permitting process has concluded.”
DEQ is reviewing Dynamis’ applications for air quality and solid waste permits. That process could take at least another 30 days to complete.
For the past several weeks, Dynamis has declined to answer Statesman questions regarding financing, pending Idaho Board of Professional Engineers investigation, pending Bannock County prosecutor investigation of Ada County Commissioners’ handling of the Dynamis’ contracts or the Southfork Landing development in Garden Valley, in which two Dynamis officers are partners.
Dynamis also has refused to provide the Statesman details on other projects it says it has under way.
In a July 30 press release, Dynamis stated: “Dynamis Energy currently has projects under way in North America, South America, the Caribbean and Europe.”
When asked to identify the cities, states or countries in which projects are under way, Dynamis responded: “(W)e do not comment on specific projects or any of Dynamis' international activities as the competitive environment is extremely vibrant. Dynamis will not comment further beyond the press release statement.”
In 2010, Ada County and Dynamis entered a partnership to build a waste-to-energy plant at the Ada County landfill.
Dynamis said it plans to start construction next month on the $75 million plant, which will take about 15 months to build.
The plant could process up to 408 tons of trash daily, generating up to 22 megawatts of energy, which Idaho Power has agreed to purchase.
