Two weeks after the comments period closed, Department of Environmental Quality officials are still wading through more than 1,000 comments about the proposed emissions increase at a Boardman natural gas plant.

Citizens had until April 30 to weigh in on a proposal by the Portland General Electric Carty Generating Plant to increase the limit to which it can emit volatile organic compounds. The facility requested that the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality increase the annual limit to its emissions from 24 tons to 194 tons. They also asked for an increased limit on carbon monoxide emissions, from 99 to 324 tons per year.

Doug Welch, the DEQ permit writer who has been fielding comments, said they received about 1,100 comments, most of which opposed the limit increase. He said many were from environmental groups, and were more like petitions. Welch said about 740 came from Columbia Riverkeeper, based in Hood River.

Welch said fewer than 10 of the comments the DEQ received were in favor of the increase.

Welch said they will review and respond to all the comments individually.

Welch said DEQ hopes to finish going through comments by the end of this month. After that, the EPA has up to 45 days to review the permit. The public can then appeal the EPA or DEQ’s decision.