South Coast Air Quality Management District

Best Available Control Technology Guidelines Report

SYNOPSIS: 

This report provides new listings added to Part B – LAER/BACT Determinations for Major Polluting Facilities, of the BACT Guidelines in the last six months.

COMMITTEE: 

Stationary Source, May 25, 2001, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Receive and file updates to BACT Guidelines Part B.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

AQMD's New Source Review (NSR) regulations require applicants to use Best Available Control Technology (BACT) for new sources, relocated sources, and for modifications that increase emissions. Regulation XIII – New Source Review also requires the Executive Officer to periodically publish BACT Guidelines for commonly permitted equipment. On December 11, 1998, the Governing Board approved a new format, process, and procedures for updating the AQMD’s BACT Guidelines. The Board also directed staff to report back on progress made, on a quarterly basis. On October 20, 2000, the Governing Board approved an amendment to the NSR regulations to bifurcate the BACT requirements into federal LAER/BACT for major polluting facilities and minor source BACT (MSBACT) for non-major polluting facilities. As a result of that amendment, Part B of the BACT Guidelines now assists staff and the public to determine LAER/BACT for only major polluting facilities.

On December 15, 2000, the Board changed the reporting frequency for updates to the BACT Guidelines from quarterly to semi-annually. This is the first progress report on the semi-annual basis and covers the six months since the previous (December 15, 2000) progress report.

New Listings Part B - LAER/BACT Determinations for Major Polluting Facilities of the BACT Guidelines
Nine (9) new BACT determinations were listed under Sections 1, 2 and 3 of Part B of the BACT Guidelines. This work has been in coordination with the BACT Scientific Review Committee (SRC). The SRC is a technical group whose membership includes industry, environmental groups, CARB, and U.S. EPA. The purpose of the new listings is to provide information to permit applicants and permitting staff regarding recent LAER/BACT determinations for major polluting facilities.

Section 1 – AQMD BACT Determinations
Attached are new BACT determinations for the following categories of equipment: (1) Heater, Refinery and (2) Spray Booth.

The refinery process heater (Application Number 352869) is the first example of utilization of both low-NOx burners and selective catalytic reduction on a process heater and achieves the lowest NOx level among small refinery process heaters subject to AQMD permit requirements.

The spray booth (Application Number 342981) employs a permanent total enclosure and thermal oxidation for control of VOC emissions. This facility achieves the highest degree of control, using this method, among this class of equipment subject to AQMD permit requirements.

Section 2 – Non-AQMD LAER/BACT Determinations
Attached is a new listing for a rotogravure printing facility located in Pennsylvania (Application Number 06-320-001B). This facility achieves a higher degree of VOC control using permanent total enclosure and thermal oxidation than any facility of this kind within the AQMD.

Section 3 – Other Technologies
Listings in this category are for promising new emission control technologies that do not yet qualify as achieved in-practice, but are in-use and will be considered as possible future Section 1 listings. Attached are new Section 3 listings for the following categories of equipment: (1) Dryer or Oven, (2) Flexographic Printing Line, (3) Heater, Other process, and (4) Lithographic or Offset Printing, Non-Heatset.

Two new Section 3 listings for dryers or ovens (Application Numbers 364658 and 376463) are examples of newer-design burners that produce lower levels of NOx emissions than had been previously achieved on dryers or ovens.

One new Section 3 listing for a flexographic printing line (Application Number 376463) uses cleaning solvents with lower than normal VOC content.*

One new Section 3 listing for a non-refinery process heater (Application Number 371784) is the first example within the AQMD of ultra-low NOx burner technology used on a process heater. This unit is expected to have lower NOx levels than previously achieved by a non-refinery process heater burner.

Two new listings are included for lithographic printing facilities (Application Numbers 358029 and 374600). These facilities use lower-VOC fountain solutions and cleanup solvents than are generally required as BACT.

Conclusion

Staff sincerely extends its appreciation to SRC members and others who assisted in updating the BACT Guidelines. In particular, the commitment of past and present continuing SRC members in the development and review of the attached information is much appreciated. The information in this package is available at the AQMD website at http://www.aqmd.gov/bact.

Attachments

Part B - BACT Listings

* Rule 1171 requires that VOC in cleanup solvents used in flexographic printing operations be less than 100 grams/liter. This facility is using cleanup solvent containing 48 grams/liter VOC. There was no prior BACT listing for cleanup solvents used in flexographic printing.

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