2370 Proposed modifications to general plan approval and/or general operating permit No. 5 for natural gas compression and/or processing facilities (BAQGPA/GP-5)
Proposed Modifications to General Plan Approval and/or General Operating Permit No. 5 for Natural Gas Compression and/or Processing Facilities (BAQ-GPA/GP-5) [44 Pa.B. 7243]
[Saturday, November 15, 2014]The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) proposes revisions to the existing General Plan Approval and/or General Operating Permit (BAQ-GPA/GP-5 or General Permit) for Natural Gas Compression and/or Processing Facilities issued in February 2013. This General Permit establishes Best Available Technology (BAT) requirements and other applicable Federal and State requirements including source testing, leak detection, recordkeeping and reporting requirements for the applicable air contamination sources.
The revised General Permit, developed under the authority of section 6.1(f) of the Air Pollution Control Act (35 P. S. § 4006.1(f)) and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 127, Subchapter H (relating to general plan approvals and operating permits), will have the same applicability and scope as the February 2013 version of the General Permit, BAQ-GPA/GP-5.
Proposed modifications to the General Permit include the following:
(1) Under Section A, Condition 2, the word ''produces'' has been deleted from the definition of ''Natural gas compression and/or processing facility.''
(2) Under Section A, Condition 3(a)(iii), the Applicability/Scope was broadened to include all types of natural gas-fired compressors. This change is also reflected in Section D.
(3) Under Section A, Condition 9(c), in the first paragraph of the Compliance Requirements, the word ''and'' was changed to ''any.''
(4) Under Section A, Condition 9(c)(ix), the applicability threshold requirement for greenhouse gases has been deleted in response to the United States Supreme Court's Utility Air Regulatory Group (UARG) v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision, No. 12-1146 (June 23, 2014), invalidating certain provisions in the ''Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title V Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule.'' EPA subsequently issued preliminary guidance on July 24, 2014, in response to the decision.
(5) Under Section A, Condition 9(d) is added to require an annual compliance certification for the terms and conditions in GP-5. The annual compliance certification will be due to the Department by March 1 each year for the previous calendar year.
(6) Under Section A, Condition 22(h), the test method to determine the Formaldehyde emissions was revised from EPA Method 328 to EPA Method 323.
(7) Under Section F, Condition 3, the first sentence is revised by deleting any reference to the requirements in 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart HH (relating to National emission standards for hazardous air pollutants from oil and natural gas production facilities). This revision is also reflected in Section F, Condition 4.
(8) Other minor clarifying modifications are also included in the proposed BAQ-GPA/GP-5 amendments.
Interested parties are encouraged to obtain and review a complete copy of the proposed modifications to the General Permit by contacting Maisha Webb, Bureau of Air Quality, 12th Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P. O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8468, (717) 787-9702. TDD users may contact the Department through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service, (800) 654-5984. Internet users can access a copy of the General Permit on the Department's web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us (DEP Keyword: ''Air Quality Home'').
Interested persons may submit written comments to Virendra Trivedi, Environmental Engineer Manager, New Source Review Section, Division of Permits, Bureau of Air Quality, 12th Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P. O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8468. Written comments must be submitted to the Department no later than January 6, 2015. Comments received by facsimile will not be accepted.
DANA K. AUNKST,
Acting Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 14-2370. Filed for public inspection November 14, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]
