# Appendix P

Notice of General Public Interest

# Table of Contents

Notice of Intent to Amend State Implementati on Plan as Published in the South Carolina State Register on October 26, 2007 .....................................................................................2

Notice of Intent to Extend Co mment Period to December 12, 2007...................................4Note: This Notice was published in th e S.C. State Register October 26, 2007:

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO AMEND AIR QUALITY STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

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

.

The Department is proposing to amend the State Impl ementation 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, Regulatory Development Section, Bureau of Air Quality, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. To be considered , comments must be received by November 26, 2007, the close of the drafting comment period. The Depa rtment is also conducting a public hearing on this issue. The hearing will be held on November 26, 2007, at 1:30 pm in room 3141 of the Sims Building, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, South Carolina. The public is invited to attend.

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 attributab le” 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 scien tific 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) Determina tions,” (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, S outh Carolina is one such Class I area. The EPA is requiring all states areas to revise their State Implemen tation Plans (SIPs) to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and particulate matter--especially fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 )--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 visibilityimpairing air pollutant that was put in place betw een August 7, 1962, and August 7, 1977, and whose operations fall within one or more of the 26 specifi cally listed source categories would comprise a BARTeligible source and must install the BART for contro lling emissions. States must address BART in their regional haze SIPs.

The EPA has established a schedule for states to submit their SIPs. South Carolina must submit its SIP under the Regional Haze Rule to EPA by December 17, 2007.The Department proposes to amend its SIP to address the requirements of the Regional Haze Rule and the BART rule, pursuant to Section 169A of the CAA.

### PUBLIC NOTICE OF EXTENSION OF 30-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Bureau of Air Quality

2600 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 898-4123

On October 26, 2007, the South Carolina Departme nt of Health and Environmental Control (the Department) published a notice requesting comments to its proposed amendment to the South Carolina Air Quality Implementation Plan (SIP) in order to comply with requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) regarding regional haze. The purpose of this noti ce is to extend the 30-day comment period from its original end date of November 26, 2007, to December 12, 2007. This extension of the comment period is necessary to give interested members of the public a full opportunity to submit comments in reference to the Department’s proposed amendment of the SIP.

Section 169A of the CAA provides 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 Unite d State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated regulations to address visi bility impairment that is “reasonabl y attributable” to one or a small group of sources located across a broad geographic ar ea (referred to as regional haze). However, the EPA deferred action on regional haze re gulations until monitoring, modeling, and scientific knowledge about the relationship between pollutants and visibility eff ects 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 19 80 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 Ru le),” and the “Regional Haze Regulations and Guidelines for Best Available Retrofit Technology (B ART) 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 (SO 2 ), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and particulate matter-- especially fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 )--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 “maj or stationary source” that has the potential to emit 250 tons or more of a visibility-impairing air pol lutant 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.

The EPA has established a schedule for states to submit their SIPs. South Carolina must submit its SIP under the Regional Haze Rule to EPA by December 17, 2007. The Department proposes to amend its SIP to address the requirements of the Regional Haze Rule and the BART rule, pursuant to Section 169A of the CAA. Copies of the proposed amendment to th e SIP may be obtained by contacting Maeve S.R. Mason, who can be reached at: South Carolina Depart ment of Health and Environmental Control, Bureau of Air Quality, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201; (803) 898-2230; or masonmr@dhec.sc.gov

. Written comments should be submitted to Ms. Mason no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 12, 2007.