UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $S00 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER POSTAGE AND FEES PAID U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY AGENCY NUMBER EPA-335 U.S.MAIL A Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 197 7 EPA PROPOSES REGULATIONS ON INDUSTRIAL GROWTH IN CLEAN AIR AREAS The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued regulations implementing sections of the new Clean Air Act Amendments limiting deterioration of air quality in clean air areas of the country, EPA Administrator Douglas M. Costie announced today. "These regulations will greatly expand the coverage of EPA's current air quality deterioration rules, and generally impose more stringent requirements for pollution sources such as factories and power plants seeking to begin construc- tion or modify their facilities in areas already meeting Federal clean air standards," Costle said. "In implementing these significant deterioration provisions of the new Amend- ments, EPA will make every effort to preserve our national heritage of clear skies while maintaining economic and employ- ment stability." Under the 1970 Amendments to the Clean Air Act, EPA in December 1974 issued final regulations preventing significant deterioration of air quality in areas cleaner than the national ambient air quality standards. These rules went into effect nationwide in June 1975. On August 7, 1977 President Carter signed new Amendments to the Act which generally toughened and expanded the scope of this program. (more) Return this sheet If you do NOT wish to receive this material ~, or if change of address is needed ~ (indicate change, Including zip code). EPA FORM 1510-1 (REV. 8-721 Ryan (202) 755-0344 R--268 ------- -2- Basically, the new Amendments require each State to classify clean air areas as either Class I (where air quality has to remain virtually unchanged); Class II (where moderate industrial growth would be allowed); and Class III" (where more intensive industrial activity would be permitted). The air quality in each of the three types of areas will be allowed to deteriorate only by specific amounts fixed by the Amendments. In no case, however, will air quality be allowed to exceed Federal health standards. The regulations, published in the Federal Register Novem- ber 3, are published in three separate but related parts: one final and two proposed regulations. The final rulemaking implements provisions of the Amend- ments intended by Congress to be immediately effective as of the August 7, 1977 enactment date. Only pollution sources which commenced construction before August 7 are exempt from the immediate changes. Among these changes is the immediate application of the new ambient air increments mentioned above. These increments are more stringent than those allowed under EPA's old significant deterioration regulations. These final rules also immediately designate certain areas as Class I, and forbid States to redesignate them into either of the other two classes. They are: (1) international parks, (2) national wilderness areas exceeding 5,000 acres, (3) national memorial parks exceeding 5,000 acres, and (4) national parks exceeding 6,000 acres. Of the two proposed regulations, one deals with the review of pollution sources before they are built, to insure they do not violate the new deterioration increments in actual operation. As required in Section 165 of the Amendments, EPA's proposal will require a preconstruction permit for any of the 28 major pollution source categories named in the Amendments that have potential air pollution emissions of 100 tons per year, or for any other pollution sources that have potential emissions of 250 tons per year. EPA's current regulations cover only 19 source categories (including power plants, steel mills, and other stationary sources). Under the proposed rules, to receive a construction permit, these new sources will have to use best available pollution control technology. The BACT requirements will always be applied on a case-by-case basis, and may be tougher than the BACT requirements under the current EPA rules. The proposed regulations also require that a public hearing must be held before a permit is issued to any pollution source. R-268 (more) ------- -3- Under the proposal, the preconstruction review require- ments would apply to any source which does not obtain a final permit approval before the regulations become effective on March 1, 1978, or which does not commence construction within nine months of final rulemaking. The other EPA proposed regulation contains guidance to States, so they can incorporate these new significant deteriora- tion requirements into required State implementation plans. Written public comment on these three related rulemaking actions should be submitted in triplicate to Darryl D. Tyler, Chief, Standards Implementation Branch (MD-15), U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, or phone 919-541-54 25. Comments should address the three actions in a consolidated fashion. Public comments will be available for inspection at the Environmental Protection Agency Public Information Reference Unit, Room 2922, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20460, phone 202-755-2808. EPA also plans to hold public hearings on these actions in January 1978, with details announced in a mid-December Federal Register. Persons desiring to appear at such a hearing should, no later than November 24, file a written statement with Darryl Tyler at the address given above. Each statement should indicate the person's name and address, the nature of the person's interest in the rulemaking proceedings, and the group or business entity (if any) such person represents. # # # R-268 ------- |