Westwin pilot plant properly permitted, environmental engineer says

Emissions from Westwin Element’s pilot plant will be low, an engineering expert said Monday.

Derek Blackshare said air quality documentation completed for the plant in southwest Lawton was thorough and permitted properly.

Blackshare offered the analysis Monday to the City Council, after being hired by the Lawton Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) to do what he has done for more than 300 other industrial facilities in the state: analyze data they provided and give his opinion on what environmental engineers and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) call the applicability determination and air permit for operation of the pilot plant. City officials said the plant is on track to be completed by summer.

Blackshare said he was hired to review Westwin’s air emissions and permitting data, then offer his conclusion. Blackshare said air permitting is required by the federal government, which sets specific criteria for pollutants that can cause or worsen things such as acid rain, ozone and greenhouse gases. States may impose additional criteria “over and above” what the federal government does. He said in Oklahoma, the entity charged with oversight of federal regulations is ODEQ.

Blackshare said Westwin followed the criteria when it submitted an application in October 2023, based on its primary emissions. In the pilot plant’s case, that would be particulate matter, particles that are so fine, they can easily be inhaled and travel deep into the respiratory tract. Blackshare said Westwin’s primary source of that particulate matter would be bags of materials that are loaded and unloaded at the site.

But the plant also will be using an emergency generator, and the emissions from that engine must be calculated into the analysis (data Westwin added to its application in January after it received its generator, he said). He said while the generator added some particulate matter, plant emissions still are low and meet permitting thresholds. When analyzing nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide levels for the generator, Blackshare said nitrogen oxide is equivalent to the average annual usage of 84 heavy diesel trucks. The carbon monoxide level is equal to the annual carbon monoxide emissions of 36 gas cars.

“Emissions are low,” he said.

Blackshare’s analysis came as city and economic development officials continue to try to address concerns from residents and tribal members who remain concerned about the plant and its potential effect on the environment and the health of humans and animals.

LEDC President Brad Cooksey, explaining the process that officials explored for what became the Westwin project, said some analysis was done even before Westwin came into the picture. For example, he said engineering experts said the site didn’t have evidence of historic structures; neither were there any architectural sites or bridges within a mile of the parcel. Because those details were not expected to be encountered, there are no architectural reports on them, Cooksey said.

Richard Rogalski, executive director of the Lawton Economic Development Authority, agreed there have been concerns about why the project was planned. The answer: the economic impact, beginning with the 735 jobs and $74 million in salaries directly related to the plant, coupled with jobs (and resulting salaries) from businesses associated with the plant.

“The impact of this industry is tremendous,” he said, adding officials have been upfront about the fact there are dangers associated with any industry.

Residents and visitors at Monday’s meeting said they continue to have concerns about the plant project. Resident Paul Greene said there has been a lack of transparency and governmental accountability. Greene said people wanted to ask questions about the project, but weren’t given an opportunity. He wasn’t the only resident with concerns. One woman who spoke Monday said there hasn’t been much opportunity for those opposed to the plant to share their side of the story.

“Shouldn’t we have a voice?” she asked. “I just don’t feel like you are talking to the community.”

Becky Lekey, a longtime opponent of the plant, said she is aware of Blackshare’s reputation and respects it, but she remains concerned about particulate matter. That is why she has advocated for fence line monitoring, adding that is the only way residents will know about contamination outside the plant.