Vineland utility company will pay federal pollution fine

Vineland’s electric utility will pay the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency $850,000 for ongoing violations from the city’s West Avenue power plant.

The high levels of nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide weren’t harmful to residents, but were in violation of the EPA’s standards.

 

Boiler units No. 8 and No. 9 have been retired and unit No. 10 was converted from coal to fuel oil in response to the EPA’s ruling, which traced the violations to those units at the plant between 2004 and 2008, the Daily Journal reports. 

Aside from the fine, which was negotiated down from $1 million, the plant must add a pollution control device to unit No. 10 by September 2012 and complete its 60-megawatt simple-cycle combustion turbine on schedule.

City Council will vote next week to approve the settlement. Joseph Isabella, director of Vineland Municipal Utilities, says the fine won’t affect utility rates.