Washington Administrative Code
Title 173 - Ecology, Department of (See also Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508)
Chapter 173-400 - General regulations for air pollution sources
PERMITTING OF MAJOR STATIONARY SOURCES AND MAJOR MODIFICATIONS TO MAJOR STATIONARY SOURCES
Section 173-400-740 - PSD permitting public involvement requirements

Universal Citation: WA Admin Code 173-400-740

Current through Register Vol. 25-06, March 15, 2025

(1) Actions requiring notification of the public. Ecology must provide public notice before approving or denying any of the following types of actions related to implementation of the PSD program contained in WAC 173-400-720:

(a) Any preliminary determination to approve or disapprove a PSD permit application; or

(b) An extension of the time to begin construction or suspend construction under a PSD permit; or

(c) A revision to a PSD permit, except an administrative amendment to an existing permit; or

(d) Use of a modified or substituted model in Appendix W of 40 C.F.R. Part 51 (in effect on the date in WAC 173-400-025) as part of review of air quality impacts.

(2) Notification of the public. As expeditiously as possible after the receipt of a complete PSD application, and as expeditiously as possible after receipt of a request for extension of the construction time limit under WAC 173-400-730(6) or after receipt of a nonadministrative revision to a PSD permit under WAC 173-400-750, ecology shall:

(a) Administrative record. Make available for public inspection in at least one location in the vicinity where the proposed source would be constructed, or for revisions to a PSD permit where the permittee exists, a copy of the information submitted by the applicant, and any applicable preliminary determinations, including analyses of the effects on air quality and air quality related values, considered in making the preliminary determination. Ecology may comply with this requirement by making these materials available on ecology's website or at a physical location.
(i) Some materials comprising the administrative record (such as air quality modeling data) may be too large to post on a website but may be made available as part of the record either in hard copy or on a data storage device.

(ii) Exemptions from this requirement include information protected from disclosure under any applicable law, including, but not limited to, RCW 70A.15.2510 and chapter 173-03 WAC.

(b) Notify the public.
(i) Public notice must be posted on ecology's website for a minimum of 30 days. Day one of the public comment period begins on the next calendar day after ecology posts the public notice.

(ii) The following information must be posted for the duration of the public comment period:
(A) Public notice elements in subsection (3) of this section;

(B) PSD draft permit;

(C) PSD technical support document; and

(D) Information on how to access the administrative record.

(iii) If ecology grants a request to extend the public comment period, ecology must:
(A) Post the extension notice on the same web page where the original notice was posted;

(B) Specify the closing date of the extended comment period in the extension notice; and

(C) Distribute a copy of the extension notice by electronic means or via the United States postal service to whomever requested the extension and the organizations and individuals listed in (c) and (d) of this subsection.

(iv) If a hearing is held, the public comment period must extend through the hearing date and comply with the notice requirements in subsection (4)(c) of this section.

(v) If ecology determines a supplemental notice is appropriate, the applicant or other initiator of the action must pay the cost of providing this supplemental public notice. Supplemental notice may include, but is not limited to, publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the proposed project.

(c) Distribute by electronic means or via the United States postal service a copy of the public notice to:
(i) Any Indian governing body whose lands may be affected by emissions from the project;

(ii) The chief executive of the city where the project is located;

(iii) The chief executive of the county where the project is located;

(iv) Individuals or organizations that requested notification of the specific project proposal;

(v) Other individuals who requested notification of PSD permits;

(vi) Any state within 100 km of the proposed project.

(d) Distribute by electronic means or via the United States postal service a copy of the public notice, PSD preliminary determination, and the technical support document to:
(i) The applicant;

(ii) The affected federal land manager;

(iii) EPA Region 10;

(iv) The permitting authority with authority over the source under chapter 173-401 WAC; and

(v) Individuals or organizations who request a copy.

(3) Public notice content. The public notice shall contain at least the following information:

(a) The name and address of the applicant;

(b) The location of the proposed project;

(c) A brief description of the project proposal;

(d) The preliminary determination to approve or disapprove the application;

(e) How much increment is expected to be consumed by this project;

(f) The name, address, and telephone number of the person to contact for further information;

(g) A brief explanation of how to comment on the project;

(h) An explanation on how to request a public hearing;

(i) The start date and end date of the public comment period consistent with subsection (2)(b)(i) of this section;

(j) A statement that a public hearing may be held if ecology determines within the public comment period that significant public interest exists;

(k) The length of the public comment period in the event of a public hearing; and

(l) For projects subject to special protection requirements for federal Class I areas, in WAC 173-400-117, and where ecology disagrees with the analysis done by the federal land manager, ecology shall explain its decision in the public notice or state that an explanation of the decision appears in the technical support document for the proposed approval or denial.

(4) Public hearings.

(a) The applicant, any interested governmental entity, any group, or any person may request a public hearing within the public comment period established consistent with subsection (2)(b)(i) of this section. A request must indicate the interest of the entity filing it and why a hearing is warranted. Whether a request for a hearing is filed or not, ecology may hold a public hearing if it determines significant public interest exists. Ecology will determine the location, date, and time of the public hearing.

(b) Notification of a public hearing will be accomplished per the requirements of WAC 173-400-740(2).

(c) The public must be notified at least 30 days prior to the date of the hearing (or first of a series of hearings).

(5) Consideration of public comments. Ecology shall make no final decision on any application or action of any type described in subsection (1) of this section until the public comment period has ended and any comments received during the public comment period have been considered. Ecology shall make all public comments available for public inspection at the same website where the preconstruction information on the proposed major source or major modification was made available.

(6) Issuance of a final determination.

(a) The final approval or disapproval determination must be made within one year of receipt of a complete application and must include the following:
(i) A copy of the final PSD permit or the determination to deny the permit;

(ii) A summary of the comments received;

(iii) Ecology's response to those comments;

(iv) A description of what approval conditions changed from the preliminary determination; and

(v) A cover letter that includes an explanation of how the final determination may be appealed.

(b) Ecology shall post the final determination on the same web page where the draft permit and public notice was posted according to subsection (2)(b) of this section.

(c) Ecology shall distribute by electronic means or via the United States postal service a copy of the cover letter that accompanies the final determination to:
(i) Individuals or organizations that requested notification of the specific project proposal; and

(ii) Other individuals who requested notification of PSD permits.

(d) Ecology shall distribute a copy of the final determination to:
(i) The applicant;

(ii) U.S. Department of the Interior - National Park Service;

(iii) U.S. Department of Agriculture - Forest Service;

(iv) EPA Region 10;

(v) The permitting authority with authority over the source under chapter 173-401 WAC; and

(vi) Any person who commented on the preliminary determination.

Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.94 RCW. 12-24-027 (Order 11-10), § 173-400-740, filed 11/28/12, effective 12/29/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.94.152. 05-03-033 (Order 03-07), § 173-400-740, filed 1/10/05, effective 2/10/05.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Washington may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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