Browse: Departments   Dates   Agencies  

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Environmental Protection Agency

CFR Citation: 40 CFR Part 52

EPA ID: [EPA-RO3-OAR-2008-0068; FRL-8691-4]

NOTICE: PROPOSED RULES

ACTION: Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Delaware; Control of Stationary Combustion Turbine Electric Generating Unit Emissions

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before August 13, 2008.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Delaware. This revision pertains to controlling nitrogen oxides emissions from stationary combustion turbine electric generating units. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

SUMMARY: Delaware; Control of Stationary Combustion Turbine Electric Generating Unit Emissions,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

On September 11, 2007, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) submitted to EPA a revision to its SIP for Regulation 1148Control of Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) Emissions from Stationary Combustion Turbine Electric Generating Units.

I. Background

DNREC has identified large stationary combustion turbines (CTs) as significant contributors to the release of NOX, which is a precursor to the formation of groundlevel ozone. Ozone poses a significant threat to human health especially to the young, the elderly, or anyone with impaired ability to breathe, as ozone harms the lungs.

CTs normally operate at peak times for the demand for electricity. In Delaware, peak times are in the summer and coincide with hot and humid weather conditions that are conducive to the formation of ozone. By reducing NOX emissions from CTs during the ozone season, the likelihood that Delaware's air quality will exceed the federal standards for ozone is reduced. This regulation will affect six existing CTs in Delaware, each with an installed capacity of 1 megawatt (MW), none of which currently operate with any NOX pollution control equipment. These six CTs emitted 2.21 tons of NOX per day in 2002, which is the most recent year for Delaware's emissions inventory. DNREC has determined that use of water injection technology would reduce NOX emissions by approximately 40 percent, or by 0.88 tons per day. Water injection reduces the combustion temperature and consequently reduces NOX emissions. Delaware is part of the PhiladelphiaWilmingtonAtlantic City ozone
nonattainment area and it must take regulatory actions to improve air quality to meet the 8Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) by 2010. This regulation is one of many regulatory actions that DNREC has undertaken in recent years as part of its SIP which is a federal requirement to show that Delaware's air quality will attain compliance with the 8Hour Ozone NAAQS by 2010. No inconsistencies or inadequacies regarding EPA policy and the Clean Air Act have been identified.

II. Summary of SIP Revision

Rregulation 1148Control of NOX Emissions from Stationary Combustion Turbine Electric Generating Units requires that an owner or operator of an existing stationary combustion turbine electric generating unit located in Delaware with a baseload nameplate capacity of 1 MW or greater must, by May 1, 2009, either demonstrate that the existing stationary combustion turbine generating unit meets the emission limits listed below or must install NOX emission controls designed to meet these limits: For CTs that burn gaseous fuel42 parts per million volume (ppmv), corrected to 15 percent O2 dry basis NOX, and for CTs that burn liquid fuel88 ppmv NOX. Design of these limits was based on anticipated NOX emissions if water injection pollution control equipment were installed.

The six CTs affected by this regulation operate without any NOX pollution control equipment, although they are subject to regulations designed to control NOX emissions. DNREC determined that the six sources could achieve significant reductions in their NOX emissions through the use of water injection equipment. Water injection is a proven, feasible technology that has been used in other states to reduce NOX emissions.

This revision will reduce NOX emissions from CTs by 40 percent, or by 0.88 tons per day to approximately 1.33 tons per day. Such a reduction will significantly improve air quality, particularly on days when CTs normally operate, i.e., hot humid days and when weather conditions are conducive to forming groundlevel ozone, and is one of the many regulatory steps taken to allow DNREC to attain the NAAQS by 2010.

III. Proposed Action

EPA is proposing to approve the Delaware SIP revision for Control of Stationary Combustion Turbine Electric Generating Unit Emissions, which was submitted on September 11, 2007. This SIP revision will have a beneficial effect on air quality in the Delaware portion of the PhiladelphiaWilmingtonAtlantic City ozone nonattainment area. EPA is soliciting public comments on the issues discussed in this document. These comments will be considered before taking final action. IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

Under the Clean Air Act, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and applicable Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the Clean Air Act. Accordingly, this action merely proposes to approve state law as meeting Federal requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. For that reason, this proposed action:

Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993);

Does not impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);

Is certified as not having a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);

Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 1044);

Does not have Federalism implications as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);

Is not an economically significant regulatory action based on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);

Is not a significant regulatory action subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);

Is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent with the Clean Air Act; and

Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).

In addition, this proposed approval of Delaware's Stationary Combustion Turbine Engine emissions rule does not have tribal implications as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), because the SIP is not approved to apply in Indian country
[[Page 40230]]
located in the state, and EPA notes that it will not impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

Dated: July 1, 2008.
Donald S. Welsh,
Regional Administrator, Region III.
[FR Doc. E816018 Filed 71108; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 656050P

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Gerallyn Duke, (215) 814-2084, or by email at Duke.Gerallyn@epa.gov.