PLACER COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT
RULE 512 - REQUEST FOR SYNTHETIC MINOR
SOURCE STATUS
(Adopted 06/08/95)
CONTENTS
100 APPLICABILITY
101 GENERAL APPLICABILITY
102 EXCLUSION
200 DEFINITIONS
201 MAJOR SOURCE THRESHOLD
202 MODIFICATION
203 OPERATING SCENARIO
204 OWNER OR OPERATOR
205 SYNTHETIC MINOR SOURCE
300 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS
301 CONTENT OF REQUEST
302 TIMELY REQUEST
303 SYNTHETIC MINOR SOURCE MODIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
400 DISTRICT PROCEDURES AND FEDERALLY-ENFORCEABLE CONDITIONS
401 COMPLETENESS DETERMINATION
402 FEDERALLY-ENFORCEABLE CONDITIONS
403 PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND REVIEW
404 U.S. EPA REVIEW
405 FINAL ACTION
406 RENEWAL OF SYNTHETIC MINOR SOURCE STATUS
500 COMPLIANCE
100 APPLICABILITY
101 General Applicability
This rule applies to any major source for which the owner
or operator requests, and would be able to comply with,
federally-enforceable conditions that qualify the source
to be a synthetic minor source, as defined in this rule.
102 Exclusion
This rule shall not apply to any source subject to Rule
507, FEDERAL OPERATING PERMIT PROGRAM for any reason
other than being a major source.
200 DEFINITIONS
All terms shall retain the definitions provided under Rule
507, FEDERAL OPERATING PERMIT PROGRAM, unless otherwise
defined herein.
201 Major Source Threshold: A major source threshold is the
potential to emit a regulated air pollutant in the
amounts specified in the definition of "major source" as
defined in Rule 507, FEDERAL OPERATING PERMIT PROGRAM.
202 Modification: For the purposes of this rule, a
modification is any physical or operational change at a
source or facility which necessitates a revision of any
federally-enforceable condition, established pursuant to
this rule or by any other mechanism, that enables a
source to be a synthetic minor source.
203 Operating Scenario: An operating scenario is any mode of
operation to be permitted, including: normal operation,
start-up, shutdown, and reasonably foreseeable changes in
process, feed, or product.
204 Owner or Operator: For the purposes of this rule, an
owner or operator is any person who owns, operates,
controls, or supervises a stationary source.
205 Synthetic Minor Source: A synthetic minor source is a
stationary source which, pursuant to this rule or another
mechanism, is subject to federally-enforceable conditions
that limit its potential to emit to below major source
thresholds. In addition, a synthetic minor source is
subject to all applicable State and District rules,
regulations, and other requirements.
300 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS
A request for synthetic minor source status shall not relieve
a source of the responsibility to comply with the application
requirements of Rule 507, FEDERAL OPERATING PERMIT PROGRAM
within the specified timeframes. A major source subject to
this rule may request synthetic minor source status in
accordance with the following:
301 Content of Request
A request for designation as a synthetic minor source
shall include:
301.1 The identification and description of all
existing emission units at the source;
301.2 The calculation of each emission unit's
maximum annual and maximum monthly
emissions of regulated air pollutants for
all operating scenarios to be permitted,
including any existing federally-enforceable
limits established by a mechanism other than
this rule;
301.3 Proposed federally-enforceable conditions
which:
a. Limit source-wide emissions to below
major source thresholds, and
b. Are permanent, quantifiable, and
otherwise enforceable as a practical
matter;
301.4 Proposed federally-enforceable conditions
to impose monitoring, recordkeeping, and
reporting requirements sufficient to
determine compliance;
301.5 Any additional information requested by
the APCO; and
301.6 Certification by a responsible official
that the contents of the request are
true, accurate, and complete.
302 Timely Request
The owner or operator of a major source who chooses to
request synthetic minor source status shall make such a
request within the following timeframes:
302.1 For any major source that is operating or
is scheduled to commence operating on the
effective date of Rule 507, FEDERAL
OPERATING PERMIT PROGRAM, the owner or
operator shall request synthetic minor
source status no later than 60 days
before an application is required under
Rule 507, FEDERAL OPERATING PERMIT
PROGRAM;
302.2 For any major source that commences
operating after the effective date of
Rule 507, FEDERAL OPERATING PERMIT
PROGRAM, the owner or operator shall
request synthetic minor source status no
later than 60 days before an application
is required under Rule 507, FEDERAL
OPERATING PERMIT PROGRAM; or
302.3 For any major source that is operating in
compliance with a permit pursuant to Rule
507, FEDERAL OPERATING PERMIT PROGRAM,
the owner or operator may request
synthetic minor source status at any
time, but shall make such request no
later than eight months prior to Title V
permit renewal.
303 Synthetic Minor Source Modification Requirements
The following requirements apply to any modification of
a synthetic minor source:
303.1 For a modification which would not increase
the synthetic minor source's potential to emit
to equal or exceed any major source threshold,
the source shall comply with the requirements
of Rule 502, NEW SOURCE REVIEW.
303.2 For a modification which would increase the
synthetic minor source's potential to emit to
equal or exceed any major source threshold or
would affect a monitoring, recordkeeping, or
reporting requirement pursuant to section
402.2 of this rule, the owner or operator
shall comply with the applicable requirements
of Rule 502, NEW SOURCE REVIEW shall:
a. Submit a revised request for synthetic minor
source status in accordance with Section 301
of this rule no later than 180 days prior to
the intended modification, unless a shorter
period of time is agreed to by the APCO; or
b. Submit an application in accordance with the
requirements of Rule 507, FEDERAL OPERATING
PERMIT PROGRAM no later than 180 days prior to
the intended modification unless a shorter
period of time is agreed to by the APCO.
400 DISTRICT PROCEDURES AND FEDERALLY-ENFORCEABLE CONDITIONS
The District shall take the following actions on requests for
synthetic minor source status.
401 Completeness Determination
The APCO shall determine if the request for synthetic
minor source status is complete within 30 days of
receipt, unless a longer period of time is agreed upon by
the APCO and the source's owner or operator.
Thirty-one days after the request has been submitted, it
may not be considered deemed complete unless the APCO so
notifies the owner or operator.
Upon request by the APCO, the owner or operator shall provide
additional information whether or not the request for
synthetic minor source status has been deemed complete.
402 Federally-Enforceable Conditions
Federally-enforceable conditions enabling a source to
become a synthetic minor source shall be identified as
federally-enforceable and included in the source's
permit-to-operate issued by the District pursuant to Rule
501, GENERAL PERMIT REQUIREMENTS Sections 403 through 405
of this rule, and shall be:
402.1 Permanent, quantifiable, and practically
enforceable permit conditions, including any
operational limitations or conditions, which
limit the source's potential to emit to below
major source thresholds;
402.2 Monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting
conditions sufficient to determine ongoing
compliance with the emissions limits set forth
pursuant to section 402.1 of this rule; and
402.3 Subject to public notice and U.S. EPA review
pursuant to Sections 403 and 404 of this rule.
Permits that do not conform to the requirements of this
section, any other requirements of this rule, or any
underlying federal regulations which set forth criteria
for federal-enforceability may be deemed not federally-
enforceable by the U.S. EPA.
403 Public Notification and Review
After a request for synthetic minor source status is
determined to be complete, the APCO shall:
403.1 Publish a notice of the request in one or more
major newspapers in the area where the source
is located;
403.2 In the public notice:
a. State that conditions identified as federally-enforceable in the source's permit will
establish a voluntary emissions limit in
accordance with Rule 512, REQUEST FOR
SYNTHETIC MINOR SOURCE STATUS; and
b. Describe how the public may obtain copies of
the proposed permit including the federally--
enforceable conditions addressing the
emissions limit; and
403.3 Provide 30 days for public review of the
proposed permit prior to final permit action.
404 U.S. EPA Review
After a request for synthetic minor source status is
determined to be complete, the APCO shall:
404.1 Provide the U.S. EPA with copies of the
proposed permit including the conditions
which:
a. Are identified as federally-enforceable; and
b. Limit emissions to below major source
thresholds;
404.2 Provide 30 days for U.S. EPA review of the
proposed permit prior to final permit action;
and
404.3 Provide the U.S. EPA with copies of the final
permit.
405 Final Action
Until the District takes final action to issue the
permit-to-operate pursuant to this section, a source
requesting synthetic minor source status shall not be
relieved of the responsibility to comply with the
application or other requirements of Rule 507, FEDERAL
OPERATING PERMIT PROGRAM, within the specified
timeframes. Upon fulfilling the requirements of Sections
401 through 404 of this rule, the APCO shall consider any
written comments received during public and U.S. EPA
review and take final action on the permit-to-operate of
a source requesting synthetic minor source status within
90 days after closure of both the public and U.S. EPA
review process or within three years of the effective
date of Rule 507, FEDERAL OPERATING PERMIT PROGRAM,
whichever is later.
The District shall maintain a public record of all
pertinent documents regarding a request for synthetic
minor source status, including: the request, proposed
permit, all written comments and responses, and the final
permit.
406 Renewal of Synthetic Minor Source Status
Renewal of synthetic minor source status shall be made in
accordance with Rule 501, GENERAL PERMIT REQUIREMENTS.
In addition, at permit renewal, any revision of
conditions identified as federally-enforceable shall be
subject to Sections 301 and 401 through 405 of this rule.
500 COMPLIANCE
The owner or operator of a synthetic minor source which
exceeds the conditions identified as federally-enforceable and
established pursuant to section 402.1 of this rule shall
report such exceedances to the APCO in accordance with Rule
404, UPSET CONDITIONS, BREAKDOWN OR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE.
The owner or operator of a synthetic minor source that is not
in compliance with any condition identified as federally-
enforceable or with any requirement set forth in this rule, or
that files false information with the District to obtain
synthetic minor source designation, is in violation of the
Federal Clean Air Act and District rules and regulations. A
noncomplying synthetic minor source may be subject to any one
or combination of the following actions: enforcement action,
permit termination, permit revocation and reissuance, and
permit renewal denial.