FOLLANSBEE — A conference room at the Bluewave Center was filled Tuesday evening with about 70 people who came to hear about the proposed establishment of a plastics recycling plant in the city, ask questions and express concerns.

Empire Diversified Energy called the informational meeting, at the request of Mayor David Velegol Jr., after applying for a permit from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Air Quality to operate the plant on property formerly occupied by the Koppers plant at the city’s north end.

The project also awaits approval of building permits by Follansbee Council, which could come at a special meeting this month or in January.

On Tuesday, Bernard Brown, chief officer of operations for the company, said the plant will use a process called pyrolysis to convert plastic waste into synthetic gas used to fuel electric generators for the company’s other operations, such as a planned pig iron plant using metal recovered from grounds once occupied by a steel mill.

Brown said pyrolysis isn’t incineration, while acknowledging some disagree on that point, but involves decomposing materials under intense heat in the absence of oxygen.

He noted West Virginia is one of 24 states to classify pyrolysis as a form of advanced recycling through House Bill 4084.

Brown said the plant will be able to process up to 70 tons of plastics per day, with the material to include seven types of plastics, including PVC.

He acknowledged the broad range of plastics is unusual for the process and is possible through a step called pre-pyrolysis, which he said has been done in Europe but not in the U.S.

Farley Wood, an engineer with Empire, said no water will be discharged from scrubbers used in the plant while pollutant emissions will be expelled through one smokestack.

Wood compared totals for potential emissions, in the double digits, to the triple digit emissions of Koppers and the Mountain State Carbon plant, which operated nearby for many years.

“We are at a small fraction of what was produced on those two pieces of property,” he said.

Empire’s permit application to the state’s Division of Air Quality identifies the following potential emissions: Particulate matter, 5.7 pounds per hour or 25 tons per year; particulate matter of 10 microns or less, 3.20 pounds per hour or 14 tons per year; volatile organic compounds, 5.48 pounds per hour or 24 tons per year; carbon monoxide, 22.6 pounds per hour or 99 tons per year; nitrous oxide, 5.48 per hour or 24 tons per year; sulfur dioxide, 8.9 pounds per hour or 39 tons per year; hazardous air pollutants, 0.46 pounds per hour or 2 tons per year; toxic air pollutants, 0.46 pounds per hour or 2 tons per year; and other, 0.17 pounds per hour and .75 tons per year.

Brown said monitoring stations will determine if the plant has exceeded the state’s accepted levels of pollutants, and Empire will be fined if it exceeds them.

Katie Wood, an environmental consultant working with Empire, said Empire will be responsible for reporting the emissions but state DEP officials can conduct periodic and unannounced inspections.

Brown said the company has agreed to submit the emissions to the state electronically in real time.

Asked what will happen if Empire exceeds the limits, Brown said the company may be required to seek a federal Title V permit, which is issued to businesses classified as large sources of air pollution.

Katie Wood said Empire first would attempt to take corrective action, adding she’s confident the plant can remain below the recommended levels.

Attendees also heard from Jimmy Elk, president of Boilermakers Local 154, who noted Empire officials have voiced interest in employing local residents, including union members.

He said the plant’s development will be a boost to the local economy, which received applause from some attending.

Brown said 25 will be directly employed by the plant.

Iris Ferrell, a lifelong resident of Follansbee, said over the years local industries have been fined for violations, paid the fine, then resumed operations as usual so she doesn’t trust industrial leaders.

“We finally have clean air. We finally have a clean city we can be proud of,” she said, noting there have been reports of spills and fires at other plants using pyrolysis.

Brown said plastics will be transported to the plant, sealed in “super sacks,” from Ohio, though they may come from elsewhere in the state in the future.

Empire’s permit application states the business expects four to six truckloads of material to be transported to the plant each day using state Route 2 at the city’s north end.

Tom Diserio, who serves as environmental health and safety coordinator for Empire and assistant Follansbee fire chief as well as Brooke County commissioner, said the company will develop an emergency response plan for the plant involving the local and neighboring fire departments.

Steve Seminsky, assistant state fire marshal and a local resident, noted a permit from the state fire marshal’s office is required of the facility and said he will investigate if an incident or complaint arises.

Brown told Ferrell, “If there’s a problem, we’re going to get shut down.”

Asked what would happen if the plant were to close, Brown said businesses such as Empire are required to obtain a surety bond that would cover cleanup costs in that event.

“If we fail, the state will activate the bond and proceed with a cleanup. You can’t just file bankruptcy and walk away,” he said.

Asked if the plant will produce an odor, Brown said, “We believe you will not have a smell,” while adding it’s possible something foreign could be in material shipped to the plant without their knowledge.

But he reiterated, “There should be no smells.”

Rick Casini, another long-time resident, recalled the smoke that once emanated from the city’s steel mills, which except for one, have since closed.

“We’ve lived with the good and the bad. This doesn’t look like it’s anywhere near what we had — the stink, the filth and the smoke,” he said, which also received applause from some attending.

Casini said he’s confident environmental regulations are more stringent than they were in the past.

Brown said there are plans for a second informational meeting in March and to form a citizens committee focused on community benefits from the plant.

Prior to the meeting, representatives of three environmental groups gathered outside the Bluewave Center to share concerns about pyrolysis stemming from incidents at existing plants.

Beyond Plastics-Bennington College, Moms Clean Air Force and the Fresh Water Accountability Project released a statement indicating their resolve to prevent such facilities.

In it, Yuri Gorby, an environmental engineer with the Fresh Water Accountability Group, said, “This kind of industry should not be encouraged in the valley. We finally see an improvement in air quality that will be lost because of industries like Empire that bring noxious waste and create even more hazardous waste and toxic pollutants. Residents in this valley deserve better than what they have been offered.”

During the meeting, Frank Rocchio, a local resident heading Ohio Valley Environmental Advocates — a nonprofit grassroots group — asked technical questions about the process suggested by Eric Beckman, a professor of chemical engineering who has testified before Congress about pyrolysis.

Brown suggested a meeting between Empire officials and Beckman, which pleased Rocchio.

Following the meeting, Rocchio said he will seek more information about pre-pyrolysis in an effort to educate the public.

“We want to make sure everything’s done responsibly and appropriately. That’s all we’re asking for,” he said.