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Public Notice: Morongo Casino Cogeneration Facility, Tribal Synthetic Minor NSR Permit Application # 2019-010-SM

How to Comment

Comments accepted through: 03/18/2020

Request for Public Comment: All written comments or requests for a public hearing must be received or postmarked by March 18, 2020. Comments may be submitted via the following methods:
Online: www.regulations.gov, Docket ID: EPA-R09-OAR-2019-0533
E-mail: R9airpermits@epa.gov
U.S. Mail: Sheila Tsai (AIR-3-1)
U.S. EPA Region 9
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-3901

Any person may submit written comments on the draft permit and may request a public hearing during the public comment period. These comments must raise any reasonably ascertainable issue with supporting arguments by the close of the public comment period (including any public hearing). Please address comments with the subject “Comments on Draft Synthetic Minor NSR Permit for Morongo Casino Cogeneration Facility.”

All comments that are received via email or through www.regulations.gov will be included in the public docket without change and will be available to the public, including any personal information provided, within a few days of receipt. Comments submitted to the EPA through U.S. Mail or other another non-electronic delivery method will also be included in the public docket without change and will be available to the public, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information the disclosure of which is restricted by statute. Information that is considered to be CBI or otherwise protected should be clearly identified as such and should be submitted only through U.S. Mail or a non-electronic delivery method; such information should not be submitted through www.regulations.gov or e-mail. If a commenter sends e-mail directly to the EPA, the e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the public comment. Please note that an e-mail or postal address must be provided with comments if the commenter wishes to receive direct notification of the EPA’s final decision regarding the draft permit following the public comment period. For information about CBI or multimedia submissions and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit Commenting on EPA Dockets.

Tribal New Source Review Actions in EPA's Pacific Southwest (Region 9)

Publish Date: 02/14/2020

Summary

Announcement of Draft Permit and Request for Public Comment on Draft Clean Air Act Synthetic Minor NSR Permit in Indian Country

Proposed Action: The United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9 (EPA) provides notice of and requests public comment on the EPA’s proposed action relating to the draft synthetic minor New Source Review (NSR) permit for the Morongo Casino Cogeneration Facility (“Source”). The Source is located at 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon, California 92230, within the Morongo Band of Mission Indians Reservation. The EPA is proposing to issue this synthetic minor NSR permit to Morongo Band of Mission Indians, 12700 Pumarra Road, Banning, California 92220. The contact for the Source is Dana Morey, (951) 755-5198.

The Source is an 8.4 megawatt (MW) cogeneration facility used to power the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Banning, California. The Source was constructed in 2004 and currently complies with a title V permit to operate (MO-ROP 15-01) with federally enforceable emission limits. This draft permit, if finalized, will (1) establish the existing operation at the Source as a synthetic minor source that takes into account startup and shutdown emissions and emissions from existing boilers that are not included in the current title V permit; (2) add a new emergency generator; and (3) terminate the Source’s existing title V permit upon final permit issuance. The source is proposing a synthetic minor limit of 24.9 tons per year of NOx to avoid title V major source operating permit program requirements. More information on the emission changes and limitations associated with this draft permit can be found in Section 5 of the technical support document for this action.

Draft Permit Review: A copy of the draft permit prepared by the EPA, the technical support document for the draft permit, and all supporting materials are available for review by the public through the online docket, by contacting the permit writer at R9airpermits@epa.gov, or at the following locations:

  1. At the US EPA Region 9 office (address above), Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., excluding federal holidays. Due to building security procedures, please call Sheila Tsai at 415-972-3328 at least 48 hours in advance to arrange a visit.
  2. At the Morongo Band of Mission Indians Administration Building. Please contact in advance to arrange a visit.
    12700 Pumarra Road
    Banning, California 92220 Hours: 8am to 5pm
    Contact: Dana Morey (dmorey@morongo-nsn.gov)
    (951) 755-5198

Public Hearing: A public hearing has not been scheduled for the draft permit action. However, anyone may request a public hearing. Any request for a public hearing must be made in writing and state the nature of the issues proposed to be raised at the hearing. The EPA will hold a hearing whenever there is, on the basis of requests, a significant degree of public interest in a draft synthetic minor NSR permit. The EPA may also hold a public hearing at its discretion, whenever, for instance, such a hearing might clarify one or more issues involved in the synthetic minor NSR permit decision. The EPA will provide notice at least 30 days in advance of the date and time of any scheduled public hearing. The 30-day public comment period will be extended to the close of any public hearing on the Morongo Casino Cogeneration Facility.

Final Action: Before taking final action on the draft permit, the EPA will consider all written comments submitted during the public comment period. The EPA will send notice of our final permit decision to each person who submitted comments and contact information during the public comment period or requested notice of the final permit decision. The EPA will summarize the contents of all substantive comments and provide written responses in a document accompanying the EPA’s final permit decision. The EPA’s final permit decision will become effective 30 days after the service of notice of the decision unless:

  1. A later effective date is specified in the permit;
  2. The decision is appealed to the EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board pursuant to 40 CFR 49.159(d); or
  3. There are no comments requesting a change to the draft permit decision, in which case the final decision shall become effective immediately upon issuance.

Additional Information: If you have questions, or if you wish to obtain further information, please contact Sheila Tsai at (415) 972-3328, via email at R9airpermits@epa.gov, or at the EPA mailing address above. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive future information about this draft permit decision or other permit decisions issued by EPA Region 9, please contact the EPA at the address listed above or send an email to R9airpermits@epa.gov.

***Please bring the foregoing notice to the attention of all persons who would be interested in this matter.***

Applicant or Respondent

Morongo Band of Mission Indians
12700 Pumarra Road
Banning, CA 92220

Docket Number: 

Permit #: Facility Tribal Synthetic Minor NSR Permit Application # 2019-010-SM