ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    August
    7,
    1980
    IN THE MATTER OF:
    SULFUR DIOXIDE EMISSION LIMITATIONS)
    R78—17
    RULE 204(c)(1)(D) of CHAPTER
    2
    (PREVIOUSLY,
    RULE 204(c) (1)(B)ii).)
    PROPOSED RULE
    (REPEALER).
    FIRST NOTICE.
    OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD
    (by
    I.
    Goodman):
    On December 14,
    1978, the Board proposed deleting Rule
    204(c)(1)(D) given the deletion of the federal secondary sulfur
    dioxide national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) under the
    1977 amendments
    to the Clean Air Act,
    42 U.S.C.
    §7401,
    et
    ~.
    The proceeding was consolidated for purposes of hearing and
    decision with R77—15,
    R78—14,
    R78—15, and R78—16.
    Both merit and
    economic hearings were held and the record closed on July 14,
    1980.
    Before the 1977 Clean Air Act amendments, the secondary NAAQS
    standard for emissi~nsof sulfur dioxide by solid
    fuel combustion
    sources was
    60 ug/m
    (0.02 ppm)
    on an annual arithmetic monitoring
    average.
    Rule 204(c)(1)(D)
    then
    Rule 204(c)(1)(B)(ii)
    provides
    that no source located within any major metropolitan area other
    than Chicago,
    St. Louis
    (Illinois), or Peoria may emit sulfur
    dioxide at
    a rate more than 1.8 lbs./million Btu actual heat input
    if that area has m~nitoredsulfur dioxide emission levels greater
    than 45 or 60 ug/m
    (0.015 or 0.02 ppm), depending on the year
    monitored,
    as an annual arithmetic mean.
    The Clean Air Act now provides for a secondary sulfur dioxide
    NAAQS of 0.5 ppm on a 3-hour average basis.
    This s~andard
    would translate into considerably more than 60 ug/m
    as an annual
    arithmetic mean.
    The record shows that not one participant at hearing
    is
    opposed to the Board’s proposal.
    The Illinois Environmental
    Protection Agency (Agency)
    states
    that,
    for example,
    it never
    resorted to the rule in performing its duties.
    (R.8,
    221-2,
    912).
    The economic impact study covering the proposed deletion of
    the rule
    (Illinois Institute of Natural Resources’
    Document No.
    79/22 dated October, 1979)
    found that the costs were greater than
    the benefits of retaining this rule.
    Annual benefits were found
    to be negative because of the differing sulfur contents of coals
    used.
    (Page 33).
    Agency data for 1972—1978 covering the six major metropolitan
    areas affected by this rule
    (Bloomington—Normal,
    Champaign-Urbana,
    —2—
    Decatur, Rock Island-Moline, Rockford, and Springfield) show that
    not once did annual arithmetic means exceed the present primary
    NAAQS of 0.03 ppm.
    (Page 32).
    In light of the above monitoring data and in light of the
    consensus between the Agency,
    industry participants, and the
    Board, the Board finds it to be arbitrary to retain Rule 204
    (c)(1)(D) of Chapter
    2.
    The Board further finds the rule to
    be totally unnecessary for the Agency to perform its duties
    under the Illinois Environmental Protection Act and the Board’s
    regulations.
    Finally,
    the Board finds that continuation of the
    rule would be economically unreasonable in light of the negative
    benefits to be obtained.
    This Opinion constitutes the
    findings of fact and conclusions
    of law of the Board in this matter.
    Upon publication in the Illinois
    Register, a 30-day comment period shall begin.
    ORDER
    It
    is the Order of the Illinois Pollution Control Board
    that Rule 204(c)(1)(D) of Chapter
    2,
    Air Pollution Control
    Rules
    and Regulations, be deleted.
    I, Christan L. Moffett,
    Clerk of the Illinois Pollution
    Control Board, hereby cartify that the above Opinion and Order
    were ado&ted on the
    ~
    day of
    4*~i.—
    ,
    1980 by a
    vote of
    ~
    Christan L. Mdffl~t,Clerk
    Illinois Pollut~b’nControl Board

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