Reasonably Available Control Technology

For existing sources emitting pollutants for which the area is nonattainment, reasonable available control technology (RACT) would be required. EPA defines RACT by industrial categoiy. 

In most situations, would be sufficient to satisfy state NO, RACT (Reasonably Available Control Technology) regulations or other NO, emissions requirements. 

Control Technique Guidelines (CTG) EPA documents designed to assist state and local pollution authorities to achieve and maintain air quality standards for certain sources (e.g., organic emissions from solvent metal cleaning known as degreasing) through reasonably available control technologies (RACT). 

Titles I and IV are most relevant to SO, and NO control. Title I establishes a 24-hour average ambient air standard for SO, of 0.14 ppm. The NO provisions require existing major stationaiy sources to apply reasonably available control technologies and new or modified major stationaiy sources to offset their new emissions and install controls representing the lowest achievable emissions rate. Each state with an ozone nonattaininent region must develop a State Implementation Plan (SIP) that includes stationaiy NO emissions reductions. 

RACT reasonably available control technology standards implemented in areas of nonattainment to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides. 

Staffa, R. I. "Letter" [to Ad Hoc Committee on Latest Reasonably Available Control Technology for Dockside Sulfur Unloading Facilities, Department of Environmental Affairs, State of Florida] Environmental Affairs, U.S. Sulphur Operations, Texasgulf, Inc. Stamford, Conn., 3 February 1978. 

Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT), Best Available Control Technology (BACT), and Lowest Achievable Emission Rate (LAER) Clearinghouse... 

The New NO, Requirements. The CAA as amended in 1990 set new NOx requirements for major stationary sources under Title I. The new NOx requirements are reasonably available control technology (RACT) for existing major stationary sources of NOx ind new source review (NSR) for new/modified major stationary sources. Title I also requires any additional control measures as needed to demonstrate attainment of the NAAQS. These NSR, RACT, and attainment demonstration requirements are summarized elsewhere in this paper and described in more detail in EPA s NOx Supplement to the General Preamble (3). 

Kent Berry, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, memorandum to the EPA Regional Office Air Directors on "Cost-Effective Nitrogen Oxides (NOJ Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT)," March 16, 1994. 

Nonattainment Requirements. Currently, there are roughly 100 areas of nonattainment for O3, over 40 for CO, and 70 for particulate matter. Also, there are a number of areas not in compliance with SO2 standards. Thus, existing or proposed new or modified industrial facih-ties located in or near these areas wiU be subject to a variety of new requirements designed to limit existing and future emissions of these nonattainment pollutants. Eor certain existing sources, reasonably available control technology (RACT) requirements have or will be imposed.The construction of a new or modified source may require the installation of LAER technology and emission offsets. 

Ozone. Ground-level ozone is generated by photolytic reactions between NOx, VOC, and oxygen. Non-attainment ozone areas had to correct (update) their RACT, I/M, and CTG guidelines. RACT = reasonably available control technology, I/M = inspection and maintenance, CTG = control technology guidelines, and Non-CTG = plants that do not meet CTG. 

Industries must reduce emissions from existing facilities by 10% more than the emissions of any new facility opened in the area and impose reasonably available control technology (RACT) on all major sources emitting more than 100 tons per year for the nine industrial categories where EPA has already issued control technique guidelines that describe RACT before 1990. 

SCAQMD is the only non-attainment area in the U.S. Virtually all boilers in the SCAQMD are affected and must reduce NO, by an average of 90%. Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) has already been retrofitted on over 4,000 MW of boiler capacity in the SCAQMD. In the Northeast. NESCAUM (Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management), which is made up of representatives from eight northeastern states Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, was formed to solve the non-attainment problems of this ozone transport area and has proposed Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) values and other rules stricter than those of the EPA, including SCR for NO control. 

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