UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

AIR, PESTICIDES & TOXICS MANAGEMENT DIVISION

61 Forsyth St., S. W.

Atlanta, Georgia 30303

FACT SHEET - Updated June 26, 2013

ACTION: Preliminary Determination and Draft Revised Outer Continental Shelf

(OCS) Air Permit, OCS-EPA-R4008-M2, for

BHP Billiton Petroleum, Inc. (BHPB), Sake Prospect Project

Public Notice & May 24, 2013: Publication in the Panama City News Herald, Mobile Press

Comment Period: Register, Pensacola News Journal, Florida Register, emails to 

the OCS public notice list, www.regulations.gov, and the 

EPA Region 4’s website at: 

http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/permits/ocspermits/ocspermits.html

June 27, 2013: Close of Public Comment Period

Public Hearing: June 27, 2013, from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm at:

West Florida Public Library

239 N. Spring St.

Pensacola, Florida 32502

Project: The permitted project, which has not yet begun drilling, will use one of two 

deepwater exploratory drilling vessels and associated support fleet that BHPB 

proposes to operate within contiguous DeSoto Canyon OCS lease blocks in the 

Gulf of Mexico. BHPB has requested the permit be amended to include 

revised best available control technology (BACT) limits for eight (8) engines 

on the Development Driller 1 (DD1) exploratory drilling vessel based on 

recent source test data that was not available at the time of permitting. The 

permit revision does not constitute a modification to the emission units or 

operation of the facility, nor waive any applicable air quality standards or 

requirements. 

This project is considered a temporary major source under the applicable 

Prevention of Significant Deterioration regulations 40 CFR part 52.21 and is 

subject to the title V program at 40 CFR part 71.

Project Location: The project is located on the OCS in the Gulf of Mexico within lease blocks 

499, 543-545, 586-592, 631-640, 676-685, 721-729, 768-773, and 815-817. 

These contiguous lease blocks are located approximately within latitude 28.15° 

to 28.50° N and longitude 86.68° to 87.27° W. The center of the contiguous 

lease block area is located at 28.31° N and longitude 86.96° W, approximately 

120 miles southeast of the nearest Louisiana shoreline, 139 miles south 

southeast of the nearest Mississippi shoreline, and 125 miles south of the 

nearest Alabama and Florida shorelines. It is located beyond the area 

restricted by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act Moratoria, which 

extends approximately 100- 125 miles off the coast of Florida.
Authority: EPA is the agency responsible for implementing and enforcing Clean Air Act

(CAA) requirements for OCS sources in the Gulf of Mexico east of longitude 

87.5°W. The Department of Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 

is the lead agency for leasing and drilling approvals, as well as implementation 

of the Clean Air Act west of 87.5° longitude.

Emissions: The maximum potential annual emissions in tons per year for each operating 

scenario drillship and support vessels are summarized in the following table:

Potential to Emit for Regulated NSR Pollutants

Pollutant

C.R. Luigs

Potential to Emit, 

Tons per Year

DD1

Potential to Emit, 

Tons per Year

Significant

Emission Rate,

Tons per year

PSD Review 

Required?

PM 66.02 77.28 25 Yes

PM10 41.15 72.44 15 Yes

PM2.5 40.16 72.26 10 Yes

NOX

1

1,699.60 1,309.61 40 Yes

SO2

1

0.91 0.88 40 No

H2SO4 0.03 0.03 7 No

CO 373.69 310.64 100 Yes

VOC181.61 110.48 40 Yes

GHGs 

(CO2e) 101,574.72 111,088.86 75,000 (subject toregulation threshold) Yes

Lead 0.02 0.02 0.60 No

1 NOX and VOC are the measured precursors for the criteria pollutant ozone. NOX & SO2 are precursors for PM2.5.

Proposed Changes: The BACT emission limits for PM/PM10/PM2.5, VOC, and GHGs for the 

main engines of the DD1 are proposed to be revised. The respective control 

technology determinations for these engines are not being revised; however, 

high-pressure fuel injection/high-efficiency fuel injection, which has already 

been deemed to be BACT for other pollutants, is now being included as 

BACT for CO2e emissions. Public comments are being accepted for these 

proposed changes only.

Additional Information: The draft permit and preliminary determination document that explains the 

changes to the permit conditions are available on EPA Region 4’s website at: 

http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/permits/ocspermits/ocspermits.html

EPA Contact: For questions or comments on the draft permit and public hearing contact:

Art Hofmeister

EPA Region 4, APTMD

61 Forsyth Street, SW

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 562-9115

Fax: (404) 562-9066

Email: hofmeister.art@epa.gov