Purpose of notice: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on a permit to limit air pollution emitted by a facility in Alleghany County, Virginia. The Commonwealth intends to submit the permit 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: July 31, 2023 to August 30, 2023.

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.

Name, address and registration number: WestRock Virginia LLC - Covington, 104 East Riverside Street, Covington, VA 24426, Registration No. 20328.

Description of proposal: The proposed revision consists of a permit to control emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) to the atmosphere from the above-listed facility.

The proposed revision will consist of a determination of reasonable progress for the control of emissions of SO2 to the atmosphere from the WestRock Virginia LLC – Covington facility. The reasonable progress determination is being made pursuant to 40 CFR 51.208(d) and to Article 5 (9VAC5-80-800 et seq.) of 9VAC5-80, Permits for Stationary Sources. Reasonable progress for SO2 emissions from the WestRock Virginia – LLC Covington facility has been determined to be a decrease in emission limit to 1,359 tons/yr of SO2 emissions from the WestRock Virginia LLC – Covington facility as a whole. No emissions increases are anticipated as a result of this project.

A state operating permit is to be issued as the administrative mechanism to ensure compliance with reasonable progress requirements. The permit is being issued pursuant to 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 SO2.

Federal information: This notice is also being given to satisfy the public participation requirements of federal regulations (40 CFR 51.102). The permit 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 5, 2023. Comments were received by March 6, 2023. DEQ’s response to the FLM comments can be found in Section XI.B of the engineering analysis for this state operating permit.

How to comment: DEQ accepts written comments by email, fax, 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. 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 is available on the DEQ Air Public Notices web site: https://www.deq.virginia.gov/permits/public-notices/air.The proposal may also be obtained by contacting the DEQ representative named below. The public may make an appointment to review the proposal between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm of each business day until the close of the comment period at the following DEQ locations: 1) Main Street Office, Suite 1400, 1111 E. Main St, Richmond VA, 804-698-4070 and 2) Blue Ridge Regional Office, 901 Russell Drive, Salem, Virginia 24153, 540-562-6700.

Contact for public comments, document requests and additional information: Erin Rau, , DEQ Blue Ridge Regional Office, 901 Russell Drive, Salem, VA 24153 (phone 540-759-9501, fax 804-698-4178, email erin.rau@deq.virginia.gov).