5343-S AMH MORR H2544.1

SSB 5343  - H AMD TO ENVI COMM AMD (H-2362.1/11)556
     By Representative Morris

NOT CONSIDERED 04/22/2011

     On page 1, at the beginning of line 3 of the amendment, strike all material through "2012." on line 26 and insert the following:

"Sec. 1   RCW 70.94.152 and 1996 c 67 s 1 and 1996 c 29 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) The department ((of ecology)) or board of any authority may require notice of the establishment of any proposed new sources, except:
     (i) S
ingle-family and duplex dwellings ((or));
     (ii) D
e minimis new sources as defined in rules adopted under subsection (11) of this section; and
     (iii) New sources that are exempt under subsection (13) of this section
.
     (b) The department ((of ecology)) or board may require such notice to be accompanied by a fee, and determine the amount of ((such)) the fee((: PROVIDED, That the amount of)). The fee may not exceed the cost of reviewing the plans, specifications, and other information and administering ((such)) the notice((: PROVIDED FURTHER, That)). Any such notice given or notice of construction application submitted to either the board or to the department ((of ecology)) shall preclude ((a)) further submittal of a duplicate application to any board or to the department ((of ecology)).
     (2) The department shall, after opportunity for public review and comment, adopt rules that establish a workload-driven process for determination and review of the fee covering the direct and indirect costs of processing a notice of construction application and a methodology for tracking revenues and expenditures. All new source fees collected by ((the delegated local air)) authorities from sources shall be deposited in the dedicated accounts of their respective treasuries. All new source fees collected by the department from sources shall be deposited in the air pollution control account.
     (3) Within thirty days of receipt of a notice of construction application, the department ((of ecology)) or board may require, as a condition precedent to the establishment of the new source or sources covered thereby, the submission of plans, specifications, and such other information as it deems necessary to determine whether the proposed new source will be in accord with applicable rules and regulations in force under this chapter. If, on the basis of plans, specifications, or other information required under this section, the department ((of ecology)) or board determines that the proposed new source will not be in accord with this chapter or the applicable ordinances, resolutions, rules, and regulations adopted under this chapter, it shall issue an order denying permission to establish the new source. If, on the basis of plans, specifications, or other information required under this section, the department ((of ecology)) or board determines that the proposed new source will be in accord with this chapter, and the applicable rules and regulations adopted under this chapter, it shall issue an order of approval for the establishment of the new source or sources, which order may provide such conditions as are reasonably necessary to assure the maintenance of compliance with this chapter and the applicable rules and regulations adopted under this chapter. Every order of approval under this chapter must be reviewed prior to issuance by a professional engineer or staff under the supervision of a professional engineer in the employ of the department ((of ecology)) or board.
     (4) The determination required under subsection (3) of this section shall include a determination of whether the operation of the new air contaminant source at the location proposed will cause any ambient air quality standard to be exceeded.
     (5) New source review of a modification shall be limited to the emission unit or units proposed to be modified and the air contaminants whose emissions would increase as a result of the modification.
     (6) Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the department ((of ecology)) or board to require the use of emission control equipment or other equipment, machinery, or devices of any particular type, from any particular supplier, or produced by any particular manufacturer.
     (7) Any features, machines, and devices constituting parts of or called for by plans, specifications, or other information submitted pursuant to subsection (1) or (3) of this section shall be maintained and operate in good working order.
     (8) The absence of an ordinance, resolution, rule, or regulation, or the failure to issue an order pursuant to this section shall not relieve any person from his or her obligation to comply with applicable emission control requirements or with any other provision of law.
     (9) Within thirty days of receipt of a notice of construction application the department ((of ecology)) or board shall either notify the applicant in writing that the application is complete or notify the applicant in writing of all additional information necessary to complete the application. Within sixty days of receipt of a complete application the department or board shall either (a) issue a final decision on the application, or (b) for those projects subject to public notice, initiate notice and comment on a proposed decision, followed as promptly as possible by a final decision. A person seeking approval to construct or modify a source that requires an operating permit may elect to integrate review of the operating permit application or amendment required by RCW 70.94.161 and the notice of construction application required by this section. A notice of construction application designated for integrated review shall be processed in accordance with operating permit program procedures and deadlines.
     (10) A notice of construction approval required under subsection (3) of this section shall include a determination that the new source will achieve best available control technology. If more stringent controls are required under federal law, the notice of construction shall include a determination that the new source will achieve the more stringent federal requirements. Nothing in this subsection is intended to diminish other state authorities under this chapter.
     (11) No person is required to submit a notice of construction or receive approval for a new source that is deemed by the department ((of ecology)) or board to have de minimis impact on air quality. The department ((of ecology)) shall adopt and periodically update rules identifying categories of de minimis new sources. The department ((of ecology)) may identify de minimis new sources by category, size, or emission thresholds.
     (12) For purposes of this section, "de minimis new sources" means new sources with trivial levels of emissions that do not pose a threat to human health or the environment.
     (13)(a) One or more generators operating at an electric generating project are exempt from the requirements of this section if:
     (i) The generators are fueled solely by biogas that:
     (A) Is produced by an anaerobic digester that qualifies for the solid waste permitting exemption specified in RCW 70.95.330; and
     (B) Contains less than 0.1 percent sulfur after a startup period not exceeding one hundred eighty days;
     (ii) The aggregate heat input from the generators does not exceed ten million British thermal units per hour; and
     (iii) The exemption is permissible under federal law.
     (b) A modified generator may retain an exemption under this subsection if the generator continues to meet the requirements specified in (a) of this subsection.
     (c) For the purposes of this subsection: (i) "Anaerobic digester" means a vessel that processes organic material into biogas and digestate using microorganisms in a decomposition process within a closed, oxygen-free container; and (ii) "generator" means an internal combustion engine that converts biogas into electricity, and includes any backup combustion device to burn biogas when an engine is idled for maintenance.
     (d) For generators exempted under this subsection or permitted under this section, the department shall measure emission outputs using SCREEN3 air modeling software approved by the United States environmental protection agency or another air modeling software that is no more stringent than SCREEN3 that is approved by the United States environmental protection agency.
     (e) This subsection is void and has no force or effect when the department adopts rules consistent with the final rules promulgated by the United States environmental protection agency concerning new thresholds for greenhouse gas emissions that define when permits under the new source review and Title V operating permits program under the federal clean air act would be required for new or existing industrial facilities.
"

EFFECT:  Removes the rule-making requirements in the underlying bill. Exempts certain qualifying generators from the notice of construction permitting requirements under the state clean air act. Requires the department of ecology (DOE) to measure emission outputs of exempt and permitted generators using SCREEN3 air modeling software. Provides that the exemption is void and has no force or effect when the DOE adopts rules consistent with the United States environmental protection agency's final rules concerning new thresholds for greenhouse gas emissions under the federal clean air act.

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