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Neighbors raise enforcement and groundwater concerns at Rocky Top; agency clarifies air-operating-permit terminology
Summary
Residents told the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency board they see few inspections and fear groundwater contamination at Rocky Top; the executive director clarified that only three facilities in Yakima County hold federal "air operating permits," a term distinct from the agency's orders of approval.
At the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency meeting on Jan. 9, local residents asked the board whether permit fees cover enforcement and raised concerns about inspections at the Rocky Top site.
"When I look at the little chart that has the number of inspections for air operating permits, there are zeros across the board," said Nancy Lust, representing Friends of Rocky Top. "There are none planned. There wasn't any last year." Lust said she would later attend a meeting with the state Department of Ecology and the health district and said, "I have a feeling they're gonna tell us they found PFAS in the groundwater out at Rocky Top."
In response, the executive director clarified terminology used in agency materials. "An air operating permit is a specific and unique permit that is issued to large operations that fall within title 5 of the Federal Clean Air Act," said Mister Thornberry. "There are only 3 entities in Yakima County that have an air operating permit. An air operating permit is not a general term for an order of approval that is issued by the agency to most of the permittees... We have nearly 400 registrants in Yakima County."
The executive director's clarification distinguishes the federal Title V air operating permit from the agency's more common orders of approval and helps explain why inspection counts for Title V permits can appear low: only a small number of facilities hold that specific permit type. Lust said she was concerned enforcement activity may instead rely on public reporting and that restricted access at Rocky Top complicates community oversight.
Why it matters: Residents linked air and water concerns at Rocky Top, saying measures used to control air emissions (such as capping with soil) may affect groundwater. The executive director's clarification provides context for the low count of Title V inspections but does not by itself describe enforcement plans for non-Title-V permits.
What happened next: The board did not record additional enforcement actions or immediate follow-up during the meeting; residents reported they planned to pursue the groundwater issue with Ecology and the health district.
