State/Local Spotlight: Rhode Island Amends Nuisance Regulation by Barbara Morin, Rhode Island Division of Air and Hazardous Materials NATICH NEWSLETTER &ERA 453N91001 Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711 0 MJN?©© State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials Produced by the National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse January 1991 In July 1990, Rhode Island amended Air Pollution Control Regulation No. 7, Emission of Air Contaminants Detrimental to Per- son or Property, one of the 22 air pollution control regulations the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) enforces. The regulation had consisted of a one- sentence statement: "No person shall emit any contaminant which either alone or in connection with other emissions, by reason of their concentration or duration, may be injurious to human, plant or animal life, or cause damage to property or which unreasonably interferes with the enjoyment of life and property." The lack of specificity of the regulation has traditionally given the DEM latitude in eval- uating nuisance situations. How- ever, in recent years this has resulted in extensive debate over what constitutes an adequate demonstration of the lack of threat to human, plant and animal life. While the earlier version of the standard continues to apply for ex- isting sources, the health and wel- fare impacts of new sources are now evaluated by a standardized set of criteria. Potential health im- pacts are demonstrated by com- pliance with (1) National Ambient Air Quality Standards, (2) Accep- table Ambient Levels listed in the Air Toxics Regulation (Air Pollu- tion Control Regulation No. 22), (3) calculated Acceptable Ambient Levels that are derived for pol- lutants not regulated in the above categories, and (4) the criteria in the DEM document, "Guidelines for Assessing Health Risks for Proposed Air Pollution Sources." These guidelines stipulate that applicants for permits to construct resource recovery plants or power plants that are major sources and have heat input capacities greater than or equal to 250 million BTUs per hour conduct multi-pathway risk assessments using specified procedures. The risk assessments must include an evaluation of a number of pollutants. Several ex- posure pathways must also be evaluated including inhalation of indoor and outdoor air; ingestion of soil, dust, water, vegetables, meat, milk, fish, and mother's milk; and dermal exposure to water, soil, and dust. Health impacts are assessed by comparing intake of each pollu- tant via all applicable routes to the corresponding EPA Oral Reference Dose or Inhalation Reference Concentration* as applicable for each exposure route, as well as the dose corresponding to a cancer risk of 10"5 where applicable. Ap- plicants must also evaluate cumulative effects of exposure to multiple pollutants by calculating hazard indices (the sum of the ratios of the intake of each pollu- tant to the corresponding Oral Reference Dose or Inhalation Reference Concentration for each exposure route) and total car- cinogenic risk. The guidelines also require a simplified risk analysis from small fossil fuel power plants having (continued on page 2) In This Issue Air Pathway Analysis Guide Revised 2 South Carolina Regulates 285 Air Toxics 2 New Mexico's Program Addresses New and Existing Sources 3 AEERL Develops Indoor Air Pollution Document 4 Air RISC Responds to Nickel, Styrene, and Indoor Air Questions 5 New OAQPS Branch Focuses on Emission Factors and Inventories 6 OAQPS Updates VOC/PM Species Data 6 EMTIC Activities Highlighted 7 ------- Rhode Island (continued) capacities greater than 100 million BTUs per hour which do not meet the above criteria, sewage sludge incinerators and biomedical waste incinerators. The guidelines specify procedures to estimate soil impacts and to evaluate the acceptability of such impacts, considering both carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic health effects. The DEM plans to update the guidelines periodically to reflect state-of-the-art procedures. For more information or to get a copy of the guidelines, contact Barbara Morin at (401) 277-2808, Rhode Island Division of Air and Hazar- dous Materials, 291 Promenade Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02908-5767. *See related articles in the Newsletter issues for July 1988 and November 1990. Air Pathway Analysis Guide Revised The OAQPS has recently up- dated and revised Volume II (EPA-450/1-89-002) of the four volume series of Air/Superfund National Technical Guidance Study Series. This series provides guid- ance on conducting air pathway analyses at Superfund hazardous waste sites. The revised report, EPA-450/l-89-002a, has received review by the Air/Superfund Technical Advisory Committee, Regional Air/Superfund Coordi- nators, and Superfund contractors who will be using the report. It presents available methods for estimating air emissions at Super- fund hazardous waste sites prior to any remedial action. Estimation methods include direct emission measurement techniques, indirect measurement methods, and predic- tive emissions modeling. Techni- ques are compared and case ex- amples are provided. Specific revi- sions to the report are: • Revised models for estimating emissions from co-disposal landfills; • New information on long path monitoring; • Expansion of information on measurement techniques and emission models for PM and VOC; • Comparison of estimation methods on the basis of cost, accuracy, complexity, time re- quirements, sensitivity, ap- plicable species, and data outputs; • New information on assessing impacts of indoor air quality of homes or structures adjacent to Superfund sites; • Inclusion of Superfund Exposure Assessment Manual models; • Expansion of information on emission models - the com- parison, selection, and data in- put of models; and • Inclusion of physical and chemical property data for selected compounds. The volume is available through the National Technical In- formation Service (NTIS PB90- 270588). Revisions are planned as new information becomes avail- able. Comments on this document may be sent to PEI Associates, Inc., 3170 University Drive, Suite 201, Durham, North Carolina 27707. South Carolina Regulates 258 Air Toxics by J. Preston Campbell, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Bureau of Air Quality Control The Board of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) approved Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 8 Toxic Air Pollutants on August 9, 1990. Originally proposed in 1987, the regulation now includes both new and existing sources, and sets a 2-year compliance date that starts with the effective date of the regulation. A total of 159 chem- icals are listed, each with an allowable ambient concentration based on the ACGIH TLV or, where TLVs were not established, on OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Recommended Exposure Limits, LC50 (inhalation concentration at which 50 percent of the exposed population dies) data, or another recognized source. Each value is then divided by a safety factor. The pollutants are divided into three categories based on chronic exposure: • Category I - Low Toxicity: pollutants that cause readily reversible changes that disap- pear once exposure ends; • Category II - Moderate Toxicity: pollutants that may cause chronic reversible or irreversible changes but that do not result in death or permanent injury; and • Category III - High Toxicity: pollutants that may cause chronic effects that result in death or permanent injury after very brief exposure to small quantities. 2 ------- South Carolina (continued) The initial list of chemicals to be regulated was developed after a review of existing or proposed air toxics regulations in nine States. In addition, 37 chemicals under assessment by the U.S. EPA at the time were considered. The goal was to include pollutants with chronic rather than acute health effects be- cause both dispersion models and permit limits assume continuous emissions (8760 hours). Chemicals with no reported chronic health ef- fects were automatically eliminated from the list. In addition, chemicals with few or no significant emission sources in or likely to be in South Carolina were deleted. For sources with potential emissions of any single toxic air pollutant of 1,000 pounds per month or greater, an operating per- mit is required; permit require- ments for smaller sources are ex- amined on a case-by-case basis. All sources must provide data on toxic emissions. The same criteria apply to the permitting of construction projects. Toxic emissions data pro- vided by the source will be used in the latest versions of EPA air dis- persion models to predict concen- trations and determine compliance. The SCDHEC held a public hearing on November 2, 1990, on the addition of 101 chemicals to the air toxics regulation. These chemicals are the hazardous air pollutants in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 that South Carolina was not yet regulating. Sixteen statements were taken at the hearing and 56 written com- ments have been received. Approx- imately two-thirds of the com- ments were citizens in favor of tox- ic air regulations; the rest were re- quests from industry for various modifications or clarifications. With the passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments, this list has been shortened to 99 and SCDHEC is currently considering the public comments. They expect a revised list to be in effect by June 1991. For further information on the South Carolina air toxics program, contact Preston Campbell, Section Manager, Air Toxics Section, or M. K. Batavia, Director, Engineer- ing Services Division, Bureau of Air Quality Control, SCDHEC, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201, (803) 734-4750 or Fax (803) 734-4556. New Mexico's Program Addresses New and Existing Sources by Bill Blankenship, Program Manage^ Control Strategy Section, New Mexico Air Quality Bureau When New Mexico began to draft Air Quality Control Regula- tions (AQCRs) in 1986, the Federal National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants program did not adequately address air tox- ics. In addition, the U.S. EPA was encouraging States to develop an air toxics program as part of the National Air Toxics Strategy through the Clean Air Act Section 105 grant process. At the State level, the New Mexico Air Quality Bureau did not have an air toxics emissions inventory to use to iden- tify areas for possible public health concerns. Furthermore, the State new source review program primarily focuses on criteria pollutants. In December 1986, the State Environmental Improvement Board adopted AQCR 752-Regi- stration of Existing Toxic Air Pollution Sources, a one-time reporting requirement for existing sources. A second regulation that expanded AQCR 702-Permits to include new air toxics sources was proposed but rejected. Following revisions, the Board adopted AQCR 702-Part Three-Permits for Toxic Air Pollutant Emissions that took effect December 31, 1988. Registration of Existing Sources Complete The AQCR 752 required ex- isting sources of air toxics to register with the Bureau by December 31, 1988. Toxic air pollutants are defined as chemicals with ACGIH TLVs (1986-1987). The regulation specifies an emis- sions threshold for potential uncon- trolled sources that is calculated by dividing the TLV by 15. This value represents an emission rate that produces 1 percent of the TLV at the facility's fenceline, assuming conservative stack parameters for a hypothetical emission source. The Bureau received over 400 responses that included all major emitters. The final inventory con- tained 92 facilities, a total of 321 point sources and 174 pollutants. Table 1 shows emission totals for ten pollutants. The State's inven- tory is more comprehensive for New Mexico than the EPA's Toxic Release Inventory (only 11 sources are required to report under SARA Title III Section 313) because it includes a longer list of pollutants, more Standard Industrial Classifi- cation Codes, and small sources who report voluntarily. Based on an analysis of the reported data, the largest sources are refineries, coal-fired power plants, and copper smelters. The Bureau began to develop a plan to evaluate the need for specific regulations for oil refineries. However, with the passage of the new Clean Air Act Amendments, refinery emissions are expected to 3 ------- New Mexico (continued) be controlled through operating permits which would incorporate any new Federal emission stan- dards for refineries. The Bureau's next step is to review the data again and decide whether regula- tions for other major industries are needed. New Sources Subject to Permitting Under AQCR 702, emissions of over 700 chemicals included in the ACGIH list are subject to per- mitting. New sources must eval- uate their emissions potential prior to construction and compare them to specified emission thresholds (calculated in the same manner as in AQCR 752) to determine the need to apply for a permit. The Bureau begins the permit review by determining the poten- tial maximum 8-hour ambient con- centration measured at the facili- ty's fenceline. The permit is granted if 0.1 percent of the TLV is not exceeded; if exceeded, the permit process becomes more com- plex. Depending on whether the pollutant is a carcinogen (defined as those considered carcinogenic Table 1. Total Emissions for Select Pollutants Substance Emitted Tons Per Year Gasoline 6825.5 Nitrogen monoxide 1173.5 Sulfuric acid 865.4 Hydrogen sulfide 481.5 Hydrochloric acid 402.6 Ammonia 247.0 Asphalt fumes 215.5 Toluene 200.0 Quartz 193.5 Formaldehyde 38.0 by ACGIH), the second step varies. For noncarcinogens, the appli- cant must prepare a health assess- ment. The Bureau reviews this and decides whether emissions from the new source will, with reason- able probability, injure human health. If the source will emit a car- cinogen, the permit application must show that the applicant will install the best available control technology (BACT). Unlike the Federal PSD program, the State definition of BACT requires that the facility consider process changes and substitution of materials. The control require- ments are strictly technology based; the regulation does not re- quire that any residual health risk be identified. The permit requirements went into effect on December 31, 1989. As of mid-December 1990, only one permit had been issued under the new program, although several applications are under review. In addition to reevaluating data collected under AQCR 752 and new source permits review under AQCR 702 Part Three, New Mexico will be evaluating and im- plementing the new Clean Air Act amendments. Also, they may pro- mulgate their own air toxics regulations on a case-by-case basis. For more information on New Mexico's air toxics program, con- tact John Vance, New Mexico Air Quality Bureau, 1190 St. Francis Drive, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503 or call (505) 827-0044. AEERL Develops Indoor Air Pollution Sources Document Although research by both the U.S. EPA and the Consumer Pro- duct Safety Commission indicates that many building materials and products commonly found in homes and offices may be sources of harmful air pollutants, no com- plete characterization of the sources has been done. The EPA's Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory (AEERL) has undertaken a systematic approach to identifying sources and their potential to pollute indoor air. The project is focusing on one of five categories of indoor air pollution sources; materials found in homes or offices that are emis- sion sources. The other sources in- clude indoor combustion sources; outdoor sources; biological sources; and activities, such as vacuuming or using photocopy machines, which result in emissions to the in- door air. Material sources include construction materials, interior fix- tures and furnishings, and con- sumer products used in the building. The AEERL plans to present the results in three documents. The first report has been devel- oped, and presents a classification of building materials, fixtures and furnishings, and consumer pro- ducts used or found in homes or offices, regardless of their potential to emit air pollutants. The purpose of this classification is to define the universe of materials and products in homes and offices, to create an organized list of these materials and products, and to establish a nomenclature for future indoor air quality work. The classification will be developed by reviewing the approximately 11,000 products for which data are collected by the Census of Manufactures and presented in the Standard Indus- trial Classification (SIC) Code manual, and will be cross-refer- enced by the architectural code, Masterspec. Materials used in con- nection with the construction of homes and office buildings, as well as products typically brought in- side homes and offices, were iden- tified. Products that were not rele- vant, for example, industrial gases, 4 ------- (continued) were eliminated. The final docu- ment will contain all potential con- struction materials or products found in homes and office build- ings organized by their respective SIC Code. The second report will be a catalog of products taken from the first report that are thought to be potential sources of indoor air pollution. Information on chemical constituents, usage, and sources of existing emissions data will be in- cluded. To produce this catalog, the first report will be reviewed and products that are considered to have little or no potential for emissions will be eliminated. This process will be based on a review of the literature on indoor air emis- sions and three criteria: the quanti- ty of product produced, composi- tional information (what chemicals does the product contain), and the nature of its use (what is the likelihood of human exposure to materials emitted). This report will be helpful in identifying products that may warrant further study to establish their effect on indoor air. The third report will serve as a handbook for architects, building contractors, and homeowners. It will provide information on chemi- cals that may be emitted from pro- ducts, exposure, and low- or non- emitting alternatives for a selected group of commonly used materials and products. The target audience for this handbook will be archi- tects, building contractors, and homeowners who make decisions on what types of building mater- ials to use and what types of pro- ducts to bring into their homes and office buildings. The first report was published in October 1990, and is available as EPA Report Number 600/8-90- 074. The catalog and handbook documents are targeted for publi- cation in fall 1991 and summer 1992, respectively. For more information on these indoor air documents, contact James White, AEERL, at (919) 541-1189 or (FTS) 629-1189. Air RISC Responds to Nickel, Styrene, and Indoor Air Questions The Air Risk Information Sup- port Center (Air RISC) provides technical assistance to State and local air pollution control agencies on air toxics questions pertaining to health, exposure, and risk assessment* Air RISC assistance includes a hotline, in-depth tech- nical evaluations and retrieval of information, and broader technical guidance. Air RISC received ap- proximately 600 calls between Oc- tober 1989 and September 1990. Three requests are described as examples of the types of assistance that the Center provides. In the first request, the State of Maryland asked Air RISC to confirm Maryland's risk assess- ment approach for nickel com- pounds. In their screening analysis for nickel compounds, Maryland made conservative exposure and dose- response assumptions. All nickel and nickel compounds with- out potency factors are assumed to be as toxic as nickel refinery dust for which a potency factor has been determined. The Center recommended this approach in the screening analysis. However, if a source fails the screening analysis, they recommended a source- specific risk assessment based on any health risk information avail- able for the site and an alternate potency factor. The alternate potency factor should only be used where the source can supply ade- quate justification for its selection. Air RISC has also received re- cent requests from air pollution control agencies in Kansas, Ver- mont, Michigan, and Louisiana to clarify EPA's position on the car- cinogenicity of styrene. EPA's Human Health Assessment Group (HHAG) responded to these re- quests with an explanation of the Agency's ongoing review of the in- halation data found in the 1986 EPA Drinking Water Criteria Document. The HHAG stated that styrene will receive a classification of between Group D (not classifi- able as to human carcinogenicity) and Group B2 (probable human carcinogen) once the Agency releases either their final position or a status report within the next several months. In the third call, representa- tives from Virginia contacted Air RISC seeking advise on an indoor mold problem. A persistent odor was thought to be causing them severe esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus), dizziness, numbness and confusion, and a doctor had recommended they abandon the house. The local and State health departments were unequipped to conduct a site visit. Air RISC contacted EPA's Indoor Air Office and specialists in biological contaminants. Dr. Harriet Burge at the University of Michigan discovered an improperly constructed flue in their home that was trapping rainwater and harbor- ing a large mold colony. For assistance, the Air RISC hotline telephone number is (919) 541-0888 or (FTS) 629-0888. *See related articles in the November 1988 and March 1990 issues. 5 ------- New OAQPS Branch Focuses on Emission Factors and Inventories Developing good estimates for how much of a given pollutant is being emitted and from what sources has always been key to determining proper controls and program emphasis. The Clean Air Act Amendments are expected to increase the need for emission fac- tors and inventories for both cri- teria pollutants and air toxics. Con- sequently, a new Emission Inven- tory Branch in the Technical Sup- port Division (TSD) of the EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards has been formed to be the focal point of these activities. This Branch replaces the criteria pollutant emission factor/inventory components of the Monitoring and Reports Branch of TSD and the air toxics emission factor/inventory components of the Noncri^eria Pollutant Programs Branch of the Air Quality Management Division. With a staff of 12, the Branch will continue its predecessors' em- phasis on technology transfer and emission estimation technology im- provements. In addition to the recently revised XATEF* data base, the Branch has released SPECIATE Version 1.32a (see inset). The SPECIATE data base contains speciation profiles for more than 300 VOC and PM sources each. The Branch is also in the process of developing an Emissions CD- ROM disk and CHIEF, a new bulletin board option in the TSD bulletin board system.** The Emissions CD will contain XATEF, SPECIATE, AFSEF, a data base containing criteria pollutant emis- sion factors, the Locating and Estimating Air Emissions from Sources of (Pollutant) series of reports, and AP-42. The Emissions CD will be released in the summer of 1991. The CHIEF, Clearing- house for Inventories and Emission Factors, is designed to provide electronic bulletin board system access to several tools for esti- mating emissions of criteria and toxic air pollutants. The CHIEF will serve as a central clearing- house for the latest information on emission inventories and emission factors, and is expected to be in operation in January 1991. For information on inventory procedures for criteria pollutants and air toxics, call (919) 541-0875; for emission factor information, call (919) 541-5522. For further in- formation on XATEF, SPECIATE, the Emissions CD, or CHIEF, please contact Anne Pope, U.S. EPA, MD-14, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, or call (919) 541-5373 or (FTS) 629-5373. *See related articles in the March 1990 and September 1990 issues. * *See related article in the September 1990 issue. OAQPS Updates VOC/PM Species Data The OAQPS has revised and expanded the "Air Emissions Species Manual," (EPA-450/2-90-001a and b) and the VOC/PM Species Data System* The new system, SPECIATE, presents species profiles for both VOCs and PM. By applying the species profiles to either total VOC or PM emissions estimates, the weight percentage of specific VOCs or the elemental composition of PM can be estimated for the source categories covered in the system. SPECIATE now contains about 250 VOC profiles for 30 industrial and nonindustrial source categories and over 300 PM profiles for 20 source categories. The data base requires an IBM AT PC™ or compatible machine that runs MS-DOS™ version 3.0 or later, at least 640 KB of free RAM, a fixed disk drive with at least 5 MB of storage, and a 5 1/4-inch external drive. The system is distributed on one high- density (1.2 MB) 5 1/4-inch diskette with a user's manual. Because of the large size of the manual (over 1500 pages), EPA has discontinued making it available in hard copy and will only be distributing the data on diskette. The diskette and manual are free to government agencies and non-profit organizations through Anne Pope, EPA, OAQPS, Emissions Inventory Branch, MD-14, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, or call (919) 541-5373 or (FTS) 629-5373. Private (for profit) requestors should order through the National Technical Information Service or Radian Cor- poration [contact Joel Watson at (919) 541-9100]. *See related articles in the November 1988 and March 1990 issues. 6 ------- EMTIC Activities Highlighted The Emission Measurement Technical Information Center (EMTIC) was established in 1988 as an information exchange net- work * Comprised of representa- tives from EPA Headquarters, Regional Offices, and State and local agencies, EMTIC's goal is to promote nationally consistent and uniform application of Stationary Source Emission test methods in the development and enforcement of emission control programs. To this end, EMTIC has been encouraging the development of a national source testing accredita- tion program. The EMTIC has reviewed an outline prepared by the Source Evaluation Society and the Center is represented on the EPA ad hoc panel on laboratory accreditation. In June 1990, EMTIC released their first draft of the Test Method Storage and Retrieval System (TSAR), a computerized test method information filing system. The system contains emission testing contacts and abstracts for test methods, test reports, techni- cal assistance records, and alter- native test method evaluation pro- cedures, decisions, and results. Run on MS-DOS, TSAR allows users to review, list, and print abstracts selected through menus. The EMTIC also provides in- formation via its quarterly mailing. The October package contained several sampling and analysis methods for nitrogen oxides, re- cent relevant Federal Register notices, and the Benzene Equip- ment Leak Inspection Manual —5M) JiVFORM^^0 (EPA-340/1-90-001), among other publications. Other projects include produc- ing videos and holding workshops. Videos on PMio and VOC sam- pling are available free to the public; scripts for a VOC leak de- tection video and a gas chroma- tograph sampling (EPA Method 18) video are complete. The EM- TIC plans several more videos over the next year including ones on multiple metals testing and chromium emissions testing. Seven workshops have also been com- pleted and four more are sche- duled for 1991. The general goal is to provide an overview of technical developments in emissions testing; specific objectives for each work- shop are tailored to the requests from the Regional Office nearest the workshop location. For more information on EMTIC or any of the Center's projects, contact Roy Huntley, EPA, MD-19, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711. The EMTIC's telephone number is (919) 541-2237 or (FTS) 629-2237. The TSAR is available to the private sector by joining the Source Evaluation Society, Post Office Box 12124, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709. The first year's dues are $10.00. The public sector may ac- cess TSAR through the OAQPS Technical Support Division bulletin board system.** *See related articles in the March 1989 and September 1990 issues. * *See the related article in the September 1990 issue. The NATICH Newsletter is published six times a year by the National Air Tbxics Information Clearinghouse. The Newsletter is prepared by Radian Corporation under EPA Contract Number 68-D8-0065, Work Assignment 3-1. The EPA Project Officer is Martha Keating, EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, Telephone: (919)541-5346. The Radian Project Director is Susan Buchanan, P. O. Box 13000, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, (919)541-9100. The Newsletter is distributed free of charge. To report address changes, write Meredith Haley, Radian Corporation, P. O. Box 13000, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709. The views expressed in the NATICH Newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute any endorsement or recommendation for use by EPA. Printed on recycled papee 7 ------- Martha Keating Pollutant Assessment Branch U.S. Environmental Protection Agency MD-13 Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 FIRST CLASS MAIL U.S. Postage Paid E.P.A. Permit No. G-35 ------- |