FARMINGTON — Wasatch Energy Systems is preparing to submit a "notice of intent" to state environmental officials detailing plans for a $5.79 million upgrade of the pollution controls at its Layton burn plant.
Jack Schmidt, operations director for Davis County's solid waste management district, told trustees Wednesday that preparation of the notice "is about 95 percent complete."
When finished, the document will be sent to the state Division of Air Quality so agency officials begin the review process on plans to upgrade an old pollution control system Schmidt considers outdated and marginal.
Trustees agreed last month to begin negotiating with AirPol, an international pollution control company, on a system upgrade that would allow the burn plant to comply with proposed Environmental Protection Agency clean air standards for mid-sized waste incinerators.
Wasatch Energy officials selected AirPol from a group of eight companies that submitted bids on the upgrade.
Layton Mayor Jerry Stevenson said after Wednesday's meeting AirPol was chosen over one or more companies that submitted lower bids because Wasatch Energy officials are convinced its system will work best.
The AirPol proposal includes an activated carbon absorption technology that sprays a wet slurry containing reagent into the plant emissions stream to remove a number of contaminants.
Schmidt told trustees he hopes to reach an agreement with Division of Air Quality officials that will resolve "outstanding issues" with state regulators.
Wasatch Energy is facing state action for exceeding pollutant emission standards and was recently ordered to supply the state's air quality board the results of a September stack test waste district officials claim was botched.
Meantime, division officials are withholding comment on the proposed Wasatch Energy upgrade until they receive detailed information on the system to be used.
Schmidt also told trustees further fiscal analysis has convinced him the system upgrade can be accomplished using the district's own financial reserves and a healthy cash flow. "It will not be necessary to borrow any money for the long term," he said.
However, Schmidt did not rule out short-term borrowing during fiscal 2001 when the district will have to come up with $3.85 million to get the upgraded pollution control system online.