• The Panda Perkiomen generating station will emit a combined total exceeding 3,000,000 pounds per year of criteria and hazardous air pollutants.

• Criteria air pollutants include carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter (containing, but not limited to, lead, mercury and arsenic), and volatile organic compounds. In 1996 Pennsylvania ranked among the top ten sates for point source emissions of each criteria air pollutant. Point sources include industrial facilities and power plants.

• Montgomery County is designated as a federal nonattainment area for the pollutant ozone which is formed by the combination of heat and oxides of nitrogen emissions. Failure to comply with federal air quality standards can result in the government withholding the region’s funding for highway improvements and a variety of other programs.

• In 1996, Montgomery County ranked sixth among all the counties of Pennsylvania for oxides of nitrogen emissions from all sources.

• In 1996, the oxides of nitrogen emissions from Merck Sharp & Dohme were reported at 906,000 pounds per year leading to a second place rank among point source facilities in Montgomery County. The Panda Perkiomen generating station will emit 924,000 pounds per year of oxides of nitrogen.

• In 1996, the carbon monoxide emissions from Merck Sharp & Dohme were reported at 174,000 pounds per year leading to a second place rank among point source facilities in Montgomery County. The Panda Perkiomen generating station will emit 1,336,000 pounds per year of carbon monoxide.

• In 1996, the particulate matter (PM10) emissions from Knoll International Inc. were reported at 110,000 pounds per year leading to an eighth place rank among point source facilities in Montgomery County. The Panda Perkiomen generating station will emit 530,000 pounds per year of particulate matter (PM/PM10).

• In 1996, the sulfur dioxide emissions from Knoll International Inc. were reported at 4,000 pounds per year leading to a 15th place rank among point source facilities in Montgomery County. The Panda Perkiomen generating station will emit 468,000 pounds per year of sulfur dioxide.

• In 1996, the volatile organic compound emissions from Knoll International Inc. were reported at 202,000 pounds per year leading to a third place rank among point source facilities in Montgomery County. The Panda Perkiomen generating station will emit 1,304,000 pounds per year of volatile organic compounds.

• The Panda Perkiomen generating station will maintain on-site storage of liquid ammonia, sulfuric acid, and caustics. Solvents and liquids associated with nonresidential development can leak or spill onto the ground, and eventually reach the groundwater.

  Sources:
  

  • Panda Perkiomen Generating Station air quality application Table 2-4, revised 10/6/99.
    
  • Environmental Defense Fund, www.scorecard.org.

C R I T E R I A     A I R     P O L L U T A N T S		PANDA PERKIOMEN GENERATING STATION: Emissions in excess of 3,000,000 pounds per year of criteria and hazardous air pollutants
POLLUTANT	POUNDS PER YEAR
CO (Carbon Monoxide)	1,336,000
NOx (Nitrogen Oxides)	924,000
SO2	468,000
PM/PM10 (Particulate Matter)	530,000
Particulate Matter - Hazardous Air Pollutants included in total:
Arsenic Beryllium Cadmium Chromium VI Cobalt	Lead (40 lbs) Manganese Mercury (28 lbs) Nickel Selenium
VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds)	130,400
33,400 lbs of HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS included in the VOC total:
1,3-Butadiene 2-Methylnaphthalene 3-Methylchloranthrene 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene Acenaphthene Acenaphthylene Acetaldehyde Acrolein Anthracene Benz(a)anthracene Benzene Benzo(a)pyrene Benzo(b)fluoranthene Benzo(g,h,l)perylene Benzo(k)fluoranthene Chrysene Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene Dichlorobenzene	Ethylbenzene Fluoranthene Fluorene Formaldehyde Hexane Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene Molybdenum Naphthalene NDMA (N-nitrosodimethylamine) Nickel NDMA (N-nitrosomorpholine) Phenanathrene Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Propylene Oxide Pyrene TMA (Trimethylamine) Toluene Xylene
Source: Panda Perkiomen Generating Station air quality application Table 2-4, revised 10/6/99.

Last modified: 25 January 2000

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