PUBLIC NOTICE
STATE OF ALASKA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
Golden Valley Electric Association
Zehnder Facility
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) has made a preliminary decision to approve Golden Valley Electric Association’s (GVEA’s) application for Air Quality Control Minor Permit AQ0109MSS01 Rev. 2 for the Zehnder Facility.
Applicant: Golden Valley Electric Association
P.O. Box 71249, Fairbanks, AK 99707-1249
Location: 64º 51´ 15" North; 147º 43´ 30" West
758 Illinois Street, Fairbanks, AK 99707
Activity: The basis for this permit revision is classified under AS 46.14.130(c)(2), because the Department finds that public health or air quality effects provide a reasonable basis to regulate the stationary source. This finding is contained in the State Air Quality Control Plan adopted on November 19, 2019.
The Department is processing Minor Permit AQ0109MSS01 Rev. 2 under the Department’s revoke and reissuance procedures under AS 46.14.280(a)(2), and therefore no permit application was submitted by the Permittee. The Department sent GVEA a notice of intent to revoke and reissue Minor Permit AQ0109MSS01 Rev. 1 under AS 46.14.280(a)(2), on August 29, 2024, to add additional monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting (MR&R) requirements already present in the stationary source’s operating permit. There are no changes being proposed to Operating Permit AQ0109TVP04 Rev. 1 because it already contains the pertinent MR&R requirements.
Emissions: This permitting action does not change the potential emissions at the stationary source. The potential annual emissions of regulated air pollutants at the stationary source will not exceed: 2,115 tons of Nitrogen Oxides, 20.9 tons of Carbon Monoxide, 30.4 tons of Particulate Matter, 580 tons of Sulfur Dioxide, 2.6 tons of Volatile Organic Compounds, 391,134 tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent emissions, and 3.0 tons of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP), with highest individual HAP (manganese) estimated at 1.86 tons. The total annual potential emissions of regulated air pollutants, other than greenhouse gases, are 2748.9 tons.
ADEC Preliminary Review: ADEC drafted a preliminary permit decision for this project under AS 46.14 and 18 AAC 50.
Available Information: Copies of the revoke and reissue letter, ADEC’s preliminary minor permit and technical analysis report (TAR) are available at the following offices:
ADEC Air Permits Program, 333 Willoughby Avenue, 8th Floor, Ste 800, State Office Building, Juneau, AK 99801
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 by October 22, 2024. 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 Julia Schweminiski at (907) 269-7660 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://dec.alaska.gov/Applications/Air/airtoolsweb/FormalComments, or to Dave Jones by mail to PO Box 111800, Juneau, AK 99811, or by email to dave.jones2@alaska.gov and dec.air.comment@alaska.gov. Comments must be received by close of public comments period at 11:59 p.m. Alaska time on October 22, 2024. Except for comments classified under AS 46.14.520, all public comments submitted during the public comment period can be viewed at https://dec.alaska.gov/Applications/Air/airtoolsweb/AirPermitsApprovalsAndPublicNotices after the public comment period.
ADEC has tentatively scheduled a public hearing for this preliminary permit, to be held on Monday, October 21, 2024, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. via teleconference. The public hearing will be held only if a request to hold the public hearing is received by 5:00 p.m. on October 14, 2024. You may request a public hearing by calling Dave Jones at (907) 465-5122 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by e-mailing a request to dave.jones2@alaska.gov. If no request for the public hearing is received by Monday, October 14, 2024, the public hearing will be cancelled. ADEC will announce the cancellation of the public hearing by publishing a public notice by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, on these websites:
https://dec.alaska.gov/air/anpms/sip/2024-fbks-pm2-5-serious-sip-amends/;
https://dec.alaska.gov/air/anpms/communities/fbks-pm2-5-2024-proposed-amendment-serious-sip/;
https://dec.alaska.gov/Applications/Air/airtoolsweb/AirPermitsApprovalsAndPublicNotices; and
https://dec.alaska.gov/commish/public-notices.
You may provide oral comments relevant to the proposed action via telephone at the hearing tentatively scheduled to be held on Monday, October 21, 2024, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. by calling 907-202-7104; and entering code 175774916#. Callers should be on the line before the hearing begins at 12:00 p.m. if they would like to provide oral testimony so that we can document contact information for the record and determine the order of testimony. Prior to the start of the hearing, ADEC may limit the time allotted for each person providing oral testimony, as reasonably necessary to conclude the hearing in the time provided. The hearing may be extended for a reasonable amount of time to accommodate those present before 2:00 p.m. who did not have an opportunity to comment prior to that time.