Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
Division of Air Quality
GENERAL NOTICE
REGISTER NOTICE
SAN# 2013-04
1. TITLE OF state implementation plan rEVISION:
State Implementation Plan Revision to Address the Clean Air Act Section 110 Infrastructure Elements for the 2010 Sulfur Dioxide NAAQS
2. BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE SUBJECT, SUBSTANCE AND ISSUES:
On June 2, 2010, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strengthened the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for the pollutant sulfur dioxide (SO2), by adding a new standard of 75 parts per billion. Section 110(a)(1) of the CAA requires States to submit to the EPA a State Implementation Plan (SIP) that provides for implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of a newly promulgated or revised NAAQS.Section 110(a)(2) lists the elements that are to comprise the implementation plan, which include basic program elements such as enforceable emission limitations and control measures, air quality monitoring and modeling, a permitting program, adequate funding and personnel, authority under state law to carry out the plan, emissions reporting, emergency powers, public participation, and fee collection. Because there have been NAAQS in existence for many years that cover the pollutant SO2, the CAA 110 requirements are already substantially addressed in Delaware’s SIP. The proposed SIP document discusses how Delaware’s SIP meets each requirement of Section 110(a)(2)(A)-(M) of the CAA for the 2010 SO2 NAAQS.
3. POSSIBLE TERMS OF THE AGENCY ACTION:
None
4. STATUTORY BASIS OR LEGAL AUTHORITY TO ACT:
7 Delaware Code, Chapter 60, Environmental Control
5. OTHER REGULATIONS THAT MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE PROPOSAL:
None
6. NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT:
Interested parties may submit comments in writing to Jack Sipple, Division of Air Quality, Blue Hen Corporate Center, 655 S. Bay Road, Suite 5N, Dover, DE 19901, and/or statements and testimony may be presented either orally or in writing at the public hearing to be held on Wednesday, April 24, 2013, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the conference room of the Kent County Building, 555 South Bay Road, Room 220. Dover, Delaware 19901.
7. PREPARED BY:
Jack Sipple (302) 739-9402 March 11, 2013
Email address: john.sipple@state.de.us
Effective August 23, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established a new 1-hour primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide (SO2) at a level of 75 parts per billion (ppb), based on a 3-year average of the annual 99th percentile of 1-hour daily maximum concentrations.1 Pursuant to sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), each state is required to submit to the EPA a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to provide for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of a newly promulgated or revised NAAQS.2 This SIP revision fulfills this requirement relative to the 2010 SO2 NAAQS.
A SIP is a state plan that identifies how that state will attain and maintain air quality that conforms to each primary and secondary NAAQS. The SIP is a complex, fluid document containing regulations, source-specific requirements, and non-regulatory items such as plans and emission inventories.
Delaware’s initial SIP was approved by the EPA on May 31, 1972. Since this initial approval, the Delaware SIP has been revised numerous times to address air quality non-attainment and maintenance issues. This was done by updating plans and inventories, and adding new and revised regulatory control requirements. Delaware’s SIP is compiled in the Code of Federal Regulations at 40 C.F.R. Part 52 Subpart I.
Section 2.0 of this document is a revision to Delaware’s SIP. The purpose of this SIP revision is to detail how Delaware meets all of the necessary implementation, maintenance, and enforcement measures required by the CAA, specifically, CAA §110(a)(2), relative to the 2010 SO2 NAAQS. Under the heading “Delaware’s Plan” in Section 2.0 of this document Delaware provides a revision to its SIP to address those requirements of Section 110(a)(2)(A)-(M) of the CAA which have not been addressed in other SIP revisions. It is a compilation of certain elements that describe how the 2010 SO2 NAAQS is being implemented, maintained and enforced. The elements of this SIP revision, once approved by EPA, will provide a federally enforceable written confirmation that Delaware will continue to comply with the Section 110(a)(1) and (2) requirements of the CAA.
Legislative authority for the Delaware air quality program relating to the responsibilities in the CAA is codified in Title 7 “Conservation” of the Delaware Code, Chapter 60 – Delaware’s comprehensive water and air resources conservation law3, which gives the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) the power and duty to implement the provisions of the CAA in the State of Delaware.
Many of the miscellaneous requirements of Section 110(a)(2)(A)-(M) of the CAA relevant to the 2010 SO2 NAAQS are already contained in Delaware’s SIP. The following Table identifies those SIP provisions. The following Table also identifies those infrastructure requirements which are not applicable to Delaware.
Table 1-1 110(a)(2)(A)-(M) Requirements in the Current State of Delaware SIP
Section 110(a) element
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Summary of element
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Provisions in the Current Delaware SIP or recent SIP revisions Submittals
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Where Codified or approved by EPA
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§110(a)(2)(A)
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Include enforceable emission limitations and other control measures, means, or techniques (including economic incentives such as fees, marketable permits, and auctions of emissions rights), as well as schedules and timetables for compliance as may be necessary or appropriate to meet the applicable requirements of this Act.
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For the 2010 SO2 NAAQS, the following emission limitations and schedules contained in Delaware’s approved SIP.
§ 7 DE Admin. Code 11014 Definitions And Administrative Principles
§ 7 DE Admin. Code 1108, Sulfur Dioxide Emissions From Fuel Burning Equipment
7 DE Admin. Code 1109,
7 DE Admin. Code 1110,
7 DE Admin. Code 1127, Stack Heights
7 DE Admin. Code 1136,
§ 7 DE Admin. Code 1144, Stationary Generator Emissions, November 1, 2007
§ 7 DE Admin. Code 1145, Excessive Idling Of Heavy Duty Vehicles
, August 12, 2005
§ 7 DE Admin. Code 1146 Electric Generating Unit (EGU) Multi-Pollutant Regulation
, November 21, 2006
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40 CFR 52.420(c)
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§110(a)(2)(B)
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Provide for establishment and operation of appropriate devices, methods, systems, and procedures necessary to - (i) monitor, compile, and analyze data on ambient air quality, and (ii) upon request, make such data available to the Administrator.
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7 DE Admin. Code 1117 Source Monitoring, Record Keeping And Reporting and 7 DE Admin. Code 1103, Ambient Air Quality Standards, provides for the establishment and operation of procedures necessary to monitor, compile and analyze data related to ambient air quality.
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40 CFR 52.420(c)
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§110(a)(2)(C)
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Include a program to provide for the enforcement of the measures described in subparagraph (A) and regulation of the modification and construction of any stationary source within the areas covered by the plan as necessary to assure that national ambient air quality standards are achieved, including a permit program as required in parts C and D;
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Delaware implements its Construction and Operation Permit Program requirements under 7 DE Admin. Code 1102 and 1125. These existing permitting programs ensure that the construction and modification of both major and minor stationary sources do not cause or contribute to a violation of the SO2 NAAQS.
7 DE Admin Code 1125 fulfills parts C and D of Title I of the CAA; governing preconstruction review and permitting of any new or modified major stationary sources of air pollutants. 1125 is approved in the DE SIP. Under 1125 any major source or modification that results in a net significant increase of SO2 (40 TPY or greater) must apply Best Available Control Technology (BACT) to reduce SO2 emissions.
7 DE Admin. Code 1102 provides for the evaluation and necessary regulation of any stationary source that emits equal to or greater than 0.2 lb of any air contaminate, including SO2, in any one day.
In addition, the measures described in CAA 110(a)(2)(A) are enforced, in part, through permits issued pursuant to DE Admin. Codes 1102 and 1125.
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40 CFR 52.420(c)
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§110(a)(2)(E)(iii)
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(iii) necessary assurances that, where the state has relied on a local or regional government, agency, or instrumentality for the implementation of any plan provision, the state has responsibility for ensuring adequate implementation of such plan provision;
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The requirements of §110(a)(2)(E)(iii) are not applicable to Delaware because it does not rely on localities for specific SIP implementation.
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§110(a)(2)(F)
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Require, as may be prescribed by the Administrator—
(i) the installation, maintenance, and replacement of equipment, and the implementation of other necessary steps by owners or operators of stationary sources to monitor emissions from such sources,
(ii) periodic reports on the nature and amounts of emissions and emissions-related data from such sources, and
(iii) correlation of such reports by the state agency with any emission limitations or standards established pursuant to this Act, which reports shall be available at reasonable times for public inspection;
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§110(a)(2)(F)(i): Specific monitoring requirements are found throughout the State of Delaware Regulations Governing the Control of Air Pollution, to include to DE Admin. Codes 1117 and 1103. These requirements are included in Delaware’s SIP, as necessary.
§110(a)(2)(F)(ii): Specific emission reporting requirements are found throughout the State of Delaware Regulations Governing the Control of Air Pollution, to include DE Admin. Code 1117. These requirements are included in Delaware’s SIP.
These regulations in Delaware’s approved SIP that are listed in 40 CFR 52.420(c) also apply to the 2010 SO2 NAAQS.
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40 CFR 52.420(c)
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§110(a)(2)(G)
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Provide for authority comparable to that in section 303 and adequate contingency plans to implement such authority;
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7 DE Admin. Code 1115, Air Pollution Alert and Emergency Plan, contains emergency episode plan provisions that are currently approved in Delaware’s SIP.
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40 CFR 52.420(c)
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§110(a)(2)(I)
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In the case of a plan or plan revision for an area designated as a nonattainment area, meet the applicable requirements of part D (relating to nonattainment areas);
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Part D pertains to general requirements for nonattainment areas. This does not apply because no part of Delaware is designated nonattainment for the 2010 SO2 NAAQS.
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§110(a)(2)(J)
(PSD)
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Meet the applicable requirements of part C (relating to prevention of significant deterioration of air
quality and visibility protection);
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Delaware’s PSD requirements are promulgated in 7 DE Admin. Code 1125, Preconstruction Review.
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4. Delaware's air quality regulations are codified in Delaware's administrative code, - Title 7 Natural Resources and Environmental Control, 1100 Air Quality Management Section. Citations are expressed in this document as "7 DE Admin. Code" followed by the specific subpart of 1100. All portions of the DE Admin. Code referred to in this document are already included in Delaware's SIP.
This SIP revision addresses those requirements of Section 110(a)(2)(A)-(M) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) which have not been addressed in other SIP revisions for the 2010 SO2 NAAQS. Each of the requirements of §110(a)(2) of the CAA (Subparagraphs A–M) is presented below, along with a discussion of Delaware’s plan revision to meet the requirement.
(A) §110(a)(2)(A) Requirement: Include enforceable emission limitations and other control measures, means, or techniques (including economic incentives such as fees, marketable permits, and auctions of emissions rights), as well as schedules and timetables for compliance, as may be necessary or appropriate to meet the applicable requirements of this Act.
Delaware’s Plan: Delaware has established laws and regulations that include enforceable emissions limitations and other control measures, means or techniques, as well as schedules and timetables for compliance to meet the applicable requirements of the CAA, to include the requirements associated with the 2010 SO2 NAAQS. Delaware may make changes to its laws and regulations that it believes in its discretion are appropriate, while continuing to fulfill this obligation.
At present, Delaware’s statutory authority is set out in Title 7 “Conservation” of the Delaware Code, Chapter 60 – Delaware’s comprehensive water and air resources conservation law. Legislative authority giving the Secretary of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control the authority to promulgate Regulations is codified at 7 Del.C., Chapter 60. This authority is applicable to the 2010 SO2 NAAQS.
(B) §110(a)(2)(B) Requirement: Provide for establishment and operation of appropriate devices, methods, systems, and procedures necessary to (i) monitor, compile, and analyze data on ambient air quality, and (ii) upon request, make such data available to the Administrator.
Delaware’s Plan: Delaware has established and currently operates appropriate devices, methods, systems and procedures necessary to monitor, compile and analyze data on ambient air quality, and upon request, makes such data available to the Administrator. Delaware will continue to operate devices, methods, systems and procedures and may make changes that it believes in its discretion are appropriate, while continuing to fulfill this obligation. At present, Delaware does this as follows for the 2010 SO2 NAAQS:
(C) §110(a)(2)(C) Requirement: Include a program to provide for the enforcement of the measures described in subparagraph (A), and regulation of the modification and construction of any stationary source within the areas covered by the plan as necessary to assure that national ambient air quality standards are achieved, including a permit program as required in parts C and D.
Delaware’s Plan: Delaware has established and currently operates a program to provide for the enforcement of the enforceable emission limitations and other control measures, means, or techniques, as well as schedules and timetables for compliance, as may be necessary or appropriate to meet the applicable requirements of the CAA and to regulate the modification and construction of any stationary source within areas covered by its SIP as necessary to assure the NAAQS are achieved, including permit programs required in parts C and D. At present, Delaware, through its Division of Air Quality, exercises its programmatic authority to utilize the enforcement powers set out in 7 Del.C. §6005 entitled “Enforcement; civil and administrative penalties; expenses”; 7 Del.C. §6013 entitled “Criminal penalties”; and 7 Del.C. §6018 entitled “Cease and desist order.” Delaware will continue to operate this program and may makes changes that it believes in its discretion are appropriate, while continuing to fulfill this obligation.
(D) §110(a)(2)(D) Requirement: Contain adequate provisions – (i) prohibiting, consistent with the provisions of this title, any source or other type of emissions activity within the State from emitting any air pollutant in amounts which will - (I) contribute significantly to non-attainment in, or interfere with maintenance by, any other State with respect to any such national primary or secondary ambient air quality standard, or (II) interfere with measures required to be included in the applicable implementation plan for any other State under part C to prevent significant deterioration of air quality or to protect visibility, (ii) insuring compliance with the applicable requirements of sections 126 4 and 115 5 (relating to interstate and international pollution abatement).
Delaware’s Plan: Delaware’s SIP presently contains adequate provisions prohibiting sources from emitting air pollutants in amounts which will contribute significantly to non-attainment or interfere with maintenance with any NAAQS, to include the 2010 SO2 NAAQS, and to prevent interference with measures related to preventing significant deterioration of air quality or which have to date proved adequate to protect visibility and to address interstate and international pollutant abatement; however, Delaware may make changes that it believes in its discretion are appropriate, while continuing to fulfill this obligation. At present, Delaware’s legal authority is contained in the following:
(E) §110(a)(2)(E) Requirement: Provide (i) necessary assurances that the state (or, except where the Administrator deems inappropriate, the general purpose local government or governments, or a regional agency designated by the state or general purpose local governments for such purpose) will have adequate personnel, funding, and authority under state (and, as appropriate, local) law to carry out such implementation plan (and is not prohibited by any provision of federal or state law from carrying out such implementation plan or portion thereof), (ii) requirements that the State comply with the requirements respecting State boards under section 128,8 and (iii) necessary assurances that, where the state has relied on a local or regional government, agency, or instrumentality for the implementation of any plan provision, the state has responsibility for ensuring adequate implementation of such plan provision.
The elements of §110(a)(2)(E) (iii) are not applicable to Delaware as discussed in Section 1.0 of this document.
Delaware’s Plan: For §110(a)(2)(E)(i), Delaware has adequate authority under state law pursuant to 7 Del. C. Chapter 60 to carry out its SIP obligations with respect to the 2010 SO2 NAAQS. DNREC does not believe that there is any prohibition in any federal or state law that would prevent it from carrying out its SIP or any portion thereof. Further, DNREC assures EPA that it has, through the State of Delaware General Fund and through the Title V fee program, and will continue to have, funding to carry out its SIP obligations. Further, DNREC believes its funding sources are sufficient to provide adequate personnel for those purposes; however, Delaware may makes changes that it believes in its discretion are appropriate, while continuing to fulfill this obligation.
At present Delaware fulfills this obligation by virtue of having adequate personnel and funding through the CAA §105 grant process (federal grant funds), the State of Delaware general fund (state tax revenues), and appropriated special funds collected by the State of Delaware from application fees, permit fees, renewal fees, and civil or administrative penalties or fines under 7 Del.C. Chapter 60. The Division of Air Quality is responsible for developing, implementing, and enforcing the SIP. Delaware does not anticipate the need for additional resources beyond those to be appropriated in the above manner to carry out its SIP requirements.
For §110(a)(2)(E)(ii), Delaware finalized a SIP document that satisfies CAA §110(a)(2)(E)(ii) and §128 by including in the SIP applicable requirements of 29 Del.C., Ch. 58, “Laws Regulating the Conduct of Officers and Employees of the State.” This final document was submitted to the EPA as a SIP revision on January 11, 2013.
(F) §110(a)(2)(F) Requirement: Require, as may be prescribed by the Administrator - (i) the installation, maintenance, and replacement of equipment, and the implementation of other necessary steps, by owners or operators of stationary sources to monitor emissions from such sources, (ii) periodic reports on the nature and amounts of emissions and emissions-related data from such sources, and (iii) correlation of such reports by the State agency with any emission limitations or standards established pursuant to this Act, which reports shall be available at reasonable times for public inspection.
Delaware’s Plan: Delaware requires that owners or operators of stationary sources monitor and submit periodic reports on the nature and amounts of SO2 emissions and emissions related-data from the sources. This may include the installation, maintenance and replacement of equipment, where appropriate. This information submitted to DNREC is available to the public at reasonable times for public inspection pursuant to Delaware law. Delaware will continue to require reporting of emissions but may makes changes that it believes in its discretion are appropriate, while continuing to fulfill this obligation.
Except as specifically exempted by the Delaware Freedom of Information Act, 29 Del.C. Chapter 100, Delaware makes all records, reports or information obtained by the Department or referred to at public hearings available to the public pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Freedom of Information Act, 29 Del. C. Chapter 100.
(G) §110(a)(2)(G) Requirement: Provide for authority comparable to that in section 303 and adequate contingency plans to implement such authority; 9
Delaware’s Plan: Delaware has authority comparable to that in section 303 and adequate contingency plans to implement such authority but may makes changes that it believes in its discretion are appropriate, while continuing to fulfill this obligation.
7 Del.C. §6003(a)(1) requires a permit from the Secretary prior to discharging any air contaminant. 7 Del.C. §6002(2) defines air contaminant essentially as any substance other than uncombined water. 7 Del.C. §6005 allows the Secretary to seek a preliminary or permanent injunction or temporary restraining order for any discharge of an air contaminant without a permit, and issue cease and desist orders for violations (7 Del.C. §6018). Thus, it necessarily follows that any discharge of an air contaminant, including SO2, that would cause imminent & substantial endangerment to the health, safety and welfare of the people of the State of Delaware or the environment would constitute a sufficient basis for the Secretary to seek an injunction or temporary restraining order to halt the violation.
(H) §110(a)(2)(H) Requirement: Provide for revision of such plan - (i) from time to time as may be necessary to take account of revisions of such national primary or secondary ambient air quality standard or the availability of improved or more expeditious methods of attaining such standard, and (ii) except as provided in paragraph (3)(C), whenever the Administrator finds on the basis of information available to the Administrator that the plan is substantially inadequate to attain the national ambient air quality standard which it implements or to otherwise comply with any additional requirements established under this Act.
Delaware’s Plan: Delaware will review and revise its SIP from time to time as may be necessary to take account of revisions of such primary or secondary NAAQS or the availability of improved or more expeditious methods of attaining such standard and whenever the Administrator finds on the basis of information available to the Administrator that the plan is substantially inadequate to attain the NAAQS which it implements or to otherwise comply with any additional requirements established under the CAA.
(I) §110(a)(2)(I) Requirement: In the case of a plan or plan revision for an area designated as a non-attainment area, meet the applicable requirements of part D (relating to non-attainment areas).
Delaware’s Plan: This does not apply because no part of Delaware is designated nonattainment for the 2010 SO2 NAAQS.
(J) §110(a)(2)(J) Requirement: Meet the applicable requirements of section 121 (relating to consultation), section 127 (relating to public notification), and part C (relating to prevention of significant deterioration of air quality and visibility protection). 10
Delaware’s Plan: Delaware will meet the applicable requirements of section 121 (relating to consultation), section 127 (relating to public notification), and part C (relating to prevention of significant deterioration of air quality and visibility protection); but may makes changes that it believes in its discretion are appropriate, while continuing to fulfill this obligation. At present, Delaware does so utilizing the following:
(K) §110(a)(2)(K) Requirement: Provide for - (i) the performance of such air quality modeling as the Administrator may prescribe for the purpose of predicting the effect on ambient air quality of any emissions of any air pollutant for which the Administrator has established a national ambient air quality standard, and (ii) the submission, upon request, of data related to such air quality modeling to the Administrator.
Delaware’s Plan: Delaware has the authority and technical capability to conduct air quality modeling in order to assess the effect on ambient air quality of relevant pollutant emissions, and will continue to perform modeling as necessary, but may make changes that it believes in its discretion are appropriate, while continuing to fulfill this obligation. Delaware will continue to submit to the EPA the Air Quality modeling data as part of Delaware's relevant SIP submissions, permit actions, and through federal grant commitments or in other ways that EPA may request.
(L) §110(a)(2)(L) Requirement: Require the owner or operator of each major stationary source to pay to the permitting authority, as a condition of any permit required under this Act, a fee sufficient to cover - (i) the reasonable costs of reviewing and acting upon any application for such a permit, and (ii) if the owner or operator receives a permit for such source, the reasonable costs of implementing and enforcing the terms and conditions of any such permit (not including any court costs or other costs associated with any enforcement action), until such fee requirement is superseded with respect to such sources by the Administrator's approval of a fee program under Title V.
Delaware’s Plan: In a manner consistent with Delaware law, Delaware will continue to require the owner or operator of each major stationary source to pay to the permitting authority, as a condition of any permit required under this Act, a fee sufficient to cover (i) the reasonable costs of reviewing and acting upon any application for such a permit, and (ii) if the owner or operator receives a permit for such source, the reasonable costs of implementing and enforcing the terms and conditions of any such permit (not including any court costs or other costs associated with any enforcement action), until such fee requirement is superseded with respect to such sources by the Administrator’s approval of a fee program under title V pursuant to Delaware law. Delaware currently fulfills this under the enabling authority of 7 Del.C. §§6095 to 6099 and fee legislation that currently is renewed every three years. Delaware has a fully approved Title V operating permits program. See paragraphs (b) and (c) under “Delaware” in Appendix A to 40 CFR Part 70—Approval Status of State and Local Operating Permits Programs. Delaware may make changes that it believes in its discretion are appropriate, while continuing to fulfill this obligation.
(M) §110(a)(2)(M) Requirement: Provide for consultation and participation by local political subdivisions affected by the plan.
Delaware’s Plan: Delaware will continue to provide for consultation and participation by local political subdivisions affected by the SIP pursuant to the public notice laws found in 7 Del.C. §6006 and 6010 and 29 Del.C. Chapters 10003, 10004 and 10115, as applicable. Furthermore, all SIP revisions undergo public notice and hearing which have allowed for comment by the public which includes local political subdivisions. The public notice and hearing processes fulfill the requirements for consultation with local political subdivisions affected by the SIP.
Based on the information provided above, Delaware fully complies with the requirements of §110(a)(2)(A) through §110(a)(2)(M) for the 2010 SO2 NAAQS.