Iowa Admin. Code r. 567-21.2

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, December 11, 2024

Rule 567-21.2 - Variances

(1)Application for variances. A person may make an application for a variance from applicable rules or standards specified in this title.

a.Contents. Each application for a variance shall be submitted to the director and state the following:

(1) The name, address, email address, and telephone number of the person submitting the application or, if such person is a legal entity, the name and address of the individual authorized to accept service of process on its behalf and the name of the person in charge of the premises where the pertinent activities are conducted.

(2) The type of business or activity involved.

(3) The nature of the operation or process involved, including information on the air contaminants emitted and the estimated amount and rate of discharge of such emissions.

(4) The exact location of the operation or process involved.

(5) The reason or reasons for considering that compliance with the provisions specified in these rules will produce serious hardship without equal or greater benefits to the public, and the reasons why no other reasonable method can be used for such operations without resulting in a hazard to health or property.

(6) Each application shall contain certification of truth and accuracy by a responsible official as defined in 567-24.100(455B). This certification shall state that, based on information and belief formed after reasonable inquiry, the statements and information provided are true and accurate.

b.Variance extension. A person may make an application for a variance extension prior to expiration of an approved variance.

(2)Processing of applications. Each application for a variance and its supporting material shall be reviewed, and an investigation of the facilities shall be made, by the department for evaluation of the following:

a. Whether or not the emissions involved will produce the following effects:

(1) Endanger or tend to endanger the health of persons residing in or otherwise occupying the area affected by said emissions.

(2) Create or tend to create safety hazards, such as (but not limited to) interference with traffic due to reduced visibility.

(3) Damage or tend to damage any property on land that is affected by said emissions and under other ownership.

b. The reason or reasons for considering that compliance with the provisions specified in these rules will produce serious hardship without equal or greater benefits to the public, and the reasons why no other reasonable method can be used for such operations without resulting in a hazard to health or property.

(3)Trial burns for alternative fuels. An alternative fuel shall be defined as a fuel for which the emissions from combusting the fuel are not known and shall exclude natural gas, coal, liquid propane, and all petroleum distillates.

a.Variance from construction permit. The director may grant a variance for the purpose of testing an alternative fuel and quantifying the emissions from the alternative fuel, except as prohibited under 21.2(4)"c."

b.Baseline testing. In addition to submitting the information required in 21.2(1), the applicant may be required to submit baseline emission data for all applicable pollutants as a condition of approval.

c.Source testing. Emissions testing deemed necessary for any pollutant may be required as a condition of the variance and shall be conducted in accordance with 21.10(7)"a."

(4)Decision.

a.Granting of variance. The director shall grant a variance when the director concludes that the action is appropriate. The variance may be granted subject to conditions specified by the director. The director shall specify the time intervals as are considered appropriate for submission of reports on the progress attained.

b.Denial of variance. The director shall deny a variance when the director concludes that the action is appropriate. The applicant may request a review hearing before the commission if the application is denied.

c.Ineligibility for variance. The director shall not grant a variance from any of the following requirements:

(1) Case-by-case maximum achievable control technology (MACT), 567-paragraph 22.1(1)"b";

(2) Prevention of significant deterioration (PSD), 567-Chapter 33, to the extent that variances may not be granted from the preconstruction review and permitting program specified under 567-Chapter 33 (formerly 567-22.4 (455B)), or from any PSD requirement contained in a PSD permit issued under 567-Chapter 33, or from any PSD requirement contained in a PSD permit issued under 40 CFR Section 51.166 or 52.21;

(3) New source performance standards, 567-subrule 23.1(2);

(4) Emission standards for hazardous air pollutants, 567-subrule 23.1(3);

(5) Emission standards for hazardous air pollutants for source categories, 567-subrule 23.1(4); or

(6) Emission guidelines, 567-subrule 23.1(5).

Iowa Admin. Code r. 567-21.2

Adopted by IAB May 15, 2024/Volume XLVI, Number 24, effective 6/19/2024