* * * PUBLIC NOTICE * * * 

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, REGION 9 

ANNOUNCEMENT OF PROPOSED PERMIT AND REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT 

ON PERMIT TO REGULATE THE EMISSION OF AIR POLLUTANTS 

PERMIT NO. SE 98-01 

The Region 9 Office of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requests 

public comment on the proposed minor revision of a Prevention of Significant Deterioration 

(PSD) air quality permit. EPA issued the initial PSD permit, in accordance with the PSD 

regulations (40 CFR 52.21), on February 15, 2001, to authorize the construction and operation of 

the High Desert Power Project (HDPP), a 720 megawatt natural gas-fired combined cycle power 

plant. HDPP commenced operation in April 2003 and is located at 19000 Perimeter Road, 

Victorville, California. 

HDPP has requested revisions to the PSD permit to incorporate minor changes. The proposed 

changes include adding an alternative startup scenario, revising the continuous monitoring 

systems permit language such that it is consistent with the Acid Rain regulations (40 CFR Part 

75), and allowing additional use of EPA Test Methods. Other minor changes are administrative 

in nature such as deleting obsolete conditions and clarifications. The new alternative startup 

scenario will give HDPP more flexibility for startup while also reducing the permitted startup 

emission limits for carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide. 

All written comments on the proposed permit revision or requests for a public hearing must be 

sent to Leslie Ramirez at the contact information in this notice by electronic mail or postal mail 

postmarked no later than March 7, 2010. All comments should address the proposed changes 

and discuss the specific issues/concerns you may have with these changes. An extension of the 

30-day comment period may be granted if the request for an extension adequately explains why 

more time is required to prepare comments. 

Pursuant to 40 CFR 124.12, EPA has discretion to hold a public hearing if we determine there is 

a significant amount of public interest in the permit revision. Requests for a public hearing must 

state the nature of the issues proposed to be raised in the hearing. If a public hearing is to be held, 

a public notice stating the date, time and place of the hearing will be made at least 30 days prior 

to the hearing. Reasonable attempt will be made to notify directly any person who has 

commented on the proposed permit revision of any pending public hearing, provided contact 

information has been given to the EPA contact person listed in this notice. 

All comments that are received will be included in the administrative record 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 you consider CBI or otherwise protected should be clearly 

identified as such and should not be submitted through e-mail. If you send e-mail directly to the 

EPA, your 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 your comments if 
you wish to receive direct notification of EPA’s final decision regarding the permit and 

responses to comments submitted during the public comment period. 

EPA will consider all written comments submitted during the public comment period before 

taking final action on the revised PSD permit and will send notice of the final 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 respond to all substantive comments in a 

document accompanying the final permit. 

The decision will become effective 30 days from the date of issuance unless: 

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

2. The decision is appealed to the Environmental Appeals Board pursuant to 40 CFR 124.19 

(any person who submits written comments on the proposed permit or who participates in 

the public hearing may petition the Environmental Appeals Board to review any part of 

the permit decision within 30 days after the decision has been issued. Any person who 

failed to comment either in writing or by participation in the public hearing on the 

proposed permit may petition for review by the Environmental Appeals Board only those 

parts of the final permit decision which are different than the proposed permit); or 

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

case the final decision shall become effective immediately upon issuance. 

All information submitted by the applicant is available as part of the administrative record. The 

proposed revised permit, statement of basis and ambient air quality impact report, permit 

application and other supporting information are available on the EPA Region 9 website at 

http://www.epa.gov/region9/air/permit/r9-permits-issued.html. The administrative record may 

also be viewed in person, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at the EPA Region 

9 address below. Due to building security procedures, please call to arrange a visit 24 hours in 

advance. Hard copies of the administrative record can be mailed to individuals upon request in 

accordance with Freedom of Information Act requirements. 

Any written comments must be received (if sent by e-mail) or postmarked (if sent by U.S. mail) 

on or before March 7, 2010 at the following addresses: 

 

E-mail: R9airpermits@epa.gov 

U.S. Mail: Leslie Ramirez (AIR-3) 

U.S. EPA Region 9 

75 Hawthorne Street 

San Francisco, CA 94105-3901 

The proposed permit and statement of basis are also available to review at the following 

locations: Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District, 14306 Park Ave, 

Victorville, CA 92392, (760) 245-1661; Victorville Public Library, 15011 Circle Drive, 
Victorville, CA 92395, (760) 245-4222; Apple Valley Public Library, 14901 Dale Evans 

Parkway, Apple Valley, CA 92307, (760) 247-2022; Adelanto Public Library, 11497 Bartlett 

Avenue, Adelanto, CA 92301, (760) 246-5661. 

If the proposed permit becomes final, and there is no appeal, the project will be subject to the 

conditions of the revised permit, and other applicable permit and legal requirements. 

If you have questions, please contact Leslie Ramirez at (415) 972-3978 or by e-mail at 

R9airpermits@epa.gov. 

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

matter.