BOARD MEETING DATE: June 16, 2000 AGENDA NO. 34
Amend Rule 1146 – Emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen from Industrial, Institutional, and Commercial Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters
SYNOPSIS:
The AQMD is proposing to amend Rule 1146 to address issues raised by a variance. Proposed Amended Rule 1146 will provide a one-time exemption from the NOx emission limit for owners and operators of standby boilers which exceeded 90,000 therms but not greater than 110,000 therms of annual heat input in the calendar year 1996.
COMMITTEE:
Stationary Source, April 28, 2000, Reviewed
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt the attached resolution:
- Certifying the Final Environmental Assessment for Proposed Amended Rule 1146 – Emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen from Industrial, Institutional, and Commercial Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters
- Amending Rule 1146 - Emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen from Industrial, Institutional, and Commercial Boilers, Stream Generators, and Process Heaters
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Rule 1146 – Emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen from Industrial, Institutional and Commercial Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters is a retrofit rule that applies to existing gas or oil fired boilers, steam generators, and process heaters with rated heat input capacities greater than or equal to 5 MMBTU/hr. Rule 1146 specifies a NOx emission limit of either 30 or 40 ppm, depending on the rated heat input and annual fuel usage. A CO emission limit of 400 ppm applies to all units required to meet the NOx emission limit regardless of size. The rule does not apply to RECLAIM facilities or to electric utility boilers, refinery boilers and process heaters with a rated heat input greater than 40 MMBTU/hr, or waste heat recovery boilers serving combustion turbines, because these sources are subject to other AQMD rules. In addition, Rule 1146 exempts units from the NOx emission limits if the annual fuel usage is less than 90,000 therms of heat input.
The AQMD is proposing to amend Rule 1146 to address a compliance issue raised by a variance initially granted in October 1996 as a result of the operation of two standby boilers that exceeded the annual 90,000 therms usage threshold for that year. The cost of achieving compliance with Rule 1146 for the two standby boilers was expected to exceed $500,000. This cost was prohibitory to the operator and alternatives to complying with the emission limits were sought. Several extensions have been granted since 1996, and the operator’s current variance expires in June 2000. This Board letter serves as the staff report for this minor rule amendment.
Proposal
PAR 1146 will allow a one-time exemption for the exceedance of the annual 90,000 therms of heat input threshold. This provision will only apply to standby boilers that are used during periods when the primary supply units are out of service. The exemption only applies to standby units where the 1996 annual heat input exceeded 90,000 therms and was less than 110,000 therms.
To minimize the emissions impact of this change, a facility owner or operator must submit an application for a permit modification by July 31, 2000 and accept a daily and annual fuel usage cap and recordkeeping requirements. Based on a thorough search of existing available information, and a review of AQMD Compliance and Hearing Board records, staff is aware of only one facility that will be affected by the proposed amendment.
Since the one facility affected by the proposed rule change is limited to an annual cap of 90,000 therms per year for each standby boiler based on their permits to operate, the emission reductions foregone from this facility by not complying with the emission limits of Rule 1146 are approximately 810 pounds per year of NOx. The daily and annual fuel usage cap will minimize the emissions impact and ensure foregone emissions do not exceed the CEQA significant threshold of 55 pounds per day.
AQMP & Legal Mandates
Not Applicable.
CEQA & Socioeconomic Analysis
The AQMD staff has reviewed the proposed project pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 21000. The AQMD staff has determined that the proposed project does not generate significant adverse impacts to any environmental areas. A Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to address the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed project was circulated for a 30-day public review and comment period. No comments were received on the Draft EA.
The AQMD has determined that the proposed amendments would not generate any additional costs on affected sources. As such, the proposed rule will not result in any adverse economic impacts.
Implementation Plan
Not Applicable
Resource Impacts
No significant changes to resources are anticipated.
A. Summary of Proposal
B. Rule Development Flow Chart
C. Key Contacts List
D. Resolution
E. Rule Language
F. Staff Report
G. Final Environmental Assessment
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