• South

Coast Air Quality Management

District fr

21865

Copley

Drive, Diamond

Bar,

CA 91765-41

78 1’)

(909) 396-2000 www.aqmd.gov

Office

of the General

Counsel Writer’s

Direct

Dial: 909.396.2302 Fax: 909.396.2963 1E

II VIE

ID

I

e-mail: bbairdaqmd.gov DEC 302013

December

20, 2013 via electronic

and

US. Mail Ms. Deborah

Jordan Air Director,

Region

IX United

States Environmental

Protection

Agency 75 Hawthorne

Street San Francisco

CA 94105 Re:

South

Coast

Air Quality Management

District (SCAQMD)

Rule

1325 Dear

Ms. Jordan: This

letter

is

to respond

to

a request

from

your

staff

and

the Office

of Regional

Counsel

to explain

the public

notice requirements

applicable

to permits

to

be issued

under SCAQMD Rule 1325-Federal

PM2.5

New Source

Review Program. Rule

1325 applies

to new major polluting

facilities

of PM2.5

and major modifications

of existing major polluting

facilities.

(Rule 1325(a)).

The

term major polluting

facility

is defmed

as

an emissions

source

having

actual emissions

or the potential

to emit

100 tons

or more

per year

of PM2.5

or

its precursors.

(Rule 1325(b)(5).)

The term major modification

is defined

as being

a modification

which

results

in

a “significant

net emissions

increase”

of the relevant pollutant. (Rule

I 325(b)(4)(A).)

The term “significant”

as used

in reference

to

a net emissions

increase means

to equal

or exceed

any

of the following

rates: nitrogen

oxides:

40 tons

per year;

sulfur dioxide:

40 tons

per year,

and PM2.5:

10 tons

per year.

(Rule 1325(b)(13).)

SCAQMD

Rule 212 Standards

for Approving

Permits

as amended December

7, 1995,

has been approved

by EPA into

the state implementation

plan (SIP).

(61 Fed.

Reg. 64291

(Dec.

4, 1996).)

The

SIPapproved

version

of SCAQMD

Rule

212 ensures adequate

public

notice

of permit

actions

with respect

to new major polluting

facilities

or major modifications

of existing

major polluting facilities. The relevant

portions

of Rule

212

are

as follows:

Rule

2 12(c) provides

that prior

to granting

a Permit

to Construct

for

a “significant

project,”

all addresses

within

the area described

in subdivision

(d)

of Rule

212

shall

be notified

of the intent

to grant

a permit

to construct

at least 30 days

prior

to the date action

is taken

on

the application.

Rule

2 12(c) applies

to

all permits

to construct

for new facilities

or modifications,

including

those subject

to Rule

1325.

Rule

2 12(c) applies

to both permits

for new facilities

and permits

for modifications

of facilities,

and,

for Clea,,inj

tIit-’

iiii IlUit

WP hr(’at1wMs.DeborahJordanUnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyDecember20,2013Page2purposesofthisrule,“significantprojects”include“allnewormodifiedfacilitieswhichhaveon-siteemissionincreasesexceedinganyofthedailymaximumsspecifiedinsubdivision(g)”ofRule212.(Rule212(c)(2).)Thus,thefirstquestioniswhetherallnewmajorpollutingfacilitiesormajormodificationsofmajorfacilitiestheretowillbeprovidedpublicnoticeundersubdivision(g)ofRule212.Asweexplainbelow,theanswerisyes,becausethethresholdtriggeringpublicnoticeundersubdivision(g)is,foreachpollutant,smallerthanthethresholdsidentifiedinRule1325.Thus,allpermitactionsunderRule1325willalsotriggerpublicnoticeundersubdivision(g).ThemajorpollutingfacilitythresholdforPM2.5oritsprecursorsis100tonsperyear.Theterm“precursors”islimitedtonitrogenoxidesandsulfurdioxide.(Rule1325(b)(9).)TheRule212subdivision(g)thresholdforpublicnoticeis30poundsperdayofPM1O.Thisequatestolessthan5.5tonsperyearofPM1O.SinceallofPM2.5isalsoPM1O,anynewsourcewhichexceeds100tonsperyearofPM1Owillnecessarilyexceed5tonsperyearofPM1O,andwillbesubjecttopublicnoticeunderRule212subdivision(g).ForNOx,therelevantsubdivision(g)thresholdis40poundsperday,whichequatesto7.3tonsperyear,whichissmallerthanthemajorsourcethresholdof100tonsperyear.Forsulfurdioxide,thesubdivision(g)thresholdis60poundsperday,whichislessthan11tonsperyear.Again,thisissmallerthanthemajorsourcesthresholdof100tonsperyear.Therefore,allnewmajorpollutingfacilitiesunderRule1325willbesubjecttopublicnoticeunderRule212(g).Similarly,allmodificationsresultingina“significant”netincreasewillalsobesubjecttopublicnoticeunderRule212(g).The“significance”thresholdforanincreaseofPM2.5atamajorpollutingfacilityis10tonsperyear.SinceallPM2.5isPM1O,anyincreaseof10tpyofPM2.5necessarilyresultsinatleast10tpyofPM1O.UnderRule212(g),publicnoticeisrequiredforallmodificationswithanincreaseof5.5tpyofPM10—smallerthanthePM2.5significancelevel.Thus,allsignificantmodificationsatmajorpollutingfacilitiesresultingin10tpyormoreofPM2.5willbesubjecttopublicnotice.Similarlyfornitrogenoxides,thesignificancethresholdis40tonsperyear,whichtheRule212(g)thresholdisabout7.3tonsperyear.Andforsulfuroxides,thesignificancethresholdis40tpy,whiletheRule212(g)thresholdislessthan11tpy.Therefore,allmajormodificationsatmajorpollutingfacilitiesunderRule1325willbesubjecttopublicnoticeunderRule212(g).Finally,thepublicnoticerequiredunderRule212(g)isadequatetomeettherequirementsformajorNewSourceReview.Rule212(g)specifiesthat“theprocessforpublicnotificationandcommentshallincludealloftheapplicableprovisionsof40CodeofFederalRegulations(CFR)Part51,Section51.161(b),and40CFR,Part124,Section124.10.”Thus,Rule212(g)incorporatesbyreferencetherelevantfederalrequirements.Inaddition,Rule212(g)specificallycallsoutcertainrequirements,suchaspublicnoticedistributedto“thebroadestpossiblescopeofinterestedparties,”andincludingavailabilityofinformationforpublicinspection,noticebynewspaperadvertisement,mailingacopyofthenoticetotherelevantpublicagencyrepresentativesandIndianGoverningBodies,anda30dayperiodforpubliccomment.AndMs. Deborah

Jordan United

States Environmental

Protection

Agency December

20, 2013 Page

3 Rule 212(c) incorporates

notice

to the addresses

specified

in subdivision

(d), which includes “public

notice

to each address

within

a

Y4 mile radius

of the project

or such

other

area

as deemed appropriate

by

the Executive

Officer

or designee.”

Although

this section

allows distribution

to such “other

area”

as

is deemed appropriate,

as

a practical

matter

the

1⁄4 mile

is treated

as

a minimum requirement,

while

in some

cases notice

may

be distributed

to

a wider

area. Should

you have

any further questions

regarding

this issue, please

feel

free

to contact

me

at bbaird(aqmd.gov

or 909-396-2302.

Respectfully

submitted, (nir& Barbara

Baird Chief Deputy

Counsel South

Coast

Air Quality Management

District BB:pa eIBB/NSR-PSD/1325

notice Attachment:

SCAQMD

Rule

212

as Amended

December

7, 1995 cc:

Am Lyons,

Office

of Regional

Counsel Mohsen

Nazemi, SCAQMD(AdoptedJanuary9,1976)(AmendedJuly6,1984)(AmendedMay17,1985)(AmendedMay1,1987)(AmendedJuly10,1987)(AmendedMarch3,1989)(AmendedJune28,1990)(AmendedSeptember6,1991)(AmendedAugust12,1994)(AmendedDecember7,1995)Rule212.StandardsForApprovingPermits(a)TheExecutiveOfficerordesigneeshalldenyaPermittoConstructoraPermittoOperate,exceptasprovidedinRule204,unlesstheapplicantshowsthattheequipmenttheuseofwhichmaycausetheissuanceofaircontaminantsortheuseofwhich.mayeliminate,reduce,orcontroltheissuanceofaircontaminants,issodesigned,controlled,orequippedwithsuchairpollutioncontrolequipmentthatitmaybeexpectedtooperatewithoutemittingaircontaminantsinviolationofSection41700,41701,or44300(etsec.)oftheStateHealthandSafetyCodeoroftheserules.(b)IftheExecutiveOfficerordesigneefindsthattheequipmenthasnotbeenconstructedinaccordancewiththepermitandprovideslesseffectiveairpollutioncontrolthantheequipmentspecifiedinthePermittoConstruct,heshalldenythePermittoOperate.(c)PriortograntingaPermittoConstructforasignificantproject,alladdresseswithintheareadescribedinsection(d)shallbenotifiedoftheExecutiveOfficer’sordesignee’sintenttograntaPermittoConstructatleast30dayspriortothedateactionistobetakenontheapplication.Forthepurposeofthisrule,significantprojectswillconsistof:(1)allnewormodifiedpermitunitsthatmayemitaircontaminantslocatedwithin1000feetfromtheouterboundaryofaschool.ThissubdivisionshallnotapplytomodificationofanexistingfacilityiftheExecutiveOfficerordesigneedeterminesthatthemodificationwillresultinareductionofemissionsofaircontaminantsfromthefacilityandnoincreaseinhealthriskatanyreceptorlocation.Thisparagraphshallnotn—,applytomodificationsthathavenopotentialtoaffectemissions;allnewormodifiedfacilitieswhichhaveon-siteemissionincreasesexceedinganyofthedailymaximumsspecifiedinsubdivision(g)ofthisrule;and212-1Rule212(Cont.)(AmendedDecember7,1995)(3)allnewormodifiedpermitunitswithincreasesinemissionsoftoxicaircontaminants,forwhichtheExecutiveOfficerordesigneehasmadeadeterminationthatapersonmaybeexposedtoanindividualcancerriskgreaterthan,orequalto,oneinamillion(1x10-6)duringalifetime(70years)period,ormaybeexposedtoquantitiesorconcentrationsofothersubstancesthatposeapotentialriskofnuisance.ToxicandpotentiallytoxicaircontaminantsaresubstanceslistedinTableIofRule1401,oranyothermaterialdeterminedbytheExecutiveOfficerordesigneetobepotentiallytoxic.ThisparagraphshallnotapplyiftheExecutiveOfficerordesigneedeterminesthatmodificationstotheexistingfacilitywillnotresultinanincreaseinhealthriskatanyreceptorlocation.(d)Exceptasprovidedforinsubdivision(g),thenotificationoftheproposedconstructionofasignificantproject,whichistobepreparedbytheDistrict,istocontainsufficientdetailtofullydescribetheproject.TheapplicantshallprovideverificationtotheExecutiveOfficerordesigneethatpublicnoticehasbeendistributedasrequiredbythissubdivision.Inthecaseofnotificationsperformedunderparagraphs(c)(2)and(c)(3),theapplicantforthePermittoConstructshallberesponsibleforthedistributionofthepublicnoticetoeachaddresswithina1/4mileradiusoftheprojectorsuchotherareaasdeterminedappropriatebytheExecutiveOfficerordesignee.Inthecaseofnotificationsperformedunderparagraph(c)(1),distributionofthepublicnoticeshallbetotheparentsofchildreninanyschoolwithin1/4mileofthefacilityandtheapplicantshallprovidedistributionofthepublicnoticetoeachaddresswithinaradiusof750feetfromtheouterpropelineoftheproposednewormodifiedfacility.(e)AnypersonmayfileawrittenrequestfornoticeofanydecisionoractionpertainingtotheissuanceofaPermittoConstruct.TheExecutiveOfficerordesigneeshallprovidemailednoticeofsuchdecisionoractiontoanypersonwhohasfiledawrittenrequestfornotification.RequestsfornoticeshallbefiledpursuanttoproceduresestablishedbytheExecutiveOfficerordesignee.ThenoticeshallbemailedatthetimethattheExecutiveOfficerordesigneenotifiesthepermitapplicantofthedecisionoractionsThe10-dayperiodtoappeal,specifiedinRule216(b),shallcommenceonthethirddayfollowingmailingofthenoticepursuanttothissubdivision.TherequirementsforpublicnoticepursuanttothissubdivisionarefulfillediftheExecutiveOfficermakesagood212-2Rule212(Cont.)(AmendedDecember7,1995)faithefforttofollowproceduresestablishedpursuanttothissubdivisionforgivingnoticeand,insuchcircumstances,failureofanypersontoreceivethenoticeshallnotaffectthevalidityofanypermitsubsequentlyissuedbytheExecutiveOfficerordesignee.(f)AnapplicationforaPermittoOperate,forapermitunitinstalledorconstructedwithoutarequiredPermittoConstruct,shallbesubjecttotherequirementsofthisrule.(g)FornewormodifiedsourcessubjecttoRegulationXX,RECLAIMfacilities,orOuterContinentalShelf(OCS)Facilitieslocatedwithin25milesoftheState’sseawardboundaryandforwhichtheDistricthasbeendesignatedasthecorrespondingonshorearea(COA),whichundergoconstructionormodificationsresultinginanemissionsincreaseexceedinganyofthedailymaximumsspecifiedasfollows:DailyMaximumAirContaminantinlbsperDayVolatileOrganicCompounds30NitrogenOxides40PM1030SulfurDioxide60CarbonMonoxide220Lead3Theprocessforpublicnotificationandcommentshallincludealloftheapplicableprovisionsof40CodeofFederalRegulations(CFR)Part51,Section51.161(b),and40CFRPart124,Section124.10.Thefederalpublicnoticeandcommentproceduresforthesefacilitiesrequirethatthepublicnoticebedistributedtothebroadestpossiblescopeofinterestedparties,andincludeataminimum:(1)AvailabilityofinformationsubmittedbytheowneroroperatorandofDistrictanalysesoftheeffectonairqualityforpublicinspectioninatleastonelocationintheareaaffected;(2)NoticebyprominentadvertisementintheareaaffectedofthelocationofthesourceinformationandtheDistrict’sanalysesoftheeffectonairquality;212-3Rule212(Cont.)(AmendedDecember7,1995)(3)Mailingacopyofthenoticerequiredinparagraph(2)tothefollowingpersons:TheapplicanttheAdministratorofU.S.EPAthroughRegion9,theAirResourcesBoard,affectedlocalairpollutioncontroldistricts,thechiefexecutivesofthecityandcountyortheonshoreareathatisgeographicallyclosesttowherethemajorstationarysourceormajormodificationwouldbelocated,anycomprehensiveregionallanduseplanningagency,andState,FederalLandManager,orIndianGoverningBodywhoselandsmaybeaffectedbyemissionsfromtheregulatedactivity;(4)A30-dayperiodforsubmittalofpubliccomments.212-4