[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 111 (Tuesday, June 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 34605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14574]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7508-2]


Clean Air Act Operating Permit Program; Petition for Objection to 
the Operating Permit for Georgia Pacific Corporation, Port Hudson 
Operations in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of final order on petition to object to State operating 
permit.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the EPA Administrator has partially 
granted and partially denied the petition to object to a State 
operating permit issued by the Louisiana Department of Environmental 
Quality (LDEQ) for the Port Hudson Operations of Georgia Pacific 
Corporation in East Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Pursuant to section 
505(b)(2) of the Clean Air Act (Act), the petitioner may seek judicial 
review of this response to the extent the petition has been denied, in 
the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Any petition 
must be filed within 60 days of the date this notice appears in the 
Federal Register, pursuant to section 307(d) of the Act.

ADDRESSES: You may review copies of the final order, the petition, and 
other supporting information at the EPA, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, 
Dallas, Texas 75202-2733. If you wish to examine these documents, you 
should make an appointment at least 24 hours before visiting day. The 
final order is also available electronically at the following address: 
http://www.epa.gov/region07/programs/artd/air/title5/petitiondb/petitiondb2002.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Bonnie Braganza, Air Permitting 
Section, Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division, EPA, Region 6, 
1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733, telephone (214) 665-7340, 
or electronic mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Act affords EPA a 45-day period to 
review, and object to as appropriate, operating permits proposed by 
State permitting authorities. Section 505(b)(2) of the Act authorizes 
any person to petition the EPA Administrator within 60 days after the 
expiration of this review period to object to State operating permits 
if EPA has not done so. Petitions must be based only on objections to 
the permit that were raised with reasonable specificity during the 
public comment period provided by the State, unless the petitioner 
demonstrates that it was impracticable to raise these issues during the 
comment period or the grounds for the issues arose after this period.
    The Louisiana Environmental Action Network and Ms. Juanita Stewart 
(``Petitioners'') submitted a petition requesting that the 
Administrator object to the title V operating permit issued to Georgia 
Pacific Corporation by the LDEQ, for the Port Hudson plant operations. 
The petition requests the Administrator object to the Georgia Pacific 
permit based on the following broad assertions:
    1. Invalid emission reductions were used to avoid Nonattainment New 
Source Review (NNSR) for emissions increases from projects occurring 
from 1986 through 1992.
    2. Invalid emission reductions were used to avoid NNSR and 
Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) requirements for 
emissions increases associated with a new towel machine project.
    3. Specific conditions in the new towel machine permit should 
require Georgia-Pacific to undergo additional PSD review if emissions 
exceed certain limits.
    4. No Emission Reduction Credits (ERC) are available because the 
Louisiana ERC bank is mismanaged and fails to require that credits be 
``surplus'' when used.
    5. ERCs were not identified specifically enough to inform the 
public.
    6. The Title V permit incorporates an emission limit from an 
invalid State permit.
    7. The Title V permit fails to provide for sufficient monitoring of 
particulate emissions from some units.
    8. The LDEQ failed to provide an adequate statement of basis in the 
Title V permit.
    On May 9, 2003, the Administrator issued an order partially 
granting and partially denying the petition. The order explains the 
reasons for EPA's conclusion that LDEQ must reopen the permit to: (1) 
Reconsider whether NNSR is an applicable requirement for the 1986-1992 
projects, and determine the appropriate volatile organic compound 
emission limit based on this determination; (2) provide an adequate 
explanation of the periodic monitoring at issue; and (3) provide an 
adequate statement of basis on these particular NNSR and periodic 
monitoring issues. The order also explains the reasons for denying the 
remaining claims.

    Dated: May 23, 2003.
Carl E. Edlund,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 03-14574 Filed 6-9-03; 8:45 am]
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