"Conservationists Petition EPA to Block Washington Coal Plant Permit"

"SEATTLE -- Conservation and energy groups have filed a petition with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency asking the agency to object to an air pollution permit granted to TransAlta Corporation's coal-burning power plant in Centralia, Washington, one of the largest suppliers of base load power in the Pacific Northwest.

The petition was filed with the U.S. EPA on November 2 by Earthjustice on behalf of Sierra Club, National Parks Conservation Association, and Northwest Environmental Defense Center.

They filed the petition because on September 17 Southwest Washington Clean Air Agency renewed Canadian-based TransAlta's permit for the Centralia power plant, a move the petitioners say ignores state and federal clean air laws.

The TransAlta plant is Washington state's only commercial coal-burning power plant."

Environment News Service had the story November 3, 2009.