Public Notice: Revision to the Taconite Regional Haze Federal Implementation Plan (MI and MN)
Summary
EPA proposes a revision of the Federal Implementation Plan that will establish required limits for nitrogen oxide and/or sulfur dioxide for five taconite facilities: Tilden Mining Company (Ishpeming, Michigan); Minorca Mine (Virginia, Minnesota); Northshore Mining Company (Silver Bay, Minnesota); United Taconite, also known as UTAC, (Forbes, Minnesota), and Hibbing Taconite Company (Hibbing, Minnesota).
EPA proposes final nitrogen oxide limits for Tilden, Hibbing, UTAC, and Minorca. EPA is also proposing final sulfur dioxide limits for the Tilden, Hibbing, Minorca, and Northshore facilities. The Federal Implementation Plan sets these limits in accordance with Best Available Retrofit Technology requirements set forth under the Clean Air Act.
EPA originally issued a Federal Implementation Plan for taconite facilities in Michigan and Minnesota in 2013. The original plan set nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide limits for seven taconite facilities subject to Best Available Retrofit Technology requirements in Michigan and Minnesota.
In 2016, EPA revised the Federal Implementation Plan to set new limits for four of these taconite facilities and required the facilities to submit monitoring data to EPA to confirm or modify those emission limits. This revision proposes to complete the process established in the original and 2016 plans for five of the seven facilities by finalizing nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emission limits that are either within ranges established in the 2016 plan or calculated by procedures from the original 2013 plan.
Public Hearing
EPA will also hold a virtual public hearing on December 19, 2024 for parties interested in presenting data, views, or arguments on the proposal. The hearing will convene at 10 a.m. CST and conclude at 2 p.m. CST, or 15 minutes after the last presenter in attendance has presented.
Registration
Pre-register to attend or present at the virtual public hearing. Use the online registration form or contact Mayesha Choudhury ([email protected]) or 312-886-5909 to register.
If you would like to present at the meeting, please register by December 16, 2024.
Additional Resources
Docket Numbers
- EPA-R05-OAR-2024-0215