N.M. Code R. § 20.2.70.400

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 11, June 11, 2024

Section 20.2.70.400 - ACTION ON PERMIT APPLICATIONS

A. A permit (including permit renewal) or permit modification shall only be issued if all of the following conditions have been met:

(1) The Department has received a complete application for a permit, permit modification, or permit renewal, except that a complete application need not be received before issuance of a general permit under 20.2.70.303 NMAC;

(2) Except for administrative and minor permit modifications, the Department has complied with the requirements for public participation procedures under 20.2.70.401 NMAC;

(3) Except for administrative amendments, the Department has complied with the requirements for notifying and responding to affected programs under 20.2.70.402 NMAC;

(4) The conditions of the permit provide for compliance with all applicable requirements and the requirements of this Part; and

(5) The Administrator has received a copy of the proposed permit and any notices required under 20.2.70.402 NMAC, and has not objected to issuance of the permit within the time period specified within that section.

B. The Department shall, within sixty (60) days after its receipt of an application for a permit or significant permit modification, review such application for completeness. Unless the Department determines that an application is not complete, requests additional information or otherwise notifies the applicant of incompleteness within sixty (60) days of receipt of an application, the application shall be deemed complete. When additional information is requested by the Department prior to ruling an application complete, receipt of such information shall be processed as a new application for purposes of this section. If the application is judged complete, a certified letter to that effect shall be sent to the applicant. If the application is judged incomplete a certified letter shall be sent to the applicant stating what additional information or points of clarification are necessary to judge the application complete.

C. The Department shall take final action on each permit application (including a request for permit renewal) within eighteen (18) months after an application is ruled complete by the Department, except that:

(1) For sources in operation on or before December 19, 1994 and which submit to the Department timely and complete applications in accordance with 20.2.70.300 NMAC, the Department shall take final action on one third of such applications annually over a period not to exceed three (3) years after such effective date;

(2) Any complete permit application containing an early reduction demonstration under section 112(i)(5) of the Federal Act shall be acted on within nine (9) months of deeming the application complete; and

(3) The acid rain portion of permits for acid rain sources shall be acted upon in accordance with the deadlines in title IV of the Federal Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

D. If a timely and complete application for a permit renewal is submitted, consistent with 20.2.70.300 NMAC, but the Department has failed to issue or disapprove the renewal permit before the end of the term of the previous permit, then the permit shall not expire and all the terms and conditions of the permit shall remain in effect until the renewal permit has been issued or disapproved.

E. Permits being renewed are subject to the same procedural requirements, including those for public participation, affected program and US EPA review, that apply to initial permit issuance.

F. The Department shall state within the draft permit the legal and factual basis for the draft permit conditions (including references to the applicable statutory or regulatory provisions).

G. The Department shall grant or disapprove the permit based on information contained in the Department's administrative record. The administrative record shall consist of the application, any additional information submitted by the applicant, any evidence or written comments submitted by interested persons, any other evidence considered by the Department, and, if a public hearing is held, the evidence submitted at the hearing.

H. If the Department grants or disapproves a permit or permit modification, the Department shall notify the applicant by certified mail of the action taken and the reasons therefor. If the Department grants a permit or modification, the Department shall mail the permit or modification, including all terms and conditions, to the applicant by certified mail.

I. Voluntary Discontinuation. Upon request by the permittee, the Department shall permanently discontinue a Part 70 (20.2.70 NMAC) permit. Permit discontinuance terminates the permittee's right to operate the source under the permit. The Department shall confirm the permit discontinuance by certified letter to the permittee.

J. No permit shall be issued by failure of the Department to act on an application or renewal.

N.M. Code R. § 20.2.70.400

11/30/95; 20.2.70.400 NMAC - Rn, 20 NMAC 2.70.400, 06/14/02