WSR 17-01-096 WITHDRAWAL OFPREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY [Filed December 16, 2016, 3:24 p.m.]
Notice to Withdraw Rule Making and Immediately Refile
The department of ecology (ecology) is withdrawing its notice of rule making (preproposal statement of inquiry CR-101 form) filed July 21, 2015, Order 15-07, WSR 15-15-162.
Ecology proposed to amend chapter 173-400 WAC, General regulations for air pollution sources. Our current rules do not establish emission limits during periods of startup, shutdown and malfunction and allow a company to avoid a violation. These conditions mainly apply to large commercial and industrial facilities. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined our rules were inadequate to meet federal Clean Air Act requirements and directed states, including Washington, to correct our deficiencies and submit a revision to our state implementation plan (SIP).
During 2016, EPA extended its rationale for the SIP deficiency to affirmative defense provisions in the operating permit program and adopted rules allowing web posting of public notice and draft permits for major permitting actions. Therefore, ecology is withdrawing our original notice of rule making and immediately refiling a notice of rule making expanding the scope to include these actions. The new rule making will include amending chapter 173-401 WAC, Operating permit regulation, and align sections of chapters 173-400 and 173-401 WAC with these federal requirements.
For more information, contact Elena Guilfoil at (360) 407-6855 or elena.guilfoil@ecy.wa.gov. |