Billings Area News

Environmental groups sue PPL Montana

Posted: Mar 7, 2013 9:00 AM by MTN News

BILLINGS - Environmental groups are suing PPL Montana and five co-owners of the Colstrip Power Plant, alleging the coal fired plant violates federal clean air laws.

In a suit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Billings, The Sierra Club and the Montana Environmental Information Center allege PPL and its Colstrip partners failed to comply with the Clean Air Act.

The groups claim PPL did not upgrading the plant with the best available pollution control technology when major repairs were made between 1992 and 2006.

PPL Montana operates the plant on behalf of the other co-owners, Avista Corp., Puget Sound Energy, Portland General Electric Co., Northwestern Corp. and Pacificorp.

According to the lawsuit, the Colstrip plant is a major source of pollutants, including sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, mercury and soot.

The environmental groups are seeking court orders requiring the owners to comply with environmental protection laws and remediate the environmental damage.

The suit seeks monetary damages up $37,500 a day for alleged violations that began in the early 1990s. PPl acquired its interest in the plant in 1998.

PPL Montana spokesman David Hoffman says he cannot discuss the lawsuit.