
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 249 (Friday, December 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 76479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-31315]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9765-4]


Clean Air Act Operating Permit Program: Order Responding to 
Petition for Objection to State Operating Permit for U.S. Steel--
Granite City Works, Granite City, Illinois

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of final order on petition to object to Clean Air Act 
(Act) operating permit.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document announces that the EPA Administrator has 
partially granted and partially denied a petition from the 
Interdisciplinary Environmental Clinic at the Washington University 
School of Law, submitted to EPA on behalf of the American Bottom 
Conservancy (Petitioner). The Petitioner objected to the operating 
permit issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) 
for the U.S. Steel--Granite City Works (USGW) facility, located in 
Granite City, Illinois.
    Sections 307(b) and 505(b)(2) of the Act provide that a petitioner 
may ask for judicial review of those portions of the petition which EPA 
denies in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate 
circuit. Any petition for review shall be filed within 60 days from the 
date this notice appears in the Federal Register, pursuant to section 
307 of the Act.

ADDRESSES: You may review copies of the final order, the petition, and 
other supporting information at the EPA Region 5 Office, 77 West 
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. If you wish to examine 
these documents, you should make an appointment at least 24 hours 
before visiting day. Additionally, the final order for the USGW 
petition is available electronically at: http://www.epa.gov/region07/air/title5/petitiondb/petitions/uss_2nd_response2009.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Ogulei, Environmental Engineer, 
Air Permits Section, Air Programs Branch, Air and Radiation Division, 
EPA, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, 
telephone (312) 353-0987.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Act affords EPA a 45-day period to 
review and object, as appropriate, to Title V operating permits 
proposed by state permitting authorities. Section 505(b)(2) of the Act 
authorizes any person to petition the EPA Administrator within 60 days 
after the expiration of the EPA review period to object to a Title V 
operating permit if EPA has not done so. A petition must be based only 
on objections to the permit that were raised with reasonable 
specificity during the public comment period provided by the state, 
unless the petitioner demonstrates that it was impracticable to raise 
issues during the comment period, or the grounds for the issues arose 
after this period.
    On August 16, 2011, the Petitioner filed a petition requesting that 
EPA object to issuance of the USGW Title V permit pursuant to section 
505(b)(2) of the Act and 40 C.F.R. Sec.  70.8(d). The Petitioner 
alleges that (1) the permit's use of emission factors fails to provide 
periodic monitoring designed to ensure compliance with permit limits 
and lacks practical enforceability; (2) several permit limits lack 
adequate periodic monitoring requirements to ensure compliance with the 
limits; (3) the permit fails to respond to EPA's Order dated January 
21, 2011, with respect to excess emissions associated with startup, 
breakdown, and malfunctions; and (4) the permit fails to respond to 
EPA's Order to include applicable requirements from the related 
construction permit for a new Gateway Energy & Coke Company coke plant 
that IEPA considers to be part of the USGW facility.
    On December 3, 2012, the Administrator issued an order partially 
granting and partially denying the petition. The order explains the 
reasons behind EPA's conclusion.

    Date: December 14, 2012.
Susan Hedman,
Regional Administrator, Region 5.
[FR Doc. 2012-31315 Filed 12-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


