[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 121 (Thursday, June 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36917-36918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15742]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9323-2]


Clean Air Act Operating Permit Program; Petition for Objection to 
State Operating Permit for TransAlta Centralia Generation, LLC--Coal-
Fired Power Plant

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of final action.

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SUMMARY: This document announces that the EPA Administrator has 
responded to a citizen petition asking EPA to object to an operating 
permit issued by the Southwest Clean Air Agency (SWCAA). Specifically, 
the Administrator has denied the October 29, 2009 petition, submitted 
by EarthJustice on behalf of the Sierra Club, the National Parks 
Conservation Association, and the Northwest Environmental Defense 
Center (Petitioners), to object to the September 16, 2009, operating 
permit issued to TransAlta Centralia Generation, LLC for a coal-fired 
power plant in Centralia, Washington. Pursuant to sections 307(b) and 
505(b)(2) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), a petition for judicial review of 
those parts of the Order that deny issues in the petition may be filed 
in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit 
within 60 days from the date this notice appears in the Federal 
Register.

ADDRESSES: You may review copies of the final Order, the petition, and 
other supporting information at the Office of Air, Waste and Toxics, 
EPA Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle Washington, 98101.
    EPA requests that if at all possible, you contact the individual 
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to view the 
copies of the final order, the petition, and other supporting 
information. You may view the hard copies Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. 
to 4 p.m., excluding Federal holidays. If you wish to examine these 
documents, you should make an appointment at least 24 hours before the 
visiting day. Additionally, the final order for the TransAlta Centralia 
plant is available electronically at: http://www.epa.gov/region7/air/title5/petitiondb/petitions/transalta_response2009.pdf .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Bent at telephone number: (206) 
553-6350, e-mail address: [email protected] or the above EPA, Region 10 
address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CAA affords EPA a 45-day period to 
review, and object to as appropriate, a Title V operating permit 
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 a Title V 
operating permit 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 issue 
arose after this period.
    EPA received a petition from the Petitioners dated October 29, 
2009,

[[Page 36918]]

requesting that EPA object to the issuance of the Title V operating 
permit to TransAlta Centralia Generation, LLC for the operation of a 
coal-fired power plant in Centralia, Washington for the following 
reasons: (I) The Title V permit failed to provide for the control of 
carbon dioxide emissions, an air contaminant that is detrimental to 
human health and welfare, property, and business; (II) The Title V 
permit failed to provide for the control of mercury emissions, an air 
contaminant that is detrimental to human health and welfare, property, 
and business; (III) The Title V permit failed to provide for adequate 
control of nitrogen oxide emissions, an air contaminant that is 
detrimental to human health and welfare, property, and business; (IV) 
The Title V permit failed to require Reasonably Available Control 
Technology for the control of carbon dioxide emissions or for mercury 
emissions; and (V) The Title V permit's start-up, shut-down and 
malfunction provisions are contrary to recent case law interpreting the 
requirements of the Clean Air Act.
    On April 28, 2011, the Administrator issued an order denying the 
petition. The order explains the reasons behind EPA's conclusion to 
deny the petition for objection.

    Dated: June 10, 2011.
Michelle L. Pirzadeh,
Deputy Regional Administrator, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 2011-15742 Filed 6-22-11; 8:45 am]
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