Environmental Protection Agency October 19, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to promulgate a source specific Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) requiring the Four Corners Power Plant (FCPP), located on the Navajo Nation, to achieve emissions reductions required by the Clean Air Act's Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) provision. In this action, EPA is proposing to require FCPP to reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and particulate matter (PM). These pollutants are significant contributors to visibility impairment in the numerous mandatory Class I Federal areas surrounding FCPP. For NOX emissions, EPA is proposing to require FCPP to meet an emission limit of 0.11 lb/MMBtu, representing an 80% reduction from current NOX emissions. This NOX limit is achievable by installing and operating Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology on Units 1-5. For PM, EPA is proposing to require FCPP to meet an emission limit of 0.012 lb/MMBtu for Units 1-3 and 0.015 lb/MMBtu for Units 4 and 5. These emissions limits are achievable by installing and operating any of several equivalent controls on Units 1-3, and through proper operation of the existing baghouse on Units 4 and 5. EPA is proposing to require FCPP to meet a 10% opacity limit on Units 1-5 to ensure proper operation of the PM controls. EPA is requesting comment on whether APS can satisfy BART on Units 1-3 by operating the existing venturi scrubbers to meet an emission limit of 0.03 lb/MMBtu with a 20% opacity limit. EPA is also proposing to require FCPP to comply with a 20% opacity limit on its coal and material handling operations.

The EPA is proposing to partially approve and partially disapprove revisions of the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ, or Commission) on January 3, 2000, and July 31, 2002, as supplemented on August 5, 2009. These revisions are to regulations of the TCEQ which relate to application and permitting procedures for grandfathered electric generating facilities (EGFs). The revisions address a mandate by the Texas Legislature under Senate Bill 7 to achieve nitrogen oxide (NOX), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter (PM) emission reductions from grandfathered EGFs. These emissions reductions will contribute to achieving attainment and help ensure attainment and continued maintenance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter in the State of Texas. As a result of these mandated emissions reductions, in accordance with section 110(l) of the Federal Clean Air Act, as amended (the Act, or CAA), partial approval of these revisions will not interfere with attainment of the NAAQS, reasonable further progress, or any other applicable requirement of the Act. EPA is proposing that the revisions, but for a severable provision, meet section 110, part C, and part D of the Federal Clean Air Act (the Act or CAA) and EPA's regulations. Therefore, EPA is proposing to approve the revisions but for a severable portion that allows collateral emissions increases of carbon monoxide (CO) created by the imposition of technology controls to be permitted under the State's Standard Permit (SP) for Pollution Control Projects (PCP). EPA is proposing to disapprove this severable portion concerning the issuance of a PCP SP for the CO collateral emissions increases. EPA is taking comments on this proposal and plans to follow with a final action.

EPA proposed to determine that the Eagle River nonattainment area in Alaska attained the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than or equal to a nominal ten micrometers (PM10) as of December 31, 1994.