Public Notice
Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Notice of Proposed Air Permit for Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)
and Request For Comments
Facility No. 712-0037

Morgan COUNTY

On May 06, 2019, Nucor Steel Decatur, LLC submitted a complete Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Permit application for the proposed construction of a new 120 MMBtu/hr galvanizing line; a third ladle metallurgical furnace station; four (4) new electric arc furnace transformers, upgrading from the current rating of 75 megavolt-ampere (MVA) to 123 MVA, but capping the rating to 90 MVA; increase in slab width to 68 inches; addition of an eighth casting segment on both existing casters; upgrade the existing charge crane; and increase the annual molten steel production limit from 3.2 million tons per year (TPY) to 3.6 million TPY and 440 tons per hour (tph) to 540 tph.. This facility is located at 4301 Iverson Blvd in Trinity, Alabama.

The proposed modification is subject to the requirements of the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) regulations as set forth in ADEM Admin. Code r. 335-3-14-.04.  An ADEM-Air Division technical staff preliminary determination indicates:

  1. Best Available Control Technology (BACT) is represented for control of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOC), sulfur dioxide (SO2), lead (Pb), and greenhouse gases (CO2e).  In determining BACT, the Department considered the impact of the control technology on air pollutants that may be emitted by the source including those not regulated by the Clean Air Act.  A discussion of how BACT was determined is included in the Department’s preliminary determination.
  1. The source is located approximately 43 kilometers from the Sipsey Wildnerness Area (a federal PSD Class I area). This proposed project would consume the following increments:

Pollutant

Class I % Increment
Consumption

Class II % Increment
Consumption

SO2, 1-hour

 

 

SO2, 3-hour

8.72%

2.46%

SO2, 24-hour

8.60%

5.19%

SO2, Annual

1.50%

1.40%

PM10, 24-hour

0.38%

1.97%

PM10, Annual

0.08%

0.59%

PM2.5, 24-hour

1.75%

6.44%

PM2.5, Annual

0.30%

2.50%

NO2, 1-hour

 

 

NO2, Annual

1.20%

3.12%

CO, 1-hour

 

 

CO, 8-hour

 

 

PB (Lead), Quarterly

 

 

  1. The maximum combined pollutant concentration from Nucor Steel Decatur, LLC would be less than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).  The NAAQS are levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency which identify the ambient concentration necessary to protect human health and welfare with an adequate margin of safety.

ADEM has determined that the limitations proposed by the company would properly limit emissions.

The following are links to the preliminary determination and permit application:

Preliminary Determination
Permit Application

Persons wishing to comment may do so, in writing, to the Department’s named contact below within 30 days following the publication date of this notice.  In order to affect final decisions, comments must offer technically substantial information that is applicable to the proposed application.  All comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., July 1, 2019.

Ronald W. Gore, Chief
ADEM-Air Division
1400 Coliseum Blvd.
[Mailing address: PO Box 301463; Zip 36130-1463]
Montgomery, AL 36110-2400
(334) 271-7861

A written request for a public hearing may also be filed within that 30-day period and must state the nature of the issues proposed to be raised in the hearing.  The Director shall hold a public hearing whenever it is found, on the basis of hearing requests, that there exists a significant degree of public interest in the permit application. 

After consideration of all written comments, review of any public hearing record, and consideration of the requirements of the Alabama Air Pollution Control Act, the Federal Clean Air Act and applicable regulations, the Department will make a final determination.  The Department will develop a response to comments, which will become part of the public record and will be posted to the Department’s eFile system.  Notice will be sent to any person requesting notice of the final action.

The administrative record for this action, along with other information on file, will be available in eFile.  Select Media Area “Air”, enter the facility number shown above as the Permit Number, select Document Type “Permitting”, and press Search.  The most recent documents will be listed at the top by default.  The Document Type may also be left blank, which will list all available air files for this facility.

The Department maintains a list of interested individuals who are mailed legal notices regarding proposed permits.  If you wish to receive such notices, please sign up here.

This notice is hereby given this May 30, 2019, by authorization of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

___________________________
Lance LeFleur
Director

Nondiscrimination Statement: The Department does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in the administration of its programs.