FD – OCS-EPA-R4008-M2 07/11.2013 BHPB

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 4

Final Determination

Outer Continental Shelf Air Permit Revision OCS-EPA-R4008-M2

BHP Billiton Petroleum, Inc., Sake Drilling Project

July 11, 2013

On May 24, 2013, the Region 4 office of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requested 

public comment on a draft Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) air permit revision for BHP Billiton Petroleum, Inc. 

(BHPB). This permit revision modifies OCS air quality permit OCS-EPA-R4008-M1 that the EPA previously 

issued to BHPB on May 30, 2012, and was subsequently modified on March 13, 2013, for the Sake Drilling 

Project. 

The Sake Drilling Project is an oil and natural gas exploration drilling operation for a period of up to two years 

using a mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) and associated support vessels in the OCS waters of the Gulf of 

Mexico, DeSoto Canyon area, within lease blocks 499, 543-545, 586-592, 631-640, 676-685, 721-729, 768-773, 

and 815-817. Neither the original permit, nor the revision, authorizes the establishment of any permanent 

facilities.

The EPA prepared a preliminary determination, fact sheet, and statement of basis document that explains the 

permit revisions. These documents, as well as the application, supporting materials, public notice and response to

public comments are available in the Administrative Record for this project. The Administrative Record is 

available at the EPA Region 4 office and can be accessed through EPA’s website at: 

http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/permits/ocspermits/ocspermits.html and www.regulations.gov (docket EPA-R04-

OAR-201-0416).

The EPA announced the public comment period and opportunity for public hearing via a public notice published 

in the Florida Weekly Register, Mobile Press Register, Panama City News, and Pensacola News Journal, in 

emails to the OCS public notice list, and on www.regulations.gov and the EPA Region 4’s website. A public 

hearing was held on June 27, 2013, at the West Florida Public Library located at 239 N. Spring Street in 

Pensacola, Florida. A total of 88 comments, including 32 requests for a public hearing were received (via email, 

letter, and orally at the public hearing) during the public comment period, which closed on June 27, 2013. The 

EPA reviewed each of the comments received and prepared a Response to Comments document, which briefly 

summarizes the comments and provides the EPA’s responses. Complete copies of all comments are included in 

the Administrative Record for the BHPB permit revision, which can be accessed at the websites listed above. 

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, the EPA has made a final determination in accordance 

with title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), part 55, to issue OCS air permit OCS-EPA-R4008-M2 to

BHPB. The final permit revision does not differ from the draft permit revision offered for public comment.

The final permit, EPA’s response to the public comments, and additional supporting information are available at 

http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/permits/ocspermits/ocspermits.html, as well as, the EPA Region 4 Office and are 

also available upon request to Ms. Rosa Yarbrough at: R4OCSpermits@epa.gov; (404) 562-9643; or in writing to: 

EPA Region 4, APTMD; ATTN: Ms. Rosa Yarbrough; 61 Forsyth Street, SW; Atlanta, GA 30303.

Any person who filed comments on the draft permit may petition the Environmental Appeals Board to review any 

of the revised conditions of the final permit, including a showing that the conditions in question are based on a 

finding of fact or law which is clearly erroneous, as well as, a demonstration that these same issues were raised

during the comment period. Please see 40 CFR § 124.19 and visit http://www.epa.gov/eab/ for more information 

regarding the procedure for appeals to the EAB.