Notice is hereby given that James T. Vaughn Correctional Center having a facility at 1181 Paddock Road, Smyrna, New Castle County, Delaware, has requested federally enforceable 7 DE Admin. Code 1102 construction permits (Permit: APC-2026/0087-CONSTRUCTION, Permit: APC-2026/0088-CONSTRUCTION, Permit: APC-2026/0089-CONSTRUCTION, Permit: APC-2026/0090-CONSTRUCTION, Permit: APC-2026/0091-CONSTRUCTION, Permit: APC-2026/0092-CONSTRUCTION, Permit: APC-2026/0093-CONSTRUCTION and Permit: APC-2026/0094-CONSTRUCTION) for the installation of two (2) 500 kW (764 HP) Kohler Model 500REZXD natural gas emergency generators, three (3) 300 kW (459 HP) Kohler Model 300REZXC natural gas emergency generators, one (1) 200 kW(304 HP) Kohler Model KG200 natural gas emergency generator, one (1) 150 kW(233 HP) Kohler Model KG150 natural gas emergency generator and one (1) 100 kW(204 HP) Kohler Model KG100 natural gas emergency generator. The engines used by the eight new natural gas emergency generators sets comply with the U.S. EPA regulations under the provisions of 40 CFR Part 60 Subpart JJJJ, Table 1, emissions limits. Combined permitted emissions based on 157.125 hours operation per year per engine are 0.08 TPY NOx, 0.02 TPY VOC, 0.22 TPY CO, 0.02 TPY PM₁₀, and 0.03 TPY SO₂.

James T. Vaughn Correctional Center requests a limit of 157 hours of operation per year for each emergency generator. These limits are necessary to restrict James T. Vaughn Correctional Center’s potential to emit air pollutants, and the limit will be enforceable by the EPA and the state. Total permitted emissions from the facility following the project completion will be lowered to 13.71 TPY NOx, 16.04 TPY VOC, 8.34 TPY CO, 1.12 TPY PM_Total and 0.52 TPY SO₂.

Upon completion of construction, the Department will incorporate the operating conditions and limits of the 7 DE Admin. Code 1102 Construction permit into the facility’s existing Synthetic Minor Permit (Permit: APC-2017/0062-OPERATION(NOx RACT)(NSPS)(SM)) via an Administrative Amendment.

The application, the “draft” permits (Draft Permit: APC-2026/0087-CONSTRUCTION, Draft Permit: APC-2026/0088-CONSTRUCTION, Draft Permit: APC-2026/0089-CONSTRUCTION, Draft Permit: APC-2026/0090-CONSTRUCTION, Draft Permit: APC-2026/0091-CONSTRUCTION, Draft Permit: APC-2026/0092-CONSTRUCTION, Draft Permit: APC-2026/0093-CONSTRUCTION and Draft Permit: APC-2026/0094-CONSTRUCTION), all materials that the applicant has submitted (other than those granted confidential treatment under DNREC rules), and a copy or summary of other materials, if any, considered in preparing the “draft” permit may be reviewed upon request. The material is posted at de.gov/dnrecnotices. To submit comments, for additional information or for information regarding how you can inspect the application materials, please contact Jennifer Childears at (302) 739-9402 or jennifer.childears@delaware.gov.

A public hearing concerning the permitting action will not be held unless the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control receives a request for such hearing within thirty (30) days from the date of this notice, ending March 13, 2026. A request for a hearing shall be in writing and must show a familiarity with the application and a reasoned statement of the permit’s probable impact.

Division of Air Quality
State Street Commons, Suite 6A
100 W. Water Street, Dover 19904
302-739-9402

Related Topics:  air quality, emergency generators, permitting and regulation, public notice, synthetic minor, title v