Acid Rain Program: Permit Modifications

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5923-9]

Acid Rain Program: Permit Modifications

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of permit modifications.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing, as a

direct final action, Phase I Acid Rain permit modifications including

nitrogen oxides (NOX) compliance plans in accordance with

the Acid Rain Program regulations (40 CFR parts 72 and 76). Because the

Agency does not anticipate receiving adverse comments, the exemptions

are being issued as a direct final action.

DATES: The permit modifications issued in this direct final action will

be final on December 29, 1997 or 40 days after publication of a similar

notice in a local publication, whichever is later, unless significant,

adverse comments are

[[Page 61502]]

received by December 18, 1997 or 30 days after publication of a similar

notice in a local publication, whichever is later. If significant,

adverse comments are timely received on any permit modification in this

direct final action, that permit modification will be withdrawn through

a notice in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Administrative Records. The administrative record for the

permits, except information protected as confidential, may be viewed

during normal operating hours at the following locations: for plants in

Maryland, Pennsylvania, or West Virginia, EPA Region 3, 841 Chestnut

Building, Philadelphia, PA, 19107; for plants in Florida, Georgia,

Kentucky, or Mississippi, EPA Region 4, 100 Alabama Street, SW,

Atlanta, GA, 30303.

Comments. Send comments, requests for public hearings, and requests

to receive notice of future actions to: for plants in Maryland,

Pennsylvania, or West Virginia, EPA Region 3, Air, Radiation, and

Toxics Division, Attn: Linda Miller (address above); for plants in

Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, or Mississippi, EPA Region 4, Air,

Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, Attn: Scott Davis (address

above). Submit comments in duplicate and identify the permit to which

the comments apply, the commenter's name, address, and telephone

number, and the commenter's interest in the matter and affiliation, if

any, to the owners and operators of all units in the plan. All timely

comments will be considered, except those pertaining to standard

provisions under 40 CFR 72.9 or issues not relevant to the permit or

the permit modification.

Hearings. To request a public hearing, state the issues proposed to

be raised in the hearing. EPA may schedule a hearing if EPA finds that

it will contribute to the decision-making process by clarifying

significant issues affecting a NOX compliance plan.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For plants in Maryland, Pennsylvania,

or West Virginia, call Linda Miller, (215) 566-2068; for plants in

Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, or Mississippi, call Scott Davis, (404)

562-9127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title IV of the Clean Air Act directs EPA to

establish a program to reduce the adverse effects of acidic deposition

by promulgating rules and issuing permits to emission sources subject

to the program. In today's action, EPA is approving permit

modifications that include approval of emissions averaging plans for

NOX. Under each year in each plan, the actual Btu-weighted

annual average emission rate for the units in the plan shall be less

than or equal to the Btu-weighted annual average rate for the same

units had they each been operated, during the same period of time, in

compliance with the applicable emission limitation in 40 CFR 76.5. For

each unit in the plan, each plan also includes emission limits and/or

annual heat input limits, with which the units must comply if the

requirement concerning the Btu-weighted average emission rate for the

units as a group is not met. The following plans are being approved:

R P Smith units 9 and 11 in Maryland, Armstrong units 1 and 2, and

Mitchell unit 33 in Pennsylvania, and Albright units 1, 2, and 3, Fort

Martin unit 1, Harrison units 1, 2, and 3, and Pleasants units 1 and 2

in West Virginia will each comply with three identical NOX

averaging plans, one for each year, 1997-1999. The designated

representative is Donald R. Feenstra.

Bowen units 1BLR, 2BLR, 3BLR, and 4BLR, Hammond units 1, 2, 3, and

4, Jack McDonough units MB1 and MB2, Wansley units 1 and 2, Yates units

Y1BR, Y2BR, Y3BR, Y4BR, Y5BR, Y6BR, and Y7BR, Arkwright units 1, 2, 3,

and 4, Harllee Branch unit 2, Mitchell unit 3, Scherer unit 3, Kraft

units 1, 2, and 3, and McIntosh unit 1 in Georgia will each comply with

a NOX averaging plan for 1997-1999. The designated

representative is R. H. Haubein, Jr.

Crist units 4, 5, 6, and 7, and Scholz units 1 and 2 in Florida,

and Jack Watson units 4 and 5 and Victor J. Daniel units 1 and 2 in

Mississippi will each comply with a NOX averaging plan for

1997-1999. The designated representative is Robert G. Moore.

E W Brown units 1, 2, and 3, Ghent unit 1, and Green River unit 5

in Kentucky will each comply with three identical NOX

averaging plans, one for each year, 1997-1999. The designated

representative is Wayne T. Lucas.

Dated: November 12, 1997.

Janice K. Wagner,

Acting Director, Acid Rain Division. Office of Atmospheric Programs,

Office of Air and Radiation.

[FR Doc. 97-30239 Filed 11-17-97; 8:45 am]

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