Code of Federal Regulations (alpha)

CFR /  Title 40  /  Part 96  /  Sec. 96.184 Opt-in process.

The permitting authority will issue or deny a CAIR opt-in permit for a unit for which an initial application for a CAIR opt-in permit under Sec. 96.183 is submitted in accordance with the following:

(a) Interim review of monitoring plan. The permitting authority and the Administrator will determine, on an interim basis, the sufficiency of the monitoring plan accompanying the initial application for a CAIR opt-in permit under Sec. 96.183. A monitoring plan is sufficient, for purposes of interim review, if the plan appears to contain information demonstrating that the NOX emissions rate and heat input of the unit and all other applicable parameters are monitored and reported in accordance with subpart HH of this part. A determination of sufficiency shall not be construed as acceptance or approval of the monitoring plan.

(b) Monitoring and reporting. (1)(i) If the permitting authority and the Administrator determine that the monitoring plan is sufficient under paragraph (a) of this section, the owner or operator shall monitor and report the NOX emissions rate and the heat input of the unit and all other applicable parameters, in accordance with subpart HH of this part, starting on the date of certification of the appropriate monitoring systems under subpart HH of this part and continuing until a CAIR opt-in permit is denied under Sec. 96.184(f) or, if a CAIR opt-in permit is issued, the date and time when the unit is withdrawn from the CAIR NOX Annual Trading Program in accordance with Sec. 96.186.

(1)(i) If the permitting authority and the Administrator determine that the monitoring plan is sufficient under paragraph (a) of this section, the owner or operator shall monitor and report the NOX emissions rate and the heat input of the unit and all other applicable parameters, in accordance with subpart HH of this part, starting on the date of certification of the appropriate monitoring systems under subpart HH of this part and continuing until a CAIR opt-in permit is denied under Sec. 96.184(f) or, if a CAIR opt-in permit is issued, the date and time when the unit is withdrawn from the CAIR NOX Annual Trading Program in accordance with Sec. 96.186.

(i) If the permitting authority and the Administrator determine that the monitoring plan is sufficient under paragraph (a) of this section, the owner or operator shall monitor and report the NOX emissions rate and the heat input of the unit and all other applicable parameters, in accordance with subpart HH of this part, starting on the date of certification of the appropriate monitoring systems under subpart HH of this part and continuing until a CAIR opt-in permit is denied under Sec. 96.184(f) or, if a CAIR opt-in permit is issued, the date and time when the unit is withdrawn from the CAIR NOX Annual Trading Program in accordance with Sec. 96.186.

(ii) The monitoring and reporting under paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section shall include the entire control period immediately before the date on which the unit enters the CAIR NOX Annual Trading Program under Sec. 96.184(g), during which period monitoring system availability must not be less than 90 percent under subpart HH of this part and the unit must be in full compliance with any applicable State or Federal emissions or emissions-related requirements.

(2) To the extent the NOX emissions rate and the heat input of the unit are monitored and reported in accordance with subpart HH of this part for one or more control periods, in addition to the control period under paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section, during which control periods monitoring system availability is not less than 90 percent under subpart HH of this part and the unit is in full compliance with any applicable State or Federal emissions or emissions-related requirements and which control periods begin not more than 3 years before the unit enters the CAIR NOX Annual Trading Program under Sec. 96.184(g), such information shall be used as provided in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section.

(c) Baseline heat input. The unit's baseline heat input shall equal:

(1) If the unit's NOX emissions rate and heat input are monitored and reported for only one control period, in accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the unit's total heat input (in mmBtu) for the control period; or

(2) If the unit's NOX emissions rate and heat input are monitored and reported for more than one control period, in accordance with paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section, the average of the amounts of the unit's total heat input (in mmBtu) for the control periods under paragraphs (b)(1)(ii) and (2) of this section.

(d) Baseline NOX emission rate. The unit's baseline NOX emission rate shall equal:

(1) If the unit's NOX emissions rate and heat input are monitored and reported for only one control period, in accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the unit's NOX emissions rate (in lb/mmBtu) for the control period;

(2) If the unit's NOX emissions rate and heat input are monitored and reported for more than one control period, in accordance with paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section, and the unit does not have add-on NOX emission controls during any such control periods, the average of the amounts of the unit's NOX emissions rate (in lb/mmBtu) for the control periods under paragraphs (b)(1)(ii) and (2) of this section; or

(3) If the unit's NOX emissions rate and heat input are monitored and reported for more than one control period, in accordance with paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section, and the unit has add-on NOX emission controls during any such control periods, the average of the amounts of the unit's NOX emissions rate (in lb/mmBtu) for such control periods during which the unit has add-on NOX emission controls.

(e) Issuance of CAIR opt-in permit. After calculating the baseline heat input and the baseline NOX emissions rate for the unit under paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section and if the permitting authority determines that the CAIR designated representative shows that the unit meets the requirements for a CAIR NOX opt-in unit in Sec. 96.180 and meets the elements certified in Sec. 96.183(a)(2), the permitting authority will issue a CAIR opt-in permit. The permitting authority will provide a copy of the CAIR opt-in permit to the Administrator, who will then establish a compliance account for the source that includes the CAIR NOX opt-in unit unless the source already has a compliance account.

(f) Issuance of denial of CAIR opt-in permit. Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section, if at any time before issuance of a CAIR opt-in permit for the unit, the permitting authority determines that the CAIR designated representative fails to show that the unit meets the requirements for a CAIR NOX opt-in unit in Sec. 96.180 or meets the elements certified in Sec. 96.183(a)(2), the permitting authority will issue a denial of a CAIR opt-in permit for the unit.

(g) Date of entry into CAIR NOX Annual Trading Program. A unit for which an initial CAIR opt-in permit is issued by the permitting authority shall become a CAIR NOX opt-in unit, and a CAIR NOX unit, as of the later of January 1, 2009 or January 1 of the first control period during which such CAIR opt-in permit is issued.

(h) Repowered CAIR NOX opt-in unit. (1) If CAIR designated representative requests, and the permitting authority issues a CAIR opt-in permit providing for, allocation to a CAIR NOX opt-in unit of CAIR NOX allowances under Sec. 96.188(c) and such unit is repowered after its date of entry into the CAIR NOX Annual Trading Program under paragraph (g) of this section, the repowered unit shall be treated as a CAIR NOX opt-in unit replacing the original CAIR NOX opt-in unit, as of the date of start-up of the repowered unit's combustion chamber.

(1) If CAIR designated representative requests, and the permitting authority issues a CAIR opt-in permit providing for, allocation to a CAIR NOX opt-in unit of CAIR NOX allowances under Sec. 96.188(c) and such unit is repowered after its date of entry into the CAIR NOX Annual Trading Program under paragraph (g) of this section, the repowered unit shall be treated as a CAIR NOX opt-in unit replacing the original CAIR NOX opt-in unit, as of the date of start-up of the repowered unit's combustion chamber.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section, as of the date of start-up under paragraph (h)(1) of this section, the repowered unit shall be deemed to have the same date of commencement of operation, date of commencement of commercial operation, baseline heat input, and baseline NOX emission rate as the original CAIR NOX opt-in unit, and the original CAIR NOX opt-in unit shall no longer be treated as a CAIR NOX opt-in unit or a CAIR NOX unit. [70 FR 25339, May 12, 2005, as amended at 71 FR 25385, Apr. 28, 2006; 71 FR 74794, Dec. 13, 2006]