Date: May 2012

Subject: Teleconference

Nitric Acid NSPS Review

EPA Contract No. 

RTI Project No. 0213199

From: Melissa Icenhour

To: Nathan Topham

OAQPS/SPPD/MMG (D243

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

A meeting was held on March 15

Fertilizer Institute (TFI) in reference to the 

Standards (NSPS) for Nitric Acid plant

attendees included:

EPA

Chuck French, OAQPS, SPPD, Metals and 

Nathan Topham, OAQPS, SPPD, Metals and 

Bill Neuffer, OAQPS, SPPD, Metals and 

Nathan Frank, Region V

Scott Jordan, OGC

Steve Fruh, OAQPS, SPPD

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI)

Bill Herz

Chris Leason (Gallagh

EPA Support Contractor

Melissa Icenhour, RTI International

Teleconference with The Fertilizer Institute on March 15, 2012

NSPS Review

EPA Contract No. EP-D-11-084; Work Assignment No. 0-01 

RTI Project No. 0213199.000.001

Melissa Icenhour

Nathan Topham

OAQPS/SPPD/MMG (D243-02)

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

March 15, 2012 to discuss the comments submitted by

in reference to the review of the New Source Performance 

Nitric Acid plants (40 CFR Part 60, Subpart Ga). The meeting 

, OAQPS, SPPD, Metals and Inorganic Chemicals Group

Nathan Topham, OAQPS, SPPD, Metals and Inorganic Chemicals Group

Bill Neuffer, OAQPS, SPPD, Metals and Inorganic Chemicals Group

Nathan Frank, Region V

, OAQPS, SPPD

lizer Institute (TFI)

her and Kennedy)

PA Support Contractor:

, RTI International

, 2012

 

by The 

review of the New Source Performance 

The meeting 

Group

Group

Group
Purpose: 

The purpose of the meeting was to allow TFI representatives to elaborate on the

comments they submitted for the proposed rule and to ask clarifying questions to the 

EPA. 

Discussion:

Mr. Leason began his presentation by thanking EPA for meeting with TFI and reiterating

TFI’s support for the following aspects of the proposed nitric acid NSPS (Part 60, 

Subpart Ga): The decision not to regulate nitrous oxide; the addition of Method 320 and 

Method 7E for emissions testing; and the deletion of the opacity standard.

Then Mr. Leason posed three questions to EPA:

1) What is the timeframe for the final rule?

2) What is the OMB review timeframe?

3) Is EPA optimistic about meeting the May 14, 2012 publication date?

EPA answered that the final rule package is being sent to OMB as soon as possible and 

EPA representatives indicated that the Agency will meet the May 14, 2012 court-ordered 

deadline for signature of the final rule.

Mr. Leason noted that there are four main comment areas that TFI would like to revisit:

1) Representativeness of Test Plants

2) Assumption that there are no modified or reconstructed nitric acid plants

3) Costs

4) Subcategorization

Mr. Leason noted that Section 111 of the Clean Air Act requires that the standard be 

achievable, meaning that EPA must demonstrate that the selected test plants are

representative of the industry based on consideration of the range of relevant variables

that may affect emissions from different plants. Mr. Leason stated that some of the

relevant variables in the industry include:

1) Is the plant operating under single or dual pressure?

2) Is the plant using extended absorption?

3) How old is the plant?

4) Is the plant operating under low or medium pressures?
EPA representatives asked for more discussion of extended absorption. Mr. Herz noted

that the definition may vary among plants so they deferred answering until he could get 

input from other nitric acid plants represented by TFI.

According to Mr. Leason, PCS Geismar Plant 5 and El Dorado are not representative

because these plants are two of the largest in the industry, they both possess extended

absorption, and their absorption towers are much larger than typical absorption towers.

Not every plant employs extended absorption, nor is able to extend the towers in a cost

effective manner. Also, PCS Geismar Plant 5 uses a steam heater and El Dorado has

access to unlimited steam from a co-located chemical manufacturing plant to ensure that

the SCR units at each plant are at peak operation during startups to limit NOX emissions.

Mr. Leason stated that neither of these situations which limit NOX emissions during

startup is typical at most nitric acid production facilities.

While Mr. Leason noted that newer plants should have lower emissions, he indicated that 

other analyses indicated that this is not always true.

EPA noted that the test plants are extremely good performers and that PCS Geismar Plant 

5 and El Dorado are newer plants. However, the EPA noted that the third test plant, 

Agrium North Bend, was constructed in 1964 as a single pressure plant which did not 

originally employ extended absorption. The plant was retrofitted with a second 

absorption tower in the 1970s and with an SCR in 2007 and also uses hydrogen peroxide

addition to limit NOX emissions during certain times of the year. The plant has been

improved over time and the NOX CEMS data demonstrate that this plant can meet the

proposed standard.

Mr. Leason responded with the fact that although all three test plants have SCR to reduce

NOX emissions, they also have extended absorption and hydrogen peroxide addition

(Agrium North Bend) and that all of these technologies work in concert to reduce NOX.

Thus, based on these test plants, it is not proper for EPA to only identify SCR as the best

system of emission reduction (BSER) for nitric acid plants; rather, EPA’s reliance on

these plants means that SCR, extended absorption and hydrogen peroxide addition (in

combination) are BSER.

EPA asked if the issue was that older facilities cannot meet the proposed standard without

additional costs or that older facilities cannot meet the proposed standard at all?

Mr. Leason responded that both situations could occur but that the answer is casespecific. Mr. Leason also noted that older plants have single span monitors which are

used to measure NOX emissions up to 500 ppm and, as a result, that EPA’s data used to
establish the proposed standard does not accurately account for startup, shutdown and

malfunction emissions (since emissions during these events are much higher). EPA noted

that the Agrium North Bend plant uses a dual span NOX monitor and can measure

emissions higher than 500 ppm.

EPA noted that small nitric acid plants that currently employ no controls for NOX are in 

the minority and that most nitric acid plants have extended absorption.

Mr. Leason questioned the exclusion of PCS Geismar Train 3 from the analyses because 

its emissions average 2.55 lb NOX/ton acid. EPA noted that the train was excluded

because it employs a low pressure SCR that is not optimally located for better 

performance. EPA noted that EPA staff discussed this SCR with the manager of the PCS 

Geismar plant, who stated that the plant could meet 0.60 lb NOX/ton acid if the SCR was 

relocated after the expander.

Mr. Leason noted that there may be cases where placing the SCR after the expander is 

not possible, due to space constraints. EPA answered that enlarging the SCR or 

increasing the ammonia injection rate would have the same effect as relocating the 

existing SCR.

Mr. Herz stated that the agency has not shown that the standard has been accurately 

assessed. EPA noted that the data from Agrium North Bend shows the true performance 

of the nitric acid plant after a retrofit and thus demonstrates the achievability of the 

proposed standard. Mr. Leason again noted that the Agrium North Bend facility not only

uses SCR, but also extended absorption and hydrogen peroxide addition.

Mr. Leason referenced a number of nitric acid plants that have been permitted at 0.60 lb 

NOX/ton acid on a 365 day rolling emission rate, which is significantly different than the 

0.50 lb NOX/ton acid on a 30 day rolling emission rate that the EPA proposed. These 

plants are owned by Rentech, Terra Industries, and a new US Nitrogen plant in Greene 

County, Tennessee.

EPA noted that the plants owned by Terra Industries are still in the process of upgrading 

and the Rentech plant was completed last month, and the US Nitrogen plant is not yet 

operational. Therefore, data are not available from these facilities for analysis that would 

impact the decision regarding achievability of the standard.

Mr. Leason noted another nitric acid plant in Georgia that had been modified or 

reconstructed in 2002 and 2007 and had thus become subject to the Nitric Acid NSPS. 
The EPA representatives requested more information on this plant. Mr. Leason promised 

to get more information and report back to EPA.

Mr. Leason stated that the costs assessed at proposal are not accurate. He referenced the 

costs for flow monitors and dual span monitors as being incorrect and stated that control 

costs for modified sources would need to be included.

EPA noted that TFI’s cost comments on the proposed rule are being considered.

Mr. Leason asked that three subcategories be considered for the nitric acid NSPS:

1) New plants;

2) Existing plants with NSCR control that undergo a modification or 

reconstruction;

3) Existing plants without NSCR control that undergo a modification or 

reconstruction.

EPA asked if this approach (setting separate standards for modified sources) had been

used in other rulemakings. Mr. Leason referred to Section 111 and achievability. Mr.

Leason also stated that it is more difficult for a plant to meet a lower limit if the plant has

NSCR control and undergoes a modification or reconstruction. Mr. Leason and Mr. Herz

recommended that EPA look at the recently-established 0.60 lb NOX/ton acid on a 365

day rolling average standard set forth in consent decrees and a January 2012 permit for a

US Nitrogen plant as BACT and evaluate whether it should form the basis for the NSPS.

Mr. Leason noted that NSPS is the statutory floor and cannot, by definition, be lower than 

BACT.

In closing, Mr. Leason restated that there should be a bifurcation of the NOX standard in

order for modified or reconstructed sources to comply, and costs for modified or

reconstructed sources and installation of dual span NOX monitors must be included in the

cost analyses.

He also stated that the EPA should have used CEMS data from all nitric acid plants. He

noted that the Greenhouse Gas Mandatory Reporting Rule (GHGMRR) reported 68% of

nitric acid plants have NOX CEMS, yet EPA only relied on data from five nitric acid

plants that have CEMS monitors (three SCR plants and two NSCR plants).

Ms. Icenhour noted that the information for the GHGMRR was gathered through permits 

and that no CEMS data were gathered under that rulemaking.
Conclusion:

Mr. Leason and Mr. Herz thanked the EPA representatives for meeting with them and 

giving them the opportunity to present additional data.

 

TFI stated that they would gather the following information and provide said 

information to the EPA as soon as possible:

 TFI will clarify the definition of extended absorption for purposes of this 

rulemaking.

 TFI will clarify their reasoning that modifications of nitric acid plants using 

NSCR control should be treated differently than modifications of nitric acid plants 

without NSCR control, with respect to the level of the standard.

 TFI will determine whether modifications occurred at a nitric acid plant in 

Georgia during 2002 and 2007.

 TFI will supply long term CEMS data for other nitric acid plants that have been 

modified to illustrate that the proposed NOX standard is not achievable.