Overall, the draft air quality permit renewal for Barrick’s Goldstrike operation in Nevada violates the Nevada and federal air quality laws and regulations and cannot be issued as proposed. More specifically:
-
The draft permit fails to aggregate emissions from modifications over the past five years
-
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection fails to consider or calculate emissions from on-site mining equipment
-
Air Pollution Control District fails to demonstrate compliance with the Prevention of Significant Deterioration provisions of the Clean Air Act
-
The draft permit fails to include critical monitoring and reporting information regardin hazardous air pollutants
-
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection has failed to demonstrate Barrick’s compliance with the more protective national air quality standards for fine particles
-
NDEP failed to act on Barrick’s Class I permit in a timely manner and thereby prejudiced the public’s review
