15A NCAC 02D .2501. PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY

(a)  Purpose.  The purpose of this Section is to control mercury emissions from coal-fired electric steam generating Hg units and to comply with the mercury emission caps of 1.133 tons (36,256 ounces) per year between 2010 and 2017 inclusive and 0.447 tons (14,304 ounces) per year for 2018 and thereafter as set out in 40 CFR 60.24.

(b)  Applicability. This Section applies to:

(1)           any stationary coal-fired boiler or any stationary coal-fired combustion turbine serving at any time, since the start-up of a unit’s combustion chamber, a generator with nameplate capacity of more than 25 MWe producing electricity for sale; or

(2)           any unit that qualifies as a cogeneration unit during the 12-month period starting on the date that the unit first produces electricity and continues to qualify as a cogeneration unit, or any cogeneration unit serving at any time a generator with nameplate capacity of more than 25 MWe and supplying in any calendar year more than one-third of the unit’s potential electric output capacity or 219,000 MWh, whichever is greater, to any utility power distribution system for sale. If a unit that qualifies as a cogeneration unit during the 12-month period starting on the date the unit first produces electricity but subsequently no longer qualifies as a cogeneration unit, the unit shall be subject to Subparagraph (1) of this Paragraph starting on the day on which the unit first no longer qualifies as a cogeneration unit; or

(3)           the Hg budget unit identified in the table in Rule .2503  of this Section.

(c)  Retired Hg unit exemption. Any Hg unit that is permanently retired shall be exempted from the annual trading program if it complies with the provisions of 40 CFR 60.4105.

(d)  Effect on other authorities. No provision of this Section, any application submitted or any permit issued pursuant to Rule .2504 of this Section, or any exemption under 40 CFR 60.4105, shall be construed as exempting any Hg unit or source covered under this Section or the owner or operator or designated representative of any Hg unit or source covered under this Section from complying with any other requirements of this Subchapter or Subchapter 15A NCAC 02Q.

(e)  Additional controls. The Commission shall require additional reductions in mercury emissions when needed to reduce mercury concentrations to levels that do not cause or contribute to mercury-related health problems.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143-215.3(a); 143-215.107(a)(5), (10);

Eff. January 1, 2007.