Covanta Power Pacific, Inc. Settlement
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Covanta Power Pacific, Inc. Case Settles for $140,000
The Regulation for Reducing Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) Emissions from Gas Insulated Switchgear establishes limits on annual SF6 emission rates. For 2013, the third year in which the regulation was in effect, the maximum allowable annual emission rate is eight percent. Pacific Oroville Power Inc. (POPI) which is a subsidiary of Covanta Pacific Power Inc. (Covanta) exceeded the 2013 emission rate limit.
POPI ceased power generation operations in the fall of 2012, however the gas insulated switchgear (GIS) was active until 2014. In an effort to curtail future SF6 emissions Covanta in 2014, replaced SF6 with nitrogen gas (N2) in the GIS equipment at POPI and at two other nonoperational facilities owned and operated by Covanta subsidiaries (Mount Lassen Power Inc. and Burney Mountain Power Inc.). The penalty was adjusted in response to the confidential demonstration of financial hardship made by Covanta on behalf of POPI. During the settlement process Covanta was responsive and cooperative.