Notice of Public Hearing - October 21, 2003

Proposed Standard Air Contaminant Discharge Permit for COB Energy Facility, LLC

Hearing date:  Tuesday, October 21, 2003

Hearing time: Information session: 6 pm
Formal hearing:  7 pm

Hearing location:  Lorella Community Center, Corner of East Langell Valley Road & Gale Road, Klamath County, Oregon.
                                  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Written comments due: 5 p.m    October 27, 2003

Where can I send comments and get more information? DEQ accepts comments by mail, fax and email.

Name:  Bonnie Hough

Phone:  (541) 388-6146 extension 223
Toll free in Oregon (800) 452-4011

Mailing address:  2146 N.E. 4th Street, Bend, Oregon 97701.

Fax:  (541) 388-8283

E-mail:  hough.bonnie@deq.state.or.us

What are DEQ’s responsibilities? The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the regulatory agency that helps protect and preserve Oregon’s environment. DEQ is responsible for protecting and enhancing Oregon’s water and air quality, for cleaning up spills and releases of hazardous materials, and for managing the proper disposal of hazardous and solid wastes. One way DEQ does this is by requiring permits for certain activities.

The purpose of this notice is to invite you to make oral comments on this proposed permit at a hearing.  You also may comment in writing.

How can I review documents? You can review the draft permit and permit application at DEQ’s Eastern Region, Bend and Klamath Falls Offices.  For a review appointment call the Bend Office at (541) 388-6146 or the Klamath Falls Office at (541) 883-5603.

A copy of the proposed permit and review report are available at the Klamath County Library at 126 South Thirds Street, Klamath Falls, Oregon, and at the Bonanza Branch Library, 31703 Highway 70, Bonanza, Oregon.

Who is the applicant? COB Energy Facility, LLC.

Where is the facility located?  2.3 miles south of the intersection of Harpold Valley Road and West Langell Valley Road on the east side of West Langell Valley Road, Klamath County, Oregon

What is proposed?   COB Energy Facility, LLC proposes to construct and operate a natural gas-fired electric power plant with a nominal generating capacity of 1,150 megawatts (MW).

Permit No.  18-0029

Permit type:  Standard Air Contaminant Discharge Permit

Permit expiration:  January 1, 2008

What are the special conditions of this permit?  The permittee is required to burn only pipeline quality natural gas.  In addition, anhydrous ammonia is stored onsite for use in the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system for NOx control.  A risk management plan is required under 40 CFR Part 68 (Code of Federal Regulations) if the ammonia concentration and storage quantity are above the regulated thresholds.

Compliance history:  The facility will be inspected by Department personnel to ensure compliance with the permit conditions.

What other DEQ permits are required?  No other permits have been issued or are required by the Department of Environmental Quality for this source.

What legal requirements apply?  The proposed Plant Site Emission Limit for SO2 is less than or equal to the Significant Emission Rates (SER), thus no further air quality analysis is required for that pollutant.  The proposed facility is subject to the regulations concerning Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) because the facility will increase PM/PM10, NOx, CO and VOC emissions over the SER.  Since the facility is considered a major source, it is subject to OAR 340 Division 224, primarily the regulations for attainment areas, which begin at OAR 340-224-0070(1) and (2). Besides a BACT analysis, the applicant conducted an air quality analysis, including a PSD increment consumption analysis and demonstration that the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for applicable pollutants will not be violated because of the project. 

What happens next? DEQ will review and consider all comments received during the hearing and comment period.  Following this review, DEQ may issue the permit as proposed or modified, or deny the permit.

Accessibility information  DEQ is committed to accommodating people with disabilities at our hearings. Please notify DEQ of any special physical or language accommodations or if you need information in large print, Braille or another format. To make these arrangements, contact DEQ Public Affairs at (503) 229-5696 or toll free in Oregon at (800) 452-4011.

People with hearing impairments may call DEQ’s TTY number, (local office TTY).

What are the known health effects or environmental impacts of the permitted substances stored, disposed of, discharged or emitted by the facility? All of the pollutants listed above can have adverse affects on human health and plant and animal life in high concentrations.  The level of emissions increases for all pollutants except SO2 are above the state’s Significant Emission Rate (SER).  The SER is considered to be the point at which adverse air quality impacts may occur.  An ambient air quality analysis was conducted by the permit applicant which demonstrated that emissions from the facility will not cause pollutant concentrations in excess of any ambient air quality standards or Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) increment, will not have a significant impact (including visibility impairment) within any Class I area, and will not cause a significant impact on any non-attainment area.

How are the permitted substances measured?  The permittee is required to keep semi-annual and annual records of the plant production (electric); continuous emission data for NOx and CO, maximum hourly and year to date emissions of NOx and CO based on Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems data; annual summary of Turbine/DB NOx rolling average data periods (maximum lbs./hour and maximum ppmdv); annual summary of Turbine DB CO rolling average data periods (maximum lbs./hour and maximum ppmdv); annual total heat input to the turbines, duct burners and auxiliary boiler (MMBtu/year); annual operating parameters of the emission control equipment including but not limited to ammonia injection rate, NOx emission rate, and ammonia slip during any emission source tests performed during the year.  Formulas to calculate emissions are contained in the permit.  The permittee is required to calculate facility wide emissions on a twelve month rolling total basis, and submit an emissions report annually.  On-site inspections will be conducted to assurance compliance with emissions limitations on individual pieces of equipment.

GLOSSARY:

Baseline Emission Rate  In 1977 and 1978, the Department conducted an inventory of all pollutant emissions from industrial sources.  Actual emissions from a facility in 1977 or 1978 are called “Baseline Emission Rates”.
CO  (Carbon Monoxide)  --An invisible gas, usually formed as a product of combustion in such things as boilers and automobiles.  CO is considered a pollutant because it can be poisonous to animals and humans.
HAP  (Hazardous Air Pollutants) Any of a list of pollutants which present a threat of adverse human health or environmental effects. The list was initially published in the Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) with 189 pollutants. EPA is allowed to revise the list if certain criteria are met.
Nonattainment Area  An area where the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which state the minimum air quality needed to protect public health, have been violated.  Standards have been developed for the pollutants PM10, CO, NO2, SO2, ozone and lead.  Areas that are in non-attainment according to these standards are subject to stricter regulation of pollutant emissions.
NOX  (Nitrogen Oxides)  --A brown-colored, potentially toxic gas, formed when ordinary air passes through a hot flame such as in an automobile engine, or gas boiler. NOx is considered a pollutant because it decreases visibility and because it contributes to the formation of ozone and acid rain.
Ozone  (O3)  --A colorless gas formed when heated and sunlight causes a reaction between NOx and VOC in the air. Natural ozone in the upper atmosphere is beneficial because it absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays, but ozone formed near ground level is a major component of SMOG and can cause lung damage.
PM10  (Fine Particulate Matter)  --Very fine airborne dust particles (less than 10 microns across) formed by fuel burning (as smoke) or by sanding and grinding.  PM10 is considered a pollutant because it decreases visibility, and because it can have adverse human health affects.
SER (Significant Emission Rate)  The level at which emissions may have an adverse impact on ambient air quality.  Emission increases above this level require additional regulatory review.
SO2  (Sulfur dioxide)  --An invisible gas with a pungent odor, formed by burning fossil fuel which contains sulfur.  SO2 is considered a pollutant because it can form particles that decrease visibility, and because large amounts of it can cause acid rain.
VOC  (Volatile Organic Compounds) --Organic chemicals, such as those in gasoline or paint thinner which, when vaporized, react with NOx, in the presence of sunlight to form ozone