Archive for June, 2010

EPA dissaproves Monterey California State Implementation Plan Revisions

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

Condensed EPA commentary:  SIP rules must ensure that emissions during startup conditions are minimized. We believe this could be addressed by adding rule text establishing appropriate time limitations on gas turbine startup, requiring sources to minimize time and emissions during startup, and demonstration in the staff report that the rule minimizes emissions during startup.

New section 3.2.3 places no time limitation on opacity between 20% and 40% for gas turbines except as defined in the District
permit pursuant to new section 2.5.

This is inconsistent with long-standing national policy on excess emissions.

From Federal Register  (http://www.regulations.gov/)  
Craig Thiry, The Avogadro Group (CT-TAG)

EPA Proposed Rule Revisions for Standards of Performance for Stationary IC Engines

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

Federal Register June 8th release SUMMARY: EPA is proposing revisions to the standards of performance for new stationary compression ignition internal combustion engines under section 111(b) of the Clean Air Act. The proposed rule would implement more stringent standards for stationary compression ignition engines with displacement greater than or equal to 10 liters per cylinder and less than 30 liters per cylinder, consistent with recent revisions to standards for similar mobile source marine engines. The action also proposes to provide additional flexibility to owners and operators of affected engines, and would correct minor mistakes in the initial standards of performance. In addition, the action proposes revisions to the requirements for engines with displacement at or above 30 liters per cylinder to align more closely with recent standards for similar mobile source marine engines, and for engines in rural portions of Alaska that are not accessible by the Federal Aid Highway System. Finally, the proposal would make minor revisions to the standards of performance for new stationary spark ignition internal combustion engines to mirror certain revisions proposed for compression ignition engines, which would provide consistency where appropriate for the regulation of stationary internal combustion engines. The proposed standards would reduce nitrogen oxides by an estimated 1,100 tons per year, particulate matter by an estimated 38 tons per year, and hydrocarbons by an estimated 18 tons per year by the year 2030.          http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-12911.htm

Proposed Boiler/CISWI MACT: EPA is extending the deadline for written comments and having public hearings on rules (major source boilers, area source boilers, CISWI) and the definition of solid waste.

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

SUMMARY: On April 29, 2010, the EPA Administrator signed proposed emission standards for the following source categories: Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters located at major sources; Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers located at area sources; and Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units. On the same date, the Administrator also signed a proposal entitled “Identification of Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials That Are Solid Waste.” EPA has received a request to schedule additional public hearings for these four related rulemakings. Given the significant public interest in these rules and to further public participation opportunities, EPA is granting the request and has scheduled three public hearings. These hearings will occur in Arlington, Virginia, on June 15, 2010; Houston, Texas, on June 22, 2010; and Los Angeles, California, on June 22, 2010. More information on the locations is shown in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    In addition, EPA is extending the deadline for written comments on the proposed rules (75 FR 32006 (major source boilers), 75 FR 31896 (area source boilers), 75 FR 31938 (CISWI), and 75 FR 31844 (waste definition)) to August 3, 2010. This extension will provide additional time for public participation.

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-13877.htm

Proposed Rule for Mandatory Reporting of GHGs revisions/corrections hits the Fed Register

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

[Federal Register: June 15, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 114)]
[Proposed Rules]              
[Page 33949-33982]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15jn10-37]                        
[[Page 33949]]
———————————————————————–
Part III
Environmental Protection Agency
———————————————————————–
40 CFR Parts 86 and 98

Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases; Proposed Rule
[[Page 33950]]
———————————————————————–
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 86 and 98

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0109; FRL-9158-6]
RIN 2060-A079

Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

———————————————————————–

SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to amend specific provisions in the 2009
Final Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting rule (2009 Final MRR) to
correct certain technical and editorial errors that have been
identified since promulgation and to clarify or propose minor updates
to certain provisions that have been the subject of questions from
reporting entities. These proposed changes include additional
information to better or more fully understand compliance obligations,
corrections to data reporting elements so they more closely conform to
the information used to perform emission calculations and other
corrections and amendments. EPA has received six petitions for
reconsideration on the 2009 Final MRR. EPA is still considering these
petitions, and the issues raised in the petitions are not discusssed or
addressed in today’s action.

BOILER MACT – Area and Major Source & CISWI MACT published in Federal Register 6/4/2010

Friday, June 4th, 2010

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Area

          Sources: Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers, 31895-31935      http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-10832.htm

 

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Major

          Sources: Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process

            Heaters, 32005-32073    http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-10827.htm

 

Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources and Emission

          Guidelines for Existing Sources:

    Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units, 31938-32004      http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-10821.htm

NAAQS for 1 hour SO2 set at 75 ppb

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

Summary of revisions to the SO2 primary NAAQS: Based on its review of the air quality criteria for oxides of sulfur and the primary national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for oxides of sulfur as measured by sulfur dioxide (SO2), EPA is making revisions to the primary SO2 NAAQS so the standards are requisite to protect public health with an adequate margin of safety, as appropriate under section 109 of the Clean Air Act (Act or CAA). Specifically, EPA is replacing the current 24-hour and annual standards with a new short-term standard based on the 3-year average of the 99th percentile of the yearly distribution of 1-hour daily maximum SO2 concentrations. EPA is setting the level of this new standard at 75 ppb. EPA is adding data handling conventions for SO2 by adding provisions for this new 1-hour primary standard. EPA is also establishing requirements for an SO2 monitoring network. These new provisions require monitors in areas where there is an increased coincidence of population and SO2 emissions. EPA is also making conforming changes to the Air Quality Index (AQI).

Want to learn more?  http://www.epa.gov/air/sulfurdioxide/actions.html#jun10