Standards of Performance, Emission Guidelines, and Federal Plan for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Municipal Solid Waste Landfills, 53272-53293 [06-7493]
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53272
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 174 / Friday, September 8, 2006 / Proposed Rules
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 60, 62, and 63
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2003–0215; FRL–8217–6]
RIN 2060–AJ41 and A2060–AH13
Standards of Performance, Emission
Guidelines, and Federal Plan for
Municipal Solid Waste Landfills and
National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants: Municipal
Solid Waste Landfills
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule; amendments.
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AGENCY:
SUMMARY: EPA is proposing
amendments to the ‘‘Standards of
Performance for Municipal Solid Waste
Landfills’’ (Landfills NSPS), to the
‘‘Emission Guidelines and Compliance
Times for Municipal Solid Waste
Landfills’’ (landfills emission
guidelines), to the ‘‘National Emission
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants:
Municipal Solid Waste Landfills’’
(Landfills NESHAP), and to the ‘‘Federal
Plan Requirements for Municipal Solid
Waste Landfills that Commenced
Construction Prior to May 30, 1991 and
Have Not Been Modified or
Reconstructed since May 30, 1991’’
(landfills Federal plan). The proposed
amendments to the Landfills NSPS are
supplemental amendments to those
proposed on May 23, 2002. Based on
public comments on the proposed
amendments and additional analysis,
we are proposing supplemental
amendments to the Landfills NSPS to
clarify what constitutes treated landfill
gas. We are also proposing amendments
to the Landfills NSPS, emission
guidelines, Federal plan, and Landfills
NESHAP to clarify who is responsible
for compliance activities where multiple
parties are involved in the ownership or
operation of a landfill and the
associated landfill gas collection,
control, and/or treatment systems. In
addition, we are proposing revisions to
both the Landfills NSPS and the
Landfills NESHAP regarding startup,
shutdown, malfunction, and routine
maintenance.
The proposed amendments to the
Landfills NSPS would also serve to
amend the emission guidelines and the
Federal plan for existing municipal
solid waste landfills because these rules
incorporate the provisions of the
‘‘Standards of Performance for
Municipal Solid Waste Landfills.’’ We
are proposing changes to the emission
guidelines and Federal plan themselves
to reflect the proposed changes to the
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Landfills NSPS where these rules did
not directly incorporate the provisions
of the Landfills NSPS.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before November 7, 2006.
Public Hearing. If anyone contacts
EPA by September 28, 2006 requesting
to speak at a public hearing, EPA will
hold a public hearing on October 10,
2006. If you are interested in attending
the public hearing, contact Karen
Rackley at (919) 541–0634 to verify that
a hearing will be held.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2003–0215, by one of the
following methods:
• www.regulations.gov. Follow the
on-line instructions for submitting
comments.
• E-mail: Send your comments via
electronic mail to a-and-rdocket@epa.gov, Attention Docket ID
No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2003–0215.
• Fax: Fax your comments to (202)
566–1741, Attention Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–OAR–2003–0215.
• Mail: By U.S. Postal Service, send
your comments to: EPA Docket Center
(EPA/DC), Environmental Protection
Agency, Mail Code 6102T, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20460, Attention Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–OAR–2003–0215. Please
include a total of two copies. The EPA
requests a separate copy also be sent to
the contact person identified below (see
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
• Hand Delivery: In person or by
courier, deliver your comments to: EPA
Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West
Building, Room B–108, 1301
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20004, Attention Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–OAR–2003–0215. Such
deliveries are accepted only during the
normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays), and special
arrangements should be made for
deliveries of boxed information.
Note: The EPA Docket Center suffered
damage due to flooding during the last week
of June 2006. The Docket Center is
continuing to operate. However, during the
cleanup, there will be temporary changes to
Docket Center telephone numbers, addresses,
and hours of operation for people who wish
to make hand deliveries or visit the Public
Reading Room to view documents. Consult
EPA’s Federal Register notice at 71 FR 38147
(July 5, 2006), or the EPA Web site at https://
www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm for
current information on docket operations,
locations, and telephone numbers. The
Docket Center’s mailing address for U.S. mail
and the procedure for submitting comments
to www.regulations.gov are not affected by
the flooding and will remain the same.
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Instructions: Direct your comments to
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2003–
0215. EPA’s policy is that all comments
received will be included in the public
docket without change and may be
made available online at
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided, unless
the comment includes information
claimed to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise
protected through www.regulations.gov
or e-mail. The www.regulations.gov Web
site is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system,
which means EPA will not know your
identity or contact information unless
you provide it in the body of your
comment. If you send an e-mail
comment directly to EPA without going
through www.regulations.gov, your email address will be automatically
captured and included as part of the
comment that is placed in the public
docket and made available on the
Internet. If you submit an electronic
comment, EPA recommends that you
include your name and other contact
information in the body of your
comment and with any disk or CD–ROM
you submit. If EPA cannot read your
comment due to technical difficulties
and cannot contact you for clarification,
EPA may not be able to consider your
comment. Electronic files should avoid
the use of special characters, any form
of encryption, and be free of any defects
or viruses. For additional information
about EPA’s public docket, visit the EPA
Docket Center homepage at https://
www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
Public Hearing: If a public hearing is
held, it will be held at the EPA Facility
Complex located at 109 T.W. Alexander
Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, or an
alternate site nearby.
Docket: All documents in the docket
are listed in the www.regulations.gov
index. Although listed in the index,
some information is not publicly
available, i.e., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Certain other material, such as
copyrighted material, is not placed on
the Internet and will be publicly
available only in hard copy form.
Publicly available docket materials are
available either electronically in
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA
West Building, Room B–102, 1301
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington,
DC. The Public Reading Room is open
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The telephone number for the
Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 174 / Friday, September 8, 2006 / Proposed Rules
and the telephone number for the EPA
Docket Center is (202) 566–1742.
Ms.
Karen Rackley, Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards, Sector Policies
and Programs Division, Coatings and
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chemicals Group (E143–01), U.S. EPA,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711;
telephone number: (919) 541–0634, email address: rackley.karen@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulated Entities. Categories and
entities potentially regulated by the
Category
NAICS* code
Industry: Air and water resource and solid waste management
Industry: Refuse systems—solid waste landfills .........................
State, local, and tribal government agencies .............................
924110
562212
562212
924110
4911
Any industry, commercial business, or institution or utility that
burns untreated landfill gas in a reciprocating engine, turbine, boiler, or other combustion device (e.g., for energy recovery).
49
37
82
29
28
53273
proposed amendments include
municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills
and owners/operators of combustion
devices that burn untreated landfill gas,
which may include the following
entities:
Examples of potentially regulated entities
Solid waste landfills.
Solid waste landfills.
Solid waste landfills; Air and water resource and solid waste
management.
Electric power generation, transmission, or distribution.
Electric, gas, and sanitary services.
Manufacturers of motor vehicle parts and accessories.
Educational services.
Petroleum refineries and manufacturers of coal products.
Chemical manufacturers.
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*North American Industry Classification System.
This table is not intended to be
exhaustive, but rather provides a guide
for readers regarding entities likely to be
regulated by the proposed amendments.
To determine whether your facility
would be regulated by the proposed
amendments, you should carefully
examine the applicability criteria in 40
CFR 60.32c of subpart Cc, 40 CFR
60.750 of subpart WWW, 40 CFR
62.14352 of subpart GGG, or 40 CFR
63.1935 and 40 CFR 63.1940 of subpart
AAAA. If you have any questions
regarding the applicability of the
proposed amendments to a particular
entity, contact the person listed in the
preceding FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section.
Docket. The docket number for the
proposed amendments to the Landfills
NSPS (40 CFR part 60, subpart WWW),
emission guidelines (40 CFR part 60,
subpart Cc), Federal plan (40 CFR part
62, subpart GGG), and Landfills
NESHAP (40 CFR part 63, subpart
AAAA) is Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2003–0215. Docket ID No. A–88–
09 contains supporting information for
the landfills NSPS and emission
guidelines and Docket ID No. EPA–
OAR–2002–0047 and Docket ID No. A–
98–28 contain the supporting
information for the Landfills NESHAP.
Docket ID No. A–98–03 and Docket ID
No. A–88–09 contain supporting
information for the landfills Federal
plan.
WorldWide Web (WWW). In addition
to being available in the docket, an
electronic copy of the proposed
amendments is available on the WWW
through the Technology Transfer
Network Website (TTN). Following
signature, EPA will post a copy of the
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proposed amendments on the TTN’s
policy and guidance page for newly
proposed or promulgated rules at
https://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg. The TTN
provides information and technology
exchange in various areas of air
pollution control.
Outline. The information presented in
this preamble is organized as follows:
I. Background
A. What rules affect MSW landfills?
B. What is the purpose of the proposed
amendments?
II. Summary of the Proposed Amendments
A. What changes did we propose to the
Landfills NSPS on May 23, 2002?
B. What supplemental amendments are we
proposing to the Landfills NSPS,
emission guidelines, and Federal plan?
C. What changes are we proposing to the
Landfills NSPS and Landfills NESHAP
regarding startup, shutdown, and
malfunction?
D. What other corrections and
clarifications are we proposing?
E. Are we requesting public comment on
any other issues?
III. Rationale for the Proposed Supplemental
Amendments
A. Definition of Landfill Owner/Operator
and Allowance for Off-site Control or
Treatment Option
B. Definitions for Treated Landfill Gas and
Treatment System and Clarification to
the Treatment Option
IV. Rationale for Proposed Landfills NSPS
and Landfills NESHAP Amendments
Regarding Startup, Shutdown, and
Malfunction
A. Proposed Landfills NSPS Startup,
Shutdown, and Malfunction Provisions
B. Proposed Landfills NESHAP Startup,
Shutdown, and Malfunction Provisions
V. Rationale for Other Proposed Corrections
and Clarifications
A. Clarification of Temperature Monitoring
for Enclosed Combustors
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B. Correction of Cross-Reference in the
Landfills NSPS
C. Clarification of Bioreactor Moisture
Content Determination for the Landfills
NESHAP
D. Correction of Date in the Landfills
NESHAP
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866, Regulatory
Planning and Review
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
E. Executive Order 13132, Federalism
F. Executive Order 13175, Consultation
and Coordination with Indian Tribal
Governments
G. Executive Order 13045, Protection of
Children from Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks
H. Executive Order 13211, Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
I. Background
A. What rules affect MSW landfills?
On March 12, 1996 (61 FR 9905), we
promulgated the emission guidelines for
existing MSW landfills and the NSPS
for new or modified MSW landfills
under authority of section 111 of the
Clean Air Act (CAA). The goal of the
emission guidelines and NSPS is to
control landfill gas emissions to the
level achievable through the application
of the best system of emissions
reductions which (taking into account
the cost of such reduction and any nonair quality health and environmental
impact and energy requirements) we
determine has been adequately
demonstrated. This is termed the Abest
demonstrated technology.’’ On
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November 8, 1999 (64 FR 60689), we
promulgated the landfills Federal plan
requirements for the purpose of
implementing the landfills emission
guidelines in States without approved
State plans.
The control of landfill gas based on
the requirements of the Landfills NSPS,
emission guidelines, and Federal plan
results in emissions reductions of over
30 volatile organic compounds and air
toxics such as toluene, benzene, and
vinyl chloride. The reduction of these
emissions has direct and indirect health
benefits as well as environmental
benefits. In addition, the control of
landfill gas results in reductions of
methane gas emissions, which reduces
the potential for fires and explosions
near landfills. Control of landfill gas
reduces odor problems, which reduces
the potential for local property devaluation and poorer quality of life for
local residents. Some landfills control
landfill gas by combusting it in a boiler,
engine, or turbine to produce steam or
electricity, taking advantage of landfill
gas as a renewable energy source.
The landfills emission guidelines, as
implemented through an approved State
plan or the landfills Federal plan, and
the Landfills NSPS require large
landfills (at least 2.5 million megagrams
(Mg) and 2.5 million cubic meters in
size) with estimated nonmethane
organic compound (NMOC) emissions
of at least 50 megagrams per year (Mg/
yr) to collect and control or treat landfill
gas. The Landfills NSPS and emission
guidelines provide landfill owners or
operators with some degree of flexibility
to achieve compliance, allowing them to
incorporate site-specific factors into the
design of the collection and control or
treatment systems, as long as the
systems meet specific performance
standards. On January 16, 2003 (68 FR
2227), we promulgated the Landfills
NESHAP under authority of section 112
of the CAA. The Landfills NESHAP
apply to both major and area sources
and contain the same requirements as
the landfills emission guidelines and
Landfills NSPS, but add requirements
for startup, shutdown, and malfunction
(SSM), add operating condition
deviations for out-of-bounds monitoring
parameters, require timely control of
bioreactor landfills, and change the
reporting frequency for one type of
report.
On May 23, 2002 (67 FR 36476), we
proposed amendments to the Landfills
NSPS because implementation activity
showed a need for clarification of some
issues. Consideration of the public
comments received and additional
implementation activity has shown the
need for even further clarification on
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implementing the Landfills NSPS,
emission guidelines, and Landfills
NESHAP.
B. What is the purpose of the proposed
amendments?
We are proposing supplemental
amendments to the May 23, 2002
proposed amendments to the Landfills
NSPS. While today’s proposed
supplemental amendments would, for
the most part, specifically amend the
Landfills NSPS, they would also serve
to amend the landfills emission
guidelines for existing MSW landfills
because the emission guidelines
incorporate many of the provisions of
the Landfills NSPS. In addition, today’s
proposed supplemental amendments
include conforming changes to certain
provisions of the landfills emission
guidelines that do not directly
incorporate the provisions of the
Landfills NSPS; make conforming
changes to the landfills Federal plan for
existing MSW landfills; and would
affect changes to the Landfills NESHAP
for MSW landfills. The supplemental
proposed amendments would, in
conjunction with the previously
proposed amendments, further clarify
the definition of landfill owners/
operators; clarify compliance
responsibilities in situations where
multiple entities own/operate a landfill
and the gas collection, control, or
treatment systems (either at the landfill
or off site); and clarify the definition of
treated landfill gas. Today’s proposed
supplemental amendments do not
change how you determine whether a
landfill is ‘‘new’’ or ‘‘existing,’’ and
accordingly subject to the Landfills
NSPS or emission guidelines. The
determination of whether an affected
facility is new or existing is still based
on the date of construction or
modification of the landfill itself and
not the date of installation of the gas
collection, control, or treatment system.
In allocating certain responsibilities to
the landfill owners/operators and others
to the gas collection, control, and/or
treatment system owners/operators, it is
not our intent to establish a precedent
for any other NSPS or NESHAP. We are
proposing this compliance approach
specifically for landfills because of the
unique nature of landfill operations and
to encourage energy recovery. Landfill
gas is commonly collected and
combusted to produce electricity, steam,
or other useful energy; combustion for
energy recovery often occurs miles away
from the landfill itself at a separate
industrial, commercial, or institutional
facility. Combusting landfill gas for
energy recovery is a reasonable
approach to meeting the control
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requirements of the Landfills NSPS and
also makes use of a renewable energy
resource and reduces combustion of
scarce fossil fuels and emissions
produced during their combustion. This
unique situation raises unique issues on
the respective responsibilities of landfill
owners/operators and gas collection,
control, and/or treatment system
owners/operators for complying with
the Landfills NSPS.
Although today’s proposed
supplemental amendments allocate
responsibility for complying with
certain specified requirements to the
owners/operators of the MSW landfill
and responsibility for complying with
other specified requirements to the
owners/operators of gas collection,
control and/or treatment systems used
to comply with the Landfills NSPS, they
do not alter compliance responsibilities
where affected sources 1 are under
common control.2 (Today’s proposed
supplemental amendments also
continue to recognize that the owner/
operator of the MSW landfill may also
be the owner/operator of the gas
collection, control, and/or treatment
system.) The question of whether
affected sources are under common
control may be determined as part of
permitting activities. In a common
control determination, various affected
sources are aggregated together, and the
owner/operator of the resulting single
source is ultimately responsible for
ensuring compliance with all applicable
requirements (including requirements
applicable to each of the affected
sources/emissions units that make up
the single source). To ensure that the
proposed amendments to the Landfills
NSPS allocating various compliance
responsibilities among the owners/
operators of affected sources do not
conflict with determining compliance
responsibilities when the affected
sources are under common control, 40
CFR 60.750(a) of the Landfills NSPS,
related sections of the landfills emission
guidelines, the landfills Federal plan,
and the Landfills NESHAP specify that
responsibility for compliance cannot be
allocated where landfills and associated
1 The Landfills NSPS define the affected sources
subject to the NSPS and the requirements to which
these affected sources are subject. However, a single
source is defined by the program in question, e.g.,
title V, new source review, and in many cases,
requires the aggregation of emissions units,
including affected sources.
2 Common control is a key element in defining
whether and how activities at a site are to be
aggregated in determining whether they constitute
a single source. See, for example, Alabama Power
v. Costle, 636 F.2d 323 (District of Columbia Circuit,
1979), section 112(a)(1) of the CAA, 40 CFR 70.2,
and 40 CFR 51.166(b)(5) and (6).
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gas collection, control, and/or treatment
systems are under common control.
It is important to note that in cases of
common control, although the owner/
operator of the single source (e.g., the
owner/operator of the landfill and/or
gas collection, control, and/or treatment
system) is ultimately responsible for
ensuring compliance at the source,
enforcement action could be taken by
EPA or a State against the owners/
operators of individual affected sources/
emissions units in addition to the
owner/operator of the single source.
This is because enforcement action is
not limited by the determination of who
is ultimately in control of a single
source, but rather can be taken against
the owners/operators of each individual
affected source/emissions unit
comprising that source.
Additionally, regardless of the various
regulatory approaches that are discussed
in today’s package, all landfills that are
at least 2.5 Mg and 2.5 million cubic
meters in size, and all stationary
equipment that is required by the
Landfills NSPS, emission guidelines,
Federal plan, and Landfills NESHAP to
collect, control, and/or treat landfill gas
from MSW landfills of this size,
continue to be subject to the
requirement to apply for and obtain a
title V permit. This is because section
502(a) of the CAA requires any source,
including an area source, subject to
standards or regulations under section
111 or 112 of the CAA to operate in
compliance with a title V permit after
the effective date of a title V permits
program. Thus, regardless of the number
of affected sources or owner/operators
that are relevant in a particular MSW
landfill situation, all affected sources
are required to be covered by a title V
operating permit. The final regulatory
language will provide additional
clarification on this point after a
regulatory approach is selected.
We are proposing further
clarifications to the landfill gas
treatment compliance option, including
more specific definitions of ‘‘treated
landfill gas’’ and ‘‘treatment system’’ in
the Landfills NSPS.
We are proposing clarifications that
would amend the time allowed for
malfunction events in the Landfills
NSPS. The amendments would also
clarify the SSM plan requirements and
reports and the incorporation of
maintenance activities in those plans in
the Landfills NESHAP.
The proposed supplemental
amendments would correct a test
method citation in the Landfills NSPS;
clarify Landfills NSPS temperature
monitoring for enclosed combustors;
clarify that bioreactor moisture content
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should be determined on a wet weight
basis for the Landfills NESHAP; and
correct a compliance date in the
Landfills NESHAP.
As stated earlier, the proposed
supplemental amendments to the
Landfills NSPS would also serve to
amend the landfills emission guidelines
and Federal plan for MSW landfills
where these rules specifically
incorporate the provisions of the
Landfills NSPS. We are also proposing
direct changes to the landfills emission
guidelines to maintain consistency with
the proposed changes to the Landfills
NSPS where the emission guidelines
did not directly incorporate the
provisions of the Landfills NSPS.
Changes to the landfills Federal plan
implementing the landfills emission
guidelines are being proposed to ensure
the plan remains consistent with the
landfills emission guidelines.
II. Summary of the Proposed
Amendments
A. What changes did we propose to the
Landfills NSPS on May 23, 2002?
On May 23, 2002, EPA proposed
amendments to the Landfills NSPS to
clarify who is responsible for
compliance activities where multiple
entities are involved in the ownership/
operation of a landfill and the
associated landfill gas collection,
control, and/or treatment systems;
clarify what constitutes treated landfill
gas; and correct the omission of an
exemption for specific boilers and
process heaters from the initial
performance test.
To be specific, we proposed to amend
40 CFR 60.751 of subpart WWW by
adding a landfill-specific definition for
MSW landfill owners/operators. This
landfill-specific definition would
identify MSW landfill owners/operators
as entities that own or operate the
landfill or any stationary equipment
located on the landfill property that is
used in the collection, control, and/or
treatment of landfill gas. We also
proposed to amend 40 CFR 60.752 of
subpart WWW to allow landfill owners/
operators to transfer untreated landfill
gas off site for control or treatment,
provided the transferee certifies to us
(and provides a copy to the landfill
owner/operator) that it will control or
treat the landfill gas in accordance with
the Landfills NSPS provisions.
We further proposed to amend 40 CFR
60.751 of subpart WWW by adding a
definition for treatment system. The
May 23, 2002 proposed definition for
treatment system specified that the
system must filter, de-water, and
compress landfill gas.
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53275
We proposed to amend 40 CFR
60.752(b)(2)(iii)(C) of subpart WWW to
specify that to achieve compliance with
this section, landfill gas must be
processed in a system that meets the
treatment system definition in the
proposed amendment. We also
proposed to amend this section to
clarify that venting of treated landfill
gas to the ambient air is not permitted.
We proposed to amend 40 CFR
60.752(b)(2)(iii)(B) of subpart WWW to
exempt owners/operators of boilers and
process heaters with design input
capacities of 44 megawatts (MW) or
greater from the requirement to conduct
an initial performance test.
B. What supplemental amendments are
we proposing to the Landfills NSPS,
emission guidelines, and Federal plan?
Public comments on the May 23, 2002
proposed amendments raised new
questions and caused us to reconsider
the approach we had taken on several
proposed amendments. Based on further
analysis, we are proposing
supplemental amendments that we
expect to help owners/operators to
comply with the Landfills NSPS. As
mentioned previously, the proposed
supplemental amendments clarify: The
definition of landfill owner/operator;
compliance responsibilities when
multiple entities own/operate a landfill
and the associated landfill gas
collection, control, and/or treatment
systems; and what constitutes treated
landfill gas. Additional proposed
amendments, including SSM
provisions, and other corrections are
discussed later in this section of this
preamble.
To address compliance
responsibilities at landfills where
multiple entities own/operate the
landfill and the associated landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment
systems, we are proposing to add a
specific definition of ‘‘landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
owner/operator’’ and to revise the May
2002 proposed definition of ‘‘landfill
owner/operator’’ by removing references
to stationary gas collection, control, or
treatment systems. We are also
proposing to revise the applicability
section to clarify compliance
responsibilities. We are proposing that
the landfill owners/operators would be
responsible for complying with the
requirements of the Landfills NSPS that
apply to the landfills and any portion of
the collection, control, or treatment
system that they own or operate. The
owners/operators of the landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment systems
would be responsible for complying
with the requirements of the Landfills
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NSPS that apply to the portion of the
landfill gas collection, control, or
treatment system that they own or
operate. To maintain consistency
between the Landfills NSPS, emission
guidelines, Federal plan, and Landfills
NESHAP with regard to owner/operator
responsibilities, we are also proposing
similar revisions to the landfills
emission guidelines, Federal plan, and
Landfills NESHAP. As discussed later in
this preamble, we are requesting
comment on this approach, as well as an
alternative approach regarding
compliance responsibilities.
To clarify what constitutes landfill gas
treatment, we propose to refine the May
23, 2002 proposed definitions of
‘‘treated landfill gas’’ and ‘‘treatment
system’’ in the Landfills NSPS. For
filtration and de-watering, the refined
proposed definitions contain specific
numerical values that would provide
long-term protection of the combustion
equipment, which would support good
combustion. For particulate matter
filtration, a filter system would be
required to have an absolute rating no
greater than 10 microns. For dewatering, the system would be required
to reduce the dew point by at least 20
degrees Fahrenheit.
We are also clarifying the monitoring
requirements for treatment systems. To
ensure that treatment systems are
operating properly to achieve the
filtration and de-watering levels
specified in the revised proposed
treatment system definition, we are
proposing more specific monitoring,
recordkeeping, and reporting
requirements for treatment systems used
to comply with the Landfills NSPS. We
are proposing that owners/operators of
treatment systems monitor pressure
drop across the filtration system and
temperature or dew point for dewatering systems, depending on the
type of de-watering system. However,
we are proposing to allow owners/
operators to use other monitoring
parameters if they demonstrate that
such parameters would effectively
monitor filtration or de-watering system
performance. We are clarifying that
owners/operators must develop
operating ranges for each monitored
operating parameter based on
manufacturer’s recommendations or
engineering analysis and submit those
ranges, along with justification, for
approval in the design plan required by
40 CFR 60.752(b)(2) of subpart WWW.
Then, owners/operators would be
required to monitor the required
parameters and keep them within the
ranges specified in their approved
design plan. For recordkeeping and
reporting purposes, we are clarifying
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that owners/operators would
continuously monitor treatment system
operating parameters and calculate 24hour block averages. The 24-hour block
averages would be compared with the
operating ranges justified in the design
plan to determine compliance. The
specific recordkeeping and reporting
requirements for treatment systems
would be similar to those for control
device temperature monitoring
requirements already detailed in the
Landfills NSPS. Owners/operators of
treatment systems installed prior to
today’s proposed supplemental
amendments would be required to
comply with the revised treatment
system requirements as expeditiously as
practicable, but no later than 1 year after
the date the final amendments are
promulgated. We are also proposing
clarifications to various sections of the
Landfills NESHAP that cross-reference
the Landfills NSPS treatment system
and monitoring requirements to
maintain consistency.
We are not altering the May 23, 2002
proposal to amend 40 CFR
60.752(b)(2)(iii)(B) of subpart WWW to
exempt owners/operators of boilers and
process heaters with design capacities of
44 MW or greater from the requirement
to conduct an initial performance test.
C. What changes are we proposing to the
Landfills NSPS and Landfills NESHAP
regarding startup, shutdown, and
malfunction?
The current Landfills NSPS limit the
duration of SSM events to 5 days for the
landfill gas collection system and 1 hour
for treatment or control devices. Since
promulgation of the Landfills NSPS, we
have become aware that some
malfunctions cannot be corrected within
these time frames. Therefore, we
propose to revise 40 CFR 60.755(e) of
subpart WWW to remove the 5 day and
1 hour time limitations. The proposed
revisions would clarify that the NSPS
General Provisions in 40 CFR 60.11(d)
of subpart A continue to apply during
malfunctions, and that routine
maintenance activities must be
completed and malfunctions must be
corrected as soon as practicable after
their occurrence in order to minimize
emissions. To prevent free venting of
landfill gas to the atmosphere during
control device malfunctions or
maintenance, we would retain the
requirement in 40 CFR 60.753(e) of
subpart WWW which states that in the
event the collection or control system is
inoperable, the gas mover system shall
be shut down and all valves in the
collection and control system
contributing to venting of gas to the
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atmosphere shall be closed within 1
hour.
The Landfills NESHAP have no
allowance for shutdown of control
devices for routine maintenance.
Furthermore, after the Landfills
NESHAP were promulgated, there were
revisions to the SSM requirements in
the NESHAP General Provisions in 40
CFR part 63, subpart A. The revised
General Provisions contain some
changes that are not relevant or can be
difficult to interpret for landfills. We
are, therefore, proposing revisions to the
Landfills NESHAP that require routine
maintenance of landfill gas collection,
control, and treatment systems to be
included in the SSM plan. We are also
clarifying SSM reporting requirements
for landfills and the applicability of
SSM sections of the General Provisions
to the Landfills NESHAP.
D. What other corrections and
clarifications are we proposing?
We propose to amend 40 CFR
60.758(b)(2)(i) and 40 CFR
60.758(c)(1)(i) of subpart WWW by
removing the term ‘‘combustion’’ from
the requirement to monitor temperature
of enclosed combustors. Temperature
monitoring is required for enclosed
combustors, including enclosed flares,
turbines, reciprocating engines, and
boilers less than 44 MW. For some
enclosed combustors, it is not possible
to monitor temperature inside the
combustion chamber to determine
combustion temperature. The proposed
amendment clarifies that the
‘‘combustion’’ temperature does not
have to be monitored. Temperature
could be monitored at another location,
as long as the monitored temperature
relates to proper operation of the
enclosed combustor.
We propose to correct a test method
cross-reference in 40 CFR 60.755(c)(3) of
subpart WWW necessitated by the
reorganization of Method 21 in
appendix A to 40 CFR part 60.
In the Landfills NESHAP, we propose
to correct 40 CFR 63.1990 of subpart
AAAA to clarify that the 40 percent
moisture content in the definition of
‘‘bioreactor’’ is determined on a wet
weight basis.
The proposed supplemental
amendments would also correct a
Landfills NESHAP compliance date for
existing major sources to read January
16, 2004 instead of January 13, 2004 in
40 CFR 63.1945(d) of subpart AAAA.
We propose to amend the definition
of ‘‘household waste’’ and add a
definition of ‘‘segregated yard waste’’ in
40 CFR 60.751 of subpart WWW to
clarify our intent regarding the
applicability of the Landfills NSPS,
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emission guidelines, Federal plan, and
Landfills NESHAP to landfills that do
not accept household waste, but accept
segregated yard waste. We intended the
rules to apply to municipal solid waste
landfills that accept general household
waste (including garbage, trash, sanitary
waste), as indicated in the definitions
sections of these rules. Our regulatory
analyses for the Landfills NSPS,
emission guidelines, and Landfills
NESHAP were based on landfills
containing mixed household waste
steams. A question has recently arisen
on whether a landfill that accepts only
construction and demolition waste and
segregated yard waste would be subject
to the municipal solid waste Landfills
NSPS. We did not intend these rules to
apply to landfills that accept only
segregated yard waste or that accept a
combination of segregated yard waste
and non-household waste (such as
construction and demolition waste or
industrial waste). The proposed
definition changes in the Landfills
NSPS would also affect the emission
guideline, Federal plan, and Landfills
NESHAP because they reference the
definitions in the Landfills NSPS.
E. Are we requesting public comment on
any other issues?
We are requesting public comment on
alternative approaches for addressing
three issues the landfill industry and
regulatory agencies face in
implementing the Landfills NSPS,
emission guideline, Federal plan, and
Landfills NESHAP.
The first issue deals with closed areas
of landfills and when they are allowed
to remove controls. The current
Landfills NSPS define an MSW landfill
as: ‘‘* * * an entire disposal facility in
a contiguous geographical space where
household waste is placed in or on land
* * *.’’ We have clearly stated in
previous documents that the entire
contiguous area, including both closed
landfill sections and new landfill
sections, is considered a single landfill,
even if the landfill is bisected by a road,
right of way, golf course, etc. Our intent
has always been to consider the entire
contiguous area in determining whether
a landfill meets the design capacity and
emission rate criteria for applying
controls. Similarly, to remove controls,
the entire area would need to meet the
control removal criteria in the Landfills
NSPS (e.g., the entire landfill must emit
less than 50 Mg NMOC per year, must
be closed, and the control system must
have been in operation for at least 15
years). Also, 40 CFR 60.759(a)(3)(ii)
allows landfill owners/operators to stop
collecting gas from ‘‘nonproductive’’
areas of the landfill if they demonstrate
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that the excluded areas emit less than 1
percent of total NMOC emissions from
the landfill.
It has come to our attention that in
many cases, a contiguous area will
contain unconnected landfill sections
that were developed sequentially over
time. An initial landfill is constructed,
filled, closed, and capped. Then a new
one with a separate liner opens on
contiguous property. Under the
Landfills NSPS, these are part of the
same landfill and controls cannot be
removed from the closed and capped
area until it emits less than 1 percent of
the total NMOC, or until the entire
contiguous landfill is closed and meets
the control system removal criteria. In
some cases, gas production from the
separate section that closed many years
ago has declined, and the gas
composition has changed to the point
where it is difficult to continuously
collect and combust the gas. However,
the closed area may not meet the 1
percent NMOC criteria that would allow
removal of the control system from that
section of the landfill. We request
comments on any approaches for
dealing with such a situation, and the
specific criteria that could be applied to
determine which areas warrant control
and which may remove control.
The second issue deals with approval
of collection and control system design
plans. The Landfills NSPS and emission
guidelines require landfill owners/
operators to submit a gas collection and
control system design plan within 1
year of when their calculated
uncontrolled NMOC emissions reach 50
Mg/yr. The plan may include requests
for alternative designs, alternative
operational standards, and alternative
monitoring and recordkeeping. The plan
is submitted to the regulatory authority
that implements the Landfills NSPS or
emission guidelines (usually a State
agency) for approval. The Landfills
NSPS and emission guidelines require
that landfill gas collection and control
systems must be installed and begin
operation within 30 months of the
report that calculated NMOC emissions
have reached 50 Mg/yr, which is 18
months after the design plan is
submitted. In the 1999 document
‘‘Municipal Solid Waste Landfills,
Volume 1: Summary of Requirements
for New Source Performance Standards
and Emission Guidelines for Municipal
Solid Waste Landfills’’ (EPA–453R/96–
004), we stated that EPA expected that
implementing agency review and
approval of the design plan would take
approximately 6 months, leaving
approximately 12 months for the
landfill to install the gas collection and
control system. It has come to our
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attention that some design plans have
been submitted but have not been
approved or disapproved for a year or
even 2 years. As a result, some landfills
may be faced with the prospect of
installing a gas collection and control
system that they are not sure will be
approved or may be implementing
monitoring approaches that might later
be disapproved.
While there must always be an
opportunity for the implementing
agency to review and approve or
disapprove each design plan, one
approach would be that if the
implementing agency chooses not to
review or act on a design plan within a
specified amount of time, then the
design plan would have de facto
approval. This would be one way to
allow the landfill to move ahead to meet
the gas collection and control provisions
within the time allowed by the Landfills
NSPS and emission guidelines. Note
that all design plans must be certified by
a registered Professional Engineer (P.E.).
Also, after the collection and control
system is installed, quarterly monitoring
of the landfill surface methane
concentration is required to verify that
the collection system is working
properly, and testing and monitoring of
control devices is also required. Thus,
even if a design plan was not reviewed
and approved, the system will be
professionally designed and there will
still be proof that the collection and
control system is achieving the level of
control required by the Landfills NSPS
and emission guidelines. We request
comment on this approach or other
alternative approaches to address the
issues surrounding timeliness of design
plan approvals. We also request
comment on what period of time would
be appropriate for review and approval
of initial design plans, and whether the
time period should be different for
review and approval of amendments or
updates to design plans.
The third issue deals with surface
monitoring locations. The intent of the
rule is to maintain a tight cover that
minimizes any emissions of landfill gas
through the surface. The Landfills NSPS
and emission guidelines require
quarterly surface monitoring to
demonstrate that the cover and gas
collection system are working properly.
The operational requirements in 40 CFR
60.753(d) of the Landfills NSPS specify
that the landfill must ‘‘* * * operate
the collection system so that the
methane concentration is less than 500
parts per million above background at
the surface of the landfills. To
determine if this level is exceeded, the
owner or operator shall conduct surface
testing around the perimeter of the
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collection area and along a pattern that
traverses the landfill at 30 meter
intervals and where visual observations
indicate elevated concentrations of
landfill gas, such as distressed
vegetation and cracks or seeps in the
cover.’’ The issue has arisen as to
whether the quarterly monitoring path
should include monitoring of every
cover penetration. Cover penetrations
can be observed visually and are clearly
a place where gas would be escaping
from the cover, so monitoring of them
would be required by the regulatory
language. The regulatory language gives
distressed vegetation and cracks as an
example of a visual indication that gas
may be escaping, but this example does
not limit the places that should be
monitored by landfill staff or by
enforcement agency inspectors. Thus,
under the current language, the landfill
should monitor any openings that are
within an area of the landfill where
waste has been placed and a gas
collection system is required. However,
monitoring of every cover penetration
every quarter could substantially
increase monitoring time relative to
monitoring only along a path at 30
meter intervals and may not be
necessary every quarter. We request
comment on this rule interpretation and
alternatives for monitoring cover
penetrations that do not show distressed
vegetation, cracks, or similar indications
of high landfill gas levels.
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III. Rationale for the Proposed
Supplemental Amendments
A. Definition of Landfill Owner/
Operator and Allowance for Off-Site
Control or Treatment Option
Amendments were proposed in 2002
to clarify which entities are considered
landfill owners/operators and are
subject to the Landfills NSPS, and to
clarify compliance responsibilities
when landfill gas is sent off site for
treatment or control. The May 2002
proposed amendments and today’s
proposed supplemental amendments
recognize the unique natures of the
landfills source category and landfill
gas. Because landfill gas contains
methane and can be used as a renewable
resource to produce useful energy, it is
common for landfill gas to be sold to
entities, other than the landfill, that
combust the gas for energy recovery.
These entities often own and/or operate
portions of the gas collection system
and the control or treatment systems
required by the Landfills NSPS,
emission guidelines, Federal plan, and
Landfills NESHAP. Control or treatment
systems may be located on or adjacent
to the landfill, or they may be located
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miles away at a business, institution, or
industrial plant that is using landfill gas
to fuel a boiler or other combustion
device. This situation is different from
most source categories where the same
entity that generates emissions typically
controls the emissions within their
facility. We recognize and encourage
beneficial use of landfill gas, but we also
want to clarify that entities collecting,
controlling, or treating the gas are
responsible for complying with the
Landfills NSPS, emission guidelines,
Federal plan, and Landfills NESHAP.
Based on a review of the comments
that we received on our May 23, 2002
proposed amendments to clarify the
owner/operator definition and
responsibilities, we have determined
that a new approach and further
revisions are needed to effectively
address compliance responsibilities in
situations where multiple entities own/
operate the landfill and associated gas
collection, control, and/or treatment
systems. In May 2002, we proposed to
define ‘‘landfill owner/operator’’ as
‘‘* * * any entity that owns or operates
a MSW landfill or any stationary
equipment located on the same property
as the MSW landfill facility that is used
to collect, control, or treat landfill gas.’’
We also proposed an allowance for offsite control or treatment by another
entity if that entity accepted compliance
responsibility through a certification
process. The certification process would
have allowed transfer of control or
treatment responsibility in specified
circumstances without holding the
landfill owners/operators responsible
for the actions of the off-site entity.
However, many commenters stated
that the revised definition of ‘‘landfill
owner/operator’’ was too broad. Some
argued that the inclusion of ‘‘* * * any
stationary equipment located on the
same property as a MSW facility that is
used to collect, control, or treat landfill
gas * * *’’ would result in ‘‘confusion’’
as to who is responsible for compliance
at a landfill where one or more entities
operate on the landfill site or in
conjunction with the landfill owner/
operator. The commenters explained
that the proposed definition was so
broad that it potentially included
entities that act in a supportive role on
a landfill site. Some commenters also
objected to the ‘‘joint and several
liability’’ they believe is inherent in this
definition. Some commenters cited an
example where a developer who may
own only a portion of the landfill gas
collection system and has no rights to
gas from other sections of the landfill
could be considered responsible for all
NSPS compliance issues at the landfill
under the proposed definition. Another
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example cited was a gas collection
system operator who has a contract with
a landfill to perform specific activities,
such as monitoring and adjusting the
gas collection system to maintain
compliance with the temperature,
nitrogen, and oxygen requirements of
the Landfills NSPS could now be
considered a landfill owner/operator
and held liable for compliance with
NSPS requirements beyond their
contract authority and control.
Similarly, a company that owned/
operated only the gas control device
could be held responsible for landfill
and collection system operation
activities over which they have no
control.
Several of the commenters suggested
that compliance responsibility at a
landfill that operates with multiple onsite entities be established, on a
voluntary basis, through a certification
process similar to the off-site
certification process proposed in the
May 2002 Landfills NSPS amendments.
Ownership and operation of on-site
landfill gas collection, control, or
treatment systems by another entity is a
common practice, and the commenters
wanted the owner/operator of the
landfill and the on-site entity to have
the flexibility to determine any division
of compliance responsibility. The
commenters suggested that the landfill
owner/operator and the additional
entity provide EPA with a written
certification and an outline of
compliance responsibilities for the
various compliance assurance activities.
Other commenters noted that limiting
the compliance certification option to
off-site entities would unnecessarily
inhibit the flexibility EPA seeks to
create and would impose an artificial
distinction between on-site and off-site
recipients of untreated landfill gas.
Based on further consideration, we
are proposing supplemental
amendments that would replace the
May 23, 2002 proposed definition of
‘‘landfill owner/operator’’ and the
proposed off-site certification approach.
We recognize that many landfills
accomplish control of their untreated
landfill gas by providing the gas to a
business, industry, or institutional
facility that combusts the untreated gas
in a reciprocating engine or gas turbine
to produce electricity or in a boiler,
process heater, or furnace to produce
steam or heat for a useful purpose. This
may occur at the landfill or at another
location. The beneficial use of landfill
gas, a renewable energy source, offsets
the use of fossil fuels that can generate
greater emissions. To facilitate the
beneficial use of landfill gas, we
propose to clarify compliance
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responsibilities in cases where multiple
entities are involved in a way that will
ensure Landfills NSPS compliance and
enforceability, but will not discourage
beneficial use of the gas.
We are now proposing that
compliance responsibility at landfills
that operate with multiple entities be
divided based on which entity owns/
operates each specific collection,
control, or treatment system, or a
portion thereof. To retain consistency
between the Landfills NSPS, emission
guidelines, Federal plan, and Landfills
NESHAP, the same approach is
proposed for all four rules. The
proposed supplemental amendments
state that the landfill owners/operators
are responsible for complying with the
requirements of the NSPS for the
landfill and any portion of the landfill
gas collection, control, or treatment
system that they own/operate. The
owners/operators of the gas collection,
control, and/or treatment system(s)
would be responsible for complying
with the requirements for the portion of
the landfill gas collection, control, or
treatment system that they own/operate.
We are proposing to accomplish this
division of responsibility through the
addition of a definition of ‘‘landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
owner/operator,’’ and by revising the
May 2002 proposed definition of
‘‘landfill owner/operator’’ to remove any
reference to landfill gas collection,
control, or treatment systems. We are
placing responsibility for compliance
with the Landfills NSPS with the
owner/operator of the various
equipment used to achieve compliance
by making landfill gas collection,
control, or treatment systems (as well as
the landfill itself) affected sources under
the Landfills NSPS and assigning
responsibility for compliance with
requirements applicable to such systems
to the owners/operators of the landfill
gas collection, control, and/or treatment
system located on or off the landfill
property. In the proposed supplemental
amendments, we are revising the
applicability requirements of the
Landfills NSPS to indicate that
responsibility for compliance with the
provisions of the Landfills NSPS is
based on which portions of the landfill
gas collection, control, and/or treatment
system each entity owns or operates.
The owner/operator of the landfill itself
is responsible for determining when
control is required, ensuring that the
equipment necessary to comply with the
Landfills NSPS is properly installed,
and complying with other regulatory
requirements that apply to the landfill
itself and to any portions of the gas
collection, control, and/or treatment
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system that the landfill itself owns/
operates. Furthermore, we are proposing
a default compliance provision in the
applicability section of the Landfills
NSPS that would automatically shift all
future responsibilities, including
compliance responsibilities, to the
landfill owner/operator if another entity
that owns/operates the gas collection,
control, or treatment system ceases to
accept the landfill gas for any reason
(e.g., bankruptcy, abandonment of
operation).
We believe that this is a reasonable
approach to addressing compliance
issues at landfills where multiple
entities are involved in the emission
control infrastructure (regardless of
whether treatment or control of the
landfill gas is accomplished at the
landfill or at another location). This
approach enables direct enforcement of
the Landfills NSPS on the responsible
entity in all cases and is consistent with
the original intent of the Landfills
NSPS. In many cases, landfill gas
control system owners/operators (for
example) are different entities from the
landfill owners/operators, and the
landfill owners/operators have no direct
control over the operation of the control
system. Because they are distinct
entities, it may be impractical and may
not be good policy to require the landfill
owners/operators to retain
responsibility for all aspects of the
Landfills NSPS compliance. Landfill
owners/operators may not have
unrestricted access to the location
where the treatment or control of the
landfill gas is occurring (e.g., an
industrial plant using the gas in a boiler
several miles away from the landfill)
and often do not have direct control of
the daily operation of the treatment or
control system. Furthermore,
clarification of the division of
responsibilities is a practical means to
encourage the use of landfill gas for
energy recovery and is consistent with
EPA policy to foster the use of landfill
gas as a renewable energy resource,
thereby reducing the use of scarce fossil
fuels and associated emissions.
We are also proposing that all entities
keep a list documenting which aspects
of the Landfills NSPS requirements (by
paragraph and section number) each
entity will comply with. The list would
have to include all requirements of the
Landfills NSPS, and would be required
as expeditiously as practicable, but no
later than 1 year after the final rule
amendments are promulgated. The list
would help assure that all required
compliance activities are considered
and will be performed by the
responsible entity. The Landfills NSPS
would require that the list be kept up-
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to-date and that all owners/operators
maintain a copy of the list onsite and
comply with the responsibilities in the
list that are assigned to them. The
compliance responsibilities of each
entity will be incorporated in title V
permits if the entities are subject to title
V.
Because the landfills emission
guidelines and Federal plan crossreference the Landfills NSPS, the
changes to the Landfills NSPS would
automatically affect the landfills
emission guidelines and Federal plan.
However, to be consistent and clear, we
are proposing similar language on the
responsibilities of the landfill owners/
operators and the owners/operators of
the gas collection, control, or treatment
system to 40 CFR 60.32c of subpart Cc
and to 40 CFR 62.14352 of subpart GGG.
Because the landfills emission
guidelines are implemented through
CAA section 111(d) State plans, the
States would be required to adopt
revisions to their landfills State plans
and submit them to EPA for approval
within 9 months after the final
amendments to the emission guidelines
are promulgated. The 9-month time
frame is consistent with 40 CFR part 60
subpart B, which establishes procedures
for State plans to implement section
111(d) emission guidelines. Similarly,
EPA is proposing to amend the landfills
Federal plan that implements the
landfills emission guidelines in areas
where there is no approved State plan.
In addition, we are proposing similar
amendments to the Landfills NESHAP.
The proposed amendments include
revising the sections of 40 CFR part 63,
subpart AAAA, that define affected
sources and describe who is subject to
the Landfills NESHAP, to include
owners/operators of gas collection,
control, and/or treatment systems. The
proposed revisions to the Landfills
NESHAP contain similar language on
responsibilities and the requirement for
all entities to keep a list documenting
which aspects of Landfills NESHAP
compliance each entity will comply
with.
Given the proposed revisions to the
definitions and the rule applicability
sections describing responsibilities, we
believe that compliance responsibilities
would be clearly delineated among the
entities involved, and EPA would retain
clear enforcement ability for all entities
subject to compliance with the Landfills
NSPS, emission guidelines, Federal
plan, and Landfills NESHAP. The
entities that own/operate the collection,
control, and/or treatment equipment
needed to comply with the Landfills
NSPS, emission guidelines, Federal
plan, and Landfills NESHAP, and are
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performing the activities needed to
comply with them, would be held
directly responsible for compliance.
The proposed approach previously
discussed contains a provision that
immediately shifts all future compliance
responsibilities to the landfill owners/
operators if another entity that owns/
operates the gas collection, control, or
treatment system ceases to accept the
landfill gas (e.g., due to bankruptcy,
abandonment of operation). We are
considering an alternative approach
(called alternative approach #1) that
would retain this provision and would
further require the landfill owners/
operators to assume responsibility for
future compliance in some situations
where the owners/operators of a gas
collection, control, or treatment system
fail to comply with the Landfills NSPS
requirements for which they are
responsible. The intent of this approach
would be to address situations where
the owners/operators of the gas
collection, control, or treatment system
do not achieve the required levels of
collection, control, or treatment, or
repeatedly violate other requirements of
the Landfills NSPS, and do not correct
these violations and come into
compliance in a timely manner. In such
circumstances, responsibility for future
compliance would automatically shift to
the landfill owners/operators. As a
result, the landfill owners/operators
would need to find a way to
immediately start meeting all Landfill
NSPS requirements. Such a provision
would ensure that the landfill owners/
operators could not knowingly send
landfill gas to entities that flagrantly
violate the Landfill NSPS, thereby
inflicting potential harm on the
environment, and still avoid
responsibility for fully complying with
the Landfills NSPS. It is not our intent
for this approach to shift responsibility
to the landfill owners/operators for
isolated or minor violations that the
collection, control, or treatment system
owners/operators timely corrects. We
solicit comments on this alternative
approach and suggestions for how to
make clear within what time frame and
under what circumstances
responsibility shifts to the landfill
owners/operators.
We are also considering a different
alternative approach to compliance
responsibility (called alternative
approach #2) that would add the same
definitions of ‘‘landfill owner/operator’’
and ‘‘landfill gas collection, control, or
treatment system owner/operator’’ as
the proposed approach. Both entities
would be subject to the Landfills NSPS.
This approach would differ in that the
alternative approach would make the
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landfill owner/operator responsible for
compliance with all aspects of the
Landfills NSPS. Like the proposed
approach, the alternative approach
would make the landfill gas collection,
control, and/or treatment system
owners/operators responsible for
complying with only the Landfills NSPS
requirements applicable to the portion
of the landfill gas collection, control,
and/or treatment system they own/
operate. Thus, a violation of gas
collection, control or treatment
requirements could be enforced against
both the landfill owners/operators and
the collection, control, or treatment
system owners/operators. This approach
would also include the requirement to
document which aspects of the Landfills
NSPS requirements (by paragraph and
section number) each entity will accept
compliance responsibility.
The regulatory language for the
alternative approach would be very
similar to the regulatory language
shown for the proposed approach,
except that 40 CFR 60.750(a)(1) of
subpart WWW, 40 CFR 60.32c of
subpart Cc, 40 CFR 62.14352 of subpart
GGG, and 40 CFR 63.1935(d)(1) of
subpart AAAA might read as follows:
‘‘Municipal solid waste landfill owners/
operators are responsible for complying
with all requirements of this subpart.’’
Alternative approach #2 would be
consistent with the division of
responsibilities in many single source
(i.e., common control) determinations
for landfills and associated gas
collection, control, and/or treatment
systems. It would also encourage
landfill owners/operators who contract
with other companies to collect, control,
or treat the landfill gas to be sure to do
business only with reliable companies
that will meet the Landfills NSPS
requirements.
There are some concerns that this
alternative approach could inhibit the
beneficial use of landfill gas. Landfill
owners/operators may choose to flare
the gas themselves rather than enter into
agreements that allow other entities to
combust the untreated landfill gas for
energy recovery purposes if the landfill
owners/operators are held legally and
financially liable for the actions of a
separate entity over which they have no
control. Landfill owners/operators may
be particularly reluctant to enter into
such agreements in cases where the
landfill gas is used at a separate
industrial or commercial facility located
several miles away from the landfill and
the landfill owners/operators do not
have access to the facility or control
over its operation.
We specifically request comment on
the alternative approach. Based on the
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public comments, the final Landfills
NSPS may incorporate the proposed
approach, one of the two alternative
approaches, or another similar approach
that is a logical outgrowth of the public
comments. If, after consideration of
comments, we select an alternative
approach for the Landfills NSPS, we
would use a consistent approach for the
emission guidelines, Federal plan, and
Landfills NESHAP.
B. Definitions for Treated Landfill Gas
and Treatment System and Clarification
to the Treatment Option
In the May 23, 2002 proposed
amendments, we proposed a definition
for ‘‘treatment system’’ that would be
used to determine if a facility qualifies
for the treatment option provided in 40
CFR 60.752(b)(2)(iii)(C) of subpart
WWW. The purpose of this definition
was to provide consistency as to what
would qualify as a treatment system and
to reduce the burden on State and local
agencies and EPA Regions currently
performing case-by-case determinations
related to the adequacy of treatment
options being employed across the
Nation. The proposed definition of
treatment system was ‘‘a system that
filters, de-waters, and compresses
landfill gas.’’
Following proposal of the treatment
system definition, several commenters
requested further clarification as to what
levels of filtration and de-watering
would be considered acceptable to meet
the definition of treatment. Some
commenters noted that given the
different specifications for landfill gasderived fuels and the different levels of
treatment currently practiced, any lack
of clarity may result in inconsistent
case-by-case determinations by local
permitting authorities. Some
commenters requested that EPA allow
owners/operators to treat their gas such
that it would meet the end-use
combustion equipment ‘‘manufacturer’s
requirements’’ for fuel quality as the
benchmark for what qualifies as a
treatment system. Commenters
requested that we link the phrase ‘‘refer
to manufacturer requirements’’ to the
combustion device’s specific level of gas
treatment to ensure complete
combustion. Other commenters
requested that EPA develop specific
particulate, moisture, and compression
targets that demonstrate ‘‘treated landfill
gas.’’
We agree with commenters that the
definition of treatment system needs
additional detail. We contacted
manufacturers of combustion devices
that are used to recover energy from
landfill gas, and we obtained their
written specifications and
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recommendations for fuel quality. As
suggested by the commenters, we
reviewed the available manufacturers’
specifications for acceptable moisture
and particulate levels. Because different
manufacturers have different
specifications, our proposed definition
of ‘‘treatment system’’ does not refer
directly to the manufacturers’
requirements. Instead, we developed
specific filtration and de-watering
targets based on those requirements.
The selected levels of de-watering and
filtration are consistent with most
manufacturers’ specifications for
landfill gas burned in energy recovery
devices such as reciprocating engines,
gas turbines, and boilers; they are
protective of the combustion equipment
and promote good combustion. The
supplemental proposed definition of
treatment system is:
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* * * a system that has an absolute
filtration rating of 10 microns or less, lowers
the water dew point of the landfill gas by at
least 20 degrees Fahrenheit with a dewatering process, and compresses the landfill
gas.
The term ‘‘absolute filtration rating’’
used in the above definition means the
diameter of the largest hard spherical
particle that would pass through the
filter. The supplemental proposed
definition would specify treatment
levels that will minimize degradation of
the combustion device and promote
proper destruction of NMOC.
To ensure continuous compliance
with the treatment option, we are
clarifying monitoring, recordkeeping,
and reporting requirements for
treatment systems that are used to
comply with the Landfills NSPS.
Owners/operators of treatment systems
used to comply with the Landfills NSPS
would be required to establish, monitor,
and record operating parameters that
indicate proper operation of the various
treatment system components,
consistent with the proposed revised
definition of treatment system. These
requirements would ensure that the
treatment system is continuously
operating in the manner in which it was
designed to operate to achieve the
specific filtration, de-watering, and
compression targets that define a
treatment system for the purposes of the
Landfills NSPS. Owners/operators who
installed treatment systems prior to
today’s proposed amendments would be
required to comply with the amended
treatment system requirements as
expeditiously as practicable, but no later
than 1 year after the date the final
amendments are promulgated. This
provides time needed to upgrade the
treatment system (if necessary), submit
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design information, install monitoring
equipment, and establish operating
parameter levels.
The proposed amendments would
require that owners/operators of
treatment systems monitor and maintain
specified operating parameters or apply
to monitor alternative parameters. For
filtration systems, the pressure drop (24hour average) across the filter would be
continuously monitored and maintained
above the minimum pressure drop
established by engineering analysis or
manufacturer’s specifications.
Alternatively, the owners/operators
could get approval to monitor another
parameter that indicates proper
performance of the filtration system.
Pressure drop was selected as a
monitoring parameter because it is a
good indicator of proper filter operation.
A noticeable reduction in pressure drop
across the filter indicates a breach of the
filter material.
Continuous monitoring of
temperature reduction for a chillerbased de-watering system, dew point
from a de-watering system that is not
chiller-based, or another approved
parameter that is indicative of proper
performance of the de-watering system,
would also be required. The monitored
parameter (24-hour average) would have
to be kept within the operating range
established by engineering analysis or
manufacturer’s specifications. The
owners/operators would submit the
treatment system design and
justification for the operating parameter
ranges for approval in the design plan
required by 40 CFR 60.752(b)(2) of
subpart WWW.
For chiller-based de-watering systems,
temperature was selected as a
monitoring parameter because it
indicates that the chiller is operating
properly and the desired reduction in
dew point is occurring. Untreated
landfill gas is saturated with moisture as
it comes out of the landfill (i.e., the
relative humidity is 100 percent, and
the dew point temperature equals the
landfill gas temperature). Therefore, if
the gas is chilled by at least 20 degrees,
the dew point has been correspondingly
reduced, and moisture removal has
occurred through condensation.
Continuous measurement of the gas
temperature at the treatment system
inlet and the chiller outlet would be
required unless the owners/operators
demonstrate that monitoring the
temperature at a single location (e.g., the
chiller outlet) is sufficient to indicate
that the temperature of the gas, and
thus, the dew point, has been reduced
by at least 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The
owners/operators would be required to
submit, as part of the design plan,
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treatment system design specifications
that demonstrate the treatment system
meets the definition (including the 20
degree dew point reduction) and a
justification that their proposed
temperature monitoring location(s) are
adequate to demonstrate that the gas
temperature, and thus, the dew point,
has been reduced by at least 20 degrees.
For example, owners/operators might
submit information demonstrating that
the lowest landfill gas temperature at
their treatment system inlet during the
coldest month of the year is 85 degrees
Fahrenheit. They might elect to operate
their chiller to reduce the gas
temperature to, for example, 60 degrees
Fahrenheit, and apply to continuously
monitor only chiller outlet temperature
and maintain it at or below 60 degrees.
Because the design and operation of this
system results in a minimum
temperature reduction of at least 25
degrees below the site-specific coldest
treatment system inlet temperature, the
regulatory authority might approve the
continuous monitoring of chiller outlet
temperature in this case, rather than
requiring continuous monitoring at both
the treatment system inlet and the
chiller outlet. Temperature monitors are
readily available, commonly used,
reliable, and less expensive than
alternative monitoring systems.
If a de-watering system that is not
based on chilling, for example, a
desiccant system, is used, then
temperature would not be an
appropriate parameter to monitor. In
such cases, monitoring of the dew point
would indicate whether the system is
operating properly to reduce the dew
point by 20 degrees. As with
temperature, the dew point would be
monitored at the inlet and outlet of the
treatment system, unless the owner/
operator demonstrates that monitoring
at a single location (e.g., the treatment
system outlet) is sufficient to indicate
that the dew point has been reduced by
at least 20 degrees. Dew point monitors
are available and suitable for landfill gas
applications.
We are proposing continuous
monitoring with a 24-hour averaging
period for treatment system monitoring
parameters for several reasons.
Monitoring is needed to assure
continuous compliance. Continuous
monitoring systems are available for the
selected treatment system operating
parameters. Data collection would be
required at 15-minute intervals,
consistent with current Landfills NSPS
requirements for flare pilot flame
monitoring and enclosed combustor
temperature monitoring that apply to
landfills that opt to comply with the
control options rather than the
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treatment option. A 24-hour block
average for determining compliance
with the treatment system operating
parameter limits is sufficient to indicate
any significant change in treatment
system operation and would be less
burdensome than more frequent
averaging. Owners/operators of
treatment systems would be required to
report periods when the 24-hour block
average for a monitored parameter (e.g.,
pressure drop, temperature, dew point)
is outside the operating range
established in the approved design plan.
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IV. Rationale for Proposed Landfills
NSPS and Landfills NESHAP
Amendments Regarding Startup,
Shutdown, and Malfunction
A. Proposed Landfills NSPS Startup,
Shutdown, and Malfunction Provisions
The Landfills NSPS specify in 40 CFR
60.755(e) of subpart WWW, that the
emission standards do not apply during
SSM events, but they limit the duration
of SSM events to 5 days for the landfill
gas collection system and 1 hour for
treatment or control devices. At the time
we developed this provision, we
believed that malfunctions could be
corrected within these time frames.
Since promulgation of the Landfills
NSPS, we have learned that many
malfunctions cannot be corrected within
these time limits. This causes landfills
that do not have back-up control devices
to have unavoidable violations of the
Landfills NSPS. Most landfills use flares
to control landfill gas emissions and do
not have back-up control devices. In
developing NSPS, EPA is required by
CAA section 111 to consider cost and
other impacts. In developing the
Landfills NSPS, we did not consider any
costs for requiring back-up controls for
flares in our determination that the
selected requirements were reasonable.
We did not intend for the Landfills
NSPS to require back-up control devices
for flares. For these reasons, we
conclude that the 1-hour and 5-day time
limitations are not feasible and should
be changed. Furthermore, most NSPS do
not set specific limits on the duration of
SSM events. Most NSPS rely on the
NSPS General Provisions (40 CFR part
60, subpart A), which require owners/
operators, to the extent practicable, to
operate in a manner that minimizes
emissions during SSM events.
The Landfills NSPS also has no
allowance for shutdown of collection,
control, or treatment systems for routine
preventive maintenance. Periodic
maintenance is needed to provide
continued good operation of the gas
collection and control systems and to
avoid malfunctions, but shutdowns for
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maintenance could result in a violation.
This issue arises because of the unique
nature of landfills. Most NSPS regulate
manufacturing processes that can be
stopped when a control device needs to
be maintained or repaired. For example,
chemical plants typically shut down
their processes on a regular schedule
(e.g., for 1 week each year) and maintain
their control devices at the same time,
when no emissions are being generated
from the production process. Landfills
are a biological process, and once waste
is deposited in the landfill, gas is
continuously generated and cannot be
stopped. Routine control device
maintenance procedures often cannot be
completed in 1 hour, and some types of
maintenance take days.
Therefore, we propose to amend 40
CFR 60.755(e) of subpart WWW to
remove the 1-hour and 5-day time limits
on SSM events, and to allow routine
maintenance of collection, control, and
treatment systems. The proposed
amendments also clarify that the NSPS
General Provisions in 40 CFR 60.11(d)
of subpart A continue to apply during
maintenance and malfunctions, and that
routine maintenance activities must be
completed and malfunctions must be
corrected as soon as practicable after
their occurrence in order to minimize
emissions. To prevent free venting of
landfill gas to the atmosphere during
control device malfunctions or
maintenance, we propose to retain the
current requirement in 40 CFR 60.753(e)
of subpart WWW. This section requires
that in the event the collection or
control system is inoperable, the gas
mover system must be shut down and
all valves in the collection and control
system contributing to venting of gas to
the atmosphere must be closed within 1
hour.
B. Proposed Landfills NESHAP Startup,
Shutdown, and Malfunction Provisions
The Landfills NESHAP has no
allowance for shutdown of control
devices for routine maintenance.
Periodic maintenance is needed to
provide continued good operation of the
gas collection and control systems and
to avoid malfunctions, but shutdowns
for maintenance could result in a
violation. As explained previously, this
issue arises because of the unique
nature of landfills. Most NESHAP
regulate manufacturing processes that
can be stopped when a control device
needs to be maintained or repaired.
Landfills are a biological process, and
once waste is deposited in the landfill,
gas is continuously generated and
cannot be stopped. To allow for routine
maintenance of gas collection, control,
and treatment systems, while ensuring
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that emissions are minimized during
routine maintenance events, we propose
to amend the Landfills NESHAP to
require owners/operators to include
routine maintenance in their SSM plans.
The Landfills NESHAP already require
owners/operators to develop an SSM
plan. The plan must describe, in detail,
procedures for operating and
maintaining the source during SSM
events and a program of corrective
action for malfunctioning air pollution
control and monitoring equipment used
to comply with the Landfills NESHAP.
The purpose of the SSM plan is to
ensure that owners/operators have fully
considered how best to comply with the
general duty to minimize emissions
during SSM events. While the
requirements of the SSM plan are not
themselves applicable requirements, the
SSM plan is a useful tool for sources to
demonstrate, and for permitting
authorities to confirm that the general
duty to minimize emissions is met. We
propose to add a requirement that the
SSM plan must include a plan for
conducting routine maintenance on the
landfill gas collection, control, and
treatment systems. The routine
maintenance plan must include
maintenance procedures and actions
that will be taken to minimize emissions
during maintenance, shutdown
frequency, shutdown duration, and
procedures for minimizing emissions
during startup and shutdown of the
collection, control, and/or treatment
systems for routine maintenance. A
copy of the SSM plan would be
maintained on site. Failure to prepare or
maintain a copy of the SSM plan on site
would be a deviation from the
requirements of the Landfills NESHAP.
We are also proposing changes to the
periodic reporting and immediate
reporting requirements for SSM events.
After the Landfills NESHAP were
promulgated, there were revisions to the
SSM reporting requirements in the
NESHAP General Provisions in 40 CFR
part 63, subpart A. Because of the
unique nature of landfills, some sections
of the revised General Provisions are not
relevant to landfills or can be difficult
to interpret for landfills. We propose to
revise the Landfills NESHAP to clarify
the SSM reporting requirements for
landfills. We propose to remove the
Landfills NESHAP cross-reference in
table 1 of 40 CFR part 63, subpart
AAAA to the periodic and immediate
SSM reporting requirements in 40 CFR
63.10(d)(5) of subpart A (the General
Provisions), and to instead include
similar SSM reporting provisions that
apply specifically to landfills in 40 CFR
63.1980 of subpart AAAA.
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The Landfills NESHAP and the
General Provisions require periodic
(semiannual) reporting when actions
taken during a startup or shutdown
causing an exceedance of an applicable
emission limit or a malfunction are
consistent with the procedures specified
in the SSM plan. Because we are
proposing that the landfills SSM plan
must include routine maintenance of
landfill gas collection, control, and
treatment systems, we are proposing to
add a requirement in 40 CFR 63.1980 of
subpart AAAA that the semiannual SSM
report include a description of routine
maintenance activities that were
conducted during the period. We
propose that the landfills periodic SSM
report include the date, duration, and
identification of each SSM event
(including shutdowns of the landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
for routine maintenance) that occurred
during the reporting period. For
landfills, the duration of such events is
particularly important, because, unlike
traditional industrial sources, there is
no way to stop the biological processes
that result in landfill emissions. While
collection system blowers can be turned
off and vents to the atmosphere closed
for a period of hours to a couple of days
to retain most gas within the landfill,
eventually the pressure in the landfill
will build up and the gas will be
released uncontrolled through vents or
as fugitive emissions. We expect that
there will be few malfunction or
maintenance events during a 6-month
period, and all such events must already
be recorded under the Landfills
NESHAP and the General Provisions (40
CFR 63.6(e)(3) of subpart A), so
including the date and duration of each
event in the periodic report is not a
burden. If the owners/operators follow
their SSM plan during all SSM and
routine maintenance events, then no
further information is required in the
periodic report. This will minimize the
reporting burden for owners/operators
who follow their SSM plans.
The Landfills NESHAP periodic
report would also require a brief
description of any actions taken during
a malfunction or routine maintenance
event that are inconsistent with the SSM
plan. This was a requirement of the
NESHAP General Provisions at the time
the Landfills NESHAP were developed.
The General Provisions have since been
changed to require sources to ‘‘identify’’
any instance where an action was taken
that was inconsistent with the SSM plan
but the source did not exceed any
applicable emissions limitations. A
‘‘description’’ is required only if an
emissions limitation was exceeded. For
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landfills, it is unclear how to determine
if any emissions limitation was
exceeded because the Landfills
NESHAP do not require continuous
emissions monitoring. They require
continuous parametric monitoring of
control devices, quarterly monitoring of
surface methane concentrations, and
monthly monitoring of collection
system well head parameters. If there is
a malfunction or shutdown of a control
device for routine maintenance, the
collection system blowers must be
turned off and vents to the atmosphere
must be closed. However, despite these
precautions, landfill gas continues to be
generated and can escape the landfill as
fugitive emissions, potentially
increasing landfill NMOC emissions
above the level achieved when the
control device is operating and
increasing surface methane
concentrations. To avoid having to make
subjective judgments on whether
emissions limitations were exceeded,
we propose that landfills provide a brief
description of any malfunction or
maintenance event where actions are
taken that are inconsistent with the SSM
plan. This is consistent with the intent
during development of the Landfills
NESHAP, and was already accounted
for in the estimates of the recordkeeping
and reporting burden for the final rule.
Events where the SSM plan is not
followed should be infrequent and
would not occur during most
semiannual reporting periods.
We are proposing revisions in 40 CFR
63.1980 of subpart AAAA to clarify
immediate SSM reporting requirements
for landfills. We propose that immediate
reports be required if actions taken
during a startup or shutdown (including
shutdown of the collection, control, or
treatment system for routine
maintenance) that caused an exceedance
of an applicable emission limit, or
during a malfunction are inconsistent
with the SSM plan. Such events would
be reported by telephone or fax within
2 days, followed by a letter within 7
days of the end of the event. This is the
same timing and method of submission
contained in the NESHAP General
Provisions requirements for immediate
SSM reports. We also propose
immediate reports if the duration of a
shutdown or malfunction (including
shutdown of the landfill gas collection,
control, or treatment system for routine
maintenance) exceeds 5 days. The
Landfills NESHAP compliance
provisions have always referred to the
Landfills NSPS, which require that
control system malfunctions not exceed
1 hour and collection systems
malfunctions not exceed 5 days. For the
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reasons described earlier in this
preamble, we are proposing to remove
these time limits from the Landfills
NSPS, so the Landfills NESHAP would
no longer include these time limits by
reference. Instead of limiting the
duration of malfunction and routine
maintenance events to no more than 5
days, we propose to require landfills to
report, as part of their Landfills
NESHAP immediate SSM reports, any
events that last longer than 5 days. This
will allow the enforcement agency and
the landfill to discuss the specific
situation, the reason that more than 5
days is needed, and any actions that can
be taken to minimize emissions during
the event and complete repairs or
maintenance as expeditiously as
practicable in the given situation. It
should be noted that the Landfills
NESHAP already refer to the SSM plan
requirements in 40 CFR 63.6(e) of
subpart A, which require sources to
correct malfunctions as soon as
practicable after their occurrence.
Finally, we propose a minor
amendment in the calculation of 3-hour
block averages for control device
operating parameters that are
continuously monitored. The proposed
amendment would reduce burden,
improve consistency with other rules,
and ensure that all the necessary
information is available for compliance
determination. In particular, 40 CFR
63.1975 of subpart AAAA specifies that
3-hour averages are calculated in the
same way as the Landfills NSPS except
that periods of SSM should not be
included. We have received comments
that this difference in the calculations
requires landfills to keep two sets of
records that are similar, but not
identical, creating an unnecessary
burden. Furthermore, other NESHAP
require all operating parameter
deviations to be recorded, regardless of
whether they occur during an SSM
event. For these reasons, we propose to
amend the Landfills NESHAP
calculations to be more similar to the
Landfills NSPS, and no longer exclude
periods of SSM. This amendment in the
calculations will not change the way in
which compliance is determined or the
NESHAP are enforced. The enforcement
agency still determines whether a
deviation is a violation. For example, if
a parameter deviation occurred because
of a malfunction, and the source took
appropriate actions to minimize
emissions during the malfunction and to
correct the malfunction as soon as
practicable, then the enforcement
agency may determine that the
deviation is not a violation.
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V. Rationale for Other Proposed
Corrections and Clarifications
A. Clarification for Temperature
Monitoring for Enclosed Combustors
Currently, the language in 40 CFR
60.758(b)(2)(i) and (c)(1)(i) of subpart
WWW (the Landfills NSPS) requires
sources to keep records of the
combustion temperature in an enclosed
combustion device that is used to meet
the NMOC destruction requirements in
40 CFR 60.752(b)(2)(iii) of subpart
WWW. The definition of ‘‘enclosed
combustor’’ includes enclosed flares,
boilers, reciprocating engines, and
turbines. The literal meaning of this
requirement is that a temperature
monitor would be installed in the
combustion zone of an enclosed
combustor. However, we realize that
installing a temperature monitor in the
combustion zone of a reciprocating
engine or turbine is not feasible, and we
did not intend for the Landfills NSPS to
specifically require monitoring of
combustion chamber temperature. The
purpose of the temperature monitoring
requirement is to ensure that the
enclosed combustor is operating in a
manner similar to the conditions at
which it was operating during the most
recent performance test, thereby
demonstrating continuous compliance
with the NMOC reduction requirements
of the Landfills NSPS. Therefore, the
temperature monitor should be located
in a place that provides a reasonable
indication of the operation of the
enclosed combustor. For example,
monitoring the temperature at the
cylinder exhaust port or in the exhaust
manifold before the turbocharger are
acceptable temperature monitoring
locations for reciprocating engines. To
minimize further confusion on this
issue, we are revising the language in 40
CFR 60.758(b)(2)(i) and (c)(1)(i) of
subpart WWW to remove the word
‘‘combustion’’ prior to ‘‘temperature.’’
The Landfills NSPS will continue to
require that at least one temperature
measurement must be recorded every 15
minutes as specified in 40 CFR
60.758(b)(2)(i) of subpart WWW, and
any measurement frequency that is
longer than 15 minutes is not acceptable
for compliance under the Landfills
NSPS. The Landfills NSPS also continue
to allow landfill owners/operators to
propose site-specific alternatives to the
monitoring requirements, subject to
Administrator approval, as specified in
40 CFR 60.752(b)(2)(i) of subpart WWW.
B. Correction of Cross-Reference in the
Landfills NSPS
We are proposing an amendment to a
cross-reference in 40 CFR 60.755(c)(3) of
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subpart WWW (the Landfills NSPS) as
a result of the reorganization of EPA
Method 21 in appendix A to 40 CFR
part 60. The Landfills NSPS reference
section 4.3.1 of EPA Method 21. In
2001, the wording that used to be in
section 4.3.1 was moved to section
8.3.1, so the Landfills NSPS need to be
corrected to refer to section 8.3.1 of EPA
Method 21.
C. Clarification of Bioreactor Moisture
Content Determination for the Landfills
NESHAP
The Landfills NESHAP definition of
bioreactors in 40 CFR 63.1990 of subpart
AAAA include a provision that the
average moisture content of the waste in
the area into which liquid is added must
be at least 40 percent (by weight) for the
landfill or portion of the landfill to be
considered a bioreactor. It was not
explicit that the 40 percent moisture
content should be determined on a wet
weight basis. The information EPA
originally used to establish the 40
percent moisture criteria was on a wet
weight basis. To clarify this, we are
amending the bioreactor definition in 40
CFR 63.1990 of subpart AAAA by
adding the words ‘‘wet weight basis.’’
D. Correction of Date in the Landfills
NESHAP
We are proposing to amend a
typographical error that appears in 40
CFR 63.1945(d) of subpart AAAA. The
compliance date for existing major
sources should read January 16, 2004,
instead of January 13, 2004.
VI. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866, Regulatory
Planning and Review
This action is not a ‘‘significant
regulatory action’’ under the terms of
Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993) and is therefore not
subject to review under the Executive
Order.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
Information Collection Requests (ICR)
were prepared for the Landfills NSPS,
the Landfills NESHAP, and the Federal
plan that implements the landfills
emission guidelines, and all three ICR
were approved by OMB. A copy of the
Landfills NSPS ICR (ICR No. 1557.04),
landfills Federal plan ICR (ICR No.
1893.01), and the Landfills NESHAP
ICR (ICR No. 1938.02) may be obtained
from Susan Auby by mail at U.S. EPA,
Office of Environmental Information,
Collection Strategies Division (2822T),
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20460, by e-mail at
auby.susan@epa.gov, or by calling (202)
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566–1672. A copy may also be
downloaded off the Internet at https://
www.epa.gov/icr.
The proposed amendments to the
Landfills NSPS, emission guidelines,
Federal plan, and Landfills NESHAP
will have no impact on the information
collection burden estimates made
previously. The proposed treatment
monitoring system requirements are
within the burden estimated in the
previous ICR for the Landfills NSPS,
Federal plan, and Landfills NESHAP. In
the previous ICR burden estimates, we
assumed that all landfills meeting the
NSPS and emission guidelines criteria
would install combustion control
devices and would continuously
monitor control device operating
parameters (e.g., presence of flare pilot
flame or temperature of an enclosed
combustion device). Thus, the cost of
continuous monitoring systems and
associated recordkeeping and reporting
were included for every landfill.
Landfills that choose to comply with the
Landfills NSPS, emission guidelines,
Federal plan, or Landfills NESHAP by
using a treatment system instead of a
control device typically make that
choice because it is a less expensive
compliance alternative. Therefore, the
previous cost analysis and ICR provide
a conservatively high estimate of the
costs of compliance, monitoring,
recordkeeping, and reporting, and the
proposed treatment system monitoring
requirements would not result in a
change to the ICR burden estimates. The
proposed amendments to clarify the
inclusion of control device shutdowns
for maintenance in the SSM plan are
consistent with the original estimate of
costs to prepare an SSM plan in the
Landfills NESHAP ICR, No. 1938.02.
Consequently, the ICR have not been
revised.
Burden means the total time, effort, or
financial resources expended by persons
to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose
or provide information to or for a
Federal agency. This includes the time
needed to review instructions; develop,
acquire, install, and utilize technology
and systems for the purposes of
collecting, validating, and verifying
information, processing and
maintaining information, and disclosing
and providing information; adjust the
existing ways to comply with any
previously applicable instructions and
requirements; train personnel to be able
to respond to a collection of
information; search data sources;
complete and review the collection of
information; and transmit or otherwise
disclose the information.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to
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respond to a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number. The OMB control
numbers for EPA’s regulations in 40
CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
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C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
generally requires an agency to prepare
a regulatory flexibility analysis of any
rule subject to notice and comment
rulemaking requirements under the
Administrative Procedures Act or any
other statute unless the agency certifies
that the rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. Small entities
include small businesses, small
organizations, and small government
jurisdictions.
For purposes of assessing the impact
of the proposed amendments, small
entity is defined as: (1) A small business
that is primarily engaged in the
collection and disposal of refuse in a
landfill operation as defined by NAICS
codes 562212 and 924110 with annual
receipts less than $10 million; (2) a
small governmental jurisdiction that is a
government of a city, county, town,
school district or special district with a
population of less than 50,000, and (3)
a small organization that is any not-forprofit enterprise that is independently
owned and operated and is not
dominant in its field.
After considering the economic
impacts of the proposed amendments on
small entities, I certify that this action
will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small
entities. In determining whether a rule
has a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities, the
impact of concern is any significant
adverse economic impact on small
entities, since the primary purpose of
the regulatory flexibility analyses is to
identify and address regulatory
alternatives ‘‘which minimize any
significant economic impact of the rule
on small entities.’’ 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604.
Thus, an agency may certify that a rule
will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small
entities if the rule relieves regulatory
burden, or otherwise has a positive
economic effect on all of the small
entities subject to the rule.
EPA has determined that it is not
necessary to prepare a regulatory
flexibility analysis in connection with
the proposed amendments. The
proposed amendments clarify the
applicability of control requirements in
the Landfills NSPS, emission
guidelines, Federal plan, and Landfills
NESHAP and do not include provisions
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that create a new burden for regulated
entities.
The proposed amendments do not
increase the stringency of the Landfills
NSPS, emission guidelines, Federal
plan, or Landfills NESHAP, nor do the
proposed amendments add additional
control requirements. The proposed
amendments do not increase the
control, monitoring, recordkeeping, and
reporting requirements of the
promulgated Landfills NSPS, emission
guidelines, Federal plan, or Landfills
NESHAP, and may decrease these
requirements under specific conditions
for some entities. We have therefore
concluded that today’s proposed rule
will relieve regulatory burden for all
affected small entities.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act (UMRA) of 1995, Public
Law 104–4, establishes requirements for
Federal agencies to assess the effects of
their regulatory actions on State, local,
and tribal governments and the private
sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA,
EPA generally must prepare a written
statement, including a cost-benefit
analysis, for proposed and final rules
with ‘‘Federal mandates’’ that may
result in expenditures by State, local,
and tribal governments, in the aggregate,
or by the private sector, of $100 million
or more in any 1 year. Before
promulgating an EPA rule for which a
written statement is needed, section 205
of the UMRA generally requires EPA to
identify and consider a reasonable
number of regulatory alternatives and
adopt the least costly, most costeffective, or least burdensome
alternative that achieves the objectives
of the rule. The provisions of section
205 do not apply when they are
inconsistent with applicable law.
Moreover, section 205 allows EPA to
adopt an alternative other than the least
costly, most cost-effective, or least
burdensome alternative if the
Administrator publish with the final
rule an explanation why that alternative
was not adopted. Before EPA establishes
any regulatory requirements that may
significantly or uniquely affect small
governments, including tribal
governments, it must have developed
under section 203 of the UMRA a small
government agency plan. The plan must
provide for notifying potentially
affected small governments, enabling
officials of affected small governments
to have meaningful and timely input in
the development of EPA regulatory
proposals with significant Federal
intergovernmental mandates, and
informing, educating, and advising
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53285
small governments on compliance with
the regulatory requirements.
EPA has determined that the
proposed amendments do not contain a
Federal mandate that may result in
expenditures of $100 million or more
for State, local, and tribal governments,
in the aggregate, or the private sector in
any 1 year. Thus, the proposed
amendments are not subject to the
requirements of sections 202 and 205 of
the UMRA. In addition, we have
determined that the proposed
amendments contain no regulatory
requirements that might significantly or
uniquely affect small governments
because they consist of new definitions
and clarifications and do not impose
new costs on government entities or the
private sector. Therefore, the proposed
amendments are not subject to the
requirements of section 203 of the
UMRA.
E. Executive Order 13132, Federalism
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255,
August 10, 1999) requires EPA to
develop an accountable process to
ensure ‘‘meaningful and timely input by
State and local officials in the
development of regulatory policies that
have federalism implications.’’ ‘‘Policies
that have federalism implications’’ is
defined in the Executive Order to
include regulations that have
‘‘substantial direct effects on the States,
on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government.’’
The proposed amendments do not
have federalism implications. They do
not have substantial direct effects on the
States, on the relationship between the
national government and the States, or
on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government, as specified in
Executive Order 13132.
The proposed amendments do not
impose additional costs or result in
additional control requirements above
those considered at promulgation of the
1996 Landfills NSPS and emission
guidelines and the 2003 Landfills
NESHAP. In developing the 1996
Landfills NSPS and emission
guidelines, we consulted extensively
with State and local governments to
enable them to provide meaningful and
timely input in the development of
those rulemakings. Because the control
requirements of the proposed
amendments are the same as those
developed in 1996, these previous
consultations still apply. In addition,
State and local government agencies
participated in a conference call on the
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Landfills NESHAP, and provided
comments on the 2000 Landfills
NESHAP proposal and a 2002
supplemental proposal, which we
considered. For a discussion of our
consultations with State and local
governments, the nature of the
governments’ concerns, and our
position supporting the need for the
specific control requirements included
in the Landfills NSPS, emission
guidelines, and Landfills NESHAP, see
the preamble to the 1996 Landfills NSPS
(61 FR 9905, March 12, 1996). Thus,
Executive Order 13132 does not apply
to the proposed amendments.
On May 23, 2002, in the spirit of
Executive Order 13132, we specifically
solicited comments on the proposed
amendments from State and local
officials (67 FR 36479). We are again
soliciting comments on today’s
supplemental proposed amendments.
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F. Executive Order 13175, Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,
November 9, 2000) requires EPA to
develop an accountable process to
ensure ‘‘meaningful and timely input by
tribal officials in the development of
regulatory policies that have tribal
implications.’’
The proposed amendments do not
have tribal implications as specified in
Executive Order 13175. They will not
have substantial direct effects on tribal
governments, on the relationship
between the Federal government and
Indian tribes, or on the distribution of
power and responsibilities between the
Federal government and Indian tribes,
as specified in Executive Order 13175.
Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not
apply to the proposed amendments.
On May 23, 2002, we specifically
solicited comment from tribal officials
on the proposed amendments (67 FR
36479). None were received.
Information received from EPA Regional
Offices during development of the
landfills Federal plan showed no
landfills on tribal land large enough to
require control under the landfills
emission guidelines/Landfills NSPS.
In the spirit of Executive Order 13175
and consistent with EPA policy to
promote communications between EPA
and tribal governments, we specifically
solicit comment on the proposed
amendments from tribal officials.
G. Executive Order 13045, Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks
Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885,
April 23, 1997) applies to any rule that:
(1) Is determined to be ‘‘economically
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significant’’ as defined under Executive
Order 12866, and (2) concerns an
environmental health or safety risk that
EPA has reason to believe may have a
disproportionate effect on children. If
the regulatory action meets both criteria,
the Agency must evaluate the
environmental health or safety effects of
the planned rule on children, and
explain why the planned regulation is
preferable to other potentially effective
and reasonably feasible alternatives
considered by the Agency.
EPA interprets Executive Order 13045
as applying only to those regulatory
actions that are based on health or safety
risks, such that the analysis required
under section 5–501 of the Executive
Order has the potential to influence the
regulation.
The proposed amendments are not
subject to Executive Order 13045
because they are not economically
significant as defined in Executive
Order 12866 and because they are based
on technology performance and not on
health and safety risks. Furthermore, as
no alternative technologies exist that
would provide greater stringency at a
reasonable cost, the results of any
children’s health analysis would have
no impact on the stringency decision.
H. Executive Order 13211, Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
The proposed amendments are not
subject to Executive Order 13211
‘‘Actions Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use’’ (66 FR 28355,
(May 22, 2001)) because it is not a
significant regulatory action under
Executive Order 12866.
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act (NTTAA) of 1995, Public Law 104–
113, 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note) directs
EPA to use voluntary consensus
standards (VCS) in its regulatory
activities unless to do so would be
inconsistent with applicable law or
otherwise impractical. VCS are
technical standards (e.g., material
specifications, test methods, sampling
procedures, and business practices) that
are developed or adopted VCS bodies.
The NTTAA directs EPA to provide
Congress, through OMB, explanations
when the Agency decides not to use
available and applicable VCS.
The proposed amendments do not
involve new technical standards; thus,
the requirements of section 12(d) of the
NTTAA do not apply.
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List of Subjects in 40 CFR Parts 60, 62,
and 63
Environmental protection,
Administrative practice and procedure,
Air pollution control, Hazardous
substances, Intergovernmental relations,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Dated: August 31, 2006.
Stephen L. Johnson,
Administrator.
For the reasons stated in the
preamble, title 40, chapter I, parts 60,
62, and 63 of the Code of Federal
Regulations are proposed to be amended
as follows:
PART 60—[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 60
continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401–7601.
Subpart Cc—[Amended]
2. Section 60.31c is amended by
adding the definitions of ‘‘Municipal
solid waste landfill gas collection,
control, or treatment system owner/
operator’’ and ‘‘Municipal solid waste
landfill owner/operator,’’ in
alphabetical order to read as follows:
§ 60.31c
Definitions.
*
*
*
*
*
Municipal solid waste landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
owner/operator means any entity that
owns or operates any stationary
equipment that is used, as specified in
§ 60.33c, to collect, control, or treat
landfill gas from an MSW landfill that
is a designated facility under § 60.32c of
this subpart, regardless of the location of
the control or treatment system.
Municipal solid waste landfill owner/
operator means any entity that owns or
operates a municipal solid waste
landfill that is a designated facility
under § 60.32c(a).
3. Section 60.32c is amended by:
a. Revising paragraph (a); and
b. Adding paragraph (e) to read as
follows:
§ 60.32c
Designated facilities.
(a) The designated facilities to which
the guidelines apply are each existing
MSW landfill for which construction,
reconstruction, or modification was
commenced before May 30, 1991 and/or
the stationary equipment used to
collect, control, or treat the landfill gas
from such MSW landfills as required by
§ 60.33c(c).
*
*
*
*
*
(e) For approval, a State plan shall
require each MSW landfill owner/
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operator and each MSW landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
owner/operator, as defined in § 60.31c,
to be responsible for compliance as
specified in paragraphs (e)(1) and (2) of
this section; provided, however, that if
the MSW landfill and the associated gas
collection, control, and/or treatment
system are under common control, the
entity exercising such control shall be
responsible for complying with the
requirements in both paragraphs (e)(1)
and (2) of this section.
(1) Municipal solid waste landfill
owners/operators are responsible for
complying with the requirements of this
subpart for the landfill and any portion
of the landfill gas collection, control, or
treatment system they own/operate. In
addition, if another entity owns/
operates the gas collection, control, or
treatment system used to comply with
the applicable requirements of this
subpart and for any reason (e.g.,
bankruptcy, abandonment of operation)
that entity ceases to accept the landfill
gas, responsibility for complying with
all applicable requirements to which
that entity was subject under this
subpart shall immediately apply to, and
be binding on, the landfill owner/
operator. The title V permits for landfill
owner/operator must be written to
require that the requirements applicable
to the owner/operator of the landfill gas
collection, control, and/or treatment
system immediately become applicable
requirements of the landfill owners/
operators whenever the owners/
operators of the landfill gas collection,
control, and/or treatment system cease
to accept the landfill gas.
(2) Municipal solid waste landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
owners/operators are responsible for
complying with the requirements of this
subpart for the portion of the landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
they own/operate.
4. Section 60.33c is amended by
revising paragraphs (c)(2) and (c)(3) to
read as follows:
§ 60.33c Emission guidelines for municipal
solid waste landfill emissions.
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*
*
*
*
*
(c) * * *
(2) A control system designed and
operated to reduce nonmethane organic
compounds (NMOC) by 98 weight
percent, or, when an enclosed
combustion device is used for control,
to either reduce NMOC by 98 weight
percent or to reduce the outlet to less
than 20 parts per million by volume, dry
basis as hexane at 3 percent oxygen. The
reduction efficiency or parts per million
by volume shall be established by an
initial performance test to be completed
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no later than the applicable compliance
date specified in § 60.36c. The
performance test is not required for
boilers and process heaters with design
heat input capacities equal to or greater
than 44 megawatts that burn landfill gas
for compliance with this subpart.
(3) Route the collected gas to a
treatment system that processes the
collected gas for subsequent sale as fuel
for combustion or use as a fuel for
combustion. Landfill gas sold as fuel for
combustion or used as a fuel for
combustion shall be treated in a
treatment system as defined in § 60.751
that meets the requirements of
§ 60.752(b)(2)(i)(D) and the monitoring,
recordkeeping, and reporting
requirements listed in §§ 60.756, 60.757,
and 60.758 that apply to treatment
systems. All emissions from any
atmospheric vent from the gas treatment
system shall be subject to the
requirements of paragraph (c)(1) or (2) of
this section. For purposes of this
subpart, atmospheric vents located on
the condensate storage tank are not part
of the treatment system and are exempt
from the requirements of paragraph
(c)(1) or (c)(2) of this section. The
owners/operators of the landfill gas
treatment system must ensure
compliance with these requirements.
The owner/operators of a combustion
device who use treated landfill gas as
fuel in a combustion device or purchase
treated landfill gas for fuel in a
combustion device shall be exempt from
further compliance with this subpart.
The treated gas must be used as a fuel,
and venting of treated landfill gas to the
ambient air or combustion in a flare is
not allowed under this option.
*
*
*
*
*
5. Section 60.36c is amended by
adding paragraph (c) to read as follows:
§ 60.36c
*
*
Compliance Times.
*
*
*
(c) Within nine months after [DATE
THE FINAL RULE AMENDMENTS ARE
PUBLISHED IN THE Federal Register],
each State shall adopt and submit to the
Administrator, revisions to their State
plan that implement the emission
guidelines and compliance times in this
subpart, as amended. Except as
provided under § 60.24, the revised
State plan shall include the revised
definitions in § 60.31c; the designated
facilities provisions in § 60.32c(a)
through (e) and the associated
recordkeeping requirement in
§ 60.758(g); the control and treatment
system requirements in § 60.33c(2) and
(3); the associated treatment system
monitoring, recordkeeping, and
reporting requirements in §§ 60.756
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53287
through 60.758 that are cross-referenced
in §§ 60.34c and 60.35c; and a
supplemental revised compliance
schedule.
Subpart WWW—[Amended]
6. Section 60.750 is amended by
revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:
§ 60.750 Applicability, designation of
affected facility, and delegation of authority.
(a) The provisions of this subpart
apply to each municipal solid waste
(MSW) landfill that commenced
construction, reconstruction, or
modification on or after May 30, 1991
and the stationary equipment used to
collect, control, or treat the landfill gas
from such MSW landfills required by
§ 60.752(b)(2). Physical or operational
changes made to an existing MSW
landfill solely to comply with an
applicable State plan or the Federal plan
implementing the requirements of
subpart Cc (Emission Guidelines and
Compliance Times for Municipal Solid
Waste Landfills) of this part are not
considered construction, reconstruction,
or modification for the purposes of this
subpart. Each MSW landfill owner/
operator and each MSW landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
owner/operator, as defined in § .751, is
responsible for compliance with this
subpart as specified in paragraphs (a)(1)
and (2) of this section; provided,
however, that if the MSW landfill and
the associated gas collection, control,
and/or treatment system are under
common control, the entity exercising
such control shall be responsible for
complying with the requirements in
both paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this
section.
(1) MSW landfill owners/operators are
responsible for complying with the
requirements of this subpart for the
landfill and any portion of the landfill
gas collection, control, or treatment
system they own/operate. In addition, if
another entity owns/operates the gas
collection, control, or treatment system
used to comply with the applicable
requirements of this subpart and for any
reason (e.g., bankruptcy, abandonment
of operation) that entity ceases to accept
the landfill gas, responsibility for
complying with all applicable
requirements to which that entity was
subject under this subpart shall
immediately apply to, and be binding
on, the landfill owner/operator. The title
V permits for landfill owners/operators
must be written to require that the
requirements applicable to the owners/
operators of the landfill gas collection,
control, and/or treatment system
immediately become applicable
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requirements of the landfill owner/
operator, whenever the owners/
operators of the landfill gas collection,
control, and/or treatment system cease
to accept the landfill gas.
(2) Municipal solid waste landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
owners/operators are responsible for
complying with the requirements of this
subpart for the portion of the landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
they own/operate.
*
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7. Section 60.751 is amended by:
a. Revising the definition of
‘‘Household waste’’; and
b. Adding the definitions of ‘‘Absolute
filtration rating,’’ ‘‘Municipal solid
waste landfill gas collection, control, or
treatment system owner/operator,’’
‘‘Municipal solid waste landfill owner/
operator,’’ ‘‘Segregated yard waste,’’
‘‘Treated landfill gas,’’ ‘‘Treatment
system,’’ and ‘‘Untreated landfill gas’’ in
alphabetical order to read as follows:
§ 60.751
Definitions.
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Absolute filtration rating means the
diameter of the largest hard spherical
particle that would pass through a filter.
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Household waste means any solid
waste (including garbage, trash, and
sanitary waste in septic tanks) derived
from households (including, but not
limited to, single and multiple
residences, hotels and motels,
bunkhouses, ranger stations, crew
quarters, campgrounds, picnic grounds,
and day-use recreation areas).
Household waste does not include fully
segregated yard waste.
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*
Municipal solid waste landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
owner/operator means any entity that
owns or operates any stationary
equipment required by § 60.752(b)(2) of
this subpart that is used to collect,
control, or treat landfill gas from an
MSW landfill that is subject, regardless
of the location of the control or
treatment system.
Municipal solid waste landfill owner/
operator means any entity that owns or
operates a municipal solid waste
landfill.
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Segregated yard waste means
vegetative matter resulting exclusively
from the cutting of grass, the pruning
and/or removal of bushes, shrubs, and
trees, the weeding of gardens, and other
landscaping maintenance activities.
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Treated landfill gas means landfill gas
processed in a treatment system
according to this subpart.
Treatment system means a system that
has an absolute filtration rating of 10
microns or less, lowers the water dew
point of the landfill gas by at least 20
degrees Fahrenheit with a de-watering
process, and compresses the landfill gas.
Untreated landfill gas means any
landfill gas that is not treated landfill
gas.
8. Section 60.752 is amended by:
a. Revising paragraph (b)(2)(i)(D),
paragraph (b)(2)(iii)(B) introductory text,
and paragraph (b)(2)(iii)(C); and
b. Adding paragraph (b)(2)(i)(E) and
paragraph (b)(2)(iii)(D) to read as
follows:
§ 60.752 Standards for air emissions from
municipal solid waste landfills.
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*
(b) * * *
(2) * * *
(i) * * *
(D) If the owner or operator chooses
to demonstrate compliance with the
emission control requirements of this
subpart using a treatment system as
defined in this subpart and according to
the requirements of paragraph (b)(iii)(C)
of this section, then the collection and
control system design plan must
include:
(1) Design specifications for the
filtration, de-watering, and compression
systems that demonstrate conformance
with the treatment system definition
contained in § 60.751.
(2) The minimum pressure drop
across the filtration system, or other
monitoring parameter(s) and operating
ranges that indicate proper performance
of the filtration system. The collection
and control plan must include
information, such as manufacturer’s
recommendations or engineering
analyses, to justify the minimum
pressure drop or operating ranges for
other monitoring parameters.
(3) The minimum landfill gas
temperature reduction across a chillerbased de-watering system, the minimum
landfill gas dew point reduction for a
non-chiller-based de-watering system,
or other operating parameters and
operating ranges that indicate proper
performance of the de-watering system.
If the owner/operator requests approval
to monitor temperature or dew point at
a single location, such as the outlet of
the chiller or de-watering system, rather
than at both the inlet and outlet, the
design plan must demonstrate that the
proposed monitoring location and sitespecific maximum temperature or
maximum dew point are sufficient to
indicate that the dew point has been
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reduced by at least 20 degrees
Fahrenheit, according to the treatment
system definition. The collection and
control plan must include information,
such as manufacturer’s
recommendations or engineering
analyses, to justify the operating ranges
for temperature, dew point, or other
monitoring parameters.
(E) The Administrator shall review
the information submitted under
paragraphs (b)(2)(i)(A), (B), (C), and (D)
of this section and either approve,
disapprove, or request that additional
information be submitted. Because of
the many site-specific factors involved
with landfill gas system design,
alternative systems may be necessary. A
wide variety of system designs are
possible, such as vertical wells,
combination horizontal and vertical
collection systems, or horizontal
trenches only, leachate collection
components, and passive systems.
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(iii) * * *
(B) A control system designed and
operated to reduce NMOC by 98 weight
percent, or, when an enclosed
combustion device is used for control,
to either reduce NMOC by 98 weight
percent or to reduce the outlet to less
than 20 parts per million by volume, dry
basis as hexane at 3 percent oxygen. The
reduction efficiency or parts per million
by volume shall be established by an
initial performance test to be completed
no later than 180 days after the initial
startup of the approved control system
using the test methods specified in
§ 60.754(d). The performance test is not
required for boilers and process heaters
with design heat input capacities equal
to or greater than 44 megawatts that
burn landfill gas for compliance with
this subpart.
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(C) Route the collected gas to a
treatment system that processes the
collected gas for subsequent sale as a
fuel for combustion or use as a fuel for
combustion. Landfill gas sold as a fuel
for combustion or used as a fuel for
combustion shall be treated in a
treatment system as defined in § 60.751
that meets the requirements of
§ 60.752(b)(2)(i)(D) and the monitoring,
recordkeeping, and reporting
requirements of this subpart that apply
to treatment systems. All emissions
from any atmospheric vent from the gas
treatment system shall be subject to the
requirements of paragraph (b)(2)(iii)(A)
or paragraph (b)(2)(iii)(B) of this section.
For purposes of this rule, atmospheric
vents located on the condensate storage
tank are not part of the treatment system
and are exempt from the requirements
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of paragraph (b)(2)(iii)(A) or (b)(2)(iii)(B)
of this section. The owner/operator of
the landfill gas treatment system must
ensure compliance with the treatment
requirements. The owner/operator of a
combustion device who uses treated
landfill gas as a fuel in a combustion
device or purchases treated landfill gas
for fuel in a combustion device shall be
exempt from further compliance with
this subpart. The treated gas must be
used as a fuel, and venting of treated
landfill gas to the ambient air or
combustion in a flare is not allowed
under this option.
(D) If an owner/operator complied
with the requirements of paragraph
(b)(2)(iii) of this section by installing
and operating a gas treatment system on
or before September 8, 2006, the owner/
operator must ensure that the treatment
system meets the treatment system
definition in § 60.751, submit a design
plan update including the information
specified in paragraph (b)(2)(i)(D) of this
section, meet the requirements of
paragraph (b)(2)(iii)(C) of this section,
and implement all treatment system
operating, compliance, monitoring,
recordkeeping, and reporting
requirements of this subpart as
expeditiously as practicable, but no later
than [DATE 1 YEAR AFTER THE FINAL
RULE AMENDMENTS ARE
PUBLISHED IN THE Federal Register].
Alternatively, the owner/operator may
elect to comply with the control
requirements in paragraph (b)(2)(iii)(A)
or paragraph (b)(2)(iii)(B) of this section;
submit a design plan update for the
control system; and comply with all
control system operational, testing,
compliance, monitoring, recordkeeping,
and reporting requirements of this
subpart as expeditiously as practicable,
but no later than [DATE 1 YEAR AFTER
THE FINAL RULE AMENDMENTS ARE
PUBLISHED IN THE Federal Register].
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*
9. Section 60.755 is amended by
revising paragraph (c)(3) and paragraph
(e) to read as follows:
§ 60.755
Compliance provisions.
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(c) * * *
(3) Surface emission monitoring shall
be performed in accordance with
section 8.3.1 of Method 21 of appendix
A of this part, except that the probe inlet
shall be placed within 5 to 10
centimeters of the ground. Monitoring
shall be performed during typical
meteorological conditions.
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(e) The provisions of the subpart
apply at all times, except during periods
of startup, shutdown, and malfunction
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and periods of routine maintenance of
the landfill gas collection, control, or
treatment systems. The provisions of
§ 60.11(d) continue to apply during
periods of startup, shutdown,
malfunction, and routine maintenance
of the landfill gas collection, control, or
treatment systems. Routine maintenance
activities must be completed and
malfunctions must be corrected as soon
as practicable after their occurrence in
order to minimize emissions.
10. Section 60.756 is amended by
adding paragraph (g) to read as follows:
§ 60.756
Monitoring of operations.
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*
(g) Each owner or operator seeking to
demonstrate compliance with
§ 60.752(b)(2)(iii) using a landfill gas
treatment system shall calibrate,
maintain, and operate according to the
manufacturer’s specifications, the
following equipment.
(1) A device that monitors pressure
drop across, or other approved
parameter(s) for, the filtration system
that is equipped with a continuous
recorder that shall record such
parameters at least once every 15
minutes. Records of hourly and 24-hour
block averages computed from the
continuous monitoring data must also
be retained.
(2) A device that monitors the landfill
gas temperature for a chiller-based dewatering system, the landfill gas dew
point for a non-chiller-based dewatering system, or the approved
operating parameter(s) for the dewatering system at the monitoring
locations specified in the approved
design plan required under
§ 60.752(b)(2)(i)(D). Each monitoring
device must be equipped with a
continuous recorder that shall record
such parameters at least once every 15
minutes. Records of hourly and 24-hour
block averages computed from the
continuous monitoring data must also
be retained.
(3) A device that records flow to or
bypass of the treatment system. The
owner or operator shall either:
(i) Install, calibrate, and maintain a
gas flow rate measuring device that shall
record the flow to the control device at
least every 15 minutes; or
(ii) Secure the bypass line valve in the
closed position with a car-seal or a lockand-key type configuration. A visual
inspection of the seal or closure
mechanism shall be performed at least
once every month to ensure that the
valve is maintained in the closed
position and that the gas flow is not
diverted through the bypass line.
11. Section 60.757 is amended by
revising paragraphs (f) introductory text
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53289
and (f)(1) through (f)(3) to read as
follows:
§ 60.757
Reporting requirements.
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*
(f) The owner or operator seeking to
comply with § 60.752(b)(2) using an
active collection system designed in
accordance with § 60.752(b)(2)(ii) shall
submit to the Administrator annual
reports of the recorded information in
paragraphs (f)(1) through (6) of this
section. The initial annual report shall
be submitted within 180 days of
installation and start-up of the
collection, control, or treatment system,
and shall include the initial
performance test report required under
§ 60.8, as applicable. For enclosed
combustion devices, treatment systems,
and flares, reportable exceedances are
defined under § 60.758(c).
(1) Value and length of time for
exceedance of applicable parameters
monitored under § 60.756(a), (b), (c), (d),
and (g).
(2) Description and duration of all
periods when the gas stream is diverted
from the control device or treatment
system through a bypass line or the
indication of a bypass flow as specified
under § 60.756.
(3) Description and duration of all
periods when the control device or
treatment system was not operating for
a period exceeding 1 hour and length of
time the control device or treatment
system was not operating.
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*
12. Section 60.758 is amended by:
a. Revising paragraph (b) introductory
text, paragraph (b)(2)(i), paragraph (c)
introductory text; and paragraph
(c)(1)(i); and
b. Adding paragraph (b)(5), paragraph
(c)(1)(iii); and paragraph (g) to read as
follows:
§ 60.758
Recordkeeping requirements.
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*
(b) Except as provided in
§ 60.752(b)(2)(i)(B), for controlled
landfills, the owner or operator shall
keep up-to-date, readily accessible
records for the life of the control
equipment or treatment system of the
data listed in paragraphs (b)(1) through
(5) of this section as measured during
the initial performance test or
compliance demonstration, or as
submitted and approved under
§ 60.752(b)(2)(i)(D). Records of
subsequent tests or monitoring shall be
maintained for a minimum of 5 years.
Records of the control device or
treatment system vendor specifications
shall be maintained until removal.
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(2) * * *
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 174 / Friday, September 8, 2006 / Proposed Rules
(i) The average temperature measured
at least every 15 minutes and averaged
over the same time period of the
performance test.
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(5) Where an owner or operator
subject to the provisions of this subpart
seeks to demonstrate compliance with
§ 60.752(b)(2)(iii) through the use of a
treatment system:
(i) The approved minimum pressure
drop across the filtration system, or the
approved operating ranges for other
monitoring parameter(s) that indicate
proper performance of the filtration
system, as specified in the approved
design plan required by
§ 60.752(b)(2)(i)(D).
(ii) The approved minimum
temperature reduction or approved
maximum outlet temperature of a
chiller-based de-watering system, the
approved minimum dew point
reduction or maximum outlet dew point
of a non-chiller-based de-watering
system, or the approved operating
ranges for other monitoring parameter(s)
that indicate proper performance of the
de-watering system, as specified in the
approved design plan required by
§ 60.752(b)(2)(i)(D).
(c) Except as provided in
§ 60.752(b)(2)(i)(B), for a controlled
landfill subject to the provisions of this
subpart, the owner or operator shall
keep for 5 years up-to-date, readily
accessible continuous records of the
equipment operating parameters
specified to be monitored under
§ 60.756 as well as up-to-date, readily
accessible records for periods of
operation during which the parameter
boundaries measured during the most
recent performance test or submitted
and approved under § 60.752(b)(2)(i)(D)
are exceeded.
(1) * * *
(i) For enclosed combustors, except
for boilers and process heaters with
design heat input capacity of 44
megawatts (150 million British thermal
units (Btu) per hour) or greater, all 3hour periods of operation during which
the average temperature was more than
28 °C below the average temperature
during the most recent performance test
at which compliance with
§ 60.752(b)(2)(iii) was determined.
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*
(iii) For treatment systems used to
demonstrate compliance with
§ 60.752(b)(2)(iii), all 24-hour periods of
operation during which the average
operating parameter values are outside
of the approved ranges identified in
§ 60.752(b)(2)(i)(D) as those that indicate
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proper performance of the treatment
system.
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(g) Where multiple entities exist
under the definitions of ‘‘Municipal
solid waste landfill owner/operator’’
and ‘‘Municipal solid waste landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
owner/operator’’ for an individual MSW
landfill and its required gas collection,
control, or treatment systems, all
entities must keep a list that shows
regulatory section and paragraph
numbers, documenting which aspects of
the requirements of §§ 60.752 through
60.759 each party will comply with. The
list must include all requirements of
this subpart that apply to the MSW
landfill and all required gas collection,
control, or treatment systems. If the list
does not correctly identify all applicable
provisions, all entities involved are
responsible for compliance with the
missing items. All entities must keep an
identical copy of the list on site and
must comply with those provisions on
the applicable list that are assigned to
them until such time as the list may be
modified. The list must be kept up-todate. The current list and all previously
modified lists must be maintained on
site for 5 years after the date each list
was modified. If a gas collection,
control, or treatment system was
installed to comply with this subpart on
or before September 8, 2006, the list
showing the requirements that each
party will comply with must be
completed as expeditiously as
practicable, but no later than [DATE 1
YEAR AFTER THE FINAL RULE
AMENDMENTS ARE PUBLISHED IN
THE Federal Register]. Entities meeting
the definition of ‘‘Municipal solid waste
landfill owner/operator’’ or ‘‘Municipal
solid waste landfill gas collection,
control, or treatment system owner/
operator’’ may be held responsible for
compliance with this subpart as
specified in § 60.750(a)(1) and (2).
PART 62—[AMENDED]
13. The authority citation for part 62
continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401, et seq.
Subpart GGG—[Amended]
14. Section 62.14351 is amended by
adding the definitions of ‘‘Municipal
solid waste landfill gas collection,
control, or treatment system owner/
operator’’ and ‘‘Municipal solid waste
landfill owner/operator’’ in alphabetical
order to read as follows:
§ 62.14351
Definitions
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Municipal solid waste landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
owner/operator means any entity that
owns or operates any stationary
equipment required by § 62.14353 that
is used to collect, control, or treat
landfill gas from an MSW landfill that
is a designated facility under
§ 62.14352(a), regardless of the location
of the control or treatment system.
Municipal solid waste landfill owner/
operator means any entity that owns or
operates a municipal solid waste
landfill that is a designated facility
under § 62.14352(a).
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15. Section 62.14352 is amended by:
a. Revising paragraph (a) introductory
text; and
b. Adding paragraph (g) to read as
follows:
§ 62.14352
Designated facilities.
(a) The designated facility to which
this subpart applies is each existing
MSW landfill, and the stationary
equipment used to collect, control, or
treat the landfill gas from such MSW
landfills as required by § 62.14353 of
this subpart, in all States, protectorates,
and Indian Country that meets the
conditions of paragraphs (a)(1) and (2)
of this section, except for landfills
exempted by paragraphs (b) and (c) of
this section.
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(g) Each MSW landfill owner/operator
and each MSW landfill gas collection,
control, or treatment system owner/
operator, as defined in § 62.14351, is
responsible for compliance as specified
in paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) of this
section; provided, however, that if the
MSW landfill and the associated gas
collection, control, and/or treatment
system are under common control, the
entity exercising such control shall be
responsible for complying with the
requirements in both paragraphs (g)(1)
and (2) of this section.
(1) Municipal solid waste landfill
owners/operators are responsible for
complying with the requirements of this
subpart for the landfill and any portion
of the landfill gas collection, control, or
treatment system they own/operate. In
addition, if another entity owns/
operates the gas collection, control, or
treatment system and for any reason
(e.g., bankruptcy, abandonment of
operation) that entity ceases to accept
the landfill gas, responsibility for
complying with all applicable
requirements to which that entity was
subject under this subpart shall
immediately apply to, and be binding
on, the landfill owner/operator. The title
V permits for landfill owners/operators
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must be written to require that the
requirements applicable to the owners/
operators of the landfill gas collection,
control, and/or treatment system
immediately become applicable
requirements of the landfill owner/
operator whenever the owners/operators
of the landfill gas collection, control,
and/or treatment system cease to accept
the landfill gas.
(2) Municipal solid waste landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
owners/operator are responsible for
complying with the requirements of this
subpart for the portion of the landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
they own/operate.
PART 63—[AMENDED]
16. The authority citation for part 63
continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401, et seq.
Subpart AAAA—[Amended]
17. Section 63.1935 is amended by
adding paragraphs (c) and (d) to read as
follows:
§ 63.1935
Am I subject to this subpart?
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(c) You are subject to this subpart if
you own or operate stationary
equipment required by § 63.1947 or
§ 63.1955 that is used to collect, control,
or treat landfill gas from a municipal
solid waste landfill that is subject to this
subpart (regardless of the location of the
control or treatment system).
(d) Each municipal solid waste
landfill owner/operator and each
municipal solid waste landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
owner/operator, as defined in § 63.1990,
is responsible for compliance with this
subpart as specified in paragraphs (d)(1)
and (2) of this section; provided,
however, that if the municipal solid
waste landfill and the associated gas
collection, control, and/or treatment
system are under common control, the
entity exercising such control shall be
responsible for complying with the
requirements in both paragraphs (d)(1)
and (2) of this section.
(1) Municipal solid waste landfill
owners/operators are responsible for
complying with the requirements of this
subpart for the landfill and any portion
of the landfill gas collection, control, or
treatment system they own/operate. In
addition, if another entity owns/
operates the gas collection, control, or
treatment system and for any reason
(e.g., bankruptcy, abandonment of
operation) that entity ceases to accept
the landfill gas, responsibility for
complying with all applicable
requirements to which that entity was
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subject under this subpart shall
immediately apply to, and be binding
on, the landfill owner/operator. The title
V permits for landfill owners/operators
must be written to require that the
requirements applicable to the owners/
operators of the landfill gas collection,
control, and/or treatment system
immediately become applicable
requirements of the landfill owner/
operator whenever the owners/operators
of the landfill gas collection, control,
and/or treatment system cease to accept
the landfill gas.
(2) Municipal solid waste landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
owners/operators are responsible for
complying with the requirements of this
subpart for the portion of the landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
they own/operate.
18. Section § 63.1940 is amended by
revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:
§ 63.1940 What is the affected source of
this subpart?
(a) An affected source of this subpart
is a MSW landfill, as defined in
§ 63.1990, that meets the criteria in
§ 63.1935(a) or § 63.1935 (b). The
affected source includes the entire
disposal facility in a contiguous
geographic space where household
waste is placed in or on land, including
any portion of the MSW landfill
operated as a bioreactor. The affected
source also includes stationary
equipment required by § 63.1947 or
§ 63.1955 that is used to collect, control,
or treat landfill gas from a MSW landfill
that is subject to this subpart (regardless
of the location of the control or
treatment system).
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19. Section 63.1945 is amended by
revising paragraph (d) to read as
follows:
§ 63.1945 When do I have to comply with
this subpart?
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*
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*
(d) If your landfill is an existing
affected source and is a major source or
is collocated with a major source, you
must comply with the requirements in
§ 63.1955(b) and §§ 63.1960 through
63.1980 by the date your landfill is
required to install a collection and
control system by 40 CFR 60.752(b)(2) of
subpart WWW, the Federal plan, or EPA
approved and effective State or tribal
plan that applies to your landfill or by
January 16, 2004, whichever occurs
later.
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*
20. Section 63.1955 is amended by
revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:
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§ 63.1955
53291
What requirements must I meet?
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(c) For approval of collection and
control systems that include any
alternatives to the operational
standards, test methods, procedures,
compliance measures, monitoring,
recordkeeping, or reporting provisions,
you must follow the procedures in 40
CFR 60.752(b)(2) of subpart WWW. If
alternatives have already been approved
under 40 CFR part 60, subpart WWW,
or the Federal plan, or EPA-approved
and effective State or tribal plan, those
alternatives can be used to comply with
this subpart, except that all affected
sources must comply with the startup,
shutdown, and malfunction
requirements in subpart A of this part as
specified in Table 1 of this subpart; and
all affected sources must submit
compliance reports every 6 months as
specified in § 63.1980(a) and (b),
including information on all deviations
that occurred during the 6-month
reporting period. Deviations for
continuous emission monitors or
numerical continuous parameter
monitors must be determined using a 3hour monitoring block average for
control systems used to demonstrate
compliance with 40 CFR
60.752(b)(iii)(B) of subpart WWW, or a
24-hour monitoring block average for
treatment systems used to demonstrate
compliance with 40 CFR
60.752(b)(iii)(C) of subpart WWW.
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21. Section 63.1960 is revised to read
as follows:
§ 63.1960
How is compliance determined?
Compliance is determined in the same
way it is determined for 40 CFR part 60,
subpart WWW, including performance
testing, monitoring of the collection
system, continuous parameter
monitoring, and other credible
evidence. In addition, continuous
parameter monitoring data, collected
under 40 CFR 60.756(b)(1), (c)(1), (d)
and (g) of subpart WWW, are used to
demonstrate compliance with the
operating conditions for control systems
or treatment systems. If a deviation
occurs, you have failed to meet the
control device or treatment system
operating conditions described in this
subpart and have deviated from the
requirements of this subpart. Finally,
you must develop a written SSM plan
according to the provisions in
§ 63.6(e)(3). Your SSM plan must
include a plan for conducting routine
maintenance on the landfill gas
collection, control, and treatment
systems. The routine maintenance plan
must include maintenance procedures,
actions that will be taken to minimize
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emissions during maintenance,
shutdown frequency, shutdown
duration, and procedures for
minimizing emissions during startup
and shutdown of the collection, control,
and/or treatment systems for routine
maintenance. A copy of the SSM plan
must be maintained on site. Failure to
write or maintain a copy of the SSM
plan is a deviation from the
requirements of this subpart.
22. Section 63.1965 is amended by
revising paragraphs (a) and (b) to read
as follows:
§ 63.1965
What is a deviation?
*
*
*
*
*
(a) A deviation occurs when the
control device or treatment system
operating parameter boundaries
described in 40 CFR 60.758(c)(1) of
subpart WWW are exceeded.
(b) A deviation occurs when 1 hour or
more of the hours during the applicable
3-hour, or 24-hour, block averaging
period specified in 40 CFR 60.758(c)(1)
of subpart WWW does not constitute a
valid hour of data. A valid hour of data
must have measured values for at least
three 15-minute monitoring periods
within the hour.
*
*
*
*
*
23. Section 63.1975 is revised to read
as follows:
§ 63.1975 How do I calculate the block
average used to demonstrate compliance?
Averages are calculated in the same
way as they are calculated in 40 CFR
part 60, subpart WWW, except that
averages computed under this subpart
shall not include periods of monitoring
system breakdowns, repairs, calibration
checks, and zero (low-level) and highlevel adjustments.
24. Section 63.1980 is amended by
adding paragraphs (i) and (j) to read as
follows:
§ 63.1980 What records and reports must
I keep and submit?
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*
*
*
*
*
(i) In lieu of meeting the requirements
of § 63.10(d)(5)(i) and (ii) of subpart A
for periodic and immediate startup,
shutdown, and malfunction reports, you
must comply with the requirements of
paragraphs (i)(1) and (2) of this section.
(1) Periodic startup, shutdown, and
malfunction reports. The owner or
operator shall report each startup,
shutdown, and malfunction (including
startups and shutdowns of the landfill
gas collection, control, or treatment
system for routine maintenance) that
occurred during the semiannual
compliance reporting period. Such
report shall include the date, duration,
and identification of each startup,
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shutdown, and malfunction event
(including startups and shutdowns of
the landfill gas collection, control, or
treatment system for routine
maintenance) and any actions taken that
were inconsistent with the SSM plan. In
any instance where any action taken by
an owner or operator during a startup,
shutdown, or malfunction (including
actions taken to correct a malfunction
and actions taken during startup or
shutdown of the landfill gas collection,
control, or treatment system for routine
maintenance) is not consistent with the
affected source’s SSM plan, the report
also shall include a brief description of
the startup, shutdown, or malfunction
event. Reports shall be required only if
a startup, shutdown, or malfunction
(including startups or shutdowns of the
landfill gas collection, control, or
treatment system for routine
maintenance) occurred during the
reporting period. The startup,
shutdown, and malfunction report shall
consist of a letter, containing the name,
title, and signature of the owner or
operator or other responsible official
who is certifying its accuracy, that shall
be submitted to the Administrator every
6 months with the reports described in
paragraph (a) or paragraph (c) through
(f) of this section.
(2) Immediate startup, shutdown, and
malfunction reports. Any time an action
taken by an owner or operator during a
startup, shutdown, or malfunction
(including actions taken to correct a
malfunction and actions taken during
startup or shutdown of the landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
for routine maintenance) is not
consistent with the procedures specified
in the affected source’s SSM plan, the
owner or operator shall report the
actions taken for that event within 2
working days after commencing actions
inconsistent with the plan followed by
a letter within 7 working days after the
end of the event. If the duration of any
shutdown or malfunction event
(including any shutdown of the landfill
gas collection, control, or treatment
system for routine maintenance)
exceeds 5 days, the owner or operator
shall report the event within 2 working
days of the date the duration of the
event exceeds 5 days, followed up by a
letter within 7 working days after the
end of the event. The immediate reports
required under this paragraph (i)(2)
shall consist of a telephone call (or
facsimile (fax) transmission) to the
Administrator within 2 working days,
and it shall be followed by a letter,
delivered or postmarked within 7
working days after the end of the event,
that contains the name, title, and
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signature of the owner or operator or
other responsible official who is
certifying its accuracy, explaining the
circumstances of the event and the
reasons for not following the SSM plan.
If the duration of any shutdown or
malfunction event (including any
shutdown of the landfill gas collection,
control, or treatment system for routine
maintenance) exceeds 5 days, the
immediate report shall also include the
reasons that the duration of the event
exceeded 5 days and actions taken to
minimize the duration of the event.
Notwithstanding the requirements of the
previous sentences in this paragraph
(i)(2), after the effective date of an
approved permit program in the State in
which an affected source is located, the
owner or operator may make alternative
reporting arrangements, in advance,
with the permitting authority in that
State. Procedures governing the
arrangement of alternative reporting
requirements under this paragraph (i)(2)
are specified in § 63.9(i) of subpart A.
(j) Where multiple entities exist under
the definitions of ‘‘Municipal solid
waste landfill owner/operator’’ and
‘‘Municipal solid waste landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
owner/operator’’ for an individual MSW
landfill and its required gas collection,
control, or treatment systems, all
entities must keep a list that shows
regulatory section and paragraph
numbers, documenting which aspects of
the requirements of §§ 63.1945 through
63.1980 each entity will comply with.
The list must include all requirements
of this subpart that apply to the MSW
landfill and all required gas collection,
control, or treatment systems. If the list
does not correctly identify all applicable
provisions, all entities involved are
responsible for compliance with the
missing requirements. All entities must
keep an identical copy of the list on site
and must comply with those provisions
on the applicable list that are assigned
to them until such time as the list may
be modified. The list must be kept upto-date. The current list and all
previously modified lists must be
maintained on site for 5 years after the
date each list was modified. If a gas
collection, control, or treatment system
was installed to comply with this
subpart on or before September 8, 2006,
the list showing the requirements that
each party will comply with must be
completed no later than [DATE 1 YEAR
AFTER THE FINAL RULE
AMENDMENTS ARE PUBLISHED IN
THE Federal Register]. Entities meeting
the definition of ‘‘Municipal solid waste
landfill owner/operator’’ or ‘‘Municipal
solid waste landfill gas collection,
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control, or treatment system owner/
operator’’ may be held responsible for
compliance with this subpart as
specified in § 63.1935(d)(1) and (2).
25. Section 63.1990 is amended by
revising the definition of ‘‘Bioreactor’’
and adding a definition of ‘‘Municipal
solid waste landfill gas collection,
control, or treatment system owner/
operator’’ in alphabetical order to read
as follows:
§ 63.1990
subpart?
What definitions apply to this
Bioreactor means an MSW landfill or
portion of a municipal solid waste
landfill where any liquid other than
leachate (leachate includes landfill gas
condensate) is added in a controlled
fashion into the waste mass (often in
combination with recirculating leachate)
to reach a minimum average moisture
content of at least 40 percent by weight,
calculated on a wet weight basis, to
accelerate or enhance the anaerobic
(without oxygen) biodegradation of the
waste.
*
*
*
*
*
Municipal solid waste landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment system
owner/operator means any entity that
owns or operates any stationary
53293
equipment required by 40 CFR
60.752(b)(2) of subpart WWW or
§ 63.1947 or § 63.1955 that is used to
collect, control, or treat landfill gas from
a municipal solid waste landfill that is
subject to this subpart (regardless of the
location of the control or treatment
system).
*
*
*
*
*
26. Table 1 to subpart AAAA of part
63 is amended by:
a. Revising the entry for § 63.6(e).
b. Adding a new entry in numerical
order for § 63.9(i).
c. Removing the entry for § 63.10(d)(5)
to read as follows:
TABLE 1 TO SUBPART AAAA OF PART 63.—APPLICABILITY OF NESHAP GENERAL PROVISIONS TO SUBPART AAAA
Part 63 citation
Description
Explanation
*
*
§ 63.6(e), except § 63.6(e)(3)(iv) .......................
*
*
Operation and maintenance
SSM plan provisions.
*
requirements,
*
*
§ 63.9(i) .............................................................
*
*
*
Provisions to adjust the time periods for postmark deadlines for submitting required reports.
*
*
Affected sources are subject to the provisions
in § 63.1980(i)(2) instead of § 63.6(e)(3)(iv).
*
*
Allows adjustment of timing of reports.
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 174 (Friday, September 8, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53272-53293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7493]
[[Page 53271]]
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Part III
Environmental Protection Agency
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
40 CFR Parts 60, 62, and 63
Standards of Performance, Emission Guidelines, and Federal Plan for
Municipal Solid Waste Landfills and National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants; Municipal Solid Waste Landfills; Proposed
Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 174 / Friday, September 8, 2006 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 53272]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 60, 62, and 63
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0215; FRL-8217-6]
RIN 2060-AJ41 and A2060-AH13
Standards of Performance, Emission Guidelines, and Federal Plan
for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills and National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants: Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule; amendments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA is proposing amendments to the ``Standards of Performance
for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills'' (Landfills NSPS), to the
``Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste
Landfills'' (landfills emission guidelines), to the ``National Emission
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Municipal Solid Waste
Landfills'' (Landfills NESHAP), and to the ``Federal Plan Requirements
for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills that Commenced Construction Prior
to May 30, 1991 and Have Not Been Modified or Reconstructed since May
30, 1991'' (landfills Federal plan). The proposed amendments to the
Landfills NSPS are supplemental amendments to those proposed on May 23,
2002. Based on public comments on the proposed amendments and
additional analysis, we are proposing supplemental amendments to the
Landfills NSPS to clarify what constitutes treated landfill gas. We are
also proposing amendments to the Landfills NSPS, emission guidelines,
Federal plan, and Landfills NESHAP to clarify who is responsible for
compliance activities where multiple parties are involved in the
ownership or operation of a landfill and the associated landfill gas
collection, control, and/or treatment systems. In addition, we are
proposing revisions to both the Landfills NSPS and the Landfills NESHAP
regarding startup, shutdown, malfunction, and routine maintenance.
The proposed amendments to the Landfills NSPS would also serve to
amend the emission guidelines and the Federal plan for existing
municipal solid waste landfills because these rules incorporate the
provisions of the ``Standards of Performance for Municipal Solid Waste
Landfills.'' We are proposing changes to the emission guidelines and
Federal plan themselves to reflect the proposed changes to the
Landfills NSPS where these rules did not directly incorporate the
provisions of the Landfills NSPS.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 7, 2006.
Public Hearing. If anyone contacts EPA by September 28, 2006
requesting to speak at a public hearing, EPA will hold a public hearing
on October 10, 2006. If you are interested in attending the public
hearing, contact Karen Rackley at (919) 541-0634 to verify that a
hearing will be held.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2003-0215, by one of the following methods:
www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for
submitting comments.
E-mail: Send your comments via electronic mail to a-and-r-
docket@epa.gov, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0215.
Fax: Fax your comments to (202) 566-1741, Attention Docket
ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0215.
Mail: By U.S. Postal Service, send your comments to: EPA
Docket Center (EPA/DC), Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code
6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, Attention
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0215. Please include a total of two
copies. The EPA requests a separate copy also be sent to the contact
person identified below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
Hand Delivery: In person or by courier, deliver your
comments to: EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West Building, Room B-108,
1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20004, Attention Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0215. Such deliveries are accepted only during the
normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays), and special arrangements should be
made for deliveries of boxed information.
Note: The EPA Docket Center suffered damage due to flooding
during the last week of June 2006. The Docket Center is continuing
to operate. However, during the cleanup, there will be temporary
changes to Docket Center telephone numbers, addresses, and hours of
operation for people who wish to make hand deliveries or visit the
Public Reading Room to view documents. Consult EPA's Federal
Register notice at 71 FR 38147 (July 5, 2006), or the EPA Web site
at https://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm for current information on
docket operations, locations, and telephone numbers. The Docket
Center's mailing address for U.S. mail and the procedure for
submitting comments to www.regulations.gov are not affected by the
flooding and will remain the same.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2003-0215. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided,
unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to
be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or e-mail.
The www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous access'' system,
which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information
unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-
mail comment directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov,
your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part
of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available
on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends
that you include your name and other contact information in the body of
your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read
your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for
clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic
files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of
encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional
information about EPA's public docket, visit the EPA Docket Center
homepage at https://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
Public Hearing: If a public hearing is held, it will be held at the
EPA Facility Complex located at 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research
Triangle Park, NC, or an alternate site nearby.
Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, i.e., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such
as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be
publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket
materials are available either electronically in www.regulations.gov or
in hard copy at the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West Building, Room
B-102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The Public Reading
Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading
Room is (202) 566-1744,
[[Page 53273]]
and the telephone number for the EPA Docket Center is (202) 566-1742.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Karen Rackley, Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards, Sector Policies and Programs Division,
Coatings and Chemicals Group (E143-01), U.S. EPA, Research Triangle
Park, NC 27711; telephone number: (919) 541-0634, e-mail address:
rackley.karen@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulated Entities. Categories and entities potentially regulated
by the proposed amendments include municipal solid waste (MSW)
landfills and owners/operators of combustion devices that burn
untreated landfill gas, which may include the following entities:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Examples of potentially
Category NAICS* code regulated entities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry: Air and water 924110 Solid waste landfills.
resource and solid waste
management.
Industry: Refuse systems--solid 562212 Solid waste landfills.
waste landfills.
State, local, and tribal 562212 Solid waste landfills;
government agencies. 924110 Air and water resource
and solid waste
management.
Any industry, commercial 4911 Electric power
business, or institution or generation,
utility that burns untreated transmission, or
landfill gas in a distribution.
reciprocating engine, turbine,
boiler, or other combustion
device (e.g., for energy
recovery).
49 Electric, gas, and
sanitary services.
37 Manufacturers of motor
vehicle parts and
accessories.
82 Educational services.
29 Petroleum refineries
and manufacturers of
coal products.
28 Chemical manufacturers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*North American Industry Classification System.
This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a
guide for readers regarding entities likely to be regulated by the
proposed amendments. To determine whether your facility would be
regulated by the proposed amendments, you should carefully examine the
applicability criteria in 40 CFR 60.32c of subpart Cc, 40 CFR 60.750 of
subpart WWW, 40 CFR 62.14352 of subpart GGG, or 40 CFR 63.1935 and 40
CFR 63.1940 of subpart AAAA. If you have any questions regarding the
applicability of the proposed amendments to a particular entity,
contact the person listed in the preceding FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section.
Docket. The docket number for the proposed amendments to the
Landfills NSPS (40 CFR part 60, subpart WWW), emission guidelines (40
CFR part 60, subpart Cc), Federal plan (40 CFR part 62, subpart GGG),
and Landfills NESHAP (40 CFR part 63, subpart AAAA) is Docket ID No.
EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0215. Docket ID No. A-88-09 contains supporting
information for the landfills NSPS and emission guidelines and Docket
ID No. EPA-OAR-2002-0047 and Docket ID No. A-98-28 contain the
supporting information for the Landfills NESHAP. Docket ID No. A-98-03
and Docket ID No. A-88-09 contain supporting information for the
landfills Federal plan.
WorldWide Web (WWW). In addition to being available in the docket,
an electronic copy of the proposed amendments is available on the WWW
through the Technology Transfer Network Website (TTN). Following
signature, EPA will post a copy of the proposed amendments on the TTN's
policy and guidance page for newly proposed or promulgated rules at
https://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg. The TTN provides information and
technology exchange in various areas of air pollution control.
Outline. The information presented in this preamble is organized as
follows:
I. Background
A. What rules affect MSW landfills?
B. What is the purpose of the proposed amendments?
II. Summary of the Proposed Amendments
A. What changes did we propose to the Landfills NSPS on May 23,
2002?
B. What supplemental amendments are we proposing to the
Landfills NSPS, emission guidelines, and Federal plan?
C. What changes are we proposing to the Landfills NSPS and
Landfills NESHAP regarding startup, shutdown, and malfunction?
D. What other corrections and clarifications are we proposing?
E. Are we requesting public comment on any other issues?
III. Rationale for the Proposed Supplemental Amendments
A. Definition of Landfill Owner/Operator and Allowance for Off-
site Control or Treatment Option
B. Definitions for Treated Landfill Gas and Treatment System and
Clarification to the Treatment Option
IV. Rationale for Proposed Landfills NSPS and Landfills NESHAP
Amendments Regarding Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction
A. Proposed Landfills NSPS Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction
Provisions
B. Proposed Landfills NESHAP Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction
Provisions
V. Rationale for Other Proposed Corrections and Clarifications
A. Clarification of Temperature Monitoring for Enclosed
Combustors
B. Correction of Cross-Reference in the Landfills NSPS
C. Clarification of Bioreactor Moisture Content Determination
for the Landfills NESHAP
D. Correction of Date in the Landfills NESHAP
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
E. Executive Order 13132, Federalism
F. Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with
Indian Tribal Governments
G. Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children from
Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks
H. Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
I. Background
A. What rules affect MSW landfills?
On March 12, 1996 (61 FR 9905), we promulgated the emission
guidelines for existing MSW landfills and the NSPS for new or modified
MSW landfills under authority of section 111 of the Clean Air Act
(CAA). The goal of the emission guidelines and NSPS is to control
landfill gas emissions to the level achievable through the application
of the best system of emissions reductions which (taking into account
the cost of such reduction and any non-air quality health and
environmental impact and energy requirements) we determine has been
adequately demonstrated. This is termed the Abest demonstrated
technology.'' On
[[Page 53274]]
November 8, 1999 (64 FR 60689), we promulgated the landfills Federal
plan requirements for the purpose of implementing the landfills
emission guidelines in States without approved State plans.
The control of landfill gas based on the requirements of the
Landfills NSPS, emission guidelines, and Federal plan results in
emissions reductions of over 30 volatile organic compounds and air
toxics such as toluene, benzene, and vinyl chloride. The reduction of
these emissions has direct and indirect health benefits as well as
environmental benefits. In addition, the control of landfill gas
results in reductions of methane gas emissions, which reduces the
potential for fires and explosions near landfills. Control of landfill
gas reduces odor problems, which reduces the potential for local
property de-valuation and poorer quality of life for local residents.
Some landfills control landfill gas by combusting it in a boiler,
engine, or turbine to produce steam or electricity, taking advantage of
landfill gas as a renewable energy source.
The landfills emission guidelines, as implemented through an
approved State plan or the landfills Federal plan, and the Landfills
NSPS require large landfills (at least 2.5 million megagrams (Mg) and
2.5 million cubic meters in size) with estimated nonmethane organic
compound (NMOC) emissions of at least 50 megagrams per year (Mg/yr) to
collect and control or treat landfill gas. The Landfills NSPS and
emission guidelines provide landfill owners or operators with some
degree of flexibility to achieve compliance, allowing them to
incorporate site-specific factors into the design of the collection and
control or treatment systems, as long as the systems meet specific
performance standards. On January 16, 2003 (68 FR 2227), we promulgated
the Landfills NESHAP under authority of section 112 of the CAA. The
Landfills NESHAP apply to both major and area sources and contain the
same requirements as the landfills emission guidelines and Landfills
NSPS, but add requirements for startup, shutdown, and malfunction
(SSM), add operating condition deviations for out-of-bounds monitoring
parameters, require timely control of bioreactor landfills, and change
the reporting frequency for one type of report.
On May 23, 2002 (67 FR 36476), we proposed amendments to the
Landfills NSPS because implementation activity showed a need for
clarification of some issues. Consideration of the public comments
received and additional implementation activity has shown the need for
even further clarification on implementing the Landfills NSPS, emission
guidelines, and Landfills NESHAP.
B. What is the purpose of the proposed amendments?
We are proposing supplemental amendments to the May 23, 2002
proposed amendments to the Landfills NSPS. While today's proposed
supplemental amendments would, for the most part, specifically amend
the Landfills NSPS, they would also serve to amend the landfills
emission guidelines for existing MSW landfills because the emission
guidelines incorporate many of the provisions of the Landfills NSPS. In
addition, today's proposed supplemental amendments include conforming
changes to certain provisions of the landfills emission guidelines that
do not directly incorporate the provisions of the Landfills NSPS; make
conforming changes to the landfills Federal plan for existing MSW
landfills; and would affect changes to the Landfills NESHAP for MSW
landfills. The supplemental proposed amendments would, in conjunction
with the previously proposed amendments, further clarify the definition
of landfill owners/operators; clarify compliance responsibilities in
situations where multiple entities own/operate a landfill and the gas
collection, control, or treatment systems (either at the landfill or
off site); and clarify the definition of treated landfill gas. Today's
proposed supplemental amendments do not change how you determine
whether a landfill is ``new'' or ``existing,'' and accordingly subject
to the Landfills NSPS or emission guidelines. The determination of
whether an affected facility is new or existing is still based on the
date of construction or modification of the landfill itself and not the
date of installation of the gas collection, control, or treatment
system.
In allocating certain responsibilities to the landfill owners/
operators and others to the gas collection, control, and/or treatment
system owners/operators, it is not our intent to establish a precedent
for any other NSPS or NESHAP. We are proposing this compliance approach
specifically for landfills because of the unique nature of landfill
operations and to encourage energy recovery. Landfill gas is commonly
collected and combusted to produce electricity, steam, or other useful
energy; combustion for energy recovery often occurs miles away from the
landfill itself at a separate industrial, commercial, or institutional
facility. Combusting landfill gas for energy recovery is a reasonable
approach to meeting the control requirements of the Landfills NSPS and
also makes use of a renewable energy resource and reduces combustion of
scarce fossil fuels and emissions produced during their combustion.
This unique situation raises unique issues on the respective
responsibilities of landfill owners/operators and gas collection,
control, and/or treatment system owners/operators for complying with
the Landfills NSPS.
Although today's proposed supplemental amendments allocate
responsibility for complying with certain specified requirements to the
owners/operators of the MSW landfill and responsibility for complying
with other specified requirements to the owners/operators of gas
collection, control and/or treatment systems used to comply with the
Landfills NSPS, they do not alter compliance responsibilities where
affected sources \1\ are under common control.\2\ (Today's proposed
supplemental amendments also continue to recognize that the owner/
operator of the MSW landfill may also be the owner/operator of the gas
collection, control, and/or treatment system.) The question of whether
affected sources are under common control may be determined as part of
permitting activities. In a common control determination, various
affected sources are aggregated together, and the owner/operator of the
resulting single source is ultimately responsible for ensuring
compliance with all applicable requirements (including requirements
applicable to each of the affected sources/emissions units that make up
the single source). To ensure that the proposed amendments to the
Landfills NSPS allocating various compliance responsibilities among the
owners/operators of affected sources do not conflict with determining
compliance responsibilities when the affected sources are under common
control, 40 CFR 60.750(a) of the Landfills NSPS, related sections of
the landfills emission guidelines, the landfills Federal plan, and the
Landfills NESHAP specify that responsibility for compliance cannot be
allocated where landfills and associated
[[Page 53275]]
gas collection, control, and/or treatment systems are under common
control.
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\1\ The Landfills NSPS define the affected sources subject to
the NSPS and the requirements to which these affected sources are
subject. However, a single source is defined by the program in
question, e.g., title V, new source review, and in many cases,
requires the aggregation of emissions units, including affected
sources.
\2\ Common control is a key element in defining whether and how
activities at a site are to be aggregated in determining whether
they constitute a single source. See, for example, Alabama Power v.
Costle, 636 F.2d 323 (District of Columbia Circuit, 1979), section
112(a)(1) of the CAA, 40 CFR 70.2, and 40 CFR 51.166(b)(5) and (6).
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It is important to note that in cases of common control, although
the owner/operator of the single source (e.g., the owner/operator of
the landfill and/or gas collection, control, and/or treatment system)
is ultimately responsible for ensuring compliance at the source,
enforcement action could be taken by EPA or a State against the owners/
operators of individual affected sources/emissions units in addition to
the owner/operator of the single source. This is because enforcement
action is not limited by the determination of who is ultimately in
control of a single source, but rather can be taken against the owners/
operators of each individual affected source/emissions unit comprising
that source.
Additionally, regardless of the various regulatory approaches that
are discussed in today's package, all landfills that are at least 2.5
Mg and 2.5 million cubic meters in size, and all stationary equipment
that is required by the Landfills NSPS, emission guidelines, Federal
plan, and Landfills NESHAP to collect, control, and/or treat landfill
gas from MSW landfills of this size, continue to be subject to the
requirement to apply for and obtain a title V permit. This is because
section 502(a) of the CAA requires any source, including an area
source, subject to standards or regulations under section 111 or 112 of
the CAA to operate in compliance with a title V permit after the
effective date of a title V permits program. Thus, regardless of the
number of affected sources or owner/operators that are relevant in a
particular MSW landfill situation, all affected sources are required to
be covered by a title V operating permit. The final regulatory language
will provide additional clarification on this point after a regulatory
approach is selected.
We are proposing further clarifications to the landfill gas
treatment compliance option, including more specific definitions of
``treated landfill gas'' and ``treatment system'' in the Landfills
NSPS.
We are proposing clarifications that would amend the time allowed
for malfunction events in the Landfills NSPS. The amendments would also
clarify the SSM plan requirements and reports and the incorporation of
maintenance activities in those plans in the Landfills NESHAP.
The proposed supplemental amendments would correct a test method
citation in the Landfills NSPS; clarify Landfills NSPS temperature
monitoring for enclosed combustors; clarify that bioreactor moisture
content should be determined on a wet weight basis for the Landfills
NESHAP; and correct a compliance date in the Landfills NESHAP.
As stated earlier, the proposed supplemental amendments to the
Landfills NSPS would also serve to amend the landfills emission
guidelines and Federal plan for MSW landfills where these rules
specifically incorporate the provisions of the Landfills NSPS. We are
also proposing direct changes to the landfills emission guidelines to
maintain consistency with the proposed changes to the Landfills NSPS
where the emission guidelines did not directly incorporate the
provisions of the Landfills NSPS. Changes to the landfills Federal plan
implementing the landfills emission guidelines are being proposed to
ensure the plan remains consistent with the landfills emission
guidelines.
II. Summary of the Proposed Amendments
A. What changes did we propose to the Landfills NSPS on May 23, 2002?
On May 23, 2002, EPA proposed amendments to the Landfills NSPS to
clarify who is responsible for compliance activities where multiple
entities are involved in the ownership/operation of a landfill and the
associated landfill gas collection, control, and/or treatment systems;
clarify what constitutes treated landfill gas; and correct the omission
of an exemption for specific boilers and process heaters from the
initial performance test.
To be specific, we proposed to amend 40 CFR 60.751 of subpart WWW
by adding a landfill-specific definition for MSW landfill owners/
operators. This landfill-specific definition would identify MSW
landfill owners/operators as entities that own or operate the landfill
or any stationary equipment located on the landfill property that is
used in the collection, control, and/or treatment of landfill gas. We
also proposed to amend 40 CFR 60.752 of subpart WWW to allow landfill
owners/operators to transfer untreated landfill gas off site for
control or treatment, provided the transferee certifies to us (and
provides a copy to the landfill owner/operator) that it will control or
treat the landfill gas in accordance with the Landfills NSPS
provisions.
We further proposed to amend 40 CFR 60.751 of subpart WWW by adding
a definition for treatment system. The May 23, 2002 proposed definition
for treatment system specified that the system must filter, de-water,
and compress landfill gas.
We proposed to amend 40 CFR 60.752(b)(2)(iii)(C) of subpart WWW to
specify that to achieve compliance with this section, landfill gas must
be processed in a system that meets the treatment system definition in
the proposed amendment. We also proposed to amend this section to
clarify that venting of treated landfill gas to the ambient air is not
permitted.
We proposed to amend 40 CFR 60.752(b)(2)(iii)(B) of subpart WWW to
exempt owners/operators of boilers and process heaters with design
input capacities of 44 megawatts (MW) or greater from the requirement
to conduct an initial performance test.
B. What supplemental amendments are we proposing to the Landfills NSPS,
emission guidelines, and Federal plan?
Public comments on the May 23, 2002 proposed amendments raised new
questions and caused us to reconsider the approach we had taken on
several proposed amendments. Based on further analysis, we are
proposing supplemental amendments that we expect to help owners/
operators to comply with the Landfills NSPS. As mentioned previously,
the proposed supplemental amendments clarify: The definition of
landfill owner/operator; compliance responsibilities when multiple
entities own/operate a landfill and the associated landfill gas
collection, control, and/or treatment systems; and what constitutes
treated landfill gas. Additional proposed amendments, including SSM
provisions, and other corrections are discussed later in this section
of this preamble.
To address compliance responsibilities at landfills where multiple
entities own/operate the landfill and the associated landfill gas
collection, control, or treatment systems, we are proposing to add a
specific definition of ``landfill gas collection, control, or treatment
system owner/operator'' and to revise the May 2002 proposed definition
of ``landfill owner/operator'' by removing references to stationary gas
collection, control, or treatment systems. We are also proposing to
revise the applicability section to clarify compliance
responsibilities. We are proposing that the landfill owners/operators
would be responsible for complying with the requirements of the
Landfills NSPS that apply to the landfills and any portion of the
collection, control, or treatment system that they own or operate. The
owners/operators of the landfill gas collection, control, or treatment
systems would be responsible for complying with the requirements of the
Landfills
[[Page 53276]]
NSPS that apply to the portion of the landfill gas collection, control,
or treatment system that they own or operate. To maintain consistency
between the Landfills NSPS, emission guidelines, Federal plan, and
Landfills NESHAP with regard to owner/operator responsibilities, we are
also proposing similar revisions to the landfills emission guidelines,
Federal plan, and Landfills NESHAP. As discussed later in this
preamble, we are requesting comment on this approach, as well as an
alternative approach regarding compliance responsibilities.
To clarify what constitutes landfill gas treatment, we propose to
refine the May 23, 2002 proposed definitions of ``treated landfill
gas'' and ``treatment system'' in the Landfills NSPS. For filtration
and de-watering, the refined proposed definitions contain specific
numerical values that would provide long-term protection of the
combustion equipment, which would support good combustion. For
particulate matter filtration, a filter system would be required to
have an absolute rating no greater than 10 microns. For de-watering,
the system would be required to reduce the dew point by at least 20
degrees Fahrenheit.
We are also clarifying the monitoring requirements for treatment
systems. To ensure that treatment systems are operating properly to
achieve the filtration and de-watering levels specified in the revised
proposed treatment system definition, we are proposing more specific
monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements for treatment
systems used to comply with the Landfills NSPS. We are proposing that
owners/operators of treatment systems monitor pressure drop across the
filtration system and temperature or dew point for de-watering systems,
depending on the type of de-watering system. However, we are proposing
to allow owners/operators to use other monitoring parameters if they
demonstrate that such parameters would effectively monitor filtration
or de-watering system performance. We are clarifying that owners/
operators must develop operating ranges for each monitored operating
parameter based on manufacturer's recommendations or engineering
analysis and submit those ranges, along with justification, for
approval in the design plan required by 40 CFR 60.752(b)(2) of subpart
WWW. Then, owners/operators would be required to monitor the required
parameters and keep them within the ranges specified in their approved
design plan. For recordkeeping and reporting purposes, we are
clarifying that owners/operators would continuously monitor treatment
system operating parameters and calculate 24-hour block averages. The
24-hour block averages would be compared with the operating ranges
justified in the design plan to determine compliance. The specific
recordkeeping and reporting requirements for treatment systems would be
similar to those for control device temperature monitoring requirements
already detailed in the Landfills NSPS. Owners/operators of treatment
systems installed prior to today's proposed supplemental amendments
would be required to comply with the revised treatment system
requirements as expeditiously as practicable, but no later than 1 year
after the date the final amendments are promulgated. We are also
proposing clarifications to various sections of the Landfills NESHAP
that cross-reference the Landfills NSPS treatment system and monitoring
requirements to maintain consistency.
We are not altering the May 23, 2002 proposal to amend 40 CFR
60.752(b)(2)(iii)(B) of subpart WWW to exempt owners/operators of
boilers and process heaters with design capacities of 44 MW or greater
from the requirement to conduct an initial performance test.
C. What changes are we proposing to the Landfills NSPS and Landfills
NESHAP regarding startup, shutdown, and malfunction?
The current Landfills NSPS limit the duration of SSM events to 5
days for the landfill gas collection system and 1 hour for treatment or
control devices. Since promulgation of the Landfills NSPS, we have
become aware that some malfunctions cannot be corrected within these
time frames. Therefore, we propose to revise 40 CFR 60.755(e) of
subpart WWW to remove the 5 day and 1 hour time limitations. The
proposed revisions would clarify that the NSPS General Provisions in 40
CFR 60.11(d) of subpart A continue to apply during malfunctions, and
that routine maintenance activities must be completed and malfunctions
must be corrected as soon as practicable after their occurrence in
order to minimize emissions. To prevent free venting of landfill gas to
the atmosphere during control device malfunctions or maintenance, we
would retain the requirement in 40 CFR 60.753(e) of subpart WWW which
states that in the event the collection or control system is
inoperable, the gas mover system shall be shut down and all valves in
the collection and control system contributing to venting of gas to the
atmosphere shall be closed within 1 hour.
The Landfills NESHAP have no allowance for shutdown of control
devices for routine maintenance. Furthermore, after the Landfills
NESHAP were promulgated, there were revisions to the SSM requirements
in the NESHAP General Provisions in 40 CFR part 63, subpart A. The
revised General Provisions contain some changes that are not relevant
or can be difficult to interpret for landfills. We are, therefore,
proposing revisions to the Landfills NESHAP that require routine
maintenance of landfill gas collection, control, and treatment systems
to be included in the SSM plan. We are also clarifying SSM reporting
requirements for landfills and the applicability of SSM sections of the
General Provisions to the Landfills NESHAP.
D. What other corrections and clarifications are we proposing?
We propose to amend 40 CFR 60.758(b)(2)(i) and 40 CFR
60.758(c)(1)(i) of subpart WWW by removing the term ``combustion'' from
the requirement to monitor temperature of enclosed combustors.
Temperature monitoring is required for enclosed combustors, including
enclosed flares, turbines, reciprocating engines, and boilers less than
44 MW. For some enclosed combustors, it is not possible to monitor
temperature inside the combustion chamber to determine combustion
temperature. The proposed amendment clarifies that the ``combustion''
temperature does not have to be monitored. Temperature could be
monitored at another location, as long as the monitored temperature
relates to proper operation of the enclosed combustor.
We propose to correct a test method cross-reference in 40 CFR
60.755(c)(3) of subpart WWW necessitated by the reorganization of
Method 21 in appendix A to 40 CFR part 60.
In the Landfills NESHAP, we propose to correct 40 CFR 63.1990 of
subpart AAAA to clarify that the 40 percent moisture content in the
definition of ``bioreactor'' is determined on a wet weight basis.
The proposed supplemental amendments would also correct a Landfills
NESHAP compliance date for existing major sources to read January 16,
2004 instead of January 13, 2004 in 40 CFR 63.1945(d) of subpart AAAA.
We propose to amend the definition of ``household waste'' and add a
definition of ``segregated yard waste'' in 40 CFR 60.751 of subpart WWW
to clarify our intent regarding the applicability of the Landfills
NSPS,
[[Page 53277]]
emission guidelines, Federal plan, and Landfills NESHAP to landfills
that do not accept household waste, but accept segregated yard waste.
We intended the rules to apply to municipal solid waste landfills that
accept general household waste (including garbage, trash, sanitary
waste), as indicated in the definitions sections of these rules. Our
regulatory analyses for the Landfills NSPS, emission guidelines, and
Landfills NESHAP were based on landfills containing mixed household
waste steams. A question has recently arisen on whether a landfill that
accepts only construction and demolition waste and segregated yard
waste would be subject to the municipal solid waste Landfills NSPS. We
did not intend these rules to apply to landfills that accept only
segregated yard waste or that accept a combination of segregated yard
waste and non-household waste (such as construction and demolition
waste or industrial waste). The proposed definition changes in the
Landfills NSPS would also affect the emission guideline, Federal plan,
and Landfills NESHAP because they reference the definitions in the
Landfills NSPS.
E. Are we requesting public comment on any other issues?
We are requesting public comment on alternative approaches for
addressing three issues the landfill industry and regulatory agencies
face in implementing the Landfills NSPS, emission guideline, Federal
plan, and Landfills NESHAP.
The first issue deals with closed areas of landfills and when they
are allowed to remove controls. The current Landfills NSPS define an
MSW landfill as: ``* * * an entire disposal facility in a contiguous
geographical space where household waste is placed in or on land * *
*.'' We have clearly stated in previous documents that the entire
contiguous area, including both closed landfill sections and new
landfill sections, is considered a single landfill, even if the
landfill is bisected by a road, right of way, golf course, etc. Our
intent has always been to consider the entire contiguous area in
determining whether a landfill meets the design capacity and emission
rate criteria for applying controls. Similarly, to remove controls, the
entire area would need to meet the control removal criteria in the
Landfills NSPS (e.g., the entire landfill must emit less than 50 Mg
NMOC per year, must be closed, and the control system must have been in
operation for at least 15 years). Also, 40 CFR 60.759(a)(3)(ii) allows
landfill owners/operators to stop collecting gas from ``nonproductive''
areas of the landfill if they demonstrate that the excluded areas emit
less than 1 percent of total NMOC emissions from the landfill.
It has come to our attention that in many cases, a contiguous area
will contain unconnected landfill sections that were developed
sequentially over time. An initial landfill is constructed, filled,
closed, and capped. Then a new one with a separate liner opens on
contiguous property. Under the Landfills NSPS, these are part of the
same landfill and controls cannot be removed from the closed and capped
area until it emits less than 1 percent of the total NMOC, or until the
entire contiguous landfill is closed and meets the control system
removal criteria. In some cases, gas production from the separate
section that closed many years ago has declined, and the gas
composition has changed to the point where it is difficult to
continuously collect and combust the gas. However, the closed area may
not meet the 1 percent NMOC criteria that would allow removal of the
control system from that section of the landfill. We request comments
on any approaches for dealing with such a situation, and the specific
criteria that could be applied to determine which areas warrant control
and which may remove control.
The second issue deals with approval of collection and control
system design plans. The Landfills NSPS and emission guidelines require
landfill owners/operators to submit a gas collection and control system
design plan within 1 year of when their calculated uncontrolled NMOC
emissions reach 50 Mg/yr. The plan may include requests for alternative
designs, alternative operational standards, and alternative monitoring
and recordkeeping. The plan is submitted to the regulatory authority
that implements the Landfills NSPS or emission guidelines (usually a
State agency) for approval. The Landfills NSPS and emission guidelines
require that landfill gas collection and control systems must be
installed and begin operation within 30 months of the report that
calculated NMOC emissions have reached 50 Mg/yr, which is 18 months
after the design plan is submitted. In the 1999 document ``Municipal
Solid Waste Landfills, Volume 1: Summary of Requirements for New Source
Performance Standards and Emission Guidelines for Municipal Solid Waste
Landfills'' (EPA-453R/96-004), we stated that EPA expected that
implementing agency review and approval of the design plan would take
approximately 6 months, leaving approximately 12 months for the
landfill to install the gas collection and control system. It has come
to our attention that some design plans have been submitted but have
not been approved or disapproved for a year or even 2 years. As a
result, some landfills may be faced with the prospect of installing a
gas collection and control system that they are not sure will be
approved or may be implementing monitoring approaches that might later
be disapproved.
While there must always be an opportunity for the implementing
agency to review and approve or disapprove each design plan, one
approach would be that if the implementing agency chooses not to review
or act on a design plan within a specified amount of time, then the
design plan would have de facto approval. This would be one way to
allow the landfill to move ahead to meet the gas collection and control
provisions within the time allowed by the Landfills NSPS and emission
guidelines. Note that all design plans must be certified by a
registered Professional Engineer (P.E.). Also, after the collection and
control system is installed, quarterly monitoring of the landfill
surface methane concentration is required to verify that the collection
system is working properly, and testing and monitoring of control
devices is also required. Thus, even if a design plan was not reviewed
and approved, the system will be professionally designed and there will
still be proof that the collection and control system is achieving the
level of control required by the Landfills NSPS and emission
guidelines. We request comment on this approach or other alternative
approaches to address the issues surrounding timeliness of design plan
approvals. We also request comment on what period of time would be
appropriate for review and approval of initial design plans, and
whether the time period should be different for review and approval of
amendments or updates to design plans.
The third issue deals with surface monitoring locations. The intent
of the rule is to maintain a tight cover that minimizes any emissions
of landfill gas through the surface. The Landfills NSPS and emission
guidelines require quarterly surface monitoring to demonstrate that the
cover and gas collection system are working properly. The operational
requirements in 40 CFR 60.753(d) of the Landfills NSPS specify that the
landfill must ``* * * operate the collection system so that the methane
concentration is less than 500 parts per million above background at
the surface of the landfills. To determine if this level is exceeded,
the owner or operator shall conduct surface testing around the
perimeter of the
[[Page 53278]]
collection area and along a pattern that traverses the landfill at 30
meter intervals and where visual observations indicate elevated
concentrations of landfill gas, such as distressed vegetation and
cracks or seeps in the cover.'' The issue has arisen as to whether the
quarterly monitoring path should include monitoring of every cover
penetration. Cover penetrations can be observed visually and are
clearly a place where gas would be escaping from the cover, so
monitoring of them would be required by the regulatory language. The
regulatory language gives distressed vegetation and cracks as an
example of a visual indication that gas may be escaping, but this
example does not limit the places that should be monitored by landfill
staff or by enforcement agency inspectors. Thus, under the current
language, the landfill should monitor any openings that are within an
area of the landfill where waste has been placed and a gas collection
system is required. However, monitoring of every cover penetration
every quarter could substantially increase monitoring time relative to
monitoring only along a path at 30 meter intervals and may not be
necessary every quarter. We request comment on this rule interpretation
and alternatives for monitoring cover penetrations that do not show
distressed vegetation, cracks, or similar indications of high landfill
gas levels.
III. Rationale for the Proposed Supplemental Amendments
A. Definition of Landfill Owner/Operator and Allowance for Off-Site
Control or Treatment Option
Amendments were proposed in 2002 to clarify which entities are
considered landfill owners/operators and are subject to the Landfills
NSPS, and to clarify compliance responsibilities when landfill gas is
sent off site for treatment or control. The May 2002 proposed
amendments and today's proposed supplemental amendments recognize the
unique natures of the landfills source category and landfill gas.
Because landfill gas contains methane and can be used as a renewable
resource to produce useful energy, it is common for landfill gas to be
sold to entities, other than the landfill, that combust the gas for
energy recovery. These entities often own and/or operate portions of
the gas collection system and the control or treatment systems required
by the Landfills NSPS, emission guidelines, Federal plan, and Landfills
NESHAP. Control or treatment systems may be located on or adjacent to
the landfill, or they may be located miles away at a business,
institution, or industrial plant that is using landfill gas to fuel a
boiler or other combustion device. This situation is different from
most source categories where the same entity that generates emissions
typically controls the emissions within their facility. We recognize
and encourage beneficial use of landfill gas, but we also want to
clarify that entities collecting, controlling, or treating the gas are
responsible for complying with the Landfills NSPS, emission guidelines,
Federal plan, and Landfills NESHAP.
Based on a review of the comments that we received on our May 23,
2002 proposed amendments to clarify the owner/operator definition and
responsibilities, we have determined that a new approach and further
revisions are needed to effectively address compliance responsibilities
in situations where multiple entities own/operate the landfill and
associated gas collection, control, and/or treatment systems. In May
2002, we proposed to define ``landfill owner/operator'' as ``* * * any
entity that owns or operates a MSW landfill or any stationary equipment
located on the same property as the MSW landfill facility that is used
to collect, control, or treat landfill gas.'' We also proposed an
allowance for off-site control or treatment by another entity if that
entity accepted compliance responsibility through a certification
process. The certification process would have allowed transfer of
control or treatment responsibility in specified circumstances without
holding the landfill owners/operators responsible for the actions of
the off-site entity.
However, many commenters stated that the revised definition of
``landfill owner/operator'' was too broad. Some argued that the
inclusion of ``* * * any stationary equipment located on the same
property as a MSW facility that is used to collect, control, or treat
landfill gas * * *'' would result in ``confusion'' as to who is
responsible for compliance at a landfill where one or more entities
operate on the landfill site or in conjunction with the landfill owner/
operator. The commenters explained that the proposed definition was so
broad that it potentially included entities that act in a supportive
role on a landfill site. Some commenters also objected to the ``joint
and several liability'' they believe is inherent in this definition.
Some commenters cited an example where a developer who may own only a
portion of the landfill gas collection system and has no rights to gas
from other sections of the landfill could be considered responsible for
all NSPS compliance issues at the landfill under the proposed
definition. Another example cited was a gas collection system operator
who has a contract with a landfill to perform specific activities, such
as monitoring and adjusting the gas collection system to maintain
compliance with the temperature, nitrogen, and oxygen requirements of
the Landfills NSPS could now be considered a landfill owner/operator
and held liable for compliance with NSPS requirements beyond their
contract authority and control. Similarly, a company that owned/
operated only the gas control device could be held responsible for
landfill and collection system operation activities over which they
have no control.
Several of the commenters suggested that compliance responsibility
at a landfill that operates with multiple on-site entities be
established, on a voluntary basis, through a certification process
similar to the off-site certification process proposed in the May 2002
Landfills NSPS amendments. Ownership and operation of on-site landfill
gas collection, control, or treatment systems by another entity is a
common practice, and the commenters wanted the owner/operator of the
landfill and the on-site entity to have the flexibility to determine
any division of compliance responsibility. The commenters suggested
that the landfill owner/operator and the additional entity provide EPA
with a written certification and an outline of compliance
responsibilities for the various compliance assurance activities. Other
commenters noted that limiting the compliance certification option to
off-site entities would unnecessarily inhibit the flexibility EPA seeks
to create and would impose an artificial distinction between on-site
and off-site recipients of untreated landfill gas.
Based on further consideration, we are proposing supplemental
amendments that would replace the May 23, 2002 proposed definition of
``landfill owner/operator'' and the proposed off-site certification
approach. We recognize that many landfills accomplish control of their
untreated landfill gas by providing the gas to a business, industry, or
institutional facility that combusts the untreated gas in a
reciprocating engine or gas turbine to produce electricity or in a
boiler, process heater, or furnace to produce steam or heat for a
useful purpose. This may occur at the landfill or at another location.
The beneficial use of landfill gas, a renewable energy source, offsets
the use of fossil fuels that can generate greater emissions. To
facilitate the beneficial use of landfill gas, we propose to clarify
compliance
[[Page 53279]]
responsibilities in cases where multiple entities are involved in a way
that will ensure Landfills NSPS compliance and enforceability, but will
not discourage beneficial use of the gas.
We are now proposing that compliance responsibility at landfills
that operate with multiple entities be divided based on which entity
owns/operates each specific collection, control, or treatment system,
or a portion thereof. To retain consistency between the Landfills NSPS,
emission guidelines, Federal plan, and Landfills NESHAP, the same
approach is proposed for all four rules. The proposed supplemental
amendments state that the landfill owners/operators are responsible for
complying with the requirements of the NSPS for the landfill and any
portion of the landfill gas collection, control, or treatment system
that they own/operate. The owners/operators of the gas collection,
control, and/or treatment system(s) would be responsible for complying
with the requirements for the portion of the landfill gas collection,
control, or treatment system that they own/operate.
We are proposing to accomplish this division of responsibility
through the addition of a definition of ``landfill gas collection,
control, or treatment system owner/operator,'' and by revising the May
2002 proposed definition of ``landfill owner/operator'' to remove any
reference to landfill gas collection, control, or treatment systems. We
are placing responsibility for compliance with the Landfills NSPS with
the owner/operator of the various equipment used to achieve compliance
by making landfill gas collection, control, or treatment systems (as
well as the landfill itself) affected sources under the Landfills NSPS
and assigning responsibility for compliance with requirements
applicable to such systems to the owners/operators of the landfill gas
collection, control, and/or treatment system located on or off the
landfill property. In the proposed supplemental amendments, we are
revising the applicability requirements of the Landfills NSPS to
indicate that responsibility for compliance with the provisions of the
Landfills NSPS is based on which portions of the landfill gas
collection, control, and/or treatment system each entity owns or
operates. The owner/operator of the landfill itself is responsible for
determining when control is required, ensuring that the equipment
necessary to comply with the Landfills NSPS is properly installed, and
complying with other regulatory requirements that apply to the landfill
itself and to any portions of the gas collection, control, and/or
treatment system that the landfill itself owns/operates. Furthermore,
we are proposing a default compliance provision in the applicability
section of the Landfills NSPS that would automatically shift all future
responsibilities, including compliance responsibilities, to the
landfill owner/operator if another entity that owns/operates the gas
collection, control, or treatment system ceases to accept the landfill
gas for any reason (e.g., bankruptcy, abandonment of operation).
We believe that this is a reasonable approach to addressing
compliance issues at landfills where multiple entities are involved in
the emission control infrastructure (regardless of whether treatment or
control of the landfill gas is accomplished at the landfill or at
another location). This approach enables direct enforcement of the
Landfills NSPS on the responsible entity in all cases and is consistent
with the original intent of the Landfills NSPS. In many cases, landfill
gas control system owners/operators (for example) are different
entities from the landfill owners/operators, and the landfill owners/
operators have no direct control over the operation of the control
system. Because they are distinct entities, it may be impractical and
may not be good policy to require the landfill owners/operators to
retain responsibility for all aspects of the Landfills NSPS compliance.
Landfill owners/operators may not have unrestricted access to the
location where the treatment or control of the landfill gas is
occurring (e.g., an industrial plant using the gas in a boiler several
miles away from the landfill) and often do not have direct control of
the daily operation of the treatment or control system. Furthermore,
clarification of the division of responsibilities is a practical means
to encourage the use of landfill gas for energy recovery and is
consistent with EPA policy to foster the use of landfill gas as a
renewable energy resource, thereby reducing the use of scarce fossil
fuels and associated emissions.
We are also proposing that all entities keep a list documenting
which aspects of the Landfills NSPS requirements (by paragraph and
section number) each entity will comply with. The list would have to
include all requirements of the Landfills NSPS, and would be required
as expeditiously as practicable, but no later than 1 year after the
final rule amendments are promulgated. The list would help assure that
all required compliance activities are considered and will be performed
by the responsible entity. The Landfills NSPS would require that the
list be kept up-to-date and that all owners/operators maintain a copy
of the list onsite and comply with the responsibilities in the list
that are assigned to them. The compliance responsibilities of each
entity will be incorporated in title V permits if the entities are
subject to title V.
Because the landfills emission guidelines and Federal plan cross-
reference the Landfills NSPS, the changes to the Landfills NSPS would
automatically affect the landfills emission guidelines and Federal
plan. However, to be consistent and clear, we are proposing similar
language on the responsibilities of the landfill owners/operators and
the owners/operators of the gas collection, control, or treatment
system to 40 CFR 60.32c of subpart Cc and to 40 CFR 62.14352 of subpart
GGG. Because the landfills emission guidelines are implemented through
CAA section 111(d) State plans, the States would be required to adopt
revisions to their landfills State plans and submit them to EPA for
approval within 9 months after the final amendments to the emission
guidelines are promulgated. The 9-month time frame is consistent with
40 CFR part 60 subpart B, which establishes procedures for State plans
to implement section 111(d) emission guidelines. Similarly, EPA is
proposing to amend the landfills Federal plan that implements the
landfills emission guidelines in areas where there is no approved State
plan.
In addition, we are proposing similar amendments to the Landfills
NESHAP. The proposed amendments include revising the sections of 40 CFR
part 63, subpart AAAA, that define affected sources and describe who is
subject to the Landfills NESHAP, to include owners/operators of gas
collection, control, and/or treatment systems. The proposed revisions
to the Landfills NESHAP contain similar language on responsibilities
and the requirement for all entities to keep a list documenting which
aspects of Landfills NESHAP compliance each entity will comply with.
Given the proposed revisions to the definitions and the rule
applicability sections describing responsibilities, we believe that
compliance responsibilities would be clearly delineated among the
entities involved, and EPA would retain clear enforcement ability for
all entities subject to compliance with the Landfills NSPS, emission
guidelines, Federal plan, and Landfills NESHAP. The entities that own/
operate the collection, control, and/or treatment equipment needed to
comply with the Landfills NSPS, emission guidelines, Federal plan, and
Landfills NESHAP, and are
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performing the activities needed to comply with them, would be held
directly responsible for compliance.
The proposed approach previously discussed contains a provision
that immediately shifts all future compliance responsibilities to the
landfill owners/operators if another entity that owns/operates the gas
collection, control, or treatment system ceases to accept the landfill
gas (e.g., due to bankruptcy, abandonment of operation). We are
considering an alternative approach (called alternative approach
1) that would retain this provision and would further require
the landfill owners/operators to assume responsibility for future
compliance in some situations where the owners/operators of a gas
collection, control, or treatment system fail to comply with the
Landfills NSPS requirements for which they are responsible. The intent
of this approach would be to address situations where the owners/
operators of the gas collection, control, or treatment system do not
achieve the required levels of collection, control, or treatment, or
repeatedly violate other requirements of the Landfills NSPS, and do not
correct these violations and come into compliance in a timely manner.
In such circumstances, responsibility for future compliance would
automatically shift to the landfill owners/operators. As a result, the
landfill owners/operators would need to find a way to immediately start
meeting all Landfill NSPS requirements. Such a provision would ensure
that the landfill owners/operators could not knowingly send landfill
gas to entities that flagrantly violate the Landfill NSPS, thereby
inflicting potential harm on the environment, and still avoid
responsibility for fully complying with the Landfills NSPS. It is not
our intent for this approach to shift responsibility to the landfill
owners/operators for isolated or minor violations that the collection,
control, or treatment system owners/operators timely corrects. We
solicit comments on this alternative approach and suggestions for how
to make clear within what time frame and under what circumstances
responsibility shifts to the landfill owners/operators.
We are also considering a different alternative approach to
compliance responsibility (called alternative approach 2) that
would add the same definitions of ``landfill owner/operator'' and
``landfill gas collection, control, or treatment system owner/
operator'' as the proposed approach. Both entities would be subject to
the Landfills NSPS. This approach would differ in that the alternative
approach would make the landfill owner/operator responsible for
compliance with all aspects of the Landfills NSPS. Like the proposed
approach, the alternative approach would make the landfill gas
collection, control, and/or treatment system owners/operators
responsible for complying with only the Landfills NSPS requirements
applicable to the portion of the landfill gas collection, control, and/
or treatment system they own/operate. Thus, a violation of gas
collection, control or treatment requirements could be enforced against
both the landfill owners/operators and the collection, control, or
treatment system owners/o