The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its PSD and Title V Permitting Guidance For Greenhouse Gases document on November 10th. The document provides guidance to industry as well as to state and local permitting agencies on how to determine best available control technology (BACT) for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from new and modified sources.
The guidance is non-prescriptive and outlines a 5 step-process for selecting BACT technologies. Emphasis is placed on energy efficiency and includes consideration of fuel switching where possible, though not if this would require totally revamping a proposed new or modified source, such as switching a proposed coal-plant over to natural gas. BACT selection is therefore done on a case by case basis.
The guidance is accompanied by a number of supporting resources. The agency recently released technical white papers that detail GHG control options in seven high emitting industrial sectors:
- electricity generating units;
- large industrial, commercial, and institutional boilers;
- pulp and paper;
- cement;
- iron and steel;
- refineries; and
- nitric acid plants.
The EPA has also established a GHG Mitigation Strategies Database which includes specific performance and cost data on current and developing emissions control measures together with data on their potential environmental impacts. The EPA’s target="_blank">online clearinghouse on information about BACT decisions and pollution control measures has been expanded to include information on GHGs.
Emissions from the US’s largest stationary sources are scheduled to be covered by the EPA’s Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and title V Operating Permit Programs beginning January 2, 2011 (see Delphi’s previous coverage). The January implementation timeline is at risk from the Rockefeller Resolution, which if adopted would delay EPA implementation by two years, as well as by increased Republican congressional presence advocating to reduce or to revert the EPA’s authority to regulate GHGs.
By Eva Berton, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
