The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) has made a preliminary decision to approve Oil Search (Alaska), LLC’s application for Air Quality Control Minor Permit AQ1564MSS02 for the Nanushuk Drillsite B.  

Applicant: Oil Search (Alaska), LLC

PO Box 240927, Anchorage, AK 99534  

Location: Latitude 70° 20’ 6.938”; Longitude 150° 38’ 0.184”

7 miles northeast of Nuiqsut

 

Activity: Oil Search (Alaska), LLC applied for Minor Permit AQ1564MSS02 under 18 AAC 50.502(c)(1) for construction of a new stationary source with a potential to emit greater than the applicable thresholds for oxides of nitrogen (NOx). The project is also classified under 18 AAC 50.502(c)(2) as a portable oil and gas operation, 18 AAC 50.502(b)(3) for a rock crusher with a rated capacity of 5 tons or greater per hour, and 18 AAC 50.508(5) in order to establish owner requested limits (ORLs) to avoid a permit classification under AS 46.14.130, to avoid Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) for NOx, carbon monoxide (CO), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ); and 18 AAC 50.508(6) to revise and rescind the terms and conditions of a Title I permit.

Emissions: The change in emissions for the Nanushuk Drillsite B are as follows: an increase of 18.4 tons of Nitrogen Oxides, an increase of 40.9 tons of Carbon Monoxide, an increase of 1.8 tons of Particulate Matter, an increase of 9.0 tons of Volatile Organic Compounds, a decrease of 15.9 tons of Sulfur Dioxide, an increase of 18,816 tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent emissions, and a decrease of 0.18 tons of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).

 

ADEC Preliminary Review: Based on review of the application, ADEC drafted a preliminary permit decision for this project under AS 46.14 and 18 AAC 50.

 

Available Information: Copies of the permit application(s), ADEC’s preliminary minor permit and technical analysis report (TAR) are available at the following offices:

ADEC Air Permits Program, 410 Willoughby Avenue, 2 nd Floor, Juneau, AK 99801-1795

ADEC Air Permits Program, 555 Cordova Street, Anchorage, AK 99501

These documents are also available at ADEC’s website at: http://dec.alaska.gov/Applications/Air/airtoolsweb/AirPermitsApprovalsAndPublicNotices/

 

Opportunity for Public Participation: Any interested person may present written statements relevant to the preliminary decision within 30 days after the first publication date. ADEC will consider all comments received and make any changes ADEC finds beneficial or necessary to assure compliance with 18 AAC 50 or state law. ADEC will issue a final decision to issue or deny the permit after the close of the public comment period.

 

ADEC complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you are a person with a disability who may need a special accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact Claire Fishwick at 907-465-5066 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 by the 15th day of this public comment period to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

 

Comments relevant to the preliminary minor permit may be submitted electronically via ADEC’s public notice site at https://aq.alaskadec.commentinput.com/?id=9eYs3 or to Joshua Klina by mail to PO Box 111800, Juneau, AK 99811, or by email to joshua.klina@alaska.gov. Comments must be received by close of public comments period at 11:59 p.m. Alaska time on October 17, 2022.