Performance tests and other compliance requirements.

Checkout our iOS App for a better way to browser and research.

§ 60.255 Performance tests and other compliance requirements.

(a) An owner or operator of each affected facility that commenced construction, reconstruction, or modification on or before April 28, 2008, must conduct all performance tests required by § 60.8 to demonstrate compliance with the applicable emission standards using the methods identified in § 60.257.

(b) An owner or operator of each affected facility that commenced construction, reconstruction, or modification after April 28, 2008, must conduct performance tests according to the requirements of § 60.8 and the methods identified in § 60.257 to demonstrate compliance with the applicable emissions standards in this subpart as specified in paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section.

(1) For each affected facility subject to a PM, SO2, or combined NOX and CO emissions standard, an initial performance test must be performed. Thereafter, a new performance test must be conducted according the requirements in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) through (iii) of this section, as applicable.

(i) If the results of the most recent performance test demonstrate that emissions from the affected facility are greater than 50 percent of the applicable emissions standard, a new performance test must be conducted within 12 calendar months of the date that the previous performance test was required to be completed.

(ii) If the results of the most recent performance test demonstrate that emissions from the affected facility are 50 percent or less of the applicable emissions standard, a new performance test must be conducted within 24 calendar months of the date that the previous performance test was required to be completed.

(iii) An owner or operator of an affected facility that has not operated for the 60 calendar days prior to the due date of a performance test is not required to perform the subsequent performance test until 30 calendar days after the next operating day.

(2) For each affected facility subject to an opacity standard, an initial performance test must be performed. Thereafter, a new performance test must be conducted according to the requirements in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) through (iii) of this section, as applicable, except as provided for in paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section. Performance test and other compliance requirements for coal truck dump operations are specified in paragraph (h) of this section.

(i) If any 6-minute average opacity reading in the most recent performance test exceeds half the applicable opacity limit, a new performance test must be conducted within 90 operating days of the date that the previous performance test was required to be completed.

(ii) If all 6-minute average opacity readings in the most recent performance test are equal to or less than half the applicable opacity limit, a new performance test must be conducted within 12 calendar months of the date that the previous performance test was required to be completed.

(iii) An owner or operator of an affected facility continuously monitoring scrubber parameters as specified in § 60.256(b)(2) is exempt from the requirements in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) and (ii) if opacity performance tests are conducted concurrently with (or within a 60-minute period of) PM performance tests.

(c) If any affected coal processing and conveying equipment (e.g., breakers, crushers, screens, conveying systems), coal storage systems, or coal transfer and loading systems that commenced construction, reconstruction, or modification after April 28, 2008, are enclosed in a building, and emissions from the building do not exceed any of the standards in § 60.254 that apply to the affected facility, then the facility shall be deemed to be in compliance with such standards.

(d) An owner or operator of an affected facility (other than a thermal dryer) that commenced construction, reconstruction, or modification after April 28, 2008, is subject to a PM emission standard and uses a control device with a design controlled potential PM emissions rate of 1.0 Mg (1.1 tons) per year or less is exempted from the requirements of paragraphs (b)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section provided that the owner or operator meets all of the conditions specified in paragraphs (d)(1) through (3) of this section. This exemption does not apply to thermal dryers.

(1) PM emissions, as determined by the most recent performance test, are less than or equal to the applicable limit,

(2) The control device manufacturer's recommended maintenance procedures are followed, and

(3) All 6-minute average opacity readings from the most recent performance test are equal to or less than half the applicable opacity limit or the monitoring requirements in paragraphs (e) or (f) of this section are followed.

(e) For an owner or operator of a group of up to five of the same type of affected facilities that commenced construction, reconstruction, or modification after April 28, 2008, that are subject to PM emissions standards and use identical control devices, the Administrator or delegated authority may allow the owner or operator to use a single PM performance test for one of the affected control devices to demonstrate that the group of affected facilities is in compliance with the applicable emissions standards provided that the owner or operator meets all of the conditions specified in paragraphs (e)(1) through (3) of this section.

(1) PM emissions from the most recent performance test for each individual affected facility are 90 percent or less of the applicable PM standard;

(2) The manufacturer's recommended maintenance procedures are followed for each control device; and

(3) A performance test is conducted on each affected facility at least once every 5 calendar years.

(f) As an alternative to meeting the requirements in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, an owner or operator of an affected facility that commenced construction, reconstruction, or modification after April 28, 2008, may elect to comply with the requirements in paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this section.

(1) Monitor visible emissions from each affected facility according to the requirements in paragraphs (f)(1)(i) through (iii) of this section.

(i) Conduct one daily 15-second observation each operating day for each affected facility (during normal operation) when the coal preparation and processing plant is in operation. Each observation must be recorded as either visible emissions observed or no visible emissions observed. Each observer determining the presence of visible emissions must meet the training requirements specified in § 2.3 of Method 22 of appendix A-7 of this part. If visible emissions are observed during any 15-second observation, the owner or operator must adjust the operation of the affected facility and demonstrate within 24 hours that no visible emissions are observed from the affected facility. If visible emissions are observed, a Method 9, of appendix A-4 of this part, performance test must be conducted within 45 operating days.

(ii) Conduct monthly visual observations of all process and control equipment. If any deficiencies are observed, the necessary maintenance must be performed as expeditiously as possible.

(iii) Conduct a performance test using Method 9 of appendix A-4 of this part at least once every 5 calendar years for each affected facility.

(2) Prepare a written site-specific monitoring plan for a digital opacity compliance system for approval by the Administrator or delegated authority. The plan shall require observations of at least one digital image every 15 seconds for 10-minute periods (during normal operation) every operating day. An approvable monitoring plan must include a demonstration that the occurrences of visible emissions are not in excess of 5 percent of the observation period. For reference purposes in preparing the monitoring plan, see OAQPS “Determination of Visible Emission Opacity from Stationary Sources Using Computer-Based Photographic Analysis Systems.” This document is available from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA); Office of Air Quality and Planning Standards; Sector Policies and Programs Division; Measurement Group (D243-02), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. This document is also available on the Technology Transfer Network (TTN) under Emission Measurement Center Preliminary Methods. The monitoring plan approved by the Administrator or delegated authority shall be implemented by the owner or operator.

(g) As an alternative to meeting the requirements in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, an owner or operator of an affected facility that commenced construction, reconstruction, or modification after April 28, 2008, subject to a visible emissions standard under this subpart may install, operate, and maintain a continuous opacity monitoring system (COMS). Each COMS used to comply with provisions of this subpart must be installed, calibrated, maintained, and continuously operated according to the requirements in paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) of this section.

(1) The COMS must meet Performance Specification 1 in 40 CFR part 60, appendix B.

(2) The COMS must comply with the quality assurance requirements in paragraphs (g)(2)(i) through (v) of this section.

(i) The owner or operator must automatically (intrinsic to the opacity monitor) check the zero and upscale (span) calibration drifts at least once daily. For particular COMS, the acceptable range of zero and upscale calibration materials is as defined in the applicable version of Performance Specification 1 in 40 CFR part 60, appendix B.

(ii) The owner or operator must adjust the zero and span whenever the 24-hour zero drift or 24-hour span drift exceeds 4 percent opacity. The COMS must allow for the amount of excess zero and span drift measured at the 24-hour interval checks to be recorded and quantified. The optical surfaces exposed to the effluent gases must be cleaned prior to performing the zero and span drift adjustments, except for systems using automatic zero adjustments. For systems using automatic zero adjustments, the optical surfaces must be cleaned when the cumulative automatic zero compensation exceeds 4 percent opacity.

(iii) The owner or operator must apply a method for producing a simulated zero opacity condition and an upscale (span) opacity condition using a certified neutral density filter or other related technique to produce a known obscuration of the light beam. All procedures applied must provide a system check of the analyzer internal optical surfaces and all electronic circuitry including the lamp and photodetector assembly.

(iv) Except during periods of system breakdowns, repairs, calibration checks, and zero and span adjustments, the COMS must be in continuous operation and must complete a minimum of one cycle of sampling and analyzing for each successive 10-second period and one cycle of data recording for each successive 6-minute period.

(v) The owner or operator must reduce all data from the COMS to 6-minute averages. Six-minute opacity averages must be calculated from 36 or more data points equally spaced over each 6-minute period. Data recorded during periods of system breakdowns, repairs, calibration checks, and zero and span adjustments must not be included in the data averages. An arithmetic or integrated average of all data may be used.

(h) The owner or operator of each affected coal truck dump operation that commenced construction, reconstruction, or modification after April 28, 2008, must meet the requirements specified in paragraphs (h)(1) through (3) of this section.

(1) Conduct an initial performance test using Method 9 of appendix A-4 of this part according to the requirements in paragraphs (h)(1)(i) and(ii).

(i) Opacity readings shall be taken during the duration of three separate truck dump events. Each truck dump event commences when the truck bed begins to elevate and concludes when the truck bed returns to a horizontal position.

(ii) Compliance with the applicable opacity limit is determined by averaging all 15-second opacity readings made during the duration of three separate truck dump events.

(2) Conduct monthly visual observations of all process and control equipment. If any deficiencies are observed, the necessary maintenance must be performed as expeditiously as possible.

(3) Conduct a performance test using Method 9 of appendix A-4 of this part at least once every 5 calendar years for each affected facility.


Download our app to see the most-to-date content.