Wisconsin Administrative Code › Department of Natural Resources › NR 400-499 - Environmental Protection - Air Pollution Control › Chapter NR 446 - Control Of Mercury Emissions › Subchapter I - General Provisions › Section NR 446.02 - Definitions

Current through June 24, 2024
The definitions contained in ch. NR 400 apply to the terms
					 used in this chapter. In addition, the following definitions apply to the terms
					 used in this chapter:
(1) "Allowable
				  emissions" means the annual mercury emissions of a stationary source,
				  calculated using the maximum rated capacity of the source, and by accounting
				  for enforceable limits which restrict the operating rate or hours of operation
				  or both.
(1c) "Baseline mercury
				  emissions" means the calculated level of annual mercury emissions from a major
				  utility as determined under s.
				  NR
				  446.07.
(1e) "Best available control technology" or
				  "BACT" means an emission limit for mercury based on the maximum degree of
				  reduction practically achievable as specified by the department on an
				  individual case-by-case basis taking into account energy, economic and
				  environmental impacts and other costs related to the source.
(1g) "Cell room" means a structure housing
				  one or more mercury chlor-alkali cells.
(1n) "Certified emission reduction" means a
				  reduction of mercury emissions that has been certified by the department and
				  made enforceable through a construction permit, operation permit or other
				  appropriate means.
(1r)
				  "Commission" means the public service commission.
(2) "Condenser stack gases" mean the gaseous
				  effluent evolved from the stack of processes utilizing heat to extract mercury
				  metal from mercury ore.
(3)
				  "Denuder" means a horizontal or vertical container which is part of a mercury
				  chlor-alkali cell and in which water and alkali metal amalgam are converted to
				  alkali metal hydroxide, mercury, and hydrogen gas in a short-circuited,
				  electrolytic reaction.
(4) "End
				  box" means one or more containers located on one or both ends of a mercury
				  chlor-alkali electrolyzer which serves as a connection between the electrolyzer
				  and denuder for rich and stripped amalgam.
(5) "End box ventilation system" means a
				  ventilation system which collects mercury emissions from the end boxes, the
				  mercury pump sumps, and their water collection systems.
(6) "Hydrogen gas stream" means a hydrogen
				  stream formed in the chlor-alkali cell denuder.
(6e) "Major stationary source" means a
				  stationary source whose mercury emissions are 10 pounds per year or
				  greater.
(6m) "Major utility" means
				  a Class A utility, as defined under s.
				  199.03(4),
				  Stats., that generates electricity or an electrical cooperative association
				  organized under ch. 185, Stats., whose mercury emissions from all stationary
				  sources under the common ownership and control of the utility or the
				  association are 100 pounds per year or greater.
(6s) "Mercury" has the meaning given in s.
				  NR
				  445.02(9).
(7) "Mercury chlor-alkali cell" means a
				  device which is basically composed of an electrolyzer section and a denuder or
				  decomposer section and utilizes mercury to produce chlorine gas, hydrogen gas,
				  and alkali metal hydroxide.
(8)
				  "Mercury chlor-alkali electrolyzer" means an electrolytic device which is part
				  of a mercury chlor-alkali cell and utilizes a flowing mercury cathode to
				  produce chlorine gas and alkali metal amalgam.
(9) "Mercury ore" means a mineral mined
				  specifically for its mercury content.
(10) "Mercury ore processing facility" means
				  a facility processing mercury ore to obtain mercury.
(10m) "Method X", where "X" is a number or a
				  number followed by a letter, means the specified method contained in Appendix B
				  of , incorporated by reference in s.
				  NR
				  484.04(23).
(11) "Sludge" means sludge produced by a
				  treatment plant that processes municipal or industrial wastewater.
(12) "Sludge dryer" means a device used to
				  reduce the moisture content of sludge by heating to temperatures above
				  65ºC (ca. 150ºF) directly with combustion gases.