NorthMark attorney explains air pollution controls and enforcement for Spartanburg data center

Questions about air pollution and public safety took center stage during Monday’s Spartanburg County Public Safety Committee hearing on data centers.

Sarah Martinez, an environmental attorney working with NorthMark Compute and Cloud, answered questions primarily from committee chairman Monier Abusaft about the company’s Valara data center on South Pine Street.

One of the main topics was Valara’s classification as a synthetic minor source under its air permit, rather than a major source.

Martinez explained that without certain restrictions and pollution controls, the facility’s potential emissions could put it into the category of a major source.

However, the permit places limits on the facility’s emissions and operations.

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services approved the synthetic-minor air construction permit for Valara on Friday. The permit allows Valara to build and operate 11 natural-gas turbines equipped with pollution-control systems.

Formaldehyde emissions

Martinez also addressed formaldehyde, one of the pollutants considered in Valara’s air permit.

The facility’s estimated uncontrolled formaldehyde emissions would be about 117.6 tons per year, according to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.

With the required pollution controls, SCDES estimates emissions would drop to about 9.2 tons per year, just below the 10-ton-per-year threshold for a single hazardous air pollutant.

By falling below that threshold, Valara can operate as a synthetic minor source rather than a major source.

SCDES also says its air-dispersion modeling found the facility’s maximum modeled formaldehyde concentration would remain below the state’s applicable standard.

Why Greenville data was used

Valara’s air-quality modeling used background pollution data from a monitor in the Greenville area rather than a monitor closer to the proposed data center.

Martinez said the Greenville monitor was considered more representative of the conditions used in the modeling.

She also said the monitor’s location in a more urban environment, with more existing pollution sources, provided a more conservative estimate of background air pollution.

The Greenville data was not testing Valara’s emissions.

Instead, the existing air-quality measurements were used to account for pollution already in the surrounding air when modeling the potential impact of the data center.

What happens if Valara violates its permit?

Abusaft asked Martinez how the facility would be monitored once it is operating.

Martinez said the state can conduct unannounced inspections, review records and respond to complaints. If violations are found, SCDES can require corrective action and impose civil penalties.

Martinez said the facility will also be required to monitor operating conditions and maintain records demonstrating compliance with its permit.