[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 22, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25580-25585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12482]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 75
[FRL-5506-6]
Acid Rain Program: Continuous Emission Monitoring
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Amendment to final rule; correction.
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SUMMARY: On May 17, 1995, EPA published direct final amendments to the
Continuous Emission Monitoring (CEM) rule in the Acid Rain Program for
the purpose of making implementation of the program simpler,
streamlined, and more efficient. The amendments to the original January
11, 1993 rule became final and effective on July 17, 1995. During the
public comment period on the direct final rule and its companion
proposed rule, EPA received significant, adverse comments on those
amended provisions that related to notifications for periodic relative
accuracy test audits. EPA is removing the provisions added in the
direct final rule related to notifications. EPA will address the
removed provisions in a future final rule. EPA is also extending the
public comment period on the removed provisions for 15 days to allow
the public to respond to the significant, adverse comments. All other
provisions of the direct final rule remain final.
In addition, EPA is publishing technical corrections of
typographical and similar inadvertent errors in the final rule, as
promulgated May 17, 1995.
DATES: Effective date: The effective date of the amended rule
provisions and corrections is May 22, 1996.
Comment date: Comments in response to the significant, adverse
comments on the direct final rule must be received on or before June 6,
1996.
ADDRESSES: Any written comments in response to the significant, adverse
comments on the direct final rule must be identified as being in
response to such comments in Docket No. A-94-16 and must be submitted
in duplicate to: EPA Air Docket (6102), U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, 401 M Street SW., Washington, D.C. 20460. The docket is
available for public inspection and copying between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, at the above address. A reasonable fee may
be charged for copying.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Sheppard, Acid Rain Division
(6204J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street SW.,
Washington, D.C. 20460, (202) 233-9180.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA received significant, adverse comments
on certain provisions of the direct final rule amending part 75 from a
group of utilities called the Texas Subgroup. These comments were
apparently submitted on time, but EPA became aware of this only after
the provision became final. After the close of the comment period, the
Texas Subgroup submitted a letter, dated November 2, 1995, clarifying
its comments. The comments and the November 28, 1995 letter are found
in Docket No. A-94-16, items V-D-23 and V-D-24. The Texas Subgroup made
significant, adverse comments on the provisions of Secs. 75.21(d)and
75.61(a)(5). Therefore, those provisions in the direct final rule are
being removed and are considered proposed provisions until EPA takes
further comment and addresses the comments in a future final rule.
The Texas Subgroup commented adversely upon the requirements in
Secs. 75.21(d) and 75.51(a)(5) for notifications of the date on which
periodic Relative Accuracy Test Audits (RATAs) will be performed. The
direct final provisions require submission of written notification to
the Administrator, the appropriate EPA Regional Office, and the
applicable State or local air pollution control agency at least 21 days
before the scheduled date of a RATA. The date may be rescheduled if
written or oral notice is provided to EPA and to the appropriate State
or local air quality agency at least seven days before the earlier of
the original scheduled date or the new test date. The Texas Subgroup
felt that this provision created additional paperwork. In addition,
they felt the provisions could force utilities to delay rescheduled
RATAs unnecessarily for seven days simply to meet the notification
requirement.
In discussions with EPA, the Texas Subgroup suggested that perhaps
the provisions are not needed or the provisions could be revised to
provide more flexibility in the case where a RATA is rescheduled. Some
possibilities that the Texas Subgroup discussed with EPA included:
allowing utilities to receive permission from EPA, State and local
agency Acid Rain Program contacts to proceed with testing in less than
seven days from the date of notification; creating an ``emergency''
notification two days after the new testing date is known, similar
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to that for recertification (Sec. 75.61(a)(1)(ii)); and allowing
notification electronically to reduce the paperwork burden, where the
EPA Regional office or State or local agency will accept such a
notification.
EPA also notes that the purpose of the notification for periodic
RATAs is to enable EPA or State or local agency staff to observe the
testing. Notifications of periodic RATAs will allow EPA, State and
local agencies to observe a larger percentage of units than if
utilities only were to submit notice for certification and
recertification testing. The ability of agency staff to attend
certification and recertification testing is limited since EPA has
significantly shortened the notification period for most
recertification tests and allows utilities to proceed with
recertification testing before notifying the Agency in emergency
situations and since there were a large number of sources testing in a
short time period during initial certification. Even so, agency staff
attended many RATAs for initial certification testing. However, initial
certification generally occurs before the period when an affected unit
is required to comply with emission reductions. Therefore, to enhance
the quality of quality assurance testing and the quality of emission
data during compliance, EPA and State and local agencies need the
opportunity to observe periodic RATAs. EPA notes that, during
certification testing, EPA personnel have observed and corrected
deviations from acceptable stack testing procedures. Based on these
observations during initial certification, EPA believes it is critical
for EPA, State, and local agency personnel to be able to observe
periodic RATAs in order to ensure the quality of monitored data for the
Acid Rain Program. Moreover, advance notification of the date of
periodic RATA testing allows the cost-effective use of agency resources
by coordinating auditing of monitor performance with regularly
scheduled quality assurance testing and by coordinating field
observations at multiple locations. If agency personnel were not to
observe periodic RATA testing, agencies would need to perform or
require performance of additional RATAs under the audit provisions of
section 2.4 of Appendix B of part 75. This would be more intrusive for
utilities, and more time-consuming and costly for both utilities and
agencies, than coordinating with periodic RATA testing.
The Agency notes that it is relatively easy for a utility that
schedules testing to notify agencies of a known testing date. In fact,
it will take a utility roughly the same amount of time to respond to
EPA and State or local agency enquiries about testing dates as it takes
the utility to generate the short notice and mail it or to make a
telephone call. In contrast, it is relatively difficult, time-consuming
and intrusive for State or local air pollution control agencies or EPA
Regional Offices to contact each utility with Phase I and II affected
units to determine when testing will occur at each unit. EPA and State
or local agency personnel must call each utility, contact the
appropriate utility staff person, and discuss the scheduling
information.
In addition, EPA is considering changes to the periodic RATA
notification provisions that would reduce the burden of reporting a
notification. Part of the paperwork burden could be eliminated by
removing the requirement that notifications be provided to the
Administrator (received by EPA's Acid Rain Division). In addition, a
State or local air pollution control agency or EPA regional office
could be allowed to waive the notification requirement. For example, a
State or local air pollution control agency or an EPA regional office
could decide that it would not observe a class of units (e.g., low-
emitting gas-fired units). EPA is therefore considering allowing State
or local air pollution control agencies or EPA Regional Offices to
issue a utility a waiver from periodic RATA notification requirements
for some or all utility units within their respective States, air
quality districts or EPA regions until notifications are specifically
requested again. This would relieve utilities of some reporting burden,
while still ensuring that State or local agencies or EPA regional
offices would be able to observe RATA testing when they wished to do
so. Moreover, where a test needs to be rescheduled in less than seven
days, another option that would create greater flexibility for
utilities would be a shorter period of advance notification, such as
telephone, facsimile, or electronic mail notification on the day the
utility knows the rescheduled date of testing, which would be required
to be at least two days (48 hours) before the new date of testing. EPA
requests comment on these possible solutions.
No other significant, adverse comments were received by EPA on the
direct final rule. Thus, all other provisions of the direct final rule
became final on July 17, 1995 and remain in effect.
In addition, the EPA is correcting various errors found in the
direct final rule, as promulgated on May 17, 1995. These corrections
are technical. Most correct typographical errors; some reinstate
provisions that were inadvertently removed from the final regulations
originally promulgated on January 11, 1993 (58 FR 3590, 1993) when the
May 17, 1995 document was published.
The rule provisions in this document either remove requirements
already incorporated in the May 17, 1995 notice or reinstate regulatory
requirements that were previously approved when the regulations were
originally issued on January 11, 1993. The requirements of Executive
Orders 12866 and 12875, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Unfunded
Mandates Act, and the Paperwork Reduction Act are therefore not
applicable to this action. All applicable administrative requirements
will be met when the proposed amendments are addressed in a future
final rule.
For additional information, see the direct final rule. 60 FR 26510
(May 17, 1995).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 75
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon dioxide,
Continuous emission monitors, Electric utilities, Incorporation by
reference, Nitrogen oxides, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements,
Sulfur dioxide.
Dated: April 30, 1996.
Brian J. McLean,
Director, Acid Rain Division.
PART 75--[AMENDED]
Part 75 of title 40, chapter I of the Code of Federal Regulations
is amended as follows:
1. The authority citation for part 75 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7601 and 7651K.
2. Section 75.14 is amended by revising paragraph (c) to read as
follows:
Sec. 75.14 Specific provisions for monitoring opacity.
* * * * *
(c) Gas-fired units. The owner or operator of an affected unit that
qualifies as gas-fired, as defined in Sec. 72.2 of this chapter, based
on information submitted by the designated representative in the
monitoring plan is exempt from the opacity monitoring requirements of
this part. Whenever a unit previously categorized as a gas-fired unit
is recategorized as another type of unit by changing its fuel mix, the
owner or operator shall install, operate, and certify a continuous
opacity monitoring system as required by paragraph (a) of this section
by
[[Page 25582]]
December 31 of the following calendar year.
* * * * *
3. Section 75.15(b)(1) is amended by revising Equation 7 to read as
follows:
Sec. 75.15 Specific provisions for monitoring SO2 emissions
removal by qualifying Phase I technology.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(1) * * *
Where, * * *
* * * * *
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN22MY96.002
Sec. 75.16 [Amended]
4. Section 75.16(a)(2)(ii)(A) is amended by adding the word ``in''
between the phrases ``compensating units'' and ``accordance with part
72''.
Sec. 75.21 [Amended]
5. Section 75.21 is amended by removing and reserving paragraph
(d).
Sec. 75.33 [Amended]
6. Section 75.33(c)(5) is amended by revising the word ``proper''
to read ``prior''.
7. Section 75.50(a) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 75.50 General recordkeeping provisions.
(a) Recordkeeping requirements for affected sources. The provisions
of this section shall remain in effect prior to January 1, 1996. The
owner or operator shall meet the requirements of either Secs. 75.50 or
75.54 prior to January 1, 1996. On or after January 1, 1996, the owner
or operator shall meet the requirements of Sec. 75.54 only. The owner
or operator of any affected source subject to the requirements of this
part shall maintain for each affected unit (or for each group of
affected or nonaffected units utilizing a common stack and common
monitoring systems pursuant to Sec. 75.16 through Sec. 75.18 of this
part (referred to hereafter as ``each affected unit'')) a file of all
measurements, data, reports, and other information required by this
part at the source in a form suitable for inspection for at least three
(3) years from the date of each record. This file shall contain the
following information:
(1) The data and information required in paragraphs (b) through (f)
of this section;
(2) The component data and information used to calculate values
required in paragraphs (b) through (f) of this section;
(3) The current monitoring plan as specified in Sec. 75.53 of this
part; and
(4) The quality control plan as described in Appendix B of this
part.
* * * * *
Sec. 75.61 [Amended]
8.-9. Section 75.61 is amended by removing and reserving paragraph
(a)(5).
10. Appendix A, Section 2.1.1.1 is amended by adding the variables
for Equations A-1a and A-1b and note at the end of the section to read
as follows:
Appendix A of Part 75--Specifications and Test Procedures [Amended]
* * * * *
2.1.1.1 Maximum Potential Concentration
* * * * *
Where,
MPC=Maximum potential concentration (ppm, wet basis). (To convert to
dry basis, divide the MPC by 0.9.)
%S=Maximum sulfur content of fuel to be fired, wet basis, weight
percent, as determined by ASTM D3177-89, ASTM D4239-85, ASTM D4294-90,
ASTM D1552-90, ASTM D129-91, or ASTM D2622-92 for solid or liquid fuels
(incorporated by reference under Sec. 75.6).
GCV=Minimum gross calorific value of the fuel lot consistent with the
sulfur analysis (Btu/lb), as determined using ASTM D3176-89, ASTM D240-
87 (Reapproved 1991), or ASTM D2015-91 (incorporated by reference under
Sec. 75.6).
%O2w=Minimum oxygen concentration, percent wet basis, under normal
operating conditions.
%CO2w=Maximum carbon dioxide concentration, percent wet basis,
under normal operating conditions.
11.32 x 10\6\=Oxygen-based conversion factor in (Btu/lb)(ppm)/%.
6.93 x 10\6\=Carbon dioxide-based conversion factor in (Btu/lb)(ppm)/%
Note: All percent values to be inserted in the equations of this
section are to be expressed as a percentage, not a fractional value,
e.g., 3, not .03.
11. Appendix A, Section 2.1.4 is amended by replacing the variable
``Fd'' with the variable ``Fc'' in Equation A-3b to read as
follows:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN22MY96.003
Where:
* * * * *
Appendix A--[Amended]
12. Appendix A, Section 7.6.5 is amended by revising the first two
variable definitions for Equation A-11 to read as follows:
7.6.5 Bias Adjustment
* * * * *
Where:
CEMiMonitor=Data (measurement) provided by the monitor at
time i.
CEMiAdjusted=Data value, adjusted for bias, at time i.
* * * * *
13. Appendix A of part 75 is amended by adding Figures 1 through 4
at the end of Appendix A, to read as follows:
Figures for Appendix A of Part 75
Figure 1.--Linearity Error Determination
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Day Date and time Reference value Monitor value Difference Percent of reference value
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Low-level:
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Mid-level:
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High-level:
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Figure 2.--Relative Accuracy Determination (Pollutant Concentration Monitors)
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SO2 (ppmc) CO2 (Pollutant) (ppmc)
Run No. Date and --------------------------------------- Date and --------------------------------------
time RMa Mb Diff time RMa Mb Diff
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1..............................................
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2..............................................
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3..............................................
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4..............................................
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6..............................................
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8..............................................
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9..............................................
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10..............................................
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11..............................................
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12..............................................
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Arithmetic Mean Difference (Eq. A-7). Confidence Coefficient (Eq. A-9). Relative Accuracy (Eq. A-
10).
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a RM means ``reference method data.''
[[Page 25584]]
b M means ``monitor data.''
c Make sure the RM and M data are on a consistent basis, either wet or dry.
Figure 3.--Relative Accuracy Determination (Flow Monitors)
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Flow rate (Low) (scf/hr)* Flow rate (Normal) (scf/hr)* Flow rate (High) (scf/hr)*
Run No. Date and ------------------------------ Date and ------------------------------ Date and -----------------------------
time RM M Diff time RM M Diff time RM M Diff
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1..............................
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2..............................
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3..............................
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4..............................
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5..............................
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6..............................
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7..............................
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8..............................
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9..............................
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10..............................
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11..............................
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12..............................
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Arithmetic Mean Difference (Eq. A-7). Confidence Coefficient (Eq. A-9). Relative
Accuracy (Eq. A-10).
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* Make sure the RM and M data are on a consistent basis, either wet or dry.
Figure 4.--Relative Accuracy Determination (NOX/Diluent Combined System)
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Reference method data NOX system (lb/mmBtu)
Run No. Date and time -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOX( )a O2/CO2% RM M Difference
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1.............
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2.............
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3.............
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4.............
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5.............
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6.............
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7.............
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8.............
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9.............
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10............
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11............
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12............
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Arithmetic Mean Difference (Eq. A-7). Confidence Coefficient
(Eq. A-9). Relative Accuracy (Eq. A-10).
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a Specify units: ppm, lb/dscf, mg/dscm.
[[Page 25585]]
Appendix D To Part 75--Optional SO2 Emissions Data Protocol for
Gas-Fired and Oil-Fired Units [Amended]
14. Appendix D, section 2.1.5.2 is amended by revising the phrase
``bypass fuel'' to read ``backup fuel''.
15. Appendix D, section 2.1.6.1 is amended by revising the phrase
``bypass fuel'' to read ``backup fuel''.
Appendix F of Part 75--Conversion Procedures [Amended]
16. Appendix F, section 3.4, Equation F-10 is amended by changing
the superscript in the sum from ``n'' to ``m'', to read as follows:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN22MY96.004
Where,
* * * * *
17. Appendix F, section 4.4.1 is amended by adding Equation F-14b
after the variables for Equation F-14a and before the variables for
Equation F-14b, to read as follows:
4.4.1
* * * * *
or
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN22MY96.005
* * * * *
Appendix F, Section 5.5.1--[Amended]
18. Appendix F, Section 5.5.1 is amended by revising the last
variable for Equation F-19 from ``106'' to read ``106'' in the
definition for the variable.
Appendix G of Part 75--Determination of CO2 Emissions [Amended]
Appendix G, Section 4--[Amended]
19. Appendix G, section 4 is amended by redesignating Equation G-7
as Equation G-8.
[FR Doc. 96-12482 Filed 5-21-96; 8:45 am]
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