Pod Technologies: Update: 03/2007
Standard Practice for Competence of Air Emission Testing
US EPA's proposed competency requirements for performing Acid Rain and mercury RATAs were presented at the 2007 Source Evaluation Society Conference.
US EPA's Proposed Competency Requirements for Performing Acid Rain and Mercury RATAs (ppt, 131kB)
See ASTM D7036-04 "Standard Practice for Competence of Air Emission Testing Bodies" for more detail on the standard.
3/20/2007
The Future of Coal
An interdisciplinary Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) panel issued a report that examines how the world can continue to use coal in a way that mitigates, instead of worsens, the global warming crisis. The study, The Future of Coal – Options for a Carbon Constrained World, advocates the US assume global leadership on this issue through adoption of significant policy actions.
3/16/2007
Highlights of US EPA Test Method Activities for 2007
Highlights of US EPA Test Method Activities 2007 (pdf, 14pp., 58kB) is available from US EPA. Activities include:
- Instrumental Test Methods Revisions – Methods 3A, 6C, 7E, 10, and 20 are instrumental test methods that were revised to harmonize equipment, calibration gas quality specifications, and performance criteria;
- Method 30A – Determination of Total Vapor Phase Mercury Emissions from Stationary Sources. As an alternative to the current reference method (the Ontario Hydro method), Method 30A will be an instrumental analyzer procedure. The target date for publication in the Federal Register is April 2007;
- Method 30B – Determination of Mercury Emissions from Stationary Sources from Coal-Fired Combustion Sources Using Carbon Sorbent Traps. Method 30B relies integrated sampling using carbon sorbent traps and analysis using an extractive or thermal technique; and
- CEMS Cost Model Update – A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet provides initial costs, annual operating costs, and QA/QC costs for continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS). A new update to the model was completed in September 2006 and includes costs for mercury CEMS and bag leak detection monitoring systems, as well as updated cost values to other inputs to the model.
3/13/2007
