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REPORT:
Stationary Source Committee
SYNOPSIS:
The Stationary Source Committee met Friday, September 28, 2007. Following is
a summary of that meeting. The next meeting will be October 26, at 10:30 a.m.,
in Conference Room CC8.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive and file.
Dennis Yates, Chair
Stationary Source Committee
Attendance
The meeting began at 10:30 a.m. Present were Dennis Yates, Dr. Joseph Lyou, Jane Carney and Ron Loveridge. Absent was Gary Ovitt.
ACTION ITEM
- Electricity Resource Planning Analysis Pursuant to the August 2007 Amendments to Rule 1309.1
Elaine Chang, Deputy Executive Officer of Planning and Rules, provided a description of the background for this energy resource planning study and major tasks for the contractor(s) to perform, which include the electricity demand forecasts for the region and potential generation portfolios. As part of the study, the contractor(s) will examine barriers and solutions to expand the demand side management programs and renewable energy resources. For each scenario analyzed, the study would identify the associated cost impacts and corresponding emissions for criteria pollutants, air toxics, and greenhouse gases. Staff is recommending a 5-member review panel to select the contractor(s). The study is budgeted at $450,000. If the RFP is approved by the Board to be released in October, contractor(s) can be selected and begin the study in January. The study is expected to take approximate 9 to 12 months to complete. There will be working group meetings to receive progress reports on the study and provide input.
Board member Joe Lyou commented on the description under the
back-ground/information section that it is debatable whether there is a power
shortage or a need for new power plants. He asked staff to modify the
description so as not to prejudice the potential bidders on energy resource
planning. Committee members discussed if the contractors will provide policy recommendations to the Board, which this study is not designed for, but rather the staff will, base on the findings and information shown by the study, provide its policy recommendations to the board. This item was approved by the Committee.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
- Update on Gregg Industries Current Regulatory Activities
Cher Snyder, Senior Enforcement Manager, Engineering & Compliance, reported on compliance activities at Gregg Industries, a sand mold and iron casting manufacturer in El Monte that has been the subject of ongoing odor complaints. Operating under an Order for Abatement since February 2006, this facility was initially discussed at the Stationary Source Committee meeting July 27, 2007, following referral from the July Board meeting. Since the July discussion, AQMD has received and responded to 34 odor complaints (no more than three complainants per day) alleging Gregg as the source of nuisance odors. District inspectors conducted afterhours odor surveillance in the community surrounding Gregg on five nights from September 10 – 14, 2007, from 12:30 – 4:30 a.m. Gregg was observed to be operating on four of the five surveillance nights, however, no offsite odors were detected at any of the 27 downwind surveillance stops. Analysis was completed on three of the eight Summa® air sampling canisters collected by local residents when they detected odors. This analysis showed no elevated levels of the toxic organic compounds investigated. Analysis of particulate samples on five of eight glass plates placed at local residences to collect fallout showed trace amounts of particles similar to those previously sampled at Gregg. On-site testing suggested that the scrubber was relatively ineffective in controlling VOC emissions and that fugitive VOCs appeared to be escaping through roof vents.
A final hearing was held on September 19, 2007, and the Order for Abatement was allowed to expire September 20, 2007. AQMD staff and Gregg representatives testified that they are working together to craft permit conditions and settlement terms that will minimize Gregg’s potential to create a public nuisance. Permit applications have been received for three sand systems, the scrubber, and the shell core operation, and a modified Title V permit is expected to be issued before the end of this year. Unrelated to odor events, issuance of an NOV to Gregg is pending for failure to timely submit Title V notifications, in violation of AQMD Rule 3002(c)(1). Terms of the settlement agreement to resolve this and all other outstanding violations will be agendized for the next Committee meeting. AQMD will continue to respond to and investigate community complaints and to work with Gregg to ensure compliance with applicable air quality rules and regulations.
During public comment, Mr. Ruben Castellanos, a community member residing downwind of Gregg, expressed concern to the Committee that foundry odors continued to be emitted by the facility. Ms. Kelly Andrews, residing two miles upwind of the facility, expressed concern that no public nuisance violations had been documented against Gregg after late 2005, despite the large number of odor complaints reported to AQMD about the facility since then. Ms. Andrews stated that her mother, a teacher at Rio Vista School downwind of the facility, often detected the odors, and that she herself detected them when she volunteered on site to assist her mother. Mr. Bob Welemin, a Temple City resident, stated that he had detected foundry-type odors for 12 years before driving by Gregg and identifying the same odors there. He proposed real-time monitoring and reporting to better link odor problems with operating parameters at the facility. Mr. Joe Blackburn, a community member, presented the Committee with three open letters regarding continuing odors in the area, one of which purported a conflict of interest between Board Chairman Dr. William Burke and Gregg’s attorney, Mr. William Funderburk. Immediately advising Dr. Burke of this matter by telephone, Dr. Wallerstein informed those in attendance that Dr. Burke took extreme offense to, and unequivocally denied, this allegation. Dr. Wallerstein and Dr. Liu discussed the challenge of investigating odors in the field. Mr. Rudy Eden, Laboratory Service Manager, added that in addition to VOCs such as phenol, inorganic compounds might also be contributing to the odor problems at Gregg. Mr. Funderburk, representing Gregg Industries, commented that fewer than 10% of complaints reported to AQMD had been confirmed in the field, that the majority of complaints were reported by only five individuals, and that the scrubber had been designed not to reduce VOCs per se, but rather to oxidize VOCs to a less odorous compound. He further stated that Gregg had substantially reduced its VOC output by reducing the concentration of phenolic resin in the shell core operation, and that the facility would be changing its operation to reduce odors associated with its green sand operation as well. Dr. Lyou commented that when he participated in a DTSC tour of the area, he and others on the tour smelled the odors, which were confirmed by local residents as well. He noted that the 45-day public comment period for modifying the facility’s Title V permit would provide good opportunities for local residents to further share their concerns with staff. Ms. Carney questioned the effectiveness of the Order for Abatement, given the ongoing complaints. Mr. Mieras explained that the Order had been effective in helping to prevent a further public nuisance. Dr. Wallerstein underscored staff’s commitment to continue working with Gregg to help resolve odor problems associated with its operation.
- Proposed Amendments to Rule 1403 – Asbestos Emissions from Renovation/Demolition Activities
Lee Lockie, Area Sources Director, gave the staff presentation. The proposed amendments are designed to clarify rule intent, ease enforcement of the rule’s requirements, and improve overall rule effectiveness. It is the second of a two-phase amendment process. Keys to the amendment are greater accountability regarding emergency renovation activities, improvement to the notification process to make it easier to make submittals, and staff’s commitment to conduct outreach with affected industry. Ms. Lockie thanked industry representatives for input and assistance in the amendment process and stated that all outstanding issues had been resolved. Mr. Miles Heller of BP Carson provided comment stating that they supported the proposal, appreciated staff’s efforts, and that they looked forward to working with staff during public outreach. A public hearing has been scheduled for October 5, 2007.
- This item was withdrawn by staff.
- Rule 1110.2 – Emissions from Gaseous and Liquid-Fueled Engines
Dr. Chang provided a presentation on the proposed amendments to Rule 1110.2 which is being considered to reduce emissions from stationary non-emergency engines. The presentation covered the proposed changes described in the attachment to the Stationary Source Committee agenda package. Unannounced emission tests by AQMD enforcement staff have discovered that about half of stationary engines tested were out of compliance with their emissions limits, due to poor operating and maintenance procedures and inadequate monitoring. The proposed amendments are intended to: 1) improve the compliance record of engines with better monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting; 2) achieve further emission reduction based on the cleanest available technologies; and 3) address rule changes recommended by USEPA Region IX. Staff will be working with stakeholders to address their concerns and then do a follow up report at the October 26 Stationary Source Committee meeting.
During public comment several stakeholders provided comments and expressed their concerns on the proposed amendments to Rule 1110.2. The three main topics of discussion included the proposed requirements for: 1) biogas engines, 2) inspection and monitoring plan and 3) new engines used for distributed power generation. For biogas engines requests were presented for deleting the compliance date until after the technology assessment study is completed in 2010. In regards to the inspection and monitoring plan, stakeholders requested a simplification and streamlining of the plan to target the monitoring of only key engine parameters. Stakeholders discussed the technology challenges for current distributed generation engines to meet the CARB 2007 standards as proposed in the rule and requested that these engines along with the biogas engines also be included in the technology assessment.
- Toxic Management Working Group Update
This item was carried over to the October meeting.
WRITTEN REPORTS
All written reports were acknowledged by the Committee.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Carol Coy announced that in November the Committee meeting will be on the 16th and there will be no meeting in December.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:35 p.m.
Attachment
September 28, 2007 Committee Agenda (without its attachments)
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