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, April 26, 2002, Reviewed

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 Board approved a new format, process, and procedures for updating the AQMD’s BACT Guidelines. On October 20, 2000, the 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 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 semi-annual progress report for the year 2002 and covers the six months since the previous (December 21, 2001) progress report.

New and Updated Listings, Part B of the BACT Guidelines - LAER/BACT Determinations for Major Polluting Facilities

Part B of the BACT Guidelines consists of three sections: Section I contains listings that are based on South Coast AQMD permits, Section II contains listings that are based on permits granted by other air districts, and Section III contains listings based on other technology demonstrations.

Twelve (12) new BACT determinations were listed under Section I, and two (2) existing Section I listings were updated with source test data that further substantiate their control levels. Six (6) new BACT determinations were listed under Section 2.

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 I – New AQMD BACT Determinations

Attached are twelve new BACT determinations for the following categories of equipment: (1) Metal Heating Furnace, (2) Tank Degassing System, (3) Fiber Impregnation System, (4) Internal Combustion Engine-Emergency, Compression Ignition.

The metal heating furnace listing was based on a RECLAIM NOx concentration limit requested by the applicant. This concentration limit is lower than the previous BACT for this equipment category.

The tank degassing system and the fiber impregnation system are the first AQMD BACT listings for these two equipment categories. The BACT determination for the tank degassing system specifies operating conditions selected for low-VOC operation together with a VOC concentration limit in the treated exhaust. The BACT determination for the fiber impregnation system specifies the use of zero-VOC materials and two high-efficiency filters in series for control of fine particulate emissions.

Nine listings were added for emergency compression ignition (i.e., diesel) internal combustion engines. These listings are examples of engines that are compliant with EPA Tier 2 nonroad emission standards and are being used for stationary emergency service. Prior AQMD BACT for this category had been consistent with EPA Tier 1 nonroad emission standards. These new listings keep AQMD BACT Part B up to date as the cleaner Tier 2 engines become available.

Updated Listings for Section I – AQMD BACT Determinations

Two updated Section I listings are attached. These listings were updated by the addition of source test data further substantiating the expected level of emission control in each case. One of these two listings consists of four small boilers equipped with ultra-low NOx burners, and the other is an internal combustion engine operating on gas fuel and employing state-of-the-art low-emission technology.

New Listings for Section II – Other LAER/BACT Determinations

Six listings of equipment recently permitted in air districts outside the South Coast AQMD are attached. These listings are in the following equipment categories: (1) Gas Turbine, (2) Water Treating-Air Stripping, (3) Resin Manufacturing, (4) Drum Reclamation Furnace, (5) Burnoff Furnace and (6) Steel Rolling Mill.

The gas turbine is a large combined-cycle gas turbine power plant with emission limits that are significantly more stringent than any similar plant permitted anywhere in the country.

The water treating system with air stripping is the first listing for this equipment category. It specifies a high degree of control of the VOC emissions from the stripper.

The listing for resin manufacturing is the first listing for this equipment category and represents excellent VOC control from this type of process, with all significant VOC sources being vented to a highly efficient control device.

The drum reclamation furnace and the burnoff furnace both represent more stringent VOC emission control than prior AQMD BACT for these equipment categories.

The steel rolling mill listing is the first listing for this equipment category. It specifies maximum VOC contents of rolling oils, which are an intrinsic part of the steel rolling process.

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

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