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Georgia Judge Sends Power Plant Permit to Regulators

ATLANTA - A judge has ordered environmental regulators to re-evaluate parts of a permit that would allow the construction of a coal-fired power plant in southwest Georgia.

Administrative Law Judge Stephanie Howells ruled Tuesday that the permit for Plant Longleaf in Early County should be sent back to the state's Environmental Protection Division for further review.

She ordered that the permit include test methods specifically designed to detect five types of air pollution, including formaldehyde and dioxins, and make other changes.

Project opponents filed a lawsuit faulting state regulators for classifying the plant as a minor source of pollution, not a major source that would be subject to tighter regulation. The plant's developer, New York City-based LS Power Group, said it expects it can meet the new conditions and continue developing the project.