Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held on August 27, 2018 at 5:30 PM in Room 574 at 1200 First Street NE, Washington, DC. This hearing provides interested parties an opportunity to comment on a plan by the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) to submit to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a proposed State Implementation Plan (SIP) Revision for meeting the requirements of Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) set forth by the federal Clean Air Act (CAA); and submission of “Revisions to Reasonably Available Control Technology Requirements for Combustion Turbines” as an emergency rulemaking to the District’s SIP for approval. Once the District has completed its procedures, the proposed revisions to the SIP will be submitted to EPA for approval.
The CAA requires that states achieve the health-based 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) by specified dates, based on the severity of an area's air quality problem. Furthermore, Implementation of the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone: State Implementation Plan Requirements (80 FR 12264, March 6, 2015) states that areas classified as “moderate” non-attainment for ozone must submit a demonstration that their existing rules fulfill the 8-hour ozone RACT requirements. For the purposes of regulating stationary sources, even though the Washington, DC-MD-VA metropolitan area is designated as a “marginal” ozone nonattainment area, it is required by Section 182 (f) of the CAA to meet RACT requirements equivalent to those for a “moderate” ozone nonattainment area for the federal 8-hour ozone NAAQS because it is in the Ozone Transport Region established under Section 184 of the CAA. Attaining and maintaining concentrations of ground-level ozone below the health-based standard is important because ozone is a serious human health threat, and also can cause damage to important food crops, forests, and wildlife.
This proposed SIP Revision certifies that the District’s existing federally-approved SIP meets the CAA RACT requirements in regards to control of oxides of nitrogen (NOX) under the 8-hour ozone NAAQS, except with respect to certain combustion turbines and related equipment and with respect to certain equipment fired on digester gas. A separate public hearing notice is being issued concerning CAA RACT requirements in regards to control of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC).
“Revisions to Reasonably Available Control Technology Requirements for Combustion Turbines” is an emergency rulemaking published in the D.C. Register on Friday, July 27, 2018 to update the District’s requirements for RACT by adding emission standards for NOX from combustion turbines. This rulemaking is being submitted as an amendment to the District’s SIP in order to meet the RACT requirements for combustion turbines. The District is also submitting permit requirements for one (1) facility as an amendment to the SIP in order to meet the RACT requirements for equipment fired on digester gas that is not covered by the combustion turbines rulemaking.
DOEE is seeking public comments on this proposed SIP Revision. Copies of this proposal are available for public review upon request at the DOEE offices on the 5th floor of 1200 First Street NE, Washington DC, 20002 or attached below.
Persons wishing to present testimony at the hearing should furnish their name, address, telephone number, and affiliation, if any, to Alexandra Catena by 4:00 PM, August 27, 2018.
No written comments will be accepted after August 27, 2018. Written comments should be sent to Alexandra Catena, Monitoring and Assessment Branch, Air Quality Division, 1200 First St, NE, Washington, DC 20002. E-mail· comments may be sent to [email protected]. Please use "NOx RACT SIP for 8-Hour Ozone" in the subject line. For more information, call Ms. Catena at (202) 741-0862.