Notice of Public Comment Period - Draft Air Quality Permits 7291-R1 and 7296-R2 - Vicinity Energy Baltimore Corporation

PUBLIC NOTICE

Draft Air Quality Permits 7291-R1 and 7296-R2, Vicinity Energy Baltimore Corporation
Operation of six existing, 6.0 MMBTU/hr dual fuel-fired (natural gas and No. 2 fuel oil) boilers at the Watergate Central Plant
2500 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington DC

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to 20 DCMR §210, the Air Quality Division (AQD) of the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), located at 1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor, Washington DC, proposes to issue air quality permits (Nos. 7291-R1, 7292-R1, 7293-R1, 7294-R1, 7295-R1 and 7296-R1) to Vicinity Energy Baltimore Corporation to operate six identical dual fuel-fired (natural gas and No. 2 fuel oil) boilers, rated at 6.0 MMBTU/hr heat input each, at the Watergate Central Plant located at 2500 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC. The contact person for the facility is Jesse Murphy, Operations Manager, phone number: (202) 826-6203, email: [email protected].

Boilers to be Permitted.

Emissions:

The estimated maximum annual emissions from each of the six (6) 6.0 MMBtu/hr dual fuel-fired (natural gas and No. 2 fuel-oil) boilers, assuming 8,760 hours per year of operation at maximum capacity on the most polluting fuel, are expected to be as follows:

The proposed boiler emission limits are as follows:

a. Each of the six (6) 6.0 MMBTU per hour dual fuel fired boilers shall not emit pollutants in excess of those specified in the following table [20 DCMR 201]: Note that, unless other credible evidence of a violation, such as test results required under Condition IV(a), are identified, compliance with Conditions III(a), (b), and (d) of this permit will be considered compliance with this condition.

*PM Total includes both filterable and condensable fractions.

b. Visible emissions shall not be emitted into the outdoor atmosphere except that discharges shall be permitted for two (2) minutes during any startup, cleaning, adjustment of combustion or operational controls, or regeneration of emission control equipment; provided, that such discharges shall not exceed the following opacities (unaveraged) [20 DCMR 606.1 and 606.2]:

1. When burning exclusively natural gas, twenty percent (20%); and
2. When burning fuel oil or a combination of fuel oil and natural gas, twenty-seven percent (27%).

c. Total suspended particulate matter (TSP) emissions from each of the boilers shall not be greater than 0.11 pounds per million BTU. [20 DCMR 600.1].

d. An emission into the atmosphere of odorous or other air pollutants from any source in any quantity and of any characteristic, and duration which is, or is likely to be injurious to the public health or welfare, or which interferes with the reasonable enjoyment of life or property is prohibited. [20 DCMR 903.1]

Violation of the requirements of this condition that occurs as a result of unavoidable malfunction, despite the conscientious employment of control practices, shall be an affirmative defense for which the owner or operator shall bear the burden of proof. A malfunction shall not be considered unavoidable if the owner or operator could have taken, but did not take, appropriate steps to eliminate the malfunction within a reasonable time, as determined by the Department. [20 DCMR 903.13(b)]

Note: This condition is District enforceable only.

e. NOx and CO emissions shall not exceed those achieved with the performance of combustion adjustments (tune-ups) on each boiler at least once every two years, performed pursuant to Conditions III(f) and (g) of the permits[1]. To show compliance with this condition, the Permittee shall, each calendar year, perform adjustments of the combustion processes of the boilers as specified in Conditions III(f) and (g) of the permits. [20 DCMR 805.1(b) and 20 DCMR 805.9(a) and (b)(1)]

The permit applications and supporting documentation, along with the draft permits are available for public inspection at AQD and copies may be made available between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Interested parties wishing to view these documents should provide their names, addresses, telephone numbers and affiliation, if any, to Stephen S. Ours at (202) 498-8143 or [email protected]. Copies of the draft permit and related technical support memorandum are also available in the attachments section below.

A public hearing on this permitting action will not be held unless DOEE has received a request for such a hearing within 30 days of the publication of this notice. Interested parties may also submit written comments on the permitting action. The written comments must include the person's name, telephone number, affiliation, if any, mailing address and a statement outlining the air quality issues in dispute and any facts underscoring those air quality issues. All relevant comments will be considered in issuing the final permit.

Comments on the proposed permit and any request for a public hearing should be addressed to:

S. Ours, P.E. Chief
Permitting Branch - Air Quality Division

Department of Energy and Environment
1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor
Washington, DC 20002

[email protected]

No comments or hearing requests submitted after September 8, 2026 will be accepted.

For more information, please contact Stephen S. Ours at (202) 498-8143 or [email protected].