WPC  [ۯgݼMp'ndO߀S Df o\ZpMĻ\/LzAfXӋ汢Lmc]Pd(dQ+/ cux-{ 7" 3:1{$C5ZV5##uc׌Qj2nd20ᬑm8WW|.AojPЯƍ=$l51< UJ | cJĔG+@;H0]8_UdSbU^EZxy=7l(ZD<y.fk8|ڂ~hXÒ(/Za!HL,績q/C3S}}*dzzz.]a?rdkWS[bk.@U5D"]?ЌAȕXwie { jXl XR|Yѭ]* 0aLL % 0z 0K  CkkUN B* BU<UNVVVVVVVV 0C 0n 0_ 0D      w@J 4 >b$Large Circle0 X(R2$ 7!7\ <6X9`("Courier 10cpiXx6X@8;X@3 Ha`$2Line Printer 16.67cpiH H@;@) `(CG TimesScalableiY P7P(77$7OXXdXXd76b$Triangle0 S T  U DV "eW X DY DZ [ \ U@1d 7!7JXXdXXd7  V V U U U DraftU 9398 V V      FACTSHEET    FINALREVISIONOFSTANDARDSOFPERFORMANCEFORNITROGEN ` OXIDEEMISSIONSFROMNEWFOSSILFUELFIREDSTEAMGENERATINGUNITS  8   TODAY'SACTION...   ` b  b0    TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)isissuingfinalrevisionstothe  8  existingnewsourceperformancestandardforemissionsofnitrogenoxides(NOx) $  fromnewutilityboilers(electricutilitysteamgeneratingunits)andnewindustrialboilers(industrialsteamgeneratingunits).b݌    Ќ  b  b0    ThefinalrevisionstotheexistingstandardsforNOxemissionswillreducethe   NOxemissionlimitsforbothutilityandindustrialboilerstoreflectthe p performanceofbestdemonstratedtechnology.b݌    Ќ  b  b+0    ThefinalrevisionsforutilityboilerswillalsochangetheformoftherevisedNOx 4 emissionlimitfornewutilityboilerstoanoutputbasedformattopromoteenergyefficiencyandpollutionprevention.Anoutputbasedformatlinkstheemissionlimittotheamountofelectricitygeneratedratherthantothefuelusedforcombustion.b+F݌    Ќ  b  b0    Therevisionswillbeeffective60daysafterpublicationintheFederalRegister.b6݌    Ќ  BACKGROUND   b  b-0    Nitrogendioxidebelongstoafamilyofpoisonous,highlyreactivegasescalled p oxidesofnitrogen.Thesegasesformwhenfuelisburnedathightemperatures,andcomeprincipallyfrommotorvehicleexhaustandstationarysourcessuchaselectricutilitiesandindustrialboilers.b-H݌    Ќ  `0   Theregionaltransportanddepositionofnitrogenoxidescanresultinadverse  $\" environmentaleffectssuchasacidicdepositionandeutrophication.Thisoccurswhenabodyofwatersuffersanincreaseinnutrientsthatreducetheamountofoxygeninthewater,producinganenvironmentthatisdestructivetofishandotheranimallife.Nitrogendioxidealsoplaysamajorroleintheatmosphericreactionsthatproducegroundlevelozone,theprimaryconstituentofsmog.    b  b 0    Nitrogendioxidecanirritatethelungsandlowerresistancetorespiratory *%) infectionssuchasinfluenza.Theeffectsofshorttermexposurearestillunclear, l+&* butcontinuedorfrequentexposuretoconcentrationshigherthanthosenormallyfoundintheambientairmaycauseincreasedincidenceofacuterespiratorydiseaseinchildren.b + ݌    Ќ  b  b0    UndertheCleanAirAct,EPAisrequiredtoset newsourceperformance ` standardstoensurethatemissionsfromnewlybuiltorreconstructedfacilitiesmeetstrictlimits.Theselimitsaregenerallymorestringentthanemissionlimitssetforexistingfacilitiesalreadyinoperation.b)݌    Ќ  b  b0    TheCleanAirActrequiresEPAtoestablishand,inthewakeofnewtechnology,  L  revisestandardsofperformance.EPAlastrevisedthenewsourceperformancestandardsforemissionsofNOxfromutilityboilers(fossilfuelfiredelectricsteam $  generatingunits)in1979andindustrialboilers(fossilfuelfiredindustrialsteamgeneratingunits)in1986.b݌    Ќ  b  b0    BecauseofprogressincontrolV V technologiessincethattime,V V onJuly9,1997,EPA   proposedrevisionstothesestandardsofperformanceforbothutilityandindustrialboilers.TheAgencycommittedtoacourtorderedscheduletofinalizetherevisionsbySeptember3,1998 XbXXXԀafterrespondingtoissuesraisedbythe H commentersontheproposal.#XJXX Xbh#b݌H   Ќ  WHATARETHEHEALTHANDENVIRONMENTALBENEFITSOFTODAY'S $t ACTION? b  b0    EPAsfinalrevisedNOxemissionlimits XbXXXJԀ#XJXX Xb##willreducetheprojectedgrowthinNOx 8 emissionsbyapproximately42percent(45,800tons/year)fromlevelsallowedunderthecurrentstandards.b݌    Ќ  b  bM0    Emissionsofnitrogenoxidesfromsourcessuchaspowerplantscontribute  significantlytotheformationofgroundlevelozoneandacidrain.Inaddition,recentstudiesindicatethatnitrogendepositioniscontributingtotheacidificationofsensitivelakesandstreamsandtotheeutrophicationoftheChesapeakeBayandothercostalwaters.Eutrophicationcanresultinanumberofproblemsincluding:anincreaseinnuisanceandtoxicalgaeblooms,oxygendepletioninwatercausingdecreasedpopulationsoffish,andthedetrimental shadingorreductionoflighttovitalaquaticplants.bMh݌    Ќ  WHATARETHEREVISEDREQUIREMENTS?  &H"% b  b0     XbXXXJThefinalrevisionschangetheformatandreducethenumericalNOXemission ( $' limitfor#XJXX Xb#newV V utilityV V boilers XbXXXJ.#XJXX Xb# XbXXXJSpecifically,thenewemissionlimitis1.6lbsV V ofV V NOX#XJXX Xb# XbXXXJ ) %( V V perV V MegawattV V hourV V ofenergyoutput(grossoutput).#XJXX Xb# XbXXXJԀThisemissionlimitwas * &) changedfromaninputbasedformat(whereemissionsarelinkedtothefuelused) +'* toanoutput-basedformat(whereemissionsarelinkedtotheamountofenergygenerated)topromoteenergyefficiencyandpollutionprevention.#XJXX Xb7# XbXXXJԀX W \W X W Therevisions  reflecttheperformanceofbestdemonstratedtechnologyfornewsources.W #XJXX Xb# XbXXXJW W #XJXX Xbh# XbXXXJԛb݌   Ќ  T@4 <DL!T$&)\+- 0d24XT#XJXX Xb#b  b0     XbXXXJForexistingutilityV V boilersV V thatwouldbecomesubjecttothestandardsduetoa  modificationorreconstruction,EPArevisedtheV V Y requirementY [ NOX#XJXX Xb# XbXXXJԀ[ Z emissionlimitZ V V tobe  V V consistentwiththerequirementfornewunits,butexpressedtheemissionlimitinV V anV V equivalentV V inputbasedV V formatV V V V (0.15V V lbsofV V NOX#XJXX Xb # XbXXXJ/millionV V Btu).b݌`    Ќ  V V #XJXX Xbj"#b  b#0     XbXXXJForV V newandexistingindustrialboilersthataresubjecttoV V theV V V V standards,V V V V EPA @  loweredthestandardto0.20lbsofNOX#XJXX Xb^## XbXXXJ/#XJXX Xbr$# XbXXXJmillionBtu.T EPAN didnotN choseaninpK ut 0  basedstandK M ardM O forindustriO Q alboilersbecauseoftheQ T R M becauseoftheM R T M diM S fficultyindeterminingtheoveraluseofsteamS T V V b#0#݌@     Ќ  ݀#XJXX Xb$# 0   HOWDIDEPADETERMINETHEREVISEDEMISSIONLIMITS ?  p  b  b&0    ThecontroltechnologiesavailableforreducingNOxemissionscanbegrouped L  intotwodifferentcategories:combustioncontrolandfluegastreatment.CombustioncontrolsreduceNOxemissionsbysuppressingNOxformationduring $ thecombustionprocess.FluegastreatmentcontrolsareaddoncontrolsthatreduceNOxemissionsaftercombustionhasoccurred.b&&݌   Ќ  b  b)0    Twocommerciallyavailablefluegastreatmenttechnologiesareselectivenon  catalyticreduction(SNCR)andselectivecatalyticreduction(SCR).IntheSNCRsystem,ammoniaorureaisinjectedintothefluegastoreduceNOxtonitrogen \ (N2)andwater.Selectivecatalyticreductionisaccomplishedbyinjecting H ammoniaintothefluegasinthepresenceofacatalyst(asubstancethatincreasestherateatwhichchemicalsreact).ThecatalystpromotesreactionsthatconvertNOxtoN2andwaterathigherremovalefficienciesandatlowerfluegas  \ temperaturesthanrequiredforSNCR.b) )݌    Ќ  b  b@,0    Afterconsideringavailableperformancedataandperformingavarietyofcost   analyses,EPAbasedtherevisedNOxemissionlimitforelectricutilityboilersand   industrialboilers(regardlessoffueltype)oncoalfiringandtheperformanceofSCRcontroltechnology,incombinationwithcombustioncontrols.EPAchoseSCRasthebasisforrevisingtheNOxemissionlimitsduetoitsrelativelyhigh "  NOxremovalefficiency.b@,[,݌l#!   Ќ  b  b.0    InselectingasinglerevisedNOxemissionlimit,EPAattemptednottolimitthe D% # controloptionsavailableforcompliance,buttoprovideflexibilityforcheaperandlessenergyintensivecontroltechnologies(i.e.,byallowingtheuseofcleanfuelsforreducingNOxemissions).Inaddition,EPAbelievesthefinalrevision (X#& achievesthebestbalancebetweencontroltechnologyandenvironmental,economic,andenergyconsiderations.b..݌    Ќ  ݜ\ \  +'*  WHATISANOUTPUTBASEDFORMATANDHOWDOESITPROMOTE  POLLUTIONPREVENTION?   b  b10    EPAAdministrator,CarolBrowner,hasestablishedpollutionpreventionasoneof t EPA'shighestpriorities.Oneoftheopportunitiesforpollutionpreventionliesinsimplyusingenergyefficienttechnologiestominimizethegenerationofemissions.EPAinvestigatedwaystopromoteenergyefficiencyinutilityplantsbychangingthewayinwhichfacilitiesregulatefluegasNOXemissions. $ t Therefore,inanefforttopromoteenergyefficiencyinutilitysteamgeneratingfacilities,EPAispromulgatinganoutputbasedstandard.b11݌    Ќ  b  b40    Traditionally,utilityNOXemissionshavebeencontrolledonthebasisofboiler $  inputenergywhichislinkedtotheamountoffuelusedforcombustion(lbofNOX/millionBtuheatinput).However,inputbasedlimitationsallowunitswith   lowoperatingefficiencytoemitmoreNOXpermegawatt(MWe)ofelectricity   producedthanmoreefficientunits.Consideringtwounitsofequalcapacity,undercurrentregulations,thelessefficientunitwillemitmoreNOXbecauseit p usesmorefueltoproducethesameamountofelectricity.OnewaytoregulatemassemissionsofNOXandplantefficiencyistoexpresstheNOXemission H standardintermsofoutputenergy.Thus,anoutputbasedemissionstandardwillprovidearegulatoryincentivetoenhanceunitoperatingefficiencyandreduceNOXemissions.b44݌ \   Ќ  HOWISEPAPROVIDINGFLEXIBILITYTOINDUSTRYINTODAY'S 4 ACTION ?   b  bM90    InselectingasinglerevisedNOxemissionlimit,EPAtriednottolimitthecontrol  optionsavailableforcompliance,buttoprovideflexibilityforcheaperandlessenergyintensivecontroltechnologies(i.e.,byallowingtheuseofcleanfuelsforreducingNOxemissions).bM9h9݌p   Ќ  b  b;0    Thefinalrevisionsalsoincludesomeflexibilityinreportingandrecordkeeping H! requirementsbyallowingfacilitiestosubmitelectronicquarterlyreportsinplaceofthewrittenreportsrequiredunderthecurrentrule.b;);݌    Ќ   WHOWOULDBEAFFECTEDBYTODAY'SACTION?  $H # 0      b  b<0    ThefinalstandardswouldrevisetheNOxemissionlimitsfornewutilityboilers & "% andnewindustrialboilers.EPAestimatesthat17newutilityboilersand381newindustrialboilerswillbeconstructedinthenext5years.Onlythoseutilityandindustrialboilersforwhichconstructioniscommencedafterthedateofproposalwouldbeaffectedbythefinalrevisions.b< =݌    Ќ   l+&*  HOWDOESTODAY'SACTIONAFFECTSMALLBUSINESSES?   b  bf?0    Thenewsourceperformancestandardspromulgatedin1990forsmallindustrial  boilerscontainednoemissionlimitforNOxemissionsfromthesefacilities.EPA t concludedthatthecosttoimplementnationalNOxstandardsforthesesmallunits ` issufficientlyhighanddoesnotwarranttheiradoption.Thisreviewdidnotprovideanyadditionalinformationtoindicatethattheoriginalconclusionisinappropriate.Therefore,EPAisnotpromulgatingNOxstandardsforsmallunits $ t atthistime.bf??݌    Ќ     WHATISTHECOSTOFIMPLEMENTINGTODAY'SACTION?   8  b  bB0    Thecostandenvironmentalimpactsofthefinalrevisionsareexpressedas   incrementaldifferencesbetweentheimpactsofutilityandindustrialboilerscomplyingwiththerevisionsandtheseunitscomplyingwiththecurrentemissionstandards.bBB݌    Ќ  b  b'D0    TherevisedNOxstandardswouldincreasethecapitalcostsfornewboilers \ becausetheimplementationofeitherSNCRorSCRrequiresadditionalhardware.b'DBD݌    Ќ  b  b_E0    EPAestimatesthat17newutilityboilersand381newindustrialboilerswillbe  p constructedoverthenext5yearsthatwouldbesubjecttotherevisedstandards.b_EzE݌    Ќ  b  bF0    EPAestimatesthenationwideincreaseinannualizedcostsinthe5thyear 4 followingproposalfortheprojectednewelectricutilityboilerssubjecttotherevisedstandardswouldbeabout$40million.ThisestimateassumesthatallplannedcoalfiredunitsremaincoalfiredandemployeitherSCRorSNCR.Thisrepresentsanincreaseofabout1.3mills/kwhinannualcosts,oranincreaseofabout2percentinthecostofgeneratingelectricityfortheseunits.bFF݌    Ќ  b  bI0    Thenationwideincreaseinannualizedcostsfornewindustrialboilerssubjectto X  therevisedstandardswouldalsobeabout$40millioninthe5thyearfollowingproposal.Thisisbasedontheassumptionthatnoaffectedunitswitchesfueltypeastheresultoftherevision.Thisrepresentsanaverageincreaseofabout2percentinthecostofproducingsteamfornewunits.bI I݌    Ќ  b  bK0    EPAprojectsthecostoftherevisedNOXstandardsforutilityboilerswouldbe %0!$ about$1,500/tonofNOXremoved.Forindustrialboilers,EPAprojectsthecost &"% oftherevisedNOxstandardswillbeabout$2,000/tonofNOXremoved.bK3K݌'#&   Ќ  FORFURTHERINFORMATION...  )$( b  bM0     XbXXXJAnyonewithInternetaccesscanobtainthefinalrevisionsthroughEPAswebsite h+&* ontheWorldWideWebunder recentactionsat:http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg  Forfurtherinformationabouttherevisions,#XJXX XbOM#ԀcontactMr.JamesEddinger XbXXXJofEPA's  OfficeofAirQualityPlanningandStandards#XJXX XbN#Ԁat(919)5415426.bM!M݌   Ќ  b  bO0    EPA'sOfficeofAirandRadiationshomepageontheInternetcontainsawide  rangeofinformationonmanyairpollutionprogramsandissues.TheOfficeofAirandRadiation'shomepageaddressis:(http://www.epa.gov/oar/).bOO݌    Ќ