S.C. Code Regs. § § 61-62.5.1.IV

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 10, October 25, 2024

Section 61-62.5.1.IV - OPACITY MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

A. Applicable Sources

1. Fossil Fuel-Fired Boilers

The owner or operator of any fossil fuel-fired steam generator of more than 250 million Btu/hr heat input capacity shall install, calibrate, operate, and maintain no later than June 14, 1978, continuous monitoring system(s) for the measurement of opacity which meets the performance specifications of Section IV.D except where:

a. Gaseous fuel is the only fuel burned.

b. Oil or a mixture of gas and oil are the only fuels burned and the steam generator is able to comply with the provisions of Sections I and II of this standard without utilization of particulate matter collection equipment, and where the steam generator has never been found, through any administrative or judicial proceedings, to be in violation of Section I of this standard.

c. The steam generator operates with an annual average capacity factor of thirty (30) percent or less, as reported to the Federal Power Commission for calendar year 1974 or otherwise adequately demonstrated to the Department; and has not subsequently increased this factor to more than thirty (30) percent.

2. Woodwaste Boilers

The owner or operator of any woodwaste boiler, not equipped with a wet scrubber, will be required to install, calibrate, operate, and maintain continuous monitoring system(s) approved by the Department for the measurement of opacity, if it meets one or more of the criteria listed in items A.2.a and A.2.b. If a boiler is fired on more than one fuel, the total capacity will determine the applicability.

a. Any woodwaste boiler of at least 100 x 106 Btu/hr rated heat input.

b. Any woodwaste boiler, regardless of size, that has been operating in noncompliance with any applicable state air pollution control regulations and standards.

B. Continuous Opacity Monitor Reporting Requirements

1. The owner or operator of any fossil fuel-fired steam generator subject to the provisions of Section IV.A shall submit a written Continuous Opacity Monitor report to the Department semi-annually or more often if requested. All semi-annual reports must be postmarked by the 30th day following the end of each semi-annual period. The report shall include, at a minimum, the information in items B.1.a through B.1.c below. A letter shall be sent in lieu of a semi-annual report if no incidences occurred during the reporting period.

a. All integrated six (6) minute opacity measurements for periods during which the applicable provisions of Section I have been exceeded, together with their nature and cause.

b. For periods of monitoring system malfunction:

(i) The date and time identifying each period during which the monitoring system was inoperative, except for zero and span checks.

(ii) The nature of monitoring system repairs or adjustments.

(iii) Proof of opacity monitoring system performance may be required by the Department whenever repairs or adjustments have been made.

c. Boiler system repairs or adjustments made to correct violations of the provisions of Section I.

2. Alternative data reporting procedures may be allowed if the owner or operator shows, to the satisfaction of the Department, that these procedures are at least as accurate as those described.

3. The owner or operator shall maintain a file of all information contained in the semi-annual reports, calibration data for the opacity monitoring system(s), relevant records of adjustments and maintenance performed on such system(s), and all other data generated by the continuous opacity monitoring system(s), for a minimum of two (2) years from the date of submission of such reports or collection of such data. The information contained on file must be made available for review by Department personnel upon request.

C. Exemption from Reporting Requirements

A temporary exemption from the opacity monitoring and reporting requirements of Section IV may be granted during any period of monitoring system(s) malfunction, provided the owner or operator shows, to the satisfaction of the Department, that the malfunction was unavoidable and is being repaired as expeditiously as possible.

D. Equipment Performance Specifications

1. The continuous opacity monitoring system(s) required by Section IV.A.1 (for fossil fuel-fired steam generators) shall conform with the performance specifications set forth in 40 CFR 60, Appendix B, Performance Specification 1, as revised July 1, 1986, which is incorporated by reference as a part of this standard except that where the term "Administrator" is used the term "Department" shall be substituted. In addition, the opacity monitoring system(s) shall complete a minimum of one (1) cycle of operation for each successive 10-second period, be installed such that representative measurements of opacity from the affected steam generator are obtained, and have an instrument span of approximately eighty (80) percent opacity.

2. The owner or operator shall record the zero and span drift in accordance with the method prescribed by the manufacturer of such opacity monitoring system(s); subject the system(s) to the manufacturer's recommended zero and span check at least once daily unless the manufacturer has recommended adjustments at shorter intervals, in which case such recommendations shall be followed; adjust the zero and span whenever the 24-hour zero drift or 24-hour calibration drift limits of 40 CFR 60, Appendix B, Performance Specification 1, as revised July 1, 1986, are exceeded; adjust the opacity monitoring system(s) purchased prior to September 11, 1974, whenever the 24-hour zero drift or 24-hour calibration drift exceeds four (4) percent opacity for those generators constructed prior to February 11, 1971, and two (2) percent opacity for those generators constructed after February 11, 1971.

3. The monitoring systems must be approved by the Department prior to installation.

E. Monitor Location

When the effluents from two (2) or more affected steam generators of similar design and operating characteristics are combined before released to the atmosphere, the opacity monitoring system(s) shall be installed on the combined effluent. When the affected steam generators are not of similar design and operating characteristics, or when the effluent from one (1) affected steam generator is released to the atmosphere through more than one (1) point, the owner or operator shall apply for an alternate procedure to comply with the requirements of Section IV.

F. Exemptions from Monitoring Requirements

Whenever the requirements for continuous opacity monitoring cannot be implemented by the owner or operator due to physical source limitations, extreme economic burden, or infrequent steam generator operation of less than thirty (30) days per year, or when the specified monitoring procedure would not provide accurate opacity determinations, alternate monitoring and reporting requirements may be approved on a case-by-case basis provided the owner or operator submits a written request to the Department which includes, but is not limited to:

1. The basis or reason(s) that alternate requirements are necessary;

2. A proposal of the alternate monitoring and reporting requirements; and

3. Any other information needed by the Department to make a determination that the alternate requirements are adequate to meet the intent of Section IV.

S.C. Code Regs. § 61-62.5.1.IV

Amended by State Register Volume 38, Issue No. 6, eff 6/27/2014;State Register Volume 38, Issue No. 9, eff. 9/26/2014; State Register Volume 39, Issue No. 06, eff. 6/26/2015; State Register Volume 40, Issue No. 09, eff. 9/23/2016.