DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
PUBLIC NOTICE
SPECIAL ORDER BY CONSENT FOR
OPTIMA TH, LLC
TAR HEEL, BLADEN COUNTY
Optima TH, LLC operates a renewable natural gas production facility located at 15855 NC-87 in Tar Heel, North Carolina. This facility operates under Air Permit No. 10673R00, which allows for the operation of one biogas/tail gas/product gas/propane/natural gas-fired non-assisted candlestick flare to control emissions from one gas upgrading system.
The facility is subject to State Rule 15A NCAC 02D .0516 which limits sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from the flare to 2.3 pounds per million BTU input. The facility is also subject to State Rule 15A NCAC 02D .1100 which limits hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emissions from the flare to 9.96 pounds per day by incorporation of this limitation into the facility’s air quality permit.
Due to higher-than-expected H2S concentrations in the raw biogas processed by the facility, Optima TH, LLC has determined that the Tar Heel facility cannot comply with its permitted emission limits for SO2 and H2S. Optima TH, LLC has agreed to a Special Order by Consent (SOC) with the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission (EMC) to resolve compliance issues related to the facility’s SO2 and H2S emission limitations.
Per the terms of the SOC, the company must install equipment to substantially reduce, or remove, H2S from the biogas stream feeding the gas upgrading system within nine to twelve months of receiving a permit allowing for the construction and operation of the new equipment. The facility must also monitor SO2 emissions to ensure that they do not exceed 250 tons per year, as well as submit various reports documenting SO2 emissions and SOC milestones met.
The SOC includes an upfront penalty and stipulated penalties for missing compliance deadlines and milestones. The SOC will expire when the company submits a final compliance report and pays all stipulated penalties due, or on February 1, 2025, whichever comes first.
This proposed SOC may be viewed on the Division of Air Quality (DAQ) website:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/air-quality/air-quality-enforcement/special-orders-by-consent
A copy of the proposed SOC may also be viewed at the following locations and additional information concerning the proposed SOC may be obtained by contacting:
Heather Carter, Regional Air Quality Supervisor
NC DEQ - Fayetteville Regional Office
225 Green Street, Suite 714
Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301-5095
Phone 910-433-3361
or
Steve Hall, Technical Service Section Chief
NC DEQ-DAQ Raleigh Central Office
217 West Jones Street
1641 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1641
Phone 919-707-8404
Interested persons are invited to review the proposed SOC and to submit written comments by email to daq.publiccomments@ncdenr.gov with “Optima TH SOC” in the subject line or by mail to one of the above addresses. Any person requesting a public hearing regarding the proposed SOC should submit a written request with a statement supporting the need for such a hearing. The request for hearing should be sent to the DAQ at one of the two above addresses or at the above email address.
All public comments and requests for hearing must be received by 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 1, 2023. The Director of the DAQ shall take final action on behalf of the EMC on Consent Orders within 60 days of the initial public notice.