C

omme nt s reg

a r d in g E P A ’ s P ro p ose d A pp rov a l o n R ul e 4352 f rom E a r t h

J u s t i ce

1. N Ox L i m i t o f 165 pp m @ 12 % O 2 f or M S W -f i re d fa c i l i t i es

C o mm e n t : N ew J e r s e y D epa r t m e nt o f En vi r o n m e nt a l P r o te c t i o n ( NJ D E P ) h a s s e t N O x

e mi ss i o n s l imi t s f or M S W

- f i re d b o i ler s a t 150 p p mv at 7 % O 2 ( ap p ro x i m at e l y 142

pp mv a t 12% C O 2 ).

R es p o n se:

Th e D i s t r i c t co n d u c te d r e s ea r c h o n t h e e s tab l i s hm ent o f t h e 150 pp m v @ 7 % O2

N Ox e m i ss i o n l i m it fr o m t h e N J D E P

. B a s e d o n t h at r e s ea r c h

, it w a s d ete r m ine d t h at

t h e r e a r e f i v e f a c i l itie s w it h MS W -f i r e d b o i l e r s o p e r atin g in N e w Je r s e y

. Th e f i v e

N J D E P f a c i l itie s v a ry in MS W s to k e r / b o i l e r eq u i p m ent an d p e r m it co n d iti o n s fr o m

t h e V a ll e y ’s MS W f a c i l it y

. Th e s e eq u i p m ent d i ff e r en c e s a llo w t h e f a c i l itie s u n d e r

N J D E P j u r i s d i c ti o n to m eet a sl i g h t l y lo w e r N Ox l i m it t h an t h e f a c i l it y i n t h e S an

J o aq u in V a ll e y

. F o u r o f t h e f i v e N J D E P f a c i l itie s h a v e d i ff e r ent t y p e s o f gr ate s

( r e c i p r oc atin g

, h o r i z o nta l

, an d r oll e r gr ate ) t h a n t h e s to k e r gr ate / b o

i l e r

co n f i g u r ati o n s o f t h e C o v anta S tani sl a u s f a c i l it y

. Th e s e u nit s a lso u ti l i z e a s ta g e d

co m b u s ti o n d e s i g n w it h a mm o nia in j e c ti o n to a c h ie v e lo w e r N O x e m i ss i o n s l i m it s

. A dd iti o na ll y

, N J D E P d o e s n o t en f o r c e a v i s ib l e e m i ss i o n s l i m it o n t h e s e u nit s

. Th e r e f o r e

, w h en N Ox e m i ss i o n s s ta r t to g et clos e to r ea

c h in g t h e 150 p p m v l i m it

,

t h e f a c i l itie s c an s i m p l y in j e c t m o r e a mm o nia to co nt r ol t h e N Ox w it h o u t t h e

i m p l i c ati o n s o f v i ol ati n g an o pa c it y l i m it

. Th e r e f o r e

, d u e to t h e s e d i ff e r en c e s

, t h e

MS W f a c i l itie s c a nn o t s i m p l y be co m pa r e d to ea c h o t h e r

.

Th e f i f t h N J D E P f a c i l it y h a s t h e s a m e M a r tin gr ate s y s te m an d s to k e r g r ate / b o i l e r

co n f i g u r ati o n a s t h e C o v anta S tani sl a u s f a c i l it y

. H o w e v e r

, to m eet t h e lo w e r N O x

l i m it

, t h i s f a c i l it y h a s c h an g e d t h ei r d e s i g n to o p e r ate u s in g s ta g e d co m b u s ti o n

w h i c h in j e c t s o v e rf i r e

- a i r f lo w in d i f f e r ent a r ea s o f t h e b o i l e r t h an t h e C o v anta

S tani sl a u s f a c i l it y

. Th i s

, in t u r n

, cools t h e co m b u s ti o n g a s in t h e b o i l e r an d d i r e c t l y

co n f l i c t s w it h t w o o f C o v anta S tani sl a u s’ T it l e V p e r m it co n d iti o n s i ss u e d u n d e r t h e

D i s t r i c t ’s N e w S o u r c e R e v ie w r e g u l ati o n s an d A RB’s T- B ACT g

u i d e l ine s f o r

r e d u c ti o n o f to x i c o r g a n i c ai r e m i ss i o n s

, e

. g

., d i o x in s :

“11

. A f

u r n a c e roo f t e m p er at u re o f 1

, 1 00 d e g ree s F s h all b e s t a bi l iz e d

, a s m e a s u re d

by m u l t i p le t h er m o c o u pl e s

, t o e n s u r e t h a t a m i n i m u m t e m pe r a t u re o f 1

, 8 00 d e g ree s F

i s e s tab l i s h e d a b o v e t h e g ra t e p r i or t o t h e i g n i t i o n o f M S W

.

12

. Dur i n

g an y p er i o d o f t i m e t h a t M S W i s b u r n i n g o n t h e g r ate s

, t h e c o mb u s t i o n

g a s re t e nt i o n t i m e s h a l l b e m a i n ta i n e d at a mi n

i m u m o f o n e s e c o n d

, t h e c o mb u s t i o n

z o n e t e m p er a tu r e s h a l l b e m a i n ta i n e d at a mi n

i m u m o f 1

, 800 d e g r ee s F

, an d t h e

f u r na c e roo f te m p e r a tu r e s h all b e m a i n ta i n e d at an a v era g e ( 4 h o u r ar i t hm e t i c b lo c k )

o f 1

, 100 d e g ree s F

, e x c e p t d u r i n g per i o d s o f s t ar t

- u p

, s h ut d o w n

, a n d m a l f un c t i o n

, a s

d e f i n e d i n 40 C F R 60

. 58 b ( a )

. ”W

h en u s in g s ta g e d co m b u s ti o n

, t h e o p e r ato r c ann o t g u a r antee t h e f o u r h o u r

te m p e r at u r e r eq u i r e d b y co n d iti o n 12 an d t hu s co m p l ian c e w it h t h e s e t w o p e r m it

co n d iti o n s

, w h i c h a r e f e d e r a ll y en f o r c eab l e t h r o u g h t h e f a c i l it y ’s T it l e V p e r m it

.

Th e s e t w o co n d iti o n s in p a r ti c u l a r w e r e in cl u d e d a s a pa r t o f t h e Hea l t h R i s k

A ss e ss m ent r eq u i r e d b y A RB an d t h e D e pa r t m ent o f Hea l t h S e rv i c e s

, n o w t h e Off i c e

o f E n v i r o n m enta l Hea l t h Ha z a rd A ss e ss m ent ( O E HH A) an d a pp r o v e d b y t h e

S tani sl a u s C o u nt y A P CD

, n o w t h e SJ VA P CD

, an d t h e C o u nt y ' s Hea l t h Off i c e r

, in o rd e r

f o r t h e ATC to be i ss

u e d in 1986 f

o r t h i s S tani sl a u s f a c i l it y

. A RB d ete r m ine d t h e

r eq u i r e m ent s f o r co m p l etin g t h e H R A

, a s w e ll a s r eq u i r in g T- B A C T fr o m it s B ACT

d oc um ent r e l ea s e d at t h at ti m e f o r MS W -f i r e d f a c i l itie s

. A B 2588 te s tin g in 198 8-

19 8 9 an d t h e f i r s t T it l e V Pe r m it f o r S tani sl a u s l e d t h e D i s t r i c t to co m p l ete it s o w n

H R A f ollo w in g CA P C O A g u i d e l ine s an d u s in g t h e a c t u a l te s te d e m i ss i o n s fr o m

S tani sl a u s ' a nn u a l s ta c k te s t s

. Th e c u rr ent C o v anta S t a ni sl a u s T it l e V P e r m it s ti ll h a s

t h e s a m e o r i g ina l H R A p e r m it co n d iti o n s f o r m eta ls an d t r a c e o rg ani cs e m i ss i o n s

( i

. e

, d i o x in s

, P C B ' s an d P A H' s ) in g /s a s w e ll a s t h e o p e r atin g co n d iti o n s

, m enti o ne d

abo v e

, r e g a rd in g fur na c e te m p e r at u r e an d r e s i d en c e ti m e

. I t a lso h a s t h e ne w e r

M ACT o p e r atin g co n d iti o n s

, in cl u d in g a dd in g a c ti v ate d c a r b o n f o r m e r c u ry co nt r ol

,

w h i c h c an a lso h e l p to k ee p d i o x in s to t h e v e ry lo w l e v e ls t h at S tani sl a u s a c h ie v e s

e v e ry y ea r

. Th e r e f o r e

, t h e s e co n d iti o n s a r e c r iti c a l to a ddr e ss t h e f a c i l it y ’s p o tentia l

to x i cs i ss u e an d r e m o v i n g o r a d j u s tin g t h e s e p e r m it co n d iti o n s w o u l d n o t o n l y

in c r ea s e t h e to x i c r i s k f o r t h e f a c i l it y b u t a lso a ff e c t t h os e in t h e v i c ini t y o f t h e

f a c i l it y

.

S in c e t h e N J D E P f a c i l it i e s d o n o t h a v e eit h e r o f t h e s e l i m it s p l a c e d o n t h ei r f a c i l itie s

,

t h e y c an u s e s ta g e d c o m b u s ti o n to h e l p m eet a lo w e r N Ox l i m it. Du e to t h e TB ACT / H R A l i m it s

, it m a y n o t be f ea s ib l e to r eq u i r e a c h an g e in p e r m it c o n d iti o n s to

a llo w t h e C o v anta f a c i l i t y to u s e s ta g e d co m b u sti o n to m eet a lo w e r N Ox l i m it

. E v en

i f t h e y w e r e ab l e to in c r ea s e t h ei r to x i c e x p os u r e to t h e s u rr o u n d in g c o mmu nit y

, ba s e d o n e s ti m ate s t h at w e r e p u t to g et h e r in Augu s t 2 0 11 f o r a s ta g e d co m b u s ti o n

s y s te m at C o v anta S tan i sl a u s t h at co u l d r e d u c e N Ox e m i ss i o n s fr o m 16 5 pp

m d o w n

to 150 pp

m

, it w o u l d c o s t $ 2

. 31 m i ll i o n f o r en g i nee r in g

, p r oc u r e m ent

, f ab r i c ati o n

, in s ta ll ati o n

, an d s ta r t -u p cos t s

. Th e f ollo w in g tab l e o u t l ine s t h e cos t e s ti m ate s

.

ITE M SO UR C E COS T

St a g ed C o m b ust i o n Re t r o f it

D i r e c t C api t a l C o s t s

T o t a l P u rc h a s ed Eq u i p C o st

(P E C ) C ov a n t a $ 1

, 4 0

0

, 0 00

D ir e c t I n st a ll a t i o n C o sts 25

% P E C C ov a n t a $

350

, 00 0

T o t a l D ir e c t C ap i t a l C o sts $ 1,7 5 0

, 00 0

I n di r e c t C api t a l C o s t s

F a ci l i t i e s 5 % P E C O A Q P S $ 70

, 0 0 0

Engin ee rin g 10 % P E C O A Q P S $ 140

, 00 0

P r o c e ss C o n t ing e n c y 5

% P E C O A Q P S $ 70

, 0 0 0

T o t a l I n d ir e c t C ap i t a l C o st s $ 280

, 0 00

P r o j e c t C o n t ing e nc y 20

% P E C O A Q P S $

280

, 00 0T o t a l C ap i t a l C o sts ( T CC ) D

ir e c t C a p i t a l + I n d ir e c t C ap i t a l +

P r o j e c t C o n t ing e nc y O A Q P S $

2

, 3 1 0

, 0 00

A nn u al i z ed Ca p i t al C

o sts ( 10

ye a r s @ 10

% ) 0

. 16 2 7 * T CC D i st ric t St a n da r d $ 375

, 8 37

D ir e c t A nn u al C o sts

Op e r a t i ng & Mai nt e

n a n c e C o s t s ( c o n s e r v a t i v e e st i m a t e ) C ov a n t a $

60

, 0 0 0

T o t al D ir e c

t A nn u al C o st s $ 60, 0 0 0

In d ir e c t A nn u al C o sts

C ap i t a l R e c ov e r y 0

. 16 2 7 x P E C

O A Q P S /D i st ric t $

227

, 78 0 (1 0 % in t. r a t e

, 1 0 y r per i o d )

T o t al In d ir e c

t A nn u al C o sts $ 227

, 7 80

T o t al A n n u al C os ts Ann

u al i z e d c a p i tal + D i r e c t

Ann u al+ I n d i r e c t Ann u al $ 663, 6 17

T h e 165 pp m l i m it fr om ea

c h o f t h e t w o b o i l e r s eq u ate s to a c u rr ent T i t l e V l i m it o f

11 3 0 l b s p e r d a y o f N O x

. I t i s a ss um e d t h at t h e co n c ent r ati o n r e d u c ti o n o f N Ox f r o m

165 to 1 42 pp

m w o u l d a lso eq u a l a r e d u c ti o n o f 158 l b s/ d a y

. H o w e v e r, t h e r e i s a

p e r m it co n d iti o n l i m it i n g t h e ann u a l e m i ss i o n s fr o m t h e s e u nit s to 1 7 2

. 2 to n s/ y ea r

. I t i s e s ti m ate d t h at t h e s ta g e d co m b u s ti o n an d 1 42 pp m l i m it w o u l d r e d u c e 24

. 0

to n s o f N Ox / y ea r ( i

. e 1 7 2

. 2

– ( 1 7 2

. 2 * ( 1 4 2 / 1 6 5 ) )

= 24 .0 0 )

.

Th e r e f o r e

, i f C o v anta w e r e to be ab

l e to m o d i fy t h ei r T it l e V p e r m it s a n d in c r ea s e

t h ei r to x i c r i s k

, t h e cos t e ff e c ti v ene ss to in s ta ll s ta g e d co m b u s ti o n w o u l d be s ti ll

$27,6 5 0 /t on

, w

h i c h i s n o t co n s i d e r e d cos t e ff e c ti v e

.

A dd iti o na ll y

, ba s e d o n r e c ent so u r c e te s t s

, co n d u c te d b y an A RB c e r ti f i e d l abo r ato ry

u ti l i z in g E P A a pp r o v e d m et h o d olo g ie s ; t h e f a c i l it y h a s p r o v i d e d in f o r m ati o n

d e m o n s t r atin g t h at t h e a c t u a l co n d iti o n s o f t h e C o v anta S tani sl a u s f a c i l it y o p e r ate s

w h e r e t h e r ati o o f p e r c ent e x c e ss ai r (O 2 ) an d p e r c ent CO2 a

r e a pp r o x i m ate l y 1

- to1

. F o r e x a m p l e

, t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e so u r c e te s t s s h o w e d t h at m ea s u r e d p p m v a l u e s @

7 % O2 w e r e o n l y 1

- 2 p p m h i g h e r t h an t h os e m ea s u r e d v a l u e s @ 12 % CO2

. ( i

. e

. 129

pp m N Ox @ 7 % O2 w a s a lso m ea s u r e d a s 1 2 8 pp m v N Ox @ 12 % CO2) 1 Th

e r e f o r e

,

u s in g t h e o p e r atin g co n d iti o n s f o u n d at t h e C o v anta S t a ni sl a u s f a c i l it y

, t h e 150

pp m v N Ox @ 7 % O2 s h o u l d o n l y be a pp r o x i m a te l y 148 pp m v N Ox @ 1 2 % CO2 an

d

n o t 142 pp m v @ 12 % C O2

. Thu s t h e r e v i s e d e m i ss i o n s r e d u c ti o n s c an be c a lc u l ate d

a s : 172

. 2

– ( 1 7 2

. 2 * ( 14 8 / 165 ) )

= 1 7

. 74 to n s N O x r e d u c e d

. A n d t h e co r r e s p o n d in g

cos t

- e ff e c ti v ene ss w o u l d be : $37

, 404 /t on

1 A l t h o u g h t h e s o u r c e t e s t sh o w s t h a t t h e s e u n it s ar e ca p a b l e o f m e e ti n g l imit s l o w e r t h a n t h e i r

p e r mit t e d l imit of 1 65 p

pm v @ 12% C

O 2, a s di scuss e d b e

l o w

, t h e C o n ti n u o u s E mi ss i o

n s M o n it o r

(CEM S ) d a t a h a s d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t t h e s e u n it s ca n n o t m a i n t a i n a N O x e mi ss i o n l im i t of 15 0 p p m v

a n d c om m o n l y e x c ee d t h a t t h re sh o l d m u l tip le ti m e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r

.2. I n

j ec t a mmo ni a

or a dd n ozz l es t o mee t a l o w er l i m i t

C o mm e n t: T h e D i s t r i c t n ee d s t o pro vi d e a t e c h n i c al a n al y s i s d e m o n s t r at i n g a mm o n i a

i nj e c t i o n a n d a dd i n g m ore n o z z le s a r e a vi a b le r ea s o n f o r r e je c t i n g a lo w er l imi t

.

R es p o n se:

I n a dd iti o n to s ta g e d c o m b u s ti o n

, t h e N J D E P f a c i l itie s h a v e s tate d t h e y w i ll

p o tentia ll y in co r p o r ate m o r e n o zz l e s an d a mm o nia in j e c ti o n to en s u r e t h e y co m p l y

w it h t h e ne w N Ox l i m it

. W h i l e it m a y be te c h n olo g i c a ll y f ea s ib l e to in s ta ll m o r e

a mm o nia in j e c ti o n n o zz l e s

, m o r e n o zz l e s d o n o t g u a r antee a lo w e r N O x e m i ss i o n

r ate

. Th e o r ientati o n o f t h e n o zz l e s in t h e co m b u s ti o n g a s s t r ea m h a s a mu c h

gr eate r i m pa c t o n t h e r e s u l tin g N Ox e m i ss i o n s t h an j u s t t h e n um be r o f n o zz l e s in

t h e s y s te m an d t h e f a c i l it y ’s n o zz l e s h a v e a l r e a dy been o p ti m i z e d

. Th i s i s ba s e d o n

t h e te m p e r at u r e w in d o w w h e r e S N C R w o rk s t o r e d u c e N O x e ff e c ti v e l y

, i

. e

. , n o t

c r eatin g m o r e N Ox b y c o m b u s tin g t h e N H 3 o r a llo w in g m o r e u n

- r ea c te d N H 3 to sl i p

into t h e f l u e g a s s t r ea m be lo w t h e te m p e r at u r e w in d o w

. A lso

, t h e a m o u nt o f

a mm o nia in j e c te d i n to t h e f l u e g a s i s clos e l y c o nt r oll e d b y C o v anta to m

a x i m i z e N Ox

r e d u c ti o n s an d to p r e v ent e x c e ss i v e a mm o nia s l i p. A n y in c r ea s e in a m m o nia

in j e c ti o n w o u l d r e s u l t in ne g l i g ib l e N Ox r e d u c t i o n s an d w o u l d e x it t h e s y s te m an d

c a u s e a d eta c h e d p l um e ; t h e r eb y

, v i ol atin g n um e r o u s o t h e r p e r m it co n d iti o n s f o r

C o v anta S tani sl a u s

, s u c h a s it s T it l e V l i m it s o n v i s ib l e e m i ss i o n s

, a mm o nia sl i p, an d

co n d en s ab l e p a r ti c u l ate m atte r

. F u r t h e r o p ti m i z ati o n o f t h e a mm o nia in j e c ti o n

s y s te m d o e s n o t a pp ea r to be a v

iab l e a l te r na ti v e f o r t h e p u r p os e s o f a c h ie v in g

a dd iti o na l N Ox r e d u c ti o n s an d m a y o n l y m eet N Ox e m i ss i o n l e v e ls at t h e e x p en s e o f

u na v o i d ab l e a mm o nia sl i p.

C o v anta S tani sl a u s p r o v i d e d C EMS d ata t h at w o u l d s u pp o r t t h i s co n c l u s i o n

. If t h e

l i m it w a s lo w e r e d to 15 0 pp

m at 7 % O2

, t h e f a c i l it y w o u l d h a v e h a d m u l ti p l e N Ox

e x c ee d an c e s f o r b o t h o f t h ei r u nit s

, o n l y to be c o u nte r e d b y a dd in g e x c e ss N H 3 s u c h

t h at a v i s ib l e a mm o ni u m c h lo r i d e p l um e w o u l d h a v e been c r eate d

. Th

e r e f o r e

, t h e

f a c i l it y w o u l d nee d to be r et

r o f itte d in s u c h a w a y a s to in co r p o r ate m o r e n o zz l e s

an d w o u l d r eq u i r e r e c o n d iti o nin g t h e b o i l e r a n d c h an g in g t h e c u r r ent eq u i p m ent

a rr an g e m ent an d o p e r ati o n

, w h i l e a cco u ntin g f o r t h e s e a dd iti o na l co n s t r u c ti o n an d

o p e r atin g cos t s w h en d ete r m inin g cos t e ff e c ti v ene ss o f t h i s ne w s y s te m

.

I n a dd iti o n to m eetin g t h e 165 pp m @ 12 % CO2 M ACT l i m it s in c e 19 8 8

, C o v anta

S tani sl a u s h a s a lso b ee n fu ll y o f f s et f o r N O x e m i ss i o n s f o r t h at 24 y e a r d u r ati o n

, ba s e d o n t h e D i s t r i c t ’s o ff s et r e g u l ati o n s u n d e r i t s N e w S o u r c e R e v ie w r e g u l ati o n

. W h e r ea s

, N J D E P d o e s n o t r eq u i r e o ff s et s an d t h e f a c i l itie s h a d been o n l y ta s k e d to

m eet a M ACT l i m it o f 205 pp m at 7 % O2 u nti l t h i s r e c ent r e g u l ati o n

, t hu s g i v in g

m o r e o f an e m i ss i o n r e d u c ti o n bene f it t h an w o u l d be t h e c a s e f o r t h e V a ll e y

.3. AC

T re f ere n ce r a n ge

C o mm e n t: T h e T S D c i t e s t h e 1994 A C T , i n w hi c h N O x e mi ss i o n s f ro m u n i t s w i t h SNCR

c o nt r ol s r a n g e f ro m 3 5 to 167 pp

mv at 1 2% C

O 2

. T hi s c all s i nt o q u e s t i o n t h e 165 t o

210 pp mv at 1 2 % C O 2 r an g e f ro m t h e D i s t r i c t ’s 2011 S ta ff R e p or t

, an d p la c e s t h e

D i s t r i c t ’s N O x e mi ss i o n s l imi t o f 165 pp mv a t 1 2 % C O 2 at t h e hi g h e s t e nd o f t h e ra n g e

.

R es p o n se: A

s d i sc u ss e d abo v e

, t h e r e a r e m an y f a c to r s to co n s i d e r w h en s ettin g an

e m i ss i o n l i m it f o r mu ni c i pa l sol i d w a s te co m b u s ti o n u nit s

. Th e N Ox e m i ss i o n r an g e

i d enti f ie d in t h e ACT r e p r e s ent s M S W f a c i l itie s u s in g a w i d e v a r iet y o f e m i ss i o n

co nt r ol te c h niq u e s s u c h a s : S e l e c ti v e C ata l y ti c R e d u c ti o n ( S C R ) S y s te m s

, S e l e c ti v e

No n -C ata l y ti c R e d u c ti o n – U r ea ( S N C R

- U r ea ) s y s te m s

, an d S N C R -A m m o nia s y s te m s

. Th e u nit s eq u i p p e d w it h S C R s y s te m s a r e t h os e t h at c an m eet t h e lo w e r e m i ss i o n

l i m it s i d enti f ie d b y t h e ACT

. H o w e v e r

, t h e D i s t r i c t i s u na w a r e o f an y MS W u nit s

eq u i pp e d w it h S N C R t h at c an a c h ie v e an yw h e r e clos e to t

h e lo w e r r a n g e o f

e m i ss i o n s

. I n f a c t

, t h e u nit s o p e r atin g in N e w J e r s e y a r e e x a m p l e s o f u n it s a c h ie v in g

so m e o f t h e lo w e s t N O x l e v e ls f o r t h e s e t y p e s o f u nit s

. Th e r e f o r e

, a l t h o u g h t h e 1 6 5

pp m @ 12 % CO2 N O x l i m it i s o n t h e h i g h e r en d

, t h e l i m it f a lls w it h in ACT

r e co mm en d ati o n s an d i s r e p r e s entati v e o f t h e t y p e o f co nt r ol C o v anta S tani sl a u s

h a s in p l a c e

. Th e 165 pp m @ 12 % CO2 l i m it i s a M a x i mum A c h ie v ab l e C o nt r ol

T e c h n olo gy ( M A CT) l i m it an d p r o v i d e s a s m a ll b uff e r to a llo w C o v anta S tani sl a u s to

m eet it w it h o u t v i ol ati n g o t h e r p e r m it co n d iti o n s

. I t w o u l d n o t be cos t e ff e c ti v e to

r eq u i r e S C R to a c h ie v e a lo w e r N Ox l i m it

, a s d e m o n s t r ate d in t h e S ta ff R e p o r t

.

4. S ta r t up a n d s h u t d o w n

C o mm e n t: T h e r u le a ll o w s a n o r m al s ta r t u p pe r i o d o f u p t o 96 h o u r s

, a c u r i n g s t ar t u p

per i o d o f u p t o 1 92 h o u r s

, an d a s h ut d o w n p er i o d o f u p t o t wel v e h o u r s

, d u r i n g w hi c h

R u le 4 3 52 ’s N O x an d C O e mi ss i o n s l imi t s d o n o t a ppl y. O t h er a i r d i s t r i c t s i n t h e s t a te

h a v e s e t m ore s t r i n g e nt l imi t s o n s ta r t u p

.

R es p o n se:

D i s t r i c t s ta ff r e s ea r c h e d t h e r u l e s in P l a c e r

, Yolo

- S ol an o an d S a c M et r o A i r D i s t r i c t s

m enti o ne d b y E a r t h J u s ti c e

. Th e D i s t r i c t co nt a c te d S a c M et r o

, Yolo

- S o l an o an d

P l a c e r an d d ete r m ine d t h at t h ei r r u l e s o n l y a pp l y to bi o m a ss f a c i l itie s an d c u rr ent l y

h a v e o ne an d t w o f a c i l itie s

, r e s p e c t i v e l y

, s u bje c t to t h e s e r u l e s

. D i s t r i c t R u l e 43 5 2

, h o w e v e r

, a pp l ie s to a ll s ol i d fu e l -f i r e d b o i l e r s b u r nin g bi o m a ss

, co a l/co k e o r MS W

,

n o t j u s t bi o m a ss f a c i l it i e s

. Th e D i s t r i c t h a s co n f i r m e d w it h a ll t h e f a c i l i tie s o p e r atin g

w it h in t h e V a ll e y t h at t h e c u rr ent s ta r t -u p an d s hu td o w n p e r i o d s a r e n e c e ss a ry

.

Fi r s t l y

, S hu td o w n an d sta r t -u p p e r i o d s a r e n o t fr eq u ent occ u rr en c e s

. S c h e d u l e d

s ta r t -u p /s hu td o w n s o n l y ta k e p l a c e 2

– 4 ti m e s p e r y ea r f o r m aintenan c e an d

r e pai r s

. Du r in g t h i s ti m e

, t h e o p e r ato r nee d s t h e o p ti o n to a llo w t h e b o i l e r to g et

d o w n to a lo w en o u g h t e m p e r at u r e to a llo w f o r “ col d r e pai r s ”. Th i s w o u l d t h en

r eq u i r e a lo n g e r s ta r t

- u p ti m e a f te rw a rd s to g e t ba c k u p to t h e o p e r at i n g

te m p e r at u r e

. A lso

, w h en s ta r tin g u p, t h e u nit s a r e n o t o p e r atin g w it h a fu ll lo a dw

h i c h in t u r n r e l ea s e s f e w e r e m i ss i o n s d u r in g t h at ti m e fr a m e a s o pp o s e d to n o r m a l

o p e r ati o n

.

H o w e v e r

, o p e r ato r s c u r r ent l y l i m it t h ei r s ta r t -u p an d s hu td o w n ti m e s a s mu c h a s

p oss ib l e

. Du r in g t h e r e c ent r u l e a m en d m ent

, V a ll e y o p e r ato r s s p e c i f i c a ll y a s k e d to

a dd t h e “ h o t s tan d b y c o n d iti o n ” d e f initi o n to a llo w f o r a s h u td o w n an d s ta r t -u p

p e r i o d to n o t r eq u i r e s hu td o w n t o r e f e r to w h e n t h e u nit r ea c h e s a m b i ent

te m p e r at u r e

, w h i c h c an v a ry s i g ni f i c ant l y an d m a y n o t a l w a y s be r ea so nab l e o r

e ff i c ient to l et t

h e eq u i p m ent r ea c h t h at te m p e r at u r e

. Th i s a llo w s o p e r ato r s to

p e rf o r m m aintenan c e a n d r e p ai r s o n a b o i l e r t h at h a s cool e d s uff i c ie n t l y f o r t h e

w o rk b u t h a s n o t cool e d to a

m bient te m p e r at u r e

. Th i s p r a c ti c e t h en m ini m i z e s

s hu td o w n an d s ta r t -u p ti m e s w h ene v e r p oss ib l e to a v o i d u nne c e ss a ry d o w n ti m e

r e s u l tin g in r e d u c e d p r o d u c ti v it y an d r e d u c e d p r o f it

.