49-480.03. Federal hazardous air pollutant program; date specified by administrator; prohibition

A. The board of supervisors shall adopt by rule a program for administration and enforcement of the federal hazardous air pollutant program established by section 112 of the clean air act. The program shall be consistent with and meet the requirements of section 112 of the clean air act and shall contain the following provisions:

1. After the date specified by the administrator in rules adopted pursuant to section 112 (g)(1)(B) of the clean air act, no person may obtain a permit or permit revision to modify a major source of federally listed hazardous air pollutants or to construct a new major source of federally listed hazardous air pollutants, unless the control officer determines that the person will install the maximum achievable control technology for the modification or new major source. For purposes of this paragraph, the terms " major source" and " modification" have the meanings set forth in section 112(a) of the clean air act and implementing regulations adopted by the administrator. A new or modified major source of federally listed hazardous air pollutants means a major source that commences construction or a modification after rules adopted by the board of supervisors pursuant to this subsection become effective. A physical change to a source or change in the method of operation of a source is not a modification subject to this paragraph or paragraph 2 of this subsection if the change complies with section 112(g)(1) of the clean air act.

2. After the date specified by the administrator in rules adopted pursuant to section 112 (g)(1)(B) of the clean air act and until the administrator adopts emissions standards establishing the maximum achievable control technology for a source category or subcategory that includes a source subject to paragraph 1 of this subsection, the control officer shall determine the maximum achievable control technology for the modification or the new major source on a case-by-case basis. If on the basis of this case-by-case determination of the maximum achievable control technology the control officer determines that it is not feasible to prescribe or enforce an emission standard, a maximum achievable control technology standard imposed pursuant to this paragraph may consist of a design, equipment, work practice or operational standard, or a combination thereof.

3. If an existing source submits an application pursuant to section 49-480 which demonstrates that the source has achieved a reduction of ninety per cent or more of federally listed hazardous air pollutants or ninety-five per cent in the case of federally listed hazardous air pollutants that are particulates, the control officer shall issue a permit or permit revision allowing the source to meet an alternative emission limitation reflecting such reduction in lieu of an emission limitation promulgated by the administrator under section 112(d) of the clean air act. The application shall comply with section 112(i)(5) of the clean air act and implementing regulations adopted by the administrator. The alternative emission limitation shall apply for a period of six years from the compliance date otherwise applicable to the source under section 112(d) of the clean air act.

4. If the administrator fails to adopt a standard for a source category or subcategory within eighteen months after the deadline established for that category or subcategory pursuant to section 112(e)(1) and (3) of the clean air act, the owner or operator of an existing major source in the category or subcategory shall be required to submit a permit application for such source pursuant to section 49-480, and the control officer, acting in accordance with the procedures adopted pursuant to section 49-480, shall be required to issue a permit establishing maximum achievable control technology for the affected source on a case-by-case basis or, in the alternative, an alternative emission limitation pursuant to paragraph 3 of this subsection. If the control officer determines that it is not feasible to prescribe or enforce an emission standard, a maximum achievable control technology standard imposed pursuant to this paragraph may consist of a design, equipment, work practice or operational standard, or a combination thereof.

5. When the administrator adopts and makes effective standards pursuant to section 112(d) or 112(f) of the clean air act the board of supervisors shall adopt those standards in the same manner as prescribed by the administrator.

6. When a reliable method of measuring emissions of a hazardous air pollutant subject to this section is not available, the control officer shall not require compliance with a numeric emission limit for that pollutant but shall instead require compliance with a design, equipment, work practice or operational standard, or a combination of those standards. The provision adopted pursuant to this paragraph shall not apply to sources or modifications that commence construction after the permit program established pursuant to section 49-426 becomes effective under section 502(h) of the clean air act.

B. Where the clean air act has established provisions, including specific schedules, for the regulation of source categories pursuant to section 112(e)(5) and 112(n) of the clean air act, those provisions and schedules shall apply to the regulation of those source categories under subsection A of this section.

C. For any category or subcategory of facilities licensed by the nuclear regulatory commission, the control officer shall not adopt or enforce any standard or limitation respecting emissions of radionuclides which is more stringent than the standard or limitation adopted by the administrator pursuant to section 112 of the clean air act.

D. When the administrator makes one of the following findings pursuant to section 112(n)(1)(A) of the clean air act the finding is effective for purposes of the county's administration and enforcement of the federal hazardous air pollutant program in the same manner as prescribed by the administrator:

1. A finding that regulation is not appropriate or necessary.

2. A finding that alternative control strategies should be applied.

E. Notwithstanding any other law, a county board of supervisors shall not adopt and the control officer shall not enforce a rule or ordinance that requires compliance with subsection A, paragraph 1 or 2 of this section until after the date specified by the administrator as provided in subsection A, paragraphs 1 and 2 of this section.