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Emissions Events Cynthia Gandee, Air Program Liaison Office of Compliance and Enforcement Program Support Section Austin Jon Williams, Work Leader Office of Compliance and Enforcement Region 6 El Paso
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Presentation Outline Emissions Events (EE): How it works. What the regulated entity does and What the TCEQ does
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What You Do Determine if an EE occurred Definition Report/record Reportable Quantities (RQ) STEERS
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The details: Who What When Where Why How
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Who Regulated entity: defined in 30 TAC §101.1 Location based Same owner/operator Pipelines are county-based Includes Regulated units Facilities Equipment Structures Sources
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Customer vs. Regulated Entity Customer (CN) Regulated Entity (RN) Location 1 Regulated Entity (RN) Location 2
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What must be reported or recorded? Emissions event Upset event Excess Opacity Scheduled MSS Unplanned MSS
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Emissions Event Upset Unscheduled maintenance, startup, or shutdown Common cause Unauthorized emissions
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Upset Unplanned Unavoidable Breakdown or excursion
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Excess Opacity Opacity at least 15 additional percentage points above a limit
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Unplanned Maintenance/Startup/Shutdown Unauthorized emissions expected to exceed RQ or excess opacity Non-routine Unpredictable Non-permitted
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Scheduled Maintenance/Startup/Shutdown Unauthorized emissions or excess opacity Record or report Prior notice required if activity is expected to exceed RQ
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Maintenance/Startup/Shutdown MSSUnplanned Scheduled (101.211) Unscheduled (101.201) PlannedPermitted
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Report or record? Reportable Quantity (RQ) Pounds Mixtures Boilers and combustion Turbines Default = 100 lbs. (if not listed)
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40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 302, Table 302.4, the column "final RQ"
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40 CFR Part 355, Appendix A
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Case Example: NO X Defined in §101.1 under “oxides of nitrogen” Based on a 24-hour period 200 lbs in ozone nonattainment/ maintenance/early action compact areas/Nueces and San Patricio 5,000 elsewhere
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Ozone Nonattainment and Maintenance Areas
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NO X Location: Houston NSR Permit limit: 50 lbs/hr Emissions: 250 lbs over 1 hour 50 lbs were authorized Total unauthorized: 250-50 = 200 lbs This is a reportable event
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Tip for those Reporting Know the RQ for compounds at your facility Know the flow, throughput and emission points
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When RQ Exceeded Initial Report: within 24 hours of discovery Final Report: within 2 weeks of the end of the event No RQ Exceeded Record: Create final record within 2 weeks of the end of the event
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Where: TCEQ Regional Office
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Why? Texas State Implementation Plan Required by 30 TAC Chapter 101
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How? STEERS Form/guidance for small businesses
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Reporting: STEERS STEERS: State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System Emissions Events: use Air Emissions and Maintenance Events (AEME) module in STEERS
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Reporting: STEERS Set-up: STEERS Participation Agreement (SPA) Initial probationary account. Final report requires a completed SPA STEERS Help 512-239-6925 https://www3.tceq.texas.gov/steers/help/ main.html
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Tip for Those Reporting Initial report: within 24 hours of your discovery of the event. Timely report is needed for affirmative defense eligibility
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STEERS Reporting Required Except: Small businesses Less than 100 employees or less than $1 million in gross receipts When STEERS is down at the agency When reported under the Spill Rules (30 TAC Chapter 327)
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Reporting: STEERS When faxing an emissions event report: Use Form 10360, follow instructions Form can be found at: http://www.tceq.texas.gov/field/cefoumforms.html http://www.tceq.texas.gov/field/cefoumforms.html Recommend downloading and printing the form and instructions – having it available when your computer or internet connection fails.
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Total Number of Incidents Reported Statewide under 30 TAC Chapter 101, Subchapter F in FY 15 Emissions Events Scheduled Maintenance Scheduled Shutdown Scheduled Startup Excess Opacity Total 3,776330521342204,512
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Agency Response to Incidents Reported under 30 TAC Chapter 101, Subchapter F in FY 15 Incident TypeNOV Violations NOVsNOE Violations NOEs Maintenance0000 Scheduled Shutdown3100 Scheduled Startup2100 Emissions Events114858362 Excess Opacity181100 Total137988362
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Reporting: Affirmative Defense Reports must be timely The event must not be deemed “excessive” RE must provide information addressing eleven factors listed in 30 TAC §101.222(b)
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Excessive Emissions Events Results in formal enforcement Affirmative defense not available Determination by agency based on Frequency Cause Quantity and impact Duration Percentage of annual operating hours Need for MSS
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FAQ Q: Once I report an EE in STEERS, am I done? A: No, other reporting requirements may apply such as the emissions inventory (see § and deviation reporting (see 3. Also, create a final record of the event within two weeks. A: No, other reporting requirements may apply such as the emissions inventory (see 30 TAC §101.10) and deviation reporting (see 30 TAC 122). Also, create a final record of the event within two weeks.
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FAQ Q: Do I only report unauthorized emissions? A: No, report total emissions. Q: Are the only emission limits that apply to EE NSR lb/hr limits? A: No, emission limits may be in permits, rules, or orders (see definition of unauthorized emissions in ). A: No, emission limits may be in permits, rules, or orders (see definition of unauthorized emissions in 30 TAC §101.1(108) ).
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FAQ Q: How are non-reportable EE handled during Title V investigations? A: A portion are reviewed against recordkeeping requirements and to ensure the event didn’t exceed an RQ. Q: For pipelines, sites without a permit, or a site authorized by a PBR without an hourly limits required how is RQ calculated? A: All emissions should be considered.
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FAQ Q: If an investigator determines an event met the affirmative defense criteria, can a violation be cited? A: Yes. These criteria apply to agency enforcement actions. Violations may be cited for federal rules.
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FAQ Q: What is the RQ for crude and natural gas? A: For natural gas (excluding carbon dioxide, water, nitrogen, methane, ethane, noble gases, hydrogen, and oxygen) or air emissions from crude oil: 5,000 pounds or 100 pounds of hydrogen sulfide/mercaptans, whichever occurs first.
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FAQ Q: After I file my report, what happens. A: Jon will tell you.
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