Appendix C: 

Notice of General Public Interest 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

NOTICE OF GENERAL PUBLIC INTEREST

NOTICE TO AMEND AIR QUALITY STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

Statutory Authority: S.C. Code Sections 48-1-10 et seq. 

October 26, 2012 

The Department is proposing to amend the State Implementation Plan (SIP) to meet obligations of the United 

States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Interested persons are invited to present their views in writing 

to Maeve S.R. Mason, Regulation and SIP Management Section, Bureau of Air Quality, 2600 Bull Street, 

Columbia, SC 29201, or masonmr@dhec.sc.gov. To be considered, comments must be received no later than 

5:00 p.m. on November 26, 2012, the close of the drafting comment period. The Department is also providing 

the public with the opportunity to request a public hearing on the proposed SIP amendment. As such, a public 

hearing has been scheduled for Monday, December 3, 2012, at 1 p.m. in the Wallace Room (3141), 2600 Bull 

Street, Columbia, South Carolina. The public is invited to attend. However, pursuant to 40 CFR 51.102 (2011), 

if the Department does not receive a request for a public hearing by the close of the comment period 

(November 26, 2012), the Department will cancel the hearing. If the Department cancels the public hearing, 

then the Department will notify the public at least one week prior to the scheduled hearing on the SIP Public 

Hearings webpage at: http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/baq/RegulationSIPManagement/public_hearings.asp. Interested parties are also encouraged to contact Maeve S. R. Mason at 

(803) 898-2230 or masonmr@dhec.sc.gov for more information or to determine if the Department has 

cancelled the public hearing. 

Synopsis: 

Section 169A of the Clean Air Act (CAA) provided for a national goal for visibility to include the prevention 

and remediation of manmade air pollution, which contributes to the visible impairment of Class I areas (areas 

of great scenic importance) throughout the country, including many well-known national parks and wilderness 

areas. As a result, in 1980, the EPA promulgated regulations to address visibility impairment that is 

“reasonably attributable” to one or a small group of sources located across a broad geographic area (referred to 

as regional haze). However, the EPA deferred action on regional haze regulations until monitoring, modeling, 

and scientific knowledge about the relationship between pollutants and visibility effects improved. In 1993, at 

the recommendation of the National Academy of Science (NAS) report, the EPA began conducting research 

into control technologies available for taking regulatory action to improve and protect visibility in Class I 

areas. On July 31, 1997, the EPA published proposed amendments to the 1980 regulations to set forth a 

program to address regional haze (62 FR 41138). On July 1, 1999, and July 6, 2005, the EPA promulgated two 

rules known as the “Regional Haze Regulation (Regional Haze Rule),” and the “Regional Haze Regulations 

and Guidelines for Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) Determinations,” (also referred to as the 

BART Rule) respectively. The Regional Haze Rule was published in the Federal Register on July 1, 1999 (64 

FR 35714). This rule calls for States to establish goals and strategies for improving visibility in all of the 

country’s 156 Class I national parks and wilderness areas. Cape Romain, South Carolina is one such Class I 

area. The EPA is requiring all states areas to revise their SIPs to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), 

oxides of nitrogen (NOX), and particulate matter--especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5)--all of which 

contribute to regional haze and affect Class 1 areas. 

The BART Rule was published in the Federal Register on July 6, 2005 (70 FR 39104). The CAA requires that 

any “major stationary source” that has the potential to emit 250 tons or more of a visibility-impairing air 

pollutant that was put in place between August 7, 1962, and August 7, 1977, and whose operations fall within 

one or more of the 26 specifically listed source categories would comprise a BART-eligible source and must 

install the BART for controlling emissions. States must address BART in their regional haze SIPs. 

SC SIPR: Regional Haze Periodic Review Appendix C December 2012 - Page 1
The EPA established a schedule for states to submit their SIPs. South Carolina submitted its SIP under the 

Regional Haze Rule to EPA on December 21, 2007. The EPA published a limited approval of this plan on 

June 28, 2012 (77 FR 38509). 

The Regional Haze Rule requirements at 40 CFR 51.308(g) also require periodic reports evaluating progress 

towards the reasonable progress goals established in the SIP in five year intervals. Absent any federal guidance 

on these submissions, but in order to meet the required deadline, South Carolina has prepared its draft periodic 

update for the Cape Romain Wilderness area. The Regional Haze Rule also requires States to consult with the 

Federal Land Management agencies at least 60 days prior to holding any public hearing on a SIP or SIP 

revision (40 CFR 51.308(i)). This consultation period began on July 27, 2012, and concluded September 25, 

2012. Comments that were received were taking into consideration, and where appropriate, revisions were 

made to address these concerns. To access documents associated with this update, please visit the 

Department’s website at: http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/baq/RegulationSIPManagement/regional_haze.asp 

Based on the analysis outlined in the aforementioned periodic update documents the Department plans to 

submit a negative declaration to EPA specifying that its Regional Haze SIP is sufficient in meeting the 

requirements outlined in the Regional Haze Rule. Further, no additional controls are necessary as detailed in 

this, the first five year progress report. The Department is soliciting comments on this analysis, documentation, 

and proposed negative declaration. 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

NOTICE OF GENERAL PUBLIC INTEREST

In accordance with Section 44-7-200(D), Code of Laws of South Carolina, the public is hereby notified that a 

Certificate of Need application has been accepted for filing and publication October 26, 2012, for the 

following project(s). After the application is deemed complete, affected persons will be notified that the 

review cycle has begun. For further information, please contact Mrs. Paula J. Bracey, Division of Planning and 

Certification of Need, 2600 Bull St., Columbia, SC 29201 at (803) 545-4200. 

Affecting Lancaster County 

Transfer of eighteen (18) substance abuse beds from Springs Memorial Hospital to Rebound Behavioral 

Health located at 134 East Rebound Road 

Rebound Behavioral Health, LLC 

Lancaster, South Carolina 

Project Cost: $1,289,804 

In accordance with Section 44-7-210(A), Code of Laws of South Carolina, and S.C. DHEC Regulation 61-15, 

the public and affected persons are hereby notified that for the following projects, applications have been 

deemed complete, and the review cycle has begun. A proposed decision will be made as early as 30 days, but 

no later than 120 days, from October 26, 2012. "Affected persons" have 30 days from the above date to submit 

comments or requests for a public hearing to Mr. Les W. Shelton, Division of Planning and Certification of 

Need, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, S.C. 29201. If a public hearing is timely requested, the Department’s 

decision will be made after the public hearing, but no later than 150 days from the above date. For further 

information call (803) 545-4200. 

SC SIPR: Regional Haze Periodic Review Appendix C December 2012 - Page 2