City of Albany - Global Companies LLC - Albany Terminal (2024)

Project is Located:

50 Church Street, Albany County

Project Description:

The applicant has applied for an Air Title V permit renewal for continuation of ongoing activities at the Albany Terminal Facility located at the Port of Albany. In addition to the proposed permit renewal, the applicant is also proposing modifications to the permit. The proposed modifications include installing boilers with low burning capacities to facilitate the handling of biodiesel at the facility. The modification is proposed in accordance with 2021 legislation requiring an increased use of biodiesel in support of the goals of New York's nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act). The facility is also proposing improvements to its existing terminal emissions controls at the existing loading racks. The draft permit includes a new federally enforceable emissions cap on Total Organic Compounds (TOC) with new reduced product throughput limits. Combined, these permit modifications would reduce potential TOC emissions from the facility by approximately 40.25 tons per year and decrease potential benzene emissions by approximately 0.41 tons per year.

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 7(2), Section 7(3) and Section 9 of the Climate Act, Chapter 106 of the Laws of 2019, DEC has requested and received information regarding the facility's consistency with the aforementioned sections of Climate Act. The DEC and other agencies must ensure that administrative decisions, including issuance of permits, do not disproportionately burden Disadvantaged Communities. This facility is located within, and has the potential to impact, a Disadvantaged Community, and therefore was required to submit a Climate Act analysis for the pending permit applications. Prior making a final determination on any permits for the facility, DEC is required to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Climate Act Section 7(2), Section 7(3), and Section 9.

While DEC is providing opportunities for the public to comment on the pending applications, DEC has not made any final determinations on the pending applications and may seek additional information from the applicant that may be necessary for making these determinations.

Legislative Public Comment Hearing:

Pursuant to 6 NYCRR 621.8 (Uniform Procedures regulations), a legislative public comment hearing for the receipt of unsworn public comments on the Air Title V permit applications will be held on the date, times and at the location listed below. An afternoon session and an evening session will be held for convenience of public attendance.

The hearing location is fully accessible to persons with mobility impairment. Interpreter services will be made available to deaf persons, and translator services will be made available to persons with limited English proficiency, at no charge for either service, upon written request. Requests must be received by December 8, 2023 and directed to the DEC - Office of Communication Services, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4500, Phone: (518) 402-8044, Email: [emailprotected]

The legislative public comment hearing will be held before Administrative Law Judge Molly McBride on: Monday, December 18, 2023 at 6:00 p.m., at the Albany Housing Authority Community Room/Atrium, 200 South Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12202. All persons, organizations, corporations, or government agencies who may be affected by renewal and modification of the facility permits are invited to attend the hearing and provide comments on the permit applications. Lengthy statements should be in writing and summarized for oral presentation. Reasonable time limits will be set for each speaker to afford everyone an opportunity to be heard. Equal weight will be given to both oral and written statements. Written comments submitted to DEC during this comment period and oral comments given at any of the legislative public comment hearings are considered part of the official record.

Following the hearing, DEC will determine whether substantive or significant issues have been raised, as defined in Uniform Procedures regulations, and whether an adjudicatory public hearing should be scheduled before an administrative law judge. In order to raise substantive and significant issues, written comments expressing objections or opposition to the pending applications must explain the basis of that opposition and identify the specific grounds which could lead DEC to deny the pending applications or impose new significant permit conditions. More information on public comment hearings can be found here: Guide to Permit Hearings - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation.

Opportunity for Public Comment:

Individuals and parties may mail written comments to the Contact Person listed below or may submit comments electronically to [emailprotected]

All comments submitted by mail must be postmarked by December 30, 2023. All electronically submitted comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 30, 2023.

Availability of Application Documents:

Electronic copies of application documents are available online at:
www.globalalbany.com/environment-safety/permit-renewal/ and www.dec.ny.gov/permits/95623.html.

Hard copies of application documents are available for inspection at the following locations during normal business hours:
Albany Public Library, John A. Howe Branch, 105 Schuyler Street (intersection of Schuyler & Broad Streets), Albany, NY 12202, (518) 472-9485; the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) - Region 4 Office,1130 North Westcott Road, Schenectady, NY 12306. Documents available Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please contact Trish Gabriel at (518) 357-2068 to view documents.

State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) Determination:

The Project is subject to SEQR and is an Unlisted action. Coordinated review was not performed.
SEQR Lead Agency Determination: Negative Declaration

State Historic Preservation Act (SHPA) Determination:

The proposed activity is not subject to review in accordance with SHPA. The application type is exempt and/or the project involves the continuation of an existing operational activity.

Coastal Management:

This project is located in a Coastal Management area and is subject to the Waterfront Revitalization and Coastal Resources Act.

DEC Commissioner Policy 29, Environmental Justice and Permitting (CP-29)

It has been determined that the proposed action is subject to CP-29. A Public Participation plan pursuant to CP-29 is on file.