Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-92
Section 4006.4 - Fee for certain ozone areas(a) If an area identified in a State implementation plan or any revision as a severe or extreme ozone nonattainment area has failed to meet the national primary ambient air quality standard for ozone by the applicable attainment date, each major source of volatile organic compounds (VOC's), as defined in the Clean Air Act and the regulations promulgated under the Clean Air Act, located in the area shall, except with respect to emissions during any year treated as an extension year under section 181(a)(5) of the Clean Air Act, pay a fee to the department as a penalty for such failure for each calendar year beginning after the attainment date until the area is redesignated as an attainment area for ozone. This fee shall be assessed and collected following the process for collection and assessment of a civil penalty contained in section 9.1. (b)(1) The fee shall equal five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), adjusted in accordance with clause (3) of this subsection, per ton of VOC emitted by the source during the calendar year in excess of eighty per centum (80%) of the baseline amount, computed under clause (2) of this subsection. The fee shall be in addition to all other fees required to be paid by the source.(2)(i) For purposes of this section, the baseline amount shall be computed, in accordance with such guidance as the administrator may provide, as the lower of the amount of actual VOC emissions (referred to as actuals) or VOC emissions allowed under the permit applicable to the source or, if no such permit has been issued for the attainment year, the amount of VOC emissions allowed under the applicable implementation plan (referred to as allowables) during the attainment year.(ii) Notwithstanding subclause (i) of this clause, the administrator may issue guidance authorizing the baseline amount to be determined in accordance with the lower of average actuals or average allowables determined over a period of more than one (1) calendar year. This guidance may provide that the average calculation for a specific source may be used if that source's emissions are irregular, cyclical or otherwise vary significantly from year to year.(3) The fee amount under clause (1) of this subsection shall be adjusted annually, beginning 1991 in accordance with subsections (h) and (i) of section 6.3. (c) For areas with a total population under two hundred thousand (200,000) which fail to attain the standard by the applicable attainment date, no sanction under this section or under any other provisions of this act shall apply if the area can demonstrate, consistent with guidance issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, that attainment in the area is prevented because of ozone or ozone precursors transported from other areas. The prohibition applies only in cases in which the area has met all requirements and implemented all measures applicable to the area under the Clean Air Act.1960, Jan. 8, P.L. (1959) 2119, § 6.4, added 1992, July 9, P.L. 460, No. 95, § 9, imd. effective.