Pennsylvania Electric Company (Pennelec)

GPU
GENCO

GPU Generation, Inc.
1001 Broad Street
Johnstown, PA 15907
Tel 814-533-8111

Writer's Direct Dial Number
(814) 533-8811

April 29, 1997

Secretary, Board of Supervisors South Mahoning Township R.D. #1, Box 379 Creekside, PA 15732	Mr. John A. Skiavo, President Johnstown Area Regional Industries 111 Market Street Johnstown, PA 15901
Mr. Joseph P. Pezze Regional Manager, Air Quality PA Department of Environmental Protection 400 Waterfront Drive Pittsburgh, Pa 15222-4745	Roberta A. Naugle Secretary East Wheatfield Township Box 76 Armagh, PA 15920
Mr. Larry W. Garner Township Manager White Township Supervisors 950 Indiana Springs Road Indiana, PA 15701-3598	Mr. George L. Ellis President Pennsylvania Coal Association 212 North Third Street Suite 102 Harrisburg, PA 17101
Mr. David J. Akers Vice President CQ, Inc. R. R. 2, Box 2113 Homer City, PA 15748	The Honorable Timothy L. Pesci Main Capitol Building House Box 202020 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
The Honorable Patrick J. Stapleton Senate Box 203041 The State Capitol Harrisburg, PA 17120-3041

Mr. Randolph G. Whittle, Jr.
Executive Director
The Greater Johnstown Committee
111 Market Street
Johnstown, PA 15901

Dear Mr. Whittle:

This is to express our appreciation for your May 6, 1996 letter to EPA Administrator Browner on behalf of Pennsylvania Electric Company (Pennelec), GPU Generation, Inc. (Genco), and New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG), the owners and operator of Homer City Station in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. Specifically, your letter, along with more than 1,500 others, supported the owner's proposal to conduct an Excellence and Leadership (XL) project at the Homer City Station. The project would have provided environmental and economic benefits in Pennsylvania, and could have been used as a national model for demonstrating compliance with environmental standards in a more flexible fashion.

Unfortunately, and despite our presentations demonstrating the compelling economic and environmental benefits of the project, EPA has not accepted the Homer City Station XL proposal. The enclosed letter contains EPA's reasons for not accepting the proposal. Significantly, EPA has decided that the owners should not be given any "credit" for agreeing to maintain the voluntary early emission reductions (more than 25,000 tons of SO₂ per year below allowable levels) already achieved at the station. In short, without any credit for the station's current superior environmental performance, the owner's proposal, in EPA's judgment, could not satisfy their test for superior environmental performance.

We will advise you if any further steps are taken to preserve the environmental benefits achieved at the station. In the interim, should you have any questions or comments, please call me.

Your support was appreciated greatly.

Very truly yours

R. P. Lantzy
Director - Technical Services & Strategy

Enclosure

VJB352C

bcc: Lisa Lund
David Gardiner
XL Team

Pennsylvania Electric Company (Pennelec)

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