[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 121 (Thursday, June 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36917-36918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15742]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9323-2]
Clean Air Act Operating Permit Program; Petition for Objection to
State Operating Permit for TransAlta Centralia Generation, LLC--Coal-
Fired Power Plant
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of final action.
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SUMMARY: This document announces that the EPA Administrator has
responded to a citizen petition asking EPA to object to an operating
permit issued by the Southwest Clean Air Agency (SWCAA). Specifically,
the Administrator has denied the October 29, 2009 petition, submitted
by EarthJustice on behalf of the Sierra Club, the National Parks
Conservation Association, and the Northwest Environmental Defense
Center (Petitioners), to object to the September 16, 2009, operating
permit issued to TransAlta Centralia Generation, LLC for a coal-fired
power plant in Centralia, Washington. Pursuant to sections 307(b) and
505(b)(2) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), a petition for judicial review of
those parts of the Order that deny issues in the petition may be filed
in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit
within 60 days from the date this notice appears in the Federal
Register.
ADDRESSES: You may review copies of the final Order, the petition, and
other supporting information at the Office of Air, Waste and Toxics,
EPA Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle Washington, 98101.
EPA requests that if at all possible, you contact the individual
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to view the
copies of the final order, the petition, and other supporting
information. You may view the hard copies Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.
to 4 p.m., excluding Federal holidays. If you wish to examine these
documents, you should make an appointment at least 24 hours before the
visiting day. Additionally, the final order for the TransAlta Centralia
plant is available electronically at: http://www.epa.gov/region7/air/title5/petitiondb/petitions/transalta_response2009.pdf .
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Bent at telephone number: (206)
553-6350, e-mail address: [email protected] or the above EPA, Region 10
address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CAA affords EPA a 45-day period to
review, and object to as appropriate, a Title V operating permit
proposed by State permitting authorities. Section 505(b)(2) of the Act
authorizes any person to petition the EPA Administrator, within 60 days
after the expiration of this review period, to object to a Title V
operating permit if EPA has not done so. Petitions must be based only
on objections to the permit that were raised with reasonable
specificity during the public comment period provided by the State,
unless the petitioner demonstrates that it was impracticable to raise
these issues during the comment period or the grounds for the issue
arose after this period.
EPA received a petition from the Petitioners dated October 29,
2009,
[[Page 36918]]
requesting that EPA object to the issuance of the Title V operating
permit to TransAlta Centralia Generation, LLC for the operation of a
coal-fired power plant in Centralia, Washington for the following
reasons: (I) The Title V permit failed to provide for the control of
carbon dioxide emissions, an air contaminant that is detrimental to
human health and welfare, property, and business; (II) The Title V
permit failed to provide for the control of mercury emissions, an air
contaminant that is detrimental to human health and welfare, property,
and business; (III) The Title V permit failed to provide for adequate
control of nitrogen oxide emissions, an air contaminant that is
detrimental to human health and welfare, property, and business; (IV)
The Title V permit failed to require Reasonably Available Control
Technology for the control of carbon dioxide emissions or for mercury
emissions; and (V) The Title V permit's start-up, shut-down and
malfunction provisions are contrary to recent case law interpreting the
requirements of the Clean Air Act.
On April 28, 2011, the Administrator issued an order denying the
petition. The order explains the reasons behind EPA's conclusion to
deny the petition for objection.
Dated: June 10, 2011.
Michelle L. Pirzadeh,
Deputy Regional Administrator, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 2011-15742 Filed 6-22-11; 8:45 am]
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