Ohio EPA Issues Permit for SOBE Thermal Energy Systems
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Ohio EPA’s ruling Wednesday awarding SOBE Thermal Energy Systems LLC a permit for its planned synthetic gas production plant near downtown doesn’t override local ordinances that prohibit such use for that site, a city councilman said.
“They’re talking about an entirely new industrial process of taking shredded tire waste, liquefying that and producing the fuel,” said Councilman Mike Ray, 4th Ward, who also chairs City Council’s public utilities committee. “It’s not just refueling the plant. They’re talking about demolishing the plant and building a whole new industrial process.”
Ray said zoning modifications approved in 2013 prohibit new manufacturing at that location, which sits between North and Belmont avenues. Were the operation planning to just replace a substitute fuel for natural gas, that would be acceptable, he said.
However, SOBE plans to manufacture synthetic gas, known as syngas, from material derived from shredded tires on the site and use it for feedstock to fuel the plant, Ray said.
In December, City Council approved a one-year moratorium on the project, citing public environmental and health concerns over the proposed plant’s emissions.
According to a letter from Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel to President of Council Tom Hetrick dated May 12, 2023, the director conceded that should the agency approve permits for the SOBE plant, the decision would not nullify safety rules put in place by other entities.
“Authorization from Ohio EPA for this project would not supersede any safety requirements from other authorities, such as OSHA, the local fire department, local zoning authority, etc.,” the letter states.
Ray said the project would require a change in zoning – in this case, “spot zoning” – to gain compliance. Generally, the zoning board does not grant these, he said.
Efforts to reach David Ferro, president of SOBE Thermal, were unsuccessful.
SOBE Thermal Energy Systems applied for a permit with the Ohio EPA in September 2022 to allow the installation of a thermolyzer – or pyrolysis – unit to process tire chips. The unit would produce a synthetic gas that would serve as a supplemental fuel in two existing natural gas-fired boilers that are already installed, operating and permitted.
SOBE acquired the operations of the former Youngstown Thermal, a district heating and cooling operation that serves more than 20 clients in the downtown area.
“The permit does meet the applicable Ohio environmental rules and regulations, so Ohio EPA is obligated to issue a permit,” the agency said in a statement Wednesday.
The Ohio EPA conducted extensive air modeling, and the agency has an air monitor location close to the SOBE facility at Youngstown State University that measures particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and ozone, the agency said.
“Once the thermolyzer is in operation, computer modeling of the project’s anticipated air emissions predicts that air quality standards will continue to be met,” the agency said.
The Ohio EPA said it would continue to monitor quality conditions in this location and will take immediate action “if this source causes any adverse air quality issues.” Air quality data is available on Ohio EPA’s Division of Air Pollution Control’s Air Monitoring Data page.
The Ohio EPA said the permit includes conditions limiting air emissions to protect public health and the environment. In response to public comments received, the draft permit was revised to improve the monitoring and recordkeeping at the facility.
Some of the changes included adding additional emissions testing requirements for particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and dioxins/furans; adding terms to ensure the pilot flame in the flare is maintained at all times to ensure any gasses vented to the flare are properly combusted; a Leak Detection and Repair program is being developed to ensure any leaks from valves, pumps, etc. are repaired immediately; and adding terms to ensure the feedstock used in the pyrolysis process meets the definition of tire derived chips.
Before issuing the permit as final, the Ohio EPA reviewed the company’s application to ensure it would comply with federal and state standards, laws and regulations.
The agency also hosted a public information session and hearing Aug. 10, 2023, at the Eugenia Atkinson Recreation Center in Youngstown to discuss the project and take public comments on the record. The Ohio EPA reviewed and considered all public comments received at the meeting and during the public comment period.
The final permit, response to comments document, the environmental justice report and frequently asked questions document are available on Ohio EPA’s Announcements page.
Ray said the consensus – based on conversations he’s had with experts who scout sites involving similar industrial processes – is that SOBE’s location is among the worst possible for such an operation.
“I’m not an expert on environmental justice reporting, but the conversations I’ve had with people who do that for a living said you probably could not pick a worse location,” Ray said, citing population density of student housing, the hospital, fire department, downtown residential, subsidized housing and establishments in the central business district.
“You’re not seeing industrial processes in downtown areas anymore,” Ray said. “That is a leftover from a different era.”
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
