Mattie Reitman of the Sierra Club standing-up to EPA against MCCO burning coal in University Circle, Cleveland, Ohio

John Funk of the Cleveland Plain Dealer continued his expanding coverage of the dangerous situation in University Circle that is the Medical Center Company. Outlining the timeline below, Funk highlights that "The permit, the facility's first ever, expired in 2003, and authorities have been reviewing the company's renewal application ever since" and "Built in 1932 and expanded with gas boilers as needed, the steam plant is operated by the Medical Center Co., a non-profit corporation whose board of directors represent CWRU and the major institutions that make up University Circle. The plant burns about 40,000 tons of coal per year." At issue is the renewal by the EPA of their permit to continue burning coal for five more years, which is outragous.Public feedback to the EPA is encouraged!

The article is included in entirety below to protect this information for public health and safety...

Case Western Reserve University steam plant may wait months for decision about permit renewal
Published: Wednesday, August 11, 2010, 7:09 PM     Updated: Wednesday, August 11, 2010, 7:17 PM

 John Funk, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Opponents of the coal-burning steam plant on the Case Western Reserve University campus can expect to wait a few months for a decision about the plant's new air permit.

About 70 people turned out this week at a hearing near the campus held jointly by the Air Quality Division of the Cleveland Department of Health and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.Nearby residents, doctors and students who spoke were either opposed to renewing the plant's 1999 EPA permit or wanted stricter operating or phase-out conditions added to the permit. The permit, the facility's first ever, expired in 2003, and authorities have been reviewing the company's renewal application ever since.

Matt Carroll, Cleveland public health director, said his staff would consider the comments, inspect the plant and send a recommendation to the Ohio EPA. The final decision could take a few months.

Built in 1932 and expanded with gas boilers as needed, the steam plant is operated by the Medical Center Co., a non-profit corporation whose board of directors represent CWRU and the major institutions that make up University Circle.

The plant burns about 40,000 tons of coal per year and supplies steam heat to its members as well as chilled water in the summer and power purchased from Cleveland Public Power.

The Sierra Club has taken a special interest in the steam plant and is urging it to stop burning coal, calling the practice especially egregious because it is right next to a hospital.

Previous coverage

Old-fashioned Ohio coal still being burned at tech-savvy University Circle institutions

CWRU treasurer Bob Brown, who is also chairman of the corporation's board of directors, said this week that the company is committed to replacing the plant, perhaps with a facility that burns natural gas and generates electrical power as well as steam heat. Called "co-generation," the process is considered more efficient in the industry.

In addition to CWRU, other members of the Medical Center Co. include University Hospitals, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Church of the Covenant, the Musical Arts Association, the Cleveland Botanical Garden, the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center, the Cleveland Medical Library Association, the Cleveland Institute of Art and Severance Hall.