Pod Technologies: Update: 03/2004

Monitor Data Checking Software Version 4.2.46

The current version of US EPA Clean Air Markets Monitoring Data Checking software (MDC) is MDC v4.2.46, revised as of March 15, 2004. This version of MDC supersedes MDC v4.1.42 which was previously posted in December, 2003.

This new version is being released to provide significant changes to the QA Status Evaluation portion of MDC Hourly. Unlike previous versions, it does not rely on RTs 697, 698 or 699 to determine test deadline extensions or test exemptions due to non-QA operating quarters, linearity exemptions due to low span values, or grace period extensions. This version also checks the linearity status of both ranges of dual range analyzer components (NOXA, SO2A, etc.) to make sure required tests were performed. MDC v4.2.46 also includes minor fixes to problems that were reported in the previous version.

3/17/2004

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Stationary Combustion Turbines - Final Rule

US EPA identified stationary combustion turbines as major sources of hazardous air pollutants (HAP) emissions such as formaldehyde, toluene, benzene, and acetaldehyde. The national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) will implement section 112(d) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) by requiring all major sources to meet HAP emission standards reflecting the application of the maximum achievable control technology (MACT) for combustion turbines.

In the final NESHAP, US EPA divided the stationary combustion turbine category into eight subcategories, including lean premix gas-fired turbines, lean premix oil-fired turbines, diffusion flame gas-fired turbines, diffusion flame oil-fired turbines, emergency turbines, turbines with a rated peak power output of less than 1.0 megawatt (MW), turbines burning landfill or digester gas, and turbines located on the North Slope of Alaska.

US EPA also adopted a final emission standard requiring control of formaldehyde emissions for all new or reconstructed stationary combustion turbines in the four lean premix and diffusion flame subcategories.

US EPA estimates that 20 percent of the stationary combustion turbines affected by the final rule will be located at major sources. As a result, the environmental, energy, and economic impacts presented in this preamble reflect these estimates. The final rule will protect public health by reducing exposure to air pollution, by reducing total national HAP emissions by an estimated 98 tons per year (tpy) in the 5th year after the rule is promulgated.

Final Rule: HTML; PDF (pdf, 38pp., 250kB)

3/05/2004