Public Notice:
Request for Comments
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 7
PROPOSED
Modification of Synthetic Minor Source Permit
MBCH (Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel) PERMIT R7-TMNSR-2023-001
Public Comment Period: Sept. 1 to Sept. 30, 2023
This public notice is issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 (EPA). EPA is seeking comments on the draft Synthetic Minor Source Permit for the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel (MBCH) located at 1504 305th Street, Tama, IA 52339, within the exterior boundaries of the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa (Meskwaki Nation) Indian Settlement. The facility is owned and operated by the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa (Permit Applicant). The Permit Applicant’s facility contact is Facilities Director Jeff Kajer ([email protected], 641-484-1558).
The MBCH facility includes six diesel-fired engine generators and one natural gas-fired generator (also known as RICE, Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine). Four of the diesel-fired RICEs are non-emergency RICEs used for peak load management, storm avoidance, and emergency backup power. Two diesel-fired RICEs are used as backup units. Additionally, MBCH has several fuel tanks, natural gas-fired boilers, furnaces and water heaters, and cooking food emission units. The MBCH facility also includes four induced-draft cooling towers that provide comfort cooling for the MBCH buildings.
The current permitting action includes replacement and installation of new emission units including a natural gas-fired emergency engine, related to Laundry and HVAC project upgrades. MBCH submitted application letters to EPA, dated Oct. 21, 2020, and April 5, 2022. The project upgrades have emissions below the minor source thresholds in Table 1 of 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 49.153. However, the nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission compliance formula from natural gas combustion units requires revision to include the additional natural gas-fired engine. Therefore, the NOx emission limit compliance formula stated in the original Synthetic Minor Source Permit (issued on Sept. 10, 2019, by EPA Region 7) was modified to incorporate new emission limits from the project upgrades. Other minor language changes were done to make the permit more streamlined. Appendix C of the permit indicates changes made to the original Synthetic Minor Source Permit for this modification.
EPA promulgated a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) for Indian country at 40 CFR 49.151 through 49.165. The FIP includes federal minor New Source Review regulations for the protection of air resources in Indian country. EPA is charged with direct implementation of the program regulations where there is no approved Tribal Implementation Plan. This draft permit has been developed pursuant to 40 CFR 49.158, which creates an air permitting mechanism for major sources that wish to voluntarily limit emissions to become synthetic minor sources. This draft permit includes emission limits that reduce the facility’s potential emissions of NOx to less than major source thresholds. This draft permit also includes monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements necessary to assure compliance with the emission limits, which are similar to the original Synthetic Minor Source Permit issued on Sept. 10, 2019 (permit number R7-TMNSR-2019-002).
HOW TO PROVIDE COMMENTS: Any interested individual may submit written comments on EPA’s draft permit for the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel. Comments must specify any reasonable ascertainable issue with supporting arguments in writing by mail or email to:
Rumela Bhadra
Tribal Air Permits Coordinator
Air Permitting and Planning Branch (APPB)
Air and Radiation Division (ARD)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 11201 Renner Boulevard
Lenexa, KS 66219
Phone: 913-551-7366
[email protected]
or through www.regulations.gov (Docket ID# EPA-R07-OAR-2019-0446)
EPA will consider and respond to all comments received by the end of the 30-day comment period in making the final decision regarding the issuance of the permit. Similar comments may be grouped together in the response and EPA will not respond to individual commenters directly.
Please note that all comments will be included in the Administrative Record without change and may be made available to the public, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Thus, CBI or other protected information should be clearly identified as such and should not be submitted through email. Emails sent directly to EPA will capture your email address automatically and will be included as a part of the public comment. Please note that an email or postal address must be provided with your comments if you wish to receive responses to comments submitted during the public comment period and direct notification of EPA’s final decision regarding the permit. An extension of the 30-day comment period may be granted if the request for an extension adequately demonstrates why additional time is required to prepare comments.
Will there be a Public Hearing? If EPA determines that there is a significant amount of public interest in the draft permit, EPA will hold a public hearing. Any request for a public hearing must be in writing by mail or email and must state the nature of the issues proposed to be raised at the hearing. The request must be received by the end of the 30-day comment period. If a public hearing is held, the public comment period will automatically be extended to the close of the public hearing.
Availability of Permit Information: You may review copies of the draft permit and supporting documents at the following locations:
www.regulations.gov (Docket ID# EPA-R07-OAR-2019-0446)
or
U.S. EPA Region 7
11201 Renner Boulevard
Lenexa, KS 66219
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Contact: Rumela Bhadra at 913-551-7366 or [email protected]
What happens next? EPA will review and consider all comments received during the public comment period. Following this review, EPA may issue the permit as drafted, issue a modified permit based on comments, or deny the permit. The final permit action will be in accordance with 40 CFR section 49.159 and posted at www.regulations.gov (Docket ID# EPA-R07-OAR-2019-0446).
