New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 20 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Chapter 11 - ALBUQUERQUE - BERNALILLO COUNTY AIR QUALITY CONTROL BOARD
Part 60 - PERMITTING IN NONATTAINMENT AREAS
Section 20.11.60.15 - BASELINE FOR DETERMINING CREDIT FOR EMISSION AND AIR QUALITY OFFSETS

Universal Citation: 20 NM Admin Code 20.11.60.15

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024

A. For sources and modifications subject to any preconstruction review program adopted pursuant to Subsection 40 CFR 51.165(a), the baseline for determining credit for emissions reductions is the emissions limit under the applicable state implementation plan (SIP) in effect at the time the application to construct is filed, except that the offset baseline shall be the actual emissions of the source from which offset credit is obtained where:

(1) the demonstration of reasonable further progress and attainment of ambient air quality standards is based upon the actual emissions of sources located within a designated nonattainment area for which the preconstruction review program was adopted; or

(2) the applicable SIP does not contain an emissions limitation for that source or source category.

B. Combustion of fuels.

(1) Where the emissions limit under the applicable SIP allows greater emissions than the potential to emit of the source, emissions offset credit will be allowed only for control below this potential.

(2) For an existing fuel combustion source, credit shall be based on the allowable emissions under the applicable SIP for the type of fuel being burned at the time the permit application to construct is filed. If the existing source commits to switch to a cleaner fuel at some future date, emissions offset credit based on the allowable (or actual) emissions for the fuels involved is not acceptable, unless the permit is conditioned to require the use of a specified alternative control measure, which would achieve the same degree of emission reduction should the source switch back to a dirtier fuel at some later date. The department should ensure that adequate long-term supplies of the new fuel are available before granting emissions offset credit for fuel switches.

(3) Emission reduction credit from shutdowns and curtailments.
(a) Emissions reductions achieved by shutting down an existing emission unit or curtailing production or operating hours may be generally credited for offsets if they meet the requirements in Items (i) and (ii) of Subparagraph (a) of Paragraph (3) of Subsection B of 20.11.60.15 NMAC.
(i) Such reductions are surplus, permanent, quantifiable, and federally enforceable.

(ii) The shutdown or curtailment occurred after the last day of the base year for the SIP planning process. For purposes of Item (ii) of Subparagraph (a) of Paragraph (3) of Subsection B of 20.11.60.15 NMAC, the department may choose to consider a prior shutdown or curtailment to have occurred after the last day of the base year if the projected emissions inventory used to develop the attainment demonstration explicitly includes the emissions from such previously shutdown or curtailed emission units. However, in no event may credit be given for shutdowns that occurred before August 7, 1977.

(b) Emissions reductions achieved by shutting down an existing emissions unit or curtailing production or operating hours and that do not meet the requirements in Item (ii) of Subparagraph (a) of Paragraph (3) of Subsection B of 20.11.60.15 NMAC may be generally credited only if:
(i) the shutdown or curtailment occurred on or after the date the construction permit application is filed; or

(ii) the applicant can establish that the proposed new emissions unit is a replacement for the shutdown or curtailed emissions unit, and the emissions reductions achieved by the shutdown or curtailment met the requirements of Item (i) of Subparagraph (a) of Paragraph (3) of Subsection B of 20.11.60.15 NMAC.

(4) No emissions credit shall be allowed for replacing one hydrocarbon compound with another of lesser reactivity, except for those compounds listed in Table 1 of EPA's Recommended Policy on Control of Volatile Organic Compounds (42 FR 35314, July 8, 1977) and any amendments thereto.

(5) All emission reductions claimed as offset credit shall be federally enforceable.

(6) Procedures relating to the permissible location of offsetting emissions shall be followed which are at least as stringent as those set out in 40 CFR Part 51 Appendix S Section IV.D.

(7) Credit for an emissions reduction can be claimed to the extent that the department has not relied on it in issuing any permit under regulations approved pursuant to 40 CFR Part 51 Subpart I or the department has not relied on it in demonstration attainment or reasonable further progress.

(8) [Reserved]

(9) [Reserved]

(10) The total tonnage of increased emissions, in tons per year, resulting from a major modification that must be offset in accordance with Section 173 of the federal Clean Air Act shall be determined by summing the difference between the allowable emissions after the modification and the actual emissions before the modification for each emissions unit.

C. All emission reductions claimed as offset credit shall occur prior to or concurrent with the start of operation of the proposed source. In addition, past reductions must have occurred later than the date upon which the area became nonattainment in order to be creditable.

D. The owner or operator desiring to utilize an emission reduction as an offset shall submit to the department the following information:

(1) a detailed description of the process to be controlled and the control technology to be used; and

(2) emission calculations showing the types and amounts of actual emissions to be reduced; and

(3) the effective date of the reduction.

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