HARVAR D UNIVERSIT Y

UNIVERSIT Y OPERATION S SERVICE S ENVIRONMENTA L HEALT H AN D SAFET Y

Octobe r 28 , 200 5
Mr
. Rober

t Donaldson Departmen

t o f Environmenta

l Protectio n (DEP)
. Burea u o f Wast e Preventio n On e Winter Street, 8 t hFloo r Boston , M A 0210 8 Subject : Comment s o n Propose d Amendment s t o 31 0 CM R7.06(l)(c ) Visibl e Emission s Dea r Mr
. Donaldson : Harvar d University commends the effort s o f Massachusett

s DE P to creat e a n alternat e visibl e emission regulatio n tha

t i s protectiv e o f

th e environmen

t an d i s a t th e sam e tim e practical an

d flexible fo r nonprofi t

institution s an

d industrial facilities
. A s th e followin g comment

s indicate , Harvar

d Universit y i s concerne

d tha t som e element s o f th e proposed regulatio n impos e a n unworkabl e stringency , whil e othe

r element s need t o b e clarified
. Backgroun d Harvar d Universit

y acquire d th

e Blackstone Plan

t ("th e facility" ) i n Apri l o f

2003
. Th

e facilit y consist s o f fou r boiler s fire dwit h bot

h natura l ga s an d 0.5 % S No
. 6 fue l oil
. Tw o boiler s wer e installe d i n 193 0 (19 4 MMBtu/h r each-boilers 5 an

d 6 ) an d tw o wer

e installe d i n 1963 (28 6 MMBtu/h r

each-boilers 1 1 an

d 12. ) Th e facilit y wa

s designe d a s stea man d electri c generating facility , bu

t cease d commercia

l electrica

l generation i n 2001
. Since tha t time, i t ha s operated a

s anon bas e loaded stea

mplant whos e predominan

t use i s provisio n o f

stea mt o Harvard University
. Opacity an d Engineerin g Optimizatio n Progra m Blackston e i s amissio n critica l facility , a s i t supplie s stea

mto academic , research , residentia l an d museu mbuildings , a. Since Harvard' s acquisitio n o f th e plant , w e hav

e aggressivel

y pursued equipment , an

d operationa

l modification s t o becom e amor e efficien t

an d cleane r facility
. Ou

r effort s hav e bee n documente

d to th e DE P i n numerou s letter s an

d reports , th

e first issued les s tha

n 60 day s followin g purchase o f

th e facility
. Harvard i s i n th e proces s o f

installin g ane w boile r

tha t wil l replac e on

e o f th e oldes t boiler s (Boile r

No
. 5)
. Th

e ne w boiler wil l utiliz e Bes t

Availabl e Contro l Technology (BACT)
. I t

wil l us e natura l ga s a s primar y fue l fo r most o f th e year , whil e usin g ultr a lo w sulfu r

oi l (0.00 3 % sulfur ) a

s secondar

y fuel
. Harvar

d ha s als o undertake

n significan t

upgrade s t o th e existin g equipment , includin g automated combustio n controls , burne r ti p experimenta

l redesign , ne w oi l conveyance systems , an d a n aggressiv

e operato r trainin g program . Opacit y Reductio n Progra mResult s Wit h th e hel p o f athir dparl y combustio n expert , th e facilit y developed aPla n o f Goo d Operating Procedure s fo r

Opacit y Reductio n t o addres s shor t ter mopacit y excursion s tha

t occu r durin g specia

l condition s suc

h a s sootblowin g loa d ramps , startup/shutdown an d unavoidabl e upse

t conditions
. Thi s Pla n wa s submitted to DE

P i n Jun e 2003 ; arevise d versio n wa s resubmitte d i n Marc h 2004
. A s outline d i n th

e opacit y reductio n plan , th

e facilit y completed anumbe r o f measures tha

t include :
Joseph Griffin Director 4 6 Oxfor dStree t Cambridge , M A 0p4g$\o f 4 Te

l 617.495.237 0 Fa x 617.495.059 3 joseph_griffin@harvard.ed u

### optimizatio n o f soo t blowing sequencing, third-part y revie w an d optimizatio

n o f soo t blowing pressures , modification t

o soo t blowin g cycl e times , increase

d operato r trainin g an d awarenes

s an d decrease d interval s o f

soo t blowing operations
. Finally , th e facilit y i s evaluatin

g th e feasibilit y o f sootblowe r syste mupgrades
. Th e followin g details som

e o f th e item s addresse d unde r th e Pla n o f Goo d Operatin g Procedure : Hn.lc^VSSm. ] ^WaS e • • • . " 1 .turniK * H....'.iu d" bate 1 Com plcf &"X m. 1 ) Insulat e all uninsulate

d stea mline s an d insur e tha t al l trap s ar e functiona

l t o preven t an y wate r carryove r tha t cause s flam e sparkler s On e Tim e 9/31/0 4 2 ) Instal l additiona l trap(s) a s require d t o preven t wate r carryove r t o th e burner s On e Tim e NA-Determine d no t applicabl e 3 ) Rese t th e opacit y monito r alar mse t poin t t o 15 % fro mth e curren t 20 % valu e On e Tim e 2/09/0 4 4 ) Chec k diffuser, tip , an

d ignite r position s On

e Tim e 9/31/0 4 5 ) Optimiz e thos e position s i n th e NO x RAC T annua l tunin g progra m On e Tim e 3/03/0 4 6 ) Confir maccuracy

, an d upgrad e i f necessary , gauge s o n all oi l an d atomizin g stea mline s t o th e burner s On e Tim e 10/31/0 4 8 ) Evaluat e reducin g th e atomizin g stea mpressur e whe n initiating agu

n purg e On e Tim e 10/31/0 4 9 ) Replac e th e 0 2 analyzer

s o n eac h boile r On

e Tim e 1/30/0 4 10 ) Review , implement

, an d ad d all modifications t

o th e curren t standar d operatin g procedur e int o th e SOM P On e Tim e Ongoin g 11 ) Trai n al l operator s afte r eac h operationa

l chang e On e Tim e Ongoin g 

### Lif e wr i
.. . . 1 ) Insulat e al l uninsulate

d stea mlines t o preven t an y wate r carryove r tha t cause s flam e sparkler s On

e Tim e 9/30/0 4 2 ) Instal l additiona l trap(s) a s require d t o preven t wate r carryove r t o th e burner s On e Tim e NA-Determine d no t applicabl e 3 ) Calibrat e an d chec k all transmitter

s On

e Tim e 11/07/0 4 4 ) Rese t th e opacit y monito r alar mse t poin t t o 15% fromth e curren t 20 % valu e On e Tim e 2/09/0 4 5 ) Calibrat e an d chec k respons e se t poin t fo r eac h o f th e combustio

n controller

s On e Tim e 2/07/0 4 6 ) Determin e th e lowes t effective atomizin

g stea m pressur e whe n initiating agu

n purg e On

e Tim e 2/20/0 4 7) Confir maccuracy

, an d upgrad e i f necessary , gauge s • n all oi l an

d atomizin g stea mline s t o th e burner s On e Tim e 5/15/0 4 8 ) Optimiz e al l controller

s an d driv e unit s in th e NO , RAC T annua l tunin g progra m On e Tim e 3/03/0 4 9) Evaluat e reducin g th e stea msootblowin

g pressur e o n th e initia l soo t blo w cycl e t o '/ i o f th e norma l pressur e On e Tim e Ongoin g 10 ) Evaluat e abrea k o f si x minute s befor e repeatin g an y sootblowin

g cycl e On e Tim e Ongoin g 11 ) Review

, implement

, an d ad d all modifications t

o th e curren t standar d operatin g procedur e int o th e SOM P On e Tim e Ongoin g 12 ) Trai n all operator

s afte r eac h operationa

l chang e On e Tim e Ongoin g 

### W e hav e evaluate d th e impac t o f th e propose d regulations followin g ou

r extensiv e opacit y reductio n program. Th

e resul t o f ou r extensiv e effort s ha

s bee n asignifican

t reductio n i n opacit y peak s durin g norma l operatin g conditions
. Notwithstandin g thes e considerabl

e improvements , th

e facilit y stil l finds th e propose d opacit y limit s onerou

s durin g unavoidabl

e operatin g conditions suc

h a s start
up/shutdown, burne

r upsets , an

d soo t blowing
. A s outline

d below , ou

r concer n remain s wit h th e DE P proposa l fo r non-routin

e operations
. Followin

g ar e th e facility' s comment

s o n th e propose d regulation
.

Pag e 2 of 4Propose d 31 0 CM R7.06(l)(c)l-Visibl e Emission s

• Th e one-tent h o f on e percen t (0.1% ) rul e impose s significan t penalt y on boiler s tha

t operat e onl y limite dhours durin g agive n calenda r quarter . Harvar

d University request

s thi s aspec

t o f th e rul e b e amende d to exemp

t unit s tha t run onl y limite dhours i n an y quarter : e.g. , unit s wit h Capacit

y Facto r (rati o o f actua l t o potentia

l quarterl y ru n hours ) equa l t o or les s tha n 2 5 percen t pe r quarter . These unit s coul dstil l b e regulate d b y the remainin g aspec t o f 31 0 CM R 7.06(l)(c)l.c , "—a t

n o tim e ca n visibl e emission s excee d 2 7 percent

opacit y fo r mor e tha n tw o 6-minut

e bloc k average s durin g aone-hou r perio d an d the one-hou

r averag e opacit

y shal l no t excee d 2 7 percent

opacit y durin g th

e one-hou r perio d whe

n a6-minut

e bloc k average s exceed

s 27percen t

opacity
. " Fo

r unit s tha t operat e on acontinuou s basi s durin g an y give n quarter , the one-tent h o f on e percen t (0.1% ) rul e provide s onl y 2 2 six-minute bloc k allowance s fo r

elevated opacit

y (0. 1 % o f

21,900 six-minute block s equal s 2 2 allowances. ) Thi s limite dallowanc e i s to o restrictiv e t o compl y with , especially fo r olde r units
. Harvar

d Universit y propose s th

e one-tent h o f on e percen t rul e b e modifie dt

o 0.5 0 percen t o f th e tota l 6-minut

e bloc k average s durin g an

y calenda r quarter . • Harvar

d ha s conducted arigorou s an d thorough engineerin g revie w and analysi s o f upse t condition s i n th

e pas t tw o years . Ou

r experience unde

r ou r Pla n o f Goo d Operatin g Practice s indicate s tha

t i t i s not technologicall y feasibl e t o compl y wit h th e proposed requiremen

t a t ou r facility , give n tha

t thi s i s a n older , loa

d followin g stea

mplant rathe r tha n the origina l desig n o f abase-loade

d commercia

l steam-electric plant
. Load-followin g stea mplant s ar

e mor e susceptible t o upse

t condition s tha

n bas e loade d plants
. Th

e uppe r ca p o f 6 0 percen t i s burdensom

e especially durin g unforesee n condition s suc

h a s boile r trip , burne

r or equipmen

t upsets , an d unanticipate d load ramps . I n keeping u p wit h th e original intent

o f 31 0 CM R 7.06( 1 )(c)-givin g industr y operationa

l flexibility , whil e stil l bein g protectiv e to th e environment , Harvard University request s tha t the Departmen

t allo w certai n spike s abov e 60 percent : e.g. , establishin g a n absolut e numbe r o f no t t o excee d 1 5 elevated incidence s abov e 6 0 percen t pe r calenda r quarter . • Base d o n th e language i n propose

d 31 0 CM R7.06(l)(c) , durin g period s o f start-ups , shu

t down , soo

t blowing , and othe

r specifie d operating conditions , i t i s not clea r i f facilitie s nee

d to choos e to comply wit h eithe

r 31 0 CM R7.06(l)(b ) or

31 0 CM R7.06(l)(c) , o r

i f bot h provision s ar

e availabl e fo r

facilities
. Hence , th

e curren t proposed language shoul d b e revise d t o clarif y thi s issue
. • Applicabilit y o f

allowe d shor

t ter mopacit y excursion s unde

r th e ne w proposed regulation s i s no t clear
. Harvar

d University request

s tha t th e language b

e clarifie dt o unambiguously stat e tha t allowance s ar

e base d on eac h unit/pe r visibl e emissio n monitor , a s oppose d t o facilit y wide
. • Th e language i n th

e ne w propose

d regulatio n state s tha

t th e Departmen

t "may " approve alternat e visibl e emission s durin g specia l conditions
. Harvard University request s tha t th e languag e b e modifie dt o stat

e tha t th e Departmen

t wil l approv e alternat

e visibl e emission s limit s durin g specia

l conditions , provide d suc h alternat e visibl e emission s ar

e detaile d i n the facility' s Goo d Operatin g Practic e Pla n a s developed b y thir dpart y combustio n experts . Propose d 31 0 CM R7.06mfc)2.-PIa n o f Goo d Operatin g Practice s • Base d on th e curren t language unde

r 31 0 CMR7.06(l)(c)2.d , proposin g duratio n an d frequenc y fo r

specia l condition s i s not

feasible
. Most , i f

no t all , o f these condition s ar

e not predictabl e an

d ar e characterized b y non-routine activitie s such a s burne r o r equipmen

t malfunctions, , an

d unexpected loa

d ramps . Harvar

d University propose s tha t thes e specia

l condition s b

e well-define di n Pla

n o f Good Operatin g Practice s withou t specifyin g duratio n an d frequency
. • Give n th e natur e o f specia l condition s suc

h a s shor t duratio n an

d infrequency , predictin g their future occurrence s i s no t practical
. Th

e requirements unde

r 31 0 CM R7.06(l)(c)2.f-proposin g visibl e emission limit s fo r eac h specia l conditio n i s not

feasible
. Hence , Harvar

d Universit

y Pag e 3 o f 4

### request s thi s requiremen

t b e amende d t o allo w facilitie s t

o compl y wit h eithe r 31 0 CM R 7.06(l)(c)l.b
. o

r 31 0 CM R7.06(l)(c)l.c
. Thi s wil l als o reduc e th e Department' s regulator

y permittin g burde n b y avoidin g t o numerou

s specia l condition s fo r all facilitie s acros

s th e stat e tha t fal l withi n thi s propose

d regulation
. • Harvar

d Universit

y submitte d its Pla n o f Goo d Operatin g Practic e i n respons

e t o th e Department' s earlie

r versio n o f 31 0 CM R7.06(l)(c) , Augus

t 3 , 2001
. Sinc

e thi s ne w propose d regulatio

n differ s significantl

y fro mth e Department' s earlie

r version , Harvar

d Universit y request s th e opportunit

y t o modif y it s Pla n o f Goo d Operatin g Practic e t o reflec t th e ne w propose d regulation
. Othe r Alternative

s Harvar d Universit

y view s thi s rul

e developmen

t a s a n importan t issu e an d support s th e Department' s goals
. I n th e even t th e Departmen

t i s unabl e o r unwilling t

o revis e th e curren t languag e i n th e propose d regulation , an

d addres s abov e concerns , Harvar

d Universit

y believe s tha t ther e ar e othe r alternatives : • Conven

e ameetin g o f thos e commentin

g o n th e propose d rul e t o obtai n abette r understandin

g o f desire d operationa

l flexibilit y an d feasibility ; • Give n th e ag e an d th e origina l desig n o f som e o f th e impacte d facilities , dea

l wit h th e exceptiona l circumstance

s (suc h a s th e Blackston

e facility ) a

s aseparat e matter. This approac h ha s bee n take n i n bot h Vermon t an d Ne w Hampshire

, wh o differentiat

e betwee n olde r an d ne w unit s wit h respec t t o visibl e emission s regulations
. Harvar

d Universit

y request s th e Departmen

t conside r th e ag e o f th e regulate d unit s durin g visible emissio

n regulatio n development; • Establis

h adifferen

t (e.g
. si x month ) rollin g complianc

e windo w fo r accrua l o f opacit y excursion s t o enabl e afacilit y t o predic t an d respon d t o th e potentia l fo r exceedances ; • Requir e tha t thos e facilitie s unabl

e t o compl y wit h th e regulatio n implemen

t a n updat e thei r Pla n o f Goo d Operatin g Practice, wit

h regar d t o bot h engineerin

g an d operationa

l controls ; • Requir e thos e facilitie s unabl

e t o compl y wit h th e regulatio n t o develo p an d implemen

t continuou s improvemen

t program s i n thei r Pla n o f Goo d Operatin g Practices ; • Recogniz

e th e seasona l loa d profil e o f

older , loa d followin g stea

mplants , providin

g additiona l lenienc y durin g th e winte r month s durin g whic h thes e facilitie s ma

y b e allowe d t o compl y wit h les s restrictiv

e opacit y limits
. Than k yo u fo r th e opportunit

y t o commen t o n thi s matter

. I sincerel y appreciat

e th e wor k o f th e DE P t o addres s thi s difficul t

issue , an d suppor t th e goal s o f th e Department

. Iwouldb

e happ y t o discuss th e propose d regulatio

n a t you r convenience
. Pleas

e fee l free t o cal l m e a t (617 ) 495-237

0 i f Ica n provid e additiona

l clarificatio n o

r respon d t o an y question s tha t yo u ma y have
.

Directo r Harvar d Universit

y Environmenta

l Healt h & Safet y Departmen

t
cc : 

### Mohame

d Omar , Nick Peters , Dou

g Garron, Sea

n Reagan , And y Fin n Fil e

Pag e 4 o f 4