The Washington State Department of Ecology is now collecting comments on a proposed agreement with TransAlta to cut emissions at its Centralia coal-fired power plant.

    A public hearing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at Ecology headquarters, 300 Desmond Drive SE, Lacey. Written comment will be accepted through Nov. 9.

     The proposed agreement with plant owner TransAlta was hammered out by representatives from the company, the office of Gov. Chris Gregoire and Ecology beginning last year.

    The agreement aims to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides — which have been blamed for haze in national parks and wilderness areas — as well as mercury emissions.

     As part of the proposed agreement, TransAlta will reduce nitrogen emissions at 20 percent below its current permit, and Ecology will issue an order that will make the company’s agreement enforceable, according to a release.

     The proposed agreement also will reduce mercury emissions as the company voluntarily agreed to start installing state-of-the-art controls for mercury emissions this year, according to the release.

    TransAlta will test the controls and monitor emissions this year as part of a voluntary project to reduce the plant’s mercury emissions, with full implementation in 2012, according to the release.

     “This agreement will lead to real improvements in visibility and lower health risk from airborne mercury,” said Stuart Clark, Ecology’s air quality program manager.

      The TransAlta Centralia Steam-Electric plant is the state’s only coal-fired power facility. It has come under scrutiny by a variety of environmental and conservation groups in the past year for its emissions. Many of those same groups have spoken out to say the state’s agreement with the company is not strong enough.

     The TransAlta plant is the largest stationary source of nitrogen oxide emissions in Washington, according to Ecology. Modeling shows that reducing the plant’s emissions will improve visibility as far away as the Pasayten Wilderness in Okanogan County in north-central Washington and the Three Sisters Wilderness in central Oregon, according to Ecology.

     The proposed agreement and related documents can be reviewed at Ecology’s headquarters, 300 Desmond Drive SE, Lacey. For an appointment, contact Stephanie Abraham at 360-407-6326.

    The agreement and related documents are also available on the Web at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/TransAlta/TransAltaAgreement.html

    Written comments can be sent to Alan Newman, Air Quality Program, Washington Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600. E-mail comments to AQcomments@ecy.wa.gov.

    Eric Schwartz: (360) 807-8245