Valero Refining Company- Issuance of an Alteration Permit to Operate for the installation of piping and fugitive components at S-1010 Hydrogen Plant -AN714083
Summary
SCH Number
2025110922
Public Agency
Bay Area Air Quality Management District
(BAAQMD)
Document Title
Valero Refining Company- Issuance of an Alteration Permit to Operate for the installation of piping and fugitive components at S-1010 Hydrogen Plant -AN714083
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/21/2025
Document Description
This permit action was to issue a Permit to Operate for alterations to S-1010 Hydrogen Plant). The application scope includes the installation oftie-in connections (piping and fugitive components) to route the atmospheric vents from the S-1010 to the base of the existing North Flare (S-19) to comply with Air District Regulation 13,
Rule 5.
S-1010 continues to have the capability to process petroleum-based feedstocks and the hydrogen production rate remains the same at 164 million standard cubic feet per day. The application did not involve any changes resulting in pump capacity increases, changes to compressors, or changes to upstream or downstream
equipment that would result in any increases in capacities or emissions (other than fugitive component emissions at S-1010).
Fugitive emissions from S-1010 will increase by less than 10 pounds per day and fugitive toxic air contaminant (TAC) emissions will not exceed Regulation 2, Rule 5 trigger levels. This level of emissions increase fits within the exemption provided by Regulation 2, Rule 1, Section 128.21. Due to the change in the method of operation and the corresponding increase in fugitive component emissions that are not considered a modification per Regulation 2, Rule 1, Section 234, S-1010 is considered altered.
The fugitive emissions from this project are not subject to BACT or Offsets within the bounds of this application under Regulation 1, Section 115, but the facility will be required to implement BACT Technology for the fugitive components per Regulation 2, Rule 1, Section 128.21. Changes to the facility's overall Potential to Emit will be
accounted for in future applications.
Contact Information
Name
Eric Grulke
Agency Name
Bay Area Air Quality Management District
Job Title
Senior Air Quality Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Taryn Goodwin
Agency Name
Valero Refining Company (Valero).
Job Title
Manager, Environmental Engineering
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Fairfield
Counties
Solano
Regions
Citywide, Countywide, Northern California
Cross Streets
Nearest Cross Street: Rose Drive.
Other Location Info
3400 E Second Street, Benicia, Solano County, CA 94510. Nearest Cross Street: Rose Drive.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Ministerial
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 21080(b)(1); 15268
Reasons for Exemption
The Air District's action is ministerial and exempt from CEQA under Public Resources Code§ 21080{b)(1) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15268{a).
This permit decision is not subject to CEQA because the Air District's evaluation is a ministerial action conducted using the fixed standards and objective measurements in the Air District's rules and regulations. Therefore, the Air District does not have the discretion to deny the requested changes.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines Section 15301
Reasons for Exemption
This project is categorically exempt per the Class 1 Alteration {also known as "No or Negligible Expansion of Existing Use" or "Minor Alterations to existing facilities") per CEQA Guidelines Section 15301:
This permit application is categorically exempt from CEQA. CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301, exempts projects that involve negligible or no expansion of use. The alteration will not expand the facility's normal operation and will result in no increase or only a negligible increase in use ofthe facility. The changes did not result in increased capacities or emissions from any source, except fugitive emissions from S-1010. S-1010 is considered altered. These additional fugitive components do not modify or debottleneck S-1010 or any other source at this facility. Further, based on the review of the permit application materials, including Appendix H, environmental information form, the project will not have any significant environmental impacts, and cumulative impacts from successive projects of the same type in the same place will not result in significant environmental impacts.
Accordingly, approval of Application 714083 is not subject to CEQA review.
County Clerk
Solano
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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