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Advisory Working Group Air Quality
April 15, 2010
Advisory Working Group Air Quality April 15, 2010 Agenda - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Advisory Working Group Air Quality April 15, 2010 Agenda - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Advisory Working Group Air Quality April 15, 2010 Agenda Introductions About Advisory Groups Air Permit Application Air Quality Discussion Q&A Next Meeting Air Quality Advisory Group Meeting Recap February 3, 2010
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Air Quality Advisory Group Meeting Recap
Provided detailed overview of local and regional air quality Explained federal and state air quality standards and permitting
programs
Described methodology to model potential air quality impacts Defined topics for tonight’s meeting Scheduled meeting to follow submission of air quality permit
application (March 26, 2010)
February 3, 2010
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What is an air quality permit?
Regulatory document issued by USEPA and NYSDEC that
details legally enforceable requirements for a specific facility
Dictates the technology, emissions control equipment and
regulations that will apply to a specific facility
Establishes enforceable permit limitations Specifies monitoring and reporting requirements Includes NYS requirements needed to protect public health and
the environment
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What is an air quality permit’s purpose?
Protect public health and welfare Preserve and enhance air quality Maintain National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Ensure economic growth in a manner that preserves clean air
resources
Require use of Best Available Control Technology/Lowest
Achievable Emission Rate
Require multi-agency evaluation of application prior to
permitting
Ensure public participation in the decision-making process
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What is the permitting process?
- 1. Cricket Valley Energy filed an Air Permit Application March 26,
2010
- 2. NYSDEC and USEPA will analyze the application for strict
compliance with state and federal air quality regulations
- 3. NYSDEC and USEPA will issue draft air permits and will notify
the public that the draft permits are available
- 4. The public will review and comment on draft permits during
SEQR process and PSD permit comment period
- 5. Written comments will be incorporated into the decision
making process related to the scope of the permit
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What regulations must CVE comply with?
- National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
- Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR)
- Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) New Source Review
- New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)
- National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
- Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR)
- Acid Rain Program (Title IV)
- New York State Additional Requirements
- Sulfur in fuels
- Visible emissions
- CO2 Budget Trading Program
- Accidental release requirements
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What must the applicant prove to receive a permit?
Project impacts protect the health of the most vulnerable individuals Complies with National Ambient Air Quality Standards and Prevention of
Significant Deterioration Increments
Impact of non-criteria (toxic) pollutants are below health-based
guidelines
Contribution to acid rain is insignificant “Worst-case” hypothetical release of ammonia poses no offsite risk No significant or disproportionate impact to disadvantaged
(Environmental Justice) communities
No significant visibility impact at closest state park/natural resource No significant effect on soils/vegetation
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How do you assess air quality impacts?
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Systematic Approach
Collect data from approved regional air quality and meteorology
monitoring stations:
- Real time hourly meteorological data for approximately 5 years
- Most current 3 years of air quality monitoring data
Air quality dispersion modeling for each regulated pollutant
- NO2, SO2, PM2.5, PM10, CO, and over 40 individual air toxics
Compare maximum impacts to appropriate standards and guidelines
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Data Resources
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Modeling Approach
NYSDEC/USEPA approved
modeling protocol and data assumptions
Modeled approximately five
years of hourly average meteorological data which were derived from one- minute observations
Calculated impacts at 1,507
receptors covering an 8 km X 8 km area
Maximum permitted
emission rate and the full range of operating conditions
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What the Data Showed
Stack Emissions
- 74% nitrogen (N2)
- 12% oxygen (O2)
- 9% water (H2O)
- 4% carbon dioxide (CO2)
- 1% argon (Ar)
- 0.0012% gaseous pollutants
- 0.0003% particulate matter
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What the Data Showed
Maximum impacts below all USEPA promulgated Significant Impact
Levels (SILs)
When added to existing background, well below NAAQS PM2.5 impacts above only the most stringent of the proposed SILs
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What the Data Showed – PM2.5
Maximum PM2.5
impacts above SILs are limited spatially and temporally
Interactive
cumulative PM2.5 modeling with all major sources within 55 km
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What the Data Showed
Project impacts were added to
interactive source contributions and highest background concentrations at all receptors where the SIL was exceeded
The cumulative impact of the
project, other major sources and background complies with the NAAQS
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Conclusions Contained in Permit Application
Impacts on air quality are insignificant and protective of health of even the
most vulnerable individuals, including those with asthma and emphysema
Project demonstrates compliance with National Ambient Air Quality
Standards, including the cumulative impact analysis for PM2.5
Impacts of non-criteria (toxic) pollutants are well below all health-based
guidelines
Contribution to acid rain resulting from air quality impacts is insignificant Modeling of a “worst-case” hypothetical accidental release of ammonia
indicates no off-site health risk
No significant or disproportionate impacts to disadvantaged communities There is no significant visual impact on the nearest park and natural
resource: James Baird State Park and the Catskill Mountains
No significant air quality impacts to soils or vegetation
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