Clean Air Act Operating Permit Program; Order on Petition for Objection to State Operating Permit for the Nucor Steel Louisiana, LLC, Direct Reduced Iron Facility, St. James Parish, Louisiana, 84349 [2024-24366]

Download as PDF ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2024 / Notices Certification Application (CCA) in 1996. The Agency then issued the certification decision on May 18, 1998, determining that the WIPP met the standards for radioactive waste disposal. Since the 1998 certification decision, EPA has conducted ongoing independent technical reviews, certification/ recertifications, and inspections of all WIPP activities related to compliance with the Agency’s disposal regulations. The WIPP has been recertified four times since the initial CCA in 1996, with the most recent recertification decision occurring in 2022.3 As part of the original design of the WIPP repository in the initial CCA, the underground waste disposal region at WIPP is divided into panels. A panel is a group of rooms mined into the salt, connected by tunnels called drifts. EPA certified the WIPP in 1998 and most recently recertified the WIPP in 2022 based on a planned footprint of 10 waste panels. On March 14, 2024, EPA received a planned change request (PCR) from DOE per 40 CFR 194.4(b)(3) that seeks the Agency’s approval to add two replacement waste panels to the west of the current repository. These two panels, 11 and 12, are being constructed to replace waste disposal volume that was lost in panels 7 and 9 due to the 2014 radiological release that contaminated the south end of the repository.4 Additionally, panels 1 and 2 were not completely filled due to ground control issues from being kept open so long before waste was emplaced. DOE has calculated that to replace the volume lost, 1.7 panels of waste volume will be needed, rounded up to 2 panels for construction. 5 DOE also states that the waste volume with panels 11 and 12 will not exceed the LWA waste disposal volume limit. The PCR contains a performance assessment DOE has conducted to support a demonstration that the repository will continue to meet the numeric release limits of EPA’s disposal regulations for the WIPP. As part of the performance assessment, DOE calculated releases based on a repository design of 19 panels, which is the anticipated WIPP repository configuration at the time of closure. With this PCR, DOE is only seeking EPA’s approval of the two new planned panels and has provided documentation to address the two new panels within the context of the 193 87 FR 26126 (May 3, 2022). 4 For a discussion of the 2014 incidents at the WIPP, see EPA’s third recertification determination. 82 FR 33106, 33107 (July 19, 2017). 5 Knerr, R. (DOE/CBFO), Dunagan, S. (NWP LLC). Class 3 Permit Modification Request [Letter to Maestas, R. (NMED)] (July 30, 2021). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:10 Oct 21, 2024 Jkt 265001 panel design. DOE would have to submit a separate request for approval of any additional panels beyond panels 11 and 12. II. Request for Comments A 60-day comment period provided for comments on the PCR ended on September 16, 2024. During this comment period a request for an extension to the comment period was received from several stakeholders, most recently at the Agency’s informal public meetings held in New Mexico in late August. The Agency is reopening the comment period and soliciting public comment on DOE’s documentation of its PCR to add two new waste panels— panels 11 and 12—at the WIPP facility, and the demonstration of compliance with EPA’s disposal regulations. Additional background information related to the Agency’s review of DOE’s application—including an electronic copy of the PCR itself—is available in the public docket 6 established for this action and on the EPA WIPP website.7 The Agency will continue to accept comment until it issues a future Federal Register notice that specifies the end of the public comment period. Upon completion of EPA’s evaluation of the PCR, the Agency will announce a decision on the proposed two new panels along with a response to comments document and related technical support documents. Jonathan D. Edwards, Director, Office of Radiation and Indoor Air. [FR Doc. 2024–24450 Filed 10–21–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–12326–01–R6] 84349 the Myrtle Felton, Barbara Washington, Gail Leboeuf, Inclusive Louisiana, and Louisiana Bucket Brigade (the Petitioners). The Petition requested that the EPA object to a Clean Air Act (CAA) title V operating permit issued by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) to Nucor Steel Louisiana, L.L.C., Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) Facility, located in Covent, St. James Parish, Louisiana. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Layton, EPA Region 6 Office, Air Permits Section, (214) 665–2136, layton.elizabeth@epa.gov. The final order and petition are available electronically at: https://www.epa.gov/ title-v-operating-permits/title-v-petitiondatabase. The EPA received a petition from Myrtle Felton, Barbara Washington, Gail Leboeuf, Inclusive Louisiana, and Louisiana Bucket Brigade dated December 4, 2023, requesting that the EPA object to the issuance of operating permit no. No. 3086–V10, issued by LDEQ to the Nucor Steel Louisiana, L.L.C., DRI Facility in St. James Parish, Convent, Louisiana. On September 27, 2024, the EPA Administrator issued an order granting in part and denying in part the Petition. The order explains the basis for the EPA’s decision. Sections 307(b) and 505(b)(2) of the CAA provide that a petitioner may request judicial review of those portions of an order that deny issues in a petition. Any petition for review shall be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuity no later than December 23, 2024. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dated: October 16, 2024. David Garcia, Director, Air and Radiation Division, Region 6. [FR Doc. 2024–24366 Filed 10–21–24; 8:45 am] Clean Air Act Operating Permit Program; Order on Petition for Objection to State Operating Permit for the Nucor Steel Louisiana, LLC, Direct Reduced Iron Facility, St. James Parish, Louisiana BILLING CODE 6560–50–P Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of final order on petition. Designated Reserve Ratio for 2025 AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator signed an order dated September 27, 2024, granting in part and denying in part a Petition dated December 4, 2023, from SUMMARY: 6 Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2024–0309 (https://www.regulations.gov). 7 https://www.epa.gov/radiation/wippnews#WIPP-PCR. PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. ACTION: Notice of Designated Reserve Ratio for 2025. AGENCY: Pursuant to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDI Act), the Board of Directors (Board) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) designates that the Designated Reserve Ratio (DRR) for the Deposit Insurance Fund shall remain at 2 percent for 2025. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM 22OCN1

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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 84349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-24366]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-12326-01-R6]


Clean Air Act Operating Permit Program; Order on Petition for 
Objection to State Operating Permit for the Nucor Steel Louisiana, LLC, 
Direct Reduced Iron Facility, St. James Parish, Louisiana

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of final order on petition.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator signed 
an order dated September 27, 2024, granting in part and denying in part 
a Petition dated December 4, 2023, from the Myrtle Felton, Barbara 
Washington, Gail Leboeuf, Inclusive Louisiana, and Louisiana Bucket 
Brigade (the Petitioners). The Petition requested that the EPA object 
to a Clean Air Act (CAA) title V operating permit issued by the 
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) to Nucor Steel 
Louisiana, L.L.C., Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) Facility, located in 
Covent, St. James Parish, Louisiana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Layton, EPA Region 6 Office, 
Air Permits Section, (214) 665-2136, [email protected]. The 
final order and petition are available electronically at: https://www.epa.gov/title-v-operating-permits/title-v-petition-database.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EPA received a petition from Myrtle 
Felton, Barbara Washington, Gail Leboeuf, Inclusive Louisiana, and 
Louisiana Bucket Brigade dated December 4, 2023, requesting that the 
EPA object to the issuance of operating permit no. No. 3086-V10, issued 
by LDEQ to the Nucor Steel Louisiana, L.L.C., DRI Facility in St. James 
Parish, Convent, Louisiana. On September 27, 2024, the EPA 
Administrator issued an order granting in part and denying in part the 
Petition. The order explains the basis for the EPA's decision.
    Sections 307(b) and 505(b)(2) of the CAA provide that a petitioner 
may request judicial review of those portions of an order that deny 
issues in a petition. Any petition for review shall be filed in the 
United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuity no later 
than December 23, 2024.

    Dated: October 16, 2024.
David Garcia,
Director, Air and Radiation Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2024-24366 Filed 10-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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