Solvent Extraction for Vegetable Oil Production

eCFR Subpart GGGG [ecfr.gov]

This subpart applies to:

1. Specified vegetable oil production processes at Major Sources* of HAPs.

Affected sources:

1. You are an affected source subject to this subpart if you meet both of the following criteria:
   1. You own or operate a vegetable oil production process that is a Major Source of HAP emissions or is co-located within a plant site with other sources that are individually or collectively a Major Source of HAP emissions; AND
   2. Your vegetable oil production process processes any of the following oilseeds:
      1. Corn germ;
      2. Cottonseed;
      3. Flax;
      4. Peanut;
      5. Rapeseed (e.g., canola);
      6. Safflower;
      7. Soybean; or,
      8. Sunflower.

Definition of a "vegetable oil production process":

1. The collection of continuous process equipment and activities that produce crude vegetable oil and meal products by removing oil from oilseeds through direct contact with an organic solvent, such as a hexane isomer blend.

Not subject to this subpart:

1. Vegetable oil production processes that meet any of the following criteria:
   1. It uses only mechanical extraction techniques that use no organic solvent to remove oil from a listed oilseed;
   2. It uses only batch solvent extraction and batch desolventizing equipment;
   3. It processes only agricultural products that are not listed oilseeds; or,
   4. It functions only as a research and development facility and is not a Major Source of HAPs.

*Major Sources of HAPs emit or have the potential to emit:

• ≥ 10 tons/year of any single HAP; or
• ≥ 25 tons/year of total HAPs.
• Area Sources emit less than Major Sources.

eCFR Subpart GGGG [ecfr.gov]

Source Classification

• Existing Source
  • Constructed or began construction before May 26, 2000; or,
  • Began reconstruction on or after May 26, 2000 and was part of scheduled plan to comply with existing source requirements and reconstruction done before Apr 12, 2004.
• New Source
  • Constructed or began construction on or after May 26, 2000; or,
  • Began reconstruction on or after 5/26/2000 and completed reconstruction after Apr 12, 2004.

Initial Notification

• Existing sources
  • Must notify by Aug 10, 2001.
• New sources
  • Must notify within 120 days of startup.

Compliance Dates

• Existing source
  • Must comply by Apr 12, 2004.
• New source
  • Must comply by Apr 12, 2001 or upon startup, whichever is later.

Significant Modification

• Must submit Initial Notification at least 30 days prior to startup.
• Must submit Notification of Actual Startup within 15 days of startup.

Compliance Status Notification

• Existing sources
  • Must notify by June 11, 2004.
• New sources
  • Must notify within 60 days of compliance date.

Annual Compliance Certification

• Must be submitted 12 months after Compliance Status Notification and every 12 months thereafter.
• Due within 60 days of the 12th month.

Deviation Report

• Must be submitted if compliance ratio exceeds 1.0.
• Due at the end of the month following the calendar month in which the deviation occurred.

EPA's Subpart GGGG Website [epa.gov] - contains federal register notices and implementation tools