ARC 7209C

ARC 7209C

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMISSION[567]

Notice of Intended Action

Proposing rulemaking related to emissions and

providing an opportunity for public comment

The Environmental Protection Commission (Commission) hereby proposes to rescind Chapter 21, "Compliance," and to adopt a new Chapter 21, "Compliance, Excess Emissions, and Measurement of Emissions," Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rulemaking

This rulemaking is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code section 455B.133.

State or Federal Law Implemented

This rulemaking implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code section 17A.7(2) and Executive Order 10 (January 10, 2023).

Purpose and Summary

The Commission proposes to rescind and adopt a new Chapter 21. The proposed Chapter 21 will include the revised provisions for air quality compliance, excess emissions, and measurement of emissions, which are currently set forth in Chapter 21, "Compliance," Chapter 24, "Excess Emission," Chapter 25 "Measurement of Emissions," Chapter 26, "Prevention of Air Pollution Emergency Episodes," and Chapter 29, "Qualification in Visual Determination of the Opacity of Emissions."

After a review consistent with Executive Order 10, the Department of Natural Resources (Department) determined that the rules in Chapters 21, 24, 25, 26, and 29 should be updated and placed in one chapter, specifically the new Chapter 21. Notices of Intended Action to rescind Chapters 25 (ARC 7218C, IAB 12/27/23), 26 (ARC 7224C, IAB 12/27/23), and 29 (ARC 7216C, IAB 12/27/23) are proposed concurrently with this rulemaking. An additional Notice is proposed concurrently to rescind Chapter 24 and adopt a new Chapter 24 (ARC 7213C, IAB 12/27/23) consisting of the provisions for air operating permits. New Chapter 21 will help to protect air quality for Iowa's citizens by ensuring that emissions reporting, monitoring, and compliance continue and that the rules prescribing these activities are clear, current, and consolidated.

Fiscal Impact

This rulemaking has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

After analysis and review of this rulemaking, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rulemaking would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Department for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 561—Chapter 10.

Public Comment

Any interested person may submit written comments concerning this proposed rulemaking. Written comments in response to this rulemaking must be received by the Department no later than 4:30 p.m. on January 30, 2024. Comments should be directed to:

Public Hearing

Two public hearings at which persons may present their views orally will be held via conference call as follows. Persons who wish to attend the public hearings should contact Christine Paulson via email. A virtual meeting link and conference call number will be provided prior to each hearing. The public hearing information will also be provided through the Air Quality e-newsletter (GovDelivery) and on the Department's webpage at iowadnr.gov/Environmental-Protection/Air-Quality/Public-Participation (scroll down to Public Input and click on Executive Order 10 Implementation). Persons who wish to make oral comments at either of the public hearings must submit a request to Ms. Paulson prior to the hearing to facilitate an orderly hearing.

Persons who wish to make oral comments at a public hearing will be asked to state their names for the record and to confine their remarks to the subject of this proposed rulemaking.

Any persons who intend to participate in the hearings and have special requirements, such as those related to hearing impairments, should contact the Department and advise of specific needs.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rulemaking by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rulemaking at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee's meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

The following rulemaking action is proposed:

Item 1. Rescind 567—Chapter 21 and adopt the following new chapter in lieu thereof:

CHAPTER 21

COMPLIANCE, EXCESS EMISSIONS, AND MEASUREMENT OF EMISSIONS

567—21.1(455B) Definitions and compliance requirements. For the purpose of these rules and the rules in 567—Chapters 20 through 35, the following terms shall, unless otherwise noted, have the meaning indicated in this chapter. Additional definitions potentially applicable to this chapter are set forth in 567—Chapters 22 and 23. The definitions set out in Iowa Code sections 455B.101, 455B.131, and 455B.411 are incorporated verbatim into these rules.

"Air pollution alert" means the action condition declared when the concentrations of air contaminants reach the level at which the first-stage control actions are to begin.

"Air pollution emergency" means the action condition declared when the air quality is continuing to degrade to a level that should never be reached, and that the most stringent control actions are necessary.

"Air pollution episode" means a combination of forecast or actual meteorological conditions and emissions of air contaminants that may or do present an imminent and substantial endangerment to the health of persons, during which the chief meteorological factors are the absence of winds that disperse air contaminants horizontally and a stable atmospheric layer that tends to inhibit vertical mixing through relatively deep layers.

"Air pollution forecast" means an air stagnation advisory issued to the department, the commission, and appropriate air pollution control agencies by an authorized Air Stagnation Advisory Office of the National Weather Service predicting that meteorological conditions conducive to an air pollution episode may be imminent. This advisory may be followed by a prediction of the duration and termination of such meteorological conditions.

"Air pollution warning" means the action condition declared when the air quality is continuing to degrade from the levels classified as an air pollution alert, and where control actions in addition to those conducted under an air pollution alert are necessary.

"Equipment" means equipment capable of emitting air contaminants to produce air pollution.

"Excess emission" means any emission that exceeds any applicable emission standard prescribed in 567—Chapter 23 or 567—22.4(455B), 567—22.5(455B), 567—31.3(455B), or 567—33.3(455B) or any emission limit specified in a permit or order.

"Existing equipment" means equipment, machines, devices, or installations that were in operation prior to September 23, 1970.

"Malfunction" means any sudden and unavoidable failure of control equipment or of a process to operate in a normal manner. Any failure that is caused entirely or in part by poor maintenance, careless operation, lack of an adequate maintenance program, or any other preventable upset condition or preventable equipment breakdown shall not be considered a malfunction.

"New equipment" means, except for any equipment or modified equipment to which 567—subrule 23.1(2) applies, any equipment or control equipment not under construction or for which components have not been purchased on or before September 23, 1970, and any equipment that is altered or modified after such date, which may cause, eliminate, reduce, or control the emission of air contaminants.

"Opacity" means the degree to which emissions reduce the transmission of light and obscure the view of an object in the background.

"Shutdown" means the cessation of operation of any control equipment or process equipment or process for any purpose.

"Startup" means the setting into operation of any control equipment or process equipment or process for any purpose.

21.1(1) New equipment. All new equipment and all new control equipment, as defined herein, installed in this state shall perform in conformance with applicable emission standards specified in 567—Chapter 23.

21.1(2) Existing equipment. All existing equipment, as defined herein, shall be operated in conformance with applicable emission standards specified in 567—Chapter 23 or as otherwise specified herein, except that the performance standards specified in 567—subrule 23.1(2) shall not apply to existing equipment.

21.1(3) Emissions inventory. The person responsible for equipment as defined herein shall provide information on fuel use, materials processed, air contaminants emitted (including greenhouse gases as "greenhouse gas" is defined in 567—22.1(455B)), estimated rate of emissions, periods of emissions, or other air pollution information to the director upon the director's written request for use in compiling and maintaining an emissions inventory for evaluation of the air pollution situation in the state and its various parts. The information requested shall be submitted in the electronic format specified by the department, if electronic submittal is provided. All information in regard to both actual and allowable emissions shall be public records, and any publication of such data shall be limited to actual and allowable air contaminant emissions.

21.1(4) Reserved.

21.1(5) Public availability of data. Emission data obtained from owners or operators of stationary sources under the provisions of 21.1(3) and any correlations with applicable emission limitations or other control measures will be made available to the public on the department's website and upon request.

21.1(6) Maintenance of record. Each owner or operator of any stationary source, as defined herein, shall, upon notification from the director, maintain records of the nature and amounts of air contaminant emissions from such source and any other information as may be deemed necessary by the commission to determine whether such source is in compliance with the applicable emission limitations or other control measures. The information recorded shall be summarized and reported monthly to the director on forms furnished by the department. The initial reporting period shall commence 60 days from the date the director issues notification of the recordkeeping requirements. Records shall be retained by the owner or operator for two years after the date on which the pertinent report is submitted.

567—21.2(455B) Variances.

21.2(1) Application for variances. A person may make an application for a variance from applicable rules or standards specified in this title.

a. Contents. Each application for a variance shall be submitted to the director and state the following:

(1)The name, address, email address, and telephone number of the person submitting the application or, if such person is a legal entity, the name and address of the individual authorized to accept service of process on its behalf and the name of the person in charge of the premises where the pertinent activities are conducted.

(2)The type of business or activity involved.

(3)The nature of the operation or process involved, including information on the air contaminants emitted and the estimated amount and rate of discharge of such emissions.

(4)The exact location of the operation or process involved.

(5)The reason or reasons for considering that compliance with the provisions specified in these rules will produce serious hardship without equal or greater benefits to the public, and the reasons why no other reasonable method can be used for such operations without resulting in a hazard to health or property.

(6)Each application shall contain certification of truth and accuracy by a responsible official as defined in 567—24.100(455B). This certification shall state that, based on information and belief formed after reasonable inquiry, the statements and information provided are true and accurate.

b. Variance extension. A person may make an application for a variance extension prior to expiration of an approved variance.

21.2(2) Processing of applications. Each application for a variance and its supporting material shall be reviewed, and an investigation of the facilities shall be made, by the department for evaluation of the following:

a. Whether or not the emissions involved will produce the following effects:

(1)Endanger or tend to endanger the health of persons residing in or otherwise occupying the area affected by said emissions.

(2)Create or tend to create safety hazards, such as (but not limited to) interference with traffic due to reduced visibility.

(3)Damage or tend to damage any property on land that is affected by said emissions and under other ownership.

b. The reason or reasons for considering that compliance with the provisions specified in these rules will produce serious hardship without equal or greater benefits to the public, and the reasons why no other reasonable method can be used for such operations without resulting in a hazard to health or property.

21.2(3) Trial burns for alternative fuels. An alternative fuel shall be defined as a fuel for which the emissions from combusting the fuel are not known and shall exclude natural gas, coal, liquid propane, and all petroleum distillates.

a. Variance from construction permit. The director may grant a variance for the purpose of testing an alternative fuel and quantifying the emissions from the alternative fuel, except as prohibited under 21.2(4)"c."

b. Baseline testing. In addition to submitting the information required in 21.2(1), the applicant may be required to submit baseline emission data for all applicable pollutants as a condition of approval.

c. Source testing. Emissions testing deemed necessary for any pollutant may be required as a condition of the variance and shall be conducted in accordance with 21.10(7)"a."

21.2(4) Decision.

a. Granting of variance. The director shall grant a variance when the director concludes that the action is appropriate. The variance may be granted subject to conditions specified by the director. The director shall specify the time intervals as are considered appropriate for submission of reports on the progress attained.

b. Denial of variance. The director shall deny a variance when the director concludes that the action is appropriate. The applicant may request a review hearing before the commission if the application is denied.

c. Ineligibility for variance. The director shall not grant a variance from any of the following requirements:

(1)Case-by-case maximum achievable control technology (MACT), 567—paragraph 22.1(1)"b";

(2)Prevention of significant deterioration (PSD), 567—Chapter 33, to the extent that variances may not be granted from the preconstruction review and permitting program specified under 567—Chapter 33 (formerly 567—22.4(455B)), or from any PSD requirement contained in a PSD permit issued under 567—Chapter 33, or from any PSD requirement contained in a PSD permit issued under 40 CFR Section 51.166 or 52.21;

(3)New source performance standards, 567—subrule 23.1(2);

(4)Emission standards for hazardous air pollutants, 567—subrule 23.1(3);

(5)Emission standards for hazardous air pollutants for source categories, 567—subrule 23.1(4); or

(6)Emission guidelines, 567—subrule 23.1(5).

567—21.3 Reserved.

567—21.4(455B) Circumvention of rules. No person shall build, erect, install, or use any article, machine, equipment, or other contrivance that conceals an emission that would otherwise constitute violation of these rules.

567—21.5(455B) Evidence used in establishing that a violation has occurred or is occurring. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these rules, any credible evidence may be used for the purpose of establishing whether a person has violated or is in violation of any provisions herein.

21.5(1) Information from the use of the following methods is presumptively credible evidence of whether a violation has occurred at a source. The following testing, monitoring, or information-gathering methods are presumptively credible testing, monitoring, or information-gathering methods:

a. A monitoring method approved for the source and incorporated in an operating permit pursuant to 567—Chapter 24;

b. Compliance test methods specified in 567—21.10(455B);

c. Testing or monitoring methods approved for the source in a construction permit issued pursuant to 567—Chapter 22;

d. Any monitoring or testing methods provided in these rules; or

e. Other testing, monitoring, or information-gathering methods that produce information comparable to that produced by any method in this subrule.

21.5(2) Reserved.

567—21.6(455B) Temporary electricity generation for disaster situations. An electric utility may operate generators at an electric utility substation with a total combined capacity not to exceed two megawatts in capacity for a period of not longer than ten calendar days and only for the purpose of providing electricity generation in the event of a sudden and unforeseen disaster that has disabled standard transmission of electricity to the public. Department approval shall be required if the electric utility intends to operate generators for a period longer than ten calendar days. The electric utility shall provide an oral report to the appropriate department field office and to the department's air quality bureau and shall specify the anticipated duration within eight hours of commencing use of a generator or at the start of the first working day following the placement of a generator at each site. A written report shall be submitted to the department within 30 calendar days following the cessation of use of the generators. The written report shall state the nature of the sudden and unforeseen disaster, the location of each site, the number of generators used, the capacity of the generators used, the fuel type of the generators, and the duration of use of each generator. For purposes of this rule, the definition of "disaster" shall be as defined in Iowa Code section 29C.2(4), and a disaster may occur before, with, or without a gubernatorial or federal disaster proclamation.

567—21.7(455B) Excess emission reporting.

21.7(1) Excess emission during periods of startup, shutdown, or cleaning of control equipment. Excess emission during a period of startup, shutdown, or cleaning of control equipment is not a violation of the emission standard if the startup, shutdown, or cleaning is accomplished expeditiously and in a manner consistent with good practice for minimizing emissions. Cleaning of control equipment that does not require the shutdown of the process equipment shall be limited to one six-minute period per one-hour period.

21.7(2) Initial report of excess emission.

a. An incident of excess emission (other than an incident of excess emission during a period of startup, shutdown, or cleaning) shall be reported to the appropriate regional office of the department within eight hours of the onset of the incident or at the start of the first working day following the onset of the incident. The reporting exemption for an incident of excess emission during startup, shutdown, or cleaning does not relieve the owner or operator of a source with continuous monitoring equipment of the obligation of submitting reports required in 21.10(6).

b. An initial report of excess emission is not required for a source with operational continuous monitoring equipment (as specified in 21.10(1)) if the incident of excess emission continues for less than 30 minutes and does not exceed the applicable emission standard by more than 10 percent or the applicable visible emission standard by more than 10 percent opacity.

c. The initial report shall be made by electronic mail (email), in person, or by telephone and shall include at a minimum the following:

(1)The identity of the equipment or source operation from which the excess emission originated and the associated stack or emission point.

(2)The estimated quantity of the excess emission.

(3)The time and expected duration of the excess emission.

(4)The cause of the excess emission.

(5)The steps being taken to remedy the excess emission.

(6)The steps being taken to limit the excess emission in the interim period.

21.7(3) Written report of excess emission. A written report of an incident of excess emission shall be submitted as a follow-up to all required initial reports to the department within seven days of the onset of the upset condition, and shall include as a minimum the following:

a. The identity of the equipment or source operation point from which the excess emission originated and the associated stack or emission point.

b. The estimated quantity of the excess emission.

c. The time and duration of the excess emission.

d. The cause of the excess emission.

e. The steps that were taken to remedy and to prevent the recurrence of the incident of excess emission.

f. The steps that were taken to limit the excess emission.

g. If the owner claims that the excess emission was due to malfunction, documentation to support this claim.

21.7(4) Excess emissions. An incident of excess emission (other than an incident during startup, shutdown, or cleaning of control equipment) is a violation. If the owner or operator of a source maintains that the incident of excess emission was due to a malfunction, the owner or operator must show that the conditions that caused the incident of excess emission were not preventable by reasonable maintenance and control measures. Determination of any subsequent enforcement action will be made following review of this report. If excess emissions are occurring, either the control equipment causing the excess emission shall be repaired in an expeditious manner or the process generating the emissions shall be shut down within a reasonable period of time. An expeditious manner is the time necessary to determine the cause of the excess emissions and to correct it within a reasonable period of time. A reasonable period of time is eight hours plus the period of time required to shut down the process without damaging the process equipment or control equipment. In the case of an electric utility, a reasonable period of time is eight hours plus the period of time until comparable generating capacity is available to meet consumer demand with the affected unit out of service, unless the director shall, upon investigation, reasonably determine that continued operation constitutes an unjustifiable environmental hazard, issue an order that such operation is not in the public interest, and require a process shutdown to commence immediately.

567—21.8(455B) Maintenance and repair requirements.

21.8(1) Maintenance and repair. The owner or operator of any equipment or control equipment shall:

a. Maintain and operate the equipment or control equipment at all times in a manner consistent with good practice for minimizing emissions.

b. Remedy any cause of excess emissions in an expeditious manner.

c. Minimize the amount and duration of any excess emission to the maximum extent possible during periods of such emissions. These measures may include but not be limited to the use of clean fuels, production cutbacks, or the use of alternate process units or, in the case of utilities, purchase of electrical power until repairs are completed.

d. Implement measures contained in any contingency plan prepared in accordance with 21.8(2)"c."

e. Schedule, at a minimum, routine maintenance of equipment or control equipment during periods of process shutdown to the maximum extent possible.

21.8(2) Maintenance plans. A maintenance plan will be required for equipment or control equipment where in the judgment of the director a continued pattern of excess emissions indicative of inadequate operation and maintenance is occurring. The maintenance plan shall include but not be limited to the following:

a. A complete preventive maintenance schedule, including identification of the persons responsible for inspecting, maintaining, and repairing control equipment, a description of the items or conditions that will be inspected, the frequency of these inspections or repairs, and an identification of the replacement parts that will be maintained in inventory for quick replacement.

b. An identification of the equipment and air pollution control equipment operating variables that will be monitored in order to detect a malfunction or failure, the normal operating range of these variables, and a description of the method of monitoring and surveillance procedures.

c. A contingency plan for minimizing the amount and duration of any excess emissions to the maximum extent possible during periods of such emissions.

567—21.9(455B) Compliance with other requirements. The excess emissions provisions in 567—21.7(455B) and 567—21.8(455B) do not relieve the owner or operator of an emissions source subject to the new source performance standards (567—subrule 23.1(2)), the national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants (567—subrule 23.1(3)), or the national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants for source categories (567—subrule 23.1(4)) from complying with those requirements.

567—21.10(455B) Testing and sampling of new and existing equipment.

21.10(1) Continuous monitoring of opacity from coal-fired steam generating units. The owner or operator of any coal-fired or coal-gas-fired steam generating unit with a rated capacity of greater than 250 million Btu per hour heat input shall install, calibrate, maintain, and operate continuous monitoring equipment to monitor opacity. If an exhaust services more than one steam generating unit as defined in the preceding sentence, the owner has the option of installing opacity monitoring equipment on each unit or on the common stack. Such monitoring equipment shall conform to performance specifications specified in 21.10(9) and shall be operational within 18 months of the date these rules become effective. The director may require the owner or operator of any coal-fired or coal-gas-fired steam generating unit to install, calibrate, maintain, and operate continuous monitoring equipment to monitor opacity whenever the compliance status, history of operations, ambient air quality in the vicinity surrounding the generator, or the type of control equipment utilized would warrant such monitoring.

21.10(2) and 21.10(3) Reserved.

21.10(4) Continuous monitoring of sulfur dioxide from sulfuric acid plants. The owner or operator of any sulfuric acid plant of greater than 300 tons per day production capacity, the production being expressed as 100 percent acid, shall install, calibrate, maintain, and operate continuous monitoring equipment to monitor sulfur dioxide emissions. The monitoring equipment shall conform to the minimum performance specifications specified in 21.10(9) and shall be operational within 18 months of the date these rules become effective.

21.10(5) Maintenance of records of continuous monitors. The owner or operator of any facility that is required to install, calibrate, maintain, and operate continuous monitoring equipment shall maintain, for a minimum of two years, a file of all information pertinent to each monitoring system present at the facility. Such information must include but is not limited to all emissions data (raw data, adjusted data, and any or all adjusted factors used to convert emissions from units of measurement to units of the applicable standard), performance evaluations, calibrations and zero checks, and records of all malfunctions of monitoring equipment or source and repair procedures performed.

21.10(6) Reporting of continuous monitoring information. The owner or operator of any facility required to install a continuous monitoring system or systems shall provide quarterly reports to the director, no later than 30 calendar days following the end of the calendar quarter, on forms provided by the director. This provision shall not excuse compliance with more stringent applicable reporting requirements. All periods of recorded emissions in excess of the applicable standards, the results of all calibrations and zero checks and performance evaluations occurring during the reporting period, the number of hours that the source was operated while the monitoring equipment was not in operation, and any periods of monitoring equipment malfunctions or source upsets and any apparent reasons for these malfunctions and upsets shall be included in the report.

21.10(7) Tests by owner. The owner of new or existing equipment or the owner's authorized agent shall conduct emission tests to determine compliance with applicable rules in accordance with these requirements.

a. General. The owner of new or existing equipment or the owner's authorized agent shall notify the department in writing not less than 30 days before a required test or before a performance evaluation of a continuous emission monitor to determine compliance with applicable requirements of 567—Chapter 23 or a permit condition. Such notice shall include the time, the date, the place, the name of the person who will conduct the tests, and other information as required by the department. If the owner or operator does not provide timely notice to the department, the department may not consider the test results or performance evaluation results to be a valid demonstration of compliance with applicable rules or permit conditions. Upon written request, the department may allow a notification period of less than 30 days. At the department's request, a pretest meeting shall be held not later than 15 days before the owner or operator conducts the compliance demonstration. A testing protocol shall be submitted to the department for review no later than 15 days before the owner or operator conducts the compliance demonstration. A representative of the department shall be permitted to witness the tests. Results of the tests shall be submitted in writing to the director in the form of a comprehensive report within six weeks (42 days) of the completion of the testing.

b. New equipment. Unless otherwise specified by the department, all new equipment shall be tested by the owner or the owner's authorized agent to determine compliance with applicable emission limits. Tests conducted to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the rules or a permit shall be conducted within 60 days of achieving maximum production but no later than 180 days of startup, unless a shorter time frame is specified in the permit.

c. Existing equipment. The director may require the owner or the owner's authorized agent to conduct an emission test on any equipment if the director has reason to believe that the equipment does not comply with applicable requirements. Grounds for requiring such a demonstration of compliance include a modification of control or process equipment, age of equipment, or observation of opacities or other parameters outside the range of those indicative of properly maintained and operated equipment. Testing may be required as necessary to determine actual emissions from a source where that source is believed to have a significant impact on the public health or ambient air quality of an area. The director shall provide the owner or agent not less than 30 days to perform the compliance demonstration and shall provide written notice of the requirement.

21.10(8) Tests by department. Representatives of the department may conduct separate and additional air contaminant emission tests and continuous monitor performance tests of an installation on behalf of the state and at the expense of the state. Sampling holes, safe scaffolding, and pertinent allied facilities, but not instruments or sensing devices, as needed, shall be requested in writing by the director and shall be provided by and at the expense of the owner of the installation at such points as specified in the request. The owner shall provide a suitable power source to the point or points of testing so that sampling instruments can be operated as required. Analytical results shall be furnished to the owner.

21.10(9) Methods and procedures. Stack sampling and associated analytical methods used to evaluate compliance with emission limitations of 567—Chapter 23 or a permit condition are as follows:

a. Performance test (stack test). A stack test shall be conducted according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reference methods as specified in 40 CFR 51, Appendix M (as amended or corrected through March 29, 2023); 40 CFR 60, Appendix A (as amended or corrected through March 29, 2023); 40 CFR 61, Appendix B (as amended or corrected through October 7, 2020); and 40 CFR 63, Appendix A (as amended or corrected through March 29, 2023). Each test shall consist of at least three separate one-hour test runs. Unless otherwise specified by the department, EPA method, or regulation, compliance shall be assessed on the basis of the arithmetic mean of the emissions measured in the three test runs. The owner of the equipment or the owner's authorized agent may use an alternative methodology if the methodology is approved by the department in writing before testing.

b. Continuous monitoring systems. Minimum performance specifications and quality assurance procedures for performance evaluations of continuous monitoring systems are as specified in 40 CFR 60, Appendix B (as amended or corrected through June 28, 2023); 40 CFR 60, Appendix F (as amended or corrected through March 29, 2023); 40 CFR 75, Appendix A (as amended or corrected through August 30, 2016); 40 CFR 75, Appendix B (as amended or corrected through August 30, 2016); and 40 CFR 75, Appendix F (as amended or corrected through August 30, 2016). The owner of the equipment or the owner's authorized agent may use an alternative methodology for continuous monitoring systems if the methodology is approved by the department in writing before the minimum performance specifications and quality assurance procedures are conducted.

c. Permit and compliance demonstration requirements. After October 24, 2012, all stack sampling and associated analytical methods used to evaluate compliance with emission limitations of 567—Chapter 23 or required in a permit issued by the department pursuant to 567—Chapter 22 or 33 shall be conducted using the methodology referenced in this rule. If stack sampling was required for a compliance demonstration pursuant to 567—Chapter 23 or for a performance test required in a permit issued by the department pursuant to 567—Chapter 22 or 33 before October 24, 2012, and the demonstration or test was not required to be completed before October 24, 2012, then the methodology referenced in this subrule applies retroactively.

21.10(10) Exemptions from continuous monitoring requirements.

a. The owner or operator of any source is exempt if it can be demonstrated that any of the conditions set forth in this subrule are met with the provision that periodic recertification of the existence of these conditions can be requested.

(1)An affected source is subject to a new source performance standard.

(2)Reserved.

(3)An affected steam generator is scheduled to be retired from service within five years of the date these rules become effective.

b. The director may provide a temporary exemption from the monitoring and reporting requirements during any period of monitoring system malfunction, provided that the source owner or operator shows, to the satisfaction of the director, that the malfunction was unavoidable and is being repaired as expeditiously as practical.

21.10(11) Extensions. The owner or operator of any source may request an extension of time provided for installation of the required monitor by demonstrating to the director that good faith efforts have been made to obtain and install the monitor in the prescribed time.

567—21.11(455B) Continuous emission monitoring under the acid rain program. The continuous emission monitoring requirements for affected units under the acid rain program as provided in 40 CFR Part 75, including Appendices A, B, F, and K, as amended through August 30, 2016, are adopted by reference.

567—21.12(455B) Affected sources subject to Section 112(g). The owner or operator of an affected source subject to the requirements of the federal Clean Air Act, Section 112(g), shall comply with the requirements contained in permits issued by the department under 567—Chapters 22 and 33.

567—21.13(455B) Methodology and qualified observer. The federal method for visual determination of opacity of emissions and requirements for qualified observers as defined in 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix A, Method 9, as amended through November 14, 1990, is adopted by reference.

To qualify as an observer, a candidate must, after meeting the requirements established in 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix A, Method 9, have on record with the department a minimum of 250 readings of black plumes and 250 readings of white plumes, taken at approved smoke reading courses.

567—21.14(455B) Prevention of air pollution emergency episodes—general. The provisions for the purpose specified in 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, 1.0, are adopted by reference. For purposes of this chapter, adoption by reference of any portion of 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, is, unless otherwise noted, as amended through July 1, 1987.

567—21.15(455B) Episode criteria.

21.15(1) Evaluation. Conditions justifying the proclamation of an air pollution alert, air pollution warning, or air pollution emergency shall be deemed to exist whenever the commission or the director determines that the meteorological conditions are such that the accumulation of air contaminants in any place is reaching, or has reached, levels that could, if sustained or exceeded, lead to a substantial threat to the health of persons.

21.15(2) Air pollution forecast. Initial consideration of air pollution episode activities will be activated by receipt from the National Weather Service of an air pollution forecast. Receipt of such a forecast shall be the basis for activities such as, but not limited to, increased monitoring of the air contaminants in the area involved.

21.15(3) Declaration. In making determinations for the declaration of an air pollution episode condition, the commission or the director will be guided by the criteria stated in the following paragraphs:

a. Air pollution alert. The provisions for an air pollution alert as specified in 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, 1.1(b), are adopted by reference.

b. Air pollution warning. The provisions for an air pollution warning as specified in 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, 1.1(c), are adopted by reference.

c. Air pollution emergency. The provisions for air pollution emergency as specified in 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, 1.1(d), are adopted by reference.

d. Termination. Once declared, any status reached by application of these criteria will remain in effect until the criteria for that level are no longer met. As meteorological factors and air contaminants change, an appropriate change in episode level will be declared.

567—21.16(455B) Preplanned abatement strategies. The provisions for planned strategies as specified in 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, 1.3(a), are adopted by reference.

21.16(1) Plan preparation.

a. Any person responsible for the operation of a source of air contaminants as set forth in Tables I through III shall prepare standby plans for reducing the emission of air contaminants, which will be implemented upon the declaration of an air pollution episode and continued for the duration of the declared episode.

b. The provisions for plan preparation as specified in 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, 1.3(b), are adopted by reference.

21.16(2) Plan content. The provisions for plan content as specified in 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, 1.3(c), are adopted by reference.

21.16(3) Review of plans. Standby plans as required by this subrule shall be submitted to the director on or before January 1, 1973. Each standby plan shall be subject to review. If, in the opinion of the director, a standby plan does not provide for adequate reduction of emissions, the director may disapprove the plan, state the reasons for disapproval, and order the preparation of an amended standby plan within a time period specified in the order. The action of the director in securing a modification of a standby plan may be appealed to the commission.

21.16(4) Availability. The provisions for availability as specified in 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, 1.3(d), are adopted by reference.

567—21.17(455B) Actions taken during episodes.

21.17(1) Emission reduction activities. Any person responsible for the operation of a source of air contaminants as set forth in Tables I through III, herein, that is located within the area involved shall follow the actions specified below during periods of an air pollution alert, air pollution warning, or air pollution emergency as may be declared.

a. Air pollution alert. The provisions for an air pollution alert as specified in 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, 1.2(a), are adopted by reference.

b. Air pollution warning. The provisions for air pollution warning as specified in 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, 1.2(b), are adopted by reference.

c. Air pollution emergency. The provisions for air pollution emergency as specified in 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, 1.2(c), are adopted by reference.

d. Special conditions. The provisions for special conditions as specified in 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, 1.2(d), are adopted by reference.

21.17(2) Reserved.

TABLE I

ABATEMENT STRATEGIES EMISSION REDUCTION ACTIONS ALERT LEVEL

GENERAL

The provisions for planned strategies as specified in 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, Table I, Part A, are adopted by reference.

SOURCE CURTAILMENT

The provisions for planned strategies as specified in 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, Table I, Part B, are adopted by reference.

TABLE II

ABATEMENT STRATEGIES EMISSION REDUCTION ACTIONS WARNING LEVEL

GENERAL

The provisions for planned strategies as specified in 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, Table II, Part A, are adopted by reference.

SOURCE CURTAILMENT

The provisions for planned strategies as specified in 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, Table II, Part B, are adopted by reference.

TABLE III

ABATEMENT STRATEGIES EMISSION REDUCTION ACTIONS EMERGENCY LEVEL

GENERAL

The provisions for planned strategies as specified in 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, Table III, Part A, are adopted by reference.

SOURCE CURTAILMENT

The provisions for planned strategies as specified in 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix L, Table III, Part B, are adopted by reference.

These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code section 455B.133.