Boise-The J.R. Simplot Co. has requested that the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality allow it to modify the air quality permit for its No. 300 sulfuric acid plant west of Pocatello by replacing its 1,750 tons per day production limit with an annual production limit of 640,000 tons per year. Simplot officials say that modification would provide for improved operational flexibility at its Don Plant, an integrated fertilizer manufacturing complex that produces nitrogen, phosphate, and sulfate commercial products. The sulfuric acid plant is equipped with a scrubber system that recovers unconverted sulfur dioxide. Simplot was given a permit to construct in September 1996 and a subsequent permit in June 2001 for modifications to the plant. The 1996 permit established an annual production limit of 640,000 tons per year. The 2001 permit replaced the annual limit with the short-term limit of 1,750 tons per day. In June 2006, Simplot submitted an application requesting deletion of the short-term limit. A draft permit was issued for the proposed permit revision in March 2008. Simplot subsequently withdrew its application, and a final permit to construct was never issued. “Replacement of the 1,750 ton per day production limit with a 12-month rolling total limit could result in an incremental increase in actual production and an insignificant increase in emissions from the No. 300 Plant and other affected emissions units,” Simplot’s request states. A public comment period on the modified permit will be provided if a written request is submitted to IDEQ by 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, MDT.
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