DEP Issues Air Quality Plan Approval And Waste Management Permit To Delta Thermo Energy For Lehigh County Plant

Wilkes-Barre, PA - The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued an air quality plan approval and waste management permit to Delta Thermo Energy, Inc. to construct and operate an energy production facility in Allentown.

The 48,000-square foot facility on Kline Island will use municipal solid waste and sludge from the city of Allentown's Wastewater Treatment Plant as feedstock to produce a fuel to generate four gross megawatts of electricity for internal use and sale. The proposed facility will be built on 3.1 acres of land next to the city’s wastewater treatment plant along the Little Lehigh Creek. 

“DEP has thoroughly reviewed Delta Thermo’s plans for the facility and has determined they meet the regulatory requirements to operate,” DEP Northeast Regional Office Director Mike Bedrin said. “Our review determined that the proposed levels of emissions and air pollution controls satisfy best available technology requirements. In addition, the permit requires annual stack testing and continuous emissions monitoring to ensure compliance with emissions standards.”

On Dec. 12, 2012, Delta Thermo submitted a municipal waste general permit application to the Bureau of Waste Management in Harrisburg that proposed to blend the waste with sewage sludge to convert the mixture into a fuel.  

“The permit includes specific site restrictions and other application and operating requirements to ensure operations will be protective of human health and the environment,” DEP’s Bureau of Waste Management Director Ken Reisinger said.

On March 29, 2013, Delta Thermo Energy, LLC submitted a plan approval application to the Northeast Regional Air Quality Program. A notice of intent to issue the plan approval was published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on Sept. 7, 2013.    

On Oct. 30, 2013, DEP held a public meeting at Dieruff High School in Allentown to discuss the project and the department’s role in permitting. DEP staff from the Air Quality, Waste, and Waterways and Wetlands programs attended and answered questions from the public. Comments and questions received were evaluated as part of the permit review process.

DEP issued a National Pollutant and Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the project on Aug. 19, 2013.

Comment/response documents for both the air quality plan approval and municipal waste permit are available for review at DEP’s Northeast Region Office at 2 Public Square in Wilkes-Barre and at the department’s Bethlehem Office at 4530 Bath Pike in Bethlehem. 

The public can also review copies of the documents on DEP’s website. To review the documents online, visit www.dep.state.pa.us, click “Regional Resources,” then select “Northeast Regional Office” and click “Community Information.”