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

General Notice
General Notice - State Implemenation Plan Proposed Revision - GP Big Island, LLC
Date Posted: 10/31/2012
Expiration Date: 12/19/2012
Submitted to Registrar for publication: NO
No comment forum defined for this notice.

Purpose of notice: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on a permit to limit air pollution emitted by a facility in Bedford County, Virginia.  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. The SIP is the plan developed by the Commonwealth in order to fulfill its responsibilities under the federal Clean Air Act to attain and maintain the ambient air quality standards promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Act. DEQ is seeking comment on the issue of whether the amended permit should be submitted as a revision to the SIP.

Public comment period: November 19 through December 19, 2012.

State public hearing procedure: Interested persons may request a public hearing. The request must be made in writing to the contact listed below, and be received by DEQ by the last day of the comment period. In order to be considered, the request must include the full name, address and telephone number of the person requesting the hearing and of all people represented by the requester. The request must also include: (i) the reason why a public hearing is requested; (ii) a brief statement setting forth the factual nature and extent of interest in the proposed permit, including how the operation of the facility affects the requester; and (iii) specific references to applicable terms and conditions of concern as well as suggested revisions. A public hearing may be held as required by § 10.1-1322.01 of state law if at least 25 requests are received in accordance with these procedures. Notice of the date, time, and location of any requested public hearing will be announced in a separate notice, and another 30-day comment period will be conducted.

Federal public hearing procedure: Interested persons may request a public hearing. The request must be made in writing to the contact listed below, and be received by DEQ by the last day of the comment period. In order to be considered, the request must include the full name, address and telephone number of the person requesting the hearing and of all people represented by the requester. A public hearing will be held as required by 40 CFR 51.102(a) if a request is received in accordance with these procedures. Notice of the date, time, and location of any requested public hearing will be announced in a separate notice, and another 30-day comment period will be conducted.

Permit name: State operating permit issued by DEQ, under the authority of the State Air Pollution Control Board.

Name, address and registration number: GP Big Island, LLC, 9363 Lee Jackson Highway, Big Island, Virginia 24526, Registration No. 30389.

Description of proposal: 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) as required by 40 CFR 51.302 and 51.308, and Appendix Y to 40 CFR Part 51.  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. GP Big Island, LLC is subject to these requirements, has undergone a BART analysis resulting in the application of BART controls, and has obtained a state operating permit containing BART controls which was submitted to EPA as a SIP revision on July 17, 2008. Subsequently, GP Big Island, LLC and the department joined a mutual determination of permanent shutdown of an individual unit consisting of the No. 4 Power Boiler.

The current proposed revision consists of (i) the mutual and final determination between the source and the department, signed on January 5, 2012, that the No. 4 Power Boiler is permanently shut down, and (ii) the associated state operating permit revised and issued on October 5, 2012 as the administrative mechanism to ensure continuing compliance with BART requirements. The permit was 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. Because the permit has been issued, DEQ is accepting comment only on whether the amended permit should be submitted as a revision to the SIP and not on the content of the permit.

Federal information: This notice is 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.

How to comment: DEQ accepts written comments by email, fax, 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 the last day of the comment period. All materials received are part of the public record.

To review proposal: The proposal and any supporting documents are available on the DEQ Air Public Notices for Plans web site: http://www.deq.state.va.us/Programs/Air/PublicNotices/airplansandprograms.aspx. The documents may also be obtained by contacting the DEQ representative named below. The public may review the documents between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm of each business day until the close of the public comment period at the following DEQ locations: 1) Main Street Office, 8th Floor, 629 E. Main St, Richmond VA and 2) Blue Ridge Regional Office, 7705 Timberlake Rd, Lynchburg VA.


Contact Information
Name / Title: Jan Phillips 
Address: 7705 Timberlake Road
Lynchburg, 224502
Email Address: jan.phillips@deq.virginia.gov
Telephone: (434)582-6218    FAX: (434)582-5125    TDD: ()-