PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice Requesting Public Comment on Draft Title V and Chapter 2 Air Quality Operating Permit for Verizon Washington DC, Inc. – Southwest Central Office
Notice is hereby given that Verizon Washington DC, Inc. 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 four (4) Detroit Diesel engine powered 1,500 kilowatt (kW) Cummins Model # 1500 DS-4 diesel generators (EG1, EG2, EG3, and EG4), previously permitted under Chapter 2 permits 6495-6498, respectively; and one (1) Detroit Diesel engine powered 225 kW Cummins Model # 7125-7230 diesel generator (LSEG1), previously permitted under Chapter 2 permit 6723, at the Verizon Washington DC, Inc. – Southwest Central Office, 30 E Street SW, Washington DC. The contact person for the facility is Randolph Moore, Environmental Manager at (804) 772-6709.
With the emission limitations included in the draft permit, the Verizon Washington DC, Inc. – Southwest Central Office facility has the potential to emit approximately 24.95 tons per year of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), just under the District’s major source threshold of 25 tons per year of NOx. Under normal maximum operating conditions for determination of the potential emissions of the facility (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 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 District Department of the Environment (DDOE) 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 #045 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 District Department of the Environment, 1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor, Washington DC 20002. Copies of the draft permit and related fact sheet are available at http://ddoe.dc.gov.
A public hearing on this permitting action will not be held unless DDOE 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, DDOE 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 will not be accepted after January 6, 2014.
