WAC 173-400-740   PSD permitting public involvement requirements.  (1) Actions requiring notification of the public. Ecology must provide public notice before approving or denying any of the following types of actions related to implementation of the PSD program contained in WAC 173-400-720:

     (a) Any preliminary determination to approve or disapprove a PSD permit application; or

     (b) An extension of the time to begin construction or suspend construction under a PSD permit; or

     (c) A revision to a PSD permit, except an administrative amendment to an existing permit.

     (2) Notification of the public. Within one year of the receipt of a complete PSD application, and as expeditiously as possible after receipt of a request for extension of the construction time limit under WAC 173-400-730(6) or for a nonadministrative revision to a PSD permit under WAC 173-400-750, ecology shall:

     (a) Make available for public inspection in at least one location in the vicinity where the proposed source would be constructed, or for revisions to a PSD permit where the permittee exists, a copy of the information submitted by the applicant, and any applicable preliminary determinations, including analyses of the effects on air quality and air quality related values, considered in making the preliminary determination. Exemptions from this requirement include information protected from disclosure under any applicable law, including, but not limited to, RCW 70.94.205 and chapter 173-03 WAC.

     (b) Notify the public by:

     (i) Causing to be published, in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the proposed project, the public notice prepared in accordance with WAC 173-400-730(4). The date the public notice is published in the newspaper starts the required thirty-day comment period.

     (ii) If ecology grants a request to extend the public comment period, the extension notice must also be published in a newspaper as noted above and a copy of the extension notice sent to the organizations and individuals listed in (c) and (d) of this subsection. The closing date of the extended comment period shall be as defined in the public comment period extension notification.

     (iii) If a hearing is held, the public comment period must extend through the hearing date.

     (iv) The applicant or other initiator of the action must pay the cost of providing public notice.

     (c) Send a copy of the public notice to:

     (i) Any Indian governing body whose lands may be affected by emissions from the project;

     (ii) The chief executive of the city where the project is located;

     (iii) The chief executive of the county where the project is located;

     (iv) Individuals or organizations that requested notification of the specific project proposal;

     (v) Other individuals who requested notification of PSD permits;

     (vi) Any state within 100 km of the proposed project.

     (d) Send a copy of the public notice, PSD preliminary determination, and the technical support document to:

     (i) The applicant;

     (ii) The affected federal land manager;

     (iii) EPA Region 10;

     (iv) The permitting authority with authority over the source under chapter 173-401 WAC;

     (v) Individuals or organizations who request a copy; and

     (vi) The location for public inspection of material required under (a) of this subsection.

     (3) Public notice content. The public notice shall contain at least the following information:

     (a) The name and address of the applicant;

     (b) The location of the proposed project;

     (c) A brief description of the project proposal;

     (d) The preliminary determination to approve or disapprove the application;

     (e) How much increment is expected to be consumed by this project;

     (f) The name, address, and telephone number of the person to contact for further information;

     (g) A brief explanation of how to comment on the project;

     (h) An explanation on how to request a public hearing;

     (i) The location of the documents made available for public inspection;

     (j) There is a thirty-day period from the date of publication of the notice for submitting written comment to ecology;

     (k) A statement that a public hearing may be held if ecology determines within a thirty-day period that significant public interest exists;

     (l) The length of the public comment period in the event of a public hearing;

     (m) For projects subject to special protection requirements for federal Class I areas, in WAC 173-400-117, and where ecology disagrees with the analysis done by the federal land manager, ecology shall explain its decision in the public notice or state that an explanation of the decision appears in the technical support document for the proposed approval or denial.

     (4) Public hearings.

     (a) The applicant, any interested governmental entity, any group, or any person may request a public hearing within the thirty-day public comment period. A request must indicate the interest of the entity filing it and why a hearing is warranted. Whether a request for a hearing is filed or not, ecology may hold a public hearing if it determines significant public interest exists. Ecology will determine the location, date, and time of the public hearing.

     (b) Notification of a public hearing will be accomplished per the requirements of WAC 173-400-740(2).

     (c) The public must be notified at least thirty days prior to the date of the hearing (or first of a series of hearings).

     (5) Consideration of public comments. Ecology shall make no final decision on any application or action of any type described in subsection (1) of this section until the public comment period has ended and any comments received during the public comment period have been considered. Ecology shall make all public comments available for public inspection at the same locations where the preconstruction information on the proposed major source or major modification was made available.

     (6) Issuance of a final determination.

     (a) The final approval or disapproval determination shall include the following:

     (i) A copy of the final PSD permit or the determination to deny the permit;

     (ii) A summary of the comments received;

     (iii) Ecology's response to those comments;

     (iv) A description of what approval conditions changed from the preliminary determination; and

     (v) A cover letter that includes an explanation of how the final determination may be appealed.

     (b) Ecology shall mail a copy of the cover letter that accompanies the final determination to:

     (i) Individuals or organizations that requested notification of the specific project proposal;

     (ii) Other individuals who requested notification of PSD permits.

     (c) A copy of the final determination shall be sent to:

     (i) The applicant;

     (ii) U.S. Department of the Interior - National Park Service;

     (iii) U.S. Department of Agriculture - Forest Service;

     (iv) EPA Region 10;

     (v) The permitting authority with authority over the source under chapter 173-401 WAC;

     (vi) Any person who commented on the preliminary determination; and

     (vii) The location for public inspection of material required under subsection (2)(a) of this section.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.94.152. 05-03-033 (Order 03-07), § 173-400-740, filed 1/10/05, effective 2/10/05.]