Boise-The J.R. Simplot Co. has withdrawn its application for a modified air quality permit that would remove production limits at one of the Don Plant’s two sulfuric acid plants near Pocatello, where it produces phosphate fertilizer. In an Oct. 16 letter sent to Mike Simon, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality’s air quality division program manager, Simplot Don Plant Environmental Manager Kirk Adkins said the company was withdrawing its application, which was submitted in June 2006. No reason was given in the letter. IDEQ said Simplot does plan to submit a revised application later. In June 2006, Simplot submitted its Permit to Construct Modification application requesting removal of a 1,750-tons-per-day production limit for its No. 300 sulfuric acid plant. The company estimates it would produce 2,000 tons of sulfuric acid per day without the restriction. Simplot’s Don Plant discharges about 565 tons of sulfur dioxide annually. Simplot anticipates that would have increased to 602 tons if the sulfuric acid production limit were removed, but still be well below the 750 tons allowed each year under federal standards. Increasing the No. 300 sulfuric acid plant’s production would reduce the amount of sulfuric acid Simplot acquires from other sources, but reportedly would not affect the production rates of other processes at the plant. In 1998, Simplot bought about 42,185 tons of sulfuric acid offsite to compensate for shortfalls. It purchased 50,489 tons in 1999, and 2,643 tons in 2004 for use in other plant processes. At a public hearing in May, some citizens criticized Simplot’s proposal and IDEQ’s regulation of the company’s fertilizer plant.
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