EPA v. CINERGY AND PSI ENERGY, INC., WABASH RIVER

Case summary

U.S. EPA ALLEGES THAT PSI ENERGY, INC. VIOLATED THE PREVENTION OF SIGNIFICANT DETERIORATION (PSD) REGULATIONS FOUND AT 40 C.F.R. 52.21, AS INCORPORATED INTO THE INDIANA STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (SIP), BY REPLACING SUBSTANTIAL PORTIONS OF SIX BOILER UNITS AT THE WABASH RIVER GENERATING STATION WITHOUT A PSD PERMIT. ON MAY 29, 2009, THE DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA ORDERED THE DEFENDANTS IN U.S. v. CINERGY TO SHUT DOWN THREE COAL-FIRED BOILER UNITS (2, 3, and 5) AT THE WABASH RIVER PLANT NEAR TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 30, 2009. IN ADDITION, THE COURT ORDERED CINERGY TO RUN THESE UNITS AT A REDUCED RATE PRIOR TO SHUTDOWN; TO SURRENDER, PERMANENTLY, SO2 EMISSIONS ALLOWANCES IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO APPROXIMATELY 16 MONTHS OF EMISSIONS; TO INSTALL PARTICULATE MATTER CONTINUOUS EMISSIONS MONITORS AT THE BECKJORD PLANT IN NEW RICHMOND, OHIO; AND TO PAY A CIVIL PENALTY OF $687,500.

Defendants (2)

• CINERGY CORPORATIONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• PSI ENERGY, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (8)

• DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC- WABASH RIVER GENERATING STATION

  450 BOLTON RD, WEST TERRE HAUTE, IN, 47885-9563

  Registry ID: 110001961912

• DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC- WABASH RIVER GENERATING STATION

  450 BOLTON RD, WEST TERRE HAUTE, IN, 47885-9563

  Registry ID: 110001961912

• DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC- WABASH RIVER GENERATING STATION

  450 BOLTON RD, WEST TERRE HAUTE, IN, 47885-9563

  Registry ID: 110001961912

• DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC- WABASH RIVER GENERATING STATION

  450 BOLTON RD, WEST TERRE HAUTE, IN, 47885-9563

  Registry ID: 110001961912

• DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC- WABASH RIVER GENERATING STATION

  450 BOLTON RD, WEST TERRE HAUTE, IN, 47885-9563

  Registry ID: 110001961912

• DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC- WABASH RIVER GENERATING STATION

  450 BOLTON RD, WEST TERRE HAUTE, IN, 47885-9563

  Registry ID: 110001961912

• DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC- WABASH RIVER GENERATING STATION

  450 BOLTON RD, WEST TERRE HAUTE, IN, 47885-9563

  Registry ID: 110001961912

• DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC- WABASH RIVER GENERATING STATION

  450 BOLTON RD, WEST TERRE HAUTE, IN, 47885-9563

  Registry ID: 110001961912

Statutes cited

• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards
• CAA 165 — Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• CINERGY AND PSI ENERGY, INC., WABASH RIVERentered 2009-05-29

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $687,500

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1999-12-10Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2000-04-10Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2000-12-10Complaint Filed With Court
• 2009-05-29Final Order Entered
• 2009-05-29Final Order Lodged
• 2009-09-30Enforcement Action Closed
• 2009-09-30Concluded