May 28, 2020
The Utah Division of Air Quality (UDAQ) is proposing two major changes to its Emission Inventory Rule (R307-150) according to an April 29, 2020 Trinity Consultants report. The purpose of R307-150 is to:
- Establish the time frame, pollutants and information that sources must include in inventory submittals, and
- Establish consistent reporting requirements for Utah stationary sources to determine whether SO2 emissions remain below milestones established for Regional Haze.
On August 3, 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated two areas comprising seven counties in Utah as ozone nonattainment areas under the Clean Air Act (CAA). These two areas are Utah’s metropolitan Wasatch Front counties: Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and a portion of Tooele. The second non-attainment area is Utah’s Uinta Basin, located in Duchesne and Uintah Counties, at an elevation of 6,500 feet above sea level and below.
UDAQ is proposing to increase the reporting frequencies of sources located in ozone non-attainment areas and requiring more detailed reporting for all sources.
As part of the requirements of an ozone nonattainment area all sources with emissions of either oxides of nitrogen (NOx) or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) greater than 25 tons per year are now required to provide UDAQ with an annual statement describing the emission sources and the actual amount of NOx and VOC emissions from those sources. For many existing sources this increases the reporting frequency from triennially to annually.
In addition to regulatory based changes, UDAQ is proposing to require all sources to submit detailed emission source information during reporting. In contrast, non-major sources located in nonattainment areas are currently required to submit only facility totals for each pollutant. Detailed information required typically includes equipment types, annual actual throughputs, hours of operation, stack information, and calculation methodology. UDAQ claims this change will require upfront effort but will streamline future submittals.
The next submittal deadline for emission inventory information is April 15, 2021. Emission inventories are currently submitted through either:
- Statewide & Local Emission Inventory System (SLEIS) – Non-oil & gas sources
- Centralized Air Emissions Reporting System (CAERS) – Oil and gas sources
These changes will be presented to the Air Quality Board on June 3, 2020 and, pending approval, will go out for public comment shortly thereafter.
What this means to you
Utah’s Division of Air Quality is proposing to increase frequency of reporting as well as reporting details for all area emission sources of either oxides of nitrogen (NOx) or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) greater than 25 tons per year in five Wasatch Front counties plus two counties in the Uinta Basin.
MIRATECH can help
Contact MIRATECH for stationary engine NOx and VOC emission control in Utah.