ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    November
    3,
    1988
    IN THE MATTER OF:
    AMENDMENTS TO
    35
    ILL.
    )
    ADM. CODE
    214,
    )
    R86—30
    SULFUR LIMITATIONS
    (Petition
    )
    of Shell Oil Company)
    ADOPTED RULE.
    FINAL ORDER.
    OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD
    (by
    3.
    Theodore Meyer):
    This matter
    is before the Board on
    a joint proposal for
    regulatory amendment
    filed by the Illinois Environmental
    Protection Agency (Agency)
    and Shell Oil Company
    (Shell) on July
    7,
    1986.
    The joint proposal seeks
    to amend
    35
    Ill.
    Adm.
    Code
    214, which regulates sulfur emissions from stationary sources.
    The proposal
    is designed
    to tighten emissions
    from Shell’s Wood
    River Manufacturing Complex
    (WRMC)
    so as
    to ensure the attainment
    and maintenance
    of National Ambient Air Quality Standards
    (NAAQS)
    for sulfur dioxide
    (SO2)
    for
    the Wood River
    area.
    A merit hearing on
    the proposal was held on October
    30, 1986
    in Wood River,
    Illinois.
    On February 26,
    1987 the Department
    of
    Energy and Natural Resources
    (DENR)
    filed
    a negative declaration,
    setting
    forth
    its determination that the preparation of
    a formal
    economic
    impact study
    is not necessary
    in this proceeding.
    The
    negative declaration was based upon DENR’s findings that the
    economic impact of the regulation
    is favorable and that
    the costs
    of compliance
    are small
    or are borne entirely by the proponent
    of
    the regulation.
    On March
    4,
    1987,
    the Board
    received
    notification
    that the Economic and Technical Advisory Committee
    (ETC)
    concurred
    in DENR’s negative declaration.
    The Hearing
    Officer subsequently directed
    that the record be closed on April
    30, 1987.
    However,
    on that date the Agency filed
    a motion for
    extension
    of time
    to present additional evidence.
    The basis
    of
    the Agency’s request was its notification by the United States
    Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
    that additional technical
    work needed
    to be done for the rule
    to be federally approvable as
    a part
    of the State Implementation
    Plan
    (SIP)
    for SO2.
    The
    Hearing Officer granted
    the Agency’s motion,
    and ordered
    that the
    record
    be kept open indefinitely.
    The necessary technical work was completed
    in late 1987,
    and
    the final hearing was held on January 22,
    1988
    in Chicago.
    At
    that hearing,
    the Agency and Shell submitted
    a revised proposal
    (Ex.
    9)
    and presented testimony
    in support of
    the revisions.
    DENR has
    indicated
    that
    it
    feels that
    its February 1987 negative
    declaration
    is still appropriate.
    93—369

    —2—
    On April
    21,
    1988 the Board proposed for First Notice
    a rule
    which was substantially the same as
    the rule submitted by Shell
    and the Agency.
    The proposed rule was published
    in the Illinois
    ~gister
    on May 13,
    1988,
    at
    12
    Ill.
    Reg.
    8219.
    Several comments were received after
    First Notice
    publication.
    The Department
    of Commerce and Community Affairs
    filed
    a comment which stated that
    the proposed rule will have no
    effect on small businesses regulated by the rule.
    (P.C.
    #2.)
    The Board notes
    that this rule regulates only Shell’s WRMC.
    Comments were also filed by Shell
    (P.C.
    #1) and the Agency
    (P.C.
    #3).
    (The substance of those comments will be addressed
    later
    in
    this Opinion.)
    On October 19, 1988 the Joint Committee on Administrative
    Rules
    (JCAR)
    filed
    its Certification of No Objection
    to the
    rule.
    To satisfy concerns raised by JCAR,
    the Board has agreed
    to modify Sections 214.104
    and 214.382,
    and
    to update the
    authority
    note,
    to read
    as set forth
    in the Order below.
    These
    modifications do not change
    the substance of the rules.
    BACKGROUND
    The purpose behind
    the joint proposal
    is
    to remedy the
    inadequacy
    in the Illinois SIP for SO2.
    On September
    28,
    1984,
    USEPA notified Governor Thompson that
    it found the SIP
    substantially inadequate
    to achieve the NAAQS
    for SO2
    in the
    Alton and Wood River areas of Madison County,
    Illinois.
    The SIP
    deficiency notice was made pursuant
    to Section 11O(a)(2)(H) of
    the Clean Air Act,
    42 U.S.C.
    7410(a)(2)(H).
    USEPA called for
    Illinois
    to submit a curative SIP revision or be subject
    to
    sanctions under the Clean Air Act.
    Because Shell’s allowable
    emissions contribute significantly
    to the modeled nonattainment
    in the Alton—Wood River area, Shell and the Agency worked
    together
    to develop
    a proposal
    to assure attainment
    of the NAAQS
    for SO2.
    The instant proposal
    is the result
    of that cooperation.
    Shell’s WRMC
    is the largest refinery
    in Illinois,
    and
    processes approximately 12 million gallons
    of crude oil per
    day.
    At the refinery,
    the crude oil
    is separated,
    and the parts,
    or fractions,
    are converted and upgraded.
    About
    6.5 million
    gallons become motor gasoline and aviation fuel.
    The remainder
    becomes home heating
    oil,
    liquefied petroleum gas,
    diesel fuel,
    aviation turbine fuel,
    industrial fuel
    oil,
    asphalt,
    solvents,
    chemicals such
    as benzene
    and acetone, and more than
    500
    varieties
    of lubricating oil.
    (See generally
    Ex.
    7.)
    The
    refinery processes used
    to create these products include
    distillation, vacuum flashing,
    fluid catalytic cracking,
    gas
    plant
    fractionation,
    hydrocrackirig, reforming,
    hydrotreating,
    and
    alkylation.
    (Transcript of October
    30,
    1986
    (Tr.I),
    p.
    58.)
    The
    WRMC
    employs over
    1700 people, who earned over
    $80,000,000
    in
    wages and benefits
    in
    1985.
    (Tr.I,
    p.
    40.)
    93—370

    —3—
    Sulfur Emission Sources
    There are forty—eight SO2 emission sources at Shell’s
    WRMC.
    Forty—three
    of these sources are fuel combustion emission
    sources,
    both process heaters and boilers.
    The process heaters
    supply heat
    to the various refinery processes
    for the conversion
    and/or separation of crude oil and intermediate products
    into
    gasoline and other saleable products.
    Nine boilers produce
    steam, which
    is used primarily for fractionation,
    turbine
    drivers,
    equipment maintenance,
    and heat tracing.
    The fuel
    demands of the process heaters and the boilers are primarily met
    with by—product fuels produced within the refinery,
    including
    refinery flasher pitch and refinery fuel
    gas.
    Some sources also
    use
    small amounts
    of residual oil called utility fuel
    oil.
    In
    addition,
    a relatively small amount of natural gas
    is purchased
    and used
    to balance WRMC’s fuel gas system.
    (Tr.I,
    pp.
    61—62;
    Transcript
    of January
    22,
    1988
    (Tr.
    II),
    pp.
    40—41.)
    Shell’s refinery flasher pitch
    (RFP) system is
    a
    fuel supply
    system which
    is unique to
    WRMC.
    This system supplies preheated
    pitch
    fuel
    at
    a constant temperature and pressure
    to the larger
    fuel combustion sources at WRMC.
    RFP, which
    is
    a by-product
    of
    the vacuum flashing units, has a very high viscosity and acts
    like
    a solid at room temperatures.
    The sulfur content
    of RFP
    is
    related
    to the sulfur content of the crude oil.
    The pitch
    is
    circulated via supply and return headers.
    In addition
    to the
    main headers,
    each individual
    unit has an internal circulating
    loop,
    allowing pitch which
    is not consumed at that individual
    source
    to go back into the return header.
    A small heater
    is used
    to maintain the temperature of the RFP at about 500 degrees
    Fahrenheit so that the pitch may be pumped.
    (Tr.I,
    pp. 62—3;
    Ex.
    6, Figure
    I.)
    The refinery fuel gas
    (RFG)
    system
    is the other main
    fuel
    supply system at WRMC.
    RFG
    is primarily composed of
    the light
    hydrocarbons methane
    and ethane with some propane and butane plus
    hydrogen.
    RFG has a variable heating value and can have up to
    7,000 grains
    (1.0
    lb.)
    of hydrogen sulfide
    (H2S) per
    100 standard
    cubic
    feet
    (scf) prior
    to treatment.
    By—product vent gases
    from
    the various processing units at WRMC are collected and routed
    to
    fuel gas absorbers..
    The H2S
    is removed
    from the sour
    fuel gases,
    and the treated RFG is then ready to burn at the various
    fuel
    combustion
    sources.
    The recovered
    H2S
    is routed
    to the sulfur
    recovery plant where
    it
    is converted and
    recovered
    as elemental
    sulfur
    (Tr.I, pp.
    63—64; Ex.
    6,
    Figure II.)
    The five remaining SO2 emission sources
    are process emission
    sources.
    WRMC’s process emission sources include Fluid Catalytic
    Cracking Unit No.
    1
    (CCU—l),
    Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit No.
    2
    (CCU—2), Asphalt Converter No.
    5,
    Sulfuric Acid Unit
    (SAtJ),
    and
    .3—371

    —4—
    the Sulfur Recovery Unit
    (SRU).
    These processes produce sulfur
    emissions
    to varying degrees.
    (Tr.I, pp.
    65—67.)
    SO2 Air Pollution Control Equipment
    Shell currently has several types
    of air pollution control
    equipment which control SO2 emissions.
    This existing equipment
    includes the sulfur recovery plant,
    the fuel gas treatment
    facilities,
    facilities segregating
    low and high sulfur content
    refinery flasher pitches,
    the sulfuric acid unit dual absorption
    facilities,
    and the fluid catalytic cracking unit feed
    hydrotreater.
    The estimated replacement cost of this control
    equipment
    is approximately 100 million dollars,
    and annual
    operating and maintenance costs are on the order of
    20 million
    dollars.
    (Tr.I,
    pp. 68—69.)
    THE JOINT PROPOSAL
    Shell’s WRMC presently has
    a maximum permitted emission rate
    of 19,160 pounds of SO2 per hour.
    The actual maximum emission
    rate during the period 1982
    through 1985 was 11,063 lbs/hr,
    excluding any period of malfunction.
    This maximum emission rate
    for 1982—1985,
    however,
    is not indicative
    of full capacity
    operations at WRMC.
    This
    is related
    to the general economic
    climate
    for the refining
    industry during this period,
    and because
    of reduced operations on some units since
    late
    1984 due
    to
    a
    major modernization project.
    Shell
    estimates
    that full
    operating
    conditions during this time would have resulted
    in maximum
    emission rates
    of approximately 13,000 lbs/hr.
    (Tr.I, pp. 48—
    49.)
    The permitted 19,160 lbs/hr maximum emission rate
    is based
    upon the supposition
    that each
    individual emission source will
    operate simultaneously
    at maximum permitted
    rates.
    However,
    Joseph Brewster, Technical Manager
    of Process Engineering
    Environmental Conservation/Utilities
    at WRMC,
    testified that the
    refinery never operates in that fashion.
    Instead,
    the refinery
    operation uses
    a large variety
    of operating combinations with the
    maximum permitted emission rates occurring with only
    a few of
    the
    operating combinations.
    (Tr.I,
    p~
    49.)
    Therefore,
    Shell
    and
    the
    Agency worked
    to prepare
    a regulation which will give Shell
    its
    necessary operating flexibility while ensuring
    that ambient air
    quality standards will not be exceeded under any permitted
    condition.
    The resulting oroposal,
    as revised, would reduce
    Shell’s allowable SO2 emission from the current 19,160 lbs/hr
    to
    10,384
    lbs/hr.
    This
    is
    a reduction of
    8,776 lbs/hr,
    or
    46
    percent.
    (Tr.II,
    p.
    47;
    Ex.
    15, Table
    2.)
    The joint proposal accomplishes
    this reduction by bringing
    maximum permitted s02 emissions more
    in line with
    the actual
    emissions.
    This
    is possible because
    there
    is considerable
    redundancy
    in the various refinery processes.
    For example,
    there
    93—372

    —5—
    are nine boilers at WRMC.
    At any one time only six boilers may
    be operating, with the other three shut down
    for maintenance.
    (Tr.I, p.
    69.)
    Mass Emission Limits
    The heart of the joint proposal consists of two basic
    concepts set forth
    in new Section 2l4.382(c)(3):
    Source
    Operations Groupings
    (SOGs) and the rollback.
    A SOG
    is
    a group
    of similar SO2 sources which have been capped with
    a mass
    limit.
    The emissions cap for
    a SOG is less than the total of the
    current maximum permitted emissions from each individual source
    within that SaG.
    As
    a result,
    the SOG more closely reflects
    actual maximum condition.s.
    The proposal contains nine SOGs.
    Eight of the SOGs are made up of
    fuel combustion sources, while
    the ninth consists of process emission sources.
    The individual
    SOGs were chosen on the basis of
    location, control,
    type of
    source,
    and fuel monitoring.
    Sources within
    a particular SOG are
    located
    no more
    than
    500 feet apart and are controlled from a
    common manned control
    room.
    In two cases
    (distilling unit No.
    2
    and the hydrocracker complex),
    the SOG consists of sources vented
    to
    a common stack.
    (Tr.I.
    pp.
    69—71.)
    Exhibit
    6,
    Figure IV
    shows
    the location of
    the SOGs.
    The rollback caps SO2 emissions from four SOGs.
    The
    affected SOGs are distilling unit No.
    1,
    the gas plant process
    heaters,
    the boilers which generate steam for general plant
    use,
    the aromatics east process,
    and asphalt converter No.
    5.
    This
    cap,
    which
    is set forth
    in Section 2l4.382(c)(3)(J),
    is
    in
    addition
    to the individual SOG mass SO2 emission limit and the
    maximum permitted emission limit
    for asphalt converter No.
    5.
    The justification for the rollback
    is contained
    in Exhibits
    2 and
    12, which are Agency
    reports on air quality analysis and
    compliance with the SO2 NAAQS
    for the Alton—Wood River
    area.
    Fuel Sulfur Limits
    The
    joint proposal also imposes limits on the amount of
    sulfur
    in the fuels used at WRMC.
    New Section 214.382(c)(l)
    limits the refinery flasher pitch
    used
    at the facility to that
    containing no more than
    3
    sulfur by weight.
    New Section
    214.382(c)•(2)
    limits refinery fuel gas
    (RFG)
    to
    39 grains
    of
    hydrogen sulfide per 100 dry standard cubic
    feet.
    These sulfur
    limits are consistent with
    the values presently applicable to
    WRMC under Section 214.162.
    (Tr.I,
    pp.
    71—72;
    Tr.II,
    pp.
    10—11,
    39—44.)
    Sulfur Recovery Unit Emission Limit
    Proposed Section 214.382(b)
    changes the emission limit
    applicable
    to the sulfur recovery unit
    (SRU)
    from
    14 pounds per
    metric ton
    of sulfur recovered
    to
    1000 parts per milliort(ppm)
    93—373

    —6—
    sulfur dioxide
    in the final
    flue gas.
    This concentration in the
    flue gas
    is approximately equal
    to the present 14 lbs/T
    sulfur
    recovered at maximum permitted
    rates.
    Shell contends that
    a
    concentration limit
    is consistent with federal New Source
    Performance Standards
    (NSPS) for sulfur
    recovery units and with
    existing Board regulations
    for other sulfur
    recovery units
    in
    Illinois.
    (Tr.
    I, pp.
    73—74.)
    Shell has already made actual emission reductions pursuant
    to this proposed section.
    The SRU, which converts hydrogen
    sulfide derived from crude oil processing
    to elemental sulfur,
    is
    the primary SO2 emission control equipment at
    WRMC.
    The SRU has
    four units, or trains, which were built
    at different times.
    The
    oldest unit,
    called the D—train, previously exhausted
    to the
    atmosphere without tailgas treatment.
    This was the standard
    technology at the time of the construction of the D—train
    in the
    early l960s,
    and was allowed
    for by Section 214.382(a)
    of the
    Board’s regulations.
    In
    1985, Shell
    tied the D—train into the
    existing tailgas cleanup unit, called
    the SCOT unit.
    The SCOT
    unit had sufficient capacity
    to accommodate the additional gas
    load.
    This tie—in decreases SO2 emissions
    in the
    tailgas from
    approximately 10,000 ppm to within the proposed standard of 1000
    ppm.
    This step reduces maximum permitted
    and maximum actual
    emissions by 2,406 pounds per hour.
    (Tr.I,
    pp.
    50—52.)
    Compliance
    One of the issues
    raised by USEPA
    in its April
    9, 1987
    letter
    (Ex.
    11) detailing its concerns about
    the federal
    approvability of the joint proposal was the lack of compliance
    test methods.
    The revised proposal addresses this concern.
    Proposed amendments
    to Section 214.104 will incorporate by
    reference two standard test methods.
    An addition
    to subsection
    (b) will incorporate “Standard Test Method
    for Sulfur in
    Petroleum Products
    (X—Ray Spectographic Method)”, ASTM D—2622
    (1982).
    (Ex.
    17.)
    This method will be used
    to measure the
    amount of sulfur
    in the refinery flasher pitch
    in order
    to
    determine compliance with new Section 214.382(c)(l).
    The joint
    proposal would also add
    a new subsection
    Cc)
    incorporating by
    reference the Tutwiler procedure.
    (Ex.
    18.)
    This standard
    procedure,
    found at
    40 CFR 60.648
    (1986),
    is
    to be used
    to
    measure the amount of hydrogen sulfide
    in refinery
    fuel gas, so
    as
    to sho~icompliance with proposed Section 2l4.382(c)(2).
    Additionaly,
    new Section 214.382(d)
    specifies that compliance
    with the emission limits of Section 214.382(b)
    and
    (C)
    shall
    be
    demonstrated on
    a three—hour block average basis.
    The Board has
    added
    a sentence
    to subsection
    (d) which requires that collection
    of data necessary to adequately determine the SO2 emission rate
    from each SOG be made
    a permit condition.
    Agency comment
    is
    requested on
    the adequacy of the
    listed data and any need
    to
    expand the
    list.
    New Section 2l4.382(c)(1)
    states that
    compliance with that subsection shall
    be demonstrated by daily
    93—374

    —7—
    sampling of
    the refinery flasher pitch, while new Section
    214.382(c)(2) provides that compliance with the refinery fuel gas
    standard shall be demonstrated by sampling the gas once every
    shift
    (i.e. every eight hours).
    Comment
    is requested on the
    eight hour sampling requirement.
    Shell
    introduced
    a report
    entitled “Sulfur Dioxide Emissions Determination Procedure”
    (Ex.
    16), which describes how Shell will implement the rule to show
    compliance on an ongoing basis.
    A Shell engineer testified that
    Shell expects this report to be referenced as a standard
    condition
    in future operating permits.
    (Tr.
    II, pp. 8—10,
    42—
    46.)
    Finally, USEPA expressed concern over which emission limits
    apply to the various
    sources at WRMC.
    A summary of the
    limits
    applicable to each source
    is contained
    in Exhibit
    15, Table
    1.
    Alternative Emission Standard
    Shell and
    the Agency also propose
    a new Section
    214.382(g),
    which would provide
    for establishment of an alternative emission
    rate to the limits found
    in Section 214.382(c).
    Proposed
    subsection
    (g)
    states that any owner
    or operator of an emission
    source
    to which subsection
    (c)
    applies may petition the Board
    for
    approval of an alternative
    rate.
    Such person would be required
    to demonstrate
    in an adjudicative hearing that the proposed rate
    would
    not under
    foreseeable conditions cause or contribute
    to
    a
    violation of any applicable
    SO7
    air quality standard
    or any
    applicable prevention of significant deterioration
    (PSD)
    increment.
    Shell testified that this provision
    is intended
    to
    provide flexibility for future development.
    Mr. Brewster stated
    that there
    could come
    a time when Shell wanted
    to retire an older
    process and substitute
    a new process.
    This alternative emission
    standard procedure is intended
    to allow such changes without the
    necessity of
    a lengthy rulemaking proceeding.
    (Tr.I.
    pp.
    83—85.
    )
    Modifications
    New Section 214.382(g) would change the definition of
    modification
    for purposes
    of this set of rules only.
    New
    subsection
    (g) provides that notwithstanding the definitions
    contained
    in Section 201.102,
    any physical change in any emission
    source which alters the height of
    release, diameter
    of the exit
    stack,
    temperature, or volumetric flow rate
    of the effluent gases
    shall be deemed
    a modification
    for purposes of Section 201.142
    “Construction Permit Required.”
    The Agency stated at hearing
    that this subsection will provide for Agency review of
    a physical
    change which may alter
    the impact of
    the emissions from the
    source,
    regardless of whether the change would
    increase the
    amount of emissions.
    This
    is necessary because the predicted air
    quality
    is already at the maximum level.
    (Tr.I, pp.
    85—88.)
    Environmental
    Impact
    The Agency presented two witnesses who testified
    to the
    9
    3—375

    —8—
    modeling done
    to assure that the joint proposaJ
    will result
    in
    SO2 emissions which are within the NAAQS.
    (Tr.I,
    pp.
    7—36;
    Tr.II,
    pp.
    1—34;
    Ex.
    2,
    12.)
    Two different
    studies were
    performed:
    one prior to the development of this proposal
    (Ex.
    2),
    and one after USEPA,
    in its April
    1987
    letter,
    raised several
    questions about the modeling.
    (Ex.
    12.
    )
    The
    studies used
    a
    comprehensive inventory of
    all SO, emission sources
    in the area,
    modeled at their maximum permitted levels,
    and five years of
    representative meteorological data.
    Appropriate dispersion
    modeling techniques were then used
    to characterize potential
    ambient SO2 concentration levels
    in the Wood River
    area.
    (The
    modeling sEudies and their results are discussed more fully in
    Exhibits
    2
    and 12.)
    These studies concluded
    that the 24—hour
    average ambient air quality standard is violated when the maximum
    SO2 emission rates currently allowed by Board regulatio~5were
    used
    in the dispersion calculations.
    No violations of the annual
    or
    3—hour average air quality standards were found.
    After
    Shell
    and
    the Agency developed
    a compliance strategy, additional
    modeling
    runs were performed.
    This analysis showed that the
    second—high impacts
    for
    any year of meteorological data modeled
    at
    any receptor near WRMC are less
    than or equal
    to the 24—hour
    air quality standard for SO2.
    Thus,
    the Agency feels that this
    joint proposal will adequately protect the NAAQS
    for sulfur
    dioxide.
    At the January 22,
    1988 hearing,
    an Agency witness
    testified that the Agency believes that USEPA’s questions have
    been satisfactorily answered.
    (Tr.
    II, pp.
    32—34.)
    Summary of Reductions
    In addition
    to the emission reductions made by tieing the D—
    train of the SRU into the existing tailgas cleanup unit,
    Shell
    has made other reductions by doing such things
    as relinquishing
    operating
    permits for asphalt converters
    1,
    2, and
    4.
    The
    following table
    (Ex.
    12, Table
    13) summarizes
    the reductions made
    by the proposed rule and through Shell’s operating changes:
    SO
    Emission
    Tons/Year)
    Current Maximum Permitted Emissions
    83,921
    Proposed Emission Reductions:
    SOGs/Roliback
    (Maximum 3
    Sulfur
    Pitch Content)
    —20,711
    Tie—in D—Train
    to SCOT
    —10,665
    Reduce Catalytic Cracker Units
    maximum permitted emissions by 27.5
    —5,694
    93—376

    —9—
    Relinquish operating permits for
    Asphalt Converters Nos.
    1,
    2,
    and
    4
    —850
    Relinquish permit to burn utility
    fuel
    oil and substitute refinery fuel gas
    at Precursor, Alky HM—1,
    and LFE—Ext
    Furnaces
    —657
    Revise SRU/SCOT emission limit to
    a ppmv
    limit from a lbs/ton limit
    +128
    Total Reductions
    -38,449
    Proposed Maximum Permitted Emissions
    -45,472
    The Board specifically notes that although
    the proposal
    greatly reduces Shell’s permitted emission limits,
    the actual
    reductions will be smaller.
    This is because although Shell
    is
    currently permitted
    to emit 19,160 pounds
    of SO2 per hour,
    full
    capacity operations
    at WRMC produce actual emission rates
    of
    approximately 13,000 pounds
    per hour.
    (Tr.
    I,
    pp.
    48—49.)
    Since
    this proposal
    is based upon bringing maximum permitted SO2
    emissions into line with actual emissions,
    the actual emission
    reduction
    is less than the 38,449 tons
    per year
    indicated
    in the
    table.
    Shell’s actual emissions will be reduced approximately
    20
    by the proposal, while
    its permitted emission will be reduced
    46.
    RESPONSE TO FIRST NOTICE COMMENTS
    Section
    214.101.
    In
    its First Notice proposal, the Board made
    some changes
    to Section 214.101(c) which were intended merely
    to
    clarify which procedures are
    to be used for solid
    fuel averaging
    measurements.
    Shell believes that these proposed changes go
    beyond
    the scope of this proceeding, and states that the changes
    are the subject of rulemaking
    in Measurements Methods
    for
    Emissions of Sulfur Compounds, R87—31.
    Shell submits that the
    changes
    to
    subsection
    Cc)
    are not required
    to make this site
    specific rule operative.
    The Board agrees,
    and will not adopt
    any changes
    to subsection
    (C).
    The Board also proposed
    a new Section 214.101(h)
    to provide
    for the use of the Tutwiler procedure for measurement of the
    concentration of hydrogen sulfide
    in petroleum refinery fuel
    gas.
    Shell believes that this subsection needs to be qualified
    as applying only to compliance determinations for Section
    214.382(c).
    (Section 2l4.382(c) contains the bulk of
    the
    rules
    proposed
    in this proceeding,
    and applies only to Shell’s WRMC.)
    Shell states that other petroleum refineries
    in Illinois use
    other measurement procedures
    as permitted by the Agency.
    Shell
    also maintains that subsection
    (h),
    as proposed at First
    Notice,
    could
    be
    in conflict with future changes
    to the federal
    93—377

    —10—
    new source performance standards, which may set
    a standard
    for
    continuous emission monitors.
    The Board again agrees with
    Shell’s comments,
    and will qualify Section 214.101(h)
    as applying
    only to compliance determination for Section 214.382(c).
    Section 214.382(d)
    permit conditions.
    At First Notice the
    Board added
    a sentence
    to proposed Section 214.382(d)
    which
    requires,
    as a permit condition,
    that data be maintained
    in order
    to adequately demonstrate compliance.
    The Board specified
    certain types of data,
    and asked
    for comment
    on that listed
    data.
    In its comments,
    the Agency agrees
    that these
    types of
    data are necessary to calculate compliance.
    The Agency does
    suggest that some proviso be
    inserted
    to allow
    the elimination of
    some of the required data,
    through permit decision,
    if that data
    is no longer needed because
    of the addition of continuous
    emission monitors.
    Shell maintains that the listed information
    is much
    too specific and would
    not be necessary if Shell chooses
    to show compliance through
    the use of continuous emission
    monitors or other measurement methods.
    Shell proposes that the
    language of Section 214.383(d)
    be modified.
    The Board
    is persuaded that the language of Section
    214.382(d)
    should be less specific on what data must be
    maintained.
    Therefore,
    the Board will delete the specific data
    listed
    in
    its First Notice proposal, and
    instead generally
    require that sufficient data be maintained
    to adequately
    determine
    compliance.
    Thus,
    the Agency will determine,
    as part
    of the permitting process,
    exactly what information must be kept
    by Shell.
    The Board believes that this change will
    allow for the
    flexibility desired by Shell and suggested by the Agency, while
    achieving the Board’s objective of proof
    of compliance.
    Section 214.382(e)
    exemption from the “combination of fuels”
    rule.
    In
    its April
    21 First Notice opinion,
    the Board expressed
    concern over the proposed exemption from Section 214.162
    “Combination of Fuels.”
    The Board stated that it was unable
    to
    clearly see why Shell cannot use the equation set out
    in Section
    214.162,
    and asked
    for comment on the issue.
    Both the Agency and
    Shell have responded.
    The Agency states that the practical
    reason
    for the
    exemption from Section 214.162
    is that the Tutwiler procedure,
    which
    is specified for compliance demonstration, does not
    calculate emissions
    in pounds per million Btu and thus will not
    yield
    a pounds per hour emission rate.
    Instead,
    the Tutwiler
    method calculates the amount of sulfur
    in the fuel.
    The Agency
    states that
    Shell
    has
    shown
    that
    the
    heat
    content
    of
    its
    fuel
    is
    remarkably
    constant.
    With that basic
    fact,
    and using the
    Tutwiler method,
    the Agency submits that compliance may be shown
    in
    a
    very straightforward
    manner.
    Likewise, Shell contends that
    the exemption from the combination of fuels
    rule
    is meant only
    to
    greatly simplify compliance auditing.
    Shell
    states that the
    93—373

    —11-
    emission limits
    in Section 214.382
    are not higher than wot~ldbe
    provided
    for
    in Section 214.162.
    The Board
    is satisfied by these
    responses,
    and will adopt the exemption from Section 214.162.
    Procedure for
    alternative emission rates.
    The only portion of
    the joint proposal which
    the Board did not propose
    for First
    Notice was the
    request for
    a subsection which would establish
    a
    procedure for obtaining an alternative emission rate to the
    limits set forth
    in this rule.
    In
    its comments,
    Shell again asks
    that such
    a procedure be included
    in the
    rule.
    Shell contends
    that an alternative emission rate procedure is desirable and
    necessary
    to provide flexibility
    for future development.
    Shell
    maintains that the delay required
    for full rulemaking would most
    likely stifle Shell’s ability to respond
    to changes
    in technology
    or market place demands.
    The Agency did not comment on this
    issue.
    The Board will not add
    an alternative emission rate
    procedure
    to the proposed rule.
    As noted
    in the April
    21,
    1988
    First Notice opinion,
    a site specific rule is,
    by definition,
    tailored
    to
    the needs
    of
    a particular
    facility.
    An alternative
    emission rate within a site specific regulation might allow
    a
    facility
    to “escape”
    from emission limits which
    the facility
    itself originally proposed, without proceeding through the notice
    and comment provisions of rulemaking.
    The Board also notes
    that
    although Shell contends
    in its comments that an alternative
    emission rate would not change limitations on sulfur content
    of
    fuel and sulfur dioxide from various processes,
    the revised joint
    proposal suggests that alternative emission rates be allowed
    from
    the subsections which set limits on the sulfur content of
    the
    refinery flasher pitch and the allowable hydrogen sulfide
    in the
    refinery fuel gas burned by Shell.
    (Ex.
    9.)
    Other comments.
    In
    its April
    21,
    1988 Proposed Opinion,
    the
    Board raised questions on several other
    issues.
    The Agency and
    Shell responded
    to those questions.
    First, Shell has provided
    the equivalency calculation for the emission limit change
    for the
    sulfur recovery unit (SRU)
    from 14 lbs/ton of sulfur recovered
    to
    1000 ppm in the final flue gas.
    (P.C.
    #1, Attachment
    A.
    )
    The
    Agency states that the proposed 1000 ppm limit approximates the
    present limit of 14 lbs/ton of sulfur recovered.
    Both the Agency
    and Shell agree
    that the primary reason
    for
    the change
    to a
    concentration limit
    is
    to provide a simpler and more easily
    audited method of determining compliance.
    Second,
    the Agency and
    Shell
    state that the eight—hour
    sampling requirement
    for refinery
    fuel gas
    (Section 2l4.382(c)(2))
    is consistent with the
    requirements of Shell’s existing permits from the Agency.
    Third,
    both the Agency and Shell explain
    that the emission limits
    for
    each source operations grouping
    (SOG) were based on air quality
    limits.
    The allowable emissions
    under current Board regulations
    were reduced until modeling showed that the reduced emissions
    would
    not meet the NAAQS.
    Finally, Shell states that the
    93— 379

    —12—
    proposed rule has been placed within the section which
    regulates
    the industry
    to be consistent with other
    portions of the air
    regulations.
    The Agency agrees with
    the Board that this rule
    could be placed
    in its own section, but submits
    that leaving
    the
    rule within Section 214.382 will not cause confusion.
    Thus,
    the
    Board sees no need
    to alter
    the proposed rule in response
    to any
    of these issues.
    FINDINGS
    The Board first
    notes that there
    is no evidence
    in this
    record which
    in any way rebuts or challenges
    the testimony
    presented by the Agency and Shell
    in support of the joint
    proposal.
    Therefore,
    there are no controversies
    or conflicting
    testimony for the Board to resolve.
    The Board will adopt
    the
    bulk
    of the requested relief.
    The Board wishes
    to point out that
    the record does not contain any information as
    to the manner
    in
    which
    the proponents arrived
    at the actual mass emission limits
    for each SOG.
    There
    is
    no justification for the manner
    in which
    specific emission limits
    for each particular SOG were allocated,
    and thus no way for the Board
    to determine whether these limits
    are reasonable.
    Nevertheless, because Shell and the Agency have
    agreed on those particular limits
    and because the modeling shows
    that the total emissions under
    this proposal will protect the
    NAAQS
    for SO2, the Board will adopt the suggested limits.
    The fact that this is a joint proposal with
    a somewhat
    scanty record has posed other problems
    in reviewing
    the requested
    rule.
    The Board
    notes that 35 Ill.
    Adm. Code 214.301, which sets
    a SO2 emission limit of 2000 ppm for process emission sources,
    continues to apply to Shell’s process emission sources other than
    the sulfur
    recovery unit (SRU).
    This fact has been articulated
    in new Section 214.382(f).
    Sulfur emissions from the SEW are
    limited
    to 1000 ppm under
    new 35
    Ill.
    Adm. Code 214.382(b).
    Shell’s other individual process emission sources are not given
    a
    new rate—based
    limit by the proposal:
    the only new emission
    limits are under
    the SOG and rollback provisions.
    (Tr.
    II,
    pp.
    40—41.)
    The Board points out that each individual process or
    fuel combustion emission source either remains
    regulated under
    the existing standard
    or
    is subject to
    a new standard for that
    individual source which
    is equivalent or more stringent than
    existing regulatory standards.
    It should be pointed out that the Board has slightly revised
    the regulation proposed by Shell and the Agency.
    These revisions
    are not substantive;
    for example,
    the exemption from Section
    214.162 has been moved from that section
    to Section 214.382(e).
    The language
    of some of the proposed sections has also been
    modified
    to clarify the purpose of
    those sections.
    The substance
    of the regulation remains the same.
    93—380

    —13—
    ORDER
    The Board hereby adopts,
    as final,
    the following amendments
    to be
    filed with the Secretary of State.
    TITLE
    35:
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    SUBTITLE
    B:
    AIR POLLUTION
    CHAPTER
    I:
    POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    SUBCHAPTER
    c:
    EMISSION STANDARDS AND
    LIMITATIONS FOR STATIONARY SOURCES
    PART 214
    SULFUR LIMITATIONS
    SUBPART
    A:
    GENERAL PROVISIONS
    Section 214.101
    Measurement Methods
    a)
    Sulfur Dioxide Measurement.
    Measurement
    of sulfur
    dioxide emissions from stationary sources shall be made
    according
    to the procedure published
    in 40 CFR 60,
    Appendix A, Method
    6
    (1982),
    or by measurement
    procedures specified by the Illinois Environmental
    Protection Agency (Agency) according
    to the provisions
    of 35
    Ill. Adm. Code 201.
    b)
    Sulfuric Acid Mist and Sulfur Trioxide Measurement.
    Measurement of sulfuric acid mist and sulfur
    trioxide
    shall be according
    to the barium—thorin titration method
    as published
    in 40 CFR 60, Appendix A, Method
    8
    (1982).
    C)
    Solid
    Fuel Averaging Measurement.
    If low sulfur solid
    fuel
    is used
    to comply with Sections 214.121,
    214.122,
    212.141,
    214.142, 214.162 and 212.421,
    the applicable
    solid
    fuel sulfur dioxide standard shall be met by
    a two
    month average of daily samples with 95 percent
    of the
    samples being no greater than 20 percent above the
    average.
    A.S.T.M. procedures shall be used for solid
    fuel sampling,
    sulfur
    and heating value determinations.
    h)
    Hydrogen Sulfide Measurement.
    For purposes of
    determining compliance with Section 214.382(c),
    the
    concentration of hydrogen sulfide
    in petroleum refinery
    fuel gas shall be measured usin9
    the Tutwiler Procedure
    specified
    in
    40 CFR 60.648
    (1986).
    (Source:
    Amended at
    12 Ill.
    Reg.
    ______,
    effective
    ______________)
    Section
    214.102
    Abbreviations and Units
    a)
    The following abbreviations are used
    in this Part:
    93—381

    —14—
    btu
    British
    thermal units
    (60
    F)
    ft
    foot
    gçains
    J
    Joule
    kg
    kilogram
    kg/MW—hr
    kilogram per megawatt—hour
    km
    kilometer
    lbs
    pounds
    lbs/mmbtu
    pounds per million btu
    m
    meter
    mg
    milligram
    Mg
    megagram, metric
    ton or tonne
    mi
    mile
    mmbtu
    million British
    thermal units
    mmbtu/hr
    million British thermal units
    per hour
    MW
    megawatt; one million watts
    MW-hr
    megawatt—hour
    ng
    nanogram, one billionth of
    a gram by
    vol u me
    ng/J
    nanograms per Joule
    ppm
    parts per million
    scf
    standard cubic foot
    scm
    standard cubic meter
    T
    English
    ton
    b)
    The following conversion factors have been used
    in this
    Part:
    English
    Metric
    2.205
    lb
    1
    kg
    1
    T
    0.907
    Mg
    1
    1b/T
    0.500
    kg/Mg
    mmbtu/hr
    0.293
    MW
    1
    lb/mmbtu
    1.548
    kg/MW—hr
    1
    mi
    1.61
    km
    1 gr/scf
    2289
    mg/scm
    (Source:
    Amended at
    12 Ill.
    Reg.
    ,
    effective
    ______________)
    Section 214.104
    Incorporations by Reference
    The following materials are incorporated by reference.
    These
    incorporations do not include any later amendments or editions.
    a)
    40 CFR 60, Appendix A
    (1982):
    1)
    Method
    6:
    method for measurement of sulfur dioxide
    emissions;
    93—382

    —15—
    2)
    Method
    8:
    barium—thorin titration method.
    b)
    American Society for Testing and Materials, 1916 Race
    Street,
    Philadelphia,
    PA 19103:
    1)
    For solid fuel sampling:
    ASTM D—2234
    (1976)
    ASTM D—2013
    (1976)
    2)
    For sulfur determinations:
    P.STM D—3177
    (1976)
    ASTM D—2622
    (1982)
    3)
    For heating value determinations:
    ASTM D—2015
    (1976)
    ASTM D—3286
    (1976)
    c)
    Tutwiler Procedure for hydrogen sulfide,
    40 CFR 60.648
    (1986).
    (Source:
    Amended
    at
    12
    Ill. Reg.
    ______,
    effective
    ___________)
    Section 214.382
    Petroleum and Petrochemical Processes
    a)
    Section 214.301 shall
    not apply to existing processes
    designed
    to remove sulfur compounds from the flue gases
    of petroleum and petrochemical processes.
    b)
    No person shall cause or allow the emission of more than
    1,000 ppm of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere from any
    n~w
    process emission source
    in the St.
    Louis (Illinois)
    major metropolitan area designed to remove sulfur
    compounds from the flue gas of petroleum and
    petrochemical processes.
    ~e exeeed ~4 ib~’P~?
    ~?ttr
    d~4~e
    per
    me~r4e
    ~on
    ef ~ft~r
    ree ~ere~
    f~
    ~g+~
    c)
    The following limitations apply
    to any petroleum
    refinery
    in the Village of Roxana:
    1)
    No person
    shall cause or allow
    the combustion of
    refinery flasher pitch containing more than
    3.0
    (three percent) sulfur by weight.
    This shall be
    demonstrated by daily sampling of
    refinery flasher
    pitch.
    2)
    No person shall burn petroleum refinery fuel gas
    in
    any fuel gas combustion device
    if that refinery
    93—383

    —16—
    fuel gas contains more
    than 39 grains hydrogen
    sulfide
    per
    100
    dry
    standard
    cubic
    feet
    (893
    mg/scm).
    This shall
    be demonstrated by sampling
    the refinery fuel gas once every eight
    hours,
    pursuant
    to the Tutwiler Procedure (Section
    214. 104(c)).
    3)
    No person shall cause or allow the total emission
    of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere from the
    following source groupings
    to exceed
    the following
    amounts:
    A)
    All process heaters at distilling unit No.
    1
    459 lbs/hr
    (208 kg/hr).
    B)
    All process heaters at distilling unit No.
    2
    1260 lbs/hr
    (5~71kg/hr).
    C)
    All gas plant process heaters
    159 lbs/hr
    (72.1 kg/hr).
    D)
    All vacuum flasher unit heaters
    378 lbs/hr
    (171 kg/hr).
    E)
    All process heaters at the alkylation,
    benzene
    extraction unit and catalytic feed
    hydrotreating
    units
    346 lbs/hr
    (157 kg/hr).
    F)
    All boilers generating steam
    for general plant
    use— 2,400 lbs/hr
    (1,090 kg/hr).
    C)
    All heaters serving the hydrocracker unit
    Catalytic reformer No.
    1,
    and the saturates
    gas plant
    1,660 lbs/hr
    (753 kg/hr).
    H)
    All process heaters at the aromatics east
    process
    768 lbs/hr
    (348 kg/hr).
    I)
    All catalytic cracking units
    3,430 lbs/hr
    (1,560 kg/hr).
    J
    All asphalt converters,
    distilling unit No.
    1,
    the aromatics east process, all boilers
    generating steam
    for general plant use,
    and
    all gas plant process heaters
    2,710
    lbs/hr
    tI,230 kg/br).
    d)
    Compliance with
    the emission limitations of subsections
    (b) and
    (c)(3)
    of this Section shall
    be demonstrated on
    a three—hour
    block average basis.
    Such demonstrations
    Shall
    require,
    as
    a permit condition,
    that data
    as
    required by the fliThois Environmental Protection Agency
    93—384

    —1
    7—
    (35 Iii.
    Adm Code 201.161)
    be maintained
    in order
    to
    adequat~e1y
    determine
    the
    sulfur
    dioxide
    emission
    rate
    from
    each
    source
    operations
    group.
    e)
    Sources
    in the Village
    of Roxana
    are
    not
    subject
    to
    the
    emission
    limitations
    of
    Section
    214.162
    when
    burning
    refinery
    flasher
    pitch
    or
    refinery
    fuel
    gas.
    f)
    Individual process emission sources
    in the Village
    of
    Roxana are still subject
    to the emission limitation of
    Section
    214.301
    notwithstanding
    their
    inclusion
    in
    a
    source
    operations
    group.
    ~j
    Notwithstanding
    the provisions of
    35
    Ill.
    Adm. Code
    201.102 of
    this Chapter,
    any physical change
    in any
    emission source
    subject.
    to
    subsection
    (b),
    (c),
    (d),
    or
    (e)
    of this Section which alters the
    height
    of
    release,
    temperature or volumetric flow rate of the effluent
    gases of
    such source,
    or
    alters the
    diameter
    of the exit
    stack,
    shall
    be deemed
    a modification for the purposes
    of
    35
    Ill.
    Adm.
    Code 201.142
    of
    this Chapter.
    (Source:
    Amended
    at
    12
    Ill.
    Reg.
    ______,
    effective
    ____________
    IT
    IS SO ORDERED.
    R.
    Flemal
    was
    not
    present.
    I, Dorothy M.
    Gunn, Clerk
    of the Illinois Pollution Control
    Board,
    hereby certify that the above Proposed Opinion
    and Order
    was adopted
    on the
    ~
    day
    of
    ~
    ,
    1988,
    by
    a
    vote
    of
    ~--O
    2
    Dorothy
    M./Gunn,
    Clerk
    Illinois
    Pollution
    Control
    Board
    93— 385

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