E/W 850$-co11 84 - 65.2 CK MODELING CRITERIA: |- • ; THE KEY TO MAJOR REFORMS FOR EMISSIONS TRADES u s. pit! code 320^ 1200 Pennsylvania Ave • " "'vv* "" "sn ^"7 " -w Leonard J. Fleckenstein P U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Leonard Fleckenstein is currently the Environmental Auditing Project 'Manager (arid previously worked on the Emissions Trading Project) in the Regulato.ry Reform Staff, Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation, U.S. EPA, Washington, D.C. "; For Presentation at I the Air Pollution Control Association AnnualfMeeting SAN FRANCISCO, CA JUNE 28, 1984 - w i I -•<' % -~i' ii i DS M ------- 84 - 65.2 . Modeling Criteria: The Keyto Major Reforms forEmissionsTrades In April 1982 the Environmental Protection Agency published its interim Emissions Trading Policy Statement (ETPS) and accompanying Technical Issues Document ]_/ which proposed revised policies and streamlined procedures for approving "bubbles" and other emissions trades. This paper discusses the policies and procedures applicable to ambient air quality modeling requirements for emissions trades and traces recent changes and trends in applicable decision rules since the interim policy was issued. Under ETPS provisions EPA requires bubble trades to demonstrate ambient equivalence, while offset transactions must demonstrate ambient improvement. The ambient equivalence demonstration generally must be met by conformance with decision rules which require air quality dispersion modeling. Although the interim ETPS provided only broad, general guidance on applicable modeling techniques, EPA has subsequently clarified its position on appropriate ET modeling. Modeling Requirements Jin the Interim Eraisions Trading Policy \ The interim ETPS authorized exemption of trades of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from any air quality modeling because of the area-wide (rather than localized) ambient impact of these pollutants. The appropriate modeling techniques do not exist for predicting the area-wide ambient impact of a VOC or NOx source. Instead, for VOC and NOx trades an equivalent quantity of emissions reduction is required for each emissions increase. Ambient modeling is more practical for trades involving particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO) or sulfur dioxide (S0£). For trades of these pollutants the degree of required modeling is linked to the likely ambient impact of the proposed trade. Certain trades may be exempt from modeling; some may require only limited modeling; and others would need full-scale dispersion modeling. Trades would generally be exempt from modeling under the original ETPS if they conformed to the following "Level I" criteria: - there is no net increase in applicable baseline emissions; • - the trading sources are within 250 meters of each other; and - no increase in emissions occurs at the source with the lower effective plume height. NOTE: The views expressed in this paper are thb's~e': of "the", author-• and not those of EPA or any other government e'ntityV ------- 84 - 65.2 For Level I transactions EPA has assumed that "pound for pound" trades will produce ambient effects equivalent to those which would exist with current baseline emission levels. Trades could alternatively be based on "Level II" criteria requiring only limited modeling, i.e., modeling limited to only the sources involved in the trade, without considering background concentrations or emissions from other sources in the area. Under the original ETPS these trades could be approved without further modeling if there were no net increase in applicable baseline emissions and the modeling results demonstrated no significant ambient impact at the post-trade receptor of maximum predicted concentration. A significant impact was defined as an increase of more than 10 ug/m3 over a 24 hour period for PM, 13 ug/m3 (24 hour) for S02, or 575 ug/m3 (8 hour) for CO. If modeled changes in concentrations were less than the relevant significance value, the trade could have been approved. If any modeled changes were greater than the significance value, then more sophisticated modeling -- generally full-scale, site-specific modeling, looking at the impacts on ambient concentration of all sources in the area and not just those involved in the trade -- was required to be carried out to determine whether the trade would create new ambient violations or prevent the planned removal of existing violations. Likewise, if applicable baseline emissions would have increased as a result of the trade or if the trade did not meet Level II criteria or fall into any other exemption category (e.g., VOC/NOx trades or Level I trades), then full-scale dispersion modeling would have been required. The considerations indicated above applied to EPA evaluation of trades processed as site-specific State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions. Additional considerations (regarding "replicability") applied to Level II trades proposed to be approved without case-by-case EPA evaluation under state generic emissions trading rules. Emission points involved in a trade under a generic rule must be modeled in a pre- described replicable manner. To limit variability in modeling results, the generic rule must specify the models and modeling techniques that will be used in particular situations as well as procedures for selecting input data. The models, techniques and procedures must be sufficiently defined to assure that trades which meet the terms of the generic rule will not create new ambient violations or interfere with the removal of existing violations. The modeling criteria for both EPA-approved trades and state generic rules have been modified since the interim ETPS was issued in April 1982. These modifications will be addressed below -- after a brief explanation of the rationale for Level II significance values. ------- 84 - 65.2 Rationale forLevel IISignificance Values The general reationale for this three-tiered modeling approach is that where a change in SIP emission limits is likely to produce changes in ambient concentrations which are so small as to be irrelevant for air quality planning purposes, the source should be exempted from otherwise applicable full-scale air quality modeling requirements. The Court in Alabama Power £/ expressly confirmed EPA's authority to identify de minimis changes in emission levels or ambient concentrations below which there is no practical value in conducting detailed, site-specific, full-scale modeling of the effects of all sources in the area. This logic was incorporated in the de minimis provisions of the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and New Source Review (NSR) regulations promulgated by EPA on August 7, 1980. I/ The Level II significance values are nearly equivalent to (but even lower than) the ambient "design values" used by EPA to derive de minimis emissions levels (25 tons per year PM and 40 tpy SC>2) under the NSR regulations, providing a threshold level below which there is no practical value in conducting an extensive PSD review. A/ The "design values" -- or the comparable Level II significance values -- can be considered de minimis ambient values analagous to the NSR de minimis emission levels which in fact were derived from those ambient values. JL/ To be internally consistent, an air pollution control policy or regulation which includes de minimis emissions levels of 25 and 40 tpy probably should include de minimis ambient levels equivalent to the Level II values. Although lower significance values are used under the Emissions Offset Ruling, SL/ there is no better empirical justification for use of those values than for the ETPS Level II values. Moreover, the lower Offset Ruling values are used in conjunction with new sources (or major modifications) which will increase overall emissions. In contrast, Level II review for emissions trades pertains only to trades between existing sources which will not produce any increase in baseline emissions. Subsequent Changes in ET Modeling Requirements The interim ETPS was a proposal, but was made immediately effective. This seeming contradiction was intended to allow firms and states to submit bubbles and generic rules to EPA for review and approval while the Agency continued to accept public comment on the ETPS provisions. Based on EPA experience with bubble applications, and in response to comments and questions on the interim ETPS, EPA decided on a mid-course correction to revise and clarify various ET modeling requirements, An EPA headquarters memorandum in February 1983 Z/ identified and requested immediate implementation of these changes in order to ensure continued air quality equivalence of trades. ------- 84 - 65.2 Specifically, EPA refined the three-tiered modeling screen to make clear that Level I trades (i.e., no modeling required) would be prohibited: (1) in complex terrain, (2) for open dust sources, and (3) if stacks with increasing emissions are not at least of good engineering practice (GEP) to prevent downwash, since the Level I assumption -- that overall emission equivalence equalled ambient equivalence -- was questionable in these circumstances. However, trades between fugitive process and stack sources -- as well as more conventional trades between stacks -- could still be evaluated under Level I as long as the maximum distance between any emitting sources was less than 250 meters and all other Level I criteria were met. The Level II procedures were revised in two ways. First, EPA would require Level II tests for all averaging periods consistent with appropriate air quality standards, not just the short-term standards. The following significance values were set for these averaging periods: 10 ug/m3 for any 24 hour period for PM 5 " " annual " PM 13 " 24 hour " S02 46 " " 3 hour " S02 3 " " annual " SC»2 575 " " 8 hour " CO 2300 " " 1 hour " CO Table 1 compares these significance levels to National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), PSD increments and other analogous increments. Second, EPA would require that Level II trades demonstrate no significant air quality impact at any receptor on ajiy day. A refined model (e.g., CRSTER or ISC) must be used with a full year's worth of meteorological data. This "daily, temporal, spatial delta analysis", i.e., looking at daily concentration changes at every receptor, must be done for each relevant time period noted above. This requirement was adopted even though EPA modeling experience had shown there was a very low statistical probability that the date and location of a maximum ambient change from a .bubble trade would coincide with the time and place of the maximum ambient air quality impact of other sources in the area. ------- 84 - 65.2 The Agency also identified a new alternative modeling approach in lieu of full-scale modeling. If a trade "failed" the Level II test at some receptors, EPA could still approve a trade which used, limited Level III modeling, looking only at the geographical area containing those receptors, but would require that all sources contributing to ambient concentrations at those receptors (not all receptors in the area) be modeled. These changes to the ET modeling requirements, especially for Level II, were made to avoid confusion in policy interpretation by identifying clear decision rules for trade approvals. While they made the Level II test more stringent than the interim ETPS, undoubtedly causing many more trades to require additional modeling analysis, they were also felt to reflect-ambient air quality impacts more accurately and therefore to conform better to the rationale for the three-tiered modeling screen. Incidental stringency was felt to be somewhat mitigated both by the new availability of limited Level III modeling for receptor days which exceeded the significance levels, and by the fact that the Level II "net modeling" techniques could be readily carried out using refined air quality models, thus easing and expediting the development and review of emissions trades. (See "Appropriately Determining the Net Air Quality Impact of Emission Alterations in a Regulatory Context", JAPCA, April 1982). !/ Potential New Modeling Requirements and Exemptions In response to comments received on the interim ETPS and in light of experience reviewing actual bubble applications, EPA is currently considering additional changes to ET modeling requirements and exemptions. The final ETPS will incorporate the changes identified above made in February 1983. It also appears the final ETPS will say that if a Level II analysis predicts any increase in ambient concentrations in a PSD Class I area/ then full-scale dispersion modeling must be carried out at least for the Class'I receptors, since Level II significance levels are not sufficient to assure a Class I increment will not be breached. In addition there may well be a new modeling exemption category based on de minimis emission rates. If a trade did not increase actual emissions, the trade could be exempt from modeling if the emissions increases, looking only at the increasing sources (and recognizing that there would be counter-balancing emissions .decreases), are less than 25 tpy PM, 40 tpy SC>2 or 100 tpy CO. The exemption rationale is that: trades shifting less than de minimis emission amounts are unlikely to have ambient effects greater than the Level II significance values. ------- 84 - 65.2 Bubble Modeling Experience Prior to the interim ETPS all bubble trades were essentially reviewed by EPA as individual SIP revisions. EPA was able to exercise considerable discretion in determining whether an alternative emission limit should be approved. For many "pre-ETPS" bubbles, i.e., bubbles submitted to EPA prior to April 1982, a net decrease in emissions was reflected in modeled predictions of improved ambient air quality at all receptors. In other cases, model results predicted improve- ments at some receptors and degradations at other receptors. In nearly all cases predicted degradations were small (less than 5 ug/m^) and were greatly outweighed by predicted improvements in air quality at other receptors. In one case, there was a very large predicted increase (57 ug/m^) at one receptor, but there also were simultaneous improvements at other receptors, (including a 129 ug/ra^ improvement), and there were no predicted NAAQS violations. The interim ETPS set forth more specific categories of trades and criteria for bubble approvals. Later EPA policy clarifi- cations and revisions served to further define the appropriate decision rules. Table 2 identifies the modeling and principal criteria applied to EPA-approved bubble trades for S02 and PM from 1981 through 1983. 2/ (the VOC bubble trades approved by EPA did not require modeling.) Summary information on models used for EPA-approved bubbles is presented in Table 3. Half (six of eleven) of the SC>2 trades and one-quarter (four of sixteen) of the PM trades met Level I criteria and did not require modeling. CRSTER was used for seven of sixteen modeled trades, ISC for four of the sixteen, and RAM for two trades. Three other models were used for the three remaining modeled trades. Of the four Level II trades (two for PM & two for 803) •; two were approved based on the original ETPS criteria (looking only at the point of maximum concentration, after the trade). The other two were approved based on the revised criteria (looking at daily changes at all receptors). The ISC model was used for three of these four trades; CRSTER has. not yet been used for any of the trades meeting the revised Level II criteria. Clearly the bubble approval criteria have evolved toward greater specificity and consistency, affording firms and control agencies greater certainty about the approvability of a trade while ensuring the public that air quality remains protected. ------- 84 - 65.2 Table 2 Air Quality Modelingfor SO? and PM Bubbles * (In order of EPA approval) Company Principal Pollutant Model Used Approval Criteria Narragansett Elec. S02 Providence, RI Kentucky Utilities SC>2 Muhlenberg, KY Armco Inc. Middletown, OH Corning Glass Danville, KY PM Andre's Greenhouse S02 Doyleston, PA ITT Rayonier PM Jesup, GA Nat1 1 Distillers PM Woodford Co., KY 3M PM" Guin, AL Uni royal ' SC>2 Naugatuck, CT General Motors PM Defiance Co., OH Shenango PM Allegheny Co. , PA PM CRSTER Modeled concentrations predicted to be below NAAQS CRSTER Modeled concentrations predicted to be below NAAQS COM Full scale modeled demonstration of attain- ment where none previously existed none Pre-ETPS Level I CRSTER Predicted concentrations were below NAAQS, with a net allowable emissions decrease CRSTER Reduction in max. annual & 24 hr. concentrations; no NAAQS violation PTMAX Predicted maxima less than NAAQS none "Pre-ETPS" Level I RAM Predicted maxima less than NAAQS; and overall net concentration decrease ISC Demonstration of attain- ment where none previously existed CRSTER Predicted maxima less than NAAQS; and reduction in concentration at max. point * As of March 1 , 1984 ------- Table 2 (cont'd) 84 - 65.2 Owens-Corning PM Newark, OH Burlington Elec. S02 Burlington, VT Progressive Foundry PM Perry , IA Tampa Electric S02 Tampa, FL General Portland PM Tampa, Fl National Steel PM Weirton, WV US Steel PM Fairless Hills, PA US Steel Homestead, PA Scott .Paper Chester, PA S02 S02 Arbogast & Bastian S0£ Allentown, PA J.H. Thompson S02 Kennett Square, PA Bethlehem Steel PM Bethlehem, PA US Steel S02 Fairless Hills, PA Toledo Edison PM Toledo, OH DuPont PM Kins ton, NC RAM none none CRSTER CRSTER ISC none Valley/ LONGZ none none none none ISC none ISC Predicted improvements in annual maxima at all receptors Level I Level I Predicted conc'ns less than NAAQS Predicted improvement in ambient conc'ns Level II; looking only at the point of maximum concentration Level I Level II -- looking only at the point of maximum concentration Level I Level I Level I Level I Level II — looking at all receptors Level I Level II — looking at all receptors ------- 84 - 65.2 Table 3 Summary of Models Used for EPA-Approved Bubble Trades Number of bubbles for which a particular model was used: CRSTER ISC RAH COM Valley PTMAX None PM S02 4 3 3 1 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 4 ' 6 15 11 Number of Level II bubble trades conforming to: PM S02 Original ETPS Criteria (No significant impact at maximum point) 1 - ISC 1 - Valley Revised Criteria (No significant impact at any receptor) 1 - ISC »« 1 - ISC ------- 84 - 65.2 Modeling Requirements Under Generic ET Rules While pre-ETPS bubbles were all SIP revisions, more recent ones have often been approved under state generic ET rules. Once the generic rules are approved by EPA, the individual bubbles do not require EPA review. In general, under the April 1982 ETPS the same modeling requirements and exemptions apply to trades evaluated under state generic ET rules as to trades reviewed by EPA as revisions to the SIP. As indicated above, any ambient air quality review procedures under generic rules must be replicable, with "replicability" generally meaning that in the state regulation "specific modeling procedures are prescribed and that states have appropriately defined their choice of models, model inputs, and modeling techniques in applying these procedures to specific trades." IP./ The interim ETPS identified a de minirais emission category under which trades of PM, SC>2, or CO could be exempt from SIP revisions under EPA-approved generic rules. For these trades there must be no net increase in baseline emissions and the sum of the emissions increases, looking only at the increasing sources, must total less than 100 tpy. In a footnote the ETPS stated that "these trades are still subject to ambient tests. They should accordingly be evaluated by the state under the modeling screen or an equivalent approach." jj_/ The final ETPS appears likely to conform these requirements to NSR de minirais levels of 25 tpy for PM, 40 tpy for S0£, and 100 tpy for CO. Using these values would also ensure internal consistency in the ETPS by including de minirais emission levels that correspond to the "de rainimis" ambient values under Level II. [See above discussion on the rationale for Level II significance values.] Since the de minimis emission limits for PM and S02 are likely to be more stringent (i.e., changing from 100 tpy to 25 and 40 tpy respectively), the ETPS (footnote #7) requirement for modeling de minimis trades will probably be dropped. Other generic ET modeling provisions can be approved (as part of the SIP), where they can be demonstrated to protect ambient standards and PSD increments with sufficient replicability to satisfy Section 110 (i) of the Clean Air Act. The experience to date with air quality modeling requirements under generic ET rules is limited but growing. Of eleven generic bubble rules approved or proposed for approval by EPA as of March 1984, seven are limited to VOC and therefore have no modeling requirements. Some states are first developing VOC (non-modeling) trading rules before tackling PM and 803 modeling requirements. ------- 84 - 65.2 Table 4 EPA-Approved or State NJ NJ CT MA MA PA KY NC SC OR RI EPA Approval Status Approved 4/6/81 Approved 7/8/83 Approved 6/7/82 Approved 3/29/82 Proposed Approved 1/19/83 Proposed 6/28/82 Approved 7/26/82 Approved 9/3/82 Approved 8/13/82 Approved 7/6/83 (As of Pollutant VOC S02 VOC VOC VOC VOC VOC.PM S02 ,CO NOx.Pb VOC VOC , PM S02 VOC , PM S02 VOC March 1984) V-I-.H-IUUL.L *"* .,-, ,„„',„, Exemptions Level II from EPA Review All VOC trades "Level I" All VOC trades VOC surface coating trades All VOC trades Two VOC source types All VOC, NOx, De minirais , Level I & II trades All VOC trades All VOC, & Level I trades Trades under 100 tpy VOC surface coating trades in Rule? N/A No • N/A N/A N/A N/A Yes* N/A No ,»* Yes ** N/A . * Final rule being reviewed by EPA, which may disapprove Kentucky's Level II modeling as a generic rule provision. ** Level II reviews would not be exempt from EPA review unless under 100 tpy. Note: EPA has proposed to approve a generic rule for Maine, but the State has decided not to adopt a final rule. ------- 84 - 65.2 All other generic rules include modeling exemptions at least comparable to Level I. Table A summarizes these generic rules' categories for trades exempt from EPA review. New Jersey has adopted and EPA has approved 1 2/ generic rules for both VOC and SC>2, the latter being a creative alternative to the ETPS criteria. Instead of adopting Level I criteria, New Jersey provides a graphical relationship between emissions, flow rates, and stack separation to determine if a potential trade can be exempt from modeling (and thereby exempt from a SIP revision). Only one generic bubble rule (Kentucky's) includes a Level II category that would potentially exempt those trades from EPA review as SIP revisions. Kentucky's generic rule has been proposed but not yet approved by EPA 1A/, and EPA is not likely to approve the rule unless Kentucky identifies and adopts specific, replicable ET modeling procedures. Some other states are developing generic ET rules with a Level II category, but generally would still require that those trades be submitted to EPA for review and approval. Interestingly, some of these rules use different, more stringent, Level II significance values than those in EPA's policy. In June 1983 Illinois adopted a generic ET rule which includes Level II modeling (using the Offset Ruling significance levels). EPA has not yet taken any proposal or approval action on the Illinois rule. Pennsylvania is developing a multi-pollutant generic rule in addition to its current VOC bubble rule (which is limited to only two source categories). Although less advanced than Kentucky in adopting its new generic rule, Pennsylvania is farther advanced in including Level II modeling methods which EPA is likely to approve. EPA has also been assisting Georgia to identify replicable Level II modeling methodology, in order for the Georgia generic ET rule to be approvable. Finally, certain other trades can not be approved under generic rules. EPA's February 1983 "Technical Clarifications" memo noted that trades involving open dust sources or trades in complex terrain are very difficult to model in a replicable manner because of the numerous case-specific judgments regarding emission factors or terrain effects, and therefore cannot be exempted from SIP revisions. ------- 84 - 65.2 Conclusions 1. In implementing its Emissions Trading Policy Statement, EPA for the first time has focused on certain decision rules for emissions trades. Previously vague requirements have been clarified, so that Level II criteria for approving trades now provide clear decision rules for determining "ambient equivalence". 2. Because Level II modeling must now predict changes in concentration at all receptors for all averaging times (even though the predicted concentration changes are unlikely to occur at the same time when other sources are contributing to the highest ambient concentrations), the revised Level II decision rules are very conservative, i.e., air quality protective. 3. Clear, consistent decision rules let companies know whether specific emissions trades are approvable, and companies have been able to develop approvable bubbles under the revised Level I and II criteria. 4. Clear, consistent decision rules also let states know what kinds of generic emissions trading rules can be approved by EPA, thereby exempting certain trades from EPA review. Generic rules limited to VOC or to modeling exemption categories for other pollutants have been roost readily adopted. 5. The current criteria and decision rules still do not get to the issue of whether a "significant" predicted degradation at a receptor should sometimes be tolerated -- if on balance there is a net air quality improvement. There are many ways to define and to determine a net air quality benefit, including use of the daily, spatial and temporal analysis currently required under Level II. Opportunities to develop alternative decision criteria should be investigated, ------- Footnotes 1. 47 Federal Register 15076, April 7, 1982 2. Alabama Power Co. v. Costle. 636 F.2d 323 (1979) 3. 45 Federal Register 52676, August 7, 1980 4. 45 Federal Register 52733, August 7, 1980. The Level II significance valuesare the same as the air quality significance values used for determining whether pre-construction monitoring should be required for New Source Review in PSD areas. EPA does not require a source to generate pre-construction monitoring data if the modeled, i.e., predicted, changes in concentration it will produce are less than the significance values. 5. The first step in developing NSR de tninirais emission rates was the establishment of air quality "design values." The Administrator decided to use 4% of the 24-hour primary NAAQS as -a design value for PM and S02. According to the preamble to the August 7, 1980 NSR regulations, the design value for PM would be 10.4 ug/m^ and the value for SC>2 would be 14.6 ug/ra . 6. 40 CFR 50, Appendix S 7. February 17, 1983 memorandum from Sheldon Meyers, Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards to EPA Regional Air Division Directors, "Emissions Trading -- Technical Clarifications"' 8. Youngblood, Phillip L., "Appropriately Determining the Net Air Quality Impact of Emission Alterations in a Regulatory Context", Journal oftheAir Pollution Control Association, April 1982, Vol. 32, No. 4, p. 385. 9. The information was obtained from state submittal of bubble requests, and Fejderal Register approval notices prepared by EPA. 10. See the Emissions Trading Policy Statement and Technical Issues Document, especially 47 FR 15084, April 7, 1982. 11. 47 FR 15085, April 7, 1982, footnote #7. 12. 48 FR 31398, July 8, 1983 13. 47 FR 27871, June 28, 1982 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Librarv. Poom 2404 PM-211-A 401 M Street, S.W. V7ashington, DC 20460 ......' ------- |