§7651f Nitrogen oxides emission reduction program

Summary

When a coal-fired power unit becomes covered by the rules for cutting sulfur dioxide or by certain other listed rules, it also becomes covered by the rules for nitrogen oxides and must meet those NOx limits. Within 18 months after November 15, 1990, the Administrator must set yearly NOx limits for certain boiler types, not to exceed 0.45 lb/mmBtu for tangentially fired boilers and 0.50 lb/mmBtu for dry bottom wall-fired boilers (except cell burner units). The Administrator can allow a higher rate if low NOx burners can’t achieve those numbers. By January 1, 1997, the Administrator must set annual limits for wet bottom wall-fired boilers, cyclones, units using cell burner technology, and all other boiler types. The Administrator must also propose revised NOx performance standards for fossil-fuel steam units by January 1, 1993 and finalize them by January 1, 1994 to reflect better control methods. A permitting authority can allow a unit a less strict limit if the owner proves the unit cannot meet the limit with the assumed technology. The owner must install the control equipment, run it properly for 15 months (or another period the Administrator sets), give the operating data, and name an annual rate the unit can meet. During the test period the permit may allow higher emissions, and after the test the permit can be changed to the demonstrated rate. Owners of two or more units may seek a single Btu-weighted annual limit for those units if the combined rate is no higher than what they would have averaged under the standard limits. The Administrator must issue rules for these alternatives within 18 months after November 15, 1990, and any alternative limits last only while the units keep operating under the permit terms.