( Adopted: 1/ 9/76; Amended: 4/1/77; Amended: 8/5/77; Amended: 4/6/79; Amended: 8 / 7/81; Readopted by Statute: 07/01/97; Readopted by Statute: 01/01/02; Amended: 5/17/05; Amended: 07/17/12)

AVAQMD RULE 218 218-1 Continuous Emission Monitoring 

## RULE 218

Continuous Emission Monitoring

(A) General

(1) Purpose

(a) The purpose of this rule is to specify Continuo us Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) approvals and standards.

(2) Applicability

(a) The provisions of this rule shall apply to all sources that require CEMS as specified in the regulations or permit conditions, with the following exceptions:

(i) This rule shall not apply to CEMS subject to Re gulation IX – Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources , Regulation X – National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Poll utants , or Rule 3010 – Acid Rain Provisions of Federal Operating Permits

. (ii) This rule shall not apply to CEMS subject to p ermit conditions where the purpose of the CEMS is to monitor the per formance of the basic and/or control equipment and not to deter mine compliance with any applicable limit or standard. (iii) This rule shall not apply to CEMS where alter native performance specifications are required by another District rul e. 

### (B) Definitions

(1) “Analyzer” – The part of the CEMS that analyzes the appropriate gaseous constituents of the conditioned gaseous sample or m easures stack gas volumetric flow and fuel flow rates, as applicable.

(a) Contaminant Analyzer – The part of the CEMS tha t detects the air contaminant and represents those concentrations in a signal output.

(b) Diluent Analyzer – The part of the CEMS that de tects oxygen, carbon dioxide or other Diluent Gas concentrations and rep resents those concentrations in a signal output.

(c) Fuel Flowmeter – The part of the CEMS that dete cts the parameters of all essential measurement subsystems (e.g., temperature , pressure, differential218-2 AVAQMD RULE 218 Continuous Emission Monitoring pressure, frequency, gas density, gas composition, heating value) and generates signal outputs which are a function of th e fuel flow rate and all essential measurement subsystem parameters.

(d) Stack Flowmeter – The part of the CEMS that det ects the parameters from all essential measurement subsystems (e.g., tempera ture, static and atmospheric pressure, gas density, gas composition, molecular weight, gas moisture content) and generates signal outputs whic h are a function of the stack gas volumetric flow rate and all essential me asurement subsystem parameters.
(2) “Calibration” – A procedure performed to ensure that the CEMS accurately measures and records air contaminant or Diluent Gas concentration, flow rate and other parameters necessary to generate data, as evi denced by Calibration Checks, and achieved by periodic manual or automatic adjust ment.
(3) “Calibration Check” – A procedure performed to determine the CEMS response to a given gaseous compound concentration. A certi fied calibration gas mixture is injected into the CEMS as close to the probe tip as practical.

(4) “Certified CEMS” – A CEMS installed, tested, op erated, maintained, and calibrated according to the applicable requirements of Rule 218, and that has met the applicable performance specifications according to Rule 218 Section (D)(1)(b), and, has received written approval and c onditions thereto applying, from the APCO.

(5) “Certified Gas Mixture” – A gas mixture manufac tured, analyzed and certified according to “EPA Traceability Protocol for Assay a nd Certification of Gaseous Calibration Standards” – EPA-600/R97/121, September 1997 Revision (EPA Protocol) or any subsequent version published by EP A. This definition incorporates by reference EPA Protocol

(6) “Continuous Emissions Monitoring System” (CEMS) – The total combined equipment and systems required to continuously dete rmine air contaminants and Diluent Gas concentrations and/or mass emission rat e of a source effluent (as applicable). The CEMS consists of three major subs ystems: Sampling Interface, Analyzer, and Data Acquisition System.

(7) “Continuous Monitoring” – Monitoring in which a minimum of one (1) measurement (e.g., concentration, mass emission, fl ow rate) is taken and recorded each minute.

(8) “Data Acquisition System” (DAS) – The part of t he CEMS that processes data generated by the Analyzer and records the results, thus creating a permanent record of the output signal in terms of concentrati on, flow rate, and/or any other applicable parameter necessary to generate the requ ired data in units of applicable standard. The DAS consists of all equipment, such as a computer, required to convert the original recorded values to any values required for reporting.AVAQMD RULE 218 218-3

Continuous Emission Monitoring (9) “Diluent Gas” – A gas present in a calibration gas mixture or in the source emissions which is present in quantities significan tly larger than the air contaminant.

(10) “Laboratory Approval Program” (LAP) – A progra m administered by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) that grants test-methodspecific approvals to independent testing laborator ies or firms that perform tests to determine source compliance with SCAQMD rules and r egulations.

(11) “Modification Requiring Recertification” – Any change to the basic equipment, control equipment, contaminant concentration, inter fering substances, or CEMS (or SCEMS) that is deemed by the APCO to have a pot ential for adversely affecting the ability of the CEMS to provide accura te, precise and timely data representative of the stack emissions for which the CEMS (or SCEMS) is required.

(12) “Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Pla n” – A written document in which the specific procedures for the operation, Ca libration, and maintenance of a Certified CEMS are described in detail, including a dditional quality assurance assessments and the corrective action system. The purpose of this plan is to ensure that the CEMS generates, collects, and repor ts valid data that is precise, accurate, complete, and of a quality that meets the requirements, performance specifications, and standards of Rules 218 and 218. 1.

(13) “Routine Maintenance” – Preventive evaluation and repair (if necessary) of CEMS performed at specified intervals to preclude S ystem Failure. Routine Maintenance may be performed as recommended by the manufacturer or a documented standard operating procedure determined through operating experience and approved by the APCO. Repairs to a malfunctioning system are excluded from this definition.

(14) “Sampling Interface” – That part of the CEMS t hat performs sample acquisition using one or more of the following operations: ext raction, physical/chemical separation, transportation or conditioning of a rep resentative sample from a designated source.

(15) “Semi-Continuous Emission Monitoring” – A moni toring technique in which a minimum of one (1) measurement (e.g., concentration , mass emission, flow rate) is taken and recorded every 15 minutes.

(16) “Semi-Continuous Emission Monitoring System” ( SCEMS) – The total combined equipment and systems to semi-continuously determin e air contaminant and Diluent Gas concentrations and/or the mass emission rate in a source effluent (as applicable). The system consists of three (3) majo r subsystems: Sampling Interface, Analyzer and DAS. This class of monitor ing includes, but is not limited to, gas chromatography, integrated sensitized tape analyzer, other sample integration based technologies, and Time-Shared CEM S.218-4 AVAQMD RULE 218 Continuous Emission Monitoring (17) “South Coast Air Quality Management District” (SCAQMD) – The air quality district created pursuant to Division 26, Part 3, C hapter 5.5 of the California Health & Safety Code (commencing with §40400).

(18) “System Failure” – Inability of the CEMS to me et the requirements of Rule 218.1

– Continuing Emission Monitoring Performance Specific ations , or, Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40 – “Protection of Envi ronment,” Part 60 – “Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources,” Appendi x F – Quality Assurance Procedures.”

(19) “Time-Sharing” – A monitoring technique where an Analyzer, and possibly the associated sampling conditioning system, is used on more than one source.

(20) “Working Day” – Monday through Friday, excludi ng holidays.

(21) “Zero Check” – A procedure performed to determ ine the response of the CEMS to a given Zero Gas standard by means of injecting the Zero Gas into the CEMS as close to the probe tip as practical.

(22) “Zero Gas” – A gas containing less than a spec ified amount of the air contaminant or Diluent Gas which, when periodically injected in to the CEMS, is used to check CEMS response to the absence of the air contaminant or Diluent Gas.


### (C) Monitoring Requirements for New, Modified and E xisting CEMS

(1) The owner or operator of any equipment subject to this rule shall provide, properly install, operate and maintain in Calibrati on and good working order a Certified CEMS to measure the concentration and/or emission rates, as applicable, of air contaminants and Diluent Gases, flow rates, and other required parameters. The owner or operator shall also provide the necess ary records and other data necessary to calculate air contaminant emission rat es or concentrations, as specified in Rule 218 Sections (F) and (G).



### (D) Requirements for New and Modified CEMS and SCEM S

(1) Application and Approval Requirements for New a nd Modified CEMS

(a) The owner or operator of any equipment subject to this rule shall submit to the APCO an “Application for CEMS” or “Application for CEMS Modification”, as applicable. Any application subm itted on or after July 17, 2012, shall require an initial approval by the APCO prior to installation of a new CEMS or modification of an ex isting CEMS. The APCO shall notify the applicant in writing within 6 0 calendar days of receipt of an application for a new CEMS, or within 30 calendar days of receipt of an application for a modification to an existing CEMS, if the application contains sufficient information to be d eemed complete. Where an application has been determined to be incomplete , the APCO shallAVAQMD RULE 218 218-5

Continuous Emission Monitoring

request specific information needed to complete the application. Upon receipt of any complete resubmittal or the addition al information, plans or specifications after the application has been deeme d incomplete, a new 30- day period shall begin during which the APCO shall determine the completeness of the application and notify the appl icant. Within 90 days of installation, a person operating or using CEMS s hall undertake a series of certification tests. If the equipment served by the CEMS is not operating at the time of complete CEMS installation , then the CEMS shall undergo a series of certification tests within 90 d ays from the next start-up of the equipment served by the CEMS. The purpose o f the certification tests is to demonstrate the CEMS performance pursua nt to the specifications in accordance with the provisions of Rule 218, Section (D)(1)(b). The owner or operator shall notify the APCO in writing at least 14 days before the scheduled certification test dat es. The certification tests shall be performed by a testing laboratory approved under the SCAQMD LAP. Data from such tests shall be submitted to th e APCO within 45 days following test completion. If satisfactory perform ance is demonstrated, final approval of the CEMS shall be granted. Subse quent operation and maintenance of the Certified CEMS shall be in accor dance with the provisions of Rule 218, Section (D)(1)(b). After f inal approval, modifications made to the CEMS shall be reviewed an d approved by the APCO according to the specifications stipulated in Rule 218, Section (D)(1)(b), and may require all or a portion of perf ormance tests to be conducted.

(b) Upon submission of an “Application for CEMS” or “Application for CEMS Modification” as prescribed in Rule 218, Secti on (D)(1)(a), the applicant shall indicate either one of the followin g conditions:

(i) That the CEMS shall be reviewed and certified a ccording to the provisions of Rule 218.1 - Continuous Emission Monitoring Performance Specifications , Section (C), and the subsequent operation and maintenance of the Certified CEMS sha ll be in accordance with the provisions of Rule 218, Section s (C), (F), (G) and (H) and of the requirements of Rule 218.1, Sect ions (C) and (E); or (ii) That the CEMS shall be reviewed and certified according to the applicable provisions of the Code of Federal Regula tions, Title 40 – “Protection of Environment”, Part 60 – “Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources” (40 CFR 60) , Appendix B – “Performance Specifications” (Appendix B), and the subsequent operation and maintenance of the Certifi ed CEMS shall be in accordance with the provisions of Rule 218, S ections (C), (F), (G) and (H), and the requirements of 40 CFR 60 , Appendix F – “Quality Assurance Procedures” (Appendix F). Notwi thstanding the requirements of this Section, any alternative t est methods for 40 CFR 60, Appendices B and F shall be those that a re listed in Rule 218.1, Table 1 - Reference Methods.218-6 AVAQMD RULE 218 Continuous Emission Monitoring (c) A “Notification of Pre-Approved Modification” a nd report of results of prescribed quality assurance checks may be submitte d in lieu of the “Application for CEMS Modification” when the modifi cation has been made in accordance with the written technical guida nce document approved by the APCO.

(2) Application and Approval Requirements for New a nd Modified SCEMS

(a) In lieu of submitting an application for CEMS p er Rule 218, Section (D)(1), the owner or operator of any equipment subj ect to this rule, may elect to submit an application for a SCEMS if the a veraging time for the applicable limit(s) for which the CEMS is required is 24 hours or greater; or, if the owner or operator demonstrates, to the s atisfaction of the APCO, that no CEMS technology is commercially available f or the applicable contaminant and the applicable limit(s).

(b) If the conditions in Rule 218, Section (D)(2)(a ), above, do not apply, the owner or operator of any equipment subject to this rule may still elect to submit an application for a SCEMS in lieu of a CEMS , subject to the following:

(i) The owner or operator demonstrates that the con centrations and/or emissions required to be monitored would be equival ent to that monitored by a CEMS for the applicable averaging pe riod, to the satisfaction of the APCO; (ii) The SCEMS shall be capable to take and record a minimum of one (1) measurement (concentration, mass emission rate and/or flow rate, as applicable) every 15 minutes allowing as e qually spaced data points as practical; (iii) The owner or operator shall include in the QA /QC Plan the method of calculating the 15-minute averages for complianc e determination to the applicable limit or standard; (iv) If an exceedance of the allowable limit or sta ndard is calculated using fewer than 100 percent valid data points, the n the District shall use any relevant data for the operation of th e equipment (basic and control, as applicable) to verify the ca lculated exceedance; and (v) If a Time-Shared SCEMS is proposed, it shall meet t he performance specifications of Rule 218.1, Section ( F). (c) The requirements for the application submittal and approval of CEMS as provided in Rule 218, Section (D)(1) shall also app ly for SCEMS applications.

(3) Operation of CEMS or SCEMS During Certification Testing

CEMS or SCEMS shall be certified as configured for the normal operation of the CEMS or SCEMS with respect to sample acquisition, s ample conditioning, pollutant/diluent detection, data requirements and reporting.AVAQMD RULE 218 218-7

Continuous Emission Monitoring (4) QA/QC Plan for New or Modified CEMS or SCEMS

(a) The owner or operator of CEMS or SCEMS who elec ts the performance specifications according to Rule 218, Section (D)(1 )(b)(i), shall submit to the APCO for approval a CEMS QA/QC Plan within 45 d ays of CEMS installation and no later than 30 days before the c ertification tests.

(b) Alternative Quality Assurance Practices

The owner or operator of CEMS or SCEMS who elects t he performance specifications according to Rule 218, Section (D)(1 )(b)(i), may choose to develop alternative CEMS operational test requireme nts to be included in the CEMS QA/QC procedures that assure data of equiv alent or better quality. These alternative QA/QC procedures shall be submitted with the facility QA/QC Plan and are subject to the approval of the APCO.


### (E) Requirements for Existing CEMS and SCEMS

(1) Requirements for Existing CEMS

(a) A CEMS installed and granted final approval bef ore July 17, 2012 shall be maintained and operated according to the provisions of Rule 218, Sections (C), (F), (G) and (H), and the requirements of Rule 218.1, Sections (D) and (E).

(b) A CEMS application for initial and final approv al submitted to the APCO before July 17, 2012 shall be reviewed and approved by the APCO according to the specifications and requirements of Rule 218.1, Sections (D) and (E). After final approval, the CEMS shall be operated and maintained according to the provisions of Rule 218, Sections (C), (F), (G) and (H), and the requirements of Rule 218.1, Sectio ns (D) and (E).

(c) Modifications Requiring Recertification to any existing CEMS shall be reviewed and approved according to the conditions u nder Rule 218 Section (D)(1)(b)(i) or (ii), as applicable. After final approval, the modified CEMS shall be operated and maintained acco rding to the conditions under Rule 218, Section (D)(1)(b)(i) or (ii), as applicable.

(d) The owner or operator of existing CEMS shall de velop and implement a written QA/QC Plan no later than July 17, 2013. Th e written QA/QC Plan shall be kept on record and available for inspectio n upon request by the APCO.

(2) Requirements for Existing SCEMS

(a) A SCEMS installed and granted final approval be fore July 17, 2012 shall be maintained and operated according to the provisi ons of Rule 218,218-8 AVAQMD RULE 218 Continuous Emission Monitoring Sections (C), (F), (G) and (H), and the requirement s of Rule 218.1, Sections (D) and (E).

(b) A SCEMS application for initial and final appro val submitted to the APCO before July 17, 2012 shall be reviewed and approved by the APCO according to the specifications and requirements of Rule 218.1, Sections (D) and (E). After final approval, the SCEMS shall be operated and maintained according to the provisions of Rule 218, Sections (C), (F), (G) and (H), and the requirements of Rule 218.1, Sectio ns (D) and (E).

(c) Modifications Requiring Recertification to any existing SCEMS shall be reviewed and approved according to the conditions u nder Rule 218 Section (D)(1)(b)(i) or (ii), as applicable. After final approval, the modified CEMS shall be operated and maintained acco rding to the conditions under Rule 218, Section (D)(1)(b)(i) or (ii), as applicable.

(d) The owner or operator of an existing SCEMS oper ating on or before July 17, 2012 shall be required to comply with the provisions of Rule 218.1 Section (F) – “Time-Sharing Requirements” and with the provisions of Rule 218.1 Sections (C) and (E), or, 40 CFR 60 Appe ndices B and F, as applicable, when the equipment served by the Time-S hared SCEMS is modified such that:

(i) One or more of the sources monitored requires a new monitoring
range; (ii) The operating permit is modified to require Co ntinuous Monitoring; or, (iii) An applicable source specific rule is adopted or re vised to require Continuous Monitoring.

Subsequent operation and maintenance of the SCEMS s hall be according to the provisions of Rule 218, Section (D)(1)(b)(i) or (ii), as applicable.


### (F) Retention of Records for New, Modified and Exis ting CEMS and SCEMS

(1) The records of the data obtained from the CEMS recording devices shall clearly indicate concentrations or emission rates, or both, as specified by the APCO. Records shall be maintained by the CEMS owner or op erator for a minimum period of five (5) years, unless otherwise specific ally provided by another District regulation or permit conditions, and shall be made available to the APCO upon request.
(2) All calculations, raw parameter data used for c alculations, records of the occurrence and duration of any start up, shutdown o r malfunction, performance test, evaluation, Calibration, adjustment and maint enance of the CEMS as well as calibration gas traceability shall be retained by t he CEMS operator for a minimum period of five (5) years unless otherwise specifica lly provided by another DistrictAVAQMD RULE 218 218-9

Continuous Emission Monitoring

regulation or permit conditions, and shall be made available to the APCO upon request. 

### (G) Reporting Requirements for New, Modified and Ex isting CEMS and SCEMS

Unless otherwise specifically provided by another D istrict regulation or permit conditions, the following reporting requirements sh all apply to new, modified and existing CEMS and SCEMS:

(1) A CEMS owner or operator shall provide a summar y of the concentration and/or emission rate data, as applicable, obtained from th e CEMS, as well as any additional information specified by the APCO, to ev aluate the accuracy and precision of the measurements. The summary shall b e submitted once every six (6) months to the APCO, except when more frequent r eporting is specifically required by another District rule, or the APCO, on a case-by-case basis, determines that more frequent reporting is necessar y to accurately assess the compliance status of the source. The summary repor t shall be submitted within 30 days following the end of the six (6) month period being reported, in the form and manner prescribed by the APCO. The summary shall b e maintained on-site in a retrievable and readable form and shall be made ava ilable to the APCO upon request. The submitted summaries shall be availabl e for public inspection at the District.

(2) The CEMS owner or operator shall report any con centration level and/or emission rate, as applicable, in excess of the regulated lim it within 24 hours or the next Working Day after such occurrence in the form and m anner prescribed by the APCO. The report shall include the following infor mation:

(a) Time intervals, date, and magnitude of the exce ss concentration level, nature and cause of the excess concentration (if kn own), corrective action(s) taken, preventive measure(s) adopted, spe cific location of CEMS, the equipment or CEMS involved and the facili ty contact person.
(b) The averaging period used for data reporting sh all correspond to the averaging period specified in the rule or permit co ndition governing the concentration and/or emission rate, if applicable.

(3) Reports of CEMS Failure or Shutdown

(a) The CEMS owner or operator shall notify the APC O within 24 hours or the next Working Day, in the event of a system fail ure or shutdown, which exceeds 24 hours. Zero and Calibration Checks and Routine Maintenance do not require reporting.

(b) In the case of a CEMS failure or shutdown, comp liance with the provisions of Rule 218, Section (C) is waived for a period not to exceed 96 consecutive hours. Such waiver is extended beyond 96 consecutive hours218-10 AVAQMD RULE 218 Continuous Emission Monitoring only if a petition for an interim variance is filed in accordance with Regulation V – Procedures Before the Hearing Board and shall terminate at the time the Hearing Board acts upon such varian ce petition. CEMS owners or operators of qualified facilities may obt ain a Hearing Board approval of an alternative operating condition foll owing the established procedure in Rule 518.2 – Federal Alternative Operating Conditions

. (c) Regularly scheduled CEMS maintenance shall be d eferred until the report required under Rule 218, Section (G)(2) is made, if the system is measuring a concentration equal to or exceeding the emission standard, and if such deferral is not reasonably expected to result in damage to the system.
(d) Continuous emission monitoring requirements sha ll not apply during regular Calibration Checks of the system, or Routin e Maintenance and repair lasting 60 minutes or less.


### (H) Posting of Written Approval for New, Modified a nd Existing CMS and SCEMS

The CEMS owner or operator of an approved CEMS shal l affix a written notice of approval or a legible facsimile thereof upon the eq uipment or within 26 feet of the equipment as prescribed in Rule 206 – Posting Of Permit To Operate , in a manner such that it is clearly visible, legible, and safely acc essible. In the event that the equipment is so constructed or operated that the notice of appro val or its legible facsimile cannot be so placed, such notice or legible facsimile shall be m ounted on a location approved by the APCO.

See SIP Table at http://www.avaqmd.ca.gov/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx? documentid=921