Notice Requesting Public Comment on Draft Title V and Chapter 2 Air Quality Operating Permit for the Smithsonian Institution, National Zoological Park
Notice is hereby given that the Smithsonian Institution has applied for a 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 equipment at the National Zoological Park located at 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington DC 20008:
- Three (3) dual fuel boilers permitted to fire natural gas and No. 2 fuel oil;
- Five (5) natural gas hot water heaters;
- Two (2) diesel fired emergency generators;
- Fourteen (14) natural gas fired emergency generators;
- Three (3) propane fired emergency generators;
- One (1) paint spray booth;
- One (1) sawdust collector for woodworking operations;
- One (1) above ground storage tank (AST) for gasoline and associated dispensing equipment;
- Twelve (12) ASTs for diesel;
- Numerous laboratory fume hoods;
- One (1) ethylene oxide sterilizer;
- Air conditioning and refrigeration operations, including related cooling towers;
- Welding operations; and
- Numerous boilers, hot water heaters, and other fuel burning equipment with ratings of less than five (5) million BTU/hr of heat input and burning natural gas only.
The contact person for the facility is Ms. Alana Olson, Environmental Protection Specialist, at (202) 633-1513.
The National Zoological Park has the potential to emit (PTE) 66.25 tons per year (TPY) of NOx. This total exceeds the major source threshold in the District of Columbia of 25 TPY of NOx or VOCs, and/or 100 TPY of any other criteria pollutant. Because potential emissions of NOx exceed the relevant major source threshold, pursuant to 20 DCMR 300.1(a), the source is subject to Chapter 3 and must obtain an operating permit in accordance with that regulation and Title V of the federal Clean Air Act.
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 No. 024-R2 has been prepared.
The application, the draft permit, 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. Copies of the draft permit and related fact sheet are available at http://doee.dc.gov/service/public-notices-hearings.
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 Olivia Achuko at (202) 535-2997 or [email protected]. Comments or hearing requests submitted after April 17, 2017 will not be accepted.
