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Pacific Southwest, Region 9

Serving: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Islands, Tribal Nations

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Big West of California

Bakersfield Refinery Clean Fuels Project
Proposed Clean Air Act PSD Permit

Project Update - April 6, 2009

On December 4, 2008, Big West of California sent a letter to EPA, requesting cancellation of their application for a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit from US EPA, Region 9 for the construction of the Clean Fuels Project. The Clean Fuels Project, as proposed in Big West's application dated December, 2006, will not be built as it was not approved by the Kern County Board of Supervisors. In its place, Big West intends to construct an alternate project, known as "Alternative D" from the Environmental Impact Report. This alternate project does not trigger review under EPA's PSD permitting program as emissions will be below significance levels. Therefore, EPA has cancelled the proposed PSD permit, which was put forth for public comment on November 2, 2007, and later, with revisions, on November 30, 2007.

The public docket has been updated with the following documents:

  • Letter from Big West of California (November 4, 2008), requesting cancellation of PSD permit (PDF) (25 pp, 1.1MB, About PDF)
  • Letter from Big West of California (January 6, 2009), documenting construction permitting history (PDF) (4 pp, 359K)

Please contact Gerardo Rios (415) 972-3974 with any questions or concerns.

Recent Additions - December 19, 2007

Project Update - November 30, 2007

EPA has announced a revision to the proposed permit to correct an error. In addition to regulating emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur dioxide (SO2), the revised proposed permit will also include conditions to regulate emissions of total particulate matter (PM). Conditions to regulate PM were erroneously omitted from the previously proposed permit.

Due to these revisions, EPA is extending the public comment period (previously set to terminate on December 12, 2007). The new public comment period end date is January 7, 2008. Any written comments must be received (if sent by e-mail) or postmarked (if sent by U.S. mail) on or before January 7, 2008

Project Summary


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Press Advisory

Big West of California, LLC has requested approval to construct a Clean Fuels Project at its Bakersfield refinery. The Clean Fuels Project (CFP) will allow the conversion of intermediate products into gasoline and diesel fuel that meets California Air Resources Board (ARB) gasoline and diesel fuel specifications. These intermediates are currently being exported to other refineries for final processing. The refinery is located at 6451 Rosedale Highway, about 2.5 miles northwest of the City of Bakersfield.

Information Sheet - Permit Overview (PDF) (2 pp, 90K)

Information Sheet - Air Pollution Control (PDF) (1pg, 88K)

Clean Air Act PSD Permit

On November 2, 2007 EPA proposed for public comment a construction permit for the Clean Fuels Project pursuant to the Prevention of Significant Deterioration regulations of the Clean Air Act. Links to the revised proposed permit and supporting information are below, along with a link to the public docket. For more information on the PSD permitting program, and how to submit comments, see the section on Public Participation below.

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Public Participation

EPA is requesting public input on the proposed PSD permit for the Clean Fuels Project. EPA has extended the public comment period. The extended public comment period ends on January 14, 2008. Written comments are being accepted until January 14, 2008. Additionally, EPA is holding a public hearing on December 5, 2007 to accept oral and written comments on the proposed permit. EPA will also host an informational open house before the hearing. The hearing and open house will be held as follows:

Date: December 5, 2007
Time: Open House: 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Public Hearing: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Discovery Elementary School, Multipurpose Room
9500 Vaquero Ave.
Bakersfield, CA 93308

Public Hearing Documents

Background Materials

*Disclaimer: These documents are being provided as background to assist the public in understanding refinery operations and permitting. They are for informational purposes only. Inclusion of these documents on this webpage do not indicate EPA's endorsement of the documents or the content therein.

For More Information

If you have questions or need additional information about the PSD permit, you can email R9AirPermits_BigWest@epa.gov or call:

Contact Phone Number Topic
Kathleen Stewart (415) 947-4119 PSD Permit and General Questions
Carol Bohnenkamp (415) 947-4130 Air Quality Modeling and Impacts
Trina Martynowicz (415) 972-3474 Community Involvement/Public Hearing
Irma Miranda (415) 972-3968 Para Información en Español
Gerardo Rios (415) 972-3974 Para Información en Español

If you have questions about the non-attainment New Source Review or title V operating permits please contact Richard Karrs with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District at (661) 326-6900.

For information about the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process and/or the status of the Environmental Impact Report, please visit California's CEQAnet database Exiting EPA (disclaimer), or call Cheryl Casdorph at (661) 862-8624 with the Kern County Planning Department Exiting EPA (disclaimer).

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