Tech Environmental e-Newsletter
AIRPORTS NOW SUBJECT TO GREENHOUSE GAS REPORTING REQUIREMENTS The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) recently promulgated a final rule that would be the first federal regulation to apply greenhouse gas reporting requirements to airports. The final rule will require large emitters of greenhouse gases (GHG) to report their emissions. The final rule is likely to directly affect a number of airports in the U.S. and will be effective on December 29, 2009.
EPA’s final rule is the first mandatory and comprehensive GHG emissions reporting regulation in the U.S. The final rule will cover over 10,000 entities and 85 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. A number of airports that operate large fossil fuel-based heating, cooling or cogeneration facilities are likely to be subject to these reporting requirements. EPA’s final rule requires any facilities with stationary combustion sources that emit more than 25,000 metric tons per year (MT/yr) of carbon dioxide or its CO2 equivalents to report these emissions to EPA yearly. Such stationary sources include boilers, stationary engines, heaters and combustion turbines that may be found on airports, especially at their central heating and cooling plants. Clean Air Act permitting principles will be used to determine what sources need to be included in the emissions calculations. In addition, the final rule also requires all sources on a property that are under common ownership or common control to be included in the GHG reporting. Thus, all airport-owned and controlled stationary sources will need to be evaluated collectively. EPA is allowing owners of facilities to assume that their operations would not emit more than 25,000 MT of GHGs, if all of the stationary fuel combustion equipment on the facility – such as an airport – would not combined to exceed 30 million British thermal units (MMBtu) per hour. Airports with boilers and other combustion sources that exceed 30 MMBtu/hour will need to calculate their annual GHG emissions to determine if they are subject to the reporting rule, even if they do not ultimately exceed the 25,000 metric ton threshold for reporting. However, because many of the boilers and other combustion sources at an airport can exceed the 30 MMBtu/hour, a number of airports will need to estimate their GHG emissions. The final rule provides methods of calculating emissions, which vary based on the size of the combustion equipment and whether air quality permits already require continuous emissions monitors. EPA requires facilities to file their first emissions reports in early 2011, based on operating and emissions data collected in 2010.
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM TECH ENVIRONMENTAL!
As Tech Environmental celebrates our 25th year in business, we would like to send our warmest holiday greetings to all of our clients and friends. Thanks for your support in 2009, and we hope for a healthy and happy 2010 for everyone! |
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
QEP has 22 years of experience as an air quality and noise consultant. Mr. Wallace has helped a number of facilities track, report and mitigate GHG impacts, including assisting Green Mountain Power in the preparation of a CO2 Budget permit application to achieve RGGI compliance. He has extensive experience in the use of EPA- and FHWA-approved air quality and noise models. Mr. Wallace's recent air permitting and monitoring work includes serving as the project manager for the Massport Air Quality Consulting Services Contract for the past six years, during which time he supervised the preparation of numerous Air Plan Approval Applications; he also served as the project manager for the Massport-Logan Airport Air Quality Monitoring Study, overseeing an extensive baseline air monitoring program. Mr. Wallace will continue to assist Massport as part of the air quality team beginning work in 2010. He recently served as the project manager in charge of permitting efforts for several Aggregate Industries facilities, including air plan approval preparation for the Chelmsford facility, noise permitting compliance for the Swampscott facility, and asphalt plant dust and noise permitting for the Watertown facility. You can contact Marc Wallace by email at mwallace@techenv.com or by telephone at |
Marc C. Wallace,| TECH ENVIRONMENTAL, INC. specializes in finding real solutions to air quality, odor control, noise and vibration, fugitive dust, and health & safety challenges. Our focused knowledge in air-quality-related fields is enhanced by a comprehensive understanding of environmental regulations and technologies. Visit our website at www.techenv.com or contact us by phone at (781) 890-2220. |