EPA issues decision on Desert Rock

Environment New Mexico is working with the San Juan Citizens Alliance, Dooda Desert Rock and others to stop Sithe Global Power from building another power plant on the Navajo Reservation—which is already home to two of the dirtiest power plants in the country.  The 1,500 megawatt coal-fired power plant would emit more than 12 million tons of carbon dioxide, ozone, mercury and other pollutants into the air each year and wipe out major gains being made to reduce New Mexico’s global warming emissions.

On July 31, the EPA issued an air quality permit to Desert Rock, despite the fact that doing so will almost certainly put San Juan County out of compliance for ozone, which the EPA is charged with enforcing. Gov. Bill Richardson, Attorney General Gary King and a number of environmental, social justice and public health groups are appealing this decision.