Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Environmental Quality
Board
Air Pollution Control Board

General Notice
Public Hearing - Air Quality Plan, Regional Haze
Date Posted: 5/2/2008
Expiration Date: 6/13/2008
Submitted to Registrar for publication: YES
No comment forum defined for this notice.

 

Purpose of notice: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking comments and announcing a public hearing on a proposed permit to limit air pollution emitted by a facility in Bedford County, Virginia. If adopted, the Commonwealth intends to submit the permit as a revision to its State Implementation Plan (SIP) in accordance with the requirements of §110(a) of the federal Clean Air Act.
 
Public comment period: May 2 to June 3, 2008.
 
Public hearing: The Obenshain Room, DEQ West Central Regional Office, 3019 Peters Creek Road, Roanoke, Virginia, at 5:30 p.m. on June 3, 2008. A question and answer period will be held one half hour prior to the beginning of the public hearing (5:00 p.m.).
 
Permit name: State Operating Permit issued by DEQ, under the authority of the State Air Pollution Control Board.
 
Name, address and registration number: Georgia Pacific Big Island, 9363 Lee Jackson Highway, Big Island, Virginia 24526, Registration No. 30389.
 
Description of proposal: The proposed revision consists of the control of emissions of particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOX), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) to the atmosphere from certain units at the above-listed facility.
 
Virginia’s regional haze regulation is found in Article 52 (9VAC5-40-7550 et seq.) of 9VAC5-40, Existing Stationary Sources. This regulation provides guidance for determining Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART). BART is required for any BART-eligible source which emits any air pollutant which may reasonably be anticipated to cause or contribute to visibility impairment in any federal Class I area. BART is an emission limitation based on the degree of reduction achievable through application of the best system of continuous emission reduction for each visibility-impairing pollutant emitted by an existing stationary facility established on a case-by-case basis. Georgia Pacific Big Island is subject to these requirements, and has undergone BART analyses resulting in the proposed application of BART controls.
 
In essence, the proposed revision will consist of a determination as to BART for the control of emissions of particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOX), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) to the atmosphere from two power boilers located at the Georgia Pacific Big Island mill, Units #4 and #5. The proposed BART determinations are being made pursuant to Article 52 (9VAC5-40-7550 et seq.) of the Regulations for the Control and Abatement of Air Pollution (9VAC5-40, Existing Sources). For Unit #4, the proposed BART is (i) for PM, an electrostatic precipitator or alternative control device with equivalent reductions; (ii) for NOX, low NOX burners, or an alternative control technology with equivalent reductions; and (iii) for SO2, a caustic scrubber designed to remove at a minimum 90% of the SO2 from the boiler exhaust, or an alternative control device with equivalent reductions. For Unit #5, the proposed BART is (i) for PM, an electrostatic precipitator or alternative control device with equivalent reductions; (ii) for NOX, an overfire air system, or an alternative control technology with equivalent reductions; and (iii) for SO2, limiting the use of coal to no more than 10% of the annual capacity factor for the boiler.
 
A state operating permit is to be issued as the administrative mechanism to ensure compliance with the BART requirements for the facility. The permit is being issued pursuant to Article 52 (9VAC5-40-7550 et seq.) of 9VAC5-40 (Existing Stationary Sources) and Article 5 (9VAC5-80-800 et seq.) of 9VAC5-80 (Permits for Stationary Sources) of state regulations and are federally enforceable upon issuance. The permit will establish emission limits for control of PM, NOX, and SO2.
 
Federal information: This notice is also being given to satisfy the public participation requirements of federal regulations (40 CFR 51.102). The proposal will be submitted as a revision to the Commonwealth of Virginia SIP under §110(a) of the federal Clean Air Act in accordance with 40 CFR 51.104.
 
Consultation with federal land managers (FLMs): As provided in 40 CFR 51.302(b)(2), the FLMs were given the opportunity to comment on this permit on December 7, 2007. No comments were received, and no meeting was requested.
 
How to comment: DEQ accepts written comments by email, facsimile transmission and postal mail. In order to be considered, written comments must include the full name, address and telephone number of the person commenting and be received by DEQ by 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the comment period. Due to problems with the quality of facsimile transmissions, commenters are encouraged to provide the signed original by postal mail within one week. Both oral and written comments are accepted at the public hearing. DEQ prefers that comments be provided in writing, along with any supporting documents or exhibits. All testimony, exhibits and documents received are part of the public record.Please note this proposed permit is being concurrently reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
 
To review proposal: The proposal and any supporting documents are available on the DEQ Air Public Notices for Plans web site: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/air/permitting/planotes.html. The documents may also be obtained by contacting the DEQ representative named below. The public may review the documents between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. of each business day until the close of the public comment period at the following locations: 1) DEQ Main Street Office, 8th Floor, 629 E. Main Street, Richmond, Virginia, 804-698-4070, and 2) DEQ West Central Regional Office, 3019 Peters Creek RoadRoanoke, Virginia, 540-562-6700.

Contact Information
Name / Title: Lillian Alexander 
Address: 3019 Peters Creek Road
Roanoke, 24019
Email Address: ljalexander@deq.virginia.gov
Telephone: (540)562-6783    FAX: (540)562-6725