Title 40

SECTION 52.173

52.173 Visibility protection.

§ 52.173 Visibility protection.

(a) Regional haze. The regional haze State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted on September 23, 2008 and August 3, 2010, and supplemented on September 27, 2011 are partially approved and partially disapproved.

(1) The identification of sources that are eligible for Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) is approved, with the exception of the 6A Boiler at the Georgia-Pacific Crossett Mill, which is BART eligible.

(2) The identification of sources subject to BART is approved, with the exception of the 6A and 9A Boilers at the Georgia-Pacific Crossett Mill, which are both subject to BART.

(3) The following BART determinations are disapproved:

(i) The sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NOX), and particulate matter (PM) BART determinations for the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation Bailey Plant Unit 1 and the AECC McClellan Plant Unit 1;

(ii) The SO2 and NOX BART determinations for the American Electric Power Flint Creek Plant Boiler No. 1;

(iii) The NOX BART determination for the natural gas firing scenario and the SO2, NOX, and PM BART determinations for the fuel oil firing scenario for the Entergy Lake Catherine Plant Unit 4;

(iv) The SO2 and NOX BART determinations for both the bituminous and sub-bituminous coal firing scenarios for the Entergy White Bluff Plant Units 1 and 2;

(v) The BART determination for the Entergy White Bluff Plant Auxiliary Boiler;

(vi) The SO2 and NOX BART determinations for the Domtar Ashdown Mill Power Boiler No. 1; and

(vii) The SO2, NOX and PM BART determinations for the Domtar Ashdown Mill Power Boiler No. 2.

(4) The Arkansas Regional Haze Rule, (APCEC Regulation 19, Chapter 15), is partially approved and partially disapproved such that:

(i) The requirement under Reg. 19.104(B) for BART installation and operation as expeditiously as practicable, but no later than 5 years after EPA approval of the Arkansas Regional Haze State Implementation Plan is partially approved and partially disapproved, such that the partial approval is for the BART determinations we are approving and the partial disapproval is for the BART determinations we are disapproving;

(ii) The requirement under Reg. 19.1504(B) for BART installation and operation no later than 6 years after the effective date of the State regulation is disapproved;

(iii) Reg. 19.1505 (A)(1) and (2), (B), (C), (D)(1) and (2), (E), (F)(1) and (2), (G)(1) and (2), (H), (I)(1) and (2), (J)(1) and (2), (K), (L), (M)(1), and (N) are disapproved;

(iv) the Reg. 19.1506 requirement to demonstrate compliance with the BART limits listed in Reg. 19.1505 (A)(1) and (2), (B), (C), (D)(1) and (2), (E), (F)(1) and (2), (G)(1) and (2), (H), (I)(1) and (2), (J)(1) and (2), (K), (L), (M)(1), and (N) is disapproved; and

(v) The remaining portions are approved.

(5) The regional haze long term strategy under 40 CFR 51.308(d)(3) is partially approved and partially disapproved.

(6) The reasonable progress goals are disapproved.

(b) Interstate Transport. The portion of the SIP pertaining to adequate provisions to prohibit emissions from interfering with measures required in another state to protect visibility, submitted on March 28, 2008, and supplemented on September 27, 2011, is partially approved and partially disapproved.

(1) The Arkansas Regional Haze Rule, (APCEC Regulation 19, Chapter 15), is partially approved and partially disapproved such that:

(i) The requirement under Reg. 19.104(B) for BART installation and operation as expeditiously as practicable, but no later than 5 years after EPA approval of the Arkansas Regional Haze State Implementation Plan is partially approved and partially disapproved, such that the partial approval is for the BART determinations we are approving and the partial disapproval is for the BART determinations we are disapproving;

(ii) The requirement under Reg. 19.1504(B) for BART installation and operation no later than 6 years after the effective date of the State regulation is disapproved;

(iii) Reg. 19.1505 (A)(1) and (2), (B), (C), (D)(1) and (2), (E), (F)(1) and (2), (G)(1) and (2), (H), (I)(1) and (2), (J)(1) and (2), (K), (L), (M)(1), and (N) are disapproved;

(iv) The Reg. 19.1506 requirement to demonstrate compliance with the BART limits listed in Reg. 19.1505 (A)(1) and (2), (B), (C), (D)(1) and (2), (E), (F)(1) and (2), (G)(1) and (2), (H), (I)(1) and (2), (J)(1) and (2), (K), (L), (M)(1), and (N) is disapproved; and

(v) The remaining portions are approved.

(2) [Reserved]

(c) Federal implementation plan for regional haze. Requirements for Domtar Ashdown Paper Mill Power Boilers No. 1 and 2 affecting visibility.

(1) Applicability. The provisions of this section shall apply to each owner or operator, or successive owners or operators of the sources designated as Domtar Ashdown Paper Mill Power Boilers No. 1 and 2.

(2) Definitions. All terms used in this part but not defined herein shall have the meaning given them in the Clean Air Act and in parts 51 and 60 of this title. For the purposes of this section:

24-hour period means the period of time between 12:01 a.m. and 12 midnight.

Air pollution control equipment includes selective catalytic control units, baghouses, particulate or gaseous scrubbers, and any other apparatus utilized to control emissions of regulated air contaminants which would be emitted to the atmosphere.

Boiler-operating-day means a 24-hr period between 6 a.m. and 6 a.m. the following day during which any fuel is fed into and/or combusted at any time in the power boiler.

Daily average means the arithmetic average of the hourly values measured in a 24-hour period.

Heat input means heat derived from combustion of fuel in a unit and does not include the heat input from preheated combustion air, recirculated flue gases, or exhaust gases from other sources. Heat input shall be calculated in accordance with 40 CFR part 75.

Owner or Operator means any person who owns, leases, operates, controls, or supervises any of the units or power boilers listed under paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

Regional Administrator means the Regional Administrator of EPA Region 6 or his/her authorized representative.

Unit means one of the natural gas, fuel oil, or coal fired boilers covered under paragraph (c) of this section.

(3) Emissions Limitations for Domtar Ashdown Paper Mill Power Boiler No. 1. The SO2 emission limit for the boiler is as listed in the following table in pounds per day (lb/day) as averaged over a rolling 30 boiler-operating-day period. The NOX emission limit for the boiler is as listed in the following table in pounds per hour (lb/hr).

Unit SO2 Emission limit
(lb/day)
NOX Emission limit
(lb/hr)
Domtar Ashdown Paper Mill Power Boiler No. 1 504 207.4

(4) Compliance dates for Domtar Ashdown Mill Power Boiler No. 1. The owner or operator of the boiler must comply with the SO2 and NOX emission limits listed in paragraph (c)(3) of this section by November 28, 2016.

(5) Compliance determination and reporting and recordkeeping requirements for Domtar Ashdown Paper Mill Power Boiler No. 1. (i)(A) SO2 emissions resulting from combustion of fuel oil shall be determined by assuming that the SO2 content of the fuel delivered to the fuel inlet of the combustion chamber is equal to the SO2 being emitted at the stack. The owner or operator must maintain records of the sulfur content by weight of each fuel oil shipment, where a “shipment” is considered delivery of the entire amount of each order of fuel purchased. Fuel sampling and analysis may be performed by the owner or operator, an outside laboratory, or a fuel supplier. All records pertaining to the sampling of each shipment of fuel oil, including the results of the sulfur content analysis, must be maintained by the owner or operator and made available upon request to EPA and ADEQ representatives. SO2 emissions resulting from combustion of bark shall be determined by using the following site-specific curve equation, which accounts for the SO2 scrubbing capabilities of bark combustion:

Y= 0.4005 * X - 0.2645 Where: Y= pounds of sulfur emitted per ton of dry fuel feed to the boiler. X= pounds of sulfur input per ton of dry bark.

(B) The owner or operator must confirm the site-specific curve equation through stack testing. By October 27, 2017, the owner or operator must provide a report to EPA showing confirmation of the site specific-curve equation accuracy. Records of the quantity of fuel input to the boiler for each fuel type for each day must be compiled no later than 15 days after the end of the month and must be maintained by the owner or operator and made available upon request to EPA and ADEQ representatives. Each boiler-operating-day of the 30-day rolling average for the boiler must be determined by adding together the pounds of SO2 from that boiler-operating-day and the preceding 29 boiler-operating-days and dividing the total pounds of SO2 by the sum of the total number of boiler operating days (i.e., 30). The result shall be the 30 boiler-operating-day rolling average in terms of lb/day emissions of SO2. Records of the total SO2 emitted for each day must be compiled no later than 15 days after the end of the month and must be maintained by the owner or operator and made available upon request to EPA and ADEQ representatives. Records of the 30 boiler-operating-day rolling averages for SO2 as described in this paragraph (c)(5)(i) must be maintained by the owner or operator for each boiler-operating-day and made available upon request to EPA and ADEQ representatives.

(ii) If the air permit is revised such that Power Boiler No. 1 is permitted to burn only pipeline quality natural gas, this is sufficient to demonstrate that the boiler is complying with the SO2 emission limit under paragraph (c)(3) of this section. The compliance determination requirements and the reporting and recordkeeping requirements under paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section would not apply and confirmation of the accuracy of the site-specific curve equation under paragraph (c)(5)(i)(B) of this section through stack testing would not be required so long as Power Boiler No. 1 is only permitted to burn pipeline quality natural gas.

(iii) To demonstrate compliance with the NOX emission limit under paragraph (c)(3) of this section, the owner or operator shall conduct stack testing using EPA Reference Method 7E, found at 40 CFR part 60, appendix A, once every 5 years, beginning 1 year from the effective date of our final rule, which corresponds to October 27, 2017. Records and reports pertaining to the stack testing must be maintained by the owner or operator and made available upon request to EPA and ADEQ representatives.

(iv) If the air permit is revised such that Power Boiler No. 1 is permitted to burn only pipeline quality natural gas, the owner or operator may demonstrate compliance with the NOX emission limit under paragraph (c)(3) of this section by calculating NOX emissions using fuel usage records and the applicable NOX emission factor under AP-42, Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors, section 1.4, Table 1.4-1. Records of the quantity of natural gas input to the boiler for each day must be compiled no later than 15 days after the end of the month and must be maintained by the owner or operator and made available upon request to EPA and ADEQ representatives. Records of the calculation of NOX emissions for each day must be compiled no later than 15 days after the end of the month and must be maintained by the owner or operator and made available upon request to EPA and ADEQ representatives. Each boiler-operating-day of the 30-day rolling average for the boiler must be determined by adding together the pounds of NOX from that day and the preceding 29 boiler-operating-days and dividing the total pounds of NOX by the sum of the total number of hours during the same 30 boiler-operating-day period. The result shall be the 30 boiler-operating-day rolling average in terms of lb/hr emissions of NOX. Records of the 30 boiler-operating-day rolling average for NOX must be maintained by the owner or operator for each boiler-operating-day and made available upon request to EPA and ADEQ representatives. Under these circumstances, the compliance determination requirements and the reporting and recordkeeping requirements under paragraph (c)(5)(iii) of this section would not apply.

(6) SO2 and NOX Emissions Limitations for Domtar Ashdown Paper Mill Power Boiler No.2. The individual SO2 and NOX emission limits for the boiler are as listed in the following table in pounds per hour (lb/hr) as averaged over a rolling 30 boiler-operating-day period.

Unit SO2 Emission Limit (lb/hr) NOX Emission Limit (lb/hr)
Domtar Ashdown Paper Mill Power Boiler No. 2 91.5 345

(7) SO2 and NOX Compliance dates for Domtar Ashdown Mill Power Boiler No. 2. The owner or operator of the boiler must comply with the SO2 and NOX emission limits listed in paragraph (c)(6) of this section by October 27, 2021.

(8) SO2 and NOX Compliance determination and reporting and recordkeeping requirements for Domtar Ashdown Mill Power Boiler No. 2. (i) NOX and SO2 emissions for each day shall be determined by summing the hourly emissions measured in pounds of NOX or pounds of SO2. Each boiler-operating-day of the 30-day rolling average for the boiler shall be determined by adding together the pounds of NOX or SO2 from that day and the preceding 29 boiler-operating-days and dividing the total pounds of NOX or SO2 by the sum of the total number of hours during the same 30 boiler-operating-day period. The result shall be the 30 boiler-operating-day rolling average in terms of lb/hr emissions of NOX or SO2. If a valid NOX pounds per hour or SO2 pounds per hour is not available for any hour for the boiler, that NOX pounds per hour shall not be used in the calculation of the 30 boiler-operating-day rolling average for NOX. For each day, records of the total SO2 and NOX emitted for that day by the boiler must be maintained by the owner or operator and made available upon request to EPA and ADEQ representatives. Records of the 30 boiler-operating-day rolling average for SO2 and NOX for the boiler as described in this paragraph (c)(8)(i) must be maintained by the owner or operator for each boiler-operating-day and made available upon request to EPA and ADEQ representatives.

(ii) The owner or operator shall continue to maintain and operate a CEMS for SO2 and NOX on the boiler listed in paragraph (c)(6) of this section in accordance with 40 CFR 60.8 and 60.13(e), (f), and (h), and appendix B of 40 CFR part 60. The owner or operator shall comply with the quality assurance procedures for CEMS found in 40 CFR part 60. Compliance with the emission limits for SO2 and NOX shall be determined by using data from a CEMS.

(iii) Continuous emissions monitoring shall apply during all periods of operation of the boiler listed in paragraph (c)(6) of this section, including periods of startup, shutdown, and malfunction, except for CEMS breakdowns, repairs, calibration checks, and zero and span adjustments. Continuous monitoring systems for measuring SO2 and NOX and diluent gas shall complete a minimum of one cycle of operation (sampling, analyzing, and data recording) for each successive 15-minute period. Hourly averages shall be computed using at least one data point in each fifteen-minute quadrant of an hour. Notwithstanding this requirement, an hourly average may be computed from at least two data points separated by a minimum of 15 minutes (where the unit operates for more than one quadrant in an hour) if data are unavailable as a result of performance of calibration, quality assurance, preventive maintenance activities, or backups of data from data acquisition and handling system, and recertification events. When valid SO2 or NOX pounds per hour emission data are not obtained because of continuous monitoring system breakdowns, repairs, calibration checks, or zero and span adjustments, emission data must be obtained by using other monitoring systems approved by the EPA to provide emission data for a minimum of 18 hours in each 24-hour period and at least 22 out of 30 successive boiler operating days.

(iv) If the air permit is revised such that Power Boiler No. 2 is permitted to burn only pipeline quality natural gas, this is sufficient to demonstrate that the boiler is complying with the SO2 emission limit under paragraph (c)(6) of this section. Under these circumstances, the compliance determination requirements under paragraphs (c)(8)(i) through (iii) of this section would not apply to the SO2 emission limit listed in paragraph (c)(6) of this section.

(v) If the air permit is revised such that Power Boiler No. 2 is permitted to burn only pipeline quality natural gas and the operation of the CEMS is not required under other applicable requirements, the owner or operator may demonstrate compliance with the NOX emission limit under paragraph (c)(6) of this section by calculating NOX emissions using fuel usage records and the applicable NOX emission factor under AP-42, Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors, section 1.4, Table 1.4-1. Records of the quantity of natural gas input to the boiler for each day must be compiled no later than 15 days after the end of the month and must be maintained by the owner or operator and made available upon request to EPA and ADEQ representatives. Records of the calculation of NOX emissions for each day must be compiled no later than 15 days after the end of the month and must be maintained and made available upon request to EPA and ADEQ representatives. Each boiler-operating-day of the 30-day rolling average for the boiler must be determined by adding together the pounds of NOX from that day and the preceding 29 boiler-operating-days and dividing the total pounds of NOX by the sum of the total number of hours during the same 30 boiler-operating-day period. The result shall be the 30 boiler-operating-day rolling average in terms of lb/hr emissions of NOX. Records of the 30 boiler-operating-day rolling average for NOX must be maintained by the owner or operator for each boiler-operating-day and made available upon request to EPA and ADEQ representatives. Under these circumstances, the compliance determination requirements under paragraphs (c)(8)(i) through (iii) of this section would not apply to the NOX emission limit.

(9) PM BART Requirements for Domtar Ashdown Paper Mill Power Boiler No.2. The owner or operator must rely on the applicable PM standard required under 40 CFR part 63, subpart DDDDD - National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Major Sources: Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters, as revised, to satisfy the PM BART requirement. Compliance with the applicable PM standard under 40 CFR part 63 subpart DDDDD, as revised, shall demonstrate compliance with the PM BART requirement.

(10) PM compliance dates for Domtar Ashdown Mill Power Boiler No. 2. The owner or operator of the boiler must comply with the PM BART requirement listed in paragraph (c)(9) of this section by November 28, 2016.

(11) Alternative PM Compliance Determination for Domtar Ashdown Paper Mill Power Boiler No. 2. If the air permit is revised such that Power Boiler No. 2 is permitted to burn only pipeline quality natural gas, this is sufficient to demonstrate that the boiler is complying with the PM BART requirement under paragraph (c)(9) of this section.

(12) Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Unless otherwise stated all requests, reports, submittals, notifications, and other communications to the Regional Administrator required under this paragraph (c) shall be submitted, unless instructed otherwise, to the Director, Air and Radiation Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, to the attention of Mail Code: AR, at 1201 Elm Street, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas 75270-2102. For each unit subject to the emissions limitation under this paragraph (c), the owner or operator shall comply with the following requirements, unless otherwise specified:

(i) For each emissions limit under paragraph (c) of this section where compliance shall be determined by using data from a CEMS, comply with the notification, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements for CEMS compliance monitoring in 40 CFR 60.7(c) and (d).

(ii) [Reserved]

(13) Equipment operations. At all times, including periods of startup, shutdown, and malfunction, the owner or operator shall, to the extent practicable, maintain and operate the unit including associated air pollution control equipment in a manner consistent with good air pollution control practices for minimizing emissions. Determination of whether acceptable operating and maintenance procedures are being used will be based on information available to the Regional Administrator which may include, but is not limited to, monitoring results, review of operating and maintenance procedures, and inspection of the unit.

(14) Enforcement. (i) Notwithstanding any other provision in this implementation plan, any credible evidence or information relevant as to whether the unit would have been in compliance with applicable requirements if the appropriate performance or compliance test had been performed, can be used to establish whether or not the owner or operator has violated or is in violation of any standard or applicable emission limit in the plan.

(ii) Emissions in excess of the level of the applicable emission limit or requirement that occur due to a malfunction shall constitute a violation of the applicable emission limit.

(d) Measures Addressing Partial Disapproval of Portion of Interstate Visibility Transport SIP for the 1997 8-hour ozone and PM2.5 NAAQS. The deficiencies identified in EPA's partial disapproval of the portion of the SIP pertaining to adequate provisions to prohibit emissions in Arkansas from interfering with measures required in another state to protect visibility, submitted on March 28, 2008, and supplemented on September 27, 2011 are satisfied by § 52.173.

(e) Measures addressing best available retrofit technology (BART) for electric generating unit (EGU) emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX). The BART requirements for EGU NOX emissions are satisfied by § 52.184 and the Arkansas Regional Haze NOX SIP Revision approved February 12, 2018, 83 FR 5927.

(f) Other measures addressing reasonable progress. The reasonable progress requirements for NOX emissions are satisfied by the Arkansas Regional Haze NOX SIP Revision approved February 12, 2018.

(g) Regional Haze Phase II SIP Revision. A portion of the Regional Haze Phase II SIP Revision submitted on August 8, 2018, is approved as follows:

(1) Identification of the 6A Boiler at the Georgia-Pacific Crossett Mill as BART-eligible and the determination based on the additional information and technical analysis presented in the SIP revision that the Georgia-Pacific Crossett Mill 6A and 9A Boilers are not subject to BART.

(2) SO2 and PM BART for the AECC Bailey Plant Unit 1; SO2 and PM BART for the AECC McClellan Plant Unit 1; SO2 BART for the AEP/SWEPCO Flint Creek Plant Boiler No. 1; SO2 BART for Entergy White Bluff Units 1 and 2; SO2, NOX, and PM BART for the Entergy White Bluff Auxiliary Boiler; and the prohibition on burning of fuel oil at Entergy Lake Catherine Unit 4 until SO2 and PM BART determinations for the fuel oil firing scenario are approved into the SIP by EPA.

(3) The focused reasonable progress analysis and the reasonable progress determination that no additional SO2 and PM controls are necessary under the reasonable progress requirements for the first implementation period.

(4) The long-term strategy is approved with respect to sources other than the Domtar Ashdown Mill. This includes the BART emission limits contained in the SIP revision and the SO2 emission limit of 0.60 lb/MMBtu under the long-term strategy provisions for Independence Units 1 and 2 based on the use of low sulfur coal.

(5) Consultation and coordination in the development of the SIP revision with the FLMs and with other states with Class I areas affected by emissions from Arkansas sources.

[77 FR 14676, Mar. 12, 2012, as amended at 81 FR 66415, Sept. 27, 2016; 82 FR 18995, Apr. 25, 2017; 83 FR 5917, 5940, Feb. 12, 2018; 84 FR 44228, Aug. 23, 2019; 84 FR 51054, 51059, Sept. 27, 2019]