DEP was hoping for more time to respond to Clean Power Rule

The state Department of Environmental Protection was hoping the federal EPA would extend the comment period on the new Clean Power Rule by 90 days instead of the 45-day extension the agency announced.

“While we at DEP appreciate the EPA’s decision to extend the deadline by 45 days, we would prefer a longer extension in order for state regulators and other stakeholders to have ample time to prepare thorough and meaningful responses on a very complicated issue,” DEP Chief Communications Officer Kelley Gillenwater said.

The new deadline is Dec. 1.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said back in June when EPA administrator Gina McCarthy announced the proposed rules to cut carbon emissions from existing coal-fired power plants that not a single plant in West Virginia would be in compliance.

DEP Secretary Randy Huffman said at the time the state would be seeking flexibility with the EPA. He said the only coal-fired plant close to the emission levels is the Longview plant near Morgantown. He said unfortunately the technology is currently not in place to reduce the carbon footprint of the other plants if they still want to use coal.

A top EPA official failed to specify Tuesday about the reasons for extending the public comment period to Dec. 1.