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New Source Review (NSR) Permitting

Air Quality Monitoring & Modeling

Date Title EPA Office Author Issues Addressed
  Interim Policy on Stack Height Regulatory Actions OAR Potter, J. Craig Interim policy on the following stack height regulatory actions: (1) Grandfathering pre-October 11, 1983 within-formula stack height increases from demonstration requirements [40 CFR 51.100(kk)(2)]; (2) Dispersion credit for sources originally designed and constructed with merged or multiflue stacks [40 CFR 51.100(hh)(2)(ii)(A)]; and (3)  Grandfathering of pre-1979 use of the refined H + 1.5L formula [40 CFR
51.100(ii)(2)]. 
04/25/1990 Issuance of PSD Permits in Attainment Areas Where Violations have been Modeled Region 3 Spink, Marcia Outlines the procedures that must be followed when issuing PSD permits in attainment areas where violations have been modeled.
05/1987 Ambient Monitoring Guidelines for Prevention of Significant Deterioration OAQPS   Ambient monitoring guidelines for PSD.
03/23/2010 Modeling Procedures for Demonstrating Compliance with PM2.5 NAAQS OAQPS

Page, Stephen

Guidance on modeling procedures for demonstrating compliance with particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
06/04/1990

Definition of Post approval Monitoring

OAQPS Lillis, Ed Clarifies the definition of “postapproval monitoring” as the term is used in the PSD regulations at 40 CFR 51.166(m)(v).
05/20/2014 Guidance for PM2.5 Permit Modeling OAQPS Page, Stephen Provides guidance on demonstrating compliance with the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) increments, especially with regards to considerations of secondarily formed component PM2.5.
02/29/2012 Concurrence with Region 2's Assessment of the Appropriate Method for Compliance Demonstration Modeling of Emissions Associated with Horizontal Drilling and High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing of the Marcellus Shale in New York State OAQPS Fox, Tyler Whether emissions resulting from the predictable and continuous operation of a horizontal drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing source at a specified location for upwards of 4 months should be considered intermittent emissions.
10/23/1997 Interim Implementation of NSR Requirements for PM2.5 OAQPS Seitz, John Addresses the interim use of PM10 as a surrogate for PM2.5 in meeting new source review (NSR) requirements under the Clean Air Act, including the permit programs for PSD.
10/10/1985 Q & A on Implementing the Revised Stack Height Regulation OAQPS Helms, G. Tom Answers several questions related to implementing revised stack height regulations including (1) what criteria should be used to determine when a stack was “in existence” with respect to various grandfathering dates in the regulation; (2) what “source” definition should be used in determining whether tie-ins to grandfathered stacks should be permitted; (3) what is meant by “facility;” (4) whether good engineering practice (GEP) stack height should be established separately for each pollutant; (5) how “reliance” on the 2.5H formula should be determined; and (6) whether OAQPS will be specifying structures not well represented by the formula other than those specifically addressed in the preamble; among other questions.
10/28/1985 Implementation of Stack Height Regulations - Exceptions from Restrictions on Credit for Merged Stacks CPDD Tyler, Darryl Establishes a procedure that should be used to prepare and to review justifications for merging gas streams for economic or engineering reasons, and to address the presumption that merging was significantly motivated by an intent to gain credit for increased dispersion.
01/02/1990 Effect of Changing Stack Heights on PSD Modeling and Monitoring OAQPS Calcagni, John Whether and when the beneficial air quality impacts that result from an existing stack height at a source can be considered as part of a proposed PSD modification.
01/29/1987 Implementation of the Revised Modeling Guidance for PSD CPDD Tyler, Darryl Guidance on the implementation of the revised modeling guidance for PSD.
12/10/2001 Response to September 7, 2001 Letter on PSD OAQPS Seitz, John Regards the modeling method used to track increment and the use of continuous emissions monitor (CEM) data to replace calculated emissions values based on permit limits. This memorandum also addresses how the Federal Land Manager (FLM) certifications and variance procedures in the Clean Air Act (CAA) affect increment.
04/08/2014 Interim Guidance on the Treatment of Condensable Particulate Matter Test Results in the Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Nonattainment New Source Review Permitting Programs OAQPS Page, Stephen Provides interim guidance on the treatment of condensable particulate matter (CPM) under EPA’s NSR permit programs for particulate matter.
03/31/1989 Applicability of Building Downwash in PSD Permit Analyses OAQPS Calcagni, John Whether building downwash modeling should be required for background sources.
08/09/1988 Model Accuracy and Uncertainty OAQPS Laxton, William Summarizes the details of model accuracy and uncertainty.
02/01/1981 PSD Significance Levels for Monitoring CPDD Tyler, Darryl Guidance on significance levels of projected ambient impacts for the purpose of determining whether a proposed source or modification would be eligible for an exemption from the requirement for ambient monitoring.
08/25/1989 Texas Air Control Board Inquiry Regarding Allowable Emissions in PSD NAAQS Analyses Region 6 Hathaway, William Clarifies the use of Guidelines on Air Quality Models Table 9-1 emissions in PSD NAAQs analyses.
03/15/2002 Use of the Ambient Ratio Method for Modeling Significant Ambient Impacts of NO2 OAQPS deRoeck, Daniel Guidance on the use of the ambient ration method for modeling significant ambient impacts of NO2.
07/05/1988 Air Quality Analysis for PSD OAQPS Emison, Gerald Resolves inconsistency associated with how to interpret dispersion modeling results to determine whether a source will cause or contribute to a new or existing violation of a national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) or PSD increment.
03/01/2011 Additional Clarification of Guidance for Implementation of the 1-hour NO2 NAAQS Under PSD OAQPS Page, Stephen Provides additional clarification of guidance for implementation of the 1-hour NO2 NAAQS under PSD.
04/30/2019 Guidance on the Development of Modeled Emission Rates for Precursors (MERPs) as a Tier 1 Demonstration Tool for Ozone and PM2.5 under the PSD Permitting Program Air Quality Assessment Division Wayland, Richard A. Guidance on the development of modeled emission rates for precursors (MERPs) as a Tier 1 demonstration tool for ozone and PM2.5 under the PSD permitting program.
04/16/2013 North Carolina's Implementation of Visibility Impact Assessment Requirements for New Major Stationary Sources and Major Modifications Subject to Clean Air Act Prevention of Significant Deterioration Requirements Region 4, OAQPS Bannister, Beverly and Wood, Anna Marie Guidance on North Carolina’s implementation of visibility impact assessment requirements for new major stationary sources and major modifications subject to Clean Air Act Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) requirements.
12/13/2000 Southern LNG, Inc., Elba Island Terminal, Savannah Georgia Draft Air Quality Permit and PSD Preliminary Determination Region 4 Neeley, R. Douglas Answers numerous questions and provides comments related to a PSD determination including on whether emissions units at the facility should be considered an existing source and not a new source for PSD applicability purposes under EPA’s Reactivation Policy; the vaporizer BACT portion of the permit; the impact area visibility analysis addressing visibility in the “near field region;” emission inventories used in the national ambient air quality standards and PSD compliance monitoring; and ozone ambient conditions.
03/16/1989 Use of Allowable Emissions for NAAQS Impact Analysis Under the Requirements for PSD OAQPS Calcagni, John Clarifies EPA’s policy concerning the implementation of the PSD air quality impact analysis under 40 CFR 51.166(k). Of specific concern is the question of whether the required analysis for new major sources and major modifications is to be based on actual or allowable emissions from existing background sources.
07/31/1981 Policy Determinations Regarding PSD Questions Region 4 Devine, Thomas Addresses multiple PSD questions including those related to maintenance conducted on a shutdown boiler that intends to return to service, the addition of 7 compounds to be of negligible photochemical reactivity whether this impacts what compounds are considered VOCs, whether a major source proposing to build in a nonattainment area is subject to PSD if the area is projected to be attainment before startup of the source, and questions related to PSD baseline and ambient monitoring, among others.
04/01/1982 Response to Kay Phillips Regarding a Review on the Stack Height Regulations and Accompanying Preamble Language CPDD Tyler, Darryl Whether flares are to be considered stacks under the regulations and how the ambient air quality modeling of criteria pollutants coming from a flare should be modeled.
12/01/2016 Use of Models for Assessing the Impacts of Emissions from Single Sources on the Secondarily Formed Pollutants: Ozone and PM2.5 OAQPS Air Quality Assessment Division Guidance on the use of models for assessing the impacts of emissions from single sources on the secondarily formed pollutants ozone and PM2.5.
07/06/1979 EPA Quality Assurance Policy Statement Region 4 Finger, James Addresses the need for uniform quality assurance activities, agency-wide, in all monitoring activities.

Related Topics: Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Increments | Significant Impact Levels (SILs) & Cumulative Analyses | Ambient Air Definition/Interpretations

Return to Policy & Guidance Document Index

The “Relevant Guidance” index includes a collection of documents issued by EPA organized by topic area. These documents include memoranda, letters, orders, and other types of EPA actions that may provide guidance in one or more forms, such as an adjudication, statement of policy, interpretation of statutes or regulations, or technical information. Each collection is intended to be representative of EPA statements on the topic, but it may not be a complete listing of such statements. The collection does not reflect topic-specific statements that have been expressed by EPA though published rule preambles and Title V petition orders, nor does it include EAB decisions. Each document in the collection speaks for itself, and the inclusion or exclusion of a document in the collection is not intended by EPA to communicate anything more than what is expressed within each document. EPA makes no independent representations on this website as to the extent to which any document in the collection reflects EPA’s current views on the topic, is a final action by EPA, or has any legal effect or precedential weight. Readers are advised to review the documents in the collection and conduct their own assessment of such considerations based on the content of each document and other documents in the collection. Some of the information or views included in the documents may be affected by subsequent changes to the referenced statutory or regulatory language or by court decisions. In addition, many of the statements in these documents are based upon the federal regulations which may differ from rules that govern federally-approved programs. Permitting authorities are advised to consult with their EPA Regional Offices if there is a question as to the relevance of a particular statement to their NSR program.