Permit content

(a) Standard permit requirements. Part 70 permits issued under this Chapter shall include all applicable requirements and state-only requirements (as defined in OAC 252:100-8-2) that apply to the permitted source at the time of issuance. Each permit shall include the elements in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a) of this Section. (1) Emission limitations and standards. The permit shall specify emissions limitations and standards that constitute applicable requirements and state-only requirements and shall include those operational conditions and limitations necessary to assure compliance with all such requirements. (A) The permit shall specify and reference the origin of and authority for each term or condition, and identify any difference in form as compared to the applicable requirement or state-only requirement upon which the term or condition is based. (B) The permit shall state that, where an applicable requirement of the Act is more stringent than an applicable requirement of regulations promulgated under Title IV of the Act, both provisions shall be incorporated into the permit and shall be enforceable by EPA. (C) If the State implementation plan or an applicable requirement allows a source to comply through an alternative emission limit or means of compliance, a source may request that such an alternative limit or means of compliance be specified in its permit. Such an alternative emission limit or means of compliance shall be included in a source's permit upon a showing that it is quantifiable, accountable, enforceable, and based on replicable procedures. The source shall propose permit terms and conditions to satisfy these requirements in its application. (2) Permit duration. (A) Operating permits. The permit shall specify a fixed term. The DEQ shall issue permits for any fixed period requested in the permit application, not to exceed five years, except as follows: (i) Permits issued to affected sources shall in all cases have a fixed term of five years. (ii) Permits issued to solid waste incineration units combusting municipal waste subject to standards under section 129(e) of the Act shall have a term not to exceed 12 years. Such permits shall be reviewed every five years. (B) Construction permits. See OAC 252:100-8-1.4. (3) Monitoring and related recordkeeping and reporting requirements. (A) Monitoring requirements. (i) The permit shall specify all emissions monitoring and analysis procedures or test methods required under applicable requirements and state-only requirements, including any procedures and methods promulgated pursuant to sections 114(a)(3) or 504(b) of the Act. 2024_OCT_AQAC_SC8-6_RUL 2 September 3, 2024 (ii) The permit shall specify periodic monitoring during the relevant time period sufficient to yield reliable data that are representative of the source's compliance with the permit, as reported pursuant to (a)(3)(C) of this section when an applicable requirement or state-only requirement does not require periodic testing or instrumental or non-instrumental monitoring (which may consist of recordkeeping designed to serve as monitoring). Such monitoring requirements shall assure use of terms, test methods, units, averaging periods, and other statistical conventions consistent with the applicable requirement or state-only requirement. Recordkeeping provisions may be sufficient to meet the requirements of this subparagraph. (iii) The permit shall specify as necessary, requirements concerning the use, maintenance, and, where appropriate, installation of monitoring equipment or methods. (iv) The permit shall contain provisions for the permittee to request the use of alternative test methods or analysis procedures, and provisions for the DEQ to approve or disapprove the request within 60 days. (B) Recordkeeping requirements. The permit shall incorporate all applicable recordkeeping requirements. (i) When applicable the permit shall require records of required monitoring information that include: (I) the date, place as defined in the permit, and time of sampling or measurements; (II) the date(s) analyses were performed; (III) the company or entity that performed the analyses; (IV) the analytical techniques or methods used; (V) the results of such analyses; and (VI) the operating conditions existing at the time of sampling or measurement. (ii) When applicable, the permit shall require retention of records of all required monitoring data and support information for a period of at least five years from the date of the monitoring sample, measurement, report, or application. Support information includes all calibration and maintenance records and all original stripchart recordings for continuous monitoring instrumentation, and copies of all reports required by the permit. Where appropriate, the permit may specify that records may be maintained in computerized form. (C) Reporting requirements. The permit shall incorporate all applicable reporting requirements and contain the following requirements. (i) A permit issued under this Part shall require the permittee to submit a report of any required monitoring at least every six months. To the extent possible, the schedule for submission of such reports shall be timed to coincide with other periodic reports required by the permit, including the permittee's annual compliance certification. However, the reports may be submitted at any time within the reporting period, as stipulated in the permit. (ii) Each report submitted under (C)(I) (C)(i) of this paragraph shall identify any exceedances from permit requirements since the previous report that have been monitored by the monitoring systems required under the permit, and any exceedances from the monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements under the permit. (iii) In addition to semiannual monitoring reports, each permittee shall be required to submit the following supplemental reports. (I) Any exceedance resulting from an emergency as defined in OAC 252:100-8-2 or upset conditions as defined in the permit shall be reported promptly but no later than 4:30 p.m. on the next working day after the permittee first becomes aware of the exceedance. The initial report must contain a description of the emergency or 2024_OCT_AQAC_SC8-6_RUL 3 September 3, 2024 upset conditions, any steps taken to mitigate emissions, and corrective actions taken. Quantification of exceedances attributable to emergencies or upset conditions shall be made by the best available method. In accordance with OAC 252:100-9-7, the permittee shall submit a follow-up written excess emission report. If the permittee wishes to assert the affirmative defense authorized under subsection (e) of this Section for emergencies, the permittee shall submit a followup written report within 10 working days of first becoming aware of the exceedance request consideration of mitigating factors for excess emissions, the report must include all information necessary to establish the emergency under OAC 252:100-9-8. (II) Any exceedance that poses an imminent and substantial danger to public health, safety, or the environment shall be reported as soon as is practicable; but under no circumstance shall notification be more than 24 hours after exceedance. (III) Any other exceedances that are identified in the permit as requiring more frequent reporting than the permittee's semiannual report shall be reported on the schedule specified in the permit. (IV) All reports of exceedances shall identify the probable cause of the exceedances and any corrective actions or preventive measures taken. (iv) Every report submitted under this subsection shall be certified by a responsible official or designee, except that if a report of an exceedance required under (C)(iii) of this paragraph must be submitted within ten days of the exceedance, the report may be submitted in the first instance without a certification if an appropriate certification is provided within ten days thereafter, together with any corrected or supplemental information required concerning the exceedance. Reports submitted shall be consistent with the requirements of OAC 252:100-9. (4) Risk management plans. If the source is required to develop and register a risk management plan pursuant to section 112(r) of the Act, the permit need only specify that the permittee will comply with the requirement to register such a plan. Although the requirement to have a risk management plan may be a term of the permit, the risk management plan contents are not part of the permit. (5) Title IV allowances. (A) No permit revision shall be required for increases in emissions that are authorized by allowances acquired pursuant to the acid rain program, provided that such increases do not require a permit revision under any other applicable requirement. (B) No limit shall be placed on the number of allowances held by the source. The source may not, however, use allowances as a defense to noncompliance with any other applicable requirement. (C) The permit shall prohibit emissions exceeding any allowance that the source lawfully holds under Title IV of the Act or the regulations promulgated thereunder. Compliance with this paragraph will be determined on January 31st of any given year and be based on actual emissions and the number of allowances held for the previous calendar year. (6) Severability clause. The permit shall include a severability clause to ensure the continued validity of the various permit requirements in the event of a challenge to any portions of the permit. (7) General requirements. The permit shall include the following provisions. (A) The permittee must comply with all conditions of the permit. Any permit noncompliance constitutes a violation of the Oklahoma Clean Air Act and is grounds for: (i) enforcement action; (ii) permit termination, revocation and reissuance, or modification; or (iii) denial of a permit renewal application. 2024_OCT_AQAC_SC8-6_RUL 4 September 3, 2024 (B) It shall not be a defense for a permittee in an enforcement action that it would have been necessary to halt or reduce the permitted activity in order to maintain compliance with the conditions of this permit. However, nothing in this subsection shall be construed as precluding consideration of a need to halt or reduce activity as a mitigating factor in assessing penalties for noncompliance if the health, safety, or environmental impacts of halting or reducing operations would be more serious than the impacts of continuing operations. (C) The permit may be modified, revoked, reopened, and reissued, or terminated for cause. Except as provided under OAC 252:100-8-7.2(b)(1) for minor permit modifications, the filing of a request by the permittee for a permit modification, revocation and reissuance, or termination, or of a notification of planned changes or anticipated noncompliance does not stay any permit condition. (D) The permit does not convey any property rights of any sort or any exclusive privilege. (E) The permittee shall furnish to the DEQ, upon receipt of a written request and within a reasonable time, any information that the DEQ may request to determine whether cause exists for modifying, reopening, or revoking and reissuing or terminating the permit or to determine compliance with the permit. Upon request, the permittee shall also furnish to the DEQ copies of records required to be kept by the permit. The permittee may make a claim of confidentiality pursuant to 27A O.S. § 2-5-105.18 for any information or records submitted under this paragraph. (8) Fees. The permit shall provide that the permittee will pay fees to the DEQ consistent with the fee schedule established under OAC 252:100-5-2.2. (9) Emissions trading. The permit shall provide that no permit revision shall be required under any approved economic incentives, marketable permits, emissions trading and other similar programs or processes for changes that are provided for in the permit. (10) Operating scenarios. The permit shall include terms and conditions applicable to all operating scenarios described in the permit application and eligible for approval under applicable requirements and state-only requirements. The permit shall authorize the permittee to make changes among operating scenarios authorized in the permit without notice, but shall require the permittee contemporaneously with making a change from one operating scenario to another to record in a log at the permitted facility the scenario under which it is operating. (11) Emissions averaging. The permit shall include terms and conditions, if the permit applicant requests them, for the trading or averaging of emissions increases and decreases in the permitted facility, to the extent that the applicable requirements provide for trading or averaging such increases and decreases. Such terms and conditions shall include terms under subsections (a) and (c) of this Section to determine compliance and shall satisfy all requirements of the applicable requirements authorizing such trading or averaging. (b) Federally enforceable requirements. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this Section, all terms and conditions in a permit issued under this Section, including any provisions designed to limit a source's potential to emit, are enforceable by the DEQ, by EPA, and by citizens under section 304 of the Act. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (b)(1) of this Section, the DEQ shall designate as not being federally enforceable under the Act any terms and conditions included in the permit that are not required under the Act or any of its applicable requirements, and such terms and conditions shall not be enforceable by EPA and citizens under section 304 of the Act. (c) Compliance requirements. All permits issued under this Part shall contain the following elements with respect to compliance. (1) Consistent with paragraph (a)(3) of this Section, the permit shall contain compliance certification, testing, monitoring, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements sufficient to 2024_OCT_AQAC_SC8-6_RUL 5 September 3, 2024 assure compliance with the terms and conditions of the permit. Any document (including reports) required by a permit under this Part shall contain a certification by a responsible official as to the results of the required monitoring. (2) The permit shall contain inspection and entry requirements that require that, upon presentation of credentials and other documents as may be required by law, the permittee shall allow authorized officials of the DEQ to: (A) enter upon the permittee's premises during reasonable/normal working hours where a source is located or emissions-related activity is conducted, or where records must be kept under the conditions of the permit; (B) have access to and copy, at reasonable times, any records that must be kept under the conditions of the permit; (C) inspect at reasonable times and using reasonable safety practices any facilities, equipment (including monitoring and air pollution control equipment), practices, or operations regulated or required under the permit; and (D) as authorized by the Oklahoma Clean Air Act, sample or monitor at reasonable times substances or parameters for the purpose of assuring compliance with the permit. (3) The permit shall contain a schedule of compliance if required under OAC 252:100-8- 5(e)(8)(B). (4) To the extent required under an applicable schedule of compliance and OAC 252:100-8- 5(e)(8), the permit shall contain the requirement for progress reports to be submitted semiannually or more frequently if specified in the applicable requirement or by the DEQ. Such progress reports shall contain: (A) dates for achieving the activities, milestones, or compliance required in the schedule of compliance, and dates when such activities, milestones or compliance were achieved; and (B) an explanation of why any dates in the schedule of compliance were not or will not be met, and any preventive or corrective measures adopted. (5) The permit shall contain requirements for compliance certification with terms and conditions contained in the permit that are federally enforceable, including emission limitations, standards, or work practices. Each permit shall contain all of the following specifications and requirements. (A) Each permit shall specify the frequency (which shall be annually unless the applicable requirement or state-only requirement specifies submission more frequently) of submissions of compliance certifications. (B) Each permit shall specify in accordance with paragraph (a)(3) of this Section, a means for monitoring the compliance of the source with emissions limitations, standards, and work practices. (C) Each permit shall include a requirement that the compliance certification include: (i) the identification of each term or condition of the permit that is the basis of the certification; (ii) the permittee's current compliance status, as shown by monitoring data and other information available to the permittee; (iii) whether compliance was continuous or intermittent; (iv) the method(s) used for determining the compliance status of the source, currently and over the reporting period as required by paragraph (a)(3) of this Section; and (v) such other facts as the DEQ may require to determine the compliance status of the source. (D) Each permit shall contain a requirement that all compliance certifications be submitted to EPA as well as to the DEQ. 2024_OCT_AQAC_SC8-6_RUL 6 September 3, 2024 (E) Each permit shall contain such additional requirements as may be specified pursuant to sections 114(a)(3) and 504(b) of the Act. (6) Each permit shall contain such other provisions as the DEQ may require. (d) Permit shield. (1) Each operating permit issued under this Part shall include a "permit shield" provision, which shall state that compliance with the terms and conditions of the permit (including terms and conditions established for alternate operating scenarios, emissions trading, and emissions averaging, but excluding terms and conditions for which the permit shield is expressly prohibited under this Subchapter) shall be deemed compliance with the applicable requirements identified and included in the permit. (2) Upon request, the DEQ shall include in the permit or in a separate written finding issued with the permit a determination identifying specific requirements that do not apply to the source. The source shall specify in its application for such a determination the requirements for which the determination is requested. If the determination is issued in a separate finding, that finding shall be summarized in the permit. The permit shall state that the permit shield applies to any requirements so identified. A request for a determination to extend the shield to requirements deemed inapplicable to the source may be made either in the original permit application or in a subsequent application for a permit modification. (3) A Part 70 permit that does not expressly state that a permit shield exists shall be presumed not to provide such a shield. (4) Nothing in this Section or in the permit shall alter or affect: (A) the provisions of section 303 of the Act, including the authority of the Administrator under that section; (B) the liability of an owner or operator of a source for any violation of applicable requirements or state-only requirements prior to or at the time of permit issuance; (C) the applicable requirements of the acid rain program, consistent with section 408(a) of the Act; or (D) the ability of EPA to obtain information from a source pursuant to section 114 of the Act. (e) Emergencies. (1) An emergency constitutes an affirmative defense to may qualify for consideration of mitigating factors for excess emissions, as authorized in OAC 252:100-9-8, in an action brought for noncompliance with such technology-based emission limitations if the conditions of paragraph (e)(3) of this Section and the reporting requirements of OAC 252:100-8- 6(a)(3)(C)(iii)(I) are met. (2) The affirmative defense of emergency Qualification for consideration of mitigating factors shall be demonstrated through properly signed, contemporaneous operating logs or other relevant evidence that: (A) an emergency occurred and that the permittee can identify the cause(s) of the emergency; (B) the permitted facility was at the time being properly operated; (C) during the period of the emergency the permittee took all reasonable steps to minimize levels of emissions that exceeded the emission standards or other requirements in the permit. (3) In any enforcement proceeding, the permittee seeking to establish the occurrence of an emergency has the burden of proof. (4) The provision in this subsection is in addition to any emergency or upset provision contained in any applicable requirement or OAC 252:100-9. (f) Operational flexibility. 2024_OCT_AQAC_SC8-6_RUL 7 September 3, 2024 (1) Applicant's duty to apply for alternative scenarios. A facility may implement any operating scenario allowed for in its Part 70 permit without the need for any permit revision or any notification to the permitting authority. It is incumbent upon the Part 70 permit applicant to apply for any reasonably anticipated alternative facility operating scenarios at the time of initial or renewal permit application. (2) Changes resulting in no emissions increases. A permitted Part 70 source may make the following changes within the facility. (A) Such a source may make changes that are not modifications under any provision of Title I of the Act. (B) Such a source may make changes that do not cause any hourly or annual permitted emission rate of any existing emissions unit to be exceeded. (C) Such a source may make changes that result in a net change in emissions of zero, provided that the facility notifies the DEQ and EPA in writing at least 7 days in advance of the proposed changes. The source, DEQ, and EPA shall attach each such notice to their copy of the relevant permit. For each such change, the written notification required above shall include a brief description of the change within the permitted facility, the date on which the change will occur, any change in emissions, and any permit term or condition that is no longer applicable as a result of the change. The permit shield described in OAC 252:100-8-6(d) does not apply to any change made pursuant to this subsection.