Public Comment Form

Commenting open: July 31, 2026 12:00AM PT - September 15, 2026 11:59PM PT.

TransAlta public comment period: Environmental review and air permit for coal to gas transition
July 31, 2026, 12 a.m. - September 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. (extended from September 6, 2026, 11:59 p.m.)

Comment on the environmental review documents and draft air permit (Prevention of Significant Deterioration, PSD) for TransAlta’s proposed coal-to-gas transition project. This includes reviewing a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) checklist and Mitigated Determination of Nonsignificance (MDNS). These documents are used by local and state agencies to help determine whether a proposed project will have negative environmental impacts.


Proposed project

TransAlta proposes to transition one unit of its existing coal-fired electrical generation facility in Lewis County to generate electricity from natural gas. To supply natural gas to the facility, TransAlta will build a new 1,500-foot, 12-inch diameter natural gas pipeline. TransAlta would develop the pipeline on land they own and have used for the existing facility.


Environmental review

Ecology reviewed the project to determine how it would impact the environment. We found that TransAlta would need to mitigate or reduce certain impacts to move forward.


The SEPA process is not a decision and does not determine whether the project moves forward. It is used as support when decisions are made about the permit and other project decisions.


Air permit

TransAlta applied for a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit to:

  • Convert the existing Unit #2 boiler from coal to natural gas combustion
  • Replace the existing oil-fired auxiliary boiler with a new natural gas-fired auxiliary boiler
  • Replace the existing Unit #2’s cooling towers with two new cooling towers
  • Install two new natural gas-fired water bath heaters


Documents for review

Read project documents.


Public hearing: Monday, September 14, 2026, 6 p.m. online

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about how to join the meeting.


Accessibility: To request ADA accommodation for the public hearing, email meg.bommarito@ecy.wa.gov by September 1, 2026. Or call 425-681-6236, 711 (relay service), or 877-833-6341 (TTY).


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Any information (e.g., personal or contact) you provide on this comment form or in an attachment may be publicly disclosed and posted online.

Next Steps: After the public comment period ends, Ecology will review and consider all comments before finalizing the MDNS. Project permits cannot be finalized until after the SEPA process is completed.

After the comment period ends, we will:
  • Review and respond to comments.
  • Finalize and issue the PSD permit.
  • Publish the PSD permit on our website.
  • Update those who provide contact information.


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Thank you for subscribing to the TransAlta public comment period: Environmental review and air permit for coal to gas transition
July 31, 2026, 12 a.m. - September 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. (extended from September 6, 2026, 11:59 p.m.) mailing list.