596 Clean Air Interstate Rule; 2014 allocation of 2013 vintage nitrogen oxides allowances set aside to offset sulfur dioxide emissions

Clean Air Interstate Rule; 2014 Allocation of 2013 Vintage Nitrogen Oxides Allowances Set Aside to Offset Sulfur Dioxide Emissions

[44 Pa.B. 1834]
[Saturday, March 22, 2014]

 In accordance with 25 Pa. Code § 145.212(f)(2) (relating to CAIR NO_x allowance allocations), the Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is providing notice of the issuance of 2013 vintage Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) nitrogen oxides (NO_x) allowances to owners or operators of certain CAIR sulfur dioxide (SO₂) units for the purpose of offsetting SO₂ emissions. These units were exempted under the Federal Acid Rain Program provisions in section 405(g)(6)(A) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C.A. § 7651(g)(6)(A)) and therefore did not receive SO₂ allowances, yet are subject to the CAIR SO₂ Trading Program. The Department allocated the CAIR NO_x allowances identified in this notice on a ratio of 1 CAIR NO_x allowance to every 8 tons of SO₂ emitted in 2013 in response to written requests submitted to the Department by January 31, 2014. Up to 1.3% of the Commonwealth's CAIR NO_x Annual Trading Program budget is available for allocation to these units, as described in 25 Pa. Code § 145.212(f)(2) and (4).

 The Commonwealth's CAIR NO_x Annual Trading Program budget contained 99,049 CAIR NO_x allowances for 2013; 97,761 of the CAIR NO_x allowances were allocated at 40 Pa.B. 297 (January 9, 2010). The remaining 1,288 CAIR NO_x allowances, 1.3% of the CAIR NO_x Annual Trading Program budget for 2013, were set aside for this allocation. Six requests were dated prior to the January 31, 2014, deadline for additional CAIR NO_x allowances.

 The Department is allocating these allowances on a ratio of 1 CAIR NO_x allowance to every 8 tons of SO₂ emitted by the unit in 2013, minus any excess CAIR NO_x allowances already allocated to the unit for the 2013 control period that were not used to cover NO_x emissions for the 2013 control period. The result is an allocation of 988 CAIR NO_x allowances.

 For every facility that submitted a request, the table lists the facility name, ORIS number and unit identification number and the number of CAIR NO_x allowances to be allocated.

Facility Name	ORIS #	Unit ID	# of NOx Allowances
Cambria Cogen	10641	1 & 2	320
Colver Power Project	10143	AAB01	344
Ebensburg Power Company	10603	31	49
Scrubgrass Generating Plant	50947	1 & 2	170
WPS Westwood Generation	50611	31	39
Wheelabrator Frackville	50879	GEN1	66

 There were 1,288 CAIR NO_x allowances set aside and 988 CAIR NO_x allowances being issued. In accordance with 25 Pa. Code § 145.212(f)(5), the Department may consider requests, in writing, for the remaining NO_x allowances. The remaining NO_x allowances would be allocated by the Department on a pro rata basis; the allocations would be subject to a 30-day public comment period after providing notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

 Owners and operators of qualifying units should be aware that CAIR NO_x allowances do not constitute property rights and that actions at the Federal or State level, including court proceedings in EPA v. EME Homer City Generation, L.P., U.S. No. 12-1182, could affect these allocations.

 Persons aggrieved by an action may appeal, under section 4 of the Environmental Hearing Board Act (35 P. S. § 7514) and 2 Pa.C.S. §§ 501—508 and 701—704 (relating to Administrative Agency Law), to the Environmental Hearing Board, Second Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street, P. O. Box 8457, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8457, [phone]. TDD users may contact the Environmental Hearing Board (Board) through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service, [phone]. Appeals must be filed with the Board within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, unless the appropriate statute provides a different time period. Copies of the appeal form and the Board's rules of practice and procedure may be obtained from the Board. The appeal form and the Board's rules of practice and procedure are also available in Braille or on audiotape from the Secretary of the Board at [phone]. This paragraph does not, in and of itself, create any right of appeal beyond that permitted by applicable statutes and decision law.

 For individuals who wish to challenge an action, appeals must reach the Board within 30 days. A lawyer is not needed to file an appeal with the Board.

 Important legal rights are at stake, however, so individuals should show this notice to a lawyer at once. Persons who cannot afford a lawyer may qualify for pro bono representation. Call the Secretary to the Board at [phone] for more information.

 Questions concerning this notice should be directed to Randy Bordner, Chief, Stationary Source Section, Bureau of Air Quality, [phone], [e-mail]. TDD users may contact the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at [phone] to discuss how the Department can best accommodate their needs.

E. CHRISTOPHER ABRUZZO, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 14-596. Filed for public inspection March 21, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]