[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 73 (Monday, April 16, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19480-19481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9360]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6966-2]


Notice of Approval of Prevention of Significant Deterioration 
(PSD) Permits to Elk Hills Power, LLC. (Permit No. SJ-99-02), Pastoria 
Energy Facility (Permit No. SJ-99-03), and Blythe Energy Project, LLC 
(Permit No. SE-00-01)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA Region 9 is hereby providing notice that it issued PSD 
permits to Elk Hills Power, LLC., Pastoria Energy Facility, and Blythe 
Energy Project, LLC.
    The permit (Authority to Construct) for Elk Hills Power, LLC. was 
issued on February 5, 2001. Since no comments were received during the 
public comment period and the proposed draft permit conditions were not 
changed in the final permit, the final permit became effective 
immediately. This proposed power plant, located about 25 miles west of 
Bakersfield, California, will have a nominal electrical output of 500 
MW and will be fired on locally-produced natural gas from the Elk Hills 
Oil and Gas Field. The proposed facility is subject to PSD for Nitrogen 
Oxides (NOX) and Carbon Monoxide (CO). The permit includes 
the following Best Available Control Technology (BACT) emission limits: 
NOX at 2.5 ppmvd (based on 1-hour averaging at 15% 
O2), and 4 ppmvd CO (based on 3-hour averaging at 15% 
O2). The BACT requirements include use of Selective 
Catalytic Reduction (SCR) or SCONOX for the control of NOX 
emissions, and use of catalytic oxidation combined with good combustion 
design and operation for the control of CO emissions. Continuous 
emission monitoring is required for NOX, CO and 
O2. The facility is also subject to New Source Performance 
Standards, Subparts A and GG, and the Acid Rain program under title IV 
of the Clean Air Act.
    The permit (Authority to Construct) for Pastoria Energy Facility 
was issued on February 12, 2001. Since no comments were received during 
the public comment period and the proposed draft permit conditions were 
not changed in the final permit, the final permit became effective 
immediately. This proposed power plant is located in the southern part 
of Kern County, has a rated output of 750 MW, and will be fired on 
natural gas. The proposed facility is subject to PSD for Nitrogen 
Oxides ( NOX), Sulfur Oxides (SOX), and CO. The 
Best Available Control Technology (BACT) requirements include use of 
XONON Catalytic combustion to meet NOX and CO emission 
limits. The permit includes the following emission limits: 
NOX at 2.5 ppmvd (based on 1-hour averaging at 15% 
O2), and 6 ppmvd CO (based on 3-hour averaging at 15% O2). 
If XONON is not available, the facility may use Selective Catalytic 
Reduction (SCR) and also catalytic oxidation combined with good 
combustion design and operation for the control of CO emissions. The 
facility is limited to the use of pipeline-quality natural gas to limit 
SOx emissions. Continuous emission monitoring is required 
for NOX, CO and opacity and the facility is also subject to 
New Source Performance Standards, Subparts A and GG, and the Acid Rain 
program under title IV of the Clean Air Act.
    The permit (Authority to Construct) for Blythe Energy Project, LLC 
was issued on March 5, 2001. Since no comments were received during the 
public comment period, and the proposed draft permit conditions were 
not changed in the final permit, the final permit became effective 
immediately. This proposed power plant, located near the city of 
Blythe, California, will have a nominal electrical output of 520 MW and 
will be fired on natural gas. The proposed facility will be subject to 
PSD for Nitrogen Oxides, Carbon Monoxide, and Particulate Matter 
(PM10). The permit includes the following Best Available 
Control Technology (BACT) emission limits: NOX at 2.5 ppmvd 
(based on 1-hour averaging at 15% O2), 5 ppmvd CO (8.4 ppmvd 
for loads between 70-80% of full load and during duct firing) (based on 
3-hour averaging at 15% O2), and PM10 at 11.5 
lbs/hr. The BACT requirements include use of Selective Catalytic 
Reduction (SCR) for the control of NOX emissions, good 
combustion control for CO emissions, and a combination of good 
combustion control and natural gas for the control of PM10 
emissions. Continuous emission monitoring is required for 
NOX, CO and opacity and the facility is also subject to New 
Source Performance Standards, Subparts A and GG, and the Acid Rain 
program under title IV of the Clean Air Act.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have any questions or would 
like a copy of the permits, please contact Nahid Zoueshtiagh at (415) 
744-1261 for Elk Hills; Ed Pike at (415) 744-1211 for Pastoria Energy 
Facility; or Duong Nguyen at (415) 744-1142 for Blythe. You may also 
contact us by mail at:

[[Page 19481]]

Permits Office (Air-3), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9, 
75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105.
    Judicial Review: No comments were received on the permits for Elk 
Hills, Pastoria, and Blythe and no appeals were filed concerning these 
permits before the Environmental Appeals Board pursuant to 40 CFR 
124.19.
    40 CFR 124.19(f)(2) requires notice of any final agency action 
regarding a PSD permit to be published in the Federal Register. Section 
307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act provides for review of final agency 
action that is locally or regionally applicable in the United States 
Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit. Such a petition for 
review of final agency action must be filed within 60 days from the 
date of notice of such action in the Federal Register. (However, 40 CFR 
124.19(f)(1) provides that, for purposes of judicial review under the 
Clean Air Act, final agency action occurs when a final PSD permit is 
issued or denied by EPA and agency review procedures are exhausted.)

    Dated: April 2, 2001.
Amy K. Zimpfer,
Acting Director, Air Division, Region IX.
[FR Doc. 01-9360 Filed 4-13-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P