WSR 18-17-111
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY
[Order 15-07—Filed August 16, 2018, 3:29 p.m., effective September 16, 2018]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Other Findings Required by Other Provisions of Law as Precondition to Adoption or Effectiveness of Rule: Chapter 173-400 WAC includes the following provisions that remain in effect until the effective date of a Federal Register notice published by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that removes WAC 173-400-107 from Washington's state implementation plan (SIP):
Unavoidable excess emissions, WAC 173-400-107.
Exemptions from opacity emission standards for soot blowing/grate cleaning and orchard heating.
When EPA removes WAC 173-400-107 from SIP, the following provisions become effective:
Alternative opacity emission standards for:
oSoot blowing/grate cleaning.
oHog fuel or wood-fired boiler with dry particulate matter controls.
oFurnace refractory.
Excess emissions reporting, WAC 173-400-108.
Unavoidable excess emissions, WAC 173-400-109.
Purpose: The amendments focus on the general regulations for air pollution sources, the operating permit regulation, and revising SIP. Because of federal court rulings, the United States EPA has officially notified Washington (and thirty-five other states) to change their current rules and update their SIPs to correct the identified deficiencies (a SIP call).
The primary purpose of this revision is to align chapter 173-400 WAC with federal court decisions holding that emission standards apply at all times, even during periods of startup, shutdown and malfunction (SSM), and without automatic or discretionary exemptions. These decisions and EPA's SIP call require us to correct overly broad enforcement discretion and other provisions that would bar enforcement by EPA or other parties in federal court. Existing ecology rules exempt exceedances of an emission standard during SSM, or allow avoidance of enforcement actions against a company for these emissions.
Under ecology's existing rule, facilities are not required to meet emission limits during periods of SSM, and EPA interprets our rule language to bar enforcement of excess emissions during periods of SSM under the federal Clean Air Act. Additionally, the state rule includes director's discretion provisions and automatic exemptions that violate the federal Clean Air Act. This rule making aligns our rule with the current federal requirements by:
Removing impermissible provisions,
Establishing new alternative standards for opacity during startup or shutdown, and
Establishing a process to allow a facility's permit to contain a permit limit during startup and shutdown that exceeds a Washington state emissions standard for opacity, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter in SIP.
We also changed public notification procedures based on a recent EPA rule that allows web site posting of public notice of the start of a public comment period and draft permits in the prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) and air operating permit programs. We extended web site posting to these programs and our small source preconstruction permitting program. We will continue requiring publishing notice in a local newspaper until June 30, 2019, to provide a transition period to web posting for communities that still rely on the one-day newspaper notice.
This rule making also addresses stakeholder concerns about impacts from small nonroad engines (such as lawnmowers, small generators, and outdoor power tools) while providing ongoing environmental protection by evaluating impacts from nonroad engines on a project-by-project basis rather than on a site-wide basis. We concluded that a project basis is more representative of operations performed by nonroad engines and of the original intent for how the section would operate.
Other rule amendments include:
Outlawing wigwam and silo burners.
Updating the definition of volatile organic compounds (VOC) to reflect the current federal definition.
Correcting typos and clarifying rule language without changing its effect.
Updating the adoption by reference of federal rules from January 1, 2016, to January 24, 2018.
Deleting redundant requirements for catalytic cracking unit and sulfuric acid plants.
Below is a summary of the rule amendments.
Startup, shutdown, malfunction-related provisions:
Remove exemptions from emissions standards and replace the exemptions with opacity standards for some types of sources.
Create a process to establish facility specific permit limits that exceed a Washington state emissions standard in SIP during startup and shutdown.
Simplify the notification process related to excess emission events.
Align unavoidable excess emission provisions with the current interpretation of the Clean Air Act, EPA policy, and the state law.
Other provisions:
Require an agency to post notice of a public comment period and draft permits on its web site instead of requiring publication in a newspaper and providing a physical location for permit materials for the following permit actions: Prevention of significant deterioration and air operating permits, permit actions with a mandatory public comment period, and permit actions with significant public interest. Publication in a newspaper is required through June 30, 2019.
Outlaw existing and new wigwam and silo burners on January 1, 2020.
Simplify the application of nonroad engine requirements.
Update the definition of VOC to reflect the current federal definition.
Delete requirements for catalytic cracking unit and sulfuric acid plants.
Correct typos and clarify rule language without changing the effect.
Update adoption by reference of federal rules from January 1, 2016, to January 24, 2018.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 173-400-082; and amending WAC 173-400-025, 173-400-030, 173-400-035, 173-400-040, 173-400-050, 173-400-070, 173-400-081, 173-400-107, 173-400-108, 173-400-109, 173-400-171, 173-400-740, and 173-401-800.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 70.94 RCW, Washington Clean Air Act.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 18-04-085 on February 5, 2018.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: For more details, refer to the concise explanatory statement.
Chapter 173-400 WAC, throughout rule.
We retained the publication date of the ecology "Source Test Manual - Procedures for Compliance Testing" because the date establishes the version of the document that had been available for review during the public comment period.
We added both "malfunction or upset" when the text referenced either term because the provisions apply to both events, which are not the same thing.
WAC 173-400-025 Definitions.
Alternative emission limitation: Expanded to include "alternative emission limit."
Industrial furnace: Deleted the confusing and unnecessary definition.
Federally enforceable: Deleted the reference to an engineering calculation that does not exist.
Hog fuel: Clarified that the term includes hogged fuel.
VOC: Added alternate names of several chemicals that are not VOC.
Excess emissions: Clarified that the term also applies to permit-established limits that could be lower than an applicable emission standard.
Wood waste: Changed the name of the defined term to "waste wood" to remove confusion between air quality and solid waste rules, and clarified that the term also applies to wood materials from forest health logging, land clearing or pruning. Replaced "wood waste" with "waste wood" throughout rule.
WAC 173-400-040(2), visible emissions.
(e)(i) We added omitted language that specified that a planned startup or shutdown of a hog fuel or wood fired boiler means the owner or operator provides notice. We clarified the period for a restart after an unplanned shutdown, and that an unplanned shutdown includes an upset, to distinguish that a malfunction and upset are not the same thing.
(e)(vi) We deleted "work practice" because only one of the two requirements is a work practice requirement.
(e)(vi)(B)(II) We clarified that the federal rule identifies what constitutes clean fuel.
(e)(vi)(B)(III) We clarified that the rule requires compliance with the twenty percent opacity standard within four hours after the start of supplying useful thermal energy. We removed text to reduce confusion on whether the use of nonclean fuels or the start of supplying useful thermal energy is used as a reference to the four-hour limit.
(f) To reduce confusion around our intent, we deleted "existing" to clarify that the provision applies to all lime kilns, both current and future. We also deleted "industrial furnace" because the proposed definition for this term was confusing and unnecessary; lime kilns and boilers more appropriately reflect the universe of sources covered by this provision.
WAC 173-400-050 Emission standards for combustion and incineration units.
(1) We substituted the newly defined term "waste wood" for the undefined and therefore confusing phrase "wood derived fuels" to clarify intent.
(4)(c)(ix) We clarified that the federal rule provides the definition for wood waste terms.
WAC 173-400-082 Alternative emission limit that exceeds an emission standard in the SIP.
(2)(a)(iii) We revised the incorrect reference to WAC 173-415-030(3).
(3)(c)(iii) We corrected the term to "alternative emission limit."
(4)(a)(i)(B) We clarified the intent of the provision.
WAC 173-400-108 Excess emissions reporting.
(2)(b) We consolidated all excess emissions reporting for chapter 401 sources (Title V) in one location.
(4)(c) We removed unnecessary references to WAC 173-400-109 because only subsection (5) requires additional information.
WAC 173-400-109 Unavoidable excess emissions.
(2) We corrected the reference from subsection (4) to (5).
(5) We deleted "equipment" in "equipment malfunction" for consistent application of the term "malfunction."
WAC 173-400-171 Public notice and opportunity for public comment.
(6)(a)(vi), (7)(a) and (10)(a) We removed the requirement to exclude a Washington state holiday that falls within a public comment period from the day count because a simple count of days was easier to understand and reduced the possibility for errors in calculating the length of a public comment period.
(6)(a)(vi) and (8) We removed "thirty-day" before "public comment period" because thirty-days is a minimum comment period.
(6) We deleted the time to post notice by noon because that requirement is outside the scope of the content of a public notice.
(6)(a)(vi) We simplified the requirement.
(7)(a) We clarified existing requirements and simplified the method to count the days in a public comment period.
(10)(a) We clarified that providing notice is mandatory.
(10)(a)(i) We added a reference to subsection (7) for requirements on the length of a public comment period.
WAC 173-400-740 PSD permitting public involvement requirements.
(2)(b)(i) We clarified the length of the web site posting and simplified the method to count the days in a public comment period.
(2)(b)(iii)(A) We clarified that ecology must post an extension notice on the same location (web page) as the original notice.
(2)(b)(iv) We clarified that ecology must notify the public at least thirty days prior to the date of the hearing and keep the public comment period open through the hearing date.
(3) We streamlined the content of a public notice by:
oRemoving the posting date because the notice must include the start and end date of the public comment period.
oConsolidating requirements.
oSimplifying the method to count days in a comment period.
oRemoving the "thirty day" reference to a public comment period because this is a minimum length.
oRemoving the requirement to exclude a Washington state holiday that falls within a public comment period from the day count because a simple count of days is easier to understand and reduces the possibility for errors in calculating the length of a public comment period.
(4)(a) We removed the "thirty day" reference to a public comment period because this is a minimum length and added a reference to the subsection on the length of comment period.
(6)(b) We clarified that an extension notice must be posted on the same location (web page) as the original notice.
WAC 173-401-800 Public involvement.
(2)(d) We streamlined the content of a public notice by removing the:
oPosting date because the notice already includes the start and end date of a public comment period.
o"Thirty day" reference to a public comment period because this is a minimum length.
oRequirement to exclude a Washington state holiday that falls within a public comment period from the day count because a simple count of days is easier to understand and reduces the possibility for errors in calculating the length of a public comment period.
(2)(e)(i) We added the correct title of the technical support document for an air operating permit.
(3)(a) We simplified the method to count the days in a public comment period.
A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Elena Guilfoil, Department of Ecology, Air Quality Program, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, phone 360-407-6855, people with speech disability may call TTY 877-833-6341. People with impaired hearing may call Washington relay service 711, email elena.guilfoil@ecy.wa.gov, web site https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1802016.html.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 7, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 5, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 6, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 1, Amended 4, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: August 16, 2018.
Maia Bellon
for Polly Zehm
Director
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 16-12-099, filed 5/31/16, effective 7/1/16)
WAC 173-400-025Adoption of federal rules.
Federal rules mentioned in this rule are adopted as they exist on ((January 1, 2016))January 24, 2018. Adopted or adopted by reference means the federal rule applies as if it was copied into this rule.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 12-24-027, filed 11/28/12, effective 12/29/12)
WAC 173-400-030Definitions.
The definitions in this section apply statewide except where a permitting authority has redefined a specific term. Except as provided elsewhere in this chapter, the definitions in this section apply throughout the chapter:
(1) "Actual emissions" means the actual rate of emissions of a pollutant from an emission unit, as determined in accordance with (a) through (c) of this subsection.
(a) In general, actual emissions as of a particular date shall equal the average rate, in tons per year, at which the emissions unit actually emitted the pollutant during a two-year period which precedes the particular date and which is representative of normal source operation. Ecology or an authority shall allow the use of a different time period upon a determination that it is more representative of normal source operation. Actual emissions shall be calculated using the emissions unit's actual operating hours, production rates, and types of materials processed, stored, or combusted during the selected time period.
(b) Ecology or an authority may presume that source-specific allowable emissions for the unit are equivalent to the actual emissions of the emissions unit.
(c) For any emissions unit which has not begun normal operations on the particular date, actual emissions shall equal the potential to emit of the emissions unit on that date.
(2) "Adverse impact on visibility" is defined in WAC 173-400-117.
(3) "Air contaminant" means dust, fumes, mist, smoke, other particulate matter, vapor, gas, odorous substance, or any combination thereof. "Air pollutant" means the same as "air contaminant."
(4) "Air pollution" means the presence in the outdoor atmosphere of one or more air contaminants in sufficient quantities, and of such characteristics and duration as is, or is likely to be, injurious to human health, plant or animal life, or property, or which unreasonably interferes with enjoyment of life and property. For the purposes of this chapter, air pollution shall not include air contaminants emitted in compliance with chapter 17.21 RCW, the Washington Pesticide Application Act, which regulates the application and control of the use of various pesticides.
(5) "Allowable emissions" means the emission rate of a source calculated using the maximum rated capacity of the source (unless the source is subject to federally enforceable limits which restrict the operating rate, or hours of operation, or both) and the most stringent of the following:
(a) The applicable standards as in 40 C.F.R. Part 60, 61, 62, or 63;
(b) Any applicable SIP emissions ((limitation))standard including those with a future compliance date; or
(c) The emissions rate specified as a federally enforceable approval condition, including those with a future compliance date.
(6) "Alternative emission limit" or "alternative emission limitation" means an emission limitation that applies to a source or an emissions unit only during a specifically defined transient mode of operation. An alternative emission limitation is a component of a continuously applicable emission limit. An alternative emission limit may be a numerical limit or a design characteristic of the emission unit and associated emission controls, work practices, or other operational standard, such as a control device operating range.
(7)"Ambient air" means the surrounding outside air.
(((7)))(8)"Ambient air quality standard" means an established concentration, exposure time, and frequency of occurrence of air contaminant(s) in the ambient air which shall not be exceeded.
(((8)))(9)"Approval order" is defined in "order of approval."
(((9)))(10)"Attainment area" means a geographic area designated by EPA at 40 C.F.R. Part 81 as having attained the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for a given criteria pollutant.
(((10)))(11)"Authority" means any air pollution control agency whose jurisdictional boundaries are coextensive with the boundaries of one or more counties.
(((11)))(12)"Begin actual construction" means, in general, initiation of physical on-site construction activities on an emission unit that are of a permanent nature. Such activities include, but are not limited to, installation of building supports and foundations, laying underground pipe work and construction of permanent storage structures. With respect to a change in method of operations, this term refers to those on-site activities other than preparatory activities which mark the initiation of the change.
(((12)))(13)"Best available control technology (BACT)" means an emission limitation based on the maximum degree of reduction for each air pollutant subject to regulation under chapter 70.94 RCW emitted from or which results from any new or modified stationary source, which the permitting authority, on a case-by-case basis, taking into account energy, environmental, and economic impacts and other costs, determines is achievable for such source or modification through application of production processes and available methods, systems, and techniques, including fuel cleaning, clean fuels, or treatment or innovative fuel combustion techniques for control of each such pollutant. In no event shall application of the "best available control technology" result in emissions of any pollutants which will exceed the emissions allowed by any applicable standard under 40 C.F.R. Part 60 and Part 61. Emissions from any source utilizing clean fuels, or any other means, to comply with this paragraph shall not be allowed to increase above levels that would have been required under the definition of BACT in the federal Clean Air Act as it existed prior to enactment of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
(((13)))(14)"Best available retrofit technology (BART)" means an emission limitation based on the degree of reduction achievable through the application of the best system of continuous emission reduction for each pollutant which is emitted by an existing stationary facility. The emission limitation must be established, on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the technology available, the costs of compliance, the energy and nonair quality environmental impacts of compliance, any pollution control equipment in use or in existence at the source, the remaining useful life of the source, and the degree of improvement in visibility which may reasonably be anticipated to result from the use of such technology.
(((14)))(15)"Brake horsepower (BHP)" means the measure of an engine's horsepower without the loss in power caused by the gearbox, alternator, differential, water pump, and other auxiliary components.
(((15)))(16)"Bubble" means a set of emission limits which allows an increase in emissions from a given emissions unit in exchange for a decrease in emissions from another emissions unit, pursuant to RCW 70.94.155 and WAC 173-400-120.
(((16)))(17)"Capacity factor" means the ratio of the average load on equipment or a machine for the period of time considered, to the manufacturer's capacity rating of the machine or equipment.
(((17)))(18)"Class I area" means any area designated under section 162 or 164 of the federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C., Sec. 7472 or 7474) as a Class I area. The following areas are the Class I areas in Washington state:
(a) Alpine Lakes Wilderness;
(b) Glacier Peak Wilderness;
(c) Goat Rocks Wilderness;
(d) Mount Adams Wilderness;
(e) Mount Rainier National Park;
(f) North Cascades National Park;
(g) Olympic National Park;
(h) Pasayten Wilderness; and
(i) Spokane Indian Reservation.
(((18)))(19)"Combustion and incineration units" means units using combustion for waste disposal, steam production, chemical recovery or other process requirements; but excludes outdoor burning.
(((19)))(20)(a) "Commence" as applied to construction, means that the owner or operator has all the necessary preconstruction approvals or permits and either has:
(i) Begun, or caused to begin, a continuous program of actual on-site construction of the source, to be completed within a reasonable time; or
(ii) Entered into binding agreements or contractual obligations, which cannot be canceled or modified without substantial loss to the owner or operator, to undertake a program of actual construction of the source to be completed within a reasonable time.
(b) For the purposes of this definition, "necessary preconstruction approvals" means those permits or orders of approval required under federal air quality control laws and regulations, including state, local and federal regulations and orders contained in the SIP.
(((20)))(21)"Concealment" means any action taken to reduce the observed or measured concentrations of a pollutant in a gaseous effluent while, in fact, not reducing the total amount of pollutant discharged.
(((21)))(22)"Criteria pollutant" means a pollutant for which there is established a National Ambient Air Quality Standard at 40 C.F.R. Part 50. The criteria pollutants are carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter, ozone (O3) sulfur dioxide (SO2), lead (Pb), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
(((22)))(23)"Director" means director of the Washington state department of ecology or duly authorized representative.
(((23)))(24)"Dispersion technique" means a method that attempts to affect the concentration of a pollutant in the ambient air other than by the use of pollution abatement equipment or integral process pollution controls.
(((24)))(25)"Ecology" means the Washington state department of ecology.
(((25)))(26) "Electronic means" means email, fax, FTP site, or other electronic method approved by the permitting authority.
(27)"Emission" means a release of air contaminants into the ambient air.
(((26)))(28)"Emission reduction credit (ERC)" means a credit granted pursuant to WAC 173-400-131. This is a voluntary reduction in emissions.
(((27)))(29)"Emission standard,"((and))"emission limitation"and "emission limit" means a requirement established under the federal Clean Air Act or chapter 70.94 RCW which limits the quantity, rate, or concentration of emissions of air contaminants on a continuous basis, including any requirement relating to the operation or maintenance of a source to assure continuous emission reduction and any design, equipment, work practice, or operational standard adopted under the federal Clean Air Act or chapter 70.94 RCW.
(((28)))(30)"Emission threshold" means an emission of a listed air contaminant at or above the following rates:
Air Contaminant
Annual Emission Rate
Carbon monoxide:
100 tons per year
Fluorides:
3 tons per year
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S):
10 tons per year
Lead:
0.6 tons per year
Nitrogen oxides:
40 tons per year
((Sulfur dioxide:
40 tons per year))
Particulate matter (PM):
25 tons per year of PM emissions
 
((15 tons per year of PM-10 emissions)) 10 tons per year of PM-2.5
 
15 tons per year of PM-10 emissions
((Volatile organic compounds:
40 tons per year
Fluorides:
3 tons per year
Lead:
0.6 tons per year))
Reduced sulfur compounds (including H2S):
10 tons per year
Sulfur dioxide:
40 tons per year
Sulfuric acid mist:
7 tons per year
((Hydrogen sulfide (H2S):
10 tons per year))
Total reduced sulfur (including H2S):
10 tons per year
((Reduced sulfur compounds (including H2S):
10 tons per year))
Volatile organic compounds:
40 tons per year
(((29)))(31)"Emissions unit" or "emission unit" means any part of a stationary source or source which emits or would have the potential to emit any pollutant subject to regulation under the federal Clean Air Act, chapter 70.94 or 70.98 RCW.
(((30)))(32)"Excess emissions" means emissions of an air pollutant in excess of any applicable emission standard or an emission limit established in a permit or order, including an alternative emission limit.
(((31)))(33)"Excess stack height" means that portion of a stack which exceeds the greater of sixty-five meters or the calculated stack height described in WAC 173-400-200(2).
(((32)))(34)"Existing stationary facility (facility)" is defined in WAC 173-400-151.
(((33)))(35)"Federal Clean Air Act (FCAA)" means the federal Clean Air Act, also known as Public Law 88-206, 77 Stat. 392, December 17, 1963, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq., as last amended by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, P.L. 101-549, November 15, 1990.
(((34)))(36)"Federal Class I area" means any federal land that is classified or reclassified Class I. The following areas are federal Class I areas in Washington state:
(a) Alpine Lakes Wilderness;
(b) Glacier Peak Wilderness;
(c) Goat Rocks Wilderness;
(d) Mount Adams Wilderness;
(e) Mount Rainier National Park;
(f) North Cascades National Park;
(g) Olympic National Park; and
(h) Pasayten Wilderness.
(((35)))(37)"Federal land manager" means the secretary of the department with authority over federal lands in the United States.
(((36)))(38)"Federally enforceable" means all limitations and conditions which are enforceable by EPA, including those requirements developed under 40 C.F.R. Parts 60, 61, 62 and 63, requirements established within the Washington SIP, requirements within any approval or order established under 40 C.F.R. 52.21 or under a SIP approved new source review regulation, ((and)) emissions limitation orders issued under WAC 173-400-081(4), 173-400-082, or 173-400-091.
(((37)))(39)"Fossil fuel-fired steam generator" means a device, furnace, or boiler used in the process of burning fossil fuel for the primary purpose of producing steam by heat transfer.
(((38)))(40)"Fugitive dust" means a particulate emission made airborne by forces of wind, man's activity, or both. Unpaved roads, construction sites, and tilled land are examples of areas that originate fugitive dust. Fugitive dust is a type of fugitive emission.
(((39)))(41)"Fugitive emissions" means emissions that could not reasonably pass through a stack, chimney, vent, or other functionally equivalent opening.
(((40)))(42)"General process unit" means an emissions unit using a procedure or a combination of procedures for the purpose of causing a change in material by either chemical or physical means, excluding combustion.
(((41)))(43)"Good engineering practice (GEP)" refers to a calculated stack height based on the equation specified in WAC 173-400-200 (2)(a)(ii).
(((42)))(44)"Greenhouse gases (GHGs)" includes carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.
(((43)))(45) "Hog fuel" (hogged fuel) means waste wood that is reduced in size to facilitate burning.
(46)"Incinerator" means a furnace used primarily for the thermal destruction of waste.
(((44)))(47)"In operation" means engaged in activity related to the primary design function of the source.
(((45)))(48)"Mandatory Class I federal area" means any area defined in Section 162(a) of the federal Clean Air Act 42 U.S.C., 7472(a)). The following areas are the mandatory Class I federal areas in Washington state:
(a) Alpine Lakes Wilderness;
(b) Glacier Peak Wilderness;
(c) Goat Rocks Wilderness;
(d) Mount Adams Wilderness;
(e) Mount Rainier National Park;
(f) North Cascades National Park;
(g) Olympic National Park; and
(h) Pasayten Wilderness;
(((46)))(49)"Masking" means the mixing of a chemically nonreactive control agent with a malodorous gaseous effluent to change the perceived odor.
(((47)))(50)"Materials handling" means the handling, transporting, loading, unloading, storage, and transfer of materials with no significant chemical or physical alteration.
(((48)))(51)"Modification" means any physical change in, or change in the method of operation of, a stationary source that increases the amount of any air contaminant emitted by such source or that results in the emissions of any air contaminant not previously emitted. The term modification shall be construed consistent with the definition of modification in Section 7411, Title 42, United States Code, and with rules implementing that section.
(((49)))(52)"National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS)" means an ambient air quality standard set by EPA at 40 C.F.R. Part 50 and includes standards for carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter, ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), lead (Pb), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
(((50)))(53)"National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP((S)))" means the federal rules in 40 C.F.R. Part 61.
(((51)))(54)"National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Source Categories" means the federal rules in 40 C.F.R. Part 63.
(((52)))(55)"Natural conditions" means naturally occurring phenomena that reduce visibility as measured in terms of light extinction, visual range, contrast, or coloration.
(((53)))(56)"New source" means:
(a) The construction or modification of a stationary source that increases the amount of any air contaminant emitted by such source or that results in the emission of any air contaminant not previously emitted; and
(b) Any other project that constitutes a new source under the federal Clean Air Act.
(((54)))(57)"New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)" means the federal rules in 40 C.F.R. Part 60.
(((55)))(58)"Nonattainment area" means a geographic area designated by EPA at 40 C.F.R. Part 81 as exceeding a National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for a given criteria pollutant. An area is nonattainment only for the pollutants for which the area has been designated nonattainment.
(((56)))(59)"Nonroad engine" means:
(a) Except as discussed in (b) of this subsection, a nonroad engine is any internal combustion engine:
(i) In or on a piece of equipment that is self-propelled or serves a dual purpose by both propelling itself and performing another function (such as garden tractors, off-highway mobile cranes and bulldozers); or
(ii) In or on a piece of equipment that is intended to be propelled while performing its function (such as lawnmowers and string trimmers); or
(iii) That, by itself or in or on a piece of equipment, is portable or transportable, meaning designed to be and capable of being carried or moved from one location to another. Indicia of transportability include, but are not limited to, wheels, skids, carrying handles, dolly, trailer, or platform.
(b) An internal combustion engine is not a nonroad engine if:
(i) The engine is used to propel a motor vehicle or a vehicle used solely for competition, or is subject to standards promulgated under section 202 of the federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C., Sec. 7521); or
(ii) The engine is regulated by a New Source Performance Standard promulgated under section 111 of the federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C., Sec. 7411); or
(iii) The engine otherwise included in (a)(iii) of this subsection remains or will remain at a location for more than twelve consecutive months or a shorter period of time for an engine located at a seasonal source. A location is any single site at a building, structure, facility, or installation. Any engine (or engines) that replaces an engine at a location and that is intended to perform the same or similar function as the engine replaced will be included in calculating the consecutive time period. An engine located at a seasonal source is an engine that remains at a seasonal source during the full annual operating period of the seasonal source. A seasonal source is a stationary source that remains in a single location on a permanent basis (i.e., at least two years) and that operates at that single location approximately three months (or more) each year. This paragraph does not apply to an engine after the engine is removed from the location.
(((57)))(60)"Notice of construction application" means a written application to allow construction of a new source, modification of an existing stationary source or replacement or substantial alteration of control technology at an existing stationary source.
(((58)))(61)"Opacity" means the degree to which an object seen through a plume is obscured, stated as a percentage.
(((59)))(62)"Outdoor burning" means the combustion of material in an open fire or in an outdoor container, without providing for the control of combustion or the control of the emissions from the combustion. ((Wood waste))Waste wood disposal in wigwam burners or silo burners is not considered outdoor burning.
(((60)))(63)"Order" means any order issued by ecology or a local air authority pursuant to chapter 70.94 RCW, including, but not limited to RCW 70.94.332, 70.94.152, 70.94.153, 70.94.154, and 70.94.141(3), and includes, where used in the generic sense, the terms order, corrective action order, order of approval, and regulatory order.
(((61)))(64)"Order of approval" or "approval order" means a regulatory order issued by a permitting authority to approve the notice of construction application for a proposed new source or modification, or the replacement or substantial alteration of control technology at an existing stationary source.
(((62)))(65)"Ozone depleting substance" means any substance listed in Appendices A and B to Subpart A of 40 C.F.R. Part 82.
(((63)))(66)"Particulate matter" or "particulates" means any airborne finely divided solid or liquid material with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 100 micrometers.
(((64)))(67)"Particulate matter emissions" means all finely divided solid or liquid material, other than uncombined water, emitted to the ambient air as measured by applicable reference methods, or an equivalent or alternative method specified in Title 40, chapter I of the Code of Federal Regulations or by a test method specified in the SIP.
(((65)))(68)"Parts per million (ppm)" means parts of a contaminant per million parts of gas, by volume, exclusive of water or particulates.
(((66)))(69)"Permitting authority" means ecology or the local air pollution control authority with jurisdiction over the source.
(((67)))(70)"Person" means an individual, firm, public or private corporation, association, partnership, political subdivision, municipality, or government agency.
(((68)))(71)"PM-10" means particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers as measured by a reference method based on 40 C.F.R. Part 50 Appendix J and designated in accordance with 40 C.F.R. Part 53 or by an equivalent method designated in accordance with 40 C.F.R. Part 53.
(((69)))(72)"PM-10 emissions" means finely divided solid or liquid material, including condensable particulate matter, with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers emitted to the ambient air as measured by an applicable reference method, or an equivalent or alternate method, specified in ((Appendix M of)) 40 C.F.R. Part 51, Appendix M (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025) or by a test method specified in the SIP.
(((70)))(73)"PM-2.5" means particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometers as measured by a reference method based on 40 C.F.R. Part 50 Appendix L and designated in accordance with 40 C.F.R. Part 53 or by an equivalent method designated in accordance with 40 C.F.R. Part 53.
(((71)))(74)"PM-2.5 emissions" means finely divided solid or liquid material, including condensable particulate matter, with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometers emitted to the ambient air as measured by an applicable reference method, or an equivalent or alternate method, specified in 40 C.F.R. Part 51 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025) or by a test method specified in the SIP.
(((72)))(75)"Portable source" means a type of stationary source which emits air contaminants only while at a fixed location but which is capable of being transported to various locations. Examples include a portable asphalt plant or a portable package boiler.
(((73)))(76)"Potential to emit" means the maximum capacity of a source to emit a pollutant under its physical and operational design. Any physical or operational limitation on the capacity of the source to emit a pollutant, including air pollution control equipment and restrictions on hours of operation or on the type or amount of material combusted, stored, or processed, shall be treated as part of its design only if the limitation or the effect it would have on emissions is enforceable. Secondary emissions do not count in determining the potential to emit of a source.
(((74)))(77)"Prevention of significant deterioration (PSD)" means the program in WAC 173-400-700 to 173-400-750.
(((75)))(78)"Projected width" means that dimension of a structure determined from the frontal area of the structure, projected onto a plane perpendicular to a line between the center of the stack and the center of the building.
(((76)))(79)"Reasonably attributable" means attributable by visual observation or any other technique the state deems appropriate.
(((77)))(80)"Reasonably available control technology (RACT)" means the lowest emission limit that a particular source or source category is capable of meeting by the application of control technology that is reasonably available considering technological and economic feasibility. RACT is determined on a case-by-case basis for an individual source or source category taking into account the impact of the source upon air quality, the availability of additional controls, the emission reduction to be achieved by additional controls, the impact of additional controls on air quality, and the capital and operating costs of the additional controls. RACT requirements for any source or source category shall be adopted only after notice and opportunity for comment are afforded.
(((78)))(81)"Regulatory order" means an order issued by a permitting authority that requires compliance with:
(a) Any applicable provision of chapter 70.94 RCW or rules adopted there under; or
(b) Local air authority regulations adopted by the local air authority with jurisdiction over the sources to whom the order is issued.
(((79)))(82)"Secondary emissions" means emissions which would occur as a result of the construction or operation of a major stationary source or major modification, but do not come from the major stationary source or major modification itself. Secondary emissions must be specific, well defined, quantifiable, and impact the same general area as the major stationary source or major modification which causes the secondary emissions. Secondary emissions include emissions from any off-site support facility which would not be constructed or increase its emissions except as a result of the construction or operation of the major stationary source or major modification. Secondary emissions do not include any emissions which come directly from a mobile source such as emissions from the tailpipe of a motor vehicle, from a train, or from a vessel.
(((80)))(83) "Shutdown" means, generally, the cessation of operation of a stationary source or emission unit for any reason.
(84)"Source" means all of the emissions unit(s) including quantifiable fugitive emissions, that are located on one or more contiguous or adjacent properties, and are under the control of the same person or persons under common control, whose activities are ancillary to the production of a single product or functionally related groups of products.
(((81)))(85)"Source category" means all sources of the same type or classification.
(((82)))(86)"Stack" means any point in a source designed to emit solids, liquids, or gases into the air, including a pipe or duct.
(((83)))(87)"Stack height" means the height of an emission point measured from the ground-level elevation at the base of the stack.
(((84)))(88)"Standard conditions" means a temperature of 20°C (68°F) and a pressure of 760 mm (29.92 inches) of mercury.
(((85)))(89) "Startup" means, generally, the setting in operation of a stationary source or emission unit for any reason.
(90)"State implementation plan (SIP)" or "Washington SIP" means the Washington SIP in 40 C.F.R. Part 52, Subpart WW. The SIP contains state, local and federal regulations and orders, the state plan and compliance schedules approved and promulgated by EPA, for the purpose of implementing, maintaining, and enforcing the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
(((86)))(91)"Stationary source" means any building, structure, facility, or installation which emits or may emit any air contaminant. This term does not include emissions resulting directly from an internal combustion engine for transportation purposes or from a nonroad engine or nonroad vehicle as defined in Section 216(11) of the federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C., 7550(11)).
(((87)))(92)"Sulfuric acid plant" means any facility producing sulfuric acid by the contact process by burning elemental sulfur, alkylation acid, hydrogen sulfide, or acid sludge.
(((88)))(93)"Synthetic minor" means any source whose potential to emit has been limited below applicable thresholds by means of an enforceable order, rule, or approval condition.
(((89)))(94)"Total reduced sulfur (TRS)" means the sum of the sulfur compounds hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, and any other organic sulfides emitted and measured by ((EPA method 16 in Appendix A to)) 40 C.F.R. Part 60, Appendix A, Test Method 16 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025) or an EPA approved equivalent method and expressed as hydrogen sulfide.
(((90)))(95)"Total suspended particulate" means particulate matter as measured by the method described in 40 C.F.R. Part 50 Appendix B.
(((91)))(96)"Toxic air pollutant (TAP)" or "toxic air contaminant" means any toxic air pollutant listed in WAC 173-460-150. The term toxic air pollutant may include particulate matter and volatile organic compounds if an individual substance or a group of substances within either of these classes is listed in WAC 173-460-150. The term toxic air pollutant does not include particulate matter and volatile organic compounds as generic classes of compounds.
(((92)))(97) "Transient mode of operation" means a short-term operating period of a source or an emission unit with a specific beginning and end, such as startup, shutdown, or maintenance.
(98)"Unclassifiable area" means an area that cannot be designated attainment or nonattainment on the basis of available information as meeting or not meeting the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for the criteria pollutant and that is listed by EPA at 40 C.F.R. Part 81.
(((93)))(99)"United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)" shall be referred to as EPA.
(((94)))(100) "Useful thermal energy" means energy (steam, hot water, or process heat) that meets the minimum operating temperature, flow, and/or pressure required by any system that uses energy provided by the affected boiler or process heater.
(101)"Visibility impairment" means any humanly perceptible change in visibility (light extinction, visual range, contrast, or coloration) from that which would have existed under natural conditions.
(((95)))(102)"Volatile organic compound (VOC)" means any carbon compound that participates in atmospheric photochemical reactions.
(a) Exceptions. The following compounds are not a VOC: Acetone; carbon monoxide; carbon dioxide; carbonic acid; metallic carbides or carbonates; ammonium carbonate, methane; ethane; methylene chloride (dichloromethane); 1,1,1-trichloroethane (methyl chloroform); 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113); trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11); dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC-12); chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22); trifluoromethane (HFC-23); 1,2-dichloro 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (CFC-114); chloropentafluoroethane (CFC-115); 1,1,1-trifluoro 2,2-dichloroethane (HCFC-123); 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a); 1,1-dichloro 1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b); 1-chloro 1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b); 2-chloro 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-124); pentafluoroethane (HFC-125); 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134); 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a); 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a); parachlorobenzotrifluoride (PCBTF); cyclic, branched, or linear completely methylated siloxanes; perchloroethylene (tetrachloroethylene); 3,3-dichloro-1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane (HCFC-225ca); 1,3-dichloro-1,1,2,2,3-pentafluoropropane (HCFC-225cb); 1,1,1,2,3,4,4,5,5,5-decafluoropentane (HFC 43-10mee); difluoromethane (HFC-32); ethylfluoride (HFC-161); 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (HFC-236fa); 1,1,2,2,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245ca); 1,1,2,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245ea); 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245eb); 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa); 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane (HFC-236ea); 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (HFC-365mfc); chlorofluoromethane (HCFC-31); 1 chloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-151a); 1,2-dichloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123a); 1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-nonafluoro-4-methoxy-butane (C4F9OCH3or HFE-7100); 2-(difluoromethoxymethyl)-1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane ((CF3)2CFCF2OCH3); 1-ethoxy-1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,4-nonafluorobutane (C4F9OC2H5or HFE-7200); 2-(ethoxydifluoromethyl)-1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane ((CF3)2CFCF2OC2H5); methyl acetate((,)); 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoro-3-methoxy-propane (n-C3F7OCH3 or HFE-7000); 3-ethoxy-1,1,1,2,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-dodecafluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl) hexane (HFE-7500); 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (HFC 227ea); methyl formate (HCOOCH3); 1,1,1,2,2,3,4,5,5,5-decafluoro-3-methoxy-4-trifluoromethyl-pentane (HFE-7300); dimethyl carbonate; propylene carbonate; trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene; HCF2OCF2H (HFE-134); HCF2OCF2OCF2H (HFE-236cal2); HCF2OCF2CF2OCF2H (HFE-338pcc13); HCF2OCF2OCF2CF2OCF2H (H-Galden 1040x or H-Galden ZT 130 (or 150 or 180)); trans 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-ene; 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene; 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol; t-butyl acetate; 1,1,2,2- tetrafluoro -1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy) ethane; and perfluorocarbon compounds that fall into these classes:
(i) Cyclic, branched, or linear completely fluorinated alkanes;
(ii) Cyclic, branched, or linear completely fluorinated ethers with no unsaturations;
(iii) Cyclic, branched, or linear completely fluorinated tertiary amines with no unsaturations; and
(iv) Sulfur containing perfluorocarbons with no unsaturations and with sulfur bonds only to carbon and fluorine.
(b) For the purpose of determining compliance with emission limits, VOC will be measured by the appropriate methods in 40 C.F.R. Part 60, Appendix A (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025). Where the method also measures compounds with negligible photochemical reactivity, these negligibly reactive compounds may be excluded as VOC if the amount of the compounds is accurately quantified, and the exclusion is approved by ecology, the authority, or EPA.
(c) As a precondition to excluding these negligibly reactive compounds as VOC or at any time thereafter, ecology or the authority may require an owner or operator to provide monitoring or testing methods and results demonstrating, to the satisfaction of ecology, the authority, or EPA the amount of negligibly reactive compounds in the source's emissions.
(((d) The following compounds are VOC for purposes of all recordkeeping, emissions reporting, photochemical dispersion modeling and inventory requirements which apply to VOC and shall be uniquely identified in emission reports, but are not VOC for purposes of VOC emissions limitations or VOC content requirements: Tertiary-butyl acetate.))
(103)"Wigwam" or "silo burner" means a cone-shaped or cylindrical structure that burns waste wood for disposal. A silo burner is a cylinder and may be made with refractory material rather than metal.
(104)"Wood-fired boiler" means an enclosed device using controlled flame combustion of wood or waste wood with the primary purpose of recovering thermal energy in the form of a steam or hot water boiler that burns wood or waste wood for fuel for the primary purpose of producing hot water or steam by heat transfer. Controlled flame combustion refers to a steady-state, or near steady-state, process wherein fuel and/or air feed rates are controlled.
(105)"Waste wood" means wood pieces or particles generated as a by-product or waste from the manufacturing of wood products, and the handling and storage of raw materials, trees, and stumps. This includes, but is not limited to, sawdust, chips, shavings, bark, pulp, log sort yard waste, and wood materials from forest health logging, land clearing or pruning, but does not include wood pieces or particles containing chemical preservatives such as creosote, pentachlorophenol, or copper-chrome-arsenate.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 11-06-060, filed 3/1/11, effective 4/1/11)
WAC 173-400-035Nonroad engines.
(1) Applicability. This section applies to any nonroad engines as defined in WAC 173-400-030, except for:
(a) Any nonroad engine that is:
(i) In or on a piece of equipment that is self-propelled or serves a dual purpose by both propelling itself and performing another function; or
(ii) In or on a piece of equipment that is intended to be propelled while performing its function.
(b) Nonroad engines with a cumulative maximum rated brake horsepower of 500 BHP or less.
(c) Engines being stored in work centers, garages, or engine pool sites prior to being dispatched to the field for use and that do not provide back-up power at the work center, garage, or engine pool. Such engines may be operated at these facilities only for the purpose of engine maintenance, testing, and repair.
(d) A back-up nonroad engine demonstrated to have the same or lower emissions than the primary power nonroad engine.
(2) Nonroad engines are not subject to:
(a) New source review.
(b) Control technology determinations.
(c) Emission limits set by the ((state implementation plan,)) SIP.
(d) Chapter 173-460 WAC.
(3) Fuel standards. All nonroad engines must use ultra low sulfur diesel or ultra low sulfur ((bio-diesel))biodiesel (a sulfur content of 15 ppm or 0.0015% sulfur by weight or less), gasoline, natural gas, propane, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), hydrogen, ethanol, methanol, or liquefied/compressed natural gas (LNG/CNG). A facility that receives deliveries of only ultra low sulfur diesel or ultra low sulfur ((bio-diesel))biodiesel is deemed to be compliant with this fuel standard.
(4) ˃ 500 and ≤ 2000 BHP. This section applies to a project that requires the installation and operation of nonroad engines with a cumulative maximum rated brake horsepower greater than 500 BHP and less than or equal to 2000 BHP.
(a) Notification of intent to operate is required before operations begin.
The owner or operator must notify the permitting authority of their intent to operate prior to beginning operation. The notice must contain the following information:
(i) Name and address of owner or operator;
(ii) Site address or location;
(iii) Date of equipment arrival at the site;
(iv) Cumulative engine maximum rated BHP.
(b) Recordkeeping. For each site, the owner or operator must record the following information for each nonroad engine:
(i) Site address or location;
(ii) Date of equipment arrival at the site;
(iii) Date of equipment departure from the site;
(iv) Engine function or purpose;
(v) Identification of each component as follows:
(A) Equipment manufacturer, model number and its unique serial number;
(B) Engine model year;
(vi) Type of fuel used with fuel specifications (sulfur content, cetane number, etc.).
(c) Record retention requirements. The owner or operator must keep the records of the current engine and equipment activity in hard copy or electronic form. These records can be maintained on-site or off-site for at least five years and must be readily available to the permitting authority on request.
(5) ˃ 2000 BHP. This section applies to a project that requires the installation and operation of ((any)) nonroad engines with a cumulative maximum rated brake horsepower greater than 2000 BHP.
(a) Notification of intent to operate.
(i) Prior to operation, the owner or operator must notify the permitting authority of the intent to operate and supply sufficient information to enable the permitting authority to determine that the operation will comply with national ambient air quality standards as regulated by WAC 173-400-113 (3) and (4).
(ii) The notification must contain, at a minimum, the information in subsection (4)(a) of this section.
(b) Approval is required before operations begin. The owner or operator must obtain written nonroad engine approval to operate, from the permitting authority, prior to operation.
(c) Recordkeeping. The owner or operator must meet all of the requirements of subsection (4)(b) and (c) of this section.
(((d)))(6) Integrated review. Applicants seeking approval to construct or modify a stationary source that requires review under WAC 173-400-110 or 173-400-560 and to operate one or more nonroad engines in conjunction with the new or modified stationary source may elect to integrate the reviews. The notification process for integrated review must comply with the new source review public involvement procedures for the stationary source as applicable (i.e., WAC 173-400-171 or 173-400-740).
(((e)))(7) Enforcement. All persons who receive a nonroad engine approval to operate must comply with all conditions contained in the approval.
(((f)))(8) Permitting authority review period. Within fifteen days after receiving a complete notice of intent to operate, the permitting authority must either issue the approval to operate or notify the applicant that operation must not start until the permitting authority has set specific operating conditions. The permitting authority must promptly provide copies of the final decision to the applicant.
(((g)))(9) Conditions to assure compliance with NAAQS. Subject to the limitations of subsection (2) of this section, the permitting authority may set specific conditions for operation as necessary to ensure that the nonroad engines do not cause or contribute to a violation of National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
(((h)))(10) Appeals. Final decisions and orders of ecology or a permitting authority may be appealed to the pollution control hearings board as provided in chapters 43.21B RCW and 371-08 WAC.
(((i)))(11) Change of conditions. The owner or operator may request, at any time, a change in conditions of an approval to operate. The permitting authority may approve the request provided that the permitting authority finds that the operation will comply with WAC 173-400-113 (3) and (4).
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 16-12-099, filed 5/31/16, effective 7/1/16)
WAC 173-400-040General standards for maximum emissions.
(1) General requirements.
(a) All sources and emissions units are required to meet the emission standards of this chapter. Where an emission standard listed in another chapter is applicable to a specific emissions unit, such standard takes precedence over a general emission standard listed in this chapter.
(b) When two or more emissions units are connected to a common stack and the operator elects not to provide the means or facilities to sample emissions from the individual emissions units, and the relative contributions of the individual emissions units to the common discharge are not readily distinguishable, then the emissions of the common stack must meet the most restrictive standard of any of the connected emissions units.
(c) All emissions units are required to use reasonably available control technology (RACT) which may be determined for some sources or source categories to be more stringent than the applicable emission limitations of any chapter of Title 173 WAC. Where current controls are determined to be less than RACT, the permitting authority shall, as provided in RCW 70.94.154, define RACT for each source or source category and issue a rule or regulatory order requiring the installation of RACT.
(2) Visible emissions. No person shall cause or allow the emission for more than three minutes, in any one hour, of an air contaminant from any emissions unit which at the emission point, or within a reasonable distance of the emission point, exceeds twenty percent opacity ((except:))as determined by ecology method 9A. The following are exceptions to this standard:
(a) Soot blowing or grate cleaning alternate visible emission standard.
(i) This provision is in effect until the effective date of EPA's removal of the September 20, 1993, version of WAC 173-400-107 from the SIP. The opacity emission standard in subsection (2) of this section shall apply except when the emissions occur due to soot blowing/grate cleaning and the operator can demonstrate that the emissions will not exceed twenty percent opacity for more than fifteen minutes in any eight consecutive hours. The intent of this provision is to allow the soot blowing and grate cleaning necessary to the operation of boiler facilities. This practice, except for testing and trouble shooting, is to be scheduled for the same approximate times each day and the permitting authority must be advised of the schedule.
(ii) This provision takes effect on the effective date of EPA's removal of the September 20, 1993, version of WAC 173-400-107 from the SIP. For emissions that occur due to soot blowing or grate cleaning of a hog fuel or wood-fired boiler: Visible emissions (as determined by ecology method 9A) shall not exceed twenty percent opacity; except that opacity shall not exceed forty percent for up to a fifteen minute period in any eight consecutive hours. For this provision to apply, the owner or operator must:
(A) Schedule the soot blowing and/or grate cleaning for the same approximate time(s) each day;
(B) Notify the permitting authority in writing of the schedule before using the forty percent standard; and
(C) Maintain contemporaneous records sufficient to demonstrate compliance. Records must include the date, start time, and stop time of each episode, and the results of opacity readings conducted during this time.
(b) When the owner or operator of a source supplies valid data to show that the presence of uncombined water is the only reason for the opacity to exceed twenty percent or an alternative opacity standard established in this section.
(c) When two or more emission units are connected to a common stack, the permitting authority may allow or require the use of an alternate time period if it is more representative of normal operations.
(d) When an ((alternate))alternative opacity limit has been established per RCW 70.94.331 (2)(c), WAC 173-400-081(4) or 173-400-082.
(e) ((Exemptions from twenty percent opacity standard.
(i)))Alternative visible emission standard for a hog fuel or wood-fired boiler in operation before January 24, 2018. This provision takes effect on the effective date of EPA's removal of the September 20, 1993, version of WAC 173-400-107 from the SIP. For emissions that occur due to planned startup or shutdown of a hog fuel or wood-fired boiler with dry particulate matter controls, an owner or operator may use the alternative standard in this subsection when all of the following requirements are met.
Note:
This subsection does not apply to a combustion unit with wet particulate matter controls.
(i) A planned startup or shutdown means that the owner or operator notifies the permitting authority:
(A) At least twenty-four hours prior to the planned boiler startup or shutdown; or
(B) Within two hours after restarting the boiler for a startup within twenty-four hours after the end of an unplanned shutdown (i.e., malfunction or upset).
Note:
A shutdown due to a malfunction is part of the malfunction.
(ii) Startup begins when fuel is ignited in the boiler fire box.
(iii) Startup ends:
(A) When the boiler starts supplying useful thermal energy; or
(B) Four hours after the boiler starts supplying useful thermal energy if the facility follows the work practices in (e)(vi)(B) of this subsection.
(iv) Shutdown begins when the boiler no longer supplies useful thermal energy, or when no fuel is being fed to the boiler or process heater, whichever is earlier.
(v) Shutdown ends when the boiler or process heater no longer supplies useful thermal energy and no fuel is being combusted in the boiler.
(vi) The facility complies with one of the following requirements:
(A) Visible emissions during startup or shutdown shall not exceed forty percent opacity for more than three minutes in any hour, as determined by ecology method 9A; or
(B) During startup or shutdown, the owner or operator shall:
(I) Operate all continuous monitoring systems;
(II) In the boiler, use only clean fuel identified in 5.b. in Table 3 in 40 C.F.R. Part 63, Subpart DDDDD;
(III) Engage all applicable control devices so as to comply with the twenty percent opacity standard within four hours of the start of supplying useful thermal energy;
(IV) Engage and operate particulate matter control within one hour of first feeding fuels that are not clean fuels; and
(V) Develop and implement a written startup and shutdown plan. The plan must minimize the startup period according to the manufacturer's recommended procedure. In the absence of manufacturer's recommendation, the owner or operator shall use the recommended startup procedure for a unit of a similar design. The plan must be maintained on-site and available upon request for public inspection.
(vii) The facility maintains records sufficient to demonstrate compliance with (e)(i) through (v) of this subsection. The records must include the following:
(A) The date and time of notification of the permitting authority;
(B) The date and time when startup and shutdown began;
(C) The date and time when startup and shutdown ended;
(D) The compliance option in (e)(vi) of this subsection that was chosen (either (A) or (B)) and documentation of how the conditions of that option were met.
(f) Furnace refractory alternative visible emission standard. This provision takes effect on the effective date of EPA's removal of the September 20, 1993, version of WAC 173-400-107 from the SIP. For emissions that occur during curing of furnace refractory in a lime kiln or boiler, visible emissions (as determined by ecology method 9A) shall not exceed forty percent opacity for more than three minutes in any hour, except when (b) of this subsection applies. For this provision to apply, the owner or operator must meet all of the following requirements:
(i) The total duration of refractory curing shall not exceed thirty-six hours; and
(ii) Use only clean fuel identified in 5.b. in Table 3 in 40 C.F.R. Part 63, Subpart DDDDD; and
(iii) The owner or operator provides a copy of the manufacturer's instructions on curing refractory to the permitting authority; and
(iv) The manufacturer's instructions on curing refractory must be followed, including all instructions on temperature increase rates and holding temperatures and time; and
(v) The emission controls must be engaged as soon as possible during the curing process; and
(vi) The permitting authority must be notified at least one working day prior to the start of the refractory curing process.
(g) Visible emissions reader certification testing. Visible emissions from the "smoke generator" used ((for))during testing and ((certification of))certifying visible emission((s)) readers ((per the))are exempt from the twenty percent opacity limit. Testing must follow testing and certification requirements ((of))in 40 C.F.R. Part 60, Appendix A, TestMethod 9 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025) and ((ecology))Source Test Methods 9A and 9B ((shall be exempt from compliance with the twenty percent opacity limitation while being used for certifying visible emission readers))in Source Test Manual - Procedures for Compliance Testing, state of Washington, department of ecology, as of September 20, 2004, on file at ecology.
(((ii)))(h) Military training exercises. Visible emissions ((resulting from))during military obscurant training exercises are exempt from ((compliance with)) the twenty percent opacity ((limitation provided))limit when the following ((criteria))requirements are met:
(((A)))(i) No visible emissions shall cross the boundary of the military training site/reservation.
(((B)))(ii) The operation shall have in place methods, which have been reviewed and approved by the permitting authority, to detect changes in weather that would cause the obscurant to cross the site boundary either during the course of the exercise or prior to the start of the exercise. The approved methods shall include provisions that result in cancellation of the training exercise, cease the use of obscurants during the exercise until weather conditions would allow such training to occur without causing obscurant to leave the site boundary of the military site/reservation.
(((iii)))(i) Firefighter training. Visible emissions from fixed and mobile firefighter training facilities ((while being used to train firefighters and while complying with the requirements of))occurring during the training of firefighters are exempt from the twenty percent opacity limit. Compliance with chapter 173-425 WAC is required.
(3) Fallout. No person shall cause or allow the emission of particulate matter from any source to be deposited beyond the property under direct control of the owner or operator of the source in sufficient quantity to interfere unreasonably with the use and enjoyment of the property upon which the material is deposited.
(4) Fugitive emissions. The owner or operator of any emissions unit engaging in materials handling, construction, demolition or other operation which is a source of fugitive emission:
(a) If located in an attainment area and not impacting any nonattainment area, shall take reasonable precautions to prevent the release of air contaminants from the operation.
(b) If the emissions unit has been identified as a significant contributor to the nonattainment status of a designated nonattainment area, the owner or operator shall be required to use reasonable and available control methods, which shall include any necessary changes in technology, process, or other control strategies to control emissions of the air contaminants for which nonattainment has been designated.
(5) Odors. Any person who shall cause or allow the generation of any odor from any source or activity which may unreasonably interfere with any other property owner's use and enjoyment of her or his property must use recognized good practice and procedures to reduce these odors to a reasonable minimum.
(6) Emissions detrimental to persons or property. No person shall cause or allow the emission of any air contaminant from any source if it is detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of any person, or causes damage to property or business.
(7) Sulfur dioxide. No person shall cause or allow the emission of a gas containing sulfur dioxide from any emissions unit in excess of one thousand ppm of sulfur dioxide on a dry basis, corrected to seven percent oxygen for combustion sources, and based on the average of any period of sixty consecutive minutes((, except: When the owner or operator of an emissions unit supplies emission data and can demonstrate to the permitting authority that there is no feasible method of reducing the concentration to less than one thousand ppm (on a dry basis, corrected to seven percent oxygen for combustion sources) and that the state and federal ambient air quality standards for sulfur dioxide will not be exceeded. In such cases, the permitting authority may require specific ambient air monitoring stations be established, operated, and maintained by the owner or operator at mutually approved locations. All sampling results will be made available upon request and a monthly summary will be submitted to the permitting authority)).
(8) Concealment and masking. No person shall cause or allow the installation or use of any means which conceals or masks an emission of an air contaminant which would otherwise violate any provisions of this chapter.
(9) Fugitive dust.
(a) The owner or operator of a source or activity that generates fugitive dust must take reasonable precautions to prevent that fugitive dust from becoming airborne and must maintain and operate the source to minimize emissions.
(b) The owner or operator of any existing source or activity that generates fugitive dust that has been identified as a significant contributor to a PM-10 or PM-2.5 nonattainment area is required to use reasonably available control technology to control emissions. Significance will be determined by the criteria found in WAC 173-400-113(4).
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 16-12-099, filed 5/31/16, effective 7/1/16)
WAC 173-400-050Emission standards for combustion and incineration units.
(1) Combustion and incineration emissions units must meet all requirements of WAC 173-400-040 and, in addition, no person shall cause or allow emissions of particulate matter in excess of 0.23 gram per dry cubic meter at standard conditions (0.1 grain/dscf), except, for an emissions unit combusting waste wood ((derived fuels)) for the production of steam. No person shall allow the emission of particulate matter in excess of 0.46 gram per dry cubic meter at standard conditions (0.2 grain/dscf), as measured by ((test method 5 in Appendix A to)) 40 C.F.R. Part 60, Appendix A, Test Method 5 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025) or approved procedures ((contained)) in (("))Source Test Manual - Procedures for Compliance Testing,((")) state of Washington, department of ecology, as of September 20, 2004, on file at ecology.
(2) For any incinerator, no person shall cause or allow emissions in excess of one hundred ppm of total carbonyls as measured by Source Test Method 14 procedures ((contained)) in (("))Source Test Manual - Procedures for Compliance Testing,((")) state of Washington, department of ecology, as of September 20, 2004, on file at ecology. An applicable EPA reference method or other procedures to collect and analyze for the same compounds collected in the ecology method may be used if approved by the permitting authority prior to its use.
(a) Incinerators not subject to the requirements of chapter 173-434 WAC or WAC 173-400-050 (4) or (5), or requirements in WAC 173-400-075 (40 C.F.R. Part 63, Subpart EEE in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025) and WAC 173-400-115 (40 C.F.R. Part 60, Subparts E, Ea, Eb, Ec, AAAA, and CCCC (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025)) shall be operated only during daylight hours unless written permission to operate at other times is received from the permitting authority.
(b) Total carbonyls means the concentration of organic compounds containing the =C=O radical as collected by ((the Ecology)) Source Test Method 14 ((contained))procedures in (("))Source Test Manual - Procedures for Compliance Testing,((")) state of Washington, department of ecology, as of September 20, 2004, on file at ecology.
(3) Measured concentrations for combustion and incineration units shall be adjusted for volumes corrected to seven percent oxygen, except when the permitting authority determines that an alternate oxygen correction factor is more representative of normal operations such as the correction factor included in an applicable NSPS or NESHAP, actual operating characteristics, or the manufacturer's specifications for the emission unit.
(4) Commercial and industrial solid waste incineration units constructed on or before November 30, 1999.
Note:
Subsection (2) of this section (a state-only provision) does not apply to a unit subject to this subsection because this section is based on federal requirements.
(a) Definitions.
(i) "Commercial and industrial solid waste incineration (CISWI) unit" means any combustion device that combusts commercial and industrial waste, as defined in this subsection. The boundaries of a CISWI unit are defined as, but not limited to, the commercial or industrial solid waste fuel feed system, grate system, flue gas system, and bottom ash. The CISWI unit does not include air pollution control equipment or the stack. The CISWI unit boundary starts at the commercial and industrial solid waste hopper (if applicable) and extends through two areas:
(A) The combustion unit flue gas system, which ends immediately after the last combustion chamber.
(B) The combustion unit bottom ash system, which ends at the truck loading station or similar equipment that transfers the ash to final disposal. It includes all ash handling systems connected to the bottom ash handling system.
(ii) "Commercial and industrial solid waste" means solid waste combusted in an enclosed device using controlled flame combustion without energy recovery that is a distinct operating unit of any commercial or industrial facility (including field erected, modular, and custom built incineration units operating with starved or excess air), or solid waste combusted in an air curtain incinerator without energy recovery that is a distinct operating unit of any commercial or industrial facility.
(b) Applicability. This section applies to incineration units that meet all three criteria:
(i) The incineration unit meets the definition of CISWI unit in this subsection.
(ii) The incineration unit commenced construction on or before November 30, 1999.
(iii) The incineration unit is not exempt under (c) of this subsection.
(c) The following types of incineration units are exempt from this subsection:
(i) Pathological waste incineration units. Incineration units burning 90 percent or more by weight (on a calendar quarter basis and excluding the weight of auxiliary fuel and combustion air) of pathological waste, low-level radioactive waste, and/or chemotherapeutic waste as defined in 40 C.F.R. 60.2265 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025) are not subject to this ((subpart))section if you meet the two requirements specified in (c)(i)(A) and (B) of this subsection.
(A) Notify the permitting authority that the unit meets these criteria.
(B) Keep records on a calendar quarter basis of the weight of pathological waste, low-level radioactive waste, and/or chemotherapeutic waste burned, and the weight of all other fuels and wastes burned in the unit.
(ii) Agricultural waste incineration units. Incineration units burning 90 percent or more by weight (on a calendar quarter basis and excluding the weight of auxiliary fuel and combustion air) of agricultural wastes as defined in 40 C.F.R. 60.2265 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025) are not subject to this ((subpart))section if you meet the two requirements specified in (c)(ii)(A) and (B) of this subsection.
(A) Notify the permitting authority that the unit meets these criteria.
(B) Keep records on a calendar quarter basis of the weight of agricultural waste burned, and the weight of all other fuels and wastes burned in the unit.
(iii) Municipal waste combustion units. Incineration units that meet either of the two criteria specified in (c)(iii)(A) and (B) of this subsection.
(A) Units are regulated under 40 C.F.R. Part 60, Subpart Ea or Subpart Eb (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025); Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority Regulation 1, Section 6.17 (in effect on February 13, 1999); 40 C.F.R. Part 60, Subpart AAAA (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025); or WAC 173-400-050(5).
(B) Units burn greater than 30 percent municipal solid waste or refuse-derived fuel, as defined in 40 C.F.R. Part 60 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025), Subparts Ea, Eb, and AAAA, and WAC 173-400-050(5), and that have the capacity to burn less than 35 tons (32 megagrams) per day of municipal solid waste or refuse-derived fuel, if you meet the two requirements in (c)(iii)(B)(I) and (II) of this subsection.
(I) Notify the permitting authority that the unit meets these criteria.
(II) Keep records on a calendar quarter basis of the weight of municipal solid waste burned, and the weight of all other fuels and wastes burned in the unit.
(iv) Medical waste incineration units. Incineration units regulated under 40 C.F.R. Part 60, Subpart Ec (Standards of Performance for Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators for Which Construction is Commenced After June 20, 1996) (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025);
(v) Small power production facilities. Units that meet the three requirements specified in (c)(v)(A) through (C) of this subsection.
(A) The unit qualifies as a small power-production facility under section 3 (17)(C) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796 (17)(C)).
(B) The unit burns homogeneous waste (not including refuse-derived fuel) to produce electricity.
(C) You notify the permitting authority that the unit meets all of these criteria.
(vi) Cogeneration facilities. Units that meet the three requirements specified in (c)(vi)(A) through (C) of this subsection.
(A) The unit qualifies as a cogeneration facility under section 3 (18)(B) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796 (18)(B)).
(B) The unit burns homogeneous waste (not including refuse-derived fuel) to produce electricity and steam or other forms of energy used for industrial, commercial, heating, or cooling purposes.
(C) You notify the permitting authority that the unit meets all of these criteria.
(vii) Hazardous waste combustion units. Units that meet either of the two criteria specified in (c)(vii)(A) or (B) of this subsection.
(A) Units for which you are required to get a permit under section 3005 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act.
(B) Units regulated under ((subpart EEE of)) 40 C.F.R. Part 63, Subpart EEE (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants from Hazardous Waste Combustors) (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025).
(viii) Materials recovery units. Units that combust waste for the primary purpose of recovering metals, such as primary and secondary smelters;
(ix) Air curtain incinerators. Air curtain incinerators that burn only the materials listed in (c)(ix)(A) through (C) of this subsection are only required to meet the requirements under "Air Curtain Incinerators" in 40 C.F.R. 60.2245 through 60.2260 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025).
(A) 100 percent wood waste, as defined in 40 C.F.R. 60.2265.
(B) 100 percent clean lumber.
(C) 100 percent mixture of only wood waste, clean lumber, and/or yard waste, as these terms are defined in 40 C.F.R. 60.2265.
(x) Cyclonic barrel burners. See 40 C.F.R. 60.2265 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025).
(xi) Rack, part, and drum reclamation units. See 40 C.F.R. 60.2265 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025).
(xii) Cement kilns. Kilns regulated under ((subpart LLL of)) 40 C.F.R. Part 63, Subpart LLL (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants from the Portland Cement Manufacturing Industry) (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025).
(xiii) Sewage sludge incinerators. Incineration units regulated under 40 C.F.R. Part 60, Subpart O (Standards of Performance for Sewage Treatment Plants) (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025).
(xiv) Chemical recovery units. Combustion units burning materials to recover chemical constituents or to produce chemical compounds where there is an existing commercial market for such recovered chemical constituents or compounds. The seven types of units described in (c)(xiv)(A) through (G) of this subsection are considered chemical recovery units.
(A) Units burning only pulping liquors (i.e., black liquor) that are reclaimed in a pulping liquor recovery process and reused in the pulping process.
(B) Units burning only spent sulfuric acid used to produce virgin sulfuric acid.
(C) Units burning only wood or coal feedstock for the production of charcoal.
(D) Units burning only manufacturing by-product streams/residues containing catalyst metals which are reclaimed and reused as catalysts or used to produce commercial grade catalysts.
(E) Units burning only coke to produce purified carbon monoxide that is used as an intermediate in the production of other chemical compounds.
(F) Units burning only hydrocarbon liquids or solids to produce hydrogen, carbon monoxide, synthesis gas, or other gases for use in other manufacturing processes.
(G) Units burning only photographic film to recover silver.
(xv) Laboratory analysis units. Units that burn samples of materials for the purpose of chemical or physical analysis.
(d) Exceptions.
(i) Physical or operational changes to a CISWI unit made primarily to comply with this section do not qualify as a "modification" or "reconstruction" (as defined in 40 C.F.R. 60.2815) (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025).
(ii) Changes to a CISWI unit made on or after June 1, 2001, that meet the definition of "modification" or "reconstruction" as defined in 40 C.F.R. 60.2815 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025) mean the CISWI unit is considered a new unit and subject to WAC 173-400-115, which adopts 40 C.F.R. Part 60, Subpart CCCC (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025).
(e) A CISWI unit must comply with 40 C.F.R. 60.2575 through 60.2875 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025). The federal rule contains these major components:
• Increments of progress towards compliance in 60.2575 through 60.2630;
• Waste management plan requirements in 60.2620 through 60.2630;
• Operator training and qualification requirements in 60.2635 through 60.2665;
• Emission limitations and operating limits in 60.2670 through 60.2685;
• Performance testing requirements in 60.2690 through 60.2725;
• Initial compliance requirements in 60.2700 through 60.2725;
• Continuous compliance requirements in 60.2710 through 60.2725;
• Monitoring requirements in 60.2730 through 60.2735;
• Recordkeeping and reporting requirements in 60.2740 through 60.2800;
• Title V operating permits requirements in 60.2805;
• Air curtain incinerator requirements in 60.2810 through 60.2870;
• Definitions in 60.2875; and
• Tables in 60.2875. In Table 1, the final control plan must be submitted before June 1, 2004, and final compliance must be achieved by June 1, 2005.
(i) Exception to adopting the federal rule. For purposes of this section, "administrator" includes the permitting authority.
(ii) Exception to adopting the federal rule. For purposes of this section, "you" means the owner or operator.
(iii) Exception to adopting the federal rule. For purposes of this section, each reference to "the effective date of state plan approval" means July 1, 2002.
(iv) Exception to adopting the federal rule. The Title V operating permit requirements in 40 C.F.R. 60.2805(a) are not adopted. Each CISWI unit, regardless of whether it is a major or nonmajor unit, is subject to the air operating permit regulation, chapter 173-401 WAC, beginning on July 1, 2002. See WAC 173-401-500 for the permit application requirements and deadlines.
(v) Exception to adopting the federal rule. The following compliance dates apply:
(A) The final control plan (Increment 1) must be submitted no later than July 1, 2003. (See Increment 1 in Table 1.)
(B) Final compliance (Increment 2) must be achieved no later than July 1, 2005. (See Increment 2 in Table 1.)
(5) Small municipal waste combustion units constructed on or before August 30, 1999.
(a) Definition. "Municipal waste combustion unit" means any setting or equipment that combusts, liquid, or gasified municipal solid waste including, but not limited to, field-erected combustion units (with or without heat recovery), modular combustion units (starved air- or excess-air), boilers (for example, steam generating units), furnaces (whether suspension-fired, grate-fired, mass-fired, air-curtain incinerators, or fluidized bed-fired), and pyrolysis/combustion units. Two criteria further define municipal waste combustion units:
(i) Municipal waste combustion units do not include the following units:
(A) Pyrolysis or combustion units located at a plastics or rubber recycling unit as specified under the exemptions in this subsection (5)(c)(viii) and (ix).
(B) Cement kilns that combust municipal solid waste as specified under the exemptions in this subsection (5)(c)(x).
(C) Internal combustion engines, gas turbines, or other combustion devices that combust landfill gases collected by landfill gas collection systems.
(ii) The boundaries of a municipal waste combustion unit are defined as follows. The municipal waste combustion unit includes, but is not limited to, the municipal solid waste fuel feed system, grate system, flue gas system, bottom ash system, and the combustion unit water system. The municipal waste combustion unit does not include air pollution control equipment, the stack, water treatment equipment, or the turbine-generator set. The municipal waste combustion unit boundary starts at the municipal solid waste pit or hopper and extends through three areas:
(A) The combustion unit flue gas system, which ends immediately after the heat recovery equipment or, if there is no heat recovery equipment, immediately after the combustion chamber.
(B) The combustion unit bottom ash system, which ends at the truck loading station or similar equipment that transfers the ash to final disposal. It includes all ash handling systems connected to the bottom ash handling system.
(C) The combustion unit water system, which starts at the feed water pump and ends at the piping that exits the steam drum or superheater.
(b) Applicability. This section applies to a municipal waste combustion unit that meets these three criteria:
(i) The municipal waste combustion unit has the capacity to combust at least 35 tons per day of municipal solid waste but no more than 250 tons per day of municipal solid waste or refuse-derived fuel.
(ii) The municipal waste combustion unit commenced construction on or before August 30, 1999.
(iii) The municipal waste combustion unit is not exempt under (c) of this section.
(c) Exempted units. The following municipal waste combustion units are exempt from the requirements of this section:
(i) Small municipal waste combustion units that combust less than 11 tons per day. Units are exempt from this section if four requirements are met:
(A) The municipal waste combustion unit is subject to a federally enforceable order or order of approval limiting the amount of municipal solid waste combusted to less than 11 tons per day.
(B) The owner or operator notifies the permitting authority that the unit qualifies for the exemption.
(C) The owner or operator of the unit sends a copy of the federally enforceable order or order of approval to the permitting authority.
(D) The owner or operator of the unit keeps daily records of the amount of municipal solid waste combusted.
(ii) Small power production units. Units are exempt from this section if four requirements are met:
(A) The unit qualifies as a small power production facility under section 3 (17)(C) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796 (17)(C)).
(B) The unit combusts homogeneous waste (excluding refuse-derived fuel) to produce electricity.
(C) The owner or operator notifies the permitting authority that the unit qualifies for the exemption.
(D) The owner or operator submits documentation to the permitting authority that the unit qualifies for the exemption.
(iii) Cogeneration units. Units are exempt from this section if four requirements are met:
(A) The unit qualifies as a small power production facility under section 3 (18)(C) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796 (18)(C)).
(B) The unit combusts homogeneous waste (excluding refuse-derived fuel) to produce electricity and steam or other forms of energy used for industrial, commercial, heating, or cooling purposes.
(C) The owner or operator notifies the permitting authority that the unit qualifies for the exemption.
(D) The owner or operator submits documentation to the permitting authority that the unit qualifies for the exemption.
(iv) Municipal waste combustion units that combust only tires. Units are exempt from this section if three requirements are met:
(A) The municipal waste combustion unit combusts a single-item waste stream of tires and no other municipal waste (the unit can cofire coal, fuel oil, natural gas, or other nonmunicipal solid waste).
(B) The owner or operator notifies the permitting authority that the unit qualifies for the exemption.
(C) The owner or operator submits documentation to the permitting authority that the unit qualifies for the exemption.
(v) Hazardous waste combustion units. Units are exempt from this section if the units have received a permit under section 3005 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act.
(vi) Materials recovery units. Units are exempt from this section if the units combust waste mainly to recover metals. Primary and secondary smelters may qualify for the exemption.
(vii) Cofired units. Units are exempt from this section if four requirements are met:
(A) The unit has a federally enforceable order or order of approval limiting municipal solid waste combustion to no more than 30 percent of total fuel input by weight.
(B) The owner or operator notifies the permitting authority that the unit qualifies for the exemption.
(C) The owner or operator submits a copy of the federally enforceable order or order of approval to the permitting authority.
(D) The owner or operator records the weights, each quarter, of municipal solid waste and of all other fuels combusted.
(viii) Plastics/rubber recycling units. Units are exempt from this section if four requirements are met:
(A) The pyrolysis/combustion unit is an integrated part of a plastics/rubber recycling unit as defined in 40 C.F.R. 60.1940 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025).
(B) The owner or operator of the unit records the weight, each quarter, of plastics, rubber, and rubber tires processed.
(C) The owner or operator of the unit records the weight, each quarter, of feed stocks produced and marketed from chemical plants and petroleum refineries.
(D) The owner or operator of the unit keeps the name and address of the purchaser of the feed stocks.
(ix) Units that combust fuels made from products of plastics/rubber recycling plants. Units are exempt from this section if two requirements are met:
(A) The unit combusts gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, fuel oils, residual oil, refinery gas, petroleum coke, ((liquified))liquefied petroleum gas, propane, or butane produced by chemical plants or petroleum refineries that use feed stocks produced by plastics/rubber recycling units.
(B) The unit does not combust any other municipal solid waste.
(x) Cement kilns. Cement kilns that combust municipal solid waste are exempt.
(xi) Air curtain incinerators. If an air curtain incinerator as defined under 40 C.F.R. 60.1910 combusts 100 percent yard waste, then those units must only meet the requirements under 40 C.F.R. 60.1910 through 60.1930 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025).
(d) Exceptions.
(i) Physical or operational changes to an existing municipal waste combustion unit made primarily to comply with this section do not qualify as a modification or reconstruction, as those terms are defined in 40 C.F.R. 60.1940 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025).
(ii) Changes to an existing municipal waste combustion unit made on or after June 6, 2001, that meet the definition of modification or reconstruction, as those terms are defined in 40 C.F.R. 60.1940 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025), mean the unit is considered a new unit and subject to WAC 173-400-115, which adopts 40 C.F.R. Part 60, Subpart AAAA (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025).
(e) Municipal waste combustion units are divided into two subcategories based on the aggregate capacity of the municipal waste combustion plant as follows:
(i) Class I units. Class I units are small municipal waste combustion units that are located at municipal waste combustion plants with an aggregate plant combustion capacity greater than 250 tons per day of municipal solid waste. See the definition of "municipal waste combustion plant capacity" in 40 C.F.R. 60.1940 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025) for the specification of which units are included in the aggregate capacity calculation.
(ii) Class II units. Class II units are small municipal waste combustion units that are located at municipal waste combustion plants with an aggregate plant combustion capacity less than or equal to 250 tons per day of municipal solid waste. See the definition of "municipal waste combustion plant capacity" in 40 C.F.R. 60.1940 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025) for the specification of which units are included in the aggregate capacity calculation.
(f) Compliance option 1.
(i) A municipal solid waste combustion unit may choose to reduce, by the final compliance date of June 1, 2005, the maximum combustion capacity of the unit to less than 35 tons per day of municipal solid waste. The owner or operator must submit a final control plan and the notifications of achievement of increments of progress as specified in 40 C.F.R. 60.1610 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025).
(ii) The final control plan must, at a minimum, include two items:
(A) A description of the physical changes that will be made to accomplish the reduction.
(B) Calculations of the current maximum combustion capacity and the planned maximum combustion capacity after the reduction. Use the equations specified in 40 C.F.R. 60.1935 (d) and (e) (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025) to calculate the combustion capacity of a municipal waste combustion unit.
(iii) An order or order of approval containing a restriction or a change in the method of operation does not qualify as a reduction in capacity. Use the equations specified in 40 C.F.R. 60.1935 (d) and (e) (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025) to calculate the combustion capacity of a municipal waste combustion unit.
(g) Compliance option 2. The municipal waste combustion unit must comply with 40 C.F.R. 60.1585 through 60.1905, and 60.1935 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025).
(i) The rule contains these major components:
(A) Increments of progress towards compliance in 60.1585 through 60.1640;
(B) Good combustion practices - Operator training in 60.1645 through 60.1670;
(C) Good combustion practices - Operator certification in 60.1675 through 60.1685;
(D) Good combustion practices - Operating requirements in 60.1690 through 60.1695;
(E) Emission limits in 60.1700 through 60.1710;
(F) Continuous emission monitoring in 60.1715 through 60.1770;
(G) Stack testing in 60.1775 through 60.1800;
(H) Other monitoring requirements in 60.1805 through 60.1825;
(I) Recordkeeping reporting in 60.1830 through 60.1855;
(J) Reporting in 60.1860 through 60.1905;
(K) Equations in 60.1935;
(L) Tables 2 through 8.
(ii) Exception to adopting the federal rule. For purposes of this section, each reference to the following is amended in the following manner:
(A) "State plan" in the federal rule means WAC 173-400-050(5).
(B) "You" in the federal rule means the owner or operator.
(C) "Administrator" includes the permitting authority.
(D) "The effective date of the state plan approval" in the federal rule means December 6, 2002.
(h) Compliance schedule.
(i) Small municipal waste combustion units must achieve final compliance or cease operation not later than December 1, 2005.
(ii) Small municipal waste combustion units must achieve compliance by May 6, 2005 for all Class II units, and by November 6, 2005 for all Class I units.
(iii) Class I units must comply with these additional requirements:
(A) The owner or operator must submit the dioxins/furans stack test results for at least one test conducted during or after 1990. The stack test must have been conducted according to the procedures specified under 40 C.F.R. 60.1790 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025).
(B) Class I units that commenced construction after June 26, 1987, must comply with the dioxins/furans and mercury limits specified in Tables 2 and 3 in 40 C.F.R. Part 60, Subpart BBBB (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025) by the later of two dates:
(I) December 6, 2003; or
(II) One year following the issuance of an order of approval (revised construction approval or operation permit) if an order or order of approval or operation modification is required.
(i) Air operating permit. Applicability to chapter 173-401 WAC, the air operating permit regulation, begins on July 1, 2002. See WAC 173-401-500 for the permit application requirements and deadlines.
(6) Hazardous/medical/infectious waste incinerators constructed on or before December 1, 2008. Hospital/medical/infectious waste incinerators constructed on or before December 1, 2008, must comply with the requirements in 40 C.F.R. Part 62, Subpart HHH (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025).
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 16-12-099, filed 5/31/16, effective 7/1/16)
WAC 173-400-070Emission standards for certain source categories.
Ecology finds that the reasonable regulation of sources within certain categories requires separate standards applicable to such categories. The standards set forth in this section shall be the maximum allowable standards for emissions units within the categories listed. Except as specifically provided in this section, such emissions units shall not be required to meet the provisions of WAC 173-400-040, 173-400-050 and 173-400-060.
(1) Wigwam and silo burners.As of January 1, 2020, it is illegal to use a wigwam or silo burner in Washington. A wigwam or silo burner may operate until midnight December 31, 2019, provided it complies with the following:
(a) All wigwam and silo burners designed to dispose of ((wood)) waste wood must meet all provisions of WAC 173-400-040 (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), and WAC 173-400-050(4) ((or)), 173-400-115 ((()), or 40 C.F.R. Part ((60))62, Subpart ((DDDD))III in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025(())) as applicable.
(b) All wigwam and silo burners must use RACT. All emissions units shall be operated and maintained to minimize emissions. These requirements may include a controlled tangential vent overfire air system, an adequate underfire system, elimination of all unnecessary openings, a controlled feed and other modifications determined necessary by ecology or the permitting authority.
(c) It shall be unlawful to install or increase the existing use of any burner that does not meet all requirements for new sources including those requirements specified in WAC 173-400-040 and 173-400-050, except operating hours.
(d) The permit authority may establish additional requirements for wigwam and silo burners. These requirements may include, but shall not be limited to:
(i) A requirement to meet all provisions of WAC 173-400-040 and 173-400-050. Wigwam and silo burners will be considered to be in compliance if they meet the requirements contained in WAC 173-400-040(2), visible emissions. ((An exception is made for a startup period not to exceed thirty minutes in any eight consecutive hours.))
(ii) A requirement to apply BACT.
(iii) A requirement to reduce or eliminate emissions if ecology establishes that such emissions unreasonably interfere with the use and enjoyment of the property of others or are a cause of violation of ambient air standards.
(2) Hog fuel boilers.
(a) Hog fuel boilers shall meet all provisions of WAC 173-400-040 and 173-400-050(1)((, except that emissions may exceed twenty percent opacity for up to fifteen consecutive minutes once in any eight hours. The intent of this provision is to allow soot blowing and grate cleaning necessary to the operation of these units. This practice is to be scheduled for the same specific times each day and the permitting authority shall be notified of the schedule or any changes)).
(b) All hog fuel boilers shall utilize RACT and shall be operated and maintained to minimize emissions.
(3) Orchard heating.
(a) Burning of rubber materials, asphaltic products, crankcase oil or petroleum wastes, plastic, or garbage is prohibited.
(b) This provision is in effect until the effective date of EPA's removal of the September 20, 1993, version of WAC 173-400-107 from the SIP. It is unlawful to burn any material or operate any orchard-heating device that causes a visible emission exceeding twenty percent opacity, except during the first thirty minutes after such device or material is ignited.
(c) This provision takes effect on the effective date of EPA's removal of the September 20, 1993, version of WAC 173-400-107 from the SIP. It is unlawful to burn any material or operate an orchard-heating device that causes a visible emission exceeding twenty percent opacity as specified in WAC 173-400-040(2).
(4) Grain elevators.
Any grain elevator which is primarily classified as a materials handling operation shall meet all the provisions of WAC 173-400-040 (2), (3), (4), and (5).
(5) ((Catalytic cracking units.
(a) All existing catalytic cracking units shall meet all provisions of WAC 173-400-040 (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), and (7) and:
(i) No person shall cause or allow the emission for more than three minutes, in any one hour, of an air contaminant from any catalytic cracking unit which at the emission point, or within a reasonable distance of the emission point, exceeds forty percent opacity.
(ii) No person shall cause or allow the emission of particulate material in excess of 0.46 grams per dry cubic meter at standard conditions (0.20 grains/dscf) of exhaust gas.
(b) All new catalytic cracking units shall meet all provisions of WAC 173-400-115.
(6)))Other ((wood)) waste wood burners.
(a) ((Wood waste))Waste wood burners not specifically provided for in this section shall meet all applicable provisions of:
(i) WAC 173-400-040((. In addition, wood waste burners subject to WAC 173-400-050(4) or 173-400-115 (40 C.F.R. Part 60, subpart DDDD in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025) must meet all applicable provisions of those sections))and 173-400-050;
(ii) 40 C.F.R. Part 60, Subpart CCCC (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025); and
(iii) 40 C.F.R. Part 62, Subpart III (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025).
(b) Such ((wood)) waste wood burners shall utilize RACT and shall be operated and maintained to minimize emissions.
(((7) Sulfuric acid plants.
No person shall cause to be discharged into the atmosphere from a sulfuric acid plant, any gases which contain acid mist, expressed as H2SO4, in excess of 0.15 pounds per ton of acid produced. Sulfuric acid production shall be expressed as one hundred percent H2SO4.
(8)))(6)Municipal solid waste landfills constructed, reconstructed, or modified before May 30, 1991. A municipal solid waste landfill (MSW landfill) is an entire disposal facility in a contiguous geographical space where household waste is placed in or on the land. A MSW landfill may also receive other types of waste regulated under Subtitle D of the Federal Recourse Conservation and Recovery Act including the following: Commercial solid waste, nonhazardous sludge, conditionally exempt small quantity generator waste, and industrial solid waste. Portions of an MSW landfill may be separated by access roads. A MSW landfill may be either publicly or privately owned. A MSW landfill may be a new MSW landfill, an existing MSW landfill, or a lateral expansion. All references in this subsection to 40 C.F.R. Part 60 rules mean those rules in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025.
(a) Applicability. These rules apply to each MSW landfill constructed, reconstructed, or modified before May 30, 1991; and the MSW landfill accepted waste at any time since November 8, 1987 or the landfill has additional capacity for future waste deposition. (See WAC 173-400-115 for the requirements for MSW landfills constructed, reconstructed, or modified on or after May 30, 1991.) Terms in this subsection have the meaning given them in 40 C.F.R. 60.751, except that every use of the word "administrator" in the federal rules referred to in this subsection includes the "permitting authority."
(b) Exceptions. Any physical or operational change to an MSW landfill made solely to comply with these rules is not considered a modification or rebuilding.
(c) Standards for MSW landfill emissions.
(i) A MSW landfill having a design capacity less than 2.5 million megagrams or 2.5 million cubic meters must comply with the requirements of 40 C.F.R. 60.752(a) in addition to the applicable requirements specified in this section.
(ii) A MSW landfill having design capacity equal to or greater than 2.5 million megagrams and 2.5 million cubic meters must comply with the requirements of 40 C.F.R. 60.752(b) in addition to the applicable requirements specified in this section.
(d) Recordkeeping and reporting. A MSW landfill must follow the recordkeeping and reporting requirements in 40 C.F.R. 60.757 (submittal of an initial design capacity report) and 40 C.F.R. 60.758 (recordkeeping requirements), as applicable, except as provided for under (d)(i) and (ii).
(i) The initial design capacity report for the facility is due before September 20, 2001.
(ii) The initial nonmethane organic compound (NMOC) emissions rate report is due before September 20, 2001.
(e) Test methods and procedures.
(i) A MSW landfill having a design capacity equal to or greater than 2.5 million megagrams and 2.5 million cubic meters must calculate the landfill nonmethane organic compound emission rates following the procedures listed in 40 C.F.R. 60.754, as applicable, to determine whether the rate equals or exceeds 50 megagrams per year.
(ii) Gas collection and control systems must meet the requirements in 40 C.F.R. 60.752 (b)(2)(ii) through the following procedures:
(A) The systems must follow the operational standards in 40 C.F.R. 60.753.
(B) The systems must follow the compliance provisions in 40 C.F.R. 60.755 (a)(1) through (a)(6) to determine whether the system is in compliance with 40 C.F.R. 60.752 (b)(2)(ii).
(C) The system must follow the applicable monitoring provisions in 40 C.F.R. 60.756.
(f) Conditions. Existing MSW landfills that meet the following conditions must install a gas collection and control system:
(i) The landfill accepted waste at any time since November 8, 1987, or the landfill has additional design capacity available for future waste deposition;
(ii) The landfill has design capacity greater than or equal to 2.5 million megagrams or 2.5 million cubic meters. The landfill may calculate design capacity in either megagrams or cubic meters for comparison with the exception values. Any density conversions shall be documented and submitted with the report; and
(iii) The landfill has a nonmethane organic compound (NMOC) emission rate of 50 megagrams per year or greater.
(g) Change in conditions. After the adoption date of this rule, a landfill that meets all three conditions in (e) of this subsection must comply with all the requirements of this section within thirty months of the date when the conditions were met. This change will usually occur because the NMOC emission rate equaled or exceeded the rate of 50 megagrams per year.
(h) Gas collection and control systems.
(i) Gas collection and control systems must meet the requirements in 40 C.F.R. 60.752 (b)(2)(ii).
(ii) The design plans must be prepared by a licensed professional engineer and submitted to the permitting authority within one year after the adoption date of this section.
(iii) The system must be installed within eighteen months after the submittal of the design plans.
(iv) The system must be operational within thirty months after the adoption date of this section.
(v) The emissions that are collected must be controlled in one of three ways:
(A) An open flare designed and operated according to 40 C.F.R. 60.18;
(B) A control system designed and operated to reduce NMOC by 98 percent by weight; or
(C) An enclosed combustor designed and operated to reduce the outlet NMOC concentration to 20 parts per million as hexane by volume, dry basis to three percent oxygen, or less.
(i) Air operating permit.
(i) A MSW landfill that has a design capacity less than 2.5 million megagrams or 2.5 million cubic meters on January 7, 2000, is not subject to the air operating permit regulation, unless the landfill is subject to chapter 173-401 WAC for some other reason. If the design capacity of an exempted MSW landfill subsequently increases to equal or exceed 2.5 million megagrams or 2.5 million cubic meters by a change that is not a modification or reconstruction, the landfill is subject to chapter 173-401 WAC on the date the amended design capacity report is due.
(ii) A MSW landfill that has a design capacity equal to or greater than 2.5 million megagrams or 2.5 million cubic meters on January 7, 2000, is subject to chapter 173-401 WAC beginning on the effective date of this section. (Note: Under 40 C.F.R. 62.14352(e), an applicable MSW landfill must have submitted its application so that by April 6, 2001, the permitting authority was able to determine that it was timely and complete. Under 40 C.F.R. 70.7(b), no source may operate after the time that it is required to submit a timely and complete application.)
(iii) When a MSW landfill is closed, the owner or operator is no longer subject to the requirement to maintain an operating permit for the landfill if the landfill is not subject to chapter 173-401 WAC for some other reason and if either of the following conditions are met:
(A) The landfill was never subject to the requirement for a control system under 40 C.F.R. 62.14353; or
(B) The landfill meets the conditions for control system removal specified in 40 C.F.R. 60.752 (b)(2)(v).
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 11-06-060, filed 3/1/11, effective 4/1/11)
WAC 173-400-081Emission limits during startup and shutdown.
(1) In promulgating technology-based emission standards and ((making control technology determinations (e.g., BACT, RACT, LAER, BART)))establishing emission limits in a permit or order the permitting ((authorities))authority will consider any physical constraints on the ability of a source to comply with the applicable standard during startup or shutdown.
(2) ((Where))When the permitting authority determines, as part of its control technology determination, that the source or source category, when operated and maintained in accordance with good air pollution control practice, is not capable of achieving continuous compliance with an emission limit or standard during startup or shutdown, the permitting authority must include in the ((standard))rule, order, or permit appropriate alternative emission limitations((, operating parameters, or other criteria)) to regulate the performance of the source during startup or shutdown conditions.
(3) In modeling the emissions of a source for purposes of demonstrating attainment or maintenance of national ambient air quality standards, the permitting ((authorities))authority shall take into account any incremental increase in allowable emissions under startup or shutdown conditions authorized by an emission limitation or other operating parameter adopted under this rule.
(4) ((Any))An emission limitation or other parameter adopted under this ((rule))section which increases allowable emissions during a startup or shutdown ((conditions))event over levels authorized in Washington's ((state implementation plan))SIP shall not take effect until:
(a) Approved by EPA as a SIP amendment; and
(b) The permitting authority has complied with WAC 173-400-082 (4)(c)(i)(A) and (B) and (iv) when applicable.
NEW SECTION
WAC 173-400-082Alternative emission limit that exceeds an emission standard in the SIP.
(1) Applicability. The owner or operator may request an alternative emission limit for a specific emission unit(s) that exceeds a limit in the SIP. The new limit would apply during a clearly defined transient mode of operation. An alternative emission limit established under this section becomes a facility-specific SIP emission standard once EPA approves the new limit in the SIP. This section does not apply to the approval of a revised emission limit that does not exceed a limit in the SIP.
(2) Pollutant scope. An alternative emission limit may be established under this section for any of the following emission standards in Washington's SIP in 40 C.F.R. 52.2470:
(a) Opacity emission standard in:
(i) WAC 173-400-040(2);
(ii) WAC 173-405-040(6);
(iii) WAC 173-415-030(3); and
(iv) WAC 173-434-130(4).
(b) Sulfur dioxide emission standard in:
(i) WAC 173-400-040(7);
(ii) WAC 173-405-040(11);
(iii) WAC 173-410-040(1);
(iv) WAC 173-415-030(5); and
(v) WAC 173-434-130(3).
(c) Particulate matter emission standards in:
(i) WAC 173-400-050(1) and 173-400-060;
(ii) WAC 173-405-040 (1)(a), (2), (3)(a), and (5);
(iii) WAC 173-410-040(2);
(iv) WAC 173-415-030(2); and
(v) WAC 173-434-130(1).
(d) Emission standards or limits in a local air pollution control authority rule, order, or plan referenced in 40 C.F.R. 52.2470.
(3) Requirements for an owner or operator requesting an alternative emission limit.
(a) The owner or operator may request an alternative emission limit for a specific transient mode of operation for an emission unit that exceeds a standard in the SIP.
(b) A request for an alternative emission limit must be submitted to the permitting authority in writing. The permitting authority shall determine the adequacy of the information.
(c) A request for an alternative emission limit must provide data and documentation sufficient to:
(i) Specify which emission unit(s) and specific transient mode(s) of operation the requested alternative emission limit is to cover;
(ii) Demonstrate that the operating characteristics of the emission unit(s) prevent meeting the applicable emission standard during the specific transient mode of operation. Operating characteristics may include the operational variations in the emission unit, installed emission control equipment, work practices, or other means of emission control that could affect the frequency, or duration and quantity of emissions during the transient mode of operation;
(iii) Demonstrate why it is not technically feasible to use the existing control system or any practicable operating scenario that would enable the emission unit to comply with the SIP emission standard, and avoid the need for an alternative emission limit;
(iv) Demonstrate that PSD increments, when applicable, and ambient air quality standards in chapter 173-476 WAC will not be exceeded by emissions from the proposed alternative limit;
(v) Determine best operational practices for the emission unit(s) involved;
(vi) Demonstrate that the frequency and duration of the specific transient mode of operation is limited to the shortest practicable amount of time;
(vii) Demonstrate the quantity and impact of the emissions resulting from the specific transient mode of operation are the lowest practicably possible; and
(viii) Demonstrate that the emissions allowed by the alternative emission limit will not exceed an applicable emission standard in 40 C.F.R. Parts 60, 61, 62, 63, or 72 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025). For the purpose of this subsection, an automatic or discretionary exemption in any of these federal rules does not apply.
(4) Requirements for processing a request for an alternative emission limit.
(a) Completeness determination.
(i) Within sixty days of receiving a request, the permitting authority must:
(A) Notify the applicant that the request is complete or incomplete;
(B) Specify the reason(s) for determining the request is incomplete, if applicable.
(ii) The permitting authority may request or accept additional information after determining a request complete.
(b) Denial. The permitting authority or ecology may deny a request. The denial must include the basis for the denial.
(c) Final determination.
(i) Within ninety days of receipt of a complete application, the permitting authority must:
(A) Initiate notice, a thirty-day public comment period (required by WAC 173-400-171), and a mandatory hearing (when required by RCW 70.94.380) followed as promptly as possible by a final decision; and
(B) Send the draft order and supporting materials electronically to ecology at least thirty days in advance of the public hearing.
(ii) A permitting authority may extend the deadline for making a determination due to the complexity of the request.
(iii) Ecology recommends combining the public comment period for the draft order (permitting authority responsibility) and the ecology approval and SIP hearing (ecology responsibility).
(iv) A permitting authority shall not issue a final order until ecology notifies the permitting authority in writing that the proposed alternative emission limit is consistent with the purposes of the Washington Clean Air Act as required by RCW 70.94.380. If on review, ecology denies the request, ecology will inform the permitting authority and the applicant of the reason(s) for the denial; and
(v) The final order shall not be effective until the effective date of EPA's approval of the order as a SIP amendment.
(5) The draft regulatory order must include:
(a) The name or other designation to identify the specific emission unit(s) subject to the alternative emission limit;
(b) A clearly defined specific transient mode of operation during which the alternative emission limit applies, including parameters for determining the starting and stopping point, and when the alternative emission limit applies;
(c) The emission limit for the specific transient mode of operation;
(d) A requirement that the applicable emission unit(s) be operated consistent with good operating practices for minimizing emissions during the time the alternative emission limit applies; and
(e) Monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements sufficient to ensure that the source complies with each condition in the order.
(6) Fees. A permitting authority may assess and collect fees for processing the request for an alternative emission limit according to its fee schedule for processing a permit application.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 11-06-060, filed 3/1/11, effective 4/1/11)
WAC 173-400-107Excess emissions.
This section is in effect until the effective date of EPA's ((incorporation of the entirety of WAC 173-400-108 and 173-400-109 into the Washington state implementation plan as replacement for this section))removal of the September 20, 1993, version of this section from the SIP. This section is not effective starting on that date.
(1) The owner or operator of a source shall have the burden of proving to ecology or the authority or the decision-making authority in an enforcement action that excess emissions were unavoidable. This demonstration shall be a condition to obtaining relief under subsections (4), (5) and (6) of this section.
(2) Excess emissions determined to be unavoidable under the procedures and criteria in this section shall be excused and not subject to penalty.
(3) Excess emissions which represent a potential threat to human health or safety or which the owner or operator of the source believes to be unavoidable shall be reported to ecology or the authority as soon as possible. Other excess emissions shall be reported within thirty days after the end of the month during which the event occurred or as part of the routine emission monitoring reports. Upon request by ecology or the authority, the owner(s) or operator(s) of the source(s) shall submit a full written report including the known causes, the corrective actions taken, and the preventive measures to be taken to minimize or eliminate the chance of recurrence.
(4) Excess emissions due to startup or shutdown conditions shall be considered unavoidable provided the source reports as required under subsection (3) of this section and adequately demonstrates that the excess emissions could not have been prevented through careful planning and design and if a bypass of control equipment occurs, that such bypass is necessary to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage.
(5) Maintenance. Excess emissions due to scheduled maintenance shall be considered unavoidable if the source reports as required under subsection (3) of this section and adequately demonstrates that the excess emissions could not have been avoided through reasonable design, better scheduling for maintenance or through better operation and maintenance practices.
(6) Excess emissions due to a malfunction or upset((s)) shall be considered unavoidable provided the source reports as required under subsection (3) of this section and adequately demonstrates that:
(a) The event was not caused by poor or inadequate design, operation, maintenance, or any other reasonably preventable condition;
(b) The event was not of a recurring pattern indicative of inadequate design, operation, or maintenance; and
(c) The operator took immediate and appropriate corrective action in a manner consistent with good air pollution control practice for minimizing emissions during the event, taking into account the total emissions impact of the corrective action, including slowing or shutting down the emission unit as necessary to minimize emissions, when the operator knew or should have known that an emission standard or permit condition was being exceeded.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 11-06-060, filed 3/1/11, effective 4/1/11)
WAC 173-400-108Excess emissions reporting.
(State-only requirement not federally enforceable.) This section takes effect on the effective date of EPA's ((incorporation of the entirety of WAC 173-400-108 and 173-400-109 into the Washington state implementation plan as replacement for WAC 173-400-107.
(1) Excess emissions must be reported to the permitting authority. Excess emissions which represent a potential threat to human health or safety must be reported as soon as possible, but in no case later than twelve hours after the excess emissions were discovered. Excess emissions which the owner or operator of the source believes to be unavoidable, per the criteria under WAC 173-400-109, must be reported to the permitting authority as soon as possible after the excess emissions were discovered. Other excess emissions must be reported to the permitting authority within thirty days after the end of the month during which the event occurred or as part of the routine emission monitoring reports or, for chapter 173-401 WAC sources, as provided in WAC 173-401-615.
(2) For those sources not required to report under WAC 173-401-615,))removal of the September 20, 1993, version of WAC 173-400-107 from the SIP.
(1) Notify the permitting authority.
(a) When excess emissions represent a potential threat to human health or safety, the owner or operator must notify the permitting authority by phone or electronic means as soon as possible, but not later than twelve hours after the excess emissions were discovered.
(b) For all other excess emissions, the owner or operator must notify the permitting authority in a report as provided in subsection (2) of this section.
(2) Report. The owner or operator must report all excess emissions to the permitting authority:
(a) To claim emissions as unavoidable under WAC 173-400-109, the report must contain the information in subsection (4) of this section.
(b) Chapter 173-401 WAC source: As provided in WAC 173-401-615(3) and subsection (4) of this section. Subsection (3) of this section does not apply to a chapter 401 source reporting under WAC 173-401-615.
(c) All other sources:
(i) Within thirty days after the end of the month during which the event occurred; or
(ii) As part of the next routine emission monitoring report.
(3) The report must contain at least the following information:
(a) Date, time, duration of the episode;
(b) Known causes;
(c) For exceedances of ((nonopacity))an emission limitation((s))other than opacity, an estimate of the quantity of excess emissions;
(d) The corrective actions taken; and
(e) The preventive measures taken or planned to minimize the chance of recurrence.
(((3)))(4) For ((any))an excess emission event that the owner or operator claims ((to be))was unavoidable under WAC 173-400-109, the report must also include the following information ((in addition to that required in subsection (2) of this section)):
(a) Properly signed((,)) contemporaneous records or other relevant evidence documenting the owner or operator's actions in response to the excess emissions event;
(b) Information on whether installed emission monitoring and pollution control systems were operating at the time of the exceedance. If either or both systems were not operating, information on the cause and duration of the outage; and
(c) All additional information required under WAC 173-400-109 (((3), (4) or)) (5) supporting the claim that the excess emissions were unavoidable.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 11-06-060, filed 3/1/11, effective 4/1/11)
WAC 173-400-109Unavoidable excess emissions.
(State-only requirement not federally enforceable.) This section takes effect on the effective date of EPA's ((incorporation of the entirety of WAC 173-400-108 and 173-400-109 into the Washington state implementation plan as replacement for WAC 173-400-107))removal of the September 20, 1993, version of WAC 173-400-107 from the SIP.
(1) Excess emissions determined to be unavoidable under the procedures and criteria in this section are violations of the applicable statute, ((regulation))rule, permit, or regulatory order. ((Unavoidable excess emissions are subject to injunctive relief but not penalty. The decision that excess emissions are unavoidable is made by the permitting authority, however, in a federal enforcement action filed under 42 U.S.C. § 7413 or 7604 the decision-making authority shall determine what weight, if any, to assign to the permitting authority's determination that an excess emissions event does or does not qualify as unavoidable under the criteria in subsections (3), (4), and (5) of this section.))
(a) The permitting authority determines whether excess emissions are unavoidable based on the information supplied by the source and the criteria in subsection (5) of this section.
(b) Excess emissions determined by the permitting authority to be unavoidable are:
(i) A violation subject to WAC 173-400-230 (3), (4), and (6); but
(ii) Not subject to civil penalty under WAC 173-400-230(2).
Note:
Nothing in a state rule limits a federal court's jurisdiction or discretion to determine the appropriate remedy in an enforcement action.
(2)(((a))) The owner or operator of a source shall have the burden of proving to the permitting authority ((or the decision-making authority)) in an enforcement action that excess emissions were unavoidable. This demonstration shall be a condition to obtaining relief under subsection((s (3), (4) and)) (5) of this section.
(((b) Excess emissions that cause a monitored exceedance of any relevant ambient air quality standard do not qualify for relief under this section.
(c)))(3) This section does not apply to an exceedance((s)) of an emission standard((s promulgated under))in 40 C.F.R. Parts 60, 61, 62, 63, and 72, or a permitting authority's adoption by reference of ((such))these federal standards.
(((d) This section does not apply to exceedance of emission limits and standards contained in a PSD permit issued solely by EPA.
(3) Excess emissions due to startup or shutdown conditions will be considered unavoidable provided the source reports as required by WAC 173-400-108 and adequately demonstrates that:
(a) Excess emissions could not have been prevented through careful planning and design;
(b) Startup or shutdown was done as expeditiously as practicable;
(c) All emission monitoring systems were kept in operation unless their shutdown was necessary to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage;
(d) The emissions were minimized consistent with safety and good air pollution control practice during the startup and shutdown period;
(e) If a bypass of control equipment occurs, that such bypass is necessary to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage; and
(f)))(4) Excess emissions that occur due to an upset((s)) or malfunction((s)) during ((routine))a startup or shutdown event are treated as an upset((s)) or malfunction((s)) under subsection (5) of this section.
(((4) Maintenance. Excess emissions during scheduled maintenance may be considered unavoidable if the source reports as required by WAC 173-400-108 and adequately demonstrates that the excess emissions could not have been avoided through reasonable design, better scheduling for maintenance or through better operation and maintenance practices.))
(5) Excess emissions due to an upset((s)) or ((equipment)) malfunction((s)) will be considered unavoidable provided the source reports as required by WAC 173-400-108 and adequately demonstrates to the permitting authority that:
(a) The event was not caused by poor or inadequate design, operation, maintenance, or any other reasonably preventable condition;
(b) The event was not of a recurring pattern indicative of inadequate design, operation, or maintenance;
(c) When the operator knew or should have known that an emission standard or other permit condition was being exceeded, the operator took immediate and appropriate corrective action in a manner consistent with safety and good air pollution control practice for minimizing emissions during the event, taking into account the total emissions impact of the corrective action((, including)). Actions taken could include slowing or shutting down the emission unit as necessary to minimize emissions((, when the operator knew or should have known that an emission standard or permit condition was being exceeded; and));
(d) If the emitting equipment could not be shutdown during the malfunction or upset to prevent the loss of life, prevent personal injury or severe property damage, or to minimize overall emissions, repairs were made in an expeditious fashion;
(e) All emission monitoring systems and pollution control systems were kept operating to the extent possible unless their shutdown was necessary to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage((.));
(((e)))(f) The amount and duration of the excess emissions (including any bypass) were minimized to the maximum extent possible; and
(g) All practicable steps were taken to minimize the impact of the excess emissions on ambient air quality.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 16-12-099, filed 5/31/16, effective 7/1/16)
WAC 173-400-171Public notice and opportunity for public comment.
The purpose of this section is to specify the requirements for notifying the public about air quality actions and to provide opportunities for the public to participate in those actions. This section applies statewide except that the requirements of WAC 173-400-171 (1) through (11) do not apply where the permitting authority has adopted its own public notice provisions.
(1) Applicability to prevention of significant deterioration, and relocation of portable sources.
This section does not apply to:
(a) A notice of construction application designated for integrated review with actions regulated by WAC 173-400-700 through 173-400-750. In such cases, compliance with the public notification requirements of WAC 173-400-740 is required.
(b) Portable source relocation notices as regulated by WAC 173-400-036, relocation of portable sources.
(2) Internet notice of application.
(a) For those applications and actions not subject to a mandatory public comment period per subsection (3) of this section, the permitting authority must post an announcement of the receipt of notice of construction applications and other proposed actions on the permitting authority's internet web site.
(b) The internet posting must remain on the permitting authority's web site for a minimum of fifteen consecutive days.
(c) The internet posting must include a notice of the receipt of the application, the type of proposed action, and a statement that the public may request a public comment period on the proposed action.
(d) Requests for a public comment period must be submitted to the permitting authority in writing via letter, ((fax,)) or electronic ((mail))means during the fifteen-day internet posting period.
(e) A public comment period must be provided for any application or proposed action that receives such a request. Any application or proposed action for which a public comment period is not requested may be processed without further public involvement at the end of the fifteen-day internet posting period.
(3) Actionssubject to a mandatory public comment period.
The permitting authority must provide public notice and a public comment period before approving or denying any of the following types of applications or other actions:
(a) Any application, order, or proposed action for which a public comment period is requested in compliance with subsection (2) of this section.
(b) Any notice of construction application for a new or modified source, including the initial application for operation of a portable source, if there is an increase in emissions of any air pollutant at a rate above the emission threshold rate (defined in WAC 173-400-030) or any increase in emissions of a toxic air pollutant above the acceptable source impact level for that toxic air pollutant as regulated under chapter 173-460 WAC; or
(c) Any use of a modified or substituted air quality model, other than a guideline model in Appendix W of 40 C.F.R. Part 51 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025) as part of review under WAC 173-400-110, 173-400-113, or 173-400-117; or
(d) Any order to determine reasonably available control technology, RACT; or
(e) An order to establish a compliance schedule issued under WAC 173-400-161, or a variance issued under WAC 173-400-180; or
Note:
Mandatory notice is not required for compliance orders issued under WAC 173-400-230.
(f) An order to demonstrate the creditable height of a stack which exceeds the good engineering practice, GEP, formula height and sixty-five meters, by means of a fluid model or a field study, for the purposes of establishing an emission ((limitation))limit; or
(g) An order to authorize a bubble; or
(h) ((Any))An action to discount the value of an emission reduction credit, ERC, issued to a source per WAC 173-400-136; or
(i) ((Any))A regulatory order to establish best available retrofit technology, BART, for an existing stationary facility; or
(j) ((Any))A notice of construction application or regulatory order used to establish a creditable emission reduction; or
(k) ((Any))An order issued under WAC 173-400-091 that establishes limitations on a source's potential to emit; or
(l) The original issuance and the issuance of all revisions to a general order of approval issued under WAC 173-400-560 (this does not include coverage orders); or
(m) ((Any))An extension of the deadline to begin actual construction of a "major stationary source" or "major modification" in a nonattainment area; or
(n) ((Any))An application or other action for which the permitting authority determines that there is significant public interest; or
(o) An order issued under WAC 173-400-081(4) or 173-400-082 that establishes an emission limitation that exceeds a standard in the SIP.
(4) Advertising the mandatory public comment period.
(a) Public notice of all applications, orders, or actions listed in subsection (3) of this section must be ((given by prominent advertisement in the area affected by the proposal. Prominent advertisement may be by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the proposed action or other means of prominent advertisement in the area affected by the proposal.))posted on the permitting authority web site for the duration of the public comment period.
(i) The permitting authority may supplement this method of notification by advertising in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the proposed action or by other methods appropriate to notify the local community. The applicant or other initiator of the action must pay the publishing cost for all supplemental noticing.
(ii) A permitting authority must publish a notice of the public comment period in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the proposed action until June 30, 2019. We recommend that a permitting authority continue publishing a notice in a newspaper for a project with high interest. The applicant or other initiator of the action must pay this publishing cost.
(b) This public notice can be ((published))posted or given only after all of the information required by the permitting authority has been submitted and after the applicable preliminary determinations, if any, have been made.
(c) The notice must be ((published))posted or given before any of the applications or other actions listed in subsection (3) of this section are approved or denied. ((The applicant or other initiator of the action must pay the publishing cost of providing public notice.))
(5) Information available for public review.
(a) Administrative record. The information submitted by the applicant, and any applicable preliminary determinations, including analyses of the effects on air quality, must be available for public inspection. A permitting authority may comply with this requirement by making these materials available on its web site or in at least one physical location near the proposed project.
(b) The permitting authority must post the following information on its web site for the duration of the public comment period:
(i) Public notice complying with subsection (6) of this section;
(ii) Draft permit, order, or action; and
(iii) Information on how to access the administrative record.
(c) Exemptions from this requirement include information protected from disclosure under any applicable law including, but not limited to, RCW 70.94.205 and chapter 173-03 WAC.
(6) Public notice components.
(a) The notice must include:
(i) The date the notice is posted;
(ii) The name and address of the owner or operator and the facility;
(((ii)))(iii) A brief description of the proposal and the type of facility, including a description of the facility's processes subject to the permit;
(((iii)))(iv) A description of the air contaminant emissions including the type of pollutants and quantity of emissions that would increase under the proposal;
(((iv)))(v) The location where those documents made available for public inspection may be reviewed;
(((v) A thirty-day period for submitting written comment to the permitting authority;))
(vi) Start date and end date for a public comment period consistent with subsection (7) of this section;
(vii) A statement that a public hearing will be held if the permitting authority determines that there is significant public interest;
(((vii)))(viii) The name, address, and telephone number and email address of a person at the permitting authority from whom interested persons may obtain additional information, including copies of the permit draft, the application, all relevant supporting materials, including any compliance plan, permit, and monitoring and compliance certification report, and all other materials available to the permitting authority that are relevant to the permit decision, unless the information is exempt from disclosure;
(b) For projects subject to special protection requirements for federal Class I areas, as required by WAC 173-400-117, public notice must include an explanation of the permitting authority's draft decision or state that an explanation of the draft decision appears in the support document for the proposed order of approval.
(7) Length of the public comment period.
(a) The public comment period must ((extend))consist of a minimum of thirty days and start at least thirty days prior to any hearing. The first day of the public comment period begins on the next calendar day after the permitting authority posts the public notice on their web site.
(b) If a public hearing is held, the public comment period must extend through the hearing date.
(c) The final decision cannot be issued until the public comment period has ended and any comments received during the public comment period have been considered.
(8) Requesting a public hearing. The applicant, any interested governmental entity, any group, or any person may request a public hearing within the ((thirty-day)) public comment period. All hearing requests must be submitted to the permitting authority in writing via letter, ((fax,)) or electronic ((mail))means. A request must indicate the interest of the entity filing it and why a hearing is warranted.
(9) Setting the hearing date and providing hearing notice. If the permitting authority determines that significant public interest exists, then it will hold a public hearing. The permitting authority will determine the location, date, and time of the public hearing.
(10) Notice of public hearing.
(a) At least thirty days prior to the hearing the permitting authority ((will))must provide notice of the hearing as follows:
(i) ((Give public hearing notice by prominent advertisement in the area affected by the proposal. Prominent advertisement may be by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the proposed action or other means of prominent advertisement in the area affected by the proposal))Post the public hearing notice on the permitting authority web site as directed by subsection (4) and (7) of this section;
(ii) The permitting authority may supplement the web posting by advertising in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the proposed source or action, or by other methods appropriate to notify the local community; and
(((ii) Mail))(iii) Distribute by electronic means or via the United States postal service the notice of public hearing to any person who submitted written comments on the application or requested a public hearing and in the case of a permit action, to the applicant.
(b) This notice must include the date, time and location of the public hearing and the information described in subsection (6) of this section.
(c) In the case of a permit action, the applicant must pay all ((publishing costs associated with meeting the requirements of this subsection))supplemental notice costs when the permitting authority determines a supplemental notice is appropriate. Supplemental notice may include, but is not limited to, publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the proposed project.
(11) Notifying the EPA. The permitting authority must ((send))distribute by electronic means or via the United States postal service a copy of the notice for all actions subject to a mandatory public comment period to the EPA Region 10 regional administrator.
(12) Special requirements for ecology only actions.
(a) This subsection applies to ecology only actions including:
(i) A Washington state recommendation to EPA for the designation of an area as attainment, nonattainment or unclassifiable after EPA promulgation of a new or revised ambient air quality standard or for the redesignation of an unclassifiable or attainment area to nonattainment;
(ii) A Washington state submittal of a SIP revision to EPA for approval including plans for attainment and maintenance of ambient air quality standards, plans for visibility protection, requests for revision to the boundaries of attainment and maintenance areas, requests for redesignation of Class I, II, or III areas under WAC 173-400-118, and rules to strengthen the SIP.
(b) Ecology must provide a public hearing or an opportunity for requesting a public hearing on an ecology only action. The notice providing the opportunity for a public hearing must specify the manner and date by which a person may request the public hearing and either provide the date, time and place of the proposed hearing or specify that ecology will publish a notice specifying the date, time and place of the hearing at least thirty days prior to the hearing. When ecology provides the opportunity for requesting a public hearing, the hearing must be held if requested by any person. Ecology may cancel the hearing if no request is received.
(c) The public notice for ecology only actions must comply with the requirements of 40 C.F.R. 51.102 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025).
(13) Other requirements of law. Whenever procedures permitted or mandated by law will accomplish the objectives of public notice and opportunity for comment, those procedures may be used in lieu of the provisions of this section.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 16-12-099, filed 5/31/16, effective 7/1/16)
WAC 173-400-740PSD permitting public involvement requirements.
(1) Actions requiring notification of the public. Ecology must provide public notice before approving or denying any of the following types of actions related to implementation of the PSD program contained in WAC 173-400-720:
(a) Any preliminary determination to approve or disapprove a PSD permit application; or
(b) An extension of the time to begin construction or suspend construction under a PSD permit; or
(c) A revision to a PSD permit, except an administrative amendment to an existing permit; or
(d) Use of a modified or substituted model in Appendix W of 40 C.F.R. Part 51 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025) as part of review of air quality impacts.
(2) Notification of the public. As expeditiously as possible after the receipt of a complete PSD application, and as expeditiously as possible after receipt of a request for extension of the construction time limit under WAC 173-400-730(6) or after receipt of a nonadministrative revision to a PSD permit under WAC 173-400-750, ecology shall:
(a) Administrative record. Make available for public inspection in at least one location in the vicinity where the proposed source would be constructed, or for revisions to a PSD permit where the permittee exists, a copy of the information submitted by the applicant, and any applicable preliminary determinations, including analyses of the effects on air quality and air quality related values, considered in making the preliminary determination. Ecology may comply with this requirement by making these materials available on ecology's web site or at a physical location.
(i) Some materials comprising the administrative record (such as air quality modeling data) may be too large to post on a web site but may be made available as part of the record either in hard copy or on a data storage device.
(ii) Exemptions from this requirement include information protected from disclosure under any applicable law, including, but not limited to, RCW 70.94.205 and chapter 173-03 WAC.
(b) Notify the public ((by:
(i) Causing to be published, in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the proposed project, the public notice prepared in accordance with WAC 173-400-730(4). The date the public notice is published in the newspaper starts the required thirty-day comment period.
(ii))).
(i) Public notice must be posted on ecology's web site for a minimum of thirty days. Day one of the public comment period begins on the next calendar day after ecology posts the public notice.
(ii) The following information must be posted for the duration of the public comment period:
(A) Public notice elements in subsection (3) of this section;
(B) PSD draft permit;
(C) PSD technical support document; and
(D) Information on how to access the administrative record.
(iii) If ecology grants a request to extend the public comment period, ((the extension notice must also be published in a newspaper as noted above))ecology must:
(A) Post the extension notice on the same web page where the original notice was posted;
(B) Specify the closing date of the extended comment period in the extension notice; and
(C) Distribute a copy of the extension notice ((sent to))by electronic means or via the United States postal service to whomever requested the extension and the organizations and individuals listed in (c) and (d) of this subsection. ((The closing date of the extended comment period shall be as defined in the public comment period extension notification.
(iii)))
(iv) If a hearing is held, the public comment period must extend through the hearing date and comply with the notice requirements in subsection (4)(c) of this section.
(((iv)))(v) If ecology determines a supplemental notice is appropriate, the applicant or other initiator of the action must pay the cost of providing this supplemental public notice. Supplemental notice may include, but is not limited to, publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the proposed project.
(c) ((Send))Distribute by electronic means or via the United States postal service a copy of the public notice to:
(i) Any Indian governing body whose lands may be affected by emissions from the project;
(ii) The chief executive of the city where the project is located;
(iii) The chief executive of the county where the project is located;
(iv) Individuals or organizations that requested notification of the specific project proposal;
(v) Other individuals who requested notification of PSD permits;
(vi) Any state within 100 km of the proposed project.
(d) ((Send))Distribute by electronic means or via the United States postal service a copy of the public notice, PSD preliminary determination, and the technical support document to:
(i) The applicant;
(ii) The affected federal land manager;
(iii) EPA Region 10;
(iv) The permitting authority with authority over the source under chapter 173-401 WAC; and
(v) Individuals or organizations who request a copy((; and
(vi) The location for public inspection of material required under (a) of this subsection)).
(3) Public notice content. The public notice shall contain at least the following information:
(a) The name and address of the applicant;
(b) The location of the proposed project;
(c) A brief description of the project proposal;
(d) The preliminary determination to approve or disapprove the application;
(e) How much increment is expected to be consumed by this project;
(f) The name, address, and telephone number of the person to contact for further information;
(g) A brief explanation of how to comment on the project;
(h) An explanation on how to request a public hearing;
(((i) The location of the documents made available for public inspection;
(j) There is a thirty-day period from the date of publication of the notice for submitting written comment to ecology;
(k)))
(i) The start date and end date of the public comment period consistent with subsection (2)(b)(i) of this section;
(j) A statement that a public hearing may be held if ecology determines within ((a thirty-day))the public comment period((,)) that significant public interest exists;
(((l)))(k) The length of the public comment period in the event of a public hearing; and
(((m)))(l) For projects subject to special protection requirements for federal Class I areas, in WAC 173-400-117, and where ecology disagrees with the analysis done by the federal land manager, ecology shall explain its decision in the public notice or state that an explanation of the decision appears in the technical support document for the proposed approval or denial.
(4) Public hearings.
(a) The applicant, any interested governmental entity, any group, or any person may request a public hearing within the ((thirty-day)) public comment period established consistent with subsection (2)(b)(i) of this section. A request must indicate the interest of the entity filing it and why a hearing is warranted. Whether a request for a hearing is filed or not, ecology may hold a public hearing if it determines significant public interest exists. Ecology will determine the location, date, and time of the public hearing.
(b) Notification of a public hearing will be accomplished per the requirements of WAC 173-400-740(2).
(c) The public must be notified at least thirty days prior to the date of the hearing (or first of a series of hearings).
(5) Consideration of public comments. Ecology shall make no final decision on any application or action of any type described in subsection (1) of this section until the public comment period has ended and any comments received during the public comment period have been considered. Ecology shall make all public comments available for public inspection at the same ((locations))web site where the preconstruction information on the proposed major source or major modification was made available.
(6) Issuance of a final determination.
(a) The final approval or disapproval determination must be made within one year of receipt of a complete application and must include the following:
(i) A copy of the final PSD permit or the determination to deny the permit;
(ii) A summary of the comments received;
(iii) Ecology's response to those comments;
(iv) A description of what approval conditions changed from the preliminary determination; and
(v) A cover letter that includes an explanation of how the final determination may be appealed.
(b) Ecology shall post the final determination on the same web page where the draft permit and public notice was posted according to subsection (2)(b) of this section.
(c) Ecology shall ((mail))distribute by electronic means or via the United States postal service a copy of the cover letter that accompanies the final determination to:
(i) Individuals or organizations that requested notification of the specific project proposal; and
(ii) Other individuals who requested notification of PSD permits.
(((c)))(d) Ecology shall distribute a copy of the final determination ((shall be sent)) to:
(i) The applicant;
(ii) U.S. Department of the Interior - National Park Service;
(iii) U.S. Department of Agriculture - Forest Service;
(iv) EPA Region 10;
(v) The permitting authority with authority over the source under chapter 173-401 WAC; and
(vi) Any person who commented on the preliminary determination((; and
(vii) The location for public inspection of material required under subsection (2)(a) of this section)).
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 16-05-003, filed 2/3/16, effective 3/5/16)
WAC 173-401-800Public involvement.
(1) Purpose. It is ecology's and local air authorities' goal to ensure that accurate permitting information is made available to the public in a timely manner. The permitting authority is responsible for providing notice of permitting actions that allows sufficient time for comment and for providing enough information to inform the public of the extent of the actions proposed. These public involvement regulations establish a statewide process to be followed by all permitting authorities.
(2) Public notice.
(a) The permitting authority shall provide public notice for the following actions:
(i) Issuance of a draft permit or permit renewal;
(ii) Intended denial of a permit application;
(iii) Issuance of a draft permit modification;
(iv) Issuance of a draft general permit;
(v) Scheduling of a public hearing under subsection (4) of this section; and
(vi) Any other related activities that the permitting authority considers to involve substantial public interest.
(b) ((Public notice shall be provided by the permitting authority by prominent advertisement in the area affected by the facility applying for a permit. Publication in Ecology's Operating Permit Register does not satisfy this requirement. Prominent advertisement may be by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected by the facility applying for a permit as determined by the permitting authority. The permitting authority may provide additional notice to the public through other methods, such as newsletters and press releases. Notice shall also be published in the Ecology Permit Register. The permitting authority shall send information on any action requiring publication in the Permit Register to ecology within three days of the action.))Notice shall be given by the following methods:
(i) Permitting authority web site. A permitting authority must post notice on its web site for the duration of the public comment period. Public notice must be posted by noon of the first day of the public comment period.
(ii) A permitting authority may supplement notice on an individual permit or action. Additional notice may include, but is not limited to, a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the permittee.
(iii) Permit Register.
(A) Ecology shall publish notice in the Permit Register according to WAC 173-401-805.
(B) The permitting authority shall send information on any action requiring publication in the Permit Register to ecology within three days of the action.
(c) Notice of the activities described in (a) of this subsection shall also be provided to persons requesting to receive ((such))this notice. The permitting authority shall maintain a mailing list of persons requesting notice, and may maintain more than one list, such as lists based on geographical location. The mailing list may be electronic or hardcopy, or both. No request shall require the extension of the comment period associated with the notice. The permitting authority may from time to time inform the public of the opportunity to be on the list and may also delete from the list persons who fail to respond to an inquiry of continued interest in receiving the notices.
(d) Public notice must include:
(i) The start date and end date of the public comment period;
(ii) Name and address of the permitting authority;
(((ii)))(iii) Name and address of the permit applicant, and if different, the name and address of the facility or activity regulated by the permit, unless it is a general permit;
(((iii)))(iv) A brief description of the business conducted at the facility and activity involved in the permit action;
(((iv)))(v) Name, address, and telephone number of a person (or an email or web address) from whom interested persons may obtain further information such as copies of the draft permit, the application, and relevant supporting materials;
(((v)))(vi) A brief description of the comment procedures, including the procedures to request a hearing, and the time and place of any hearings scheduled for the permit; and
(((vi)))(vii) A description of the emission change involved in any permit modification.
(e) Availability for public inspection.
(i) The permitting authority must post the draft permit and statement of basis (technical support document) on its web site for the duration of the public comment period.
(ii) Administrative record. The permitting authority must make the administrative record available for public inspection((,))for the duration of the public comment period. The administrative record must:
(A) Be available in at least one location near the chapter 401 source((,)). This may be at a physical location and/or posted on the permitting authority web site; and
(B) Include all nonproprietary information contained in the permit application((, draft permit)) and supporting materials. ((Public inspections of materials for nonstationary sources or general permits may be located at the discretion of the permitting authority.))Supporting materials available only in hardcopy or too large for posting on a web site must be identified and made available on request.
(3) Public comment. Except as otherwise provided in WAC 173-401-725, the permitting authority shall provide a minimum of thirty days for public comment on actions described in subsection (2)(a) of this section.
(a) This comment period begins on the ((date of publication of notice in the Permit Register or publication in the newspaper of largest general circulation in the area of the facility applying for the permit, whichever is later.))next calendar day after the permitting authority posts the public notice on their web site;
(b) No proposed permit shall be issued until the public comment period has ended and the permitting authority has prepared a response to the comments received.
(4) Public hearings. The applicant, any interested governmental entity, any group or any person may request a public hearing within the comment period required under subsection (3) of this section. Any such request shall indicate the interest of the entity filing it and why a hearing is warranted. The permitting authority may, in its discretion, hold a public hearing if it determines significant public interest exists. Any such hearing shall be held at a time(s) and place(s) as the permitting authority deems reasonable. The permitting authority shall provide at least thirty days prior notice of any hearing.
(5) The permitting authority shall keep a record of the commentors and issues raised during the public participation process. Such records shall be available to the public.