ILLINOIS
POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
January 27,
1983
IN THE MATTER OF:
)
CITY OF ROCHELLE:
)
R78-15
SITE SPECIFIC LIMITATION FOR
)
TOTAL SUSPENDED PARTICULATE MATTER
)
Proposed Rule.
Second Notice.
OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD
(by I.
G. Goodman):
On November
13,
1978 the City of Rochelle (Rochelle)
filed
a petition to amend Rule 203(g)(l) of Chapter 2:
Air Pollution
to include a particulate emission limitation for the emissions
exhausted from the stack at its Municipal Steam Power Plant,
located on South Main Street.
Specifically, Rochelle requested
a limitation of 0.6 pounds per million British thermal units
(lbs/mBtu) of actual heat input.
When Rochelle proposed amending Rule 203(g)(l), adoption
of the same had been vacated along with Rule 204(c)(l)
(Common-
wealth Edison v. Pollution Control Board,
62 Ill.2d
494,
343
N.E.2d 549 and Ashland Chemical v. Pollution Control Board,
64 Ill. App.3d 169,
381 N.E,2d 56).
Therefore, once docketed
this proposal was consolidated for hearing with R78—l6,
a Board
inquiry reviewing the rules on total suspended particulates
(TSP),
On August 21,
1980, R78—l6 was dismissed.
Other than this pro-
posal by Rochelle,
no steps were taken to adopt particulate
limitations for fuel combustion sources until R82—l was insti-
tuted by the Board.
Since further action in R82—l awaits receipt
of an economic impact study,
Rochelle’s source is not currently
subject to a specific TSP emission limitation.
Consolidated with R77—l5, R78—l4,
R78—l6 and R78—l7, hear-
ings were held for R78—15 on January 24,
1979 in Springfield,
January 30, 1979 in Chicago, February
7,
1979 in Peoria and
April
17, 1979 in Chicago.
After receiving the economic impact
study from the Department of Energy and Natural Resources
(then
the Institute of Natural
Resources) entitled “Economic Impact of
Sulfur Dioxide and Particulate Matter Regulations
in Illinois,
R77—15,” Doc. No.
79—22, hearings were held on January 29,
1980
in Chicago, January
30,
1980 in Peoria and February 13,
1980 in
Chicago.
The record closed on March
17,
1980.
Rochelle proposed this site—specific regulation primarily
due to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s
(Agency)
permitting policy in light of the Illinois Supreme Court decision
vacating Rule 203(g)(1).
This policy, as set out in “Guidelines
for the Performance of Air Quality Impact Analyses to be Used
in
51-81
2
Support of Permit Applications,” was to grant permits
if
sources
demonstrated
either
compliance with the terms of vacated
Rule
203(g)(1) or compliance with ambient air quality standards
(Petition,
pg.
2),
This policy led Rochelle to conduct
stack
tests to determine compliance with vacated Rule 203(g)(1)(B)
and modeling studies to determine its contribution
to ambient
air concentration levels
of
particulate matter,
The stack test
report, dated October,
1977,
showed Rochell&s contribution to
he an average emission rate of 0.418 lbs/mBtu or less,
Since
the maximum rate allowable based on Rule 203(g)(1)(13)
is 0,18
lbs/mBtu,
Rochelle
is petitioning for a site—specific
rate of
0.60 lbs/mBtu.
The city’s plant produces electric power
for its 12,000
consumers and produces process steam for a Swift and Company
facility.
Its two steam boilers vent to a common stack and have
maximum rated capacities of 100,000
lbs/hour at 100 million Btu
per hour of heat input
(R.
376).
Particulate matter emissions
are presently controlled through the use of mechanical collectors
(western precipitator multiclones) having 90
efficiency, taken
together, when the boilers are operating at full loads
(R.
377,
393, 398,
405).
Initially,
Rochelle conducted six stack
tests to determine
compliance with the 0.18
lbs/mBtu limitation.
All resulted
in
violations of that limit
(Exhibit 5).
The stack tests were then
averaged to provide a basis for modeling.
Unfortunately, the
stack tests had not been conducted with the boilers operating
at full capacity, contrary to standard testing procedures.
Therefore the actual results were ratioed “up”
in an effort to
characterize full
load results.
This was apparently done on the
assumption that a given increase
in heat input produces another
given increase
in steam and a corresponding increase in emission
rates.
The record reflects contrary opinions as to the success
of such extrapolation
(R,
400—405,
415—416).
Using the Point Source Diffusion Model
(PSDM) Rochelle
further determined the maximum concentrations of TSP contributed
to the ambient air solely by its source.
Worst case emission
rates were utilized to predict conservative ground level TSP
concentratations.
Sequential calculations were made for 256
receptors located at various points ranging from 0.5 to 25.0
kilometers from the stack
(R.
387—388),
This modeling indicated
that maximum TSP for the 24—ho~rstandard contributed by the
Rochelle facility is l~.6ug/m
,
less than 11
of the secondary
standard of 150.0 ug/m
.
This impact
was predicted to occur
within 1.5 kilometers southwest of the plant.
The maximum ca~—
culated annual contribution of the Rochelle plant is 2.3 ug/m3
which is about 4
of the secondary annual
standard of
60 ug/m
This impact was predicted to occur within 1.5 kilometers north
of the plant
(R.
388-389),
51-82
3
To further qualify the modeling results, Rochelle conducted
a monitoring program, intended primarily to determine background
values in the plant impact area.
Monitoring at the modeled
northern impact point resulted in no violations of the annual
ambient air quality standards for TSP,
and only one violation
of the 24 hour standard.
The latter was attributed to nearby
road construction.
Rochelle conceded that control technology, either electro-
static precipitors
(ESP) or baghouses,
were available and that
installation would facilitate compliance with the 0.18 lbs/mBtu
limitation.
Installation of baghouses was not considered by
Rochelle as
a means to comply with the limit
(R.
394—5); instal-
lation of ESP5 was considered, not as a substitute control mecha-
nism, but instead as a means of further controlling Petitioner’s
existing cyclones
(R.
421).
The capital cost to install ESPs was
estimated at $1.4 million in 1977 dollars, or at a minimum average
cost of $100 per customer.
These figures do not appear to be off—
set by monetary contribution by Swift and Company as the primary
industrial user in the area.
Ogle County is designated attainment for TSP at 40 CFR
81.314.
The surrounding counties,
Lee and Boone are likewise
listed.
However,
the counties of DeKalb, Winnebago, specifically
Rockford Township, are listed as non—attainment for the secondary
standard.
Rockford Township and all the townships in DeKalb,
except DeKaib and Mayfield Townships, have been proposed for
redesignation by the Agency in January 1982.
Since DeKalb Town-
ship is twenty miles directly east of the Rochelle plant, its
non—attainment designation was questioned during this proceeding.
Petitioner stated that it is “obvious that
if no violations are
predicted at 10 kilometers...there would be no excursion for a
receptor 20 kilometers away (Exhibit 35,
Part 1, pg. 2).
Additionally, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
(Agency) stated that it did not consider Rochelle’s source to
significantly contribute to ambient air concentrations, and that
the rural area of Ogle County is not bothered by an air quality
problem
(R.
424).
In post hearing public comments the Agency
stated that the relaxed limitation “would not cause an air
quality problem.”
Over the course of the years two monitoring stations have
been operated in DeKaib Township.
The monitoring results
(Annual
Air Quality Reports 1977—1981) are set out in the chart below.
Annual Geometric
Annual Statistics
No. of Samples
Highest Samples
Mean
Violations
1503
2603
75
60
ug/m
ug/m
ug/m
uglm
Total
(Primary)
(Secondary)
1
2
3
4
(Primary)
(Secondary)
*j977
43
2
1
435
179
103
91
56
0
0
*1979
34
1
0
168
iii
iii
110
+
+
*1979
26
0
0
133
98
96
92
+
+
**1979
14
0
0
95
93
78
66
+
+
**1980
29
0
0
92
88
84
81
+
+
54
0
0
129
125
109
98
53
0
0
*
200
S.
4th
St.
~
~?
~!:1~t ~
51-83
4
Unfortunately, the statistical data for three of the five
years is insufficient to establish a geometric mean for eight
consecutive quarters, which is necessary for DeKalb Township to
be proposed for redesignation.
Nevertheless, the monitoring
results indicate that this area has probably not experienced a
TSP air quality problem since
1977.
Since the Rochelle facility
has been operating at or near the proposed emission limit and no
violations of the standards have been monitored,
Petitioner’s
statement that its source does not impact DeKalb appears valid,
The Rochelle stack
is the only major fuel combustion emission
source
in Ogle County emitting particulates
(R.
396).
Keeping in
mind that the modeling performed was conservative and premised on
a limit of 0.60 lbs/mBtu, the combined data from the stack teats,
the PSDM and site—specific monitoring indicates that should the
limitation requested be granted, violations of the ambient air
quality standard will not result.
However,
in granting Rochelle emission limit more relaxed
than that presumably required by other such sources,
the Peti-
tioner will consume
a portion of the Prevention of Significant
Determinations
(PSI)) increments.
Therefore, Rochelle was
directed by the hearing officer to submit its estimation of the
amount of PSD increments would be used up by this regulation
(R.
411).
The estimation was to be based upon the emission rate
used as input in the PSDM rather than the facility’s actual
emission rate.
This information
is contained in Exhibit
35.
Nevertheless,
since no baseline has been established for any
areas affected by the Rochelle source,
PSD increment consumption
is not sufficient reason to deny Rochelle a relaxed site—specific
limitation.
This rule was published for First Notice on November 19,
1982 in 6 Illinois Register 14456
—
14458.
On January
6,
1983
the Agency filed comments raising three issues,
which Roche.ie
responded to on January 10,
1983.
No other public comments were
filed.
At the outset the Agency questions whether the record
which the Board based its decision on was sufficiently current,
Primarily the Agency is concerned that the supporting documenta-
tion offered by Rochelle at hearing may now be insufficient to
support a revision of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) by the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
Acknow1~
edging that a SIP revision is necessary after a rule change,
this
proceeding, however, need only justify a site-specific rulemaking
by the Board.
The analyses and documentation necessary for a SIP
revision,
in this instance, can be provided to the Agency and the
USEPA during the SIP revision process.
In its response, Rochelte
agreed that any additional information needed pertaining to the
SIP petition will be provided.
Lastly, the Agency retracts its support for the proposed
limitation of 0.60 lbs/mfltu because
it is greater than the plant’s
51-84
5
actual emissions, and again because
it
is not sufficiently docu~
mented for the purpose of a SIP revision.
As stated above, any
deficiencies
in the SIP demonstration can be cured at that time.
In support of the more restrictive limit proposed
in its comments,
the Agency relies on undocumented permit information and further
analysis of the stack test results.
The Board~sdecision to
grant 0.60 ibs/mBtu was likewise premised on the stack tests, hut
it was also premised on the modeling performed by Rochelle.
The
modeling demonstrated that emissions up to 0.60 lbs/mBtu would not
jeopardize air quality,
This documented limitation is retained.
The Board finds the evidence provided by Rochelle’s modeling
and monitoring sufficient, despite the questionable practice of
extrapolating the stack test results to full
load capacity, to
demonstrate that this proposed regulation will not degrade the
attainment status of Ogle County or other nearby attainment areas.
The economic evidence indicates that although the technology is
available,
it is costly.
Swayed by evidence that the air quality,
and therefore the health or welfare of persons
in the immediate
vicinity,
is not jeopardized by the emission amount Rochelle seeks,
the limitation of 0.60 lbs/mBtu is granted.
ORDER
The following language is hereby proposed for adoption into
Chapter
2:
Air Pollution,
Part II:
Emission Standards and
Limitations
for Stationary Sources:
RULE 203:
Particulate Emission Standards and Limitations
(a)~(f)
Unchanged.
(g)
Fuel Combustion Emission Sources
(I)
Using Solid
Fuel Exclusively
(A)
Existing Sources Located
in the Chicago Major
Metropolitan Area——Reserved
(B)
Existing Sources Located Outside the Chicago
Major Metropolitan Area——Reserved
(C)
Exemptions for Existing Controlled Sources
Notwithstanding sub-paragraphs
(A) and
(B)
of this Rule 203(g)(l),
any existing fuel
combustion emission source using solid
fuel
exclusively, and meeting the following con-
ditions, may emit up to, but not exceed,
the
limits set out.
(i)
As of ~~i1
14~1972 the emission source
has an emission rate based on original design
or equipment performance test conditions,
whichever is stricter, which is
less than
0,2
lbs/tnBtu of actual heat input, and the
emission control of such source is not
51-85
(
allowed
to degrade more than 0.05 lbs/mBtu
from such original design or acceptance
performance test conditions,
the rate of
emissions shall not exceed 0.2 lbs/mBtu
~~ljJ~p~t;
or
(ii)
As of
~a~a
14
1972 the source
is in full
compliance with the terms and conditions of~
a variance granted by the Board sufficient
to achieve an emission rate less than 0.2
lbs/mBtu, and construction has commenced on
equipment and modification prescribed under
that program;
and emission control of
such
sources is not allowed
to
degrade
more than
0.05 lbs/mBtu from original design or equip~
ment performance test conditions whichever
is stricter,
the
rate
of
emission
shall not
exceed 0,2 lbs/mBtu
of actual heat inp~utor
(iii)
As of (the effective date
of
this
Rule)
the rate of emissions from Boilers
#1 and
#2
located at the Rochelle M~~ialSteam Power
Plant
South Main
Street
Cit
of
Rochelle
oun y,
inois
s a
no?~~dd~ed
0.6lbs/mBtu of actual heat
~
IT IS
SO
ORDERED.
Board Chairman Dumelle and Board
Member
Werner
concurred.
I, Christan L.
Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution
Control
Board,
hereby c~rtifythat
the
above
Opinion
and
Order
was
adopted
on
the
~7’
day
of
~~&~-_
,
1983
by
a
vote
of
~
,
_~~
~
~___~
Christan
L.
Moffê~,t’t’~Clerk
Illinois Pollutio’n’~ControlBoard
51-86