Other Agencies and Organizations, Environmental Protection Agency

OTHER AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
Environmental Protection Agency

Clean Air Act Permit to Construct DPA-EPA-R4001 for Port Dolphin Energy LLC

*** PUBLIC NOTICE ***

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Clean Air Act Permit to Construct DPA-EPA-R4001 for Port Dolphin Energy LLC

Public Comments must be received by November 14, 2011

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comment on a draft Clean Air Act (CAA) Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) air permit for Port Dolphin Energy Limited Liability Company (Port Dolphin), 400 North Tampa Street Suite 1015, Tampa, Florida 33602. The draft permit will regulate air pollutant emissions from the operation of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) deepwater port located in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 28 miles off the west coast of Florida, and 42 miles southwest of the pipeline landing at Port Manatee, Florida. The port will be used to import LNG, which will be sent as natural gas to shore through pipelines, for use in the State of Florida.

The EPA is responsible for implementing and enforcing Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements, including PSD permitting requirements for deepwater ports in federal waters that are outside state seaward boundaries. Pursuant to the CAA and the applicable air quality regulations for the State of Florida, a new source is required to obtain an air quality permit before beginning construction. The EPA has completed review of Port Dolphin’s air permit application and supplemental material and has prepared a draft permit, as well as a preliminary determination document that explains the derivation of the permit conditions. The EPA is soliciting comments on our proposal to issue air Permit to Construct DPA-EPA-R4001 to Port Dolphin for their deepwater port, subject to the terms and conditions described in the permit. The draft permit, preliminary determination and administrative record are available on the EPA Region 4’s website at: http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/permits/LNGPermits/LNGpermits.html.

To request a copy of these documents or to be added to our Port Dolphin permit mailing list, please contact: Ms. Rosa Yarbrough, Permit Support Specialist at: [phone] or [e-mail]. For questions on the draft permit, please contact: Ms. Eva Land at [phone] or [e-mail].

Public Comments must be received by email or postmarked by November 14, 2011. Public Hearing requests must be received by the EPA by email or mail by October 31, 2011. Send comments on the draft permit and requests for a public hearing to: Ms. Eva Land, EPA Region 4, APTMD, 61 Forsyth Street, Atlanta, GA 30303; Fax: [phone], email: [e-mail].

Public Comments: Any interested person may submit written comments on the draft permit during the public comment period. If you believe any condition of the permit is inappropriate, you must raise all reasonably ascertainable issues and submit all reasonably available arguments supporting your position by the end of the comment period. Any documents supporting your comments must be included in full and may not be incorporated by reference unless they are already part of the record for this permit or consist of state or federal statutes or regulations, the EPA documents of general applicability, or other generally available reference materials.

Comments should focus on the draft air quality permit, the permit terms, and the air quality aspects of the project. The objective of the PSD air quality program is to control air pollution to attain and maintain ambient air quality standards and to prevent significant adverse environmental impact from air pollution by a new or modified PSD source. All timely comments will be considered in making the final decision, included in the record, and responded to by the EPA. The EPA may group similar comments together in our response, and will not respond to individuals directly.

All comments on the draft permit must be received by email or postmarked by November 14, 2011. An extension of the 30-day comment period may be granted if the request for an extension adequately demonstrates why additional time is required to prepare comments. Comments must be sent or delivered in writing to the address above. All comments will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available to the public, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes Confidential Business Information or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Information that you consider Confidential Business Information or otherwise protected should be clearly identified as such and should not be submitted through email. If you send email directly to the EPA, your email address will be captured automatically and included as part of the public comment. Please note that an email or postal address must be provided with your comments if you wish to receive direct notification of the EPA’s final decision regarding the permit and responses to comments submitted during the public comment period.

Public Hearing: The EPA has discretion to hold a Public Hearing if we determine there is a significant amount of public interest in the draft permit. Requests for a Public Hearing must be received by the EPA by email or mail by October 31, 2011, and state the nature of the issues proposed to be raised in the hearing. You may submit oral or written comments on the draft permit at the public hearing. If no request for a public hearing is received by October 31, 2011, or the EPA determines that there is not significant interest, the hearing will be cancelled. An announcement of cancellation will be posted on the EPA’s website at: http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/permits/LNGPermits/LNGpermits.html or you may call the EPA at the contact number above to determine if the public hearing has been cancelled.

If there is significant public interest, a public hearing will be held on November 14, 2011, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Manatee County Central Library, 1301 Barcarrota Boulevard West, Bradenton, Florida 34205, [phone].

Permit Documents: The EPA’s draft permit, the EPA’s preliminary determination and statement of basis, Port Dolphin’s application and supporting documentation, and comments received from the public, other government agencies, and the applicant during the public comment period become part of the administrative record for the permit. All data submitted by the applicant is available as part of the administrative record. The administrative record is available to the public and is available at the following locations (please call in advance for available viewing times): 1) Manatee County Central Library: 1301 Barcarrota Boulevard West, Bradenton, Florida 34205, [phone]; 2) The EPA Region 4 Office: 61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303, [phone]; 3) The administrative record is also available on the EPA’s website at: http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/permits/LNGPermits/LNGpermits.html.

Final Determination: A final decision to issue a permit, or to deny the application for the permit, shall be made after all comments have been considered. Notice of the final decision shall be sent to each person who has submitted written comments or requested notice of the final permit decision, provided the EPA has adequate contact information.