Union Tank Car asks DEQ to modify air permit

By Kayne Pyatt, Herald Reporter
Posted 1/15/25

EVANSTON — The Division of Air Quality with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is taking written comments from the public regarding an application made by Union Tank Car …

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Union Tank Car asks DEQ to modify air permit

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EVANSTON — The Division of Air Quality with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is taking written comments from the public regarding an application made by Union Tank Car Company (UTC). In the application, UTC “Requests a modification to air permit to increase allowable VOC (volatile organic compound) and HAP (hazardous air pollutant) emissions limits with a combined emissions limit for the flare, car degassing/ethanol venting and paint booth.”

“The request asks for a language change in the permit which is mostly for clarification of the requirements,” DEQ Public Information Officer Kimberly Mazza told the Herald. “The resource review program will review the application. Union Tank Car will have to provide the best available control technology and the requirements they agree to will be as stringent or more stringent than the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) requires.”

UTC is located at 600 Union Drive and is a Marmon/Berkshire Hathaway Company that repairs tank and freight cars for the railroad. Union Tank Car has been in Evanston for more than 35 years and employs approximately 100 people. They provide training and development for their employees.

“We made the request to modify the permit to amend language in the permit to more accurately reflect current practices on site,” plant manager Jason Lloyd told the Herald. “The request for the increase is due to an increase in the number of cars that are being repaired at the facility. We are amending air emissions calculations after adopting calculation methods that are in line with the most current recommendations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.”

Lloyd said the public complaints several months ago about a bad odor in the air in the community had nothing to do with the request for modifications. After an investigation of the source of the odor, it was determined the source was not from any activity conducted by Union Tank Car and did not originate at its facility.

The DEQ provides the public an opportunity to make comments regarding this permit request. Written comments are to be directed to Nancy Vehr, Administrator, Division of Air Quality, DEQ, 200 West 17th St., Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82002 or by fax (307) 635-1784. Reference A0017227 in comments. Comments may also be submitted on the Division’s website: (http://aq.wyomingdeq.commentinput.com).

Comments submitted by email will not be included in the administrative record.

All comments must be received by 5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 17, to be considered in the final application process. A public hearing will be conducted only if, in the opinion of the administrator, sufficient interest is generated or if an aggrieved party so requests.

For the duration of the comment period, the permit application, the agency’s analysis and the public notice are available for public inspection online at https://openair.wyo.gov, utilizing facility ID F003188 and permit number P0039543 under permits.

The material may be viewed online at the above URL utilizing a public computer at the Uinta County Library. Also, a copy of the public notice is available for public inspection at the Uinta County Clerk’s office.