Notice of Public Review and Request for Comments

Draft Federal Part 70 Permit for SoCalGas La Goleta Stationary Source  

The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (District) has issued a draft federal Part 70 permit to the Southern California Gas Company for the La Goleta stationary source, located at 1171 More Road in Goleta.  SoCalGas (a Sempra Energy subsidiary) has owned and operated this plant since the 1940s.  Natural gas purchased by SoCalGas from regional oil and gas plants is brought to the La Goleta site, compressed and stored in underground depleted gas reservoirs.  During heavy demand periods, this gas is withdrawn from the reservoir, purified, dehydrated, and transferred into sales pipelines. The La Goleta facility is considered a major stationary source for carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides emissions.  

Permitting Action

This permitting action is the third renewal of the federal Part 70 permit for the facility. Once issued by the District and the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the Part 70 permit will be valid for three years.  The permit will be enforceable by the USEPA and the public.  

Public Comment Procedures

Copies of the permit application, the draft permit, and support materials, are available for review from May 4, 2009, to June 5, 2009, on this website on this page, and at the following location:  

Santa Barbara County APCD
260 N. San Antonio Rd, Ste. A
Santa Barbara, CA 93110

 Only the federally enforceable conditions in Sections 9.A, 9.B, and 9.C of the permit are subject to public review. Comments on these sections should be submitted, in writing, to the District by June 5, 2009.  Issues relevant to the Part 70 permit raised during the comment period will be addressed in writing by the District as part of the final permit issuance.  For more information or a copy of the permit, please contact Ben Ellenberger at (805) 961-8879 or at cbe@sbcapcd.org.   

The District will consider scheduling a hearing for public comments on the draft permit, if a request is made in writing, within two weeks of publication of this notice. To request a public hearing, please send correspondence to Ben Ellenberger at the above address. 

                                                                                                                             Published Sunday, May 3, 2009