SECTION 252:100-8-8. Permit review by EPA and affected states

(a)   Applicability. This Section applies to all Subchapter 8 permit actions except administrative permit amendments.

(b)   Format. To the extent practicable, information provided to the EPA by applicants shall be in computer-readable format compatible with EPA's national database management system.

(c)   Recordkeeping. The DEQ will keep for 5 years records required by this Section and will submit to the Administrator such information as the Administrator may reasonably require to ascertain whether the State program complies with the requirements of the Act or of this Chapter.

(d)   Transmission of information to EPA. The DEQ shall provide to the Administrator a copy of each permit application (including any application for permit modification), each proposed permit, and each final permit, unless waived by the Administrator for a category of sources other than major sources. In the alternative, the DEQ may require an applicant upon filing to provide a copy of the permit application (including the compliance plan) directly to the Administrator. Upon agreement with the Administrator, the DEQ may submit a permit application summary form and any relevant portion of the permit application and compliance plan, in place thereof.

(e)   Transmission of notice of draft permit to affected states. The DEQ shall give notice of each draft permit to any affected State on or before the time that this notice is provided to the public under 27A O.S. § 2-14-302, except to the extent that paragraph 8-7.2(b)(1)regarding minor permit modification applications, and 40 CFR § 70.7(e)(3)(iii) regarding group processing of minor permit modifications, requires the timing of the notice to be different.

(f)   Timelines for submission of EPA review copy. The DEQ shall review public comments, revise the draft permit as appropriate and submit the proposed permit to EPA for review no later than 60 days before the issuance deadline established in OAC 252:4-7-31, except as provided in OAC 252:4-7-9 through 4-7-11, which stop the review timeline and provide additional time for permit review.

(g)   Notice of non-acceptance. The DEQ shall notify the Administrator and any affected State in writing of any refusal by the DEQ to accept all recommendations for the proposed permit that the affected State submitted during the review period. The notice will include the DEQ's reasons for not accepting any such recommendation. The DEQ is not required to accept recommendations that are not based on applicable requirements of the Oklahoma Clean Air Act or 40 CFR Part 70.

(h)   EPA review and non-objection. Upon receipt of notice from the EPA that it will not object to a proposed permit, the DEQ shall issue the proposed permit as final unless an administrative permit hearing has been timely and properly requested.

(i)   EPA review and objection.

(1)   Timing. No permit for which an application must be transmitted to the Administrator under subsection (a) of this Section shall be issued if the Administrator objects to its issuance in writing within 45 days of receipt of the proposed permit and all necessary supporting information.

(2)   Form of objection. An EPA objection shall include a statement of the Administrator's reasons for objection and a description of the terms and conditions that the permit must include to respond to the objections.

(3)   Additional grounds. Failure of the DEQ to do any of the following also shall constitute grounds for an objection:

(A)   Comply with subsections (d) or (e) of this Section;

(B)   Submit any information necessary to review adequately the proposed permit; or

(C)   Process the permit application according to the uniform permitting requirements of OAC 252:4-7 Part 1.

(4)   Copy. The Administrator will provide the permit applicant a copy of the objection.

(5)   DEQ response. The DEQ shall consult with EPA and the applicant and shall amend the permit and submit for approval an amended proposed permit to EPA within 90 days after the date of EPA's objection.

(6)   Failure of DEQ to respond. If the DEQ fails, within 90 days after the date of the EPA objection, to amend and resubmit the amended proposed permit in response to the objection, the Administrator will issue or deny the permit in accordance with the requirements of EPA's Part 71 regulations.

(j)   Public petitions to the Administrator. If the Administrator does not object in writing under subsection (h) of this Section, any person that meets the requirements of this subsection may petition the Administrator within 60 days after the expiration of the Administrator's 45-day review period to make such objection. Any such petition shall be based only on objections to the permit that the petitioner raised with reasonable specificity during the public comment period provided for in 27A O.S. § 2-14-302.A.2., unless the petitioner demonstrates that it was impracticable to raise such objections within such period, or unless the grounds for such objection arose after such period. If the Administrator objects to the permit as a result of a petition filed under this subsection, the DEQ shall not issue the permit until EPA's objection has been resolved, except that a petition for review does not stay the effectiveness of a permit or its requirements if the permit was issued after the end of the 45-day review period and prior to an EPA objection. If the DEQ has issued a permit prior to receipt of an EPA objection under this subsection, the Administrator will modify, terminate, or revoke such permit, and shall do so consistent with the procedures in 40 CFR §§ 70.7(g)(4) or (5)(i) and (ii) except in unusual circumstances. If the DEQ revokes the permit, it may thereafter issue only a revised permit that satisfies EPA's objection. In any case, the source will not be in violation of the requirement to have submitted a timely and complete application.

(k)   Effect on administrative permit hearing. When a public petition or an EPA objection is registered on a proposed permit on which an administrative permit hearing has been requested in accordance with the Oklahoma Uniform Environmental Permitting Act, 27A O.S. §§ 2-14-101 through 2-14-401, the DEQ may stay the evidentiary part of the hearing involving cross-examination until EPA objections are resolved.

[Source: Added at 11 Ok Reg 977, eff 1-14-94 (emergency); Added at 11 Ok Reg 2031, eff 5-26-94; Amended at 13 Ok Reg 1919, eff 7-1-96; Amended at 15 Ok Reg 2590, eff 6-25-98; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 1455, eff 6-1-01; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 134, eff 10-11-01 (emergency); Amended at 19 Ok Reg 1012, eff 6-1-02]