TITLE 326 AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DIVISION

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is soliciting public comment on amendments to rules at 326 IAC 2-1.1-3 concerning the operation of short term backup units. IDEM seeks comment on the affected citations listed and any other provisions of Title 326 that may be affected by this rulemaking.

The provisions of 326 IAC 2-1.1-3 identify specific conditions under which emission units, operations, or processes are exempt from Indiana's air permitting requirements including registrations, permits, modification approvals, or operating permit revisions. When an existing permitted emission unit or its control device at a source needs to be taken offline due to either a failure or a planned maintenance event, a different emission unit or control device often needs to be inserted into the process in its place in order for the process to continue operating. The repairs to the permitted units often last longer than thirty (30) days. The current rules do not allow an exemption for this scenario, even though the short term backup unit is often nearly identical to the unit being pulled offline for repair, and there would be no increase in emissions or decrease in control levels. Therefore, the sources that wish to use or rent a short term backup unit for this purpose must submit a request for a modification of their registration or permit and get approval prior to bringing these units onsite or operating the backup units. For the source, this can result in additional downtime, lost productivity, extra costs in seeking approval for modification of the registration or permit, and the risk of being in violation of the rule if a backup unit is used to continue operations. For IDEM, there are costs associated with reviewing registration and permit modification requests and the perception of inconsistencies in the granting of exceptions.

IDEM is proposing changes to 326 IAC 2-1.1-3 to allow for the use of acceptable short term backup emission units or control devices as part of normal operations to qualify as an exemption and to be used in the process while repairs or maintenance are completed to the original equipment in a reasonable amount of time, without the loss of efficiency or extra costs for IDEM or for the source. The source will still be required to comply with all existing permit terms and conditions, and IDEM will coordinate with U.S. EPA to ensure that these changes meet federal requirements.

IDEM seeks comment on the affected citations listed, including suggestions for specific language, any other provisions of Title 326 that may be affected by this rulemaking, and alternative ways to achieve the purpose of the rulemaking.

Potential Fiscal Impact of Alternative 1. This alternative will have a positive fiscal impact for each source that would save on the cost and time of applying for a registration, permit modification, or variance for the repair or maintenance events each time there is an occurrence. The source could also minimize downtime if it could quickly change out the emission unit without waiting for the permit modification for a short term condition. IDEM staff time and effort would be saved in reviewing and processing registration and permit requests.

Potential Fiscal Impact of Alternative 2. There would be no fiscal impact with this alternative because there would be no changes to the current rule.

IDEM established a compliance and technical assistance program (CTAP) under IC 13-28-3. The program provides assistance to small businesses and information regarding compliance with environmental regulations. In accordance with IC 13-28-3 and IC 13-28-5, there is a small business assistance program ombudsman to provide a point of contact for small businesses affected by environmental regulations. Information on the CTAP program and other resources available can be found at:

For purposes of IC 4-22-2-28.1, small businesses affected by this rulemaking may contact the Small Business Regulatory Coordinator:

Angela Taylor

IDEM Small Business Regulatory Coordinator/CTAP Small Business Liaison

IGCN 1316

100 North Senate Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251

(317) 233-0572 or (800) 988-7901

ctap@idem.in.gov

For purposes of IC 4-22-2-28.1, the Small Business Ombudsman designated by IC 4-4-35-8 is:

Robert Warner

Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship

One North Capitol, Suite 600

Indianapolis, IN 46204

(317) 232-5679

ombudsman@osbe.in.gov

Resources available to regulated entities through the small business ombudsman include the ombudsman's duties stated in IC 4-4-35-8, specifically IC 4-4-35-8(9), investigating and attempting to resolve any matter regarding compliance by a small business with a law, rule, or policy administered by a state agency, either as a party to a proceeding or as a mediator.

The Small Business Assistance Program Ombudsmen are:

Steven N. Howell and Brian Rockensuess

IDEM Small Business Assistance Program Ombudsman/Office of Government and Community Affairs

IGCN 1301

100 North Senate Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251

(317) 232-8587, (317) 234-3386, or (800) 451-6027

snhowell@idem.in.gov or brockens@idem.in.gov

At this time, no work group is planned for the rulemaking. If you feel that a work group or other informal discussion on the rule is appropriate, please contact Jack Harmon, Rules Development Branch, Office of Legal Counsel at (317) 234-9535 or (800) 451-6027 (in Indiana).

At this time, IDEM solicits the following:

(1) The submission of alternative ways to achieve the purpose of the rule.

(2) The submission of suggestions for the development of draft rule language.

Comments may be submitted in one of the following ways:

(1) By mail or common carrier to the following address:

LSA Document #16-309 Short Term Backup Units

Jack Harmon

Rules Development Branch

Office of Legal Counsel

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

Indiana Government Center North

100 North Senate Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251

(2) By facsimile to (317) 233-5970. Please confirm the timely receipt of faxed comments by calling the Rules Development Branch at (317) 232-8922.

(3) By electronic mail to jaharmon@idem.in.gov. To confirm timely delivery of submitted comments, please request a document receipt when sending the electronic mail. PLEASE NOTE: Electronic mail comments will NOT be considered part of the official written comment period unless they are sent to the address indicated in this notice.

(4) Hand delivered to the receptionist on duty at the thirteenth floor reception desk, Office of Legal Counsel, Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Regardless of the delivery method used, in order to properly identify each comment with the rulemaking action it is intended to address, each comment document must clearly specify the LSA document number of the rulemaking.

All comments must be postmarked, faxed, or time stamped not later than August 19, 2016. Hand-delivered comments must be delivered to the appropriate office by 4:45 p.m. on the above-listed deadline date.

Additional information regarding this action may be obtained from Jack Harmon, Rules Development Branch, Office of Legal Counsel (317) 234-9535 or (800) 451-6027 (in Indiana).

Nancy King, Chief

Rules Development Branch

Office of Legal Counsel

DIN: 20160720-IR-326160309FNA

Composed: Apr 25,2024 9:29:36AM EDT

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