If you own or operate a stationary generator, pump, compressor or some other piece of stationary equipment then you probably need to “retrofit” its engine to comply with federal National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). Nearly one million existing, stationary diesel Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (RICE) are affected by the federal mandate to cut exhaust levels of carbon monoxide by 70 percent or more. Leading engine manufacturers warn that compliance is not going to be cheap, easy, or quick – especially when a limited number of qualified experts have roughly one year to meet the nation’s retrofit needs under the NESHAP for RICE. Also be aware that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed several amendments to the rule, particularly regarding RICE used for emergency or back-up power.
The U.S. EPA published the final NESHAP for stationary RICE on March 3, 2010, at (75 FR 9648). EPA set the following dates for compliance with the national emission limit and operating limits, which generally apply to RICE greater than 300 horsepower (HP)—
- Non-Emergency Diesel (CI) Engines by May 3, 2013
- Non-Emergency Gas (SI) Engines by Oct. 19, 2013.
- Combustion Portal:
- RICE Quiz:
- Allow owners/operators of RICE maintained to respond to emergency power needs to operate their “back-up” generators for up to 100 hours per year. (If an emergency engine operates for more than 100 hours per year for non-emergency purposes, the engine would need to meet emission limits required for non-emergency engines for the life of the engine.) EPA also proposed that, through 2017, emergency generators be allowed to operate without limits for up to 50 hours of this 100-hour exception “for peak shaving and non-emergency demand response.” EPA’s explanation is that this temporary exception is necessary “to address reliability issues and develop solutions.”
- Allow Tier 1 and Tier 2 certified diesel engines that must be replaced by June 1, 2018, under state requirements to meet requirements for management practices rather than numeric limits. This provision is intended to assist owners/operators that must install controls on their engines to meet the RICE NESHAP and then having to replace their engines under state rules shortly thereafter. EPA’s intent here is to address a concern specific to certain engines in use in Texas and California.
- Broaded the definition of remote area sources in Alaska to ensure that stationary RICE in those areas are subject to management practice requirements as opposed to emission standards likely necessitating aftertreatment.