PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice Requesting Public Comment on Draft Title V and Chapter 2 Air Quality Operating Permit for the DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Notice is hereby given that the DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center has applied for a facility-wide Title V air quality permit pursuant to the requirements of Title 20 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, Chapters 2 and 3 (20 DCMR Chapters 2 and 3) to operate the following emission units and miscellaneous sources of air emissions at the facility:
- Eight (8) emergency diesel generators, including one (1) NSPS Compression Ignition Internal Combustion Engine (CI-ICE) and seven (7) Non-NSPS CI-ICE Engines;
- Two (2) 100-gallon natural gas-fired hot water heaters;
- Two (2) underground storage tanks with capacities of 30,000 gallons and 10,000 gallons, respectively;
- Laboratory chemical fume hoods; and
- Gas-fired kitchen equipment;
The above listed sources of emissions and insignificant activities are located at the DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center (DC VAMC) at 50 Irving Street NW Washington, DC. The contact person for the facility is Mr. Todd A. Williams, Chief, Facilities Management Service, at (202) 745-8209.
With the emission limitations included in the draft permit, the facility has the potential to emit (PTE) approximately 18.66 tons per year (TPY) of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), 1.09 TPY of oxides of sulfur (SOx), 1.59 TPY of carbon monoxide (CO), 0.22 TPY of total particulate matter, including condensables (PM Total), and 0.31 TPY of volatile organic compounds (VOC). Under normal maximum operating conditions for determination of the potential emissions (i.e. 500 hours per year per emergency generator), the combined emissions of the equipment would possibly have exceeded the major source threshold for NOx and thus trigger a Non-Attainment New Source Review (NNSR). In order to avoid this possibility, the facility opted for operating hour restrictions of 200 hours per year on each of the generators to keep their potential to emit NOx under the major source threshold. The Chapter 3 permitting process is being used in this case to make these limits federally enforceable and enforceable as a practical matter.
The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) has reviewed the permit application and related documents and has made a preliminary determination that the applicant meets all applicable air quality requirements promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the District. Therefore, draft permit #047 has been prepared.
The application, the draft permit and associated Fact Sheet and Statement of Basis, and all other materials submitted by the applicant [except those entitled to confidential treatment under 20 DCMR 301.1(c)] considered in making this preliminary determination are available for public review during normal business hours at the offices of the Department of Energy and Environment, 1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor, Washington DC 20002.
A public hearing on this permitting action will not be held unless DOEE has received a request for such a hearing within 30 days of the publication of this notice. Interested parties may also submit written comments on the permitting action. Hearing requests or comments should be directed to Stephen S. Ours, DOEE Air Quality Division, 1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor, Washington DC 20002. Questions about this permitting action should be directed to John C. Nwoke at (202) 724-7778 or [email protected]. No comments or hearing requests postmarked after May 16, 2016 will be accepted.
