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EPA Sets New Emissions and Reporting Standards for Industrial FacilitiesSeptember 2011 On May 20, 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency published the final Area Source Boiler MACT Rule in the Federal Register. The Rule was issued as part of the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and is meant to reduce emissions of toxic air pollutants from existing and new industrial, commercial, and institutional boilers located at area source facilities. An area source facility by definition emits or has the potential to emit less than 10 tons per year of any single air toxic and less than 25 tons per year of any combination of air toxics. The Rule establishes stricter emission standards and work practices to address emissions of mercury, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide from affected sources. It contains different requirements and emission standards for boilers depending on the fuel they burn, their heat input capacity, and whether they are new or existing. EPA estimates the new Rule could reduce nationwide emissions from new and existing area source boilers by approximately 330 tons per year. The Area Source Boiler MACT Rule applies to boilers at area source facilities that burn coal, oil, biomass, or non-waste materials. Boilers that burn natural gas, other gaseous fuels, or any solid waste are not subject to the Rule. Neither are hot water heaters, waste heat boilers, boilers used as control devices, boilers subject to other NESHAP standards, and research and development boilers. Existing small boilers, those with a heat capacity of less than 10 million British thermal units per hour (MMBtu/hour), are exempt from compliance with emission limits and are instead required to perform a boiler tune-up every two years. All area source facilities with large boilers (more than 10 MMBtu/hr) subject to the Rule must conduct an energy assessment to identify cost-effective energy conservation measures. There are also specified performance testing, monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements implemented for affected facilities. The Initial Notification for existing sources must be submitted to the EPA or the delegated authority no later than September 17, 2011. Existing sources have until March 21, 2012 to demonstrate compliance with the work practice standards in the Rule and until March 21, 2014 to demonstrate compliance with the emission limits. Energy assessments of existing sources are required by March 21, 2014. New sources, where construction commenced after June 4, 2010, must be in compliance with the applicable requirements upon startup. If you have questions regarding the applicability of the Area Source Boiler MACT Rule to your facility, or if you require assistance in determining the specific requirements of the Rule that apply to your equipment, please contact Visit the ESS website at www.essgroup.com for more information on ESS Industrial Permitting & Compliance Services. |