In compliance with settlement agreements, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized revisions to emission standards for stationary engines that generate electricity and power equipment at industrial, agricultural, oil and gas production, power generation and other facilities. The Final Rule is effective on April 1, 2013, and the earliest compliance date is May 3, 2013. However, in consideration of the short time between the final rule and the May 3, 2013 compliance date for some of the affected sources, the final rule includes provision s for limiting the use of existing stationary emergency engines located at area sources in lieu of meeting standards prior to May 3, 2014.
According to EPA estimates, the final revised rule will reduce the capital and annual costs of the original 2010 rules by $287 million and $139 million, respectively, while reducing emmsisions by 2,800 tons per year (tpy) of hazardous air pollutants; 36,000 tpy of carbon monoxide; 2,800 tpy of particulate matter; 9,600 tpy of nitrogen oxides, and 36,000 tpy of volatile organic compounds. EPA estimates annual health benefits of the updated standards to be worth $830 million to $2.1 billion.
The final amendments to the 2010 “National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (RICE)” reflect new technical information submitted by stakeholders after the 2010 standards were issued. According to EPA, the updates are intended to ensure that the standards are cost-effective, achievable, and protective, while continuing to provide significant emission reductions.
The amendments also specify how the standards apply to emergency engines used for emergency demand response.