Iowa Admin. Code r. 567-24.107 - Title V permit processing procedures

(1) Action on application.

a. Conditions for action on application. A permit, permit modification, or renewal may be issued only if all of the following conditions have been met:

(1) The permitting authority has received a complete application for a permit, permit modification, or permit renewal, except that a complete application need not be received before issuance of a general permit under 567-24.109 (455B);

(2) Except for modifications qualifying for minor permit modification procedures under 567-24.112 (455B), the permitting authority has complied with the requirements for public participation under 24.107(6);

(3) The permitting authority has complied with the requirements for notifying and responding to affected states under 24.107(7);

(4) The conditions of the permit provide for compliance with all applicable requirements and the requirements of this chapter;

(5) The Administrator has received a copy of the proposed permit and any notices required under 24.107(7), and has not objected to issuance of the permit under 24.107(7) within the time period specified therein;

(6) If the Administrator has properly objected to the permit pursuant to the provisions of 40 CFR § 70.8(d) as amended to July 21, 1992, or 24.107(7), then the permitting authority may issue a permit only after the Administrator's objection has been resolved; and

(7) No permit for a solid waste incineration unit combusting municipal waste subject to the provisions of Section 129(e) of the Act may be issued by an agency, instrumentality, or person that is also responsible, in whole or part, for the design and construction or operation of the unit.

b. Time for action on application. The permitting authority shall take final action on each complete permit application (including a request for permit modification or renewal) within 18 months of receiving a complete application, except in the following instances:

(1) When otherwise provided under Title V or Title IV of the Act for the permitting of affected sources under the acid rain program.

(2) In the case of initial permit applications, the permitting authority may take up to three years from the effective date of the program to take final action on an application.

(3) Any complete permit applications containing an early reduction demonstration under Section 112(i)(5) of the Act shall be acted upon within nine months of receipt of the complete application.

c. Prioritization of applications. The director shall give priority to action on Title V applications involving construction or modification for which a construction permit pursuant to 567-subrule 22.1(1) or Title I of the Act, Parts C and D, is also required. The director also shall give priority to action on Title V applications involving early reduction of hazardous air pollutants pursuant to 567-paragraph 23.1(4)"d."

d. Completeness of applications. The department shall promptly provide notice to the applicant of whether the application is complete. Unless the permitting authority requests additional information or otherwise notifies the applicant of incompleteness within 60 days of receipt of an application, the application shall be deemed complete. If, while processing an application that has been determined to be complete, the permitting authority determines that additional information is necessary to evaluate or take final action on that application, the permitting authority may request in writing such information and set a reasonable deadline for a response. The source's ability to operate without a permit, as set forth in 567-24.104 (455B), shall be in effect from the date the application is determined to be complete until the final permit is issued, provided that the applicant submits any requested additional information by the deadline specified by the permitting authority. For modifications processed through minor permit modification procedures, a completeness determination shall not be required.

e. Decision to deny a permit application. The director shall decide to issue or deny the permit. The director shall notify the applicant as soon as practicable that the application has been denied. Upon denial of the permit, the provisions of 24.107(1)"d" shall no longer be applicable. The new application shall be regarded as an entirely separate application containing all the required information and shall not depend on references to any documents contained in the previous denied application.

f. Fact sheet. A draft permit and fact sheet shall be prepared by the permitting authority. The fact sheet shall include the rationale for issuance or denial of the permit; a brief description of the type of facility; a summary of the type and quantity of air pollutants being emitted; a brief summary of the legal and factual basis for the draft permit conditions, including references to applicable statutes and rules; a description of the procedures for reaching final decision on the draft permit, including the comment period, the address where comments will be received, and procedures for requesting a hearing and the nature of the hearing; and the name and telephone number for a person to contact for additional information. The permitting authority shall provide the fact sheet to the EPA and to any other person who requests it.

g. Relation to construction permits. The submittal of a complete application shall not affect the requirement that any source have a construction permit under Title I of the Act and 567-subrule 22.1(1).

(2) Confidential information. If a source has submitted information with an application under a claim of confidentiality to the department, the source shall also submit a copy of such information directly to the Administrator. Requests for confidentiality must comply with 561-Chapter 2.

(3) Duty to supplement or correct application. Any applicant who fails to submit any relevant facts or who has submitted incorrect information in a permit application shall, upon becoming aware of such failure or incorrect submittal, promptly submit such supplementary facts or corrected information. In addition, an applicant shall provide additional information as necessary to address any requirements that become applicable to the source after the date the source filed a complete application but prior to release of a draft permit. Applicants who have filed a complete application shall have 60 days following notification by the department to file any amendments. Any MACT determinations in permit applications will be evaluated based on the standards, limitations, or levels of technology existing on the date the initial application is deemed complete.

(4) Certification of truth, accuracy, and completeness. Any application form, report, or compliance certification submitted pursuant to these rules shall contain certification by a responsible official of truth, accuracy, and completeness. This certification and any other certification required under these rules shall state that, based on information and belief formed after reasonable inquiry, the statements and information in the document are true, accurate, and complete.

(5) Early reduction application evaluation. Hazardous air pollutant early reduction application evaluation review shall follow the procedures established in 567-paragraph 23.1(4)"d."

(6) Public notice and public participation.

a. The permitting authority shall provide public notice and an opportunity for public comments, including an opportunity for a hearing, before taking any of the following actions: issuance, denial, or renewal of a permit; or significant modification, revocation, or reissuance of a permit.

b. Notice shall be given by posting of the notice, including the draft permit, for the duration of the public comment period on a public website identified by the permitting authority and designed to give general public notice. Notice also shall be given to persons on a mailing list developed by the permitting authority, including those who request in writing to be on the list. The department may use other means if necessary to ensure adequate notice to the affected public.

c. The public notice shall include the following:

(1) Identification of the Title V source.

(2) Name and address of the permittee.

(3) Name and address of the permitting authority processing the permit.

(4) The activity or activities involved in the permit action.

(5) The emissions change involved in any permit modification.

(6) The air pollutants or contaminants to be emitted.

(7) The time and place of any possible public hearing.

(8) A statement that any person may submit written and signed comments, or may request a public hearing, or both, on the proposed permit. A statement of procedures to request a public hearing shall be included.

(9) The name, address, and telephone number of a person from whom additional information may be obtained. Information entitled to confidential treatment pursuant to Section 114(c) of the Act or state law shall not be released pursuant to this provision. However, the contents of a Title V permit shall not be entitled to protection under Section 114(c) of the Act.

(10) Locations where copies of the permit application and the proposed permit may be reviewed and the times at which they shall be available for public inspection.

d. At least 30 days shall be provided for public comment. Notice of any public hearing shall be given at least 30 days in advance of the hearing.

e. Any person may request a public hearing. A request for a public hearing shall be in writing and shall state the person's interest in the subject matter and the nature of the issues proposed to be raised at the hearing. The director shall hold a public hearing upon finding, on the basis of requests, a significant degree of relevant public interest in a draft permit. A public hearing also may be held at the director's discretion.

f. The director shall keep a record of the commenters and of the issues raised during the public participation process and shall prepare written responses to all comments received. At the time a final decision is made, the record and copies of the director's responses shall be made available to the public.

g. The permitting authority shall provide notice and opportunity for participation by affected states as provided by 24.107(7).

(7) Permit review by the EPA and affected states.

a. Transmission of information to the Administrator. Except as provided in 24.107(2) or waived by the Administrator, the director shall make available to the Administrator each permit application or modification application, including any attachments and compliance plans; each proposed permit; and each final permit. For purposes of this subrule, the application information may be provided in a computer-readable format compatible with the Administrator's national database management system.

b. Review by affected states. The director shall provide notice of each draft permit to any affected state on or before the time that public notice is provided to the public pursuant to 24.107(6), except to the extent that 24.112(3) requires the timing of the notice to be different. If the director refuses to accept a recommendation of any affected state, submitted during the public or affected state review period, then the director shall notify the Administrator and the affected state in writing. The notification shall include the director's reasons for not accepting the recommendation(s). The director shall not be required to accept recommendations that are not based on applicable requirements.

c. EPA objection. No permit for which an application must be transmitted to the Administrator shall be issued if the Administrator objects in writing to its issuance as not in compliance with the applicable requirements within 45 days after receiving a copy of the proposed permit and necessary supporting information under 24.107(7)"a." Within 90 days after the date of an EPA objection made pursuant to this rule, the director shall submit a response to the objection, if the objection has not been resolved.

(8) Public petitions to the Administrator regarding Title V permits.

a. If the Administrator does not object to a proposed permit, any person may petition the Administrator within 60 days after the expiration of the Administrator's 45-day review period to make an objection pursuant to 40 CFR § 70.8(d).

b. Any person who petitions the Administrator pursuant to the provisions of 40 CFR § 70.8(d) shall notify the department by certified mail of such petition immediately, and in no case more than ten days following the date the petition is submitted to the EPA. Such notice shall include a copy of the petition submitted to the EPA and a separate written statement detailing the grounds for the objection(s) and whether the objection(s) was raised during the public comment period. A petition for review shall not stay the effectiveness of a permit or its requirements if the permit was issued after the end of the 45-day EPA review period and prior to the Administrator's objection.

c. If the Administrator objects to the permit as a result of a petition filed pursuant to 40 CFR § 70.8(d), then the director shall not issue a permit until the Administrator's objection has been resolved. However, if the director has issued a permit prior to receipt of the Administrator's objection, and the Administrator modifies, terminates, or revokes such permit, consistent with the procedures in 40 CFR § 70.7, then the director may thereafter issue only a revised permit that satisfies the Administrator's objection. In any case, the source shall not be in violation of the requirement to have submitted a timely and complete application.

(9) Application denial. A Title V permit application may be denied if:

a. The director finds that a source is not in compliance with any applicable requirement; or

b. An applicant knowingly submits false information in a permit application.

(10) Retention of permit records. The director shall keep all records associated with each permit for a minimum of five years.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 567-24.107

Adopted by IAB May 15, 2024/Volume XLVI, Number 24, effective 6/19/2024