The latest editions of the Alexandria Gazette Packet and the Mount Vernon Gazette include this letter to the editor:
Englin Took the Time
To the Editor:
For more than a year I have been concerned that, according to information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mirant has been in constant violation of its water permit since mid-summer 2003 and in violation of its water permit since early 2004. There was no information at EPA’s website to let me know whether the violations were serious or not, and so I approached several politicians asking them to please find out.
Del. David Englin took the time, and now I have my answer.
According to the EPA, the database I was checking had had not been updated since June 6, 2006. Mirant was guilty of “numerous instances of non-compliance” of the Clean Water Act from October through December 2002, and from January through March 2006, EPA said in its response to Del. Englin. However, the violations were not serious and did not involve releases into the Potomac water. The violations were a misinterpretation of the company’s discharge monitoring requirements, EPA said.
The firm has since provided the data to EPA that the agency said was needed, and that EPA has updated its website which shows that the plant is in compliance with its waste and water permits.
I share my neighbors’ concerns about the air emissions from Mirant; but I am very grateful to Del. Englin for finding out what was going on with its waste and water permits.
Pat Phibbs
Alexandria
