Brandon Shores Power Plant to Curb Visible Emissions

Constellation Energy has agreed to settle a claim by the Center on behalf of the Patapsco River Conservation Association alleging over 9,000 Clean Air Act permit violations at its Brandon Shores power plant on the Patapsco River in Maryland.  The Center notified the company of its intent to bring a citizen suit if the violations were not addressed.  Through negotiations, the Center has secured commitments from Constellation to steadily reduce the number of violations or pay significant penalties and install upgraded control systems.  The company also agreed to provide $50,000 in funds for remedial environmental projects on the Patapsco River.  The settlement will result in real reductions of particulate matter and hazardous air pollutants from the plant.   

The facility’s air pollution permit states that air emissions from smokestacks must be no more than 10% “opacity,” with 0% representing essentially invisible emissions and 100% representing complete blackness which allows no light to pass through.  The higher the percentage, the dirtier the emissions are.  Emissions exceeding the 10% limit have occurred in recent years with great frequency, to the increasing frustration of local citizens, thereby prompting the Association to act to curtail the excessive pollution.