The huge new Volkswagen plant at the enterprise South Industrial Park will meet air quality standards, officials of the Air Pollution Control Bureau said.

Officials said, "All ambient air concentrations of pollutants resulting from the proposed project will be less than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

"The Bureau has determined that the limitations proposed by the company, and modified by preliminary determination of the Bureau director, will properly limit all air pollutant emissions from the proposed facility."

A public hearing will be held on the draft permit and preliminary determination at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, in Room 1-A, Development Resource Center, 1250 Market St.

The hearing is "to consider any significant comments made during the public comment period and to receive oral comments on the air quality impact of the proposed source, alternatives to it, the control technology required, and other appropriate considerations."

VW submitted its air quality application on Aug. 8.

Air Pollution Control Bureau officials said, "The proposed construction will constitute a major stationary source of air pollutants subject to the requirements of the PSD regulations as set forth in Section 4-41, Rule 18, of the Chattanooga Air Pollution Control Ordinance."

They said, following review by the technical staff of the Bureau, a preliminary determination indicates that air quality standards will not be violated.

Best Available Control Technology (BACT) is represented for control of nitrogen oxides (NOX), particulate matter (PM), and volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions from the proposed facility, it was stated.

The proposed project will consume the following percentages of PSD Class II area increment at the receptor of maximum concentration:

Pollutant PSD Class II Increment Consumption
Particulate Matter: PM10, 24-hr maximum 44.7%
Particulate Matter: PM10, annual arithmetic mean 15.9%
Nitrogen Dioxide, annual arithmetic mean 9.6%

Officials said the largest weighted maximum annual ambient concentration of any hazardous air pollutant resulting from the VW proposed project was determined to be 3.9% of its annualized threshold limit value as adopted by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

A copy of all the materials the applicant submitted, a copy of the preliminary determination, and a copy or summary of other materials considered in making the preliminary determination are available for public inspection at the offices of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau located at 6125 Preservation Drive, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Monday through Friday (except legal holidays), 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning Thursday.

Persons wishing to comment on the project may do so, in writing, to the Bureau director within 30 days following the publication date of a notice.

In order to affect final decisions, comments must offer relevant information on the air quality impact of the proposed source, alternatives to it, the control technology required, and other appropriate considerations, it was stated.

All written comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 6, by the Director, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau, 6125 Preservation Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37416-3638.

All written comments submitted and oral comments received will be considered immediately following the close of the public hearing unless extended due to the nature of any oral comments received. All comments received, as well as the final determination of the Bureau Director and the notification to VWGoA of the final determination, will be made available for public inspection at the offices of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau, 6125 Preservation Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37416-3638.

The final determination of the Bureau Director concerning the application will be available for inspection at the Bureau Offices within five working days after a final decision is made.

In addition, notice will be sent to any person who requests notice of the final determination in writing (address: Robert H. Colby, Director, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau, 6125 Preservation Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37416-3638).

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