EPA Proposes Amendments to Air Emission Regulations for Petroleum Refineries
January 12, 2009 // Published as a news service by IHS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeks comments on a small number of technical amendments to the June 24, 2008 new source performance standards (NSPS) for petroleum refineries.
The proposed amendments would require refineries to monitor the amount of excess gas and sulfur to be burned off in a process known as flaring. If a refinery relies upon flaring more than expected, the facility would be required to take corrective action.
These proposed amendments reflect additional data and information the EPA received since issuing the current standards. This proposal is in response to requests for reconsideration of the final standards.
On June 24, 2008, the EPA issued final amendments to the NSPS for petroleum refineries and separate standards of performance for new, modified or reconstructed facilities. On July 28, 2008, the EPA published a notice that stayed the effective date of the rule until Sept. 26, 2008.
The EPA received three petitions for reconsideration of the final rule. One petition was filed by the American Petroleum Institute (API), the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association and the Western States Petroleum Association.
One petition was filed by Hovensa, and the third petition for reconsideration was filed by the Environmental Integrity Project, Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council.
In a separate but related action, the EPA will continue to stay certain provisions in the standards of performance issued in June 2008 for new, modified or reconstructed process units at petroleum refineries until the agency reaches a final decision on the issues under reconsideration, said the EPA.
The proposed amendments address those issues for which the EPA granted the stay. The EPA will take action on other issues raised by petitioners in future notices.
The EPA estimates that the June 24, 2008 NSPS will reduce emissions of particulate matter by 1,300 tons per year (tpy), emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) by 17,000 tpy, emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) by 11,000 tpy and emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by 1,400 tpy.
The proposed reductions would be achieved at a capital cost of $420 million and an annualized cost of $60 million per year, according to the EPA. The benefits of these emission reductions range from $380 million to $3.5 billion per year.
The criteria pollutants emitted from petroleum refineries include particulate matter, SO2, carbon monoxide (CO), VOCs and NOx. Emissions of these compounds may cause or contribute to air pollutant emissions, said the EPA.
The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to regulate emissions of criteria pollutants from categories of major stationary sources. The NSPS must reflect the application of the best system of emissions reductions, which the EPA determines was adequately demonstrated. This level of control is referred to as the best demonstrated technology.
The Clean Air Act also requires the EPA to review the standards every eight years and revise the standards, as necessary, to reflect improvements in methods for reducing emissions.
The standards of performance for petroleum refineries were initially issued in 1974 and were amended several times, said the EPA.
The current standards apply to fluid catalytic cracking units, fluid coking units, delayed coking units, fuel gas combustion devices, flares and sulfur recovery plants.
Information on how to submit comments on the proposed amendments to the air emission regulations for petroleum refineries is available at the "How to Comment" section at the EPA.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).