The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the August 31 PA Bulletin of a proposed State Air Quality Implementation revision to implement EPA’s regional haze requirements and update DEP’s best available retrofit technology determinations for public comment.

The Regional Haze Rule requires the Commonwealth to address regional haze in each mandatory Class I Federal area located outside this Commonwealth which may be affected by emissions from within this Commonwealth with the goal of restoring natural visibility conditions in those areas by 2064.

A state's regional haze implementation plan must demonstrate reasonable progress toward achieving natural visibility conditions to Class I Federal areas.

DEP points out many sources within this Commonwealth have committed to install, and have installed, controls through several mechanisms, including Federally enforceable permits, and State and Federal consent agreements.

In addition to the control measures detailed in the Commonwealth's 2010 Regional Haze SIP revision, additional regulations have been adopted and actions have been taken by the Department that will reduce visibility impairing pollutants in Class I Federal areas.

Also, several large electric generating units have announced plans to shut down, deactivate sources or curtail emissions by adding dual-fire capacity or converting to natural gas, which will lead to additional significant reductions in sulfer dioxide emissions.

While these changes are not discussed in detail in this SIP revision, they are the focus of Pennsylvania's Regional Haze 5-Year Progress Report, which is being sent to the EPA as a separate SIP revision.

3 Hearings

DEP will hold 3 public hearings on the proposed SIP Plan revision--

-- October 2: DEP Southwest Regional Office, Waterfront Conference Room A, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh at 10:00 a.m.;

-- October 3: DEP/DCNR Rachel Carson State Office Building, 12th Floor Conference Room, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg at 10:00 a.m.; and

-- October 3: DEP Southeast Regional Office, Delaware River Conference Room, 2 East Main Street, Norristown at 1:00 p.m.

Persons wishing to present testimony should contact Amanda Rodriguez by calling 717-787-9702 or send email to: amarodrigu@pa.gov to reserve a time. Witnesses will be limited to 10 minutes and should provide two written copies of their comments.

If by noon on September 30, 2019, no person has expressed an interest in testifying at the hearing, the hearing will be canceled.

Interested individuals can submit comments via DEP’s online Comment webpage by October 3.

Click Here for a copy of the proposal.  Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for more information.

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[Posted: August 30, 2019]

9/2/2019