[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 43 (Monday, March 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9313-9314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04373]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL 9974-90-OAR]
Review of Existing VOC Emissions Factor for Flares at Natural Gas
Production Sites and New Emissions Factors for Enclosed Ground Flares
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of final action.
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SUMMARY: On February 5, 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
took final action on its review of the existing volatile organic
compounds (VOC) emissions factor for flares at natural gas production
sites pursuant to section 130 of the Clean Air Act (CAA). While the
review did not result in a revision to this existing VOC emissions
factor, the EPA issued new total hydrocarbon (THC) emissions factors
for enclosed ground flares based on the available flare data.
DATES: Applicable on March 5, 2018.
ADDRESSES: You may view this final action and the supporting
information electronically at: https://www.epa.gov/air-emissions-factors-and-quantification/new-emissions-factors-enclosed-ground-flares.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Gerri Garwood, Measurement Policy
Group (MPG), Sector Policies and Programs Division (D243-05), Office of
Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, telephone number:
(919) 541-2406; fax number: (919) 541-4991; and email address:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 5, 2018, the EPA finalized its
review of the existing VOC emissions factor for flares at natural gas
production sites pursuant to its obligation under CAA section 130 to
review, and, if necessary, revise emissions factors for certain
pollutants, including VOC, at least every 3 years.
We evaluated test data available to the Agency for flares at
natural gas production sites, data from testing conducted by
manufacturers under 40 CFR part 60, subparts OOOO and OOOOa and 40 CFR
part 63, subpart HH and HHH, and information submitted during the
public comment period. The available flare data pertained to THC
emissions and did not provide sufficient information for estimating VOC
emissions from the tested flares. As such, the available data gave no
indication that the existing VOC
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emissions factor for flares at natural gas production sites is somehow
flawed or outdated and, thus, warrants revision. Therefore, our review
did not result in a revision to this VOC emissions factor.
While we have not revised the existing VOC emissions factor, we did
use the available THC emissions data for enclosed ground flares to
develop six new THC emissions factors for enclosed ground flares. The
six emissions factors are finalized as an update to Section 13.5 of AP-
42, Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors. AP-42 is the primary
compilation of EPA's emissions factor information. We have also
clarified the heating value basis for the emissions factors in AP-42
Tables 13.5-1 through 13.5-3 in order to allow users to generate more
accurate emissions estimates and clarified that the emissions factors
in the tables represent the emissions at the exit of a flare, not the
uncontrolled VOC or THC emissions routed to the flare.
The final actions described above were issued on February 5, 2018.
Our review and analysis of the data are documented in a report titled
``Review and Analysis of Emissions Test Reports for Purposes of
Reviewing the Natural Gas Production Flares Volatile Organic Compounds
Emissions Factor Under Clean Air Act Section 130.'' Prior to taking
final action, the EPA issued a proposal on its AP-42 website on June 5,
2017, and solicited comment on the proposal. The EPA responded to the
comments received during the public comment period in a memorandum
titled ``Summary of EPA Responses to Public Comments Received on the
Proposed Emissions Factors for Enclosed Ground Flares at Natural Gas
Production Sites and Chemical Manufacturing Processes.'' These
documents, along with a link to the updated section in AP-42, were
posted on the website listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice on
February 5, 2018.
These actions constitute final agency action of national
applicability for purposes of section 307(b)(1) of the CAA. Pursuant to
CAA section 307(b)(1), judicial review of these final agency actions
may be sought only in the United States Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia Circuit. Petitions for review must be filed by May
4, 2018. Judicial review of these final agency actions may not be
obtained in subsequent proceedings, pursuant to CAA section 307(b)(2).
These actions are not a rulemaking and are not subject to the various
statutory and other provisions applicable to a rulemaking.
Dated: February 26, 2018.
Panagiotis E. Tsirigotis,
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2018-04373 Filed 3-2-18; 8:45 am]
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