Air Quality Comprehensive Rules Overhaul - Stakeholder Meetings

Greetings,

You are invited to participate in a stakeholder meeting hosted by Oregon DEQ to discuss proposed revisions to air quality rules. We’d like to share information and hear from you. Proposed revisions include:

•  Changes to make air quality rules easier to use and interpret

•  Updates to particulate matter grain loading and opacity standards

•  New requirements for small sources previously categorized as “insignificant” sources

•  Revisions to the New Source Review program

•  Revisions to the net air quality benefit criteria for businesses requesting significant emission increases

•  Extensions for New Source Review program permits

•  Clarification of rules governing splitting businesses

Stakeholder Meetings

The proposed rule changes affect a broad range of interests. DEQ is hosting stakeholder meetings where we will provide information and welcome your feedback.

Meeting Dates and Information

Public Participation

The public comment period for these rules will begin in October 2013 for proposed adoption at the March 2014 meeting of the Environmental Quality Commission. DEQ would like to receive your input before the public comment period. Even if you do not participate in the stakeholder meetings, you may sign up as an interested person to receive updates and meeting agendas by email. Additionally, citizens who wish to discuss proposals are encouraged to communicate directly with DEQ staff, or to attend stakeholder meetings.

Contact Information

For more information about DEQ’s proposed air quality rulemaking, contact Jill Inahara at 503-229-5001 or inahara.jill@deq.state.or.us. For further information on the proposed rule changes, please visit ___________ (website).

<<< This should be included on the website, not the Gov Delivery email. The website will include all this information. >>>

Making rules easier to use

DEQ proposes to make rules easier to use and interpret by:

•  Reorganizing rules that are currently placed in the “definitions” section when they should be listed in the procedures

•  Providing clarification where needed

•  Deleting unused or redundant definitions

•  Basic editing: Correcting spelling errors, citing correct rule references, etc.

•  Updating the Continuous Monitoring and Source Sampling Manual

Updates to particulate matter standards

DEQ is proposing to change the particulate emissions concentration standards in divisions 226 and 228 from 0.2 grains/dry standard cubic foot (gr/dscf) and 0.1 gr/dscf to 0.10 gr/dscf with a phased in schedule.

DEQ is also proposing to lower the 40 percent opacity standard in division 208 that applies to pre-1970 units to 20 percent, except the 40 percent limit will continue to apply during grate cleaning and soot blowing operations.

DEQ is also proposing to base the opacity standards on a 6-minute average, consistent with the compliance test method (EPA Method 9), instead of the current 3 minute aggregate period. The new particulate matter standards will help to maintain and protect the PM_2.5 ambient air quality standards.

Permits for small sources previously categorized as “insignificant”

There are new national emission standards for hazardous pollutants from emergency generators, which are currently included in the list of categorically insignificant sources. There are also some businesses that have multiple emergency generators and fuel burning equipment that in aggregate could potentially have significant emissions. DEQ is proposing changes to regulate these types of sources that were previously thought to be insignificant.

Splitting businesses

DEQ is clarifying that when one source splits up into 2 or more businesses, permitted emissions transfer to the new businesses with the same primary 2-digit SIC as the original source with the exception that emissions could transfer to a combined heat and power facility (aka co-gen) that supported the primary SIC.

New Source Review program

DEQ is proposing changes to the New Source Review program to better address ambient air quality problems in an area.

Net Air Quality Benefit

DEQ is proposing revisions to the criteria for demonstrating that emissions offsets required for new or modified businesses in nonattainment and sensitive areas will provide a net air quality benefit to the area. Current rules are overly focused on the impacts from individual businesses and do not adequately consider the overall benefits of a project, including emission offsets obtained from other businesses in the area.

Extensions for New Source Review permits

DEQ is clarifying the requirements for granting an extension to construct for businesses that obtained approval to construct under the New Source Review program if construction is delayed.

William Knight, 2013-07-10T08:08:00Z
This is the only time we call it that. Can we just use: “Air Quality Rule Changes and Updates” or something that sounds less ‘comprehensive’ J

gdavis, 2013-07-10T08:08:00Z
I would not use the word overhaul, that sounds too much like we’re changing the basis program.

gdavis, 2013-07-10T08:08:00Z
Not just businesses.

William Knight, 2013-07-10T08:08:00Z
Do you mean an hour set aside to accept comments from the audience and stakeholders at some point during the meeting or perhaps at the end of the meeting - or an actual comment period lasting for a period of days?

William Knight, 2013-07-10T08:08:00Z
Is there another reason we’re tightening the standard? Do we want to mention any federal action or state alignment with federal standards?