15A NCAC 02D .1106. DETERMINATION OF AMBIENT AIR CONCENTRATION

(a)  Modeling shall not be used for enforcement.  Modeling shall be used to determine process operational and air pollution control parameters and emission rates for toxic air pollutants to place in the air quality permit for that facility that will prevent any of the acceptable ambient levels in Rule .1104 of this Section from being exceeded, with such exceptions as may be allowed under 15A NCAC 2Q .0700.  Enforcing these permit stipulations and conditions shall be the mechanism used to ensure that the requirements of Rule .1104 of this Section, with such exceptions as may be allowed by 15A NCAC 2Q .0700, are met.

(b)  The owner or operator of the facility may request the Division to perform a modeling analysis of the facility or provide the analysis himself.  If the owner or operator of the facility requests the Division to perform the modeling analysis, he shall provide emissions rates, stack parameters, and other information that the Division needs to do the modeling.  The data that the owner or operator of the facility provides the Division to use in the model or in deriving the data used in the model shall be the process, operational and air pollution control equipment parameters and emission rates that will be contained in the facility=s permit.  If the Division=s initial review of the modeling request indicates extensive or inappropriate use of state resources or if the Division=s modeling analysis fails to show compliance with the acceptable ambient levels in Rule .1104 of this Section, the modeling demonstration becomes the responsibility of the owner or operator of the facility.

(c)  When the owner or operator of the facility is responsible for providing the modeling demonstration and the data used in the modeling, the owner or operator of the facility shall use in the model or in deriving data used in the model the process operational and air pollution control equipment parameters and emission rates that will be contained in his permit.  Sources that are not required to be included in the model will not be included in the permit to emit toxic air pollutants.

(d)  For the following pollutants, modeled emission rates shall be based on the highest emissions occurring in any single 15 minute period.  The resultant modeled 1-hour concentrations shall then be compared to the applicable 1-hour acceptable ambient levels to determine compliance.  These pollutants are:

(1)           acetaldehyde (75-07-0)

(2)           acetic acid (64-19-7)

(3)           acrolein (107-02-8)

(4)           ammonia (7664-41-7)

(5)           bromine (7726-95-6)

(6)           chlorine (7782-50-5)

(7)           formaldehyde (50-00-0)

(8)           hydrogen chloride (7647-01-0)

(9)           hydrogen fluoride (7664-39-3)

(10)         nitric acid (7697-37-2)

(e)  The owner or operator of the facility and the Division may use any model allowed by 40 CFR 51.166(l) provided that the model is appropriate for the facility being modeled.  The owner or operator or the Division may use a model other than one allowed by 40 CFR 51.166(l) provided that the Director determines that the model is equivalent to the model allowed by 40 CFR 51.166(l).  Regardless of model used, the owner or operator and the Division shall model for cavity effects and shall comply with the modeling requirements for stack height set out in Rule .0533 of this Subchapter.

(f)  Ambient air concentrations are to be evaluated for annual periods over a calendar year, for 24-hour periods from midnight to midnight, and for one-hour periods beginning on the hour.

(g)  The owner or operator of the facility shall identify each toxic air pollutant emitted and its corresponding emission rate using mass balancing analysis, source testing, or other methods that the Director may approve as providing an equivalently accurate estimate of the emission rate.

(h)  The owner or operator of the facility shall submit a modeling plan to the Director and shall have received approval of that plan from the before submitting a modeling demonstration to the Director.  The modeling plan shall include:

(1)           a diagram of the plant site, including locations of all stacks and associated buildings;

(2)           on-site building dimensions;

(3)           a diagram showing property boundaries, including a scale, key and north indicator;

(4)           the location of the site on a United States Geological Survey (USGS) map;

(5)           discussion of good engineering stack height and building wake effects for each stack;

(6)           discussion of cavity calculations, impact on rolling and complex terrain, building wake effects, and urban/rural considerations;

(7)           discussion of reasons for model selection;

(8)           discussion of meteorological data to be used;

(9)           discussion of sources emitting the pollutant that are not to be included in the model with an explanation of why they are being excluded (i.e. why the source will not affect the modeling analysis); and

(10)         any other pertinent information.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143-215.3(a)(1); 143-215.107(a)(3),(5); 143B-282; S.L. 1989, c. 168, s. 45;

Eff. May 1, 1990;

Amended Eff. July 1, 1998.