* * * PUBLIC NOTICE * * *

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, REGI ON 9

ANNOUNCEMENT OF PROPOSED PERMIT AND REQUEST FOR PUB LIC COMMENT

ON PERMIT TO REGULATE THE EMISSION OF AIR POLLUTANT S

PERMIT NO. SE 98-01

The Region 9 Office of the United States Environmen tal 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 PS D permit, in accordance with the PSD regulations (40 CFR 52.21), on February 15, 2001, t o authorize the construction and operation of the High Desert Power Project (HDPP), a 720 megawat t natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant. HDPP commenced operation in April 2003 and i s located at 19000 Perimeter Road, Victorville, California.

HDPP has requested revisions to the PSD permit to i ncorporate minor changes. The proposed changes include adding an alternative startup scena rio, 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 Method s. 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 startu p while also reducing the permitted startup emission limits for carbon monoxide and nitrogen ox ide.

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

sent to Leslie Ramirez at the contact information i n 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 ha ve 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 ho ld a public hearing if we determine there is a significant amount of public interest in the perm it revision. Requests for a public hearing must state the nature of the issues proposed to be raise d 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 pe nding public hearing, provided contact information has been given to the EPA contact perso n 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 pers onal information provided, unless the comment includes Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Information that you conside r CBI or otherwise protected should be clearly

identified as such and should not be submitted thro ugh e-mail. If you send e-mail directly to the EPA, your e-mail address will be automatically capt ured and included as part of the public comment. Please note that an e-mail or postal addre ss must be provided with your comments ifyou wish to receive direct notification of EPA’s fi nal decision regarding the permit and

responses to comments submitted during the public c omment period.

EPA will consider all written comments submitted du ring the public comment period before taking final action on the revised PSD permit and w ill send notice of the final decision to each person who submitted comments and contact informati on 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 Appea ls Board pursuant to 40 CFR 124.19 (any person who submits written comments on the pro posed permit or who participates in the public hearing may petition the Environmental A ppeals Board to review any part of the permit decision within 30 days after the decisi on has been issued. Any person who failed to comment either in writing or by participa tion in the public hearing on the proposed permit may petition for review by the Envi ronmental Appeals Board only those parts of the final permit decision which are differ ent than the proposed permit); or

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

case the final decision shall become effective imme diately upon issuance.

All information submitted by the applicant is avail able as part of the administrative record. The proposed revised permit, statement of basis and amb ient air quality impact report, permit application and other supporting information are av ailable on the EPA Region 9 website at http://www.epa.gov/region9/air/permit/r9-permits-is sued.html. The administrative record may also be viewed in person, Monday through Friday fro m 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at the EPA Region 9 address below. Due to building security procedure s, please call to arrange a visit 24 hours in advance. Hard copies of the administrative record c an be mailed to individuals upon request in accordance with Freedom of Information Act requirem ents.

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 Dis trict, 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; Ad elanto 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 applica ble permit and legal requirements.

If you have questions, please contact Leslie Ramire z 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.