United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA/600/S8-88/085 Nov. 1988
vvEPA Project Summary
Guidelines for Stack Testing at
Municipal Waste Combustion
Facilities
Clarence L. Haile and Judith C. Harris
As part of the current federal
regulatory process, permitting agencies
need guidance on identifying critical
emission parameters for municipal waste
combustors (MWCs) and on methods
that can be used to measure those
parameters, especially toxic substances.
The Northeast States for Coordinated
Air Use Management (NESCAUM), with
the support of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's (EPA's) Control
Technology Center (CTC), organized a
work group of recognized experts to pro-
vide guidance on methods for measur-
ing stack emissions from MWCs and
reporting formats to facilitate standard-
ization of emissions tests. This methods
guidelines report is based on the discus-
sions of the NESCAUM work group.
Specific testing recommendations,
emissions, measurement methods, and
recommended reporting formats are
presented. These recommendations are
not intended to prescribe regulatory re-
quirements, but to recommend emis-
sions test programs responsive to typical
requirements.
The measurement methods presented
are based primarily on reference
methods already in widespread use,
although few have been validated
specifically for MWC testing. Many of the
method recommendations and descrip-
tions of critical methods features
specific to MWC emissions testing were
drawn from the considerable knowledge
and broad experience of the work group.
A bibliography of useful references for
MWC testing is included.
Thte Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory, Research Triangle
Park, NC, to announce key findings of the
research project that Is fully documented
in a separate report of the same title (see
Project Report ordering information at
back).
Introduction
Considerable interest and activity has
recently been focused on assessing emis-
sions from municipal waste combustors
(MWCs). In particular, state and local en-
vironmental agencies have been charged
with developing regulations for MWCs in
response to the increasing number of
facilities currently in operation or planning.
To develop and implement the regulations,
many permitting agencies need guidance
in identifying critical emission parameters
and the appropriate methods for measur-
ing those parameters (especially toxic
substances) in MWC stack emissions. The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA's) Control Technology Center (CTC)
and the Northeast States for Coordinated
Air Use Management (NESCAUM) jointly
convened a work group of experts to pro-
vide that guidance. The work group includ-
ed representatives from EPA and the
NESCAUM member states as well as
California, Minnesota, Environment
Canada, firms operating MWCs, and
related professional societies.
Lines Document
The objectives of the work group are to
recommend standardized MWC stack test
methods, recommend standardized report-
ing formats for the test results, identify
unresolved stack testing technical issues,
and promote the exchange of technical in-
formation on MWC stack testing. This docu-
ment was based on the discussions and
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consensus of the work group. Emission
parameter measurements, process data
collection, and test results reporting formats
are recommended.
Test Recommendations
The objectives of an MWC stack test
determine the parameters tested and may
influence selection of test methods. The
work group considered four categories of
MWC tests:
• Regulatory compliance testing —
determination of compliance with per-
mit limits,
• Performance testing — characteriza-
tion of emissions from a specific unit
or component,
• Research and development testing —
study of specific processes or emis-
sions data base development, and
• Continuous emissions monitoring.
The work group discussions focused on the
first three categories, recommending that
continuous emissions monitoring be con-
sidered separately.
Compliance Testing
Based on the work group's assessment
of current and developing permit re-
quirements, the following emissions
parameters, combustion parameters, and
operating conditions were identified as like-
ly requirements for MWC compliance tests:
• Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins
(PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs)
— tetrachloro through octachloro
homologs;
• Total hydrocarbons;
• Lead, mercury, cadmium, and total
chromium;
• Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and
oxygen;
• Paniculate matter and opacity;
• Acid gases — hydrochloric acid, nitro-
gen oxides, and sulfur dioxide; and
• Furnace, boiler, and emissions control
process data.
The work group recommended that three
tests be conducted at or near 100% of the
design heat input capacity expected dur-
ing normal operations. For facilities con-
sisting of multiple units of the same design,
the work group recommended testing for
bulk combustion parameters for each unit
and testing for fuel-related parameters on
only one unit (assuming the units are
operated under the same nominal
conditions).
Performance Testing
The work group did not identify emission
parameters that are uniquely associated
with performance testing. However, testing
at the inlet and outlet of specific com-
ponents (e.g., particulate control devices)
may be required. It was also recognized
that test objectives can vary widely, but that
parameter measurement methods suitable
for compliance testing are likely to be ap-
propriate also for performance testing.
Research and Development
Testing
As for performance testing, the objectives
of research and development testing may
be many and varied. Nonetheless, the work
group identified several parameters of
potential interest and recommended ap-
propriate measurement methods. The
parameters include:
• Volatile organics;
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)s;
• Semivolatile organics, including
chlorinated benzenes, chlorinated
phenols, and polynuclear aromatic
hydrocarbons; and
• Metals, including arsenic, beryllium,
chromium (VI), and nickel.
Measurement Methods
Measurement methods are presented for
all parameters identified as potentially re-
quired for compliance or performance tests.
Measurement methods for additional
parameters that may apply to research and
development testing are presented in an
appendix. The methods recommended are
based primarily on reference methods al-
ready in use, although few have been vali-
dated specifically for MWC testing. Most refer
to EPA methods contained in the Federal
Register and/or the EPA methods manual
for solid waste. However, many recommen-
dations and descriptions of critical method
features specific to MWC emissions testing
were drawn from the knowledge and ex-
perience of the work group.
Each method discussion includes four
elements:
• Method description — procedure
descriptions containing applicable
references to EPA methods or other
documented sources;
• Critical features — details directly ap-
plicable to MWC emissions testing;
• Quality assurance and quality control
procedures; and
• Data quality objectives — including
limit of detection, accuracy, precision,
and completeness.
Results Reporting
A key objective of the work group is to
encourage reporting of MWC test results in
consistent formats to facilitate data com-
parison. Specific formats were recommend-
ed for reporting permit conditions, process
data, emissions parameter test results, and
quality assurance results.
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Clarence L Haile is with A. D. Little, Inc.. Cambridge, MA 02140 and Judith
C. Harris /s with Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, MO 64110.
Sharon L. Nolan is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "Guidelines for Stack Testing at Municipal Waste
Combustions Facilities," f Order No. PB 38-234 893/A S; Cost: $14.95, subject
to change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protect Jon Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
EPA/600/S8-88/085
0000329 PS
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