Volume 41 - Issue 29 - July 21, 2022

State of Kansas

Department of Health and Environment

Notice Concerning Proposed Kansas Air Quality Prevention of Significant Deterioration Construction Permit and Public Hearing

Notice is hereby given that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is soliciting comments regarding a proposed air quality construction permit. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has applied for an air quality construction permit in accordance with the provisions of K.A.R. 28-19-300 for the proposed addition of a new tire building machine, eighteen new curing presses, a new tire green spray booth, and the modification of Mixer #11 at their tire manufacturing facility located at 2000 NW US-24 Hwy., Topeka, Shawnee County, KS 66618. Emissions of particulate matter (PM), PM with less than or equal to 10 micrometers in aerodynamic diameter (PM₁₀), PM with less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers in aerodynamic diameter (PM_2.5), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), oxides of nitrogen (NO_x), sulfur oxides (SO_x), carbon monoxide (CO), lead, hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), and greenhouse gases (GHG), as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e), were evaluated during the permit review process.

The proposed permit is to be issued in accordance with the provisions of K.A.R. 28-19-350, Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) which adopt the federal standards, procedures, and requirements of 40 CFR 52.21 by reference. These air quality regulations apply to major stationary emission sources located in areas designated as “attainment” under the federal Clean Air Act (CAA). Attainment areas are areas where the air quality meets or is better than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

The PSD regulations require evaluation of emission reduction techniques to identify the best available control technology (BACT) for each regulated pollutant, including GHGs, for which the emission rate exceeds the PSD significant emission level. The purpose of BACT is to affect the maximum degree of reduction achievable, taking into account energy, environmental, and economic impacts for each pollutant under review. Evaluation of the estimated emissions for the proposed project indicates that the emission rate of VOCs exceeds the significant emission level. Since VOC is precursor for Ozone (O₃), BACT for VOC will be considered BACT for O₃.  The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company conducted the required BACT analyses, and KDHE concurs with their findings.

An ambient air quality impact analysis was performed on the air emissions of O₃ from the project using the EPA’s 2019 guidance entitled, “Guidance on the Development of Modeled Emission Rates for Precursors (MERPs) as a Tier 1 Demonstration Tool for Ozone and PM_2.5 under the PSD Permitting Program (MERP Guidance)”. The analysis demonstrated no significant impact on ambient air quality for O₃, with VOC as precursor. This project also did not consume any PSD increment. No assessment of visibility impacts at a Class I area was performed by the facility because there are no Federal Class I areas located within 300 km of the proposed facility. The facility did not conduct a visibility impact analysis for a local Class II area because the proposed project only triggers PSD for VOC, and the VOC emissions are not expected to impact visibility. No adverse impacts on soils and vegetation in the area are expected.

A public comment period has been established to allow citizens the opportunity to express any concerns they may have about this proposed permitting action. The public comment period is to begin on Thursday July 21, 2022 and end at 12:00 p.m. Monday, August 22, 2022. Written comments should be submitted in writing to Shelley Schupp, KDHE/Bureau of Air, 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 310, Topeka, KS 66612-1366.

Any member of the public may request to hold a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed issuance of the draft air quality construction permit. A written request to hold a public hearing should be sent to the attention of Shelley Schupp at the address listed above or by fax to 785-559-4256 and must be received by 12:00 p.m. August 22, 2022. If a pertinent request is received, a public hearing is tentatively scheduled by KDHE to be held beginning at 1:00 p.m. August 25, 2022, at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, Marvin Auditorium 101B, 1515 SW 10th Ave., Topeka, KS 66604-1374, and continuing until audience members have an opportunity to submit comments. If no pertinent requests to hold the public hearing are received by 12:00 p.m. Monday, August 22, 2022, the public hearing will be cancelled. A notice of the cancellation will be posted at the KDHE website at https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/413/Public-Notices.

If a hearing is conducted, all interested parties will be given a reasonable opportunity to present their views orally or by submission of written materials during the hearing. In order to give all parties an opportunity to present their views, it may be necessary to request that each participant limit oral presentations to a specific time limit. Any individual with a disability may request accommodation in order to participate in the public hearing and may request the proposed materials in an accessible format. Requests for accommodation must be made no later than Monday, August 8, 2022, by contacting Shelley Schupp at 785-368-7030.

A copy of the proposed permit, permit application, all supporting documentation, and all information relied upon during the permit application review process are available for public review for a period of 30 days from the date of publication during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at the KDHE, Bureau of Air (BOA), 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 310, Topeka, KS 66612-1366. Also, a copy of the proposed permit only can be reviewed, at the KDHE Northeast District Office, 800 W. 24th St., Lawrence, Kansas. To obtain or review the proposed permit and supporting documentation, contact Shelley Schupp, at the central office of the KDHE and to review the proposed permit only, contact Wendi Kessler in the KDHE Northeast District Office. The standard departmental cost will be assessed for any copies requested. The proposed permit, accompanied with supporting information, is available, free of charge, at the KDHE BOA Public Notice website at https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/413/Public-Notices.

Janet Stanek
Secretary

Doc. No. 050342