Boilers - Area Sources - Industrial, Commercial, & Institutional

eCFR Subpart JJJJJJ [ecfr.gov]

This subpart applies to:

• new and existing industrial, commercial, and institutional boilers located at Area Sources of HAPs (hazardous air pollutants)*

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

• < 10 tons per year of a single HAP, or
• < 25 tons per year of combined HAPs.
• Major Sources emit more than Area Sources.

Not subject to this subpart:

1. Gas-fired, electric, residential, and temporary boilers
2. Boilers used specifically for research and development
3. Hot water heaters
4. Hazardous waste boilers covered under NESHAP Subpart EEE or section 3005 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act
5. Electric utility steam-generating units covered under NESHAP Subpart UUUUU

NSPS - 40 CFR Part 60

Subpart Db, Dc - Fossil fuel-fired, electric utility, large and small industrial, commercial, and institutional steam generating units
Subpart CCCC - Commercial, Industrial Solid Waste Incinerators - New units
Subpart DDDD - Commercial, Industrial Solid Waste Incinerators - Existing Units

 

NESHAP - 40 CFR Part 63

Subpart DDDDD - Boilers & Process Heaters (major sources)

eCFR Subpart JJJJJJ [ecfr.gov]

Source Classification

• Existing Source = Commenced construction or reconstruction on or before June 4, 2010.
• New Source = Commenced construction or reconstruction after June 4, 2010.

Initial Notification

• No later than Jan 20, 2014, or within 120 days of becoming subject to this subpart, whichever is later.

Compliance Dates

• Existing Sources = March 21, 2014
• New sources = May 20, 2011 or upon startup, whichever is later.

Notice of Intent to Test

• 60 days prior to test

Compliance Status Notification

• If not required to test = 120 days after compliance date
• If required to test = 60 days after test

Compliance Report

• Annual
  • Must be prepared by March 1
  • Must be submitted upon request, or by March 15 if deviations occur.
• Boilers subject only to biennial or 5-year tune-up requirements need only prepare and submit reports by the above dates on a biennial or 5-year basis.

On August 23, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice announcing final decisions on the five specific issues for which reconsideration was granted for the agency’s 2013 final amendments:

1. establishment of a subcategory and separate requirements for limited–use boilers;
2. an alternative particulate matter (PM) standard for new oil–fired boilers that combust low–sulfur oil;
3. establishment of a provision that eliminates further performance testing for PM for certain boilers based on their initial compliance test;
4. establishment of a provision that eliminates further fuel sampling for mercury for certain coal–fired boilers based on their initial compliance demonstration; and
5. definitions of startup and shutdown periods.

EPA retained the subcategory and separate requirements for limited–use boilers, consistent with the February 2013 final rule.

EPA amended three provisions, consistent with the alternatives for which comment was solicited in the January 2015 proposal, as follows:

• an alternative PM standard for new oil–fired boilers that combust ultra–low–sulfur liquid fuel in place of the alternative PM standard for new oil–fired boilers that combust lowsulfur oil;
• a provision that requires further performance testing for PM every 5 years for certain boilers based on their initial compliance test in place of the provision eliminating further performance testing for such boilers; and
• a provision that requires further fuel sampling for mercury every 12 months for certain coal–fired boilers based on their initial compliance demonstration in place of the provision eliminating further fuel sampling for mercury for such boilers.

EPA also made minor changes to the proposed definitions of startup and shutdown based on comments received.

On 7/18/12, EPA issued a No Action Assurance for the Compliance Status Notification requirement for Tune-ups. The final rule required the Compliance Status Notification for Tune-ups by 7/19/12. EPA issued a No Action Assurance (below) for conducting the initial tune-up and this remains in effect. Because the tune-up requirement has been extended, the compliance status notification is also extended. The No Action Assurance will remain in effect until 12/31/12 or until the proposed reconsideration is finalized.

On 3/13/12, EPA issued a No Action Assurance Letter for the tune-up deadline. This means although the rule states that initial tune-ups must be completed by March 21, 2012, using their enforcement discretion, EPA will not pursue enforcement action for violations of initial tune-up deadlines in the Area Source Boiler rule. EPA proposed to extend the compliance date for initial tune-ups from March 21, 2012 until March 21, 2013, however, EPA has not yet finalized this change. The No Action Assurance remains in effectu until 10/1/12 or until the proprosed reconsideration is finalized.


EPA's Boiler & Process Heater Website [epa.gov] - contains federal registers, regulatory background, and webinar information.

EPA Sponsored Combustion Portal [combustionportal.org] - Federal & state compliance information & sustainability content for combustion processes