Notice – FD -OCS-EPA-R4012 10.28.13

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 4

Notice of Final Determination of Permit Issuance

for Outer Continental Shelf Air Permit OCS-EPA-R4012

Statoil Gulf Services, LLC

On August 9, 2013, the Region 4 office of the United States Environmental Protection Agency requested 

public comment on a draft Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) air permit for Statoil Gulf Services, LLC

(Statoil). The permit will regulate air pollutant emissions from either the Transocean Discoverer 

Americas drillship or the Maersk Developer drill rig and support vessels, which Statoil intends to 

operate within its DeSoto Canyon area lease locations on the OCS in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 

160 miles southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River and greater than 200 miles southwest of 

Panama City, Florida. The exploratory drilling operation will last up to 180 days per year at multiple 

locations within the lease blocks for approximately 5 to 10 years.

EPA also prepared a preliminary determination and statement of basis document that explains the permit 

conditions. The preliminary determination and the draft permit are available on EPA Region 4’s website 

at: http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/permits/OCSPermits/OCSpermits.html. The permit incorporates the 

applicable requirements from the federal Prevention of Significant Deterioration preconstruction and 

title V operating permit programs, New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), and National Emission 

Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), as required by the OCS Air Quality Regulations at 

40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 55.

During the public comment period, which commenced on August 9, 2013, and ended on 

September 9, 2013, EPA received no comments. Since no requests for a public hearing were received, 

the hearing was canceled due to insufficient interest.

The Final Determination document summarizes the minor changes made to the permit. These changes

are included in the administrative record for the Statoil permit and available at the website listed above. 

The administrative record is available at www.regulations.gov (docket # EPA-R04-OAR-2013-0577).

After consideration of the expressed view of all interested persons, the pertinent federal statutes and 

regulations, the application and supplemental information submitted by the applicant, and additional 

material relevant to the application and contained in the administrative record, EPA has made a final 

determination in accordance with title 40 CFR part 55 to issue an air permit to construct and operate to 

Statoil for the proposed exploratory drilling operation in the DeSoto Canyon OCS lease blocks. The 

final permit does not differ significantly from the draft permit offered for public comment. 

The final permit and additional supporting information are available at 

http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/permits/OCSPermits/OCSpermits.html. Copies of the final permit are 

available for inspection during normal business hours (please call in advance for available viewing 

times) at the EPA Region 4 Office and are also available upon request to Ms. Rosa Yarbrough at: 

yarbrough.rosa@epa.gov; (404) 562-9643; or in writing to: EPA Region 4, APTMD; ATTN: Ms. Rosa 

Yarbrough; 61 Forsyth Street, SW; Atlanta, GA 30303.
Notice – FD -OCS-EPA-R4012 10.28.13

Petitions to the Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) to review any condition on this final action must 

be filed by November 27, 2013. Petitions for review may only be made with respect to any changes from 

the draft to the final permit decision or other grounds that were not reasonably foreseeable during the 

public comment period on the draft permit. The petition must include a statement of the reason for 

requesting review by the EAB including demonstration that any issues being raised could not be raised 

during the public comment period to the extent required by 40 CFR part 124 and, when appropriate, a 

showing that the conditions in question are based on 1) a finding of fact or conclusion of law which is 

clearly erroneous, or 2) an exercise of discretion or an important policy consideration which the EAB 

should, in its discretion, review.

The address for the EAB depends on the method of delivery, as follows:

All documents that are sent through the U.S. Postal Service (except by Express mail) address to:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Clerk of the Board, Environmental Appeals Board (MC 1103B)

Ariel Rios Building

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20460-0001

All documents that are hand-carried in person, delivered via courier, mailed by U.S. Postal Express mail, 

or delivered by a non-U.S. Postal Service carrier (e.g., Federal Express or UPS) deliver or address to:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Clerk of the Board, Environmental Appeals Board

Ronald Reagan Building, EPA Mail Room

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20004

Documents that are hand-carried may be delivered to the Clerk of the Board from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 

p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding federal holidays).

IMPORTANT NOTE: Documents that are sent to the EAB’s hand-delivery address through the U.S. 

Postal Service (except by Express Mail) will be returned to the sender and shall not be considered as 

filed.

Please see 40 CFR § 124.19, 40 CFR § 71.11 and visit http://www.epa.gov/eab/ for more information 

regarding the procedure for appeals to the EAB, including instructions for electronic filing.

Please bring this announcement to the attention of all persons who you know would be interested in the 

matter.