Purpose of notice: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is announcing a public comment period on a proposed permit to limit air pollution emitted by a facility in Bedford County, Virginia. This public comment period is being held in order to satisfy state public notice requirements under 9VAC5-80-1020 of the Regulations for the Control and Abatement of Air Pollution. If adopted, the Commonwealth also intends to submit the plan as a revision to the Commonwealth of Virginia State Implementation Plan (SIP) in accordance with the requirements of §110(a) of the federal Clean Air Act. The SIP is the plan developed by the Commonwealth in order to fulfill its responsibilities under the federal Clean Air Act to attain and maintain the ambient air quality standards promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Act.

Public comment period: November 7 to December 7, 2022.

Public hearing: A public hearing will be conducted if a request is made in writing to the contact listed below. In order to be considered, the request must include the full name, address and telephone number of the person requesting the hearing and be received by DEQ by the last day of the comment period. Notice of the date, time, and location of any requested public hearing will be announced in a separate notice, and another 30-day comment period will be conducted.

Permit name: State Operating Permit issued by DEQ pursuant to applicable air laws and regulations.

Applicant name, address and registration number: Georgia Pacific (GP) Big Island, LLC, 9909 Lee Jackson Highway, Big Island, VA 24526; Registration No. 30389.

Description of proposal: GP Big Island, LLC has applied for an amendment to a Best Available Retrofit Technology State Operating Permit for the Number 5 Power Boiler at GP Big Island, LLC. The amendment to the permit removes conditions in the permit that allow for the use of coal in the boiler and lowers the permitted emission limits for PM₁₀, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides.  No emissions increases are anticipated as a result of this amendment.

Federal information: This notice is being given to satisfy the public participation requirements of federal regulations (40 CFR 51.102). The proposal will be submitted as a revision to the Commonwealth of Virginia SIP under § 110(a) of the federal Clean Air Act in accordance with 40 CFR 51.104. It is planned to submit all provisions of the proposal as a revision to the SIP.

Consultation with federal land managers (FLMs): As provided in 40 CFR 51.302(b)(2), the FLMs were given the opportunity to comment on this permit on July 13, 2022. DEQ received the FLM response/approval on August 24, 2022.

How to comment: DEQ accepts comments and requests for public hearing by hand-delivery, e-mail, fax or postal mail. All comments and requests must be in writing and be received by DEQ during the comment period. Submittals must include the names, mailing addresses and email addresses of the commenter/requester and of all persons represented by the commenter/requester. All faxes must have a cover page that lists the intended recipient. All materials received are part of the public record.

To review proposal: The proposal and any supporting documents are available on the DEQ Air Public Notices web site https://www.deq.virginia.gov/permits-regulations/public-notices/air. The documents may also be obtained by contacting the DEQ representative named below. The public may schedule an appointment to review the documents between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm of each business day until the close of the public comment period at the following DEQ locations: (1) Main Street Office, 22nd Floor, 1111 E. Main Street, Richmond VA, (804) 698-4000 and (2) Blue Ridge Regional Office, 901 Russell Drive, Salem VA 24153, 540-562-6700.

Contact for public comments, document requests and additional information: Erin Rau, Senior Air Permit Writer, Blue Ridge Regional Office, 901 Russell Drive, Salem, VA 24153; Phone: (540) 759-9501; E-mail: erin.rau@deq.virginia.gov; Fax: (804) 698-4178.