Requesting feedback from interested parties, Ohio EPA announced on September 1, 2015 a “pre-comment period” related to the Agency’s drafts of general permits for oil and natural gas mid-stream compressor stations. Currently, air emissions at these facilities are subject to more lengthy case-by-case permits. By contrast, applications for general permits follow a template and can be issued for common pieces of equipment that (as a result of specific engineering conditions) have more predictable emissions characteristics.

Under the proposal, applicants would be required to demonstrate that the equipment qualifies for a general permit, and agree to meet pre-defined permit terms including installation and/or operating requirements, monitoring, record-keeping and reporting. Among the common pieces of equipment that would potentially qualify for general permits include:

• natural gas fired spark ignition compressor engines (four lean burn size choices, five rich burn choices;
• diesel engines (two size choices);
• dehydrators;
• flares (one open flare or two enclosed flare choices);
• compressors;
• equipment (pipes, valves, flanges, pumps, etc) that has the potential to leak;
• liquid storage tanks;
• truck loading operations; and
• pigging operations

In recent years, Ohio has seen a large increase in the number of compressor stations due to the expansion of the oil & gas industry in eastern Ohio. General permits are an effective means to track and regulate air emissions and can be more efficient and timely for processing.

Interested parties may review the general permits drafts and locate specific engines under consideration at this Ohio EPA Web page.

What this means to you
Ohio is considering allowing General Permits for natural gas spark ignition as well as diesel compressor station engines. Click here to see engines being considered.

MIRATECH can help
Contact MIRATECH to discuss compressor engine emission controls.