CENTRALIA — Calgary-based TransAlta disagrees with and plans to appeal the $331,000 worth of fines leveled against it by the Southwest Washington Clean Air Agency stemming from emissions violations at its Centralia coal power plant in 2017.
The company was penalized for exceeding federal mercury emissions standards and failing to operate its air pollution control equipment at optimal configurations.
TransAlta blamed technical difficulties associated with converting to a new monitoring system for the excess mercury releases. It also claims its nitrogen oxides pollution control equipment was operating in compliance with the clean air agency’s terms.
“We have and will continue to work to ensure we are in complete regulatory compliance and will take any further corrective action required,” said TransAlta spokeswoman Stacey Hatcher.
