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CENTER for BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Because life is good
ABOUT ACTION PROGRAMS SPECIES NEWSROOM PUBLICATIONS SUPPORT

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DESERT ROCK ENERGY PROJECT

The 1,500-megawatt coal-fired Desert Rock Energy Project on Navajo land is proposed for an area about 25 miles southwest of Farmington, New Mexico, within 100 miles of three large existing coal-fired power generating stations. It would annually discharge millions of tons of air pollutants, including 10.9 million tons of CO2, and would release mercury, selenium, and other heavy metals into the air and water, further compromising the survival and recovery of species like the Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker.

On January 7, 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency withdrew a portion of its permit decision for the plant, and on January 22, the Environmental Appeals Board agreed to review four petitions opposing the plant, including the Center’s. We filed a reply brief with other environmental organizations in February, following up with comments on the revised permit decision on CO2 controls in March. In September, the Environmental Appeals Board ordered an air permit for the plant to be sent back to the EPA for more consideration.

 

Coal mine photo by Bert Kaufmann