Proposed GHG Prevention of Significant Deterioration Rule

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing not to change the greenhouse gas (GHG) permitting thresholds for the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Title V Operating Permit programs, and also proposing steps the agency believes would streamline the permitting process for large sources. EPA has proposed not to include additional, smaller sources in the permitting program at this time. EPA will be accepting comments on the proposal for 45 days after it is published in the Federal Register.

The GHG Tailoring Rule would continue to address a group of six greenhouse gases. Under the approach maintained in the current proposal, new facilities with GHG emissions of at least 100,000 tons per year (tpy) carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) continue to be required to obtain PSD permits. Existing facilities that emit 100,000 tpy of CO2e and make changes increasing the GHG emissions by at least 75,000 tpy CO2e, must also obtain PSD permits. Facilities that must obtain a PSD permit, to include other regulated pollutants, must also address GHG emission increases of 75,000 tpy or more of CO2e. New and existing sources with GHG emissions above 100,000 tpy CO2e must also obtain operating permits.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Ohio to obtain environmental permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

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Regional Haze SIP - Schedule For Action On Ohio Plan

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a court ordered schedule to review and act on more than 40 state regional haze reduction plans (including Ohio), designed to improve visibility in national parks and wilderness areas. The EPA action by itself does not establish control requirements; EPA will work with the states to approve their plans by the court ordered deadline in the agreement. Under the terms of the consent decree, if a state plan cannot be approved, EPA will determine an appropriate federal plan.

The dates for promulgation of final rules (either accepting or rejecting State plans) begin December 13, 2011 and run through November 15, 2011. The dates for action on the Ohio regional haze SIP are:
Proposed Promulgation: January 17, 2012
Final Promulgation: May 15, 2012

EPA initially issued a rule in 1999 requiring states to submit regional haze plans. These plans were due in December 2007, but no action was taken by the agency in response to the submittals. National Parks Conservation Association and other environmental groups sued the agency in August 2011 to take action on these plans, and the consent decree resolves this litigation. EPA will accept public comment on this agreement for 30 days following publication of a notice in the Federal Register.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Ohio to obtain environmental permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

Emission Limits for Portland Cement Manufacturing

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing final rules on emissions of mercury, particle matter and other pollutants from Portland cement manufacturing. Rules set the first limits on mercury air emissions from existing cement kilns, lowers the limits for new kilns, and sets emission limits on acid gases. This final rule also limits particle emissions from new and existing kilns, and sets new-kiln limits for particle and nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.

When fully implemented in 2013, EPA estimates the annual emissions will be reduced:

•Mercury – 92 %
•Total hydrocarbons – 83 %
•Particulate Matter – 92 %
•Acid gases – 97 %
•Sulfur dioxide (SO2)– 78 %
•Nitrogen oxides (NOx) – 5 %

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Ohio to obtain environmental permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

EPA Withdraws Emission Comparable Fuels Rule

EPA has withdrawn the Emission Comparable Fuels (ECF) Rule, which had been finalized in December 2008. The ECF rule sought to reduce regulatory burdens by reclassifying fuels that would otherwise be regulated as hazardous waste, but generate emissions similar to fuel oil when burned.

Due to difficulty of ensuring that emissions from burning ECF are comparable to emissions from burning fuel oil, EPA has now withdrawn the rule. The ECF rule was criticized for potentially allowing hazardous waste to evade the hazardous waste regulatory system, and for being difficult to administer. Industry members have also criticized it because of the detailed conditions for reclassification, which they believe will limited the rule’s use.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Ohio to obtain environmental permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

Amended Greenhouse Gas Mandatory Reporting Rule

On September 22, 2009, EPA finalized the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Mandatory Reporting Rule. This rule requires facilities with direct GHG emissions over 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), suppliers of petroleum, natural gas, and industrial gases as well as vehicle and engine manufacturers outside the light duty sector to report to EPA annually.

The data collection starts on January 1, 2010, and the first reports to EPA are due on March 31, 2011. As part of that first report, EPA is now proposing that reporters also include the name of their Corporate Parent and North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. In developing the final rule, EPA received comments that this type of information would be useful to the public and EPA, particularly in assisting corporations in assessing emissions at their different facilities and operations. Therefore, EPA has proposed to include these two data elements in the reports and is seeking public comments on the most efficient way of defining and collecting these elements. EPA is also taking comment on whether or not to have reporters list the existence of a co-generation unit at their facility. Timeline

The Comment Period on the proposed amendments to reporting requirements will close June 11, 2010 and EPA anticipated the final rule will be published in October 2010

Caltha LLP provides specialized expertise to clients in Ohio in the evaluation environmental rules, developing EH&S compliance procedures, and preparing cost-effective EH&S management programs.

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info@calthacompany.com

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NEIWPCC Petitions EPA To Control Ohio Mercury Emissions

The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission has petitioned that EPA regarding Section 319(g) of the Clean Water Act, which requires controls on air emissions of mercury. EPA is being asked to bring together a management conference with eleven States that contribute much of the mercury emissions that end up in water bodies in the Northeast.

The petition prepared by the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission says that Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina and Illinois each contribute significant nonpoint source mercury pollution that prevent them from meeting their goals.

The EPA approved a Northeastern regional mercury TMDL last year that the States beleive can only can be achieved through stricter federal air emission controls on mercury. Under Section 319(g) of the Clean Water Act, States can petition the EPA to bring together "a management conference of all states which contribute significant pollution resulting from nonpoint sources,".


Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Ohio to obtain environmental permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at
info@calthacompany.com
or
Caltha LLP Website