SHADYSIDE — Officials with PTT Global Chemical America are seeking permission to discharge material into the Ohio River as part of their efforts to build a multi-billion-dollar ethane cracker complex at Dilles Bottom.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency will host a public hearing on this matter at 6 p.m. Sept. 15 at Shadyside High School, 3890 Lincoln Ave., Shadyside.

Although certain forms of air pollution can be generated by such an enormous petrochemical complex — including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, ammonia, xylene and benzene — the scope of the meeting is scheduled to cover the river discharge, as well as impacts to wetlands, streams and ponds.

“We are working with the Ohio EPA to ensure the health of the air and water of the surrounding community,” PTT America spokesman Dan Williamson said. “The Ohio EPA will make sure this will not harm the community.”

Last year, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and officials with Thailand-based PTT met at the Statehouse in Columbus to confirm plans to spend at least $100 million for engineering and design plans for the plant, which some estimate would cost about $5.7 billion to complete. In July, FirstEnergy Corp. officials blew up the 854-foot-tall smoke stack at the former R.E. Burger plant to make room for the giant plant.

Sometime in the first half of 2017, PTT officials plan to make a final decision on whether they will actually build the plant, which would fill the Burger site and additional riverfront acreage to the south and west.

“It is just another step in the process that we hope will lead to a positive decision,” Belmont County Commissioner Mark Thomas said of the EPA hearing. “When we are seeing steps like this, it seems to be moving forward.”

As for the hearing itself, Thomas said he believes it is somewhat routine.

“It is part of the regulatory permit process that there be a public hearing. This is not unusual,” he said. “This is required by law. Any time you have a project of this magnitude, there will be a public hearing.”

The Ohio EPA will accept comments both orally and in writing at the hearing through Sept. 22. Written comments may be emailed to: epa.dswcomments@epa.ohio.gov. They can also be sent via regular mail to: Ohio EPA-DSW Permits Processing, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, OH 43216-1049.

HEARING SET

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency will hold a public hearing regarding the potential PTT Global Chemical ethane cracker at 6 p.m. Sept. 15 at Shadyside High School, 3890 Lincoln Ave.