BOARD MEETING DATE: December 21, 2001 AGENDA NO. 30
REPORT:
Stationary Source Committee
SYNOPSIS:
The Stationary Source Committee met Friday, December 7, 2001. Following is a summary of that meeting. The next meeting will be January 25, 2002, at 10:30 a.m., in Conference Room CC8.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive and file.
Norma J. Glover, Acting Chair
Stationary Source Committee
Attendance
The meeting began at 10:35 a.m. Present were Norma Glover, acting Committee Chair, Jon Mikels, Jane Carney and Leonard Paulitz, (arrived at 10:50). Absent were Ron Loveridge, Committee Chair, and Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
Best Available Control Technology (BACT) Guidelines Report
Pom Pom Ganguli, Manager, Science and Technology Advancement, presented this semi-annual progress report. BACT is required for new and relocated sources and for modifications that increase emissions. Updates to the guidelines are in the areas of flexographic printing, landfill gas gathering systems, gas turbines (simple and combined cycle) and boilers. Information is available at the website. This item will go to the Board for consideration at the December Board meeting. Dr. Ganguli expressed appreciation to the BACT Scientific Review Committee, which meets and provides feedback to staff.
Rule 1137 – Emission Reductions from Woodworking Operations
Dr. Elaine Chang, Deputy Executive Officer, Planning, Rule Development & Area Sources, presented this item. This proposal is to implement PM10 reductions and reduce public nuisance complaints. Staff is doing a comparison with other air districts to make sure AQMD’s proposed requirements are comparable. The design of the proposal is to claim SIP reductions that are already achieved and to minimize future public nuisance complaints. Affected industries include about 500 facilities with pneumatic conveyance systems, commercial lumbermills, and furniture manufacturers. Proposed requirements for new or expanded facilities would require installation of a baghouse control system with no visible emissions. Existing facilities would not be allowed to remove controls already in place and they need to achieve no visible emissions. Cost effectiveness is about $3,000 per ton. This item will go to the Board for consideration in February 2002.
Rule 1133 – Emission Reductions from Composting Operations
Dr. Julia Lester, Program Supervisor, Planning, Rule Development & Area Sources, presented background information on composting, key issues raised, and ongoing activities as part of rule development. Up until now, the composting industry is a source that has never been regulated by the District. Composting is the controlled biological decomposition of organic materials. Local facilities in the basin include both green-waste and bio-solid co-composting operations that employ open windrow techniques, where the material is laid out in long rows. There are also in-vessel operations which consist of a biofilter and enclosure, and aerated static pile with full or partial enclosure and bio-filters. Staff made clear the commitment not to propose a rule that will have adverse impacts on AB 939’s waste diversion goals. Potential disposal alternatives and cost impacts are also being analyzed. Norma Glover requested information on actual records of public complaints regarding composting. Dr. Lester suggested staff meet with Engineering and Compliance and local enforcement agencies to investigate the number of complaints in comparison to the population in the basin.
Staff has researched, tested emissions, consulted with experts and released a draft proposal in August of 2001. A working group has been formed and meetings have been held. Staff will continue to meet with the working group to discuss the most recent testing data and revised proposal, and to resolve remaining issues. Staff is proposing a pre-hearing report in February 2002.
Jill Whynot, Manager, Planning, Rule Development & Area Sources gave a brief update. CARB requested test methods be added to these rules, along with other changes. These rules are being updated by adding definitions, adding or deleting exemptions and by making clarifications. A public workshop was held in August of this year with no significant issues arising. This item will go to the Board in January 2002.
Rule 1178 – Further Reductions of VOC Emissions from Storage Tanks at Petroleum
Facilities
Laki Tisopulos, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer, Planning, Rule Development & Area Sources, gave a brief status report. The purpose of Rule 1178 is to further reduce the VOC emissions from storage tanks at petroleum facilities. Requirements of the 1999 SIP Settlement Agreement and the AQMP are to conduct a tank study and explore the feasibility for further reductions, as well as review the Bay Area AQMD rule. The AQMP lists three control measures: FUG-03, which seeks to reduce emissions from external floating roof tanks operated by the refineries, FUG-04, which seeks to reduce emissions from fugitive sources, and FUG-05, which seeks to reduce emissions from large fugitive sources.
There are three remaining key issues: cost effectiveness, compliance schedule for dome construction, and applicability criteria for waste water tanks. Staff will continue to work with industry to explore alternative compliance options that would produce equivalent reductions and be acceptable to ARB and EPA.
Committee members expressed concern over whether this item will be ready to go to the Board at the December meeting. Dr. Tisopulos explained that the staff proposal, given to the Committee at the last meeting, is the key proposal and only minor revisions are being introduced to respond to the public comments received. The key remaining issue is the compliance schedule. Dr. Wallerstein explained that extensive analysis has been done and that staff is ready to go to the Board for consideration at this point.
Status Report on Mobile and Area Source Credits for RECLAIM
This item has been carried over to the January meeting.
South Coast Air Quality Management District