* * * PUBLIC NOTICE * * * 

OF A PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION PERMIT 

WHICH REGULATES THE EMISSION OF AIR POLLUTANTS 

PUBLIC NOTICE NO. SAC 87-01-A 

The Region 9 office of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting 

public comment on the proposed major modification of a permit for the Prevention of Significant 

Deterioration (PSD) of air quality, issued in accordance with 40 CFR 52.21, to Sierra Pacific 

Industries, Inc. (SPI), located in Loyalton, California. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency originally issued a Prevention of Significant 

Deterioration (PSD) permit to SPI in 1988 to operate the biomass-fueled cogeneration plant in 

Loyalton. SPI has requested revisions to its PSD permit to allow for increases in emissions and 

averaging times for its oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from 

their wood-fired boiler. In order to operate at increased capacity, SPI proposes to increase its 

NOX emission limit from 161.7 tons per year (TPY) to 222.6 TPY, and CO from 735.2 TPY to 

2,420.1 TPY. No construction or physical modification of the cogeneration unit is proposed. 

The existing boiler is equipped with a selective non-catalytic reduction control device to control 

NOX, and employs proper combustion controls to control CO emissions. The boiler will be 

equipped with a continuous emissions monitoring system (CEMS) to measure exhaust emissions. 

The facility is subject to 40 CFR 52.21 requirements due to the proposed emission increases for 

NOX and CO, which is considered a major modification to the existing PSD permit. 

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 proposed permit. 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 this proposal of any pending Public Hearing, provided contact information has 

been given to the EPA contact person listed below. 

All comments on the proposed permit, and requests for a Public Hearing, must be received by 

email or postmarked within 30 days of the date of this notice. 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. Comments must be sent or delivered in writing to Manny 

Aquitania at the postal or email address shown below. All comments should address the 

proposed permit and must be received by email or postmarked within the 30-day comment 

period. All comments will be included in the public docket without change and may be made 

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 

EPA, your e-mail address will be captured automatically 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 its 

responses to comments submitted during the public comment period. 

A final decision to issue a final permit, or to deny the application for the permit, shall be made 

after all comments have been considered. Notice of the final decision shall be sent to each 

person who has submitted written comments or requested notice of the final permit decision, 

provided EPA has adequate contact information. 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, in which case 

the final decision shall become effective immediately upon issuance. 

The Administrative Record for the proposed permit, which consists of the proposed permit, all 

data submitted by the applicant in support of the proposed permit, and correspondence between 

EPA and the applicant is available for public inspection Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. 

until 4:00 P.M. at the address below. Due to building security procedures, please call to arrange 

a visit 24 hours in advance. All documents that are available in electronic form may be 

requested via email. Please contact Manny Aquitania for further information. 

Manny Aquitania (AIR-3) 

EPA, Region 9 

75 Hawthorne Street 

San Francisco, CA 94105-3901 

Phone: (415) 972-3977 

Email: r9airpermits@epa.gov

Please bring the foregoing notice to the attention of all persons who you know would be 

interested in this matter.