In lieu of filing a notice of construction application under WAC 173-400-110, the owner or operator may apply for coverage under a general order of approval issued under this section. Coverage under a general order of approval satisfies the requirement for new source review under RCW 70.94.152.

(1) Issuance of general orders of approval. A permitting authority may issue a general order of approval applicable to a specific type of emission unit or source, not including nonroad engines as defined in section 216 of the Federal Clean Air Act, subject to the conditions in this section. A general order of approval shall identify criteria by which an emission unit or source may qualify for coverage under the associated general order of approval and shall include terms and conditions under which the owner or operator agrees to install and/or operate the covered emission unit or source. At a minimum, these terms and conditions shall include:

(a) Applicable emissions limitations and/or control requirements;

(b) Best available control technology;

(c) Appropriate operational restrictions, such as:

(i) Criteria related to the physical size of the unit(s) covered;

(ii) Criteria related to raw materials and fuels used;

(iii) Criteria related to allowed or prohibited locations; and

(iv) Other similar criteria determined by a permitting authority;

(d) Monitoring, reporting and recordkeeping requirements to ensure compliance with the applicable emission limits and control requirements;

(e) Appropriate initial and periodic emission testing requirements;

(f) Compliance with chapter 173-460 WAC, WAC 173-400-112 and 173-400-113 as applicable;

(g) Compliance with 40 C.F.R. Parts 60, 61, 62, and 63; and

(h) The application and approval process to obtain coverage under the specific general order of approval.

(2) Public comment. Compliance with WAC 173-400-171 is required for a proposed new general order of approval or modification of an existing general order of approval.

(3) Modification of general orders of approval. A permitting authority may review and modify a general order of approval at any time. Only the permitting authority that issued a general order of approval may modify that general order of approval. Modifications to general orders of approval shall follow the procedures of this regulation and shall only take effect prospectively.

(4) Application for coverage under a general order of approval.

(a) In lieu of applying for an individual order of approval under WAC 173-400-110, an owner or operator of an emission unit or source may apply for and receive coverage from a permitting authority under a general order of approval if:

(i) The owner or operator of the emission unit or source applies for coverage under a general order of approval in accordance with this regulation and any conditions of the approval related to application for and granting coverage under the general order of approval;

(ii) The emission unit or source meets all the qualifications listed in the requested general order of approval;

(iii) The requested emission unit or source is not part of a new major stationary source or major modification of a major stationary source subject to the requirements of WAC 173-400-113 (3) and (4), 173-400-700 through 173-400-750 or 173-400-800 through 173-400-860; and

(iv) The requested emission unit or source does not trigger applicability of the operating permit program under chapter 173-401 WAC or trigger a required modification of an existing operating permit.

(b) Owners or operators of emission units or sources applying for coverage under a general order of approval shall do so using the forms supplied by a permitting authority and include the required fee. The application must include all information necessary to determine qualification for, and to assure compliance with, a general order of approval.

(c) An application shall be incomplete until a permitting authority has received any required fees.

(d) The owner or operator of a new source or modification of an existing source that qualifies for coverage under a general order of approval may not begin actual construction of the new source or modification until its application for coverage has been approved or accepted under the procedures established in subsection (5) of this section.

(5) Processing applications for coverage under a general order of approval. Each general order of approval shall include a section on how an applicant is to request coverage and how the permitting authority will grant coverage. The section of the general order of approval will include either the method in (a) or (b) of this subsection to describe the process for the applicant to be granted coverage.

(a) Within thirty days of receipt of an application for coverage under a general order of approval, the permitting authority shall notify an applicant in writing that the application is incomplete, approved, or denied. If an application is incomplete, the permitting authority shall notify an applicant of the information needed to complete the application. If an application is denied, the permitting authority shall notify an applicant of the reasons why the application is denied. Coverage under a general order of approval is effective as of the date of issuance of approval by the permitting authority.

(b) The applicant is approved for coverage under the general order of approval thirty-one days after an application for coverage is received by the permitting authority, unless the owner or operator receives a letter from the permitting authority, postmarked within thirty days of when the application for coverage was received by the permitting authority, notifying the owner or operator that the emissions unit or source does not qualify for coverage under the general order of approval. The letter denying coverage shall notify the applicant of the disqualification and the reasons why coverage is denied.

(6) Termination of coverage under a general order of approval. An owner or operator who has received approval of an application for coverage under a general order of approval may later request to be excluded from coverage under that general order of approval by applying to the same permitting authority for an individual order of approval, under WAC 173-400-110, or for coverage under another general order of approval. If the same permitting authority issues an individual order of approval or other permit or order serving the same purpose as the original general order of approval, or approves coverage under a different general order of approval, coverage under the original general order of approval is automatically terminated, effective on the effective date of the individual order of approval, order or permit or new general order of approval.

(7) Failure to qualify or comply. An owner or operator who requests and is granted approval for coverage under a general order of approval shall be subject to enforcement action for establishment of a new source in violation of WAC 173-400-110 if a decision to grant coverage under a general order of approval was based upon erroneous information submitted by the applicant.