Notice of action: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking comments and announcing a public hearing on a proposed plan to improve sulfur dioxide (SO₂) air quality in the Giles County partial 2010 SO₂ National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) nonattainment area.  This proposed plan includes a proposed permit for the Lhoist North America – Kimballton Plant, located in Giles County, Virginia.  If adopted, the Commonwealth intends to submit the plan and permit as a revision to the Commonwealth of Virginia State Implementation Plan (SIP) in accordance with the federal Clean Air Act. The SIP is the plan developed by the Commonwealth to fulfill its responsibilities under the federal Clean Air Act to attain and maintain the NAAQS promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Purpose of notice: DEQ is seeking comments on the overall plan, including the proposed permit, and on the issue of whether the plan and permit will enable the Giles County partial 2010 SO₂ NAAQS nonattainment area to comply with, and maintain compliance with, the 2010 SO₂ NAAQS.   

Public comment period:  March 27, 2025 to May 22, 2025.

Public hearing: An informational briefing will be conducted at the DEQ Blue Ridge Regional Office, 901 Russell Drive, Salem, VA 24153 at 1:00 p.m. on May 16, 2025.  A public hearing will be conducted immediately following the informational briefing and will commence no later than 2:00 p.m. on May 16, 2025, at the same location.

Description of proposal: Virginia is required in the proposed plan to demonstrate how the Giles County partial 2010 SO₂ NAAQS nonattainment area will attain the 2010 SO₂ NAAQS no later than April 30, 2026.  The plan provides the following required elements:

2017 base year SO₂ emissions inventory for the area, 2026 attainment year SO₂ emissions inventory for the area, control strategies for compliance with the 2010 SO₂ NAAQS, air quality modeling analyses supporting the facility limitations in the proposed permit for Lhoist North America – Kimballton Plant, the proposed permit and supporting documentation limiting the emissions of SO₂ from the Lhoist North America – Kimballton Plant, and a description of the SO₂ air quality monitoring network. 

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 Commonwealth of Virginia SIP.

How to comment: DEQ accepts written comments by hand delivery, email and postal mail. In order to be considered, comments must include the full name, address, and telephone number of the person commenting and be received by DEQ on the last day of the comment period. Both oral and written comments are accepted at the public hearing. DEQ prefers that comments be provided in writing, along with any supporting documents or exhibits. All comments, exhibits, and documents received are part of the public record. Please note this proposed plan is being concurrently reviewed by EPA.

To review proposal: The proposed plan, the proposed permit, and supporting documents are available on the DEQ Air Public Notices web site: https://www.deq.virginia.gov/permits/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 St, Richmond VA, 804-698-4000, and 2) Blue Ridge Regional Office, 901 Russell Dr, Salem VA, 540-562-6700.

Contact for public comments, document requests and additional information: Doris A. McLeod, Air Quality Planner, Air Planning Programs, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, PO Box 1105, Richmond, Virginia, 23218 (phone (804) 659-1990, email doris.mcleod@deq.virginia.gov).