All News Releases By Date

U.S. EPA Authorizes Air Permit Program for Guam

Release Date: 1/15/2003
Contact Information: Mike Ardito, U.S. EPA, (415) 972-3081, Dean Higuchi, U.S. EPA, (808) 541-2711

     SAN FRANCISCO   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last week granted interim approval of an air permit program to the Guam Environmental Protection Agency effective March 10, 2003.

     Facilities on Guam are exempt from requirements under Title V of the 1990 federal Clean Air Act Amendments, provided permits from Guam EPA's alternate operating permit program were received by Jan. 13, 2003.  Any facility that failed to receive a permit by the Jan. 13 deadline is no longer exempt and must apply for a federal Title V operating permit by Jan. 13, 2004.  However, once Guam's air permit program becomes effective, if the facility receives an operating permit from Guam EPA, the facility no longer needs to apply for a federal Title V operating permit.

     In addition, Guam EPA will have two years to revise its program and receive full approval from the U.S. EPA for the alternate operating permit program.  Guam must:

          submit a State Implementation Plan amendment to the U.S. EPA which contains specific language;

          request that several sections of the Guam air regulations be included in the alternate operating permit program;  
             
          modify the Guam air regulations to ensure that all permit actions are completed within 180 days;

          and modify definitions of the Guam air regulations to correct ambiguities and prevent problems that might otherwise arise.

     The governor of Guam submitted a petition in 1994 under the Clean Air Act requesting an exemption from Title V, but committed to achieving several program goals by developing an alternate operating permit program.  On Nov.13, 1996, the U.S. EPA approved a waiver which granted Guam an exemption from the requirement under the condition that Guam adopt and implement a local alternate operating permit program.