News Release

For Immediate Release                                        

Contact:     

Beth Gorman
Pima County Department of Environmental Quality
(520) 740-3340

Tucson, Arizona (August 31, 2005) – The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) will be holding an Open House on September 6th and a Public Hearing on September 8th. These meetings will be held in the Multipurpose Room at El Rio Neighborhood Center at 1390 W. Speedway Boulevard, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The purpose of the first meeting on September 6th is to provide the public with information regarding the proposed air quality permit for the Santa Fe Pacific Pipeline, L.P. (Kinder Morgan) Soil Vapor Extraction Unit to be located at the Silvercroft Site, which is east of Silverbell between Waverly and Elm streets. The purpose of the second meeting on September 8th is to formally accept public comment on this air quality permit. The official public comment period for this air quality permit began on August 1, 2005, and will continue for 60 days until September 30, 2005. 

Santa Fe Pacific Pipeline, L.P. (SFPP) submitted an Air Quality Permit application to the PDEQ for its Soil Vapor Extraction Unit (SVEU) at the Silvercroft Wash Release Site in Tucson. The SVEU is to be used for the extraction of petroleum hydrocarbon vapors from soil vapor extraction wells. The soil vapor extraction wells are being used to clean up soil contaminated by a gasoline pipeline spill. The purpose of the SVEU is to capture any extracted gases from the wells to reduce emissions released into the atmosphere and protect air quality and public health. Additional information can be found at www.deq.pima.gov/permits .

Any person may submit a written comment on the proposed SFPP air quality permit. Grounds for comment are limited to whether the proposed soil remediation project permit meets the criteria for issuance prescribed in Arizona Revised Statutes. Only persons who submit written comments may appeal a permit decision. Written comments may be delivered or mailed to Pima County Department of Environmental Quality, Attention: Frances Dominguez, 150 W. Congress Street, Tucson Arizona, 85701 prior to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 30th. Written or oral comments can also be submitted at the September 8th Public Hearing. Contact Frances at 740-3344 for additional information. 

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