Proposed Amended Rule 1146 - Emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen from Industrial, Institutional, and Commercial Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters

Proposed Amended Rule 1146 - Emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen from Industrial, Institutional, and Commercial Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters

SCAQMD staff is proposing amendments to Rule 1146 - Emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen from Industrial, Insitutional and Commercial Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters to reduce the allowable NOx emission limits from 30 parts per million (ppm) to 12 ppm, nine ppm, or five ppm, depending on equipment size and operational characteristics. The proposed amendments to Rule 1146 would also include NOx compliance limits for units burning landfill or digester gasses at 25 ppm and 15 ppm, respectively. Other changes are proposed that include: 1) establishing a weighted average formula for dual fueled co-fired units; 2) allow existing units to be de-rated to no less than two million BTU per hour per unit; 3) requiring compliance with a 30 ppm NOx limit for low fuel usage equipment by January 1, 2015 or burner replacement, whichever occurs later; 4) allowing a later compliance date for health facilities complying with seismic safety requirements; 5) establishing a staged compliance schedule over a multi-year period which varies by equipment size range and unit operation; 6) making the frequency of compliance testing compatible wtih RECLAIM sources for the same equipment size range; and 7) allowing NOx emissions monitoring with a portable analyzer. Other minor changes are proposed to improve organization, clarity, and consistency throughout the rule. The Initial Study identified "air quality" and "hazards and hazardous materials" as the only areas that may be adversely affected by the proposed project. Further analysis of these environmental areas in the Draft EA have shown that only the topic of hazards and hazardous materials exceeds the SCAQMD's daily significance thresholds for operational activities associated with the use and storage of aqueous ammonia.

Air Resources Board, Major Industrial Projects, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, South Coast Region 5 (CDFW), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning (DOT), California Highway Patrol, California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), Department of Fish and Wildlife, Region 6, Department of Toxic Substances Control, Department of Water Resources, Resources Agency, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality

PAR 1146

Air Quality, Hazards & Hazardous Materials