Code of Maine Rules
06 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
096 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION - GENERAL
Chapter 117 - SOURCE SURVEILLANCE - EMISSIONS MONITORING
Section 096-117-3 - Performance Specifications for Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems

Universal Citation: 06 ME Code Rules ยง 096-117-3

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

A. The source owner or operator shall operate the CEMS and record accurate data in the units of the applicable standard during all source operating times, except for periods when the CEMS is subject to established quality assurance and quality control procedures or during periods of unavoidable malfunction. Any emissions data collected during periods when an emissions unit is not operating, shall not be used in determining compliance with any emission limit.

B. Any CEMS installed pursuant to this Chapter shall meet the performance specifications set forth in 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix B, 40 CFR Part 75 and comply with applicable specifications and provisions of 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix B, regarding monitor location, calibration and interpretation of results. Data used for calculating excess emissions shall not include data substitution using the missing data procedures of 40 CFR Part 75; nor shall the data have been bias adjusted according to the procedures of 40 CFR Part 75. Missing data shall be reported as downtime for the purposes of this Chapter.

C. For a CEMS installed pursuant to this Chapter, the following minimum specifications apply unless otherwise specified by federal regulation.

(1) The minimum specifications described in 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix B are incorporated herein by reference.

(2) A CERMS or gaseous CEMS shall record and report valid data as follows:
(a) A CEMS must complete a minimum of one cycle of operation (sampling, analyzing and data recording) for each of the four successive 15-minute quadrants of the hour (starting at the top of the clock hour), except during hours where scheduled QA is being performed. A minimum of one data point in at least three of the four distinct 15-minute quadrants constitutes a valid hour. During periods of scheduled QA a minimum of one data point in at least two of the four distinct 15-minute quadrants constitutes a valid hour.

(b) A gaseous CEMS and CERMS must average and record the data in a manner consistent with the applicable emission standard. Data need not be recorded for a particular time period if the emissions unit did not operate during that time period.
(i) A three-hour block average will be considered valid if it contains at least 2 valid hourly averages.

(ii) A four-hour block average will be considered valid if it contains at least 3 valid hourly averages.

(iii) A six-hour block average will be considered valid if it contains at least 4 valid hourly averages.

(iv) A twelve-hour block average will be considered valid if it contains at least 9 valid hourly averages.

(v) A twenty-four-hour average will be considered valid if it contains at least 18 valid hourly averages.

(vi) A thirty-day rolling average shall be calculated as described in 40 CFR Part 60, Method 19, equation 19-19. Simply stated that means: the sum of the (valid) block hour values monitored for the last 30 emissions unit operating days divided by the sum of the number of (valid) block hours monitored for the past 30 emissions unit operating days.

(3) A CEMS for measuring opacity, particulate matter or gaseous emissions shall have the capability of displaying instantaneous values of the appropriate output for use during audits. Audit readings should be taken from the normal data recording equipment if practical.

(4) A COMS used to determine compliance with applicable opacity standards shall average data to result in one or six-minute averages (starting at the top of the clock hour), as approved by the Department and EPA. A valid six-minute average requires four valid minutes of data. A valid minute consists of a minimum of a sample point in four of the six distinct 10 (ten) second blocks or 67 percent of the minute.

(5) A PM CEMS shall average data as approved by the Department and EPA.

D. Out-of-Control Period Determinations

(1) A gaseous CEMS is out-of-control when:
(a) The calibration drift exceeds two times the applicable performance specification drift limit contained in 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix B, for five consecutive days;

(b) The calibration drift exceeds four times the applicable performance specification drift limit contained in 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix B, on any one day; or

(c) The CEMS fails a Relative Accuracy Test Audit, Relative Accuracy Audit, or Cylinder Gas Audit.

The beginning of the out-of-control period is the time corresponding to the completion of the fifth consecutive, daily calibration drift check with a calibration drift in excess of two times the allowable limit, or the time corresponding to the completion of the daily calibration drift check preceding the daily calibration drift check that results in a calibration drift in excess of four times the allowable limit, or the time corresponding to the completion of a Relative Accuracy Test Audit (RATA), Relative Accuracy Audit (RAA), or cylinder gas audit (CGA) where the CEMS fails the applicable accuracy criteria.

The end of the out-of-control period is the time corresponding to the completion of the calibration drift check following corrective action that results in the calibration drifts at both the zero (or low-level) and high-level measurement points being within the corresponding allowable calibration drift limits, or the time corresponding to the completion of the sampling of the subsequent successful RATA, RAA, or CGA. A RATA must always be used following an out-of-control period resulting from a failed RATA.

(d) If a source's CEMS is also subject to the requirements in 40 CFR Part 75 then the source may use the procedures outlined in Part 75, Appendices A and B instead of the procedures above to determine out-of-control periods for that CEMS.

(2) A COMS is out-of-control when:
(a) The calibration drift (either zero or upscale) exceeds 2% opacity for five consecutive days;

(b) The calibration drift (either zero or upscale) exceeds 4% opacity on any one day; or

(c) The COMS fails a performance audit.

The beginning of the out-of-control period is the time corresponding to the completion of the fifth consecutive daily calibration drift check with a calibration drift in excess of 2%, or the time corresponding to the completion of the daily calibration drift check preceding the daily calibration drift check that results in a calibration drift in excess of 4%, or the time corresponding to the completion of the performance audit indicating unacceptable performance.

The end of the out-of-control period is the time corresponding to the completion of appropriate adjustment and calibration drift assessment, or the time corresponding to the completion of appropriate corrective actions and subsequent successful audit. A performance audit must always be used following an out-of-control period resulting from a failed performance audit.

(3) A CERMS is out-of-control when:
(a) The calibration drift for either the flow or concentration portion of the system exceeds two times the applicable performance specification drift limit contained in 40 CFR Part[DEGREE]60, Appendix B, for five consecutive days;

(b) The calibration drift for either the flow or concentration portion of the system exceeds four times the applicable performance specification drift limit contained in 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix B, on any one day; or

(c) The CERMS fails a Relative Accuracy Test Audit, Relative Accuracy Audit, or Cylinder Gas Audit.

The beginning of the out-of-control period is the time corresponding to the completion of the fifth consecutive, daily calibration drift check with a calibration drift in excess of two times the allowable limit, or the time corresponding to the completion of the daily calibration drift check preceding the daily calibration drift check that results in a calibration drift in excess of four times the allowable limit, or the time corresponding to the completion of a Relative Accuracy Test Audit (RATA), Relative Accuracy Audit (RAA), or cylinder gas audit (CGA) where the CERMS fails the applicable accuracy criteria.

The end of the out-of-control period is the time corresponding to the completion of the calibration drift check following corrective action that results in the calibration drifts at both the zero (or low-level) and high-level measurement points being within the corresponding allowable calibration drift limits, or the time corresponding to the completion of the sampling of the subsequent successful RATA, RAA, or CGA. A RATA must always be used following an out-of-control period resulting from a failed RATA.

(d) If a source's CERMS is also subject to the requirements in 40 CFR Part 75 then the source may use the procedures outlined in 40 CFR Part 75, Appendices A and B instead of the procedures above to determine out-of-control periods for that CERMS.

(4) A PM CEMS is out-of-control when:
(a) The daily calibration drift (zero or upscale) exceeds 4% for five consecutive daily periods or exceeds 8% for any one day;

(b) The daily calibration drift for sample volume check exceeds 10% for five consecutive daily periods or exceeds 20% for any one day;

(c) The ACA (Absolute Correlation Audit) exceeds 10% of the average audit value or 7.5% of the applicable standard, whichever is greater;

(d) The SVA (Sample Volume Audit) exceeds 5% of the average sample volume audit value;

(e) The RCA (Response Correlation Audit) response value for any of the 12 points is greater than the greatest PM CEMS response value used to develop the correlation curve;

(f) The RCA response value for less than 9 of the 12 points lie within the PM CEMS output range used to develop the correlation curve;

(g) The RCA response values and reference method measurements do not fall within a specified area on a graph of the correlation regression line for 75% of the data sets. The specified area on the graph of the correlation regression line is defined by two lines parallel to the correlation regression line, offset at a distance of +/- 25% of the numerical emission limit value from the correlation regression line;

(h) The RRA (Relative Response Audit) response value for any of the 3 points is greater than the greatest PM CEMS response value used to develop the correlation curve;

(i) The RRA response value for 2 of the 3 points lie outside the PM CEMS output range used to develop the correlation curve; or

(j) The RRA response values and reference method measurements do not fall within a specified area on a graph of the correlation regression line for 2 of the 3 data sets. The specified area on the graph of the correlation regression line is defined by two lines parallel to the correlation regression line, offset at a distance of +/- 25% of the numerical emission limit value from the correlation regression line.

(k) The beginning of the out-of-control period is the time corresponding to the completion of a failed drift check, RCA, RRA, ACA, SVA or sample volume check. The end of the out-of-control period is the time corresponding to the completion of appropriate adjustment and calibration drift assessment, or the time corresponding to the completion of appropriate corrective actions and subsequent successful audit. A performance audit must always be used following an out-of-control period resulting from a failed performance audit.

NOTE: Section 3(C) defines whether data is considered "valid" for purposes of determining compliance with applicable emissions limits. By contrast, any data recorded by a CEMS that is valid may be considered in determining CEMS uptime.

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