Client:
Consumers Energy - Air Quality Services

Location:
Hampton Twp., Bay County, MI

Prime Consultant:
NTH Consultants, Ltd.

Total NTH Budget:  
$1 Million

Project Start:
2006

Project Completion:
​2010

NTH’s Value Added: Over the past 5 years, NTH is the only consultant to have worked through the permitting process for multiple new coal-fueled power generation facilities and coal-fueled industrial processes and handling operations in Michigan.

​Consumers Energy 
Air Quality Services

Project Overview
NTH Consultants, Ltd. (NTH) was retained by Consumers Energy to prepare a permit application for a new 930 MW advanced supercritical pulverized coal (ASCPC) boiler capable of firing 100 percent western sub-bituminous coal with the ability of blending up to 50 percent of eastern bituminous coal.  The ASCPC boiler would be located at the existing Karn/Weadock Generating Station that is located in Hampton Township, Bay County, MI.  

The project was considered a new “major” source of criteria air pollutants and was subject to the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) regulations.  Further, due to the concern for emissions of mercury and lead, a human health risk assessment was done to address impacts of these metals.  The human health risk assessment included deposition modeling and a risk analysis for sensitive populations.  

Project Approach 
The air permit submitted by NTH provided Consumers with as much operational flexibility as possible.  To address concerns for mercury and lead, NTH performed deposition modeling for use in a human health risk assessment, which was included in the permit application.  

NTH also conducted a dispersion modeling analysis of all expected pollutants for comparison to the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS), PSD Class II increments, and toxic air contaminant (TAC) screening levels per Michigan Rule 279.  

Because the facility’s coal storage will increase significantly, and due to its location in a residential area and proximity to a recreational water body, special care was placed on the potential for fugitive emissions from the coal pile. The fugitive emissions assessment addressed wind blown dust, dust from bulldozer activities and truck traffic, conveyors and barge unloading. 

Ongoing Activities

This project resulted in regulatory and public interest, which required NTH’s involvement.  NTH responded to MDEQ’s requests for additional information, negotiated permit conditions, and participated in public information meetings and public hearings. These steps were critical in obtaining timely approval of the permit application (issued on December 29, 2009) while maintaining operational flexibility.