# SOUTHERN UTE INDIAN TRIBE / (2024) > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Asouthern_ute%3Ad5dda0b09f791519 ## Record - **Collection:** Tribal code - **Document type:** Tribal code ## Text SOUTHERN UTE INDIAN TRIBE / STATE OF COLORADO ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING November 20, 2024 AGENDA 2 NEW BUSINESS Approval of November 20, 2024 Meeting Agenda. • Approval of April 24, 2024 Meeting Minutes. • 3 AIR QUALITY DIVISION UPDATES • • • • • • New Staff Member Ambient Monitoring Program Updates Title V Updates TMNSR- Minor Source Program Updates CPRG- Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Updates NSPS- New EPA Methane Rule Updates Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 4 AMBIENT AIR MONITORING PROGRAM UPDATES 5 AMBIENT MONITORING PROGRAM MONITORING SITES Ozone Nitrogen Dioxide PM10 PM2.5 Visibility Wind Speed/Direction Relative Humidity Ambient Temperature Solar Radiation Precipitation Ute 1 (Ignacio) X X X X X X X X X Ute 3 (Bondad) X X X X X X X X X X Mobile (Lake Capote) X X X X X Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 6 AMBIENT MONITORING PROGRAM OZONE 66 Ozone Standard : 70 ppb Design Value (ppb) 70 65 65 60 66 67 50 40 30 20 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Ignacio/Ute 1 Bondad/Ute 3 Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 7 AMBIENT MONITORING PROGRAM PARTICULATE MATTER • Continuous PM2.5 & PM10 monitoring at Ignacio and Bondad stations. • PM Monitoring on the Reservation is non-regulatory because high values are from “exceptional events”. • Data is collected for the purpose of informing citizens in real-time of hazardous PM levels due to naturally occurring forest fires, prescribed burns, and dust storms. Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 8 AMBIENT MONITORING PROGRAM DIRECT AWARD GRANT Inflation Reduction Act - Direct Award Monitoring Grant • A non-competitive grant to support States and Tribe’s upgrade existing and outdated monitoring equipment at critical air monitoring stations • Required completion of eligibility survey that assessed value of station to air data in a strategic location or region and the age of the monitors o July 1st, 2024: AQD was awarded $320,000 to upgrade monitoring equipment at all three AQD air stations • Once in a decade opportunity with good timing for the AQD, due to the majority of AQD’s equipment being 10+ years old Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 9 REAL TIME AIR QUALITY AND WEATHER RESOURCES https://www.southernutensn.gov/government/departments/epd /air-quality/ambient-monitoring/) US EPA’s AirNow Web page: https://www.airnow.gov/ Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 10 TITLE V OPERATING PERMIT PROGRAM UPDATES 11 TITLE V PERMITTING 12 TITLE V PERMITTING Current and Recently Completed Permitting • The AQD currently permits 33 Title V sources on the Reservation (approximately 13% of the Title V sources in Colorado). • Currently processing 19 permit renewals and 3 initial permits • Issued 3 permit renewals and 2 minor revisions since last EC meeting • The AQD is expecting to recieve permit applications for 2 or more new Title V sources in the next year • Continuing to review draft permits from EPA, New Mexico, Colorado, and Navajo Nation. Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 13 TITLE V Overview COMPLIANCE • Types of facilities with Title V permits on the Reservation include: o Natural gas compressor stations, processing plants and transmission facilities, and a municipal solid waste landfill. • Compliance inspections conducted on a biannual frequency according to compliance monitoring schedule (CMS) approved by EPA. CMS Progress: • Fiscal Year 2024 (October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024): o 18 of 18 Title V facility on-site inspections conducted and 11 inspection reports signed and final. • Fiscal Year 2025 (October 1, 2024-September 30, 2025: o 17 Title V facility inspections scheduled in CMS Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 14 TITLE V COMPLIANCE Onsite Inspection The AQD Compliance team will prepare for an inspection by: • Reviewing the current permit conditions. • Verifying emission units and their applicability to Tribal and Federal regulations, as represented in permit application. • Performing an onsite inspection to identify all applicable emission units and their current operating status. Determine if each unit is: o Operational (Yes/No) o Running (Yes/No) o Status (Verified/Not Verified)- for insignificant emissions Units • Taking note of any additional observations and surveying the facility with and OGI Camera for leaks and areas of concern. Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 15 TITLE V ENFORCEMENT The AQD conducts civil enforcement for findings of non-compliance identified during compliance inspections The appropriate enforcement path is chosen based on the AQD Enforcement Procedures and Penalty Manual Two main enforcement pathways: • Informal (minor or moderate violations) o Compliance Advisory or Written Warning o Do not typically include civil penalty or corrective measures • Formal (Major, Moderate, or Repeat Violations) o Notice of Violation - with or without Settlement Agreement o Include civil penalty and corrective measures to ensure compliance Goal of enforcement program is maintaining environmental compliance and deterring future non-compliance Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 16 TITLE V ENFORCEMENT Informal and Formal Enforcement • Informal enforcement actions o Compliance Advisories/Warning letters 7 o 2023= 5 6 o 2024=5 6 5 5 • Formal enforcement actions 4 o Notices of Violation 4 3 o 2023= 0 2 o 2024= 0 1 0 • Total enforcement cases = 52 o Informal = 36 5 Informal Formal 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 0 1 5 6 1 2 0 3 7 1 4 1 4 2 6 0 5 0 5 0 o Formal = 16 Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 17 MINOR SOURCE PROGRAM UPDATES 18 MINOR SOURCE PROGRAM CURRENT STATUS Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 19 MINOR SOURCE PROGRAM CURRENT STATUS On June 11, 2024, the Tribe received EPA delegation of two additional Clean Air Act Programs: • The Tribal Minor New Source Review Program (TMSNR program) – 40 CFR §§49.151 through 49.164 • Site-specific permits • Can be used to establish emissions limitations • 6 general permits • The Federal Implementation Plan for Managing Air Emissions from True Minor Sources in Indian Country in the Oil and Natural Gas Production and Oil and Natural Gas Processing Segments of the Oil and Natural Gas Sector (Oil and Gas FIP) – 40 CFR §§49.101 through 49.105. • Streamlined pre-construction program for true minor oil and gas sources • Includes 8 incorporated NSPS and MACT standards Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 20 WHAT IS A MINOR SOURCE? • Minor Source - a source with emission below the New Source Review “major source” permit thresholds (250 tpy of any single criteria pollutant) and above the “minor source” thresholds. . Regulated NSR pollutant • Minor sources can be Title V sources also (100 TPY of any single criteria pollutant). • Types of Minor Sources • True minor source – a source that is below major source thresholds without emissions limitations • Synthetic minor source – a source that established emissions limits to get below a major source threshold (major NSR or Title V) Minor NSR thresholds for attainment areas (tpy) Carbon monoxide (CO) 10 Nitrogen oxides (NOX) 10 Sulfur dioxide (SO2) 10 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 5 PM 10 PM10 5 PM2.5 3 Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 21 MINOR SOURCES ON THE SUIR . Source Type Facility Types Amount True Minor NSR Sources (Most of these sources are registered under the FIP) natural gas and oil production well sites, central delivery points, water injection facilities 160+ Synthetic Minor NSR Sources (These sources are permitted through the TMSNR Program) natural gas compression facilities, natural gas treatment plants 11 Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 22 PERMITTING DELEGATION AGREEMENT WHAT’S DIFFERENT? Permitting- No significant changes from EPA process Forms, and Information• New AQD TMNSR and FIP Registration forms and program information are available on AQD website: New Source Review Permitting – Southern Ute Indian Tribe TMNSR- AQD is now responsible for: • Issuance of site-specific TMSNR permits and revisions to existing EPA issued permits • Issuance of General Permits for 6 industries/activities • EPA still responsible for issuing permits for applications previously deemed complete by EPA FIP- AQD now responsible for: • Review and approval of Part 1 and Part 2 FIP Registrations • EPA still responsible for Part 2 FIP Registrations if they approved the preceding Part 1 Registration Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 23 COMPLIANCE DELEGATION AGREEMENT WHAT’S DIFFERENT? Compliance- schedule and delegation Inspection • The Tribe is required to inspect all TMSNR and FIP sources beginning in 2025 under EPA approved Compliance Monitoring Strategy • The 160+ FIP sources have never been inspected by EPA • Inspections will be conducted on a five-year schedule (one inspection every five years) Enforcement • Non-compliance of TMSNR or FIP specific requirements will be referred to EPA for enforcement (enforcement not delegable to Tribe’s) • AQD reserves the right under the Delegation Agreement to initiate enforcement of NSPS/MACT violations Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 24 AQD COMPLIANCE PROCESS Compliance- Inspections Synthetic minor source inspections: • Comprehensive compliance evaluation and will include an on-site visit and detailed inspection report (similar to Title V inspection) FIP sources inspections: • Streamlined inspection process and on-site visits will not always occur • Pre-inspection form will include pre-populated information regarding emissions units at the source (obtained during development of the AQD’s 2023 emissions inventory). • Operator will be required to complete basic information about the applicability of each emission unit/source to the 8 incorporated NSPS and MACT rules • Inspectors may request records required of any applicable NSPS or MACT rule • Inspection report will be MS form and summarize findings of pre-inspection form and records reviews Excel based Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 25 CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANT UPDATES 26 CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANT (CPRG) OVERVIEW • Two phase grant available to States, Tribes and Territories for the development and implementation of plans to reduce greenhouse gas and other harmful pollution. o Phase I – Planning Grant – AQD awarded a planning grant in September of 2023 ($371,751) o Phase II – Five-year Implementation Grant – AQD notified of being selected for award in September 2024 ($4.9 million). • One of 33 applications selected out of 111 Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 27 CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANT (CPRG) TIMELINE AND DELIVERABLES • Phase I grant- the AQD responsible for four deliverables: o (1) Emissions Inventory Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) - completed and approved by EPA in January of 2024. o (2) Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) – completed and submitted to EPA April 1, 2024, and later approved. o Included a partial GHG emissions inventory (oil and gas minor sources) o (3) Optional - Implementation grant application- submitted to EPA May 1, 2024 o (4) Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) - due in 2027 o Must include a comprehensive GHG inventory • Phase II grant – the AQD is responsible for one deliverable: o (1) Implementation of the PCAP - during the five-year grant cycle Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 28 CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANT (CPRG) PHASE II- IMPLEMENTATION AQD Plan - Reduce GHG and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from minor oil and gas sources on the SUIR through the Tribe’s voluntary administration and implementation of several Clean Air Act (CAA) programs and standards including: 1. Implementation of the TMSNR program and Oil and Gas FIP • Delegation received June 2024 2. Adoption and implementation of the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facilities (NSPS OOOO series rules) • • NSPS Subparts OOOO, OOOOa previously adopted by Commission NSPS OOOOb to be proposed for adoption by Commission 3. Evaluating the development of a Tribal Implementation Plan for adoption and implementation of NSPS Emissions Guidelines for GHG from Existing Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facilities. • NSPS Subpart OOOOc. • Phase II funding will be used to fund the Tribe’s implementation of the minor source programs Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 29 EPA VOC & METHANE RULE UPDATES 30 EPA’S UPDATED VOC & METHANE RULE OOOOb & OOOOc Two new rules published on March 8, 2024 that reduce methane and VOCs from the oil and natural gas production and transmission sectors Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 31 NEW SOURCE PERFOMANCE STANDARDS OOOOc • EPA established Emissions Guidelines (EG) for states to follow as they develop plans to limit GHG (in the form of limitations on methane emissions) from existing sources. • Includes a “model rule” that states and tribes can choose to adopt • Existing source NSPS rules (established under CAA section 111(d)) cannot typically be adopted like other NSPS rules. • Authority to implement requires the development of a State Implementation Plan or a Tribal Implementation Plan (SIP or TIP) • In absence of a SIP or TIP, a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) will be established and administered by EPA • Once a SIP, TIP, or FIP is in place for OOOOc, it will replace the NSPS OOOO & OOOOa rules Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 32 NEW SOURCE PERFOMANCE STANDARDS OOOOc- TIP A Tribal Implementation Plan (TIP) is an air quality plan developed by a tribe to help attain and/or maintain NAAQS for CAPs and fulfill other requirements of the CAA. • The Tribe is beginning to research the pros and cons of developing a TIP for adopting the EG established in the NSPS OOOOc rule. • State or Tribal plan due to EPA March 9, 2026. • Development of plan requires public participation/stakeholder outreach component (as outlined in NSPS Ba) • AQD plans to begin scoping process and public/stakeholder outreach • Summary of scoping activities will be provided to the Commission • If the Commission and Tribe finds it would be a benefit to develop a TIP, the AQD will begin development Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 33 POSSIBLE ALTERNATE DELEGATION METHOD DELEGATION OF FEDERAL PLAN for OOOOc New Information to AQD - In lieu of Tribal plan submittal, Tribes may submit a written request for delegation of the Federal Plan to meet its Clean Air Act section 111(d) obligations. A Federal plan delegation request must include the following: • A demonstration of adequate resources and legal authority to administer and enforce the Federal plan. • Inventory of affected facilities and emissions. • A plan for reporting progress to EPA • Certification that a public hearing was held • A commitment to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Regional Administrator. 40 CFR 60.5372c Ambient Monitoring _________________ Title V _________________ Minor Source _________________ CPRG _________________ NSPS-Methane 34 UP NEXT: • CDPHE Updates • Schedule Next Commission Meeting 35 --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Asouthern_ute%3Ad5dda0b09f791519. Public record. Not legal advice.