REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON
HAWAII’S DRAFT REGIONAL HAZE STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, REVISION 1
FOR THE SECOND IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD (2018-2028)
(Docket No. 23-CA-PA-14)
In accordance with 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §51.102 and Hawaii Administrative Rules §11-60.1-10, the Department of Health, State of Hawaii (DOH) is accepting public comments on the subject draft Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (RH-SIP), Revision 1 for the second implementation period of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Regional Haze Rule (RHR).
The proposed Revision 1 to the RH-SIP contains federally enforceable permit limits to address requirements of the RHR to 1) improve visibility on the most impaired days and 2) ensure no visibility degradation occurs on the clearest days for each Class I area in the state (Haleakala National Park on Maui Island and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii Island). These goals and long-term strategies for achieving the goals are included in RH-SIPs covering each ten-year (10-year) period up to 2064. Hawaii has committed to implement its long-term strategy to improve visibility including fuel switching to ultralow sulfur diesel, addon air pollution controls, and other requirements to shut down units within and outside of this second regional haze planning period. Pursuant to 40 CFR §51.308(f) of the RHR, Hawaii’s RH-SIP includes the following key elements:
Calculations of baseline, current, and natural visibility conditions; progress to date; and the uniform rate of progress for each Class I area – Chapter 3;
Statewide emission inventories of visibility impairing pollutants – Chapter 4;
Source screening including an analysis with Q/d, a more sophisticated weighted emissions potential/ area of influence (WEP/AOI) analysis, and supplemental analysis – Chapter 5;
Source specific four-factor analyses of facilities screened – Chapters 6 and 7;
Long-term strategy for regional haze including federally enforceable emission limitations and compliance schedules – Chapter 7 and Appendix P with draft permits;
Reasonable progress goals based on the regional haze controls selected – Chapter 8;
A progress report addressing the requirements of 40 CFR §51.308(g)(1) through (5) – Chapter 9;
Monitoring strategy and other implementation plan requirements – Chapter 9; and
Documentation of consultation with EPA, Federal Land Managers (FLMs), and the regulated industry – Chapter 9.
Based on the four-factor analyses, WEP/AOI rankings, and source retirement commitments in place of controls selected from the four-factor analyses, the following regional federally enforceable conditions were established in permits for five facilities:
Hawaii Island Sources:
Kanoelehua-Hill Power Plant – Permanent shut down of Boilers Hill 5 and Hill 6 by the end of 2028.
Puna Power Plant – Fuel switch from fuel oil No. 6 to ULSD for the plant’s boiler by four (4) years from permit issuance. The permit was issued on August 10, 2022, for the boiler fuel switch.
Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation Plant – Permanent shut down of main boiler by the end of 2026. The main boiler will be replaced with another unit after shut down of the existing unit.
Maui Island Sources:
Kahului Power Plant – Permanent shut down of Boilers K-1, K-2, K-3, and K-4 by the end of 2028.
Maalaea Power Plant:
o Fuel injection timing retard for Diesel Engine Generators M1 and M3 by the end of 2027.
o On and after December 31, 2027, M7 and M10-M13 must not operate without selective catalytic reduction (SCR) installed or permanently shut down by end of:
2037 for M7;
2030 for M10 and/or M11;
2032 for M10 or M11 if one of these units is shut down by the end of 2030 or installs SCR; and
2037 for M12 and M13.
The following is a link to Hawaii’s Draft RH-SIP, Revision 1 for the second planning period (2018-2028):
https://health.hawaii.gov/cab/public-notices/
The documents can be viewed in person at the following locations, Mon-Fri, 7:45 a.m.-4:15 p.m. (except on state holidays):
Oahu:
State of Hawaii
Clean Air Branch
2827 Waimano Home Road #130
Pearl City, Hawaii 96782
Hawaii:
Hawaii District Health Office, Department of Health
1582 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Clean Air Branch – Kona, Keakealani Building, Department of Health
79-1020 Haukapila Street, Room 115, Kealakekua, Hawaii 96750
Kauai:
Kauai District Health Office, Department of Health
3040 Umi St., Lihue, Kauai 96766
Maui:
Maui District Health Office, Department of Health
54 High St., Room 300, Wailuku, Maui 96793
Copies may be requested for a fee of five (5) cents/page plus postage. Please send written requests to the Clean Air Branch listed above or call Mr. Mike Madsen at the Clean Air Branch at (808) 586-4200 to request a copy.
All written comments on Revision 1 of Hawaii’s Draft RH-SIP for the second implementation period must be addressed to the Clean Air Branch at the above address on Oahu and must be postmarked or received by December 26, 2023. Any person may request a public hearing by submitting a written request to the above address on Oahu that explains the person’s interest and reasons why a hearing is warranted. If requested,
a public hearing will be held at 9:00 am on January 19, 2024. Information on the public hearing
will be posted on the Department of Health’s website at: https://health.hawaii.gov/cab/public-notices/ at least thirty (30) days in advance of the scheduled hearing date. If no request for a public hearing is received, we will post a cancellation notice on the Department of Health’s website on December 29, 2023. Please contact Mr. Madsen to find out if the hearing has been cancelled.
DOH will make a final decision on the RH-SIP after considering all comments and will send notice of the final decision to each person who has submitted comments or requested such notice.
Kenneth S. Fink, MD, MGA, MPH
Director of Health
(WHT1437921 11/27/23)
