1. EPA Region 4 Spring Grants/Planning Meeting
Summary of EPA Region 4
Modeling Activities
EPA Region 4 Spring Grants/Planning Meeting
May 21-23, 2019

2. Region 4 Modeling Team Stan 2.0 Stan 2.0 (Virtual Stan)
Mike Moeller (Half-time modeling, half-time monitoring)
Katie Walther
Chris Howard
Richard Monteith
Rick Gillam
Katy Lusky (honorary modeler – senior technical advisor)
Todd Rinck (Supervisor)

3. FY 2018/2019 Significant Modeling Activities
PSD Permit Applications and Modeling Protocols
SO2 Attainment Demonstration and Re-designation SIPs
DRR SO2 On-Going Verification Annual Reports and Transport iSIPs
Regional Haze Modeling
Held Region 4 State & Local Modeling Workshop in September 2018
Attended 2019 EPA Regions, States and Locals Modelers Workshop in Seattle, Washington from May 6-9, 2019
Thank You for allowing your modeling staff to attend these beneficial workshops!

4. PSD/NSR Permit Modeling
Reviewed and Commented on 16 PSD Permit Applications and 6 PSD Modeling Protocols in FY 2018
Reviewed 19 PSD Permit Application Modeling Projects so far in FY 2019
Reviewed 6 PSD Modeling Protocols reviewed so far in FY 2019
Outlook is for continued high volume of PSD modeling activity
Issues and Questions:
Single-source secondary ozone and PM2.5 analyses (MERPs Guidance)
Challenging to apply MERPs for Class I area increment SILs assessment
GA, TN and KY developed state-specific MERPs Guidance documents
Modeling “Nearby Sources” with “typical operations” - Revisions to Table 8.1 and 8.2 in Appendix W
Additional guidance on “significant concentration gradient” and determination of sources to explicitly model in cumulative modeling analyses is needed

5. Challenges Applying MERPs for Class I Increment Assessments
Example: 24-hr PM2.5 Class I SIL = ug/m3 vs. Class II SIL = 1.2 ug/m3
If conservative “first-cut” MERPs approach is used, then may exceed the Class I SIL in many cases
Region 4 Modeling Staff have worked with OAQPS to develop a more refined procedure using the results of the photochemical modeling done to establish the MERPs
Region 4 Modeling Staff are available to assist and provide the data needed to apply this refined methodology

6. SO2 Attainment Demonstration and Redesignation SIPs
Round 1 Attainment Demonstration SIPs
Jefferson County, Kentucky
Final approval action nearing completion – May 2019
Sullivan County, Tennessee (Eastman Chemical Company)
Newly deployed monitors showing exceedances of the NAAQS – Eastman evaluating additional controls
Redesignation SIPs
2 Round 1 Areas in Florida (Hillsborough and Nassau Counties)
Nassau County Redesignation Approved in April 2019
Hillsborough County Approval under final review
Round 3 Hillsborough-Polk NAA
Controls will be installed by August 2019 – draft Redesignation FR and TSD in development
Plan to finalize in Sept 2019 after permit limits are effective and controls are in place.

7. DRR SO2 On-Going Verification and Transport iSIPs
DRR Ongoing Verification
Annual reports due by July 1, 2019, for areas designation A/U in Round 3 Designations
33 Areas in Region 4 have reports due
Georgia, Kentucky, and Florida have submitted draft reports
EPA Region 4 reviewed submittals and provided comments
Georgia requested termination of reporting requirement for 2 areas
Provided modeling for both areas showing max modeled values below 50% of the NAAQS using recent emissions
Region 4 reviewed modeling and has approved termination for both areas
Approval consists of a letter signed by the RA accompanied by a brief TSD
Florida and South Carolina also interested terminating annual reporting requirement for 1 area in each state
SO2 Transport iSIPs
Assisting SIP Regulatory staff when submittals involve modeling
NC performed additional modeling for a Round 4 source located within 50 km of border
TN performed additional modeling for similar sources

8. Regional Haze Modeling
Working with Mississippi to re-evaluate BART Modeling (sources that originally relied on “CAIR/CSAPR better than BART”
2nd Round of Regional Haze SIPs
Reviewed and approved VISTAS Modeling QAPP
Reviewed and provided comments on Modeling Protocol (CAMx)
Available to work with VISTAS to review modeling results and assist states as they prepare their Round 2 Regional Haze SIPs

9. Questions? Contact: Rick Gillam Air Data and Analysis Section
EPA Region 4