raisede-mail

1LawOfficeofKathrynM.
Amirpashaie,PLC406BlueRidgeAvenueNE,Leesburg,Virginia20176KathrynM.
AmirpashaieTelephone:703.
771.
8394E-Mail:kmalawoffice@gmail.
comJanuary31,2018VIACERTIFIEDMAILAdministratorScottPruittU.
S.
EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyMailcode:1101A1200PennsylvaniaAvenue,N.
W.
Washington,D.
C.
20460RE:NoticeofIntenttoSueundertheFederalCleanAirActDearAdministratorPruitt:Thisletterprovidesnotice,pursuantto42U.
S.
C.
§7604(b),thattheSierraClubintendstofileacitizensuitagainsttheUnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency("EPA")andtheAdministratoroftheEPA,basedonyourfailuretoperformanondiscretionarydutysetforthunderTitleVoftheCleanAirAct("CAA"or"Act").
Specifically,SierraClubintendstofilesuitoveryourfailureto,withinthetimeframerequiredby42U.
S.
C.
§7661d(b)(2),grantordenythepetitionsubmittedbySierraClubseekinganobjectionbyEPAtothesignificantTitleVpermitmodification,PermitNo.
561209(hereafter"ProposedPermit"),proposedbytheTennesseeDepartmentofEnvironmentandConservation("TDEC")forTennesseeValleyAuthority'sGallatinFossilPlant("Gallatin").
SierraClub'spetitionwasdeliveredviaelectronicfilingtoEPAonNovember20,2017.
Asoftoday,morethan60dayshavepassedwithoutEPAtakingactiononsaidpetition,inviolationoftheAdministrator'snondiscretionarydutyunderCAAsection505(b)(2)tograntordenythepetitionwithin60daysafteritwasfiled.
See42U.
S.
C.
§7661d(b)(2).
I.
GallatinIsSubjecttoTitleVoftheCleanAirActTitleVoftheCAArequiresspecifiedsourcesofairpollutiontoobtainanoperatingpermitfromapermittingauthority.
42U.
S.
C.
§7661a(a).
Tennessee'sconstructionand2operatingpermitprogramshavebeenapprovedbyEPAand,accordingly,TDECisresponsibleforissuingTitleVpermitstofacilitieswithintheState.
SeeTennesseeAirPollutionControlRegulationsChapter1200-03-09;seealso40C.
F.
R.
Part70,AppendixA,Tennessee(a)(2)("TheState'soperatingpermitprogramisherebygrantedfinalfullapprovaleffectiveonNovember30,2001.
").
Gallatin'scurrentTitleVpermitwasissuedonJune30,2016,andexpiresJune29,2021.
OnJune28,2017,TDECissuedaPublicNoticeofaproposedsignificantmodificationtoTitleVPermitNo.
561209,forpublishingintheSumnerCountyNews-ExamineronJuly7,2017.
Perthatnotice,publiccommentswereduebyAugust9,2017.
OnAugust9,2017,SierraClubsubmittedtimelycommentsontheProposedPermit.
Inpertinentpart,SierraClub'scommentsraisedissuewith:thepermit'sunacceptablylaxcompliancemechanismsforopacity,particulatematter("PM"),andfugitivedustemissions;itsfailuretoincludeappropriatemonitoringandreportingprovisionstoensurecompliancewitha2011ConsentDecree;itsimpermissiblestartup/shutdown/malfunctionprovisions;anditsfailuretosetforthanappropriateshort-termsulfurdioxide("SO2")emissionslimit.
II.
EPAFailedtoGrantorDenySierraClub'sPetitiontoObjecttotheProposedPermitfortheGallatinPlantwithintheStatutorilyRequiredTimeFrameAsperCAAsection505(b)(1),within45daysofreceiptofaproposedTitleVpermit,theAdministratoroftheEPA"shall.
.
.
object"tothepermit'sissuanceifit"containsprovisionsthataredeterminedbytheAdministratorasnotincompliancewiththeapplicablerequirementsof[theCAA],includingtherequirementsofanapplicableimplementationplan.
"42U.
S.
C.
§7661d(b)(1).
IfEPAdoesnotobjectduringthisperiod,anypersonmaypetitiontheAdministratorforissuanceofanobjectionwithin60daysaftertheexpirationofthe45-dayreviewperiod.
42U.
S.
C.
§7661d(b)(2).
Accordingly,thetimingforEPAtoobjecttotheProposedPermitforGallatinandforthepublictopetitionEPAtoobjecttotheProposedPermitwasasfollows:EPA's45-dayreviewperiodendedonNovember5,2017,andthe60-daypublicpetitionperiodendedonJanuary4,2018.
SeeEPARegion4ProposedTitleVPermitsPublicPetitionDeadlinesforTennessee,attachedheretoasExhibit1.
EPAdidnotobjecttotheGallatinProposedPermitwithintheallotted45-daytimeframe.
Consequently,SierraClubfiledapetitiontoobjecttotheProposedPermitonNovember20,2017,within60daysoftheexpirationofEPA's45-dayreviewperiod,inaccordancewith42U.
S.
C.
§7661d(b)(2).
ThePetitiontoEPAwasproperlybasedonissuesraisedduringthepubliccommentperiodfortheProposedPermit.
Specifically,thePetitionraisedobjectionstotheProposedPermit'simpermissiblylaxcompliancerequirementsforopacityandPManditsunreasonablypermissiveSO2limit.
AccordingtoCAAsection505(b)(2),theAdministratorwasrequiredtorespondtoSierraClub'sNovember20,2017petitionwithin60days,eithergrantingordenyingthePetition.
423U.
S.
C.
§7661d(b)(2)("TheAdministratorshallgrantordenysuchpetitionwithin60daysafterthepetitionisfiled.
").
However,asoftoday,EPAhasyettorespondtothepetitiontoobjecttotheGallatinTitleVPermit.
III.
CitizensMaySueEPAforFailuretoTimelyGrantorDenyaPetitiontoObjectSection304(a)(2)oftheCAAprovidesthatanypersonmaysuetheAdministratoroftheEPA"wherethereisallegedafailureoftheAdministratortoperformanyactordutyunderthischapterwhichisnotdiscretionary.
"42U.
S.
C.
§7604(a)(2).
Section505(b)(2)oftheCAAexpresslyprovidesthatthe"Administratorshallgrantordeny[apetitiontoobject]within60daysafterthepetitionisfiled.
"42U.
S.
C.
§7661d(b)(2)(emphasisadded).
Thisprovisionimposesamandatory,nondiscretionarydutyuponEPAtoactwithin60daysofthefilingofapetitionunderthissection.
Accordingly,intheeventthattheAdministratorfailstoperformthisnondiscretionaryduty,citizensmaybringsuittocompelsuchaction.
IV.
SierraClubIntendstoFileaCitizenSuittoCompelEPAtoGrantorDenythePetitiontoObjectSierraClubfiledatimelypetitiontoobjecttotheProposedTitleVPermitforGallatinonNovember20,2017.
TheAdministratorhad60days—untilJanuary19,2018—tograntordenythepetitiontoobjecttotheProposedPermit.
See42U.
S.
C.
§7661d(b)(2).
AsofJanuary31,2018,theAdministratorhasnotyetgrantedordeniedthePetitiontoObject.
Therefore,theAdministratorhasfailedtoperformthenondiscretionarydutytograntordenySierraClub'sPetitionwithinthestatutorilymandatedtimeframe,inviolationof42U.
S.
C.
§7661d(b)(2).
TheCAArequirescitizenstoprovidetheAdministratorwith60days'noticepriortobringinganactionunderCAAsection304(a)(2)wherethereisallegedafailureoftheAdministratortoperformanyactordutyunderthischapterwhichisnotdiscretionarywiththeAdministrator.
42U.
S.
C.
§7604(b)(2);seealso40C.
F.
R.
54.
2(a).
Accordingly,throughthisletter,SierraClubherebynotifiesEPAandtheAdministratorofitsintenttofilesuitagainstEPAandtheAdministratoroftheEPAunderCAAsection304(a)(2)forfailingtoperformthenondiscretionarydutyofgrantingordenyingSierraClub'sNovember20,2017petitiontoobjecttotheProposedTitleVPermitrenewalforGallatin.
Iftheviolationremainsunresolvedattheendofthe60-daynoticeperiod,SierraClubintendstoseekthefollowingrelief:1.
AnordercompellingEPAandtheAdministratortograntordenySierraClub'sPetitionwithin60daysfromthedateoftheorder;2.
Attorneys'feesandotherlitigationcosts;and3.
Otherappropriatereliefasallowed.
Ifyouwouldliketodiscussthemattersidentifiedinthisletterorofferaproposalforresolvingthisissue,pleasecontactmedirectlyatkmalawoffice@gmail.
comor(703)771-8394.
4Sincerely,/sKathrynAmirpashaie_KathrynM.
Amirpashaie,Esq.
LawOfficeofKathrynM.
Amirpashaie,PLC406BlueRidgeAvenueNELeesburg,VA20176Tel.
:703.
771.
8394E-mail:kmalawoffice@gmail.
comZacharyM.
Fabish,Esq.
TheSierraClub50FStreetNW,EighthFloorWashington,DC20009Tel.
:202.
675.
7917E-mail:zachary.
fabish@sierraclub.
orgCounselfortheSierraClubccviae-mailonly:MichaelLee(lee.
michaelg@epa.
gov)HowardHoffman(hoffman.
howard@epa.
gov)EXHIBIT111/19/2017TennesseeProposedTitleVPermits|PermittingUndertheCleanAirAct|USEPAhttps://www.
epa.
gov/caa-permitting/tennessee-proposed-title-v-permits1/4We'vemadesomechangestoEPA.
gov.
Iftheinformationyouarelookingforisnothere,youmaybeabletofinditontheEPAWebArchiveortheJanuary19,2017WebSnapshot.
TennesseeProposedTitleVPermitsThefollowingpermitshavebeensubmittedtoEPARegion4asProposedTitleVpermits.
WhileEPAhastherighttoa45-dayreviewperiodforallProposedTitleVpermits,EPARegion4targetsonlyasubsetofthesepermitsforcomprehensivereview.
TofindoutwhichpermitshavebeentargetedforEPARegion4review,pleasecontacttheRegion4staffperson(s)listedatthebottomofthispage.
PermitsundergoingsequentialreviewPermitsundergoingparallelreviewReturntoRegion4ProposedTitleVPermitsandStateContactsTitleVPermitsUndergoingSequentialReview**StateCountySourceNamePAPermitNumber45-DayReviewEnds(sequential)PetitionDeadlineTNSullivanHolstonArmyAmmunitionPlant(AreaA)5681919/25/201711/24/2017TNHawkinsHolstonArmyAmmunitionPlant(AreaB)5681889/25/201711/24/2017TNRoaneHorseheadCorporation5625479/28/201711/27/2017TNSumnerTVA-GallatinFossilPlant56120911/5/20171/4/201811/19/2017TennesseeProposedTitleVPermits|PermittingUndertheCleanAirAct|USEPAhttps://www.
epa.
gov/caa-permitting/tennessee-proposed-title-v-permits2/4TitleVPermitsUndergoingParallelReview**StateCountySourceNamePAPermitNumber45-DayReviewEnds(parallel)PetitionDeadlineTN-ParallelTNSullivanEastmanChemicalCompany(MSOP-21)5724098/14/201711/13/2017TNSullivanEastmanChemicalCompany(MSOP-13)5723898/3/201711/13/2017TNRoaneUSDept.
OfEnergyOakRidge5713598/19/201711/15/2017TNHawkinsHolstonArmyAmmunitionPlant(AreaB)5681887/3/201611/24/2017TNSullivanHolstonArmyAmmunitionPlant(AreaA)5681917/4/201611/24/2017TNRoaneHorseheadCorporation5625472/28/201611/27/2017TNMadisonMissouriSmeltingTechnologies,Inc-MOSTInc.
5667829/3/201712/4/2017TNShelbyArcherDanielsMidlandCompany0038-01TV10/30/201712/19/201711/19/2017TennesseeProposedTitleVPermits|PermittingUndertheCleanAirAct|USEPAhttps://www.
epa.
gov/caa-permitting/tennessee-proposed-title-v-permits3/4StateCountySourceNamePAPermitNumber45-DayReviewEnds(parallel)PetitionDeadlineTNGreeneDelfasco,LLC5705389/25/201712/25/2017TNMcMinnResoluteFPUSInc.
-CalhounOperations-54-001256381010/2/20171/1/2018TNRoaneTVA-KingstonFossilPlant5721499/28/20171/1/2018TNSumnerTVA-GallatinFossilPlant5612098/21/20171/4/2018TNGreenPlusMark,Inc.
57174610/12/20171/11/2018TNBlountArconicInc.
-NorthPlant56808910/14/20171/15/2018TNWeakleyTVA-GleasonCombustionTurbinePlant57166010/27/20171/25/2018TNWarrenBridgestoneAmericasTireOperations,LLC56987410/28/20171/26/2018TNLoudonTate&LyleIngredientsAmericas,LLC56151510/28/20171/26/201811/19/2017TennesseeProposedTitleVPermits|PermittingUndertheCleanAirAct|USEPAhttps://www.
epa.
gov/caa-permitting/tennessee-proposed-title-v-permits4/4StateCountySourceNamePAPermitNumber45-DayReviewEnds(parallel)PetitionDeadlineTNShelbySt.
Jude'sChildrenResearchHospital00465-01TV11/2/20172/2/2018TNLincolnGoodmanCompany,L.
P.
56642211/25/20172/26/2018TNMarshallEastTennesseeNaturalGas,LLC-Station320657200211/25/20172/26/2018TNObionTitanTireCorporation56046912/11/20173/12/2018TNCheathamStateIndustries,Inc.
56249612/16/20173/16/2018TNAndersonOakRidgeY-12NationalSecurityComplex57183212/17/20173/16/2018*SequentialReviewmeanstheEPA45-dayreviewperioddoesnotbeginuntilthe30-daypubliccommentperiodends.
ThedeadlineforthepublictopetitionEPAis60daysaftertheEPA45-dayreviewperiodends.
**ParallelReviewmeanstheEPA45-dayreviewperiodrunsconcurrentlywiththe30-daypubliccommentperiodandendsnoearlierthan15daysaftertheendofthepubliccommentperiod.
ThedeadlineforthepublictopetitionEPAis60daysaftertheEPA45-dayreviewperiodends,calculatedasiftheTitleVpermitwasundersequentialreview(i.
e.
,thepetitiondeadlinewillbethesameregardlessofwhetherParallelorSequentialReviewisfollowed.
)ForinformationaboutthecontentsofthispagepleasecontactEvaLand