N.M. Admin. Code § 20.2.72.214
Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 21, November 5, 2024
Section 20.2.72.214 - SOURCE CLASS EXEMPTION PROCESS (PERMIT STREAMLINING)A. Upon application by any person or group of persons, or upon the initiative of the Department, the board may exempt any source or class of sources, from any procedural requirement of this Part except the requirement to obtain a permit prior to commencement of construction if the board finds that the conditions set forth below in this section have been met. When possible, comprehensive exemptions shall be established for source classes in order to conduct expedited, streamlined permit processing for any applicant whose source is a member of such class. Exemptions may be granted only after a public hearing of the board, at which time the basis for such exemption shall be presented and any interested person allowed to comment and to question any witness. The board's decision that an exemption under this section is justified shall be based at a minimum on each of the following findings: (1) The Department has substantial actual experience with or knowledge of the specific class of sources proposed for exemption, that such experience or knowledge is material to the application for exemption, and that such experience or knowledge includes modeling and analysis of a representative sample of such sources. Such knowledge may be acquired through, but not limited to, direct Department experience with such sources, or the review of other regulatory agencies' experience, records, documentation and formal actions, or through publications of professional organizations and societies upon which engineers and scientists would conventionally rely in formulating a professional judgment;(2) The sources possess sufficiently common characteristics of operation, process technology, emissions, emission control technology and impact on air quality that with respect to the specific requirements proposed to be exempted, protocols have been developed which, if applied to all members of that class, will ensure that air quality is protected at least as well as would be accomplished by the full permit review process; and(3) Under such an exemption, compliance with all federal and state air quality laws, regulations, standards and emissions limitations will be assured.B. Exemptions may apply statewide or regionally and may be revoked by the board only after a public hearing following at least sixty days public notice.C. As may be required under federal law, all protocols established hereunder shall be submitted to the US EPA for review and approval as revisions to the State Implementation Plan. Such protocols shall be established contingent upon approval by the US EPA.D. There shall be no exemptions under this section from the requirements of 20.2.74 NMAC, 20.2.77 NMAC, 20.2.78 NMAC, or 20.2.79 NMAC.N.M. Admin. Code § 20.2.72.214