IN THIS ISSUE |
EPA Stays Title V Requirement for Chemical Manufacturing EPA Seeks New Timetable for Reducing Pollution from Boilers and Incinerators EPA Pushes Ahead on GHG Standards JAY SAYS |
EPA Stays Title V Requirement for Chemical Manufacturing |
by Seth Fisher
Posted: December 14, 2010 In a Dec. 14, 2010, notice in the Federal Register, the EPA decided it will grant a request by chemical companies to hold off on certain Title V provisions that would require certain affected sources to obtain a permit. The agency is staying until March 14, 2011, the requirement for certain affected sources to comply with the title V permit program.
The Oct. 29, 2009 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Chemical Manufacturing Area Sources includes a new provision requiring any major source that had installed a control device on a chemical manufacturing process unit after Nov. 15, 1990, and, as a result, became an area source under CFR 40 part 63, obtain a title V permit. Last February, the American Chemistry Council and the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates sought reconsideration of six provisions in the final rule, including the provision requiring certain sources to obtain a title V permit. The agency told the petitioners that it would reconsider, but hadn't yet stayed the requirement. The chemical industry wrote a letter asking for the stay on Oct. 28, and received it.
At issue is the industry's fear that under one interpretation of the EPA's regulations, existing sources must file title V permit applications. Petitioners maintained that "it would be unreasonable and inequitable to require facilities to prepare and submit title V applications at the same time that EPA is reconsidering the requirement to obtain a title V permit."
The EPA explained that the industry didn't have a chance to comment on that provision, and that they chose to stay its implementation both because of that, and because the substantive requirement could change as a result of this reconsideration process. The agency will take the time to reconsider whether the affected sources noted above should be subject to title V, or whether they should be exempt from title V requirements.
The agency noted its reasoning in the Federal Register notice: "Because we cannot pre-judge the outcome of the reconsideration process, we think a limited stay during the duration of the administrative reconsideration process is appropriate so that sources are not incurring the cost associated with applying for a title V permit in advance of our final decision on the issue."
SOURCE: Federal Register www.pollutionengineering.com |
EPA Seeks New Timetable for Reducing Pollution from Boilers and Incinerators |
| Agency committed to developing rules that are protective, cost effective and based on sound science Release date: 12/07/2010 WASHINGTON – In a motion filed today in the federal District Court for the District of Columbia, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking an extension in the current court-ordered schedule for issuing rules that would reduce harmful air emissions from large and small boilers and solid waste incinerators. The additional time is needed for the agency to re-propose the rules based on a full assessment of information received since the rules were proposed. The rules would cut emissions of harmful pollutants, including mercury and soot, which cause a range of health effects – from developmental disabilities in children to cancer, heart disease and premature death.
"After receiving additional data through the extensive public comment period, EPA is requesting more time to develop these important rules," said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. "We want to ensure these rules are practical to implement and protect all Americans from dangerous pollutants such as mercury and soot, which affect kids' development, aggravate asthma and cause heart attacks."
In order to meet a court order requiring the EPA to issue final rules in January 2011, the agency proposed standards in April 2010. While EPA requested and received some information from industry before the proposal, the comments EPA received following the proposal shed new light on a number of key areas, including the scope and coverage of the rules and the way to categorize the various boiler-types. Industry groups and others offered this information during the public comment period after EPA proposed the rule. After reviewing the data and the more than 4,800 public comments, the agency believes it is appropriate to issue a revised proposal that reflects the new data and allows for additional public comment. This approach is essential to meeting the agency’s legal obligations under the Clean Air Act and, as a result, provides the surest path to protecting human health and the environment.
EPA has estimated that there are more than 200,000 boilers operating in industrial facilities, commercial buildings, hotels and universities located in highly populated areas and communities across the country. EPA has estimated that for every $5 spent on reducing these pollutants, the public will see $12 in health and other benefits.
EPA is under a current court order to issue final rules on January 16, 2011 and is seeking in its motion to the court to extend the schedule to finalize the rules by April 2012.
More information: http://www.epa.gov/airquality/combustion |
EPA Pushes Ahead on GHG Standards
by Roy Bigham
Posted: December 23, 2010 The EPA issued its plan for establishing greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution standards under the Clean Air Act in 2011. The agency looked at a number of sectors and is moving forward on GHG standards for fossil fuel power plants and petroleum refineries – two of the largest industrial sources, representing nearly 40 percent of the GHG pollution in the United States. The schedule issued in the Dec. 23, 2010 agreements provides a clear path forward for these sectors and is part of EPA’s common-sense approach to addressing GHGs from the largest industrial pollution sources.
"We are following through on our commitment to proceed in a measured and careful way to reduce GHG pollution that threatens the health and welfare of Americans, and contributes to climate change," said Administrator Lisa Jackson. "These standards will help American companies attract private investment to the clean energy upgrades that make our companies more competitive and create good jobs here at home."
Several states, local governments and environmental organizations sued the EPA over the agency’s failure to update the pollution standards for fossil fuel power plants and petroleum refineries, two of the largest source categories of GHG pollution in the United States. Under today’s agreement, the EPA will propose standards for power plants in July 2011 and for refineries in December 2011 and will issue final standards in May 2012 and November 2012, respectively.
This schedule will allow the agency to host listening sessions with the business community, states and other stakeholders in early 2011, well before the rulemaking process begins, as well as to solicit additional feedback during the routine notice and comment period. Together this feedback will lead to smart, cost-effective and protective standards that reflect the latest and best information.
The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to set industry-specific standards for new sources that emit significant quantities of harmful pollutants. These standards, called New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), set the level of pollution new facilities may emit and address air pollution from existing facilities. The Act allows flexible and innovative approaches that take into account cost, health and environmental impacts, and energy requirements. The agency also must periodically update these standards to reflect improvements in control technologies.
Earlier this year, the EPA issued a common-sense approach to GHG permitting for the largest industrial sources. This approach, the GHG permitting guidelines issued in November, and these standards will give power plants and refineries a clear and sensible path for addressing GHG pollution.
The EPA will accept public comment on these two agreements for 30 days following publication of notice in the Federal Register. www.pollutionengineering.com JAY SAYS |
Dear reader,
While a great deal of attention has been given to the greenhouse gas impacts of electrical generation and transportation, relatively little has been directed towards the chemical industry even though it is responsible for almost one-tenth of such emissions. At present there is no comprehensive publicly available source of emissions factors for the chemical industry.
Very recently, the Greenhouse Gases Handbook has been published. It is a collection of emissions data covering over 300 commercially operated chemical processes representing more than 80% of world wide chemical industry sales. The handbook covers 300 processes that are necessary to support complete production routes for the ten largest volume chemical end uses and selected processes with particularly high per ton emissions. www.delphifaq.com Best regards,
Jay Klaus
JKlaus@KlausEquipment.com
Klaus Equipment Company, Inc.
President |
Klaus Equipment Company
Phone: 724-444-3420
Fax: 724-444-3425
2866 West Bardonner Road,
Gibsonia, PA 15044
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