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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9

PUBLIC INFORMATION SHEET

MCELMO CREEK UNIT OIL PRODUCTION FACILITY

FINAL PSD PERMIT AMENDMENT NO. NU 05-01

ACTION 

• On September 30, 2016, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),

Region 9 issued a final Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality (PSD) 

permit amendment to the Resolute Natural Resources Company (Resolute) for the 

McElmo Creek Unit Oil Production Facility (MCU Facility). 

BACKGROUND 

• The MCU Facility is an oil and gas operation located near the city of Aneth, Utah, in the 

Four Corners area on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.

• The EPA Region 9 amended the PSD permit to:

o Incorporate pollution limits, and terms and conditions for the existing Main Flare at 

the MCU Facility pursuant to a federal Consent Decree (United States v. Mobil 

Exploration and Producing U.S. Inc., Case No. 2:05–CV–319, filed June 8, 2005). 

These pollution limits, and terms and conditions include Best Available Control 

Technology (BACT) emission limitations for nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon 

monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). 

o Remove and update other applicable requirements in the MCU Facility’s existing 

PSD permit due to equipment that has been shut down and removed from the site. 

• Air pollution emissions for this permit action would not cause or contribute to violations of 

any National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) or any applicable PSD increments. 

• This permit action does not authorize any new construction or modification of existing 

equipment at the MCU Facility.

• The EPA initially issued the PSD permit on February 2, 1987, and amended the PSD permit 

on October 27, 1987, March 21, 1989, and April 19, 1991.

• The public comment period on the proposed PSD permit amendment began on October 15, 

2014, and ended on November 20, 2014. 
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• The EPA held a formal public hearing on November 20, 2014, at the Aneth Chapter House, 

Aneth, UT, to receive oral and written comments on the proposed PSD permit amendment. 

Immediately prior to the public hearing, EPA held a public information meeting.

• The EPA held a separate public comment period from September 30, 2015, through 

November 3, 2015, for the consultation process under the National Historic Preservation Act 

(NHPA) to accept public comments on the EPA’s determination that issuance of the 

amended PSD permit for the Main Flare will have no effect upon historic properties within 

the area of potential effects, which consisted of an area within a 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) 

radius around the Main Flare. The EPA did not receive any objections from the State 

Historic Preservation Officers for Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado, as well as the 

Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Navajo Nation regarding the EPA’s 

determination. Additionally, the EPA did not receive any comments from the public 

regarding the NHPA consultation.

• After careful review of the comments submitted during the public comment and all pertinent 

regulations, the EPA issued a final PSD permit amendment to Resolute for the MCU Facility 

on September 30, 2016. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

• The final PSD permit amendment and most documents contained in the Administrative 

Record can be found at http://www.epa.gov/caa-permitting/prevention-significantdeterioration-psd-permits-issued-region-9, or at http://www.regulations.gov (Docket ID # 

EPA-R09-OAR-2014-0785)

• The Administrative Record for the final PSD permit amendment, which consists of the 

proposed and final PSD permits, and all data submitted by the applicant in support of the 

final permit, is also available at the EPA Region 9’s Office at 75 Hawthorne Street, San 

Francisco, California, for public inspection Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. until 

4:00 P.M., excluding legal holidays. Due to building security procedures, please call to 

arrange a visit 72 hours in advance. All public documents that are available in electronic 

form may be requested via e-mail. 

• For more information, contact Ms. Shaheerah Kelly at (415) 947-4156 or by e-mail at 

R9airpermits@epa.gov.