NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Proposed General Plan Approval and/or General Operating Permit for Gas and No. 2 Oil Fired Small Combustion Units (BAQ-GPA/GP-1)
[52 Pa.B. 778]
[Saturday, January 29, 2022]The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) proposes the revision of General Plan Approval and/or General Operating Permit for Gas and No. 2 Oil Fired Small Combustion Units (BAQ-GPA/GP-1 or General Permit) which contains Best Available Technology determinations and other applicable State and Federal requirements.
The revised BAQ-GPA/GP-1 developed under the authority of section 6.1(f) of the Air Pollution Control Act (35 P.S. § 4006.1(f)) and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 127, Subchapter H (relating to general plan approvals and operating permits) will now be applicable to larger boilers and contain more stringent emission limits than the previous version of BAQ-GPA/GP-1. The proposed revision includes updated regulatory language for standard conditions.
The significant proposed modifications to GP-1 include the following:
(1) General Permit Format—The structure of the General Permit requirements has been revised for consistency with the most recently issued GP.
(2) General Permit Fees—The fee schedule for GP-1 has been revised for consistency with the most recently issued GP and is as follows: General Plan Approval Application Fee ($1,600); General Operating Permit Application/Renewal Fee ($750); Annual Operating Permit Maintenance Fee ($500); Transfer of Ownership Fee ($500); and Administrative Amendment Fee ($500).
(3) Applicability/Scope—The maximum rated heat input capacity of the gaseous fuel and No. 2 oil fired combustion units which may be constructed under GP-1 has been increased from 50 million Btu per hour to 100 million Btu per hour.
(4) Best Available Technology—New small combustion units constructed under GP-1 shall meet emission rates of 9 parts per million dry by volume (ppmdv) NOx at 3% O2 when firing gaseous fuel, 90 ppmdv NOx at 3% O2 when firing No. 2 oil and 130 ppmdv CO at 3% O2 on either fuel. Additionally, opacity from these small combustion units when operating on either fuel shall not equal or exceed 10% for a period or periods aggregating more than 3 minutes in any 1 hour or 30% at any time.
Small combustion units constructed under and authorized to operate under GP-1 approved by the Department on or after December 2, 1995, and prior to the date of issuance of this General Permit shall meet emission rates of 30 ppmdv NOx at 3% O2 when firing gaseous fuel, 90 ppmdv NOx at 3% O2 when firing No. 2 oil and 300 ppmdv CO at 3% O2 on either fuel.
(5) Source Testing—An owner or operator of a small combustion unit using GP-1 that does not qualify as a gaseous fuel fired boiler and which has a maximum heat input capacity greater than 50 MMBtu/hr shall conduct performance testing for NOx and CO within 180 days of initial startup or re-authorization to use GP-1.
(6) Work Practice Standards—Annual tune-ups are required for all small combustion units constructed and operated under GP-1. Measurement of the concentrations in the effluent stream of NOx and CO are required every 3 years.
(7) Applicable Laws—Federal regulations applicable to certain gaseous fuel and No. 2 oil fired small combustion units, including 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart DC (relating to standards of performance for small industrial-commercial-institutional steam generating units), 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart DDDDD (relating to national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants for major sources: industrial, commercial, and institutional boilers and process heaters) and 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart JJJJJJ (relating to national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants for industrial, commercial, and institutional boilers area sources) have been incorporated into GP-1 by reference.
(8) Annual Reporting and Compliance Certification—An owner or operator of a small combustion unit using GP-1 as a facility-wide operating permit must submit an emissions report and compliance certification to the Department on an annual basis.
The proposed GP-1 also includes monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements designed to keep the facility operating within all applicable State and Federal air quality requirements, such as: records of maintenance performed; fuel certification reports; fuel consumption records; records of work practice standards; performance tests; municipal notifications; malfunctions, emergencies or incidents of excess emissions reporting and notifications; records of compliance; and annual facility inventory reporting. Records required must be maintained onsite for a minimum of 5 years and may be maintained in electronic format. The term for the general permit is 5 years and authorization can be renewed before the expiration date.
The Department will accept written comments through Tuesday, March 29, 2022. Commentators are encouraged to submit comments using the Department's online eComment system at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment. Written comments can also be submitted by e-mail to ecomment@pa.gov or by mail to the Policy Office, Department of Environmental Protection, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063. Comments, including comments submitted by e-mail, must include the commentator's name and address. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted. Use ''Proposed GP-1'' as the subject line in written communication.
Questions regarding this notice or the proposed General Permit can be directed to Virendra Trivedi at vtrivedi@pa.gov or (717) 783-9476.
PATRICK McDONNELL,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 22-168. Filed for public inspection January 28, 2022, 9:00 a.m.]
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