Collins Pine Cogeneration Facility in Chester, California

Announcement of Proposed Permit, and Request for Public Comment on the 

Proposed Minor Revision to Clean Air Act Prevention of Significant Deterioration Permit 

PSD Permit No. SAC 84-02

The United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9 (EPA) provides notice of, and requests 

public comment on, EPA’s proposed action relating to a minor modification of the Prevention of 

Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit for Collins Pine Cogeneration (CPC). EPA is proposing to issue a 

revision to CPC’s current PSD permit that would grant approval to CPC, in accordance with EPA’s PSD 

regulations (40 CFR 52.21), to replace the existing wet electrostatic precipitator (ESP) control equipment 

with a new, dry electrostatic precipitator. ESPs are air pollution control equipment typically used to 

reduce particulate matter from exhaust streams. Use of an ESP is required by CPC’s current PSD permit, 

issued by EPA in 1984, and amended in 1997 because EPA concluded that installation of an ESP 

constituted Best Available Control Technology (BACT). CPC’s existing wet ESP is used to reduce 

particulate matter emitted by Boiler No. 4, which is a woodwaste-fired cogeneration boiler rated at 

242.3 MMBtu/hour. The proposed dry ESP will also reduce particulate matter emitted by Boiler No. 4 

but will use less water and allow for elimination of a wastewater stream. The proposed changes will 

result in minor emissions increases, but will not trigger any additional federal regulatory requirements

pursuant to 40 CFR 52.21. The requested modification will not alter BACT determinations or emission 

limits of the existing PSD permit. The mailing address for CPC is P.O. Box 796, Chester, California 96020. 

The location of the CPC facility is 13 Collins Drive, Chester, CA 96020. 

EPA has the authority to issue PSD permits for facilities in Plumas County, California, which is under the 

jurisdiction of the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District. 

Any interested person may submit written comments on EPA’s proposed PSD permit for this 

modification. All written comments must be received or postmarked by April 30, 2016. Comments 

should address the proposed permit revision. Comments must be sent or delivered in writing to Manny 

Aquitania at one of the following addresses:

E-mail: R9airpermits@epa.gov

U.S. Mail: Manny Aquitania (AIR-3)

U.S. EPA Region 9

75 Hawthorne Street

San Francisco, CA 94105-3901

Information submitted by the Applicant as part of the Application is available as part of the 

administrative record for this proposed permit. EPA’s proposed permit for the Collins Pine Cogeneration 

Facility and the accompanying Technical Support Document are also available for review in hardcopy at 

the following location: Chester Branch Library, 210 First Avenue, Chester, California 96020, (530) 258-

2742. Anyone may request a public hearing pursuant to 40 CFR 124.12 prior to the end of the public 
comment period. Requests must be submitted to the contact identified above. The proposed permit, 

Application and other supporting information are available through the EPA Region 9 website at 

https://www.epa.gov/caa-permitting/prevention-significant-deterioration-psd-permits-issued-region-9. 

The administrative record may also be viewed in person, Monday through Friday (excluding Federal 

holidays) from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at the EPA Region 9 address above. Due to building security 

procedures, please call Manny Aquitania at (415) 972-3977 at least 48 hours in advance to arrange a 

visit. Manny Aquitania can also be reached through EPA Region 9’s toll-free general information line at 

(866) 372-9378.

All comments that are received will be included in the public docket without change and will be 

available to the public, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes 

Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 

Information that is considered to be CBI or otherwise protected should be clearly identified as such and 

should not be submitted through e-mail. If a commenter sends e-mail directly to the EPA, the e-mail 

address will be automatically captured and included as part of the public comment. Please note that an 

e-mail or postal address must be provided with comments if the commenter wishes to receive direct 

notification of EPA’s final decision regarding the Application and proposed permit.

Before taking final action on the Application, EPA will consider all written comments submitted during 

the public comment period. EPA will send notice of our final permit decision to each person who 

submitted comments and contact information during the public comment period or requested notice of 

the final permit decision. EPA will summarize the contents of all substantive comments and provide 

written responses in a document accompanying EPA’s final permit decision. 

EPA’s final permit decision will become effective 30 days after the service of notice of the decision

unless:

1. A later effective date is specified in the decision; or

2. The decision is appealed to EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board pursuant to 40 CFR 124.19; or

3. There are no comments requesting a change to the proposed permit decision, in which case the 

final decision shall become effective immediately upon issuance. 

If you have questions, or if you wish to obtain further information, please contact Manny Aquitania at 

(415) 972-3977, via email at R9airpermits@epa.gov, or at the mailing address above. If you would like to 

be added to our mailing list to receive future information about this proposed permit decision or other 

permit decisions issued by EPA Region 9, please contact Manny Aquitania at (415) 972-3977 or send an 

email to R9airpermits@epa.gov, or visit EPA Region 9's website at 

http://www.epa.gov/region09/air/permit/psd-public-guidelines.html. Manny Aquitania can also be 

reached through EPA Region 9’s toll-free general information line at (866) 372-9378.

*** Please bring the foregoing notice to the attention of all persons who would be interested in this 

matter. ***