{"id":6911,"date":"2013-03-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-03-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insulation.org\/io\/articles\/a-further-understanding-of-boiler-mact-for-area-and-major-sources\/"},"modified":"2017-06-09T20:25:28","modified_gmt":"2017-06-09T20:25:28","slug":"a-further-understanding-of-boiler-mact-for-area-and-major-sources","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/insulation.org\/io\/articles\/a-further-understanding-of-boiler-mact-for-area-and-major-sources\/","title":{"rendered":"A Further Understanding of Boiler MACT for Area and Major Sources"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article is a follow-up to the piece that appeared in the
\nNovember issue of Insulation Outlook.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

The U.S. national elections appeared to have the
\nexpected, definitive effect on the high-profile Industrial Boiler Maximum
\nAchievable Control Technology (MACT) regulation. As discussed in November’s
\narticle, the regulation’s two subparts have undergone many changes and much
\nscrutiny over the past few years. Such controversy delayed the passing of a
\ndefinitive standard and placed many industrial, commercial, and institutional
\nfacilities in a considerable amount of confusion.\u00a0 This article will clearly
\noutline the changes, updates, and final adjustments to the Major and Area
\nSource Boiler MACT standards.<\/p>\n

On December 20, 2012, the U.S.
\nEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed the particulars for the Clean
\nAir Act Boiler MACT standards originally published in March 2011.\u00a0 Throughout
\n2011 and 2012, the EPA released extensive revisions to the specific National
\nEmission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs). The standards are
\ndivided between 40 CFR Part 63 Subpart JJJJJJ for affected area sources (sources
\nemitting fewer than 10 and\/or 25 tons per year [tpy] of single HAPs and\/or
\ntotal HAPS, respectively) and 40 CFR Part 63 Subpart DDDDD for major sources
\n(sources emitting greater than 10 and\/or 25 tpy of single HAPs and\/or total
\nHAPS, respectively), as defined by the respective air permits of the facilities.
\nAll of the final adjustments consider facility concerns and employ new
\ninformation.\u00a0 Both subparts still work toward preserving public health by
\nmitigating toxic air pollution while achieving more flexibility for facilities.<\/p>\n

The current Boiler MACT standards
\ndivide facilities’ boilers into subcategories defined by boiler type, capacity,
\nand fuel type. Based on this information, a source must meet emission limits,
\nwork practice standards (including tune-ups and energy assessments), and
\noperating limits; and\/or demonstrate initial\/regular compliance. The facility’s
\ndesignation as new or existing also will determine if it is subject to the
\nvarying work practice standards and requirements. Below are some critical facts
\nregarding the final adjustments to the Boiler MACT standards published on
\nDecember 20, 2012, including how they may apply, and what impact they could
\nhave, for your facility.<\/p>\n

Area Source Requirements <\/b><\/p>\n

40 CFR Part 63 Subpart JJJJJJ affects facilities
\nwith the potential to emit fewer than 10 tpy of any single HAP and\/or fewer
\nthan 25 tpy of combined HAPs affecting sources with boilers defined as
\nexisting, new, or reconstructed. A majority of the boilers affected by this
\nstandard are in the commercial and institutional sectors. It is anticipated that
\nthe final adjustments to the standard will provide relief to some of the
\nfacilities fearful of meeting regulatory requirements and deadlines.<\/p>\n

The health benefits have been
\nresearched and examined methodically by the EPA. Approximate
\nstandard-associated reduced exposure to fine particles has a health benefit
\nvalue of $210 million to $520 million by the year 2015. The EPA estimates that
\nthe cost for the final standard, incorporating the cost expected to be incurred
\nby industry, will be roughly $490 million per year.\u00a0 The final modifications
\nwill not raise the standards’ costs but are intended to ultimately decrease the
\nburden on smaller facilities with boilers.<\/p>\n

Only a small fraction of the
\nboilers currently operating will be affected by the final adjustments made by
\nthis subpart. Based on the final adjustments, 1.3 million of the 1.5 million
\nboilers at area sources will not be subject because they run on natural gas. Of
\nthe remaining 183,000 boilers, 182,400 require only regular tune-ups and
\npossibly a one-time energy assessment. The remaining 1 percent of boilers at
\narea sources will be obliged to meet the more rigorous emissions limits. These
\nboilers are chiefly coal burning. Due to how little these sources emit, the EPA
\nis continuing to require work practice\/management practice standards, which
\ninclude tune-ups for more than 99 percent of area source boilers covered by the
\nfinal standards. Less than 1 percent of area source boilers will need to meet
\nnumerical emission limits.<\/p>\n

Some of the changes from the
\nMarch 2011 regulation that have been made to the final standards will please
\nboth the agencies and the affected sources. A point-by-point list of the
\ncritical changes to the standards as supplied by the EPA in its Technical Fact
\nSheet is available at\u00a0 www.epa.gov\/airquality\/combustion\/docs\/20121221_boilers_area_recon_fs.pdf<\/a><\/i>,
\nsummarized below.<\/p>\n