EPA issues no action assurance to Tampa Electric Company
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Sunday that it would allow Tampa Electric Company to operate without meeting all pollution controls at three of its facilities to maintain and restore electric service to Florida customers and critical facilities impacted by Hurricane Irma.
The EPA will exercise its enforcement discretion to issue a no action assurance to the company. EPA policy allows the agency to issue such assurances when it is needed to avoid public health and safety risks and no other options are available to address the matter.
It was reported that 331,613 Tampa Electric customers are currently without power.
Tampa Electric Company contacted the EPA, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the Environmental Commission of Hillsborough County on Sept. 7 to request relief from permit conditions and requirements at its electric generating sites. The requested includes relief from emissions limits for certain pollutants, fuel usage restrictions, restrictions on bypassing or shutting down pollution control equipment and limits on hours of operation.
EPA has said that it “believes that the exercise of enforcement discretion in these circumstances is in the public interest and will help address the emergency circumstances in Florida.”
Under the no assurance letter, Tampa Electric Company must maintain good air pollution control practices and follow all other federal, state and local environmental laws. The assurance will expire on Sept. 19.
