New and Revised Emission Factors for Flares and New Emission Factors for Certain Refinery Process Units and Determination for No Changes to VOC Emission Factors for Tanks and Wastewater Treatment Systems
Background
EPA has finalized certain actions in compliance with a consent decree entered into with Air Alliance Houston, Community In-Power and Development Association, Inc., Louisiana Bucket Brigade and Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services (“Plaintiffs”). Air Alliance Houston, et al. v. McCarthy, No. 1:13-cv-00621-KBJ (D.D.C.). The consent decree resolves litigation in which Plaintiffs alleged that EPA failed to perform nondiscretionary duties pursuant to Clean Air Act (CAA) section 130 to review, and, if necessary, revise the emission factors for volatile organic compounds (VOC) for flares, liquid storage tanks (“tanks”), and wastewater collection, treatment, and storage systems (“wastewater treatment systems”) at least once every three years. Under the terms of the consent decree, by April 20, 2015, EPA reviewed and either finalized revisions to the VOC emission factors for flares, tanks and wastewater treatment systems under CAA section 130, or finalized a determination under CAA section 130 that revision of these emission factors is not necessary.
Final Actions
EPA has evaluated all of the data collected during the 2011 Refinery Information Collection Request (ICR), the data referenced in the Complaint, other test data available to the Agency for flares, tanks and wastewater treatment systems, and data submitted during the public comment period. Based on this evaluation, we have finalized a new VOC emissions factor for flares. We are also finalizing emissions factors (or emissions estimation methodologies) for certain refinery operations and pollutants that are not covered by the consent decree. We have updated Sections 5.1, 8.13, and 13.5 of AP-42 to incorporate the following new and revised emissions factors.
| Emission Sources | Pollutants |
|---|---|
| Flares | VOC, CO (revised) |
| Sulfur Recovery Units | NOx, CO, THC |
| Catalytic Reforming Units | THC |
| Hydrogen Plants | NOx |
| Fluid Catalytic Cracking Units | HCN |
We previously developed a refinery emissions estimation protocol in response to a Data Quality Act petition which was used in the 2011 Refinery ICR. The refinery emissions estimation protocol lists and ranks available methods for calculating emissions from refineries. We are not requiring the use of the Refinery Protocol, just as we do not require the use of AP-42. It is simply another tool for use in estimating emissions when site-specific test data do not exist or are not available. We consider the Refinery Protocol to provide site-specific emissions inventory guidance that will result in more accurate and complete emissions inventories. Therefore, we are finalizing proposed revisions to the Refinery Protocol, with some changes to address specific comments. Specifically, we have updated Sections 1, 5, and 6 of the refinery emissions estimation protocol with these new emission factors.
Based on our review of the available emissions data for tanks and wastewater treatment systems, we found that the available data did not support a finding that revisions to existing emissions estimation methods for those sources was necessary. The data reviewed generally showed adequate agreement between measured data and the existing emissions estimation methods. Therefore, the agency is finalizing its determination that revisions of the VOC emissions factors for tanks and wastewater treatment systems are not necessary.
Based on our review of NOx emissions data for flares and additional information received after proposal, we have determined that the data was not adequate to support revising the NOx emissions factor for flares. Based on comments received, EPA determined that the NOx data used for the proposal contained certain flaws that rendered the data quality suspect.
Supporting Documents for Final Actions
As noted above, based on our review of the reports cited by the Plaintiffs in their complaint, other available test data for flares, tanks and wastewater treatment systems, and information submitted with the public comments, we have developed a new VOC emission factor for flares. We have also concluded that no revision is necessary to the VOC emission factors for tanks and wastewater treatment systems because the available emissions data for tanks and wastewater treatment systems are not adequate to allow for revisions to existing emissions estimation methods for those sources. A report describing the review of these documents and the basis for our findings is available by clicking on the following link:
EPA Review of Available Documents and Rationale in Support of Final Emissions Factors and Negative Determinations for Flares, Tanks, and Wastewater Treatment Systems April 20, 2015 (PDF) (92 pp, 4MB, About PDF)
As listed above, we have developed seven new emission factors and one revised emission factors in AP-42 based on our review of approximately 200 test reports collected during the 2011 Refinery ICR, development of a peer-reviewed study on Parameters for Properly Designed and Operated Flares, and data submitted during the public comment period. A report that summarizes our review and analysis of these test reports and describes the development of these emissions factors is available by clicking on the following link:
We have finalized three sections of AP-42 to incorporate the revised/new factors. These sections can be accessed at the following links:
AP-42 Chapter 5: Petroleum Industry Section 5.1 Petroleum Refining
AP-42 Chapter 8: Inorganic Chemical Industry Section 8.13 Sulfur Recovery
AP-42 Chapter 13: Miscellaneous Sources Section 13.5 Industrial Flares
We have revised the Refinery Emissions Estimation Protocol to incorporate the revised/new factors, as well as to incorporate a new procedure for estimating emissions from delayed coking units:
Final Emission Estimation Protocol for Petroleum Refineries - Version 3.0 posted April 20, 2015.
Response to Comments
Response to Comments Document (PDF) (153 pp, 1MB) posted April 20, 2015
Below is a link to written comments and questions received:
Comments and Questions as of December 22, 2014 (PDF) (640 pp, 62MB)
Below is a link to view comment attachments that could not be included in the above document:
Comments as of Dec 22, 2014 attachments (zip) (ZIP 12MB).
Below is a link to view comment attachments that could not be included in the above document:
Information after comment period (zip) (ZIP 21,360K).