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MIDDLETOWN — The Ohio EPA has received SunCoke Energy's newest air pollution control permit application for the proposed Middletown Coke facility. 

The new permit application is more stringent than the company's current one, but does not include the same requirement for emissions credits. The company is seeking the new permit "to eliminate any doubt" it can meet air quality requirements, said Ryan Osterholm, project manager for the new $340 million facility.

The permit application was submitted to the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services, the Ohio EPA's local agency, on Monday night, said Heather Lauer, spokewoman for the agency.

The Ohio EPA said it believes SunCoke's current permit, issued in November, is valid and allows the company to begin construction; however, it will evaluate the new application and take public comment on the proposal.

The new application request is for a major New Source Review permit, a provision of the Clean Air Act, Lauer said. It ensures that companies that want to construct and operate new or modified facilities in areas that do not meet federal air quality standards do so without slowing the area's progress toward improving air quality. 

"The bar is pretty high for these. They are difficult permits to get," Lauer said. "They have to show improvements in air quality are going to continue to be better, it's not going to be worse and this is how we're going to do it."

Butler County meets federal air quality standards for large particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide. However, it does not meet air quality standards for fine particulate matter and ozone, according to the Ohio EPA.

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