UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

REGION 4

Notice of Final Determination of Permit Issuance and Response to Comments 

for Outer Continental Shelf Air Permit OCS-EPA-R4015

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation

On June 20, 2014, the Region 4 office of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

requested public comment on a draft Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) air permit for Anadarko Petroleum 

Corporation (Anadarko), 1201 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, Texas 77380. The permit will 

regulate air pollutant emissions from an exploratory drilling operation within the Eastern Gulf of Mexico 

(EGOM) of the OCS. The proposed project will mobilize the Transocean Discoverer Spirit and associated 

support vessels for exploratory drilling and well completion and does not include the establishment of any 

permanent production platforms. The operation will last no more than two years, and is expected to 

operate no more than 208 calendar days per year. 

EPA prepared a preliminary determination and statement of basis document that explains the derivation of 

the permit conditions. The preliminary determination and the draft permit are available on EPA 

Region 4’s website at: http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/permits/ocspermits/ocspermits.html and through 

the Regulations.gov (docket # EPA-R04-OAR-2014-0487). The permit incorporates applicable 

requirements from the federal Prevention of Significant Deterioration preconstruction and title V 

operating permit programs, New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), and National Emission Standards 

for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), as required by the OCS Air Quality Regulations at 40 Code of 

Federal Regulations (CFR) part 55.

During the public comment period, which commenced on June 20, 2014, and ended on July 21, 2014, 

EPA only received comments from Anadarko. No request for a public hearing was received, and the 

hearing was canceled due to insufficient interest. The Response to Comments document summarizes the 

comments received, provides EPA’s response, and summarizes the changes made to the permit in 

response to these comments. A copy of the comments is in the administrative record for the Anadarko 

EGOM permit and available at the website listed above. 

After consideration of the expressed view of all interested persons, the pertinent federal statutes and 

regulations, and additional material relevant to the application and contained in the administrative record, 

EPA has made a final determination in accordance with title 40 CFR part 55 to issue an air permit to 

Anadarko for their proposed exploratory drilling operation. The final permit does not differ significantly 

from the draft permit offered for public comment. 

The final permit, EPA’s response to the public comments, and additional supporting information are 

available at http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/permits/ocspermits/ocspermits.html. Copies of the final 

permit and EPA’s responses to the public comments are available for inspection during normal business 

hours at the EPA Region 4 Office (please contact EPA in advance for available viewing times) and are 

also available upon request. To request these documents or check available viewing times, please contact 

Ms. Rosa Yarbrough at: R4OCSpermits@epa.gov; (404) 562-9643; or EPA Region 4, APTMD; ATTN: 

Ms. Rosa Yarbrough, 61 Forsyth Street, SW; Atlanta, GA 30303.
Any person who filed comments on the draft permit may petition the Environmental Appeals Board

(EAB) by October 16, 2014, to review any condition of the final permit. Others may petition for review 

only with respect to any changes from the draft to the final permit decision or other grounds that were not 

reasonably foreseeable during the public comment period on the draft permit. The petition must be filed 

with the Clerk of the EAB no later than October 16, 2014 and contain the information required by the 

applicable regulations.

The address for the EAB depends on the method of delivery, as follows:

All documents that are sent through the U.S. Postal Service (except by Express mail) address to:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Clerk of the Board, Environmental Appeals Board (MC 1103B)

Ariel Rios Building

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20460-0001

All documents that are hand-carried in person, delivered via courier, mailed by U.S. Postal Express mail, 

or delivered by a non-U.S. Postal Service carrier (e.g., Federal Express or UPS) deliver or address to:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Clerk of the Board, Environmental Appeals Board

Ronald Reagan Building, EPA Mail Room

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20004

Documents that are hand-carried may be delivered to the Clerk of the Board from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding federal holidays).

IMPORTANT NOTE: Documents that are sent to the EAB’s hand-delivery address through the U.S. 

Postal Service (except by Express Mail) will be returned to the sender and shall not be considered as filed.

Please see 40 CFR § 124.19, 40 CFR § 71.11, and visit http://www.epa.gov/eab/ for more information 

regarding the procedure for appeals to the EAB, including instructions for electronic filing.

Please bring this announcement to the attention of all persons who you know would be interested in the 

matter.