The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice on August 29, 2013 announcing reconsideration of portions of the 2013 final amendments to the stationary reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE) rules. The notice pertains to three specific issues and only announces the reconsideration of these issues and requests public comment. At this point, the EPA is not proposing changes.
The three issues the EPA has agreed to consider include the following:
Timing for compliance with the ultra low sulfur diesel fuel requirement for emergency compression ignition stationary engines that operate for emergency demand response, voltage/frequency deviations or local reliability;
Timing of and information required for the reporting requirement for emergency stationary engines that operate for emergency demand response, voltage/frequency deviations or local reliability;
Conditions for operation of an engine for up to 50 hours per year in non-emergency situations as part of a financial arrangement with another entity.
These issues were part of the 2013 final amendments to the original National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for RICE. The reconsideration comes after three petitions sent to the EPA by the following:
Calpine and PSEG
Clean Air Council, PennFuture, Conservation Law Foundation, EDF, NRDC, Pace Energy and Climate Center, Sierra Club and West Harlem Environmental Action
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
Comments on these three issues will be accepted through 60 days after the publication in the Federal Register. Comments must be identified by Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0708.
The Federal Register Notice can be found here.
For more information on the announcement, click here.