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EPA proposes change in Maryland air quality rules (US)

Air Quality Implementation Plan Air Quality Monitoring Rules

U.S. EPA Proposes Approval and Promulgation of Maryland Air Quality Implementation Plan Air Quality Monitoring Rules

On June 17, 2016 the U.S. EPA proposed approving Maryland’s revisions to its Air Quality Implementation Plan or State Implementation Plan (SIP) pertaining to Maryland’s regulations of continuous opacity monitoring (COMs) and continuous emissions monitoring (CEMs).

The revision is comprised of four State actions affecting COMAR (Code of Maryland Regulations) 26.11.01.01, 26.11.01.10, 26.11.01.11, and 26.11.31.

  • The first action removes requirements for COMs on fuel-burning equipment to meet TM (technical manual) 90, but retains the QA/QC requirements contained in Part II of TM 90 under 26.11.01.10. In addition, the revised COMAR 26.01.11 requires CEMs for fuel-burning equipment burning coal that has a rated heat input capacity of 100 million Btu per hour or greater, municipal waste combustors with a burning capacity greater than 35 tons per day, fluidized bed combustors, kraft pulp mills, and any owner or operator that is required to install CEM under any federal requirement.

This new regulation also establishes general requirements for the installation of CEMs for each of the applicable source categories, quality assurance provisions, monitoring and compliance requirements, and retains the applicability of TM 90.

  • The second State action is a change to COMAR 26.11.31, which was adopted by Maryland on May 16, 2011, and codifies the QA/QC procedures from TM 90 for COMs and incorporates by reference two federal performance and design specification requirements for the operation of opacity monitoring: 40 CFR part 60 Appendix B and Performance Procedures for Opacity Monitors, EPA 450/4-92-010 dated March 1992.
 
  • The third State action, are changes to COMAR 26.11.01.10 and 26.01.11 in which the correct size of municipal waste combustors to install continuous monitors is changed from greater than 35 mmBtu per hour to 35 mmBtu per hour or greater, the requirement to meet TM 90 for QA/QC procedures is removed and replaced with a reference to the new QA/QC requirements in in COMAR 26.11.31, and the CEMs requirements regarding pollutants to be continuously measured for municipal waste combustors, Kraft pulp mills, and fluidized bed combustors is clarified.
 
  • The fourth State action are more revision to the provisions of COMAR 26.11.01.10 and COMAR 26.11.01.11 removing the remaining references to TM 90 and clarifying that QAA/QC procedures for COMs are now in COMAR 26.11.31.

Written comments must be received by EPA on or before July 18, 2016 and can be submitted online at http://www.regulations.gov referencing Docket ID No. EPA-R03-OAR-2016-0042.

Sources :

US EPA, Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans, 81 FR 39605, June 17, 2016  

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