PUBLIC INFORMATION SHEET 

SPI-Anderson Final Clean Air Act PSD Permit 

PSD Permit No. SAC 12-01 

ACTION 

 On April 25, 2014, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 

issued a final Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality (PSD) permit to Sierra 

Pacific Industries-Anderson Division (SPI-Anderson) to construct and operate a new 

cogeneration unit and ancillary equipment at its existing lumber manufacturing facility in 

Anderson, California. 

BACKGROUND 

 The project consists of a new biomass-fired cogeneration unit, including a 468 MMBtu/hr 

stoker boiler, capable of generating 31 megawatts of gross electrical output, a 256 

horsepower natural gas-fired emergency engine, and a three-cell cooling tower. 

 The SPI-Anderson facility is located at 19758 Riverside Avenue, Anderson, California 

96007. The site is approximately 0.5 mile west of Interstate 5, and approximately 2 miles 

north of the City of Anderson. A 116.4 MMBtu/hr stoker boiler and associated equipment 

capable of producing 4 MW of gross electrical output are currently located at this location. 

 On February 19, 2013, EPA Region 9 initially issued the final decision on this permit 

application for nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), 

particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter (PM10), and particulate matter less than 

2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5). 

 On July 18, 2013, the Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) remanded the permit to EPA 

Region 9 based on its conclusion that EPA Region 9 erred in failing to grant requests for a 

mandatory public hearing under 40 CFR 124.12(a)(1). The EAB directed EPA Region 9 to 

reopen the permit proceedings to hold a public hearing, issue a final permit decision and 

respond to any new comments received during the hearing. The EAB denied review of all 

other procedural and substantive challenges made by Petitioners. 

 In August 2013, SPI-Anderson submitted to EPA a supplemental PSD application for GHG 

emissions from the project due to the uncertainty of the issuance of the mandate for the July 

12, 2013 D.C. Circuit court vacatur of EPA’s Biomass Deferral Rule. See, Ctr. for 

United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9 

April 2014 
Biological Diversity v. EPA, 722 F.3d 401 (D.C. Cir. 2013). EPA Region 9 revised the PSD 

permit to include GHG emission limits and related requirements. EPA Region 9 also made 

other minor changes to the permit. 

 In November 2013, EPA Region 9 provided notice of public comment and a public hearing 

for the proposed permit. In response to the EAB remand, EPA held a public hearing on 

December 10, 2013 and accepted public comments on the proposed PSD permit from 

November 8, 2013 until January 10, 2014. 

 After careful review of the comments submitted during the public comment and all pertinent 

regulations, EPA issued a final PSD permit to SPI-Anderson on April 25, 2014. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION 

 The final PSD permit and documents contained in the Administrative Record can be found at 

www.epa.gov/region09/air/permit/r9-permits-issued.html#psd, or at www.regulations.gov

(Docket ID # EPA-R09-OAR-2012-0634)

 The Administrative Record for the final PSD permit, which consists of the proposed and final 

PSD permits, and all data submitted by the applicant in support of the final permit, is also 

available at the EPA Region 9 Office at 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, California for 

public inspection Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M., excluding legal 

holidays. Due to building security procedures, please call to arrange a visit 72 hours in 

advance. All public documents that are available in electronic form may be requested via email. 

 For more information, contact Ms. Shaheerah Kelly at (415) 947-4156 or by e-mail at 

kelly.shaheerah@epa.gov.