Purpose of notice: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on a proposed permit to limit air pollution emitted by a facility in Shenandoah County, Virginia. If adopted, the Commonwealth intends to submit the permit or portion thereof as a revision to its 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: October 15 to November 16, 2009.
State public hearing procedure: Interested persons may request a public hearing. The request must be made in writing to the contact listed below, and be received by DEQ on the last day of the comment period. In order to be considered, the request must include the full name, address and telephone number of the person requesting the hearing and of all people represented by the requester. The request must also include: (i) the reason why a public hearing is requested; (ii) a brief statement setting forth the factual nature and extent of interest in the proposed permit, including how the operation of the facility affects the requester; and (iii) specific references to applicable terms and conditions of concern as well as suggested revisions. A public hearing may be held as required by § 10.1-1322.01 of state law if at least 25 requests are received in accordance with these procedures. 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.
Federal public hearing procedure: Interested persons may request a public hearing. The request must be made in writing to the contact listed below, and be received by DEQ on the last day of the comment period. In order to be considered, the request must include the full name, address and telephone number of the person requesting the hearing and of all people represented by the requester. A public hearing will be held as required by 40 CFR 51.102(a) if a request is received in accordance with these procedures. 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, under the authority of the State Air Pollution Control Board.
Name, address and registration number: O-N Minerals (Chemstone) Company, 1696 Oranda Rd, Strasburg, VA 22657-3731, Registration No. 80252.
Description of proposal: The proposed revision consists of the control of emissions of particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOX), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) to the atmosphere from O-N Minerals located in Shenandoah County, Virginia.
Virginia’s regional haze regulation is found in Article 52 (9VAC5-40-7550 et seq.) of 9VAC5-40, Existing Stationary Sources. This regulation provides guidance for determining Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART). BART is required for any BART-eligible source which emits any air pollutant which may reasonably be anticipated to cause or contribute to visibility impairment in any federal Class I area. BART is an emission limitation based on the degree of reduction achievable through application of the best system of continuous emission reduction for each visibility-impairing pollutant emitted by an existing stationary facility established on a case-by-case basis. O-N Minerals is subject to these requirements, and has undergone a BART analysis resulting in the application of BART controls.
In essence, the proposed revision will consist of a determination of BART for the control of emissions of PM, PM10, NOX, and SO2 to the atmosphere from a rotary kiln and a calcimatic kiln located at O-N Minerals. The BART determination is being made pursuant to Article 52 (9VAC5-40-7550 et seq.) of the Regulations for the Control and Abatement of Air Pollution (9VAC5-40, Existing Sources). BART has been determined to be as follows: (i) for the rotary kiln, NOX will be controlled by good combustion practices and an indirect firing system, PM10 will be controlled by a multicyclone and fabric filters, and SO2 will be controlled by a caustic wet scrubber or an approved alternative control technology, including inherent process scrubbing, capable of meeting the BART emission limit; and (ii) for the calcimatic kiln, NOX will be controlled by good combustion practices, PM10 will be controlled by a multicyclone and Venturi scrubber, and SO2 will be controlled by a Venturi scrubber.
A state operating permit is to be issued as the administrative mechanism to ensure compliance with the BART requirements. The permit is being issued pursuant to Article 52 (9VAC5-40-7550 et seq.) of 9VAC5-40 (Existing Stationary Sources) and Article 5 (9VAC5-80-800 et seq.) of 9VAC5-80 (Permits for Stationary Sources) of state regulations and is federally enforceable upon issuance. The permit will establish emission limits for control of PM, PM10, NOX, and SO2.
Federal information: This notice is also 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.
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 January 15, 2009. NPS provided comments on March 2, 2009; DEQ responded to the comments in a letter dated September 22, 2009.
How to comment: DEQ accepts written comments by email, fax, and postal mail. In order to be considered, written 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. Due to problems with the quality of faxes, commenters are encouraged to provide the signed original by postal mail within one week. All testimony, exhibits and documents received are part of the public record.Please note this proposed permit is being concurrently reviewed by U.S. EPA.
To review proposal: The proposal and any supporting documents are available on the DEQ Air Public Notices for Plans web site (
http://www.deq.virginia.gov/air/permitting/planotes.html). The documents may also be obtained by contacting the DEQ representative named below. The public may 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, 8th Floor, 629 E. Main St, Richmond VA, 804-698-4070 and 2) Valley Regional Office, 4411 Early Rd, Harrisonburg VA, 540-574-7800.
