ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    December
    3,
    1967
    IN
    THE
    MATTER OF:
    )
    VOLATILE ORGANIC MATERIAL
    )
    R82-l4
    EMISSIONS FROM STATIONARY
    SOURCES: RACT III
    OPINION
    AND
    ORDER OF THE BOARD
    (by
    B.
    Forcade):
    This matter
    comes before the Board as part of
    a series of
    proposed amendments
    to
    35
    Ill. Adm.
    Code Part
    215, Organic
    Material Emission Standards and Limitations,
    for the mitigation
    of ozone pollution.
    All
    of the proposed
    amendments address some
    aspect of
    the existing regulations controlling Volatile Organic
    Material
    (“VOM”) emissions
    from coating operations.
    The
    particular proposal
    triat
    is the subject
    of
    today’s Opinion and
    Order
    is an amendment to Section 215.204
    by the Minnesota Mining
    and Manufacturing Company
    (“3M”) which specifies Reasonably
    Available Control Technology
    (“RACT”)
    for its Bedford Park
    Facility (“BPF”).
    3M provided
    testimony at
    the merit hearings on
    the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
    (“Agency”) proposed
    amendments
    to
    35
    Ill. Adm.
    Code 215.204
    and 215.207,
    as well as
    on its own site—specific proposal.
    The merit hearings relating
    to the
    3M proposal were held on March
    21, 1986;
    August 4, 1986
    and September
    3,
    1986.
    Hearings were held
    on May
    8 and 21,
    1987,
    to address the Economic Impact Study
    (EcIS)
    of amendments
    to
    Sections 215.204 and 215.207 and
    to accept final merit
    evidence.
    3M cross—examined the EcIS contractor
    at the May 21,
    1987,
    hearing regarding
    the emission assumptions.
    3M has also
    provided additional documents
    (Exs.
    98,
    121,
    122,
    123,
    124 and
    153)
    in support of
    its proposal.
    On ~iuly 16, 1987,
    the Board proposed
    regulatory amendments
    to Sections 211.122, 215.204, 215.205 and 215.207 for first
    notice comment which were published
    at
    11
    Ill.
    Req.
    12811 and
    12835 dated August
    7,
    1987.
    Public comments and responses
    to
    additional questions
    in the August
    27,
    1987, hearing officer
    order were received from the Agency
    (P.C.
    114 and 119)
    and from
    3M
    (P.C.
    118).
    On October
    1,
    1987,
    the Board proposed regulatory
    language for second notice and review by the Joint Committee on
    Administrative Rules
    (JCAR).
    The Board’s second notice also
    denied
    3M’s September
    22, 1987 request
    for extension of the 45—
    day first notice comment period.
    The Board’s decision was based
    on
    the Agency’s September 29, 1987 motion
    to deny 3M’s request.
    The Board decided
    that 3M’s request was untimely and its approval
    would be unfair since
    it would allow 3M an additional opportunity
    to comment
    on both the proposed amendments
    and the Agency’s
    timely filed comments.
    The Board’s second notice opinion did not
    address
    3M’s site—specific proposed amendment. The merits
    of 3M’s
    proposed amendment limiting VOMs
    at its BPF will
    be addressed
    in
    tne
    instant Opinion
    and Order.
    84~75

    —2—
    On November
    23,
    1987, 3M filed
    a letter
    requesting
    the Board
    defer
    ruling on this matter
    (P.C.
    121).
    On December
    3,
    1987,
    3M
    filed
    a Motion to Redocket Site—Specific proposal,
    requesting
    “the Board
    to redocket the
    3M site—specific proposal and
    incorporate the existing testimony and comments on the 3M cap
    into the new docket and defer consideration
    of the proposal until
    the Board completes
    its current RACT
    rulemaking agenda.”
    That
    motion
    is denied.
    The decision on the regulatory language which
    3M
    is proposing
    is
    in fact
    a RACT decision.
    Section 172 of the
    Clean Air Act compels that those decisions be made prior
    to
    December 31,
    1987.
    If, after
    reviewing this decision,
    3M chooses
    to file future
    requests for site—specific relief,
    it
    is free to do
    so.
    3M’s BPF primarily manufactures pressure sensitive
    tapes for
    industrial
    use.
    In addition,
    a number
    of other individual
    types
    of tape are also manufactured.
    In testimony,
    it was stated
    that
    the BPF manufactures 77 individual
    types of
    tape incorporating
    the use of over 100 different types of coatings
    (R.
    3608).
    3M
    has been using Section 215.207, which allows volume—based
    calculations and averaging across coating lines
    (crossline avera-
    ging)
    to comply with the Board’s existing coating rules.
    The
    Board’s October
    1,
    1987, second notice opinion and order
    incorporates
    the Agency’s proposed amendments to Sections 215.204
    and 215.207, which require solids—based calculations and are
    in
    accordance with USEPA policy.
    Because 3M’s BPF would
    be affected
    by these Agency proposed rules when finally adopted by the Board,
    3M proposes
    a site—specific alternative
    to compliance with
    the
    Agency’s proposed amendments
    using
    a solids—based calculation.
    3M claims that its proposed rule would ease scheduling
    difficulties at the BPF and would result
    in less emissions than
    would be allowed under
    the Agency’s proposed rules
    (P.C.
    114).
    3M claims
    it
    is complying with Section 215.207
    (using cross—
    line averaging and volume—based calculations)
    on
    a daily basis by
    prop’er scheduling of
    its coating lines.
    Some of
    3M’s lines are
    controlled while others
    are not.
    The BPF is located
    in Cook
    County,
    a non—attainment area for ozone, and is the largest
    single stationary source of VOM in the entire state with
    calculated 1985 VOM emissions of over 9,000 tons
    (P.C.
    113,
    Attachment
    5,
    p.
    5).
    This represents more emissions than several
    major automobile plants
    (P.C.
    113, Attachment
    5,
    p.
    1).
    Implementation of RACT in ozone non—attainment areas
    is required
    as
    a part of
    a federally approvable
    state implementation plan
    (“SIP”)
    under the federal Clean Air Act
    (“CAA”)
    (42 U.S.C.
    7401
    et seq.).
    Section 172 of the
    CAA
    requires that RACT be
    implemented at existing stationary sources
    in the non—attainment
    areas of those states needing
    an extension from the 1982 deadline
    until
    1987 to achieve the air quality standard for ozone.
    Illinois is such
    a state, having requested the extension
    in its
    1979 and 1982 SIPs.
    The definition of RACT
    is contained
    in 40 CFR 51, along with
    the requirements for
    a federally approvable
    SIP.
    However,
    the
    84—76

    —3—
    specific parameters
    of what constitutes
    reasonably available
    controls,
    and,
    therefore,
    the levels of control which
    the states
    must adopt
    to insure that RACT
    is implemented,
    are not contained
    in federal regulations.
    Instead,
    the United States Environmental
    Protection Agency (“USEPA”) publishes
    a series
    of documents
    entitled “Control Technology Guidelines”
    (“CTGs”).
    Each CTG
    deals with a specific industry category and specifies
    the means
    and degree of control
    applicable
    to that
    industry category,
    vihich
    the (JSEPA requires the state
    to adopt categorically
    as part of
    its SIP.
    Failure
    to adopt rules
    identical to
    those prescribed
    in
    the CTG’s,
    or other ones demonstrated
    by the individual
    state
    as
    comparable,
    can mean that the state will have
    an inadequate SIP,
    which
    in turn,
    can trigger the sanction provisions
    of
    the CAA
    found
    at Sections 110,
    113 and 176
    (42 U.S.C.A. 7410,
    7413,
    7506).
    Although there
    is
    no mandate
    in the CAA for requiring
    the
    adoption
    of CTGs by
    a state,
    federal policy as articulated
    in the
    “General Preamble
    for Proposed Rulemaking and Approval
    of State
    Implementation Plan Revisions for Non—attainment Areas”
    (44 FR
    20372)
    requires it.
    In addition,
    USEPA allows tne states until
    the January after
    one year from the finalization of a CTG
    to
    adopt either
    the “rules”
    contained therein,
    or comparable
    rules,
    if sources covered by that particular CTG are within a state’s
    non—attainment areas
    (44 FR 53761;
    Ex.
    16
    & Ex.
    132).
    The CTG,
    which covers 3M’s BPF,
    for the paper coating industry was
    published
    in May 1977 and specifies
    a limitation
    of 2.9 pounds of
    VOM/gallon
    of coating
    (lb/gal).
    This
    is RACT for 3M’s BPF.
    At the March
    21,
    1986 hearing
    in Bolingbrook,
    Illinois,
    Mr.
    Tom Zosel,
    3M, testified
    and presented for the first
    time,
    an
    alternative proposed rule
    (hereinafter, the initial
    3M
    proposal)
    that would be applicable
    to the 3M BPF
    (Ex.
    98).
    The initial 3M
    proposal sought
    to replace
    the rate based RACT limit
    of 2.9 lb/—
    a1 with
    a VOM emissions cap,
    at
    its BPF,
    of 9,000
    tons per year
    (T/yr) and 75,000 pounds per day (lb/d) from all coating
    operations subject
    to existing rule 215.207
    and all new or
    modified paper
    coating lines
    to be added
    in the future.
    3M
    claims that their proposal
    represents
    RACT for the BPF.
    This
    proposal was submitted
    by
    the Agency to the United States
    Environmental Protection Agency
    (“USEPA”)
    for review.
    USEPA did
    not view the initial
    3M proposal favorably and stated that the
    emission limitations proposed by 3M would be
    a relaxation
    of RACT
    level control requirements
    (P.C.
    113, Attachment
    5).
    Following
    USEPA’s review of
    the initial 3M proposal,
    the Agency
    arid
    3M
    worked together
    to develop
    a revised proposal but could not come
    to an agreement.
    On July 30, 1987,
    3M proposed an amended site—
    specific rule
    (P.C.
    114)
    (hereinafter,
    the amended
    3M proposal)
    for
    its BPF which limits emissions
    of VOM from all existing and
    new paper
    coating lines
    to
    (i)
    8,000 T/yr
    and 33.33
    T/d after
    December
    31,
    1987,
    and
    to
    (ii) 6,000 T/yr
    and 25 T/d after
    December
    31,
    1988.
    The amended
    3M proposal would
    also require 3M
    to submit actual
    and allowable
    (under Section 215.207
    (a))
    annual
    emissions data and
    to submit
    a corrective plan to the Agency
    in
    84—77

    —4—
    the event that actual annual emissions exceed
    90 percent
    of the
    allowable annual emissions.
    The only
    issue involved in considering the merits of the 3M
    proposal
    is the determination of whether
    the amended
    3M proposal
    is equivalent
    to a 2.9 lb/gal RAC2 limitation.
    The following
    discussion addresses
    this issue,
    as well
    as
    the implications
    for
    the State of Illinois
    if the Board should approve
    a non—RACT rule
    for controlling VON in
    a non—attainment area
    for
    ozone.
    Determination of Equivalence
    The initial and amended 3M proposals use the concept of caps
    on VOM emissions from the BPF.
    This
    is a unique approach
    in that
    it sets the maximum amount of VOM emissions completely
    independent of
    the level
    of production.
    Emission limits
    (“Caps”)
    have been proposed for any one day period,
    as well
    as
    a one year
    period.
    This
    is conceptually different from the rate—based
    approach
    to VOM emissions control, which simply specifies
    the
    maximum amount
    of VOM that is allowed
    in the coatings used.
    The
    specification of RACT for coating operations has generally meant
    the use of the rate—based approach, which specifies
    the VOM level
    which must not be exceeded.
    The RACT
    level may be met by the use
    of either compliant coatings or add—on controls which reduce
    emissions
    to
    a level
    at or below the emissions that would result
    from the use of compliant coatings.
    In the rate—based approach,
    the maximum allowable emissions of VOM are
    a function of
    the
    volume or quantity of coatings used,
    which
    in turn,
    is dependent
    on types and quantities of each product manufactured.
    In order
    to determine
    if the amended
    3M proposal
    is
    equivalent
    to RACT,
    as specified by the
    2.9 lb/gal rate—based
    limitation,
    it
    is necessary to
    be able
    to specify
    the following:
    1.
    Annual
    and Daily Caps:
    The specification
    in
    tne amended
    3M proposal
    is 6,000 T/yr
    and
    25
    T/d beginning
    December
    31,
    1988.
    Higher
    caps
    of
    8000
    T/yr
    and
    33.33
    T/d
    would
    be
    allowed
    during
    1988
    (P.C.
    114).
    The
    initial
    3M
    proposal
    had caps
    of 9,000 T/yr and 75,000 lb/d
    (Ex.
    98).
    2.
    Production
    and
    Emission
    Control
    Data:
    This includes the types
    and quantities
    of
    each
    coating
    used
    to
    manufacture
    all
    products and
    the VOM capture
    and control
    efficiencies
    of
    any
    add—on
    control
    equipment
    on
    any
    coating
    line
    at
    the
    affected
    facility
    during
    the
    reference
    period
    used
    for
    showing
    equivalency.
    This
    type
    of
    information
    is
    generally
    available
    as
    historical
    data,
    but
    will
    have
    to
    be
    estimated
    for
    future
    years,
    since production levels vary from year
    to
    84—78

    —5—
    year.
    The
    data
    provided
    by
    3M
    and
    the
    Agency
    contains
    some
    of
    this
    information
    (Ex.
    98; Attachment
    5,
    P.C.
    113)
    3.
    Application
    of
    the Rate—Based
    Limitation
    to Obtain Baseline Emissions for Compari-
    son with the Cap:
    Differences
    of opinion
    exist
    with
    regard
    to
    the application
    of
    the
    rate—based
    limitation
    to
    3M’s
    BPF,.
    One
    method
    of
    applying
    the
    rate—based
    limitation
    is
    to
    require
    the
    use
    of
    the
    Agency
    proposed
    Section
    215.204
    and
    require
    compliance
    on
    a
    line-by—line
    basis.
    A
    second
    method
    is
    to
    allow
    crossline
    averaging
    and
    require
    com-
    pliance
    in
    accordance
    with
    the
    Agency
    proposed
    Section
    215.207.
    With
    the
    second
    method,
    it
    is
    also
    necessary
    to
    know which coating
    lines,
    if
    any,
    are not
    allowed
    to
    be
    included
    in
    the
    crossline
    averaging procedure.
    If
    none
    of
    the
    coating
    lines, had
    been
    equipped
    with
    controls,
    the appli-
    cation of these two methods would require
    an
    equal
    amount
    of
    emissions
    reduction.
    But,
    in
    practice
    the
    application
    of
    215.204
    on
    a
    line—by—line
    basis
    will
    result
    in
    greater
    emissions
    reductions
    than
    the application
    of
    215.207. Section
    215.204
    would
    impose
    controls
    on
    all
    of
    the uncontrolled lines but will not allow
    the
    level
    of
    control
    on
    overcontrolled
    lines
    to
    be
    reduced.
    This
    represents
    (JSEPA’s
    view
    with
    regard
    to
    application
    of
    Section
    215.204
    in
    non—attainment
    areas
    lacking
    a
    SIP demonstration
    (NALD)
    (P.C.
    113).
    In
    addition,
    the degree
    of
    control
    imposed
    on the uncontrolled lines
    can also affect
    the emissions reductions.
    In order
    to better understand how differences
    in
    the method
    of application
    affects the emissions
    at 3M’s BPF and the
    difficulties
    of
    comparing them with the emissions cap proposed by
    3M, Table
    1
    is presented below.
    This table
    is based
    on the table
    prepared by USEPA during their
    review of the
    initial 3M proposal
    (P.C.
    113, Attachment
    5, page
    10).
    The data used
    to develop
    the
    table comes from 3M and the Agency.
    3M estimated
    their
    1985
    emissions at 9,081
    T/y.
    Because a carbon adsorber was put into
    place
    in 1986 on one of
    the lines, the Agency’s adjusted estimate
    for actual emissions
    of 7,405 T/y for the period May 1985
    to
    April
    1986
    is used
    in the
    table.
    A total
    of
    11 coating lines
    were considered.
    Three
    of these lines do not have any add—on
    controls.
    84—79

    —6—
    Table
    1
    Conditions
    Emissions
    (T/y)
    Estimated
    Reductions*
    1. Actual
    for period 5/85—4/86
    7,405
    2.
    If
    3 uncontrolled lines minimally
    complied with 215.204,
    controls on
    remaining lines were not relaxed,
    and
    level of production is the same as
    for period from 5/65 to 4/86
    4,112
    3,293
    3.
    If
    3 uncontrolled lines receive 90
    control, controls on remaining line
    are not relaxed, and level
    of produc-
    tion is
    the same as
    for period from
    5/85
    to 4/86
    3,222
    4,183
    4.
    If minimally complying with 215.207
    using crossline averaging and
    a mass
    rate of 2.9 lb/gal,
    and level
    of pro-
    duction is the same as for period
    from 5/85 to 4/86
    8,329
    924
    5.
    Initial 3M proposal with
    no
    specification on level
    of
    production
    9,000
    1,595
    6.
    Amended
    3M proposal
    for 1988
    with no
    specification on level
    of
    production
    8,000
    595
    7. Amended
    3M proposal after
    1988 with
    no specification on level of
    production
    6,000
    1,405
    *Reductjons are the amounts below the actual of 7,405 T/yr.
    Negative reductions are the amounts above
    the actual.
    Conditions
    1,
    2,
    3 and
    4
    are the possible emissions
    baselines against which
    the 3M proposals might
    be compared.
    However,
    these conditions
    are directly linked with the level of
    production.
    Any increase or decrease
    in production would
    increase or decrease, respectively,
    the amounts
    of coatings
    used.
    This
    in turn, would increase or decrease, respectively,
    the estimated emissions listed
    in the table.
    Thus, depending on
    the cnoice of baseline condition and a specified level
    of
    production,
    the 3M caps
    (conditions
    6
    and
    7) may or may not be
    equivalent
    to RACT.
    For the reference period
    (5/85
    to 4/86)
    considered
    in the
    84—80

    above
    table,
    the emissions allowed under
    the Agency’s proposed
    215.207
    (with crossline averaging)
    of 8,323 T/y
    (i.e.
    Condition
    4
    in Table
    1)
    is higher
    than the
    3M proposed caps of 8,000 T/y
    in
    1988 and 6,000 T/y after
    1988.
    However,
    decreases
    in production
    or cnanges
    in coating
    lines subject
    to crossline averaging could
    result
    in baseline emissions under proposed Section 215.207 that
    are below the level
    of the 3M proposed
    annual caps.
    The application of
    Section 215.207
    to 3M’s BPF requires that
    compliance
    be shown based
    on
    a daily average
    (R.
    5343).
    Section
    172 of the CAA requires
    that RACT be
    implemented
    in non—
    attainment areas by December
    31,
    1987.
    USEPA’s interpretation of
    this requirement is reflected
    in
    its policy that also requires
    compliance with
    RACT
    on the basis of
    a 24—hour averaging period
    (Ex.
    99).
    3M’s amended
    proposal provides
    a daily cap of 33.33
    T/d
    in 1988 and
    25 T/d after
    1988.
    In order
    to calculate
    baseline emissions for comparison with these proposed daily
    caps,
    the
    level
    of production and determination
    of the coating lines
    subject to crossline averaging
    is required.
    Since
    3M has not
    provided sufficient
    information
    to calculate baseline emissions
    on a daily basis,
    the Board cannot determine
    if the daily caps
    are better than RACT.
    Thus
    it becomes clear
    that the
    concept of an emissions cap,
    without being
    linked with
    a specific production level,
    as
    presented by 3M, cannot
    be evaluated
    on a comparative basis with
    a RACT level
    which
    is based
    on the rate based concept.
    It
    is
    analogous
    to comparing apples with oranges.
    Thus,
    the
    3M
    proposed caps would have to be viewed as having been made
    arbitrarily just to provide them witn
    the flexibility needed
    to
    accommodate
    the scheduling difficulties that they face.
    The
    Board must conclude that the amended 3M proposal
    is not RACT.
    The Board’s conclusion
    is
    supported
    in the record by the
    following statements made by USEPA regarding
    the 3M proposal:
    1.
    “If
    production
    will
    in
    fact
    rise
    at
    the
    plant,
    Illinois
    could
    place
    a
    cap on
    the
    company
    in addition
    to
    retaining
    the
    2.9
    lbs/gal
    rate
    limit.
    There
    are no assur-
    ances
    there
    will
    be
    such growth
    and
    any
    company chould
    (sic)
    use
    this
    same logic
    when
    requesting
    a
    bubble
    or
    SIP relaxa-
    tion.
    If
    approved,
    EPA
    would
    be per-
    ceived
    as
    granting
    ‘emission
    rights.’”
    (P.C.
    113, Att.
    5,
    p.
    2)
    2.
    “All
    of
    EPA’s
    past
    SIP
    policy
    has
    been
    that emission
    limits should
    be on
    a rate
    basis.
    SIP’s
    do
    not
    normally
    regulate
    production.
    If
    production
    goes
    up,
    sources
    are
    allowed
    to
    emit
    more.
    If
    production
    goes
    down,
    the
    source
    must
    emit
    less.
    This
    eliminates
    any
    credit
    84—81

    —8—
    for
    downtime
    or
    reduced
    capacity.
    The
    EPA’s
    control
    technique
    guidelines
    gen-
    erally specify
    limits
    in
    terms
    of
    a rate
    or percent reduction.
    If production does
    (sic)
    down,
    a source cannot turn off con-
    trol
    equipment
    such
    as
    an
    afterburner
    or
    carbon
    adsorber
    nor
    can
    the
    source
    in-
    crease
    its
    pounds
    of
    VOC
    in
    each
    gallon
    of
    paint
    coating,
    or
    ink
    if
    it
    paints
    less.
    3M’s proposal
    is
    not RACT because
    three
    lines
    are
    not
    controlled.”
    (P.C.
    113, Att.
    5,
    p.
    9)
    An additional concern with 3M’s amended proposal with regard
    to the annual caps is that USEPA’s policy prohibits averaging
    periods longer than
    30 days
    (Ex.
    99(b)).
    “Extended
    averaging”
    is
    defined
    by USEPA as greater
    than 24—hour averaging
    (Ex. 99(b)).
    Extended averaging
    is prohibited
    by USEPA policy “unless
    it can
    be shown
    that compliance
    on
    a daily basis
    is not technically or
    economically feasible”
    (Ex.
    99(a)).
    No such showing has been
    made
    in this case
    (P.C.
    113,
    Att.
    5,
    p.
    9).
    In addition, USEPA’s
    policy “prohibits extended averaging
    in areas lacking approved
    SIP’s until
    the SIP has been revised demonstrating ambient
    standards attainment and maintenance
    of reasonable
    further
    progress (reflecting the maximum daily emissions
    from the
    source)”
    (Ex.
    99(a)).
    As already noted,
    the
    3M plant
    is located
    in an area which
    lacks
    an approved 1982 ozone SIP.
    Although 3M’s amended proposal contains caps on
    a daily
    basis,
    the Board has several
    additional concerns with the
    proposed daily caps.
    One concern
    is that
    the daily caps are not
    equivalent to the respective annual caps.
    The daily cap
    in the
    amended
    3M proposal
    is 33.33 T/d for 1988.
    The annual cap for
    1988
    is 8,000 T/yr.
    The plant
    is
    in operation
    a minimum
    of 360
    days per year
    (Tr.
    5311).
    Therefore,
    based
    art
    the annual cap,
    which
    is considered
    to be RACT by
    3M, and 360 days
    of operation,
    the “daily cap equivalent
    of RACT”
    is 22.22
    T/d.
    It appears that
    the proposed daily cap of
    33.33 T/d exceeds
    the “daily cap
    equivalent of RACT” by
    50.
    Another concern regarding the proposed
    daily caps
    is that 3M
    has never focused on whether these caps would be RACT.
    In fact,
    it appears
    that
    the intent
    of 3M’s proposal
    is for the yearly,
    and not the daily,
    caps to
    be consistent with RACT
    (Ex.
    99(a)).
    3M has never argued that use
    of the daily caps would
    improve
    the
    environment.
    Since Section
    172 of
    the CAA requires implementation
    of RACT
    by December
    31, 1987,
    the Board would have to conclude
    that RACT
    for the 3M BPF
    is 33.33 tons per day under
    all operational levels
    in order
    to approve
    the site—specific rule.
    There is no evidence
    in the record
    to support
    a 33.33 ton per day limit as constitut-
    ing RACT for 3M at all operational levels.
    0I
    ‘•~
    o’*. ~u

    —9--
    In addition,
    no showing has been made that the use of
    control equipment and/or compliant coatings
    is technically
    infeasible
    or economically unreasonable
    (P.C.
    113, Att.
    5.,
    p.
    9).
    The record
    is void
    of such arguments.
    In fact,
    3M has
    indicated through its agents that
    it would comply with the
    Agency’s proposed Section 215.207
    (Tr.
    5339;
    Tr.
    5340; P.C. 114;
    &
    P.c.
    118).
    Generally,
    the Board grants site—specific relief
    from the requirements
    of general
    regulations only upon
    a showing
    that
    it
    is not technically feasible or economically reasonable
    to
    comply with the general regulations.
    A recent appellate court
    decision has upheld this standard.
    In Central Illinois Light Company
    v.
    Illinois Pollution
    Control Board,
    No. 3—86—0841
    (3d Dist. July 24,
    1987),
    the Third
    District affirmed the Board’s denial
    of
    a site—specific ru’e—
    making proposal of Central Illinois Light Company
    (CILCO).
    CILCO argued on appeal
    that the Board
    did not properly apply the
    statutory criteria
    in its evaluation of the record.
    The Third
    District rejected this position and stated:
    After
    a
    thorough
    review
    of
    the
    evidence
    presented
    at
    the
    hearing
    in
    this
    case,
    we
    conclude
    the
    Board’s determination
    that CILCO
    failed
    to
    demonstrate
    compliance
    is
    tech-
    nically
    infeasible
    and economically unreason-
    able
    are
    amply
    supported
    by
    the
    record.
    As
    the
    Board
    pointed out
    in
    denying
    a motion by
    CILCO
    for
    a
    rehearing,
    these
    determinations
    regarding
    technical
    feasibility
    and
    economic
    reasonableness alone are sufficient
    to support
    the decision of the Board.
    (Id.
    slip op.
    at
    10).
    The Board believes the rationale for the CILCO decision
    is
    equally applicable here.
    Since
    3M has not demonstrated that
    compliance with the Agency’s proposed amendments
    to
    35 Ill. Adm.
    Code Part 215
    is technically infeasible or economically
    unreasonable, the request for site—specific standards will be
    denied.
    The Board also recognizes that the December
    31,
    1987,
    deadline for ozone non—attainment areas
    is fast approaching and
    failure to meet the Clean Air Act’s requirements for ozone
    attainment could have serious consequences for Illinois.
    Some of
    these potential consequences are as follows:
    ‘The Board notes that CILCO has filed
    a Petition for Leave to
    Appeal the Third District’s decision with the Supreme Court of
    Illinois.
    That petition
    is currently pending under Supreme Court
    Docket No.
    65777.
    84—83

    —10-
    1.
    In
    accordance
    with
    Section
    110
    of
    the
    CAA,
    the USEPA Administrator may prepare
    and publish
    proposed
    regulations
    setting
    forth
    an implementation plan for ozone
    in
    Illinois’ non—attainment areas;
    2.
    In
    accordance
    with
    Section
    113
    of
    the
    CAA,
    the
    (JSEPA
    may
    assume
    federal
    en-
    forcement
    of
    its
    implementation
    plan
    in
    Illinois;
    3.
    In
    accordance
    with
    Section
    176
    of
    the
    CAA,
    the administrator may decide not
    to
    approve
    arty projects
    or
    award
    any grants
    authorized
    by
    the
    CAA
    for
    the
    state
    of
    Illinois;
    and
    4.
    In
    accordance
    with
    Section
    176
    of
    the
    CAA,
    the Secretary of Transportation may
    decide
    not
    to
    approve
    any
    projects
    or
    award any grants
    for Illinois under Title
    23
    other
    than
    for
    safety,
    mass
    transit,
    or
    transportation
    improvement
    projects
    related
    to
    air
    quality
    improvement
    or
    maintenance.
    The Board has given serious consideration
    to the amended 3M
    proposal and acknowledges that the proposal has benefits, but
    only under
    certain conditions.
    Should production increase, a cap
    on emissions
    is likely
    to
    increase the benefits to
    the
    environment.
    However, the amended
    3M proposal completely
    uncouples emissions limitations from production levels in order
    to have flexibility
    in production scheduling.
    Unfortunately,
    3M
    has not presented sufficient information to convince the Board
    (1) that compliance witn
    the Agency’s proposal
    is technically
    infeasible
    or economically unreasonable or
    (2)
    that their
    proposed site—specific
    rule is equivalent
    to or superior
    to
    RACT.
    Therefore,
    the Board denies
    3tl’s amended site—specific
    proposal.
    Section 41
    of the Environmental Protection Act,
    Ill. Rev.
    Stat.
    1985,
    ch.
    111—1/2, par.
    1041, provides for appeal of final
    Orders of
    the Board within
    35
    days.
    The Rules of the Supreme
    Court
    of Illinois establish filing requirements.
    IT IS SO ORDERED
    84—84

    —11—
    I,
    Dorothy
    4.
    Gunn,
    Clerk
    of
    the
    Illinois
    Pollution
    Control
    Board,
    hereby
    certif~
    that
    the
    ab~e
    Opinion
    and
    Order
    was
    adopted
    on
    the
    3A~-~dayof
    /J.?.t.~t_~v..S.*~’i.’
    ,
    1987,
    by
    a
    vote
    of
    7—a
    Dorothy
    M.
    Gunn,
    Clerk
    Illinois
    Pollution
    Control
    Board
    84—85

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