Attainment area

In attainment areas, new large faciUties must be designed to incorporate the best available control technology (BACT). Generally, BACT is more stringent than RACT and equal to or less stringent than LAER. In addition, there are also rules that specify how much deterioration in baseline air quaUty a new facihty can cause. In no situation can the faciUty cause a new violation in the NAAQS. 

Sources Subject to Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Sources subject to PSD regulations (40 CFR, Sec. 52.21, Aug. 7, 1980) are major stationary sources and major modifications located in attainment areas and unclassified areas. A major stationaiy source was defined as any source hsted in Table 25-4 with the potential to emit 100 tons per year or more of any pollutant regulated under the Clean Air Act (CAA) or any other source with the potential to emit 250 tons per year or more of any CAA pollutant. The potential to emit is defined as the maximum capacity to emit the pollutant under apphcable emission standards and permit conditions (after apphcation of any air pollution control equipment) excluding secondaiy emissions. A major modification is defined as any physical or operational change of a major stationaiy source producing a significant net emissions increase of any CAA pollutant (see Table 25-5). 

The permitting reqiiirements and procedures for a proposed NSR source are quite different, if the source is to be located in a nonattaiu-ment area for any of its major emitted pollutants, than if it is to be located in an attainment area. This usually increases the complexity of the permit application for such a source. 

The states are required to submit to the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans, known as State Implementation Plans (SIP), showing how they will achieve the standards in their jurisdictions within a specified time period. If after that time period there are areas within the states where these standards have not been attained, the states are required to submit and obtain EPA approval of revised plans to achieve the standards in these "nonattainment" areas. EPA also designates certain areas where the standards are being met, but which have the potential for future nonattainment, as Air Quality Maintenance Areas (AQMA). Such regions have stricter requirements than attainment areas for the granting of permits for new sources of the pollutant not in attainment status. 

The catalytic combustor has great potential in the application of gas turbines in new combined cycle power plants as the NO emissions in high attainment areas will have to be below 2 ppm. 

Attainment Area a geographic area in which levels of a criterion air pollutant meet the health-based National Ambient Air Quality Standard for that specific pollutant. 

As of November 1, 1992, all gasoline sold in the 39 CO nonattainment areas contained 2.7 wt% oxygen during the winter months. Beginning January 1, 1995, regulations mandated that gasoline sold in the nine worst ozone non-attainment areas contain at least 2.0 wt% oxygen and not more than 1 vol% benzene and 25 vol% total aromatics. Other cities that have had mobile source emission problems can optin voluntarily to the use of reformulated fuels. 

From 1995 through 2000, a 15% reduction in VOCs and other air toxins was expected in the non-attainment areas. Beginning in the year 2000, an additional reduction of 25% is required unless the EPA determines it too costly or not feasible. Even in that case, the reduction will not be less than 20%. 

Facilities in NAAQS attainment areas must follow PSD requirements by demonstrating that the construction/modification project will not cause a violation of air quality limits and will implement the best available control technology (BACT). 

NOx emissions were 0.15 lb/106 Btu, which meets the 2003 target emission limits for ozone non-attainment areas, or 1.09 lb/MWh, which exceeds the New Source Performance Standard of 1.6 lb/MWh. 

State Operating Permit Program, Title V (Revised 8/29/94) Prevention of Significant Deterioration (new sonrces in attainment areas) and New Sonrce Review (new sonrces in nonattainment areas) LAER reqnirements (existing sonrce)... 

Attainment area a geographical area that meets NAAQS for criteria air pollutants see also Nonattainment area. 

Cracking (FCC) units have been established through consent decree between the EPA and the rehnery or by the application of new source review (NSR) provisions of the Clean Air Act when making rehnery modihcations that result in a signihcant emission increase. NSR standards require facilities to apply best available control technology (BACT) in ozone attainment areas and the lowest achievable emissions rate (LAER) in ozone nonattainment areas. In addition, in mid-2009, the U.S. EPA revised the Standards of Performance for Petroleum Rehneries (40 CFR 60 Subpart Ja) to include NO, standards for process heaters and FCCUs. 

Particulate Emissions For Paved Roads in Seattle and Tacoma Non-Attainment Areas", Puget Sound Air Pollution Control Agency, July 1979. 

Today, Low-Btu Gas (LBG) is expected to be preferred in small demand applications for single users located outside of downtown metropolitan areas. Specific industries in which LBG is expected to be most competitive include primary metals, iron ore beneficia-tion, metal finishing, lime brick refractory, and food industries. Another potential market for Low-Btu Gas is in combined cycle power generation. Cleaned Low-Btu Gas may be particularly advantageous when a plant has many separate combustors which, because of the anticipated new environmental standards, would require either multiple scrubbers or a flue gas collection system. Cleaned Low-Btu Gas is also one of the few options available to a user planning a plant expansion in a non-attainment area. 

Compliance and noncompliance can be costly. It has been estimated that the installed cost of equipment and systems to control emissions could range from 20 to 50 billion or higher. The technologies expected to be used include wet scrubbing, thermal incineration, catalytic incineration, carbon absorption, and solvent recovery. New sources and modifications of existing sources of air pollution in an attainment area are regulated under the... 

An area may be in an attaiiunent status for one pollutant and in a nonattainment status for another pollutant. In most areas, PSD authority has been assigned to either the state or local jurisdiction. The use of the Best Available Control Technology (BACT) is required for each pollutant and is based on the emission level and capital and operating costs. Regulations in non-attainment areas are required to meet the EPA s New Source Review (NSR) regulations. 

Overall, there is a downward trend in urban air pollution in the United States. However, the EPA reports that there are still 126 million people in the United States living in non-attainment areas where emission levels of at least one of the pollutants included in the CAA exceed the NAAQS (EPA 2003a). The EPA further reports that in the 263 metropolitan areas examined, 34 had upward trends in air... 

State Implementation IMans (SIPs). The CAA requires EPA to establish NAAQS at levels which are requisite to protect public health. With the assistance of the States, EPA identifies areas that have attained the NAAQS, (attainment areas) and other areas which may need to reduce emissions in order to attain the NAAQS (nonattainment areas). The CAA gives States the primary responsibility for the attainment and maintenance of the NAAQS. 

Process Heaters. The subject process heaters are located in a refinety which is in an ozone non-attainment area. The No. 1 process heater bums refinery off-gas at 52,750 MJ/hr or 50 MMBtu/hr heat input The No. 2 heater fires at 186,735 MJ/hr or 177 MMBtu/hr with refmery off-gas and supplemental natural gas. The use of urea-based SNCR reduced NOx emissions of No. 1 furnace heater from approximately 100 ppm to 30 ppm or 70% (Figure 7). The NOx emissions of No. 2 fiimace heater was reduced fom 90 ppm to 38 ppm or 58% (Figure 8). This... 

Areas that do not meet the established NAAQS or that affect the ambient air quality in a nearby area that does not meet NAAQS for die pollutant are known as non-attainment areas. In the U.S., an estimated 90 milhon people live in these areas. These areas may be further classified based on die severity of non-attainment and the availability and flexibility of the pollution control measures believed necessary to achieve attainment. A State Imple-... 

Ozone non-attainment areas are classified according to the severity of the pollution problem (see Figure 19.2). These areas also have to achieve VOC reduction as determined by the non-attainment classification. A 15 percent VOC reduction in non-attainment areas, classified as moderate and above, was required by 1996. Also, Section 182(c)(2)(B) requires that non-attainment areas classified as serious and above follow with a 3 percent VOC reduction per year. ... 

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