Update

Presentations for Navigating the Carbon World

2008-06-08T17:39:00.000-07:00

Presentations for the California Climate Action Registry 6th Annual Conference, Navigating the Carbon World are posted at their Web site. The presentations include a session on AB32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. Topics include reduction strategies, mandatory emissions reporting, voluntary early actions, and market-based mechanisms.

Proposed Cement Plant Regulation Revisions

2008-06-08T16:53:00.000-07:00

US EPA has proposed amendments to the new source standards of performance (NSPS) for Portland cement plants. The NSPS reduce emissions of criteria pollutants such a particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and sulfur dioxide (SO2).

Fact Sheet (pdf, 3pp., 39kB)
Proposed Rule (pdf, 110pp., 257kB)

Updates to Continuous Instrumental Test Methods

2008-06-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

US EPA has published a final notice to correct errors and provide clarifications in the May 15, 2006 updates to Methods 3A, 6C, 7E, 10, and 20. These methods measure oxygen, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides emissions from stationary sources.

Update of Continuous Instrumental Test Methods: Technical Amendments (pdf, 8pp., 205kB)

CARB Study: Greater Heath Risk from PM2.5

2008-05-25T06:56:00.000-07:00

The California Air Resources Board has conducted research showing long-term exposures to fine particle pollution pose a greater health threat than previously estimated. Annually, 14,000 to 24,000 premature deaths are estimated to be associated with exposures to PM2.5, a mix of microscopic particles less than 2.5 microns in size. A majority of these deaths occur in highly populated areas around the state, including the South Coast, San Joaquin Valley and San Francisco Bay air basins.

Clean Air Markets Data: 1st Quarter 2008

2008-05-23T06:57:00.000-07:00

First Quarter 2008 EDR data from US EPA Clean Air Markets are available from Emissions Data Prepackaged Data Sets or the US EPA FTP site. Data include hourly sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2), and heat input data for each unit in the Clean Air Markets programs. These data can be can be reviewed and analyzed with US EPA's Monitoring Data Checking (MDC) Software, as well as with EDR Trend

Also, MDC CAMD Export Files are updated.

EPRI CEM User Group Presentations

2008-05-13T19:20:00.000-07:00

EPRI CEM Users Group Conference Materials presented by US EPA are posted on their web site. Presentations include information on Emissions Collection and Monitoring Plan System (ECMPS) and a Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) update. There is also information presented at the ECMPS Stakeholder Meeting.

Fine Particle Rule

2008-05-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

US EPA issued a Final Rule for Implementation of the New Source Review (NSR) Program for Particulate Matter Less Than 2.5 Micrometers (PM2.5). US EPA's NSR program requires industrial facilities to obtain permits outlining emissions controls for target air pollutants before they begin construction. Requirements include:

Installation of Best Available Control Technology (BACT); and
Air quality monitoring and modeling analyses to ensure that a project’s emissions will not cause or contribute to a violation of any NAAQS or maximum allowable pollutant increase.

For sources in nonattainment areas for PM2.5, requirements include:

Installation of Lowest Achievable Emission Rate (LAER) control technology;
Offsetting new emissions with creditable emissions reductions;
Certification that all major sources owned and operated in the State by the same owner are in compliance with all applicable requirements under the Act; and
An alternative siting analysis demonstrating that the benefits of the proposed source significantly outweigh the environmental and social costs imposed as a result of its location, construction, or modification.

Fact Sheet (pdf, 4pp., 56kB)
Final Rule (pdf, 117pp., 425kB)

Clean Air Markets ECMPS Reporting Tutorials

2008-05-07T16:03:00.000-07:00

US EPA is begining to provide tutorials to help in the transition to the new Emissions Collection and Monitoring Plan System (ECMPS). Beginning with the first quarter of 2009, all industry sources regulated under Clean Air Markets Programs must submit monitoring plan, quality assurance, and emissions data to US EPA using this new system.

In addtion, Monitor Data Checking (MDC) Software has been revised for use with current EDR-formatted data files. MDC Version 4.2.58 supports January 24, 2008 revisions to continuous emission monitoring requirements for Clean Air Markets Programs (40 CFR 75), and addresses other minor bug fixes. Changes and fixes are detailed in the Release notes for MDC v4.2.58 (pdf, 1 pp., 11 kB).

Measurement and Monitoring Projects

2008-03-04T20:50:00.000-08:00

The US EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) posted a status report of current activities:

OAQPS Measurement and Monitoring Projects (pdf, 15pp, 56kB)

Activities include new and revised:

Test methods, including instrumental Methods 3A, 6C, 7E, 10, and 20;
Performance specifications and quality assurance procedures for Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems; and
Tools for improved monitoring and testing.

Clean Air Markets Data: 4th Quarter 2007

2008-02-20T18:41:00.000-08:00

Fourth Quarter 2007 EDR data from US EPA Clean Air Markets are available from Emissions Data Prepackaged Data Sets or the US EPA FTP site. Data include hourly sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2), and heat input data for each unit in the Clean Air Markets programs. These data can be can be reviewed and analyzed with US EPA's Monitoring Data Checking (MDC) Software, as well as with EDR Trend

Also, MDC CAMD Export Files are updated, and Acid Rain Hourly Emissions Data 2007 is available from NTIS.

Clean Air Mercury Rule Tossed Out by Court

2008-02-10T22:31:00.000-08:00

On February 08, 2008 the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that US EPA must rewrite the Clean Air Mercury Rule. The court ruled that US EPA violated the Clean Air Act in 2005 when it exempted coal-fired power plants from emission controls and adopted a market-based approach to regulate mercury emissions. It could be years before US EPA can enact new rules on mercury. In the meantime, regulating mercury emissions will likely be left to states, which in many cases have set their own limits for power plants.

State of New Jersey, et al., Petitioners v. Environmental Protection Agency, Respondent and Utility Air Regulatory Group, et al., Intervenors. US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 02/08/2008
EPA must rewrite utility mercury rule: U.S. court. Reuters, 02/08/2008
Court tosses Bush program on utility mercury emissions. Power News, 02/20/2008
Court restores stiffer coal plant mercury control rules. Power News, 03/26/2008
Ruling on Mercury Emissions Is Appealed. The Associated Press, 03/26/2008

AQMD Ammends Stationary IC Engine Rule

2008-02-09T07:51:00.000-08:00

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) ammended Rule 1110.2—Emissions from Gaseous- and Liquid-Fueled Internal Combustion Engines. The amendments were developed to:

Improve the compliance record of engines with better monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting;
Achieve further emission reduction based on the cleanest available technologies; and
Address recommended source testing, inspection, and monitoring plan changes to the rule by US EPA.

Rule 1110.2 Emissions from Gaseous - and Liquid-Fueled Internal Combustion Engines (pdf, 34 pp., 131kB)

Clean Air Markets Presentations & Reports

2008-01-30T17:22:00.000-08:00

Air Emissions of the Electric Power Industry (ppt, 10.8 MB), presented at the Electric Utility Environmental Conference (EUEC) January 28, 2008.

Update on Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR) (ppt, 11.62 MB), presented at the Environmental Markets Association (EMA) 11th Annual Fall Conference.

Progress reports for the Acid Rain Program and NOx Budget Trading Program:

Continuous Emissions Monitoring Rule Revisions

2008-01-24T16:34:00.000-08:00

Revisions to the Continuous Emissions Monitoring Rule for the Acid Rain Program, NOx Budget Trading Program, Clean Air Interstate Rule, and the Clean Air Mercury Rule were signed by the US EPA Administrator on December 19, 2007. See Consolidated Part 72and 75 Regulations for the updates to the rules.

Revisions to the Continuous Emissions Monitoring Rule for the Acid Rain Program, NOX Budget Trading Program, Clean Air Interstate Rule, and the Clean Air Mercury Rule; Final Rule (pdf, 67pp., 1239kB) were published in the Federal Register on January 24, 2008.

15 Percent Reduction in Cancer Risk in Southern California

2008-01-07T12:08:00.000-08:00

Air pollution programs have reduced Southern California's risk of cancer from toxic air pollution by at least 15 percent in the past seven years, according to the Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study III (MATES III) released by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD). AQMD is now soliciting public comments on the study for 90 days before finalizing the report.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting for California

2007-12-06T13:28:00.000-08:00

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) approved a regulation for mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from major sources, in accordance with the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB32). A revised version of regulation will be made available in February 2008.

Southern California Smog Season Cleanest On Record

2007-10-07T12:42:00.000-07:00

Southern California's 2007 smog season is shaping up as the cleanest on record due to continued efforts by the region and state to cut air pollution from all sources in conjunction with unseasonably cool temperatures in early summer. However, Southern California continues to have the worst overall air pollution in the nation.

Measurement Technology Workshop Presentations

2007-09-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

Presentation materials are available for the 2007 US EPA Measurement Technology Workshop, held Sept 11-13, 2007 in Raleigh, NC. Topics include Clean Air Mercury Rule information, air pollution measurement method updates, stack test guidance, and information on accrediting testing companies.

Clean Air Markets Data: 2nd Quarter 2007

2007-09-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

Second Quarter 2007 EDR data from US EPA Clean Air Markets are available from Emissions Data Prepackaged Data Sets or the US EPA FTP site. Data include hourly sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2), and heat input data for each unit in the Clean Air Markets programs. These data can be can be reviewed and analyzed with US EPA's Monitoring Data Checking (MDC) Software, as well as with EDR Trend

In addition, MDC CAMD Export Files are updated as of September 8, 2007. These files contain monitoring plan and quality assurance test data for Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) used in Clean Air Markets programs.

Mercury Monitoring and Control

2007-08-24T21:57:00.000-07:00

With mercury regulations pending and control technologies in the full-scale demonstration stage, accurate and reliable measurement of mercury in flue gas is becoming more important than ever. An August 2007 Power Magazine article compares the results of field measurements of commercially available mercury monitors with approved reference methods. Another article provides information on using predictive techniques to guide mercury compliance strategies.

Two New Mercury Test Methods

2007-08-22T21:22:00.000-07:00

The US EPA issued a direct final rule to add two methods for measuring mercury (Hg) emissions at coal-fired power plants. The direct final rule also includes several amendments related to mercury monitoring provisions at coal-fired power plants. The rule would add Methods 30A and 30B to the list of approved techniques for measuring mercury emissions under Clean Air Mercury Rule. For more information see:

Direct Final Rule (pdf, 133pp., 533kB);
Parallel Proposal (pdf, 11pp., 32kB); and
Fact Sheet (pdf, 2pp., 75kB).

AQMD Adopts Comprehensive Clean Air Plan

2007-07-01T16:38:00.000-07:00

California's South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) adopted a clean air plan to address the nation’s worst air pollution. The plan lays out a strategy to meet federal health-based standards for PM2.5 (fine particulate) by 2015 and 8-hour ozone by 2024—while accounting for and accommodating future expected growth.

The plan includes 37 control measures proposed for adoption by AQMD, including mitigating emissions from new commercial and residential developments as well as further reductions from industrial facilities through modernization of equipment.

09/27/2007: State Air Officials Adopt Comprehensive Clean Air Plan for Southern California.

Clean Air Markets Data: 1st Quarter 2007

2007-06-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

First Quarter 2007 Hourly Emissions Data are available from the US EPA Clean Air Markets Division Web site. Data include hourly sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2), and heat input data for each unit in the Clean Air Markets programs. These data can be can be reviewed and analyzed with US EPA's Monitoring Data Checking (MDC) Software, as well as with EDR Trend

In addition, MDC CAMD Export Files are updated as of June 13, 2007. These files contain monitoring plan and quality assurance test data for Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) used in Clean Air Markets programs.

Draft Mercury Test Methods

2007-06-06T16:52:00.000-07:00

US EPA has posted two draft mercury (Hg) reference methods:

Draft Method 30A—Determination of Total Vapor Phase Mercury Emissions from Stationary Sources (Instrumental Analyzer Procedure) (pdf, 49pp., 1221kB) and
Draft Method 30B—Determination of Total Vapor Phase Mercury Emissions from Coal-Fired Combustion Sources Using Carbon Sorbent Traps (pdf, 37pp., 1036kB).

The draft versions are for information purposes only. US EPA is considering approving them later this year.

Acid Rain Hourly Emissions Data from NTIS

2007-05-16T20:28:00.000-07:00

Acid Rain Hourly Emissions Data 2006 is available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). The two CD-ROM set contains data on emissions from fossil fuel-fired electric power plants collected by the US EPA Clean Air Markets Division for 2006.