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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 07-924b

[37 Pa.B. 2365]
[Saturday, May 19, 2007]

[Continued from previous Web Page]

   (I)  The facility was capable of accommodating the fuel before January 6, 1975, unless the change would be prohibited under a Federally enforceable operating permit condition.

   (II)  The facility is approved to use the fuel or material under a Federally enforceable operating permit.

   (F)  An increase in the hours of operation or in the production rate, unless the change is prohibited under a condition of a Federally enforceable plan approval or an operating permit.

   (G)  A change in ownership of a facility.

   (v)  The term does not apply to a particular regulated NSR pollutant when the major facility is complying with the requirements under § 127.218. Instead, the definition of ''PAL major modification'' applies.

   Major NOx emitting facility--A facility which emits or has the potential to emit NOx from the processes located at the site or on contiguous properties under the common control of the same person at a rate greater than one of the following:

   (i)  Ten TPY in an ozone nonattainment area designated as extreme under section 182(e) and (f) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C.A. § 7511a(e) and (f)).

   (ii)  Twenty-five TPY in an ozone nonattainment area designated as severe under section 182(d) and (f) of the Clean Air Act.

   (iii)  Fifty TPY in an area designated as serious under section 182(c) and (f) of the Clean Air Act.

   (iv)  One hundred TPY in an area included in an ozone transport region established under section 184 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C.A. § 7511c).

   (v)  Twenty-five TPY and is located in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery or Philadelphia County.

   Major VOC emitting facility--A facility which emits or has the potential to emit VOCs from processes located at the site or on contiguous properties under the common control of the same person at a rate greater than one of the following:

   (i)  Ten TPY in an ozone nonattainment area designated as extreme under section 182(e) of the Clean Air Act.

   (ii)  Twenty-five TPY in an ozone nonattainment area designated as severe under section 182(d) of the Clean Air Act.

   (iii)  Fifty TPY in an area included in an ozone transport region established under section 184 of the Clean Air Act.

   (iv)  Twenty-five TPY and is located in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery or Philadelphia County.

   Malodor--An odor which causes annoyance or discomfort to the public and which the Department determines to be objectionable to the public.

   Maximum allowable emissions--The emission rate calculated using the maximum rated capacity of the source unless the source is subject to enforceable permit conditions which limit operating rate or hours of operation, or both, and the most stringent of the following:

   (i)  Applicable new source performance standards or standards for hazardous pollutants in 40 CFR Parts 60 and 61.

   (ii)  Applicable emission limitation under this title.

   (iii)  The emission rate specified as an enforceable permit.

*      *      *      *      *

   Model year--The manufacturer's annual production period (as determined under 40 CFR 85.2304 (relating to definition of production period)) which includes January 1 of the calendar year. If the manufacturer has no annual production period, the term means the calendar year.

   Modification--A physical change in a source or a change in the method of operation of a source which would increase the amount of an air contaminant emitted by the source or which would result in the emission of an air contaminant not previously emitted, except that routine maintenance, repair and replacement are not considered physical changes. An increase in the hours of operation is not considered a modification if the increase in the hours of operation has been authorized in a way that is Federally enforceable or legally and practicably enforceable by an operating permit condition.

*      *      *      *      *

   NSR--New source review.

   Necessary preconstruction approvals or permits--Those permits or approvals required under the Clean Air Act or the act and regulations adopted under the acts, which are part of the applicable SIP.

   Net emissions increase--Emission changes at an existing major facility as determined in accordance with § 127.203a(a)(1).

*      *      *      *      *

   O2--Oxygen.

*      *      *      *      *

   PAL--Plantwide applicability limit--An emissions limit expressed in TPY, for a pollutant at a major facility, that is enforceable as a practical matter and established facility-wide in accordance with § 127.218.

   PAL effective date--The date of issuance of the PAL permit. The PAL effective date for an increased PAL is the date an emissions unit which is part of the PAL major modification becomes operational and begins to emit the PAL pollutant.

   PAL effective period--The period beginning with the PAL effective date and ending 10 years later.

   PAL major modification--Notwithstanding the definitions under this section for ''major modification'' and ''net emissions increase,'' a physical change in or change in the method of operation of the facility that causes the facility to emit the PAL pollutant at a level equal to or greater than the PAL.

   PAL permit--The plan approval, operating permit or Title V permit issued by the Department that establishes a PAL for a major facility.

   PAL pollutant--The pollutant for which a PAL is established for a major facility.

   PEMS--Predictive emissions monitoring system--For purposes of Chapter 127, Subchapter E, all of the equipment necessary to monitor process and control device operational parameters including control device secondary voltages and electric currents, other information including gas flow rate, O2 or CO2 concentrations, and calculate and record the mass emissions rate in terms of mass per unit time, like lb/hr, on a continuous basis.

*      *      *      *      *

   PM-10--Particulate matter with an effective aerodynamic diameter of less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometer body as measured by the applicable reference method or an equal method.

   ppmvd--Parts per million dry volume.

*      *      *      *      *

   Project--A physical change in or change in the method of operation of an existing facility, including a new emissions unit.

   Projected actual emissions--The maximum annual rate in TPY at which an existing emissions unit is projected to emit a regulated NSR pollutant, as determined in accordance with § 127.203a(a)(5).

*      *      *      *      *

   Regulated NSR pollutant--

   (i)  NOx or VOCs.

   (ii)  A pollutant for which the EPA has promulgated a NAAQS.

   (iii)  A pollutant that is a constituent or precursor of a pollutant listed under subparagraph (i) or (ii), if the constituent or precursor pollutant may only be regulated under NSR as part of regulation of the pollutant listed under subparagraph (i) or (ii).

*      *      *      *      *

   Replacement unit--An emissions unit for which all the criteria listed in subparagraphs (i)--(iv) are met. Creditable emission reductions may not be generated from shutting down the existing emissions unit that is replaced.

   (i)  The emissions unit is a reconstructed unit if the fixed capital cost of the new components exceeds 50% of the fixed capital cost that would be required to construct a comparable, entirely new emissions unit, or the emissions unit completely takes the place of an existing emissions unit.

   (ii)  The emissions unit is identical to or functionally equivalent to the replaced emissions unit.

   (iii)  The replacement unit does not alter the basic design parameters of the process unit.

   (iv)  The replaced emissions unit is permanently removed from the major facility, otherwise permanently disabled, or permanently barred from operation by a permit that is enforceable as a practical matter. If the replaced emissions unit is brought back into operation, it shall constitute a new emissions unit.

*      *      *      *      *

   Secondary emissions--

   (i)  Emissions which occur as a result of the construction or operation of a major facility or major modification of a major facility, but do not come from the major facility or major modification itself. The secondary emissions must be specific, well defined, quantifiable and impact the same general area as the facility or modification which causes the secondary emissions.

   (ii)  The term includes emissions from an offsite support facility which would not be constructed or increase its emissions except as a result of the construction or operation of the major facility or major modification.

   (iii)  The term does not include emissions which come directly from a mobile source regulated under Title II of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C.A. §§ 7521--7589).

*      *      *      *      *

   Semiaqueous cleaning solvent--A solution in which water is a primary ingredient (>60% by weight of the solvent solution as applied is water).

   Significant--

   (i)  In reference to a net emissions increase or the potential of a facility to emit one of the following pollutants at a rate of emissions that would equal or exceed the following emissions rates except as specified in subparagraphs (ii)--(v):

Pollutant Emissions Rate
Carbon monoxide (CO): 100 TPY
Nitrogen oxides (NOx): 40 TPY
Sulfur oxides (SOx): 40 TPY
Ozone: 40 TPY of VOCs or NOx
Lead: 0.6 TPY
PM-10: 15 TPY

   (ii)  The emissions rate that is significant for VOCs in a serious or severe ozone nonattainment area is 25 TPY.

   (iii)  For purposes of applying Chapter 127, Subchapter E to the owner or operator of modifications at a major facility located in an ozone nonattainment area or in an ozone transport region that emits or has the potential to emit NOx, the emissions rate that is significant and other requirements for VOCs in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) apply to NOx emissions.

   (iv)  The emissions rate that is significant for CO in a serious nonattainment area is 50 TPY if the EPA has determined that the affected facility contributes significantly to CO levels in that area.

   (v)  The emissions rate that is significant for VOCs in an extreme nonattainment area for ozone is any amount above zero.

   Significant emissions increase--For a regulated NSR pollutant, an increase in emissions that is significant as defined in this section for that pollutant.

   Significant emissions unit--For purposes of the PAL requirements in § 127.218, an emissions unit that emits or has the potential to emit a PAL pollutant in an amount that is equal to or greater than the emissions rate that is significant as defined in this section or in the Clean Air Act for that PAL pollutant, whichever is lower, but less than the amount that would qualify the unit as a major facility as defined in this section.

   Significant net emissions increase--For a regulated NSR pollutant, a net emissions increase that is significant as defined in this section.

*      *      *      *      *

   Small emissions unit--For purposes of the PAL requirements in § 127.218, an emissions unit that emits or has the potential to emit the PAL pollutant in an amount less than the emissions rate that is significant for that PAL pollutant as defined in this section or in the Clean Air Act, whichever is lower.

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   TPY--Tons per year.

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CHAPTER 127. CONSTRUCTION, MODIFICATION, REACTIVATION AND OPERATION OF SOURCES

Subchapter B. PLAN APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

§ 127.13. Extensions.

   (a)  Approval granted by the Department will be valid for a limited time, as specified by the Department in the approval. Except as provided in §§ 127.11a and 127.215 (relating to reactivation of sources; and reactivation), at the end of the time, if the construction, modification, reactivation or installation has not been completed, a new plan approval application or an extension of the previous approval will be required.

   (b)  If the construction, modification or installation is not commenced within 18 months of the issuance of the plan approval or if there is more than an 18-month lapse in construction, modification, or installation, a new plan approval application that meets the requirements of this subchapter and Subchapters D and E (relating to prevention of significant deterioration of air quality; and new source review) shall be submitted. The Department may extend the 18-month period upon a satisfactory showing that an extension is justified.

Subchapter E. NEW SOURCE REVIEW

§ 127.201. General requirements.

   (a)  A person may not cause or permit the construction or modification of an air contamination facility in a nonattainment area or having an impact on a nonattainment area unless the Department or an approved local air pollution control agency has determined that the requirements of this subchapter have been met.

   (b)  The nonattainment area classification that applies for offset trading and offset ratio selection shall be the highest classification designated by the EPA Administrator in 40 CFR 81.339 (relating to Pennsylvania) or by operation of law.

   (c)  The NSR requirements of this subchapter also apply to a facility located in an attainment area for ozone and within an ozone transport region that emits or has the potential to emit at least 50 TPY of VOC or 100 TPY of NOx. A facility within either an unclassifiable/attainment area for ozone or within a marginal or incomplete data nonattainment area for ozone or within a basic nonattainment area for ozone and located within an ozone transport region will be considered a major facility and shall be subject to the requirements applicable to a major facility located in a moderate nonattainment area.

   (d)  The NSR requirements of this subchapter apply to an owner or operator of a facility at which a net emissions increase that is significant would occur as determined in accordance with § 127.203a (relating to applicability determination). If an emissions increase meets or exceeds the applicable emissions rate that is significant as defined in § 121.1 (relating to definitions), the facility is subject to the permitting requirements under § 127.205 (relating to special permit requirements). An emissions increase subject to this subchapter must also be offset through the use of ERCs at the offset ratios specified in § 127.210 (relating to offset ratios). The generation, use, transfer and registration requirements for ERCs are listed in §§ 127.206--127.209.

   (e)  In the event of an inconsistency between this rule and any other rule promulgated by the Department, the inconsistency must be resolved by the application of the more stringent provision, term, condition, method or rule.

   (f)  A facility located in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery or Philadelphia Counties that emits or has the potential to emit at least 25 TPY of VOC or NOx will be considered a major facility and shall be subject to the requirements applicable to a major facility located in a severe nonattainment area for ozone.

§ 127.201a. Measurements, abbreviations and acronyms.

   Measurements, abbreviations and acronyms used in this subchapter are defined as follows:

   BAT--Best available technology

   BACT--Best available control technology

   CEMS--Continuous emissions monitoring system

   CERMS--Continuous emissions rate monitoring system

   CPMS--Continuous parametric monitoring system

   CO--Carbon monoxide

   ERC--Emission reduction credit

   LAER--Lowest achievable emission rate

   MACT--Maximum achievable control technology

   NSPS--New source performance standard

   NSR--New source review

   PEMS--Predictive emissions monitoring system

   lb--Pounds

   µg/m3--Micrograms per cubic meter

   MERC--Mobile reduction credit

   mg/m3--Milligrams per cubic meter

   NOx--Nitrogen oxides

   O2--Oxygen

   PAL--Plantwide Applicability Limit

   PM--Particulate matter

   RACT--Reasonably available control technology

   SOx--Sulfur oxides

   TPY--Tons per year

   VOC--Volatile organic compound

§ 127.202. Effective date.

   (a)  The special permit requirements in this subchapter apply to an owner or operator of a facility to which a plan approval will be issued by the Department after May 19, 2007.

   (b)  For SOx, PM-10, lead and CO, this subchapter applies until a given nonattainment area is redesignated as an unclassifiable or attainment area. After a redesignation, special permit conditions remain effective until the Department approves a permit modification request and modifies the permit.

§ 127.203. Facilities subject to special permit requirements.

   (a)  This subchapter applies to the construction of a new major facility or modification at an existing major facility located in a nonattainment area, an ozone transport region or an attainment or unclassifiable area which impacts a nonattainment area in excess of the following significance levels:

Pollutant Averaging time
Annual 24 (hours) 8 (hours) 3 (hours) 1 (hours)
SO2 1.0 µg/m3 5 µg/m3 - 25 µg/m3 -
PM-10 1.0 µg/m3 5 µg/m3 - - -
CO - - 0.5 mg/m3 - 2 mg/m3
Lead - 0.1 µg/m3 - - -

   (b)  The following provisions apply to an owner or operator of a facility located in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery or Philadelphia County or an area classified as a serious or severe ozone nonattainment area:

   (1)  The applicability requirements in § 127.203a (relating to applicability determination) apply except as provided by this subsection. The requirements of this subchapter apply if the aggregated emissions determined according to subparagraph (i) or (ii) exceed 25 TPY of NOx or VOCs.

   (i)  The proposed increases and decreases in emissions are aggregated with the other increases in net emissions occurring over a consecutive 5 calendar-year period, which includes the calendar year of the modification or addition which results in the emissions increase.

   (ii)  The proposed increases and decreases in emissions are aggregated with other increases and decreases which occurred within 10 years prior to the date of submission of a complete plan approval application. If the aggregated emissions increase calculated using this subparagraph meets or exceeds the emissions rate that is significant, only the emissions offset requirements in § 127.205(3) (relating to special permit requirements) apply to the aggregated emissions.

   (2)  An increase in emissions of VOCs or NOx, other than a de minimis emission increase, from a discrete operation, unit or other pollutant emitting activity at a facility with a potential to emit less than 100 TPY of VOCs or NOx is considered a modification unless the owner or operator elects to offset the increase by a greater reduction in emissions of VOCs or NOx from other operations, units or activities within the facility at an internal offset ratio of at least 1.3 to 1. If the owner or operator does not elect to offset at the required ratio, the increase is considered a modification and the BACT requirement is substituted for LAER. The owner or operator of the facility shall comply with all applicable requirements including the BAT requirement.

   (3)  An increase in emissions of VOCs or NOx, other than a de minimis emission increase, from a discrete operation, unit or other pollutant emitting activity at a facility with a potential to emit of 100 TPY or more is considered a modification unless the owner or operator elects to offset the increase by a greater reduction in emissions of VOCs or NOx from other operations, units or activities within the facility at an internal offset ratio of at least 1.3 to 1. If the owner or operator elects to offset at the required ratio, the LAER requirement does not apply. The owner or operator of the facility shall comply with the applicable requirements including the BAT requirement.

   (c)  The NSR requirements of this subchapter apply to an owner or operator of:

   (1)  A facility at which the net emissions increase as determined under this subchapter meets or exceeds the applicable emissions rate that is significant. A decrease in a facility's emissions will not qualify as a decrease for purposes of this subchapter unless the ERC provisions in § 127.207(1) and (3)--(7) (relating to creditable emissions decrease or ERC generation and creation) are met.

   (2)  A major facility subject to this subchapter which was deactivated for a period in excess of 1 year and is not in compliance with the reactivation requirements of § 127.215 (relating to reactivation).

   (d)  The requirements of this subchapter which apply to VOC emissions from major facilities and major modifications apply to NOx emissions from major facilities and major modifications in an ozone transport region or an ozone nonattainment area classified as marginal, basic, moderate, serious, severe or extreme, except in areas which the EPA has determined that additional reductions of NOx will not produce net air quality benefits.

   (e)  The following provisions apply to an owner or operator of a major facility subject to this subchapter:

   (1)  Approval to construct or modify an air contamination source or facility does not relieve an owner or operator of the responsibility to comply fully with applicable provisions of the SIP and other requirements under local, State or Federal law.

   (2)  If a particular source or modification becomes a major facility or major modification solely by virtue of a relaxation in an enforcement limitation which was established after August 7, 1980, on the capacity of the source or modification to emit a pollutant including a restriction on hours of operation, the requirements of this subchapter also apply to the source or modification as though construction had not yet commenced on the source or modification.

   (f)  The NSR requirements of this subchapter do not apply to an owner or operator of a major facility at which:

   (1)  A physical change or change in the method of operation still maintains its total facility-wide emissions below the PAL, meets the requirements in § 127.218 (relating to PALs) and complies with the PAL permit.

   (2)  A project results in a net emissions increase which does not meet or exceed the applicable emissions rate that is significant.

   (3)  A proposed de minimis increase results in a net emissions increase calculated using emissions increases and decreases which occurred within 10 years prior to the date of submission of a complete plan approval application, which does not meet or exceed the emissions rate that is significant.

   (4)  Construction of a new facility or a project at an existing major facility located in an attainment or unclassifiable area does not impact a nonattainment area for the applicable pollutant in excess of the significance level specified in § 127.203a.

§ 127.203a. Applicability determination.

   (a)  The Department will conduct an applicability determination during its review of a plan approval application for the construction of a new major facility or modification at an existing major facility under the following provisions:

   (1)  As part of the plan approval application, the owner or operator of the facility shall calculate whether a significant emissions increase and a significant net emissions increase will occur as a result of a physical change or change in the method of operation. The owner or operator of the facility shall use the procedures in subparagraph (i) to calculate the emissions increase in a regulated NSR pollutant due to the project, and the procedures in subparagraph (ii) to calculate the net emissions increase in a regulated NSR pollutant. A project is a major modification for a regulated NSR pollutant if it causes two types of emissions increases--a significant emissions increase and a significant net emissions increase. If the project causes a significant emissions increase, the project is a major modification if it also results in a significant net emissions increase.

   (i)  The emissions increase in a regulated NSR pollutant due to the project will be the sum of the following:

   (A)  For existing emissions units, an emissions increase of a regulated NSR pollutant is the difference between the projected actual emissions and the baseline actual emissions for each unit, as determined in paragraphs (4) and (5). Exclude, in calculating an increase in emissions that results from the particular project, that portion of the unit's emissions following completion of the project that existing units could have accommodated during the consecutive 24-month period used to establish the baseline actual emissions and that is also unrelated to the particular project, including all increased utilization due to product demand growth as specified in paragraph (5)(i)(C).

   (B)  For new emissions units, the emissions increase of a regulated NSR pollutant will be the potential to emit from each new emissions unit.

   (ii)  The net emissions increase for a regulated NSR pollutant emitted by a major facility will be the amount by which the sum of the following exceeds zero:

   (A)  The increase in emissions from a physical change or change in the method of operation at a major facility as calculated under subparagraph (i).

   (B)  Other increases and decreases in actual emissions at the major facility that are contemporaneous with the project and are otherwise creditable.

   (I)  An increase or decrease in actual emissions is contemporaneous with the increase from the particular change only if it occurs between the date 5 years before construction on the project commences and the date that construction on the project is completed.

   (II)  Baseline actual emissions for calculating increases are determined as specified under paragraph (4), except that paragraph (4)(i)(D) does not apply.

   (2)  As part of the plan approval application for a proposed de minimis emission increase, the owner or operator of the facility shall use subparagraphs (i) and (ii) to calculate the net emissions increase. For a proposed de minimis increase in which the net emissions increase calculated using subparagraphs (i) and (ii) meets or exceeds the emissions rate that is significant, only the emissions offset requirements in § 127.205(3) (relating to special permit requirements) apply to the net emissions increase.

   (i)  The net emissions increase is the sum of the proposed de minimis increase due to the project and the previously determined increases in potential emissions or actual emissions and decreases in actual emissions that are contemporaneous with the project.

   (ii)  An increase or decrease is contemporaneous if it occurred within 10 years prior to the date of the Department's receipt of a complete plan approval application.

   (3)  An increase or a decrease is creditable for applicability determination purposes if it meets the following conditions:

   (i)  The Department has not relied on it in issuing a permit for the facility under this subchapter, for which the permit is in effect when the increase in emissions from the project occurs.

   (ii)  The increase is creditable to the extent that the new level of emissions exceeds the old level of emissions.

   (iii)  An actual emissions decrease is creditable if the following conditions are met:

   (A)  The ERC provisions in § 127.207(1) and (3)--(7) (relating to creditable emissions decrease or ERC generation and creation) have been complied with, and the decrease in emissions is Federally enforceable by the time construction begins on the project. The plan approval for the project will contain a provision specifying that the emissions decrease is Federally enforceable on or before the construction date.

   (B)  The emissions decrease is such that when compared with the proposed emissions increase there is no significant change in the character of the emissions, including seasonal emission patterns, stack heights or hourly emission rates.

   (C)  The emissions decrease represents approximately the same qualitative significance for public health and welfare as attributed to the proposed increase. This requirement is satisfied if the emissions rate that is significant is not exceeded.

   (D)  An emissions decrease or an ERC generated at the facility may be used as a creditable decrease in a net emissions increase. The use of the ERCs in applicability determinations for netting purposes is limited to the period specified in paragraphs (1)(ii) and (2). A portion of an ERC generated at another facility, acquired by trade and incorporated in a plan approval for use at the facility, is not creditable as an emissions decrease.

   (iv)  An actual or potential emissions increase that results from a physical change in a facility occurs when the emissions unit on which construction occurred becomes operational and begins to emit a particular pollutant. A replacement unit that requires shakedown becomes operational only after a reasonable shakedown period, not to exceed 180 days.

   (4)  The following procedures apply in determining the baseline actual emissions for an existing emissions unit:

   (i)  For an existing emissions unit, baseline actual emissions are the average rate, in TPY, at which the unit emitted the regulated NSR pollutant during a consecutive 24-month period selected by the owner or the operator within the 5-year period immediately prior to the date a complete plan approval application is received by the Department. The Department may approve the use of a different consecutive 24-month period within the last 10 years upon a written determination that it is more representative of normal source operation.

   (A)  The average rate includes fugitive emissions to the extent quantifiable and emissions associated with startups and shutdowns; the average rate does not include excess emissions including emissions associated with upsets or malfunctions.

   (B)  The average rate is adjusted downward to exclude noncompliant emissions that occurred while the source was operating above an emissions limitation that was legally enforceable during the consecutive 24-month period.

   (C)  The average rate is adjusted downward to exclude emissions that would have exceeded an emissions limitation with which the facility must currently comply, had the facility been required to comply with the limitations during the consecutive 24-month period. The baseline actual emissions is based on the emissions limitation in this subchapter or a permit limitation or other more stringent emissions limitation required by the Clean Air Act or the act, whichever is more restrictive.

   (D)  For a regulated NSR pollutant, when a project involves multiple emissions units, the same consecutive 24-month period must be used to determine the baseline actual emissions for the emissions units being changed. The same consecutive 24-month period shall be used for all regulated NSR pollutants unless the owner or operator demonstrates, in writing, to the Department that a different consecutive 24-month period is more appropriate and the Department approves, in writing, the different consecutive 24-month period for a regulated NSR pollutant or pollutants.

   (E)  The average rate is not based on a consecutive 24-month period for which there is inadequate information for:

   (I)  Determining annual emissions, in TPY.

   (II)  Adjusting this amount if required by clause (B) or (C).

   (F)  The average rate is not greater than the emissions previously submitted to the Department in the required emissions statement and for which applicable emission fees have been paid.

   (ii)  For a new emissions unit, the baseline actual emissions equal zero and thereafter, for all other purposes, shall equal the unit's potential to emit.

   (iii)  The baseline actual emissions is determined by measurement, calculations or estimations in the order of the following preferences:

   (A)  Monitoring systems including:

   (I)  CEMS data interpolated to annual emissions using flow meters and conversion factors.

   (II)  PEMS approved, in writing, by the Department.

   (B)  Other measurements and calculations including:

   (I)  Stack measurement which generates emission estimates using stack test derived emission factors and throughput.

   (II)  A mass balance equation which includes the following elements:

   (-a-)  The amount of materials used per unit of time, determined through measurements of parameters representing process conditions.

   (-b-)  The emissions per unit mass of material used, determined using mass balance techniques.

   (-c-)  The annual emissions, calculated using emissions per unit mass of material and amount of material used per unit of time.

   (C)  Emission factors, including generally recognized and accepted emission factors by EPA, such as USEPA ''Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors'' (AP-42) or other emission factors accepted by the Department.

   (D)  Other calculations and measurements as approved by the Department.

   (5)  Projected actual emissions is the maximum annual rate, in TPY, at which an existing emissions unit is projected to emit a regulated NSR pollutant in any one of the 5 years (12-month period) following the date the unit resumes regular operation after the project, or in any one of the 10 years following that date, if the project involves increasing the emissions unit's design capacity or its potential to emit of that regulated NSR pollutant and full utilization of the unit would result in a significant emissions increase or a significant net emissions increase at the major facility. The following procedures apply in determining the projected actual emissions of a regulated NSR pollutant for an emissions unit, before beginning actual construction on the project:

   (i)  The owner or operator of the major facility shall:

   (A)  Consider all relevant information, including, but not limited to, historical operational data, the company's own representations, the company's expected business activity and the company's highest projections of business activity, and the company's filings with the State or Federal regulatory authorities.

   (B)  Include fugitive emissions to the extent quantifiable, and emissions associated with startups and shutdowns.

   (C)  Exclude, in calculating any increase in emissions that results from the particular project, that portion of the unit's emissions following completion of the project that existing units could have accommodated during the consecutive 24-month period used to establish the baseline actual emissions and that is also unrelated to the particular project, including any increased utilization due to product demand growth.

   (ii)  In lieu of using the method set out in subparagraph (i), the owner or operator of the major facility may elect to use the emissions unit's potential to emit, in TPY.

   (iii)  If the projected actual emissions for a regulated NSR pollutant are in excess of the baseline actual emissions, the following apply:

   (A)  The projected actual emissions for the regulated NSR pollutant must be incorporated into the required plan approval or the operating permit as an emission limit.

   (B)  The owner or operator shall monitor the emissions of the regulated NSR pollutant for which a limit is established in clause (A) and calculate and maintain a record of emissions, in TPY on a calendar year basis, for 5 years following resumption of regular operations after the change, or for 10 years following resumption of regular operations after the change if the project increases the design capacity or potential to emit of that regulated NSR pollutant at the emissions unit.

   (C)  The owner or operator shall record sufficient information to identify for all emission units in the approved project their total actual annual emissions and their actual annual emissions increase due to the project.

   (D)  The owner or operator shall submit a report to the Department, within 60 days after the end of each calendar year, which contains the emissions data required by clauses (B) and (C). This report must also contain a demonstration of how these emissions were determined if the determination was not by direct measurement with a Department-certified CEMS system.

   (b)  An owner or operator of a major facility with a PAL for a regulated NSR pollutant shall comply with the requirements under § 127.218 (relating to PALs).

§ 127.204. Emissions subject to this subchapter.

   (a)  In determining whether a project exceeds the emission rate that is significant or the significance levels specified in § 127.203 (relating to facilities subject to special permit requirements), the potential to emit, actual emissions and actual emissions increase shall be determined by aggregating the emissions or emissions increases from contiguous or adjacent properties under the common control of a person or entity. This includes emissions resulting from the following: flue emissions, stack and additional fugitive emissions, material transfer, use of parking lots and paved and unpaved roads on the facility property, storage piles and other emission generating activities resulting from operation of the new or modified facility.

   (b)  Secondary emissions may not be considered in determining whether a facility meets the requirements of this subchapter. If a facility is subject to this subchapter on the basis of the direct emissions from the facility, the conditions of § 127.205 (relating to special permit requirements) shall also be met for secondary emissions.

§ 127.205. Special permit requirements.

   The Department will not issue a plan approval, or an operating permit, or allow continued operations under an existing permit or plan approval unless the applicant demonstrates that the following special requirements are met:

   (1)  A new or modified facility subject to this subchapter shall comply with LAER, except as provided in § 127.203a(a)(2) (relating to applicability determination). When a facility is composed of several sources, only sources which are new or which are modified shall be required to implement LAER. In addition, LAER applies to the proposed modification which results in an increase in emissions and to subsequent or previous modifications which result in emissions increases that are directly related to and normally included in the project associated with the proposed modification and which occurred within the contemporaneous period of the proposed emissions increase.

   (i)  A project that does not commence construction within 18 months of the date specified in the plan approval shall be reevaluated for its compliance with LAER before the start of construction.

   (ii)  A project that discontinues construction for 18 months or more after construction is commenced shall be reevaluated for its compliance with LAER before resuming construction.

   (iii)  A project that does not complete construction within the time period specified in the plan approval shall be reevaluated for its compliance with LAER.

   (iv)  A project that is constructed in phases shall be reevaluated for its compliance with LAER if there is a delay of greater than 18 months beyond the projected and approved commencement date for each independent phase.

   (2)  Each facility located within this Commonwealth which meets the requirements of and is subject to this subchapter, which is owned or operated by the applicant, or by an entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the applicant, and which is subject to emissions limitations shall be in compliance, or on a schedule for compliance approved by the Department in a plan approval or permit, with the applicable emissions limitation and standards contained in this article. A responsible official of the applicant shall certify as to the facilities' compliance in writing on a form provided by the Department.

   (3)  Each modification to a facility which meets the requirements of and is subject to this subchapter shall offset, in accordance with §§ 127.203, 127.203a and 127.210 (relating to facilities subject to special permit requirements; applicability determination; and offset ratios), the total of the net increase. Emissions offsets shall be required for the entire net emissions increase which occurred over the contemporaneous period except to the extent that emissions offsets or other reductions were previously applied against emissions increases in an earlier applicability determination.

   (4)  Each new facility which meets the requirements of and is subject to this subchapter shall offset the potential to emit of that facility with ERCs in accordance with § 127.210.

   (5)  For a new or modified facility which meets the requirements of and is subject to this subchapter, an analysis shall be conducted of alternative sites, sizes, production processes and environmental control techniques for the proposed facility, which demonstrates that the benefits of the proposed facility significantly outweigh the environmental and social costs imposed within this Commonwealth as a result of its location, construction or modification.

   (6)  In the case of a new or modified facility which is located in a nonattainment area, and within a zone, identified by the EPA Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, as a zone to which economic development should be targeted, emissions of a pollutant resulting from the proposed new or modified facility may not cause or contribute to emission levels which exceed the allowance permitted for the pollutant for the area from new or modified facilities in the SIP.

   (7)  The Department may determine that the BAT requirements of this chapter are equivalent to BACT or LAER.

§ 127.206. ERC general requirements.

   (a)  Emissions reductions or ERCs banked prior to January 1, 1991, may not be used as ERCs for emission offsets or netting purposes.

   (b)  The EQB may, by regulation and upon notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and opportunity for public comment, proportionally reduce the quantity of registered ERCs not previously included in a plan approval, or may halt transfer activity, in a nonattainment area or throughout this Commonwealth only as necessary when the other measures required by the Clean Air Act and the act may fail to achieve NAAQS or SIP requirements.

   (c)  ERCs shall be proportionally reduced prior to use in a plan approval in an amount equal to the reductions that the generating facility is or would have been required to make in order to comply with new requirements promulgated by the Department or the EPA, which apply to the generating facility after the ERCs were created.

   (d)  The Department may issue a plan approval for the construction of a new or modified facility which satisfies the offset requirements specified in § 127.205(3) and (4) (relating to special permit requirements) under the following conditions:

   (1)  The application for a plan approval demonstrates that the proposed facility either has or will secure the appropriate ERCs which are suitable for use at the specific facility. The ERCs shall be identified in a Department approved and Federally enforceable permit condition for the ERC generating source. The permit condition will provide that the ERCs are properly generated, certified by the Department and processed through the registry no later than the date approved by the Department for commencement of operation of the proposed new or modified facility.

   (2)  The owner or operator of the proposed new or modified facility may not commence operation or increase emissions until the required emissions reductions are certified and registered by the Department.

   (e)  ERCs generated by the over control of emissions by an existing facility will not expire for use as offsets. The use of these ERCs in applicability determinations for netting purposes is limited to the period specified in § 127.203a(a)(1) (relating to applicability determination).

   (f)  ERCs generated by the curtailment or shutdown of a facility which are not included in a plan approval and used as offsets will expire for use as offsets 10 years after the date the facility ceased emitting the ERC generating emissions. The use of these ERCs in applicability determinations for netting purposes is limited to the period specified in § 127.203a(a)(1).

   (g)  The expiration date of ERCs may not extend beyond the 10-year period allowed by subsection (f), if the ERCs are included in a plan approval but are not used and are subsequently reentered in the registry.

   (h)  ERCs which are included in a plan approval issued by the Department for a new or modified facility which is never operated may be reentered in the registry if the ERCs are no longer required by the plan approval. Applicable discounts in subsections (b) and (c) shall be applied when the ERCs are reentered in the registry.

   (i)  ERCs may not be used to achieve compliance with RACT, MACT, BAT, NSPS, BACT, LAER or other emissions limitations required by the Clean Air Act or the act.

   (j)  ERCs may not be entered into the ERC registry until the emissions reduction generating the ERCs has been certified by the Department in accordance with the criteria for ERC generation and creation contained in § 127.207 (relating to creditable emissions decrease or ERC generation and creation).

   (k)  A major facility which, due to reductions in the maximum allowable emissions rates, including reductions made to generate ERCs, no longer meets the criteria in § 127.203 (relating to facilities subject to special permit requirements) will continue to be treated as a major facility.

   (l)  ERCs may not be traded to facilities under different ownership until the emissions reduction generating the ERCs is made Federally enforceable.

   (m)  ERCs may not be created for an emissions reduction previously used in an applicability determination for netting purposes nor for an emissions decrease used to create an alternative emissions limitation.

   (n)  ERCs transferred from one facility to another may not be transferred to a third party, unless the transfer of the ERCs is processed by the Department through the ERC registry system.

   (o)  An ERC created for a regulated criteria pollutant shall only be used for offsetting or netting an emissions increase involving the same criteria pollutant.

   (p)  A source or facility which has registered ERCs with the Department may not exceed the emissions limitation or violate other permit conditions established in generating the ERCs.

   (q)  ERCs may not be generated for emissions in excess of those previously identified in required emission statements and for which applicable emission fees have been paid.

   (r)  Emission reductions occurring at a facility after January 1, 2002, but prior to May 19, 2007, may be used to generate ERCs in accordance with this subchapter, if a complete ERC registry application is submitted to the Department by May 19, 2008.

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