(a) A source owner or operator who would otherwise be subject to a noncompliance penalty will be exempted from that penalty during the period for which, and upon a demonstration that, its noncompliance with applicable legal requirements is or was due solely to;

(1) A conversion by such source from the burning of petroleum products or natural gas, or both, as the permanent primary energy source to the burning of coal pursuant to an order under section 113(d)(5) or section 119 of the Act as in effect before August 7, 1977.

(2) In the case of a coal-burning source, the issuance of a prohibition to that source against burning petroleum products or natural gas, or both, by means of an order under sections 2(a) and (b) of the Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act of 1974, the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act, or under any legislation which amends or supersedes these provisions, Provided, That the source had received an extension under the second sentence of section 119(c)(1) of the Act as in effect before August 7, 1977.

(3) The use of innovative technology by the source owner or operator pursuant to an enforcement order under section 113(d)(4) of the Act.

(4) An inability to comply with an applicable legal requirement resulting from reasons entirely beyond the control of the owner or operator of such source or of any affiliated entity, Provided, That

(i) The source owner or operator has received an order under section 113(d) (or an order under section 113 issued before August 7, 1977) or a federal or EPA-approved State judicial decree or order which has the effect of permitting a delay in complying with the legal requirement at issue, and

(ii) That the source owner or operator meets the requirements of paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section.

(5) The existence of an energy or employment emergency demonstrated by issuance of an order under section 110(f) or 110(g) of the Act, unless such order is disapproved by EPA.

(b) To qualify for an exemption under this section, the source owner or operator must have received the order, extension or suspension or consent decree described in the paragraph of the section pursuant to which the exemption is claimed. No exemption may be sought which, if granted, would exceed the terms of the relevant extension, order, suspension, or consent decree, except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section. No exemption may be sought which is based on a claim that the source owner or operator is entitled to any such order, extension, suspension, or consent decree even though it has not been issued.

(c) In any exemption claim based on paragraph (a)(4) of this section, the source owner or operator must demonstrate:

(1) That the source owner or operator or an affiliated entity in no manner sought, caused, encouraged or contributed to the inability; and

(2) That the source owner or operator in no way unduly delayed negotiation for needed equipment or fuel supply or made unusual demands not typical in its industry, or placed unusual restrictions on the supplier, or delayed in any other manner the delivery of goods or the completion of the necessary construction.

(d)(1) No exemption will be granted pursuant to paragraph (a)(4) of this section unless the owner or operator of the source demonstrates that, with respect to a situation described in paragraph (c), all reasonable steps were taken to prevent the situation causing the inability to comply, that procuring the needed pollution control equipment or fuel supply was given and continues to be given the highest possible priority in the planning and budgeting process of the owner or operator of the source, and that alternative sources of equipment and fuel have been explored without success.

(2) Any exemption granted under paragraph (a)(4) of this section shall cease to be effective when the inability to comply ceases to be entirely beyond the control of the source owner or operator as defined in this section.

(e) Except in the case of exemptions based on orders under section 113 (d)(4) or (d)(5) or suspensions under section 110(g), the Administrator may grant an exemption with retroactive effect to the date of the event giving rise to the section 120 predicate order, extension, suspension, or consent decree. In such cases, the exemption from the noncompliance penalty shall run from the date that the basis for the exemption first occurred.

(a) The Administrator may, upon notice and opportunity for public hearing, exempt the owner or operator of any source from a penalty where he finds that a particular instance of noncompliance was de minimis in nature and duration.

(b) A petition for an exemption on the ground that the violation described in a notice of noncompliance was de minimis in nature and duration may only raise issues related to entitlement to an exemption and shall contain or be accompanied by supporting documentation. Issues relating to entitlement to a de minimis exemption not raised in the petition shall be deemed waived.

(c) In ruling upon such a petition, the Administrator shall consider:

(1) The magnitude of the excess emissions and whether the source's noncompliance is recurring or persistent;

(2) The steps the source owner or operator is taking to eliminate the cause of the excess emissions and to minimize such emissions;

(3) Whether any significant economic savings are likely to accrue to the owner or operator of the source as a result of the noncompliance;

(4) The character of the emissions, and their impact on ambient air quality; and

(5) The duration of the violation.

(d) A hearing on a petition for a de minimis exemption shall be informal. The hearing shall be scheduled upon notice to the public. Reasonable opportunity to testify and for submission of questions by the public to the petitioner shall be afforded. The decision of the hearing officer will be made in writing within a reasonable period of time after the close of the hearing.

(a) The Administrator may, upon notice and opportunity for a public hearing, exempt the owner or operator of a source if he finds with respect to a particular instance of noncompliance, that such noncompliance was de minimis in nature and duration, and was caused solely by a sudden and unavoidable breakdown of process or pollution control equipment.

(b) A petition for an exemption on the ground that the violation was de minimis and was caused by a sudden and unavoidable breakdown of process or pollution control equipment may only raise issues related to entitlement to an exemption and shall contain or be accompanied by supporting documentation. Issues relating to entitlement to an exemption that are not raised in the petition shall be deemed waived. In making such finding the Administrator shall consider whether:

(1) The violation was de minimis in nature and duration within the meaning of § 66.32;

(2) The air pollution control equipment, process equipment, or processes, including appropriate back-up systems, were designed, and have been maintained and operated in a manner consistent with good practice for minimizing emissions;

(3) Repair of the malfunctioning equipment was undertaken and carried out in an expeditious fashion as soon as the owner or operator knew or should have known that the malfunction existed or that applicable emission limitations were being violated or were likely to be violated;

(4) All practicable steps were taken to minimize the impact of the excess emissions (including any bypass) on ambient air quality;

(5) The excess emissions were not part of a pattern indicative of inadequate design, operation, or maintenance;

(6) Off-shift and overtime labor were utilized where necessary to ensure that repairs were made as expeditiously as possible or that emissions were minimized to the maximum extent possible; and

(7) The level of economic savings, if any, accruing to the source owner or operator was de minimis.

(c) Any activity that could have been foreseen, avoided or planned for, or any breakdown that could have been avoided by the exercise of reasonable diligence shall not constitute grounds for an exemption under this section. Such activities include, but are not limited to, sudden breakdowns avoidable by better maintenance procedures, phasing in and out of process equipment and routine maintenance.

(d) A hearing on any petition for an exemption based upon the unavoidable breakdown of pollution control equipment shall be informal. The hearing shall be scheduled upon notice to the public. Reasonable opportunity to testify and for submission of questions by the public to the petitioner shall be afforded. The decision of the hearing officer will be made in writing within a reasonable period of time after the close of the hearing.

(a) Exemptions pursuant to § 66.31(a) (1), (2), (3), and (5) will cease to be effective upon termination or revocation of the order on which the exemption is based.

(b) Exemptions pursuant to § 66.31(a)(4) will cease to be effective when the order or decree is terminated or revoked, or the inability to comply ceases to be for reasons entirely beyond the control of the source owner or operator as defined in § 66.31(c).

(c) Exemptions granted pursuant to § 66.32 or § 66.33 shall terminate at the time specified in the exemption.

(d) The Administrator shall notify the source owner or operator, in writing, that the exemption has terminated, and shall specify the date from which the penalty shall be calculated. The notice shall be transmitted as required by § 66.12. The source owner or operator shall respond to this notice within 45 days of its receipt and in the form provided in § 66.13.

(a) The Administrator may upon notice and opportunity for a hearing revoke an exemption granted to the owner or operator of any source at any time in accordance with paragraphs (b) and (c) below.

(b) An exemption may be revoked and a penalty for the period of non-exempted noncompliance assessed if:

(1) The grounds for the exemption no longer exist or never did exist, or

(2) In the case of an exemption under § 66.31, the source owner or operator has failed to comply with any interim emission control requirements or schedules of compliance (including increments of progress) contained in the extension, order, suspension or EPA-approved consent decree on which the exemption was based.

(c) The Administrator shall provide the source owner or operator written notice containing the information required by § 66.12 and a statement of the reasons for revocation. The notice shall also specify the date from which the source owner or operator must calculate a penalty. The notice shall be transmitted as required by § 66.12. The source owner or operator shall respond to this notice within 45 days of its receipt and in the form provided in § 66.13.