CLEAN
A i R
T ECHNOLOGY
CENTER
&EPA
Fall 1998
EPA-456/N-98-002
CATC Information Bulletin
Fall 1998
Well, the CATC has completed its first full year. Our stats indicate that
activity has picked up considerably, especially through our Web sites. Thank
you for your support and cooperation during our transition from the old CTC.
Remember, we're here to help with your air pollution problems. Just call or send
E-mail (see enclosed brochure). We'll be happy to help.
Our last CATC Information Bulletin (Winter 1998) requested old CTC
News recipients to resubscribe if they wanted to continue to be on our mailing
list (postal mail for non-EPA staff). Many did not resubscribe. So, please share
this Information Bulletin and enclosed CATC brochure with those who may have
need of CATC services. We also welcome comments and suggestions to
improve our services and products and look forward to hearing from you.
We tend to use a lot of ACRONYMS, so we've included a section called
Short-Talk at the end of this newsletter. Just refer to this section if you need
help with an ACRONYM.
New Reports and Technical Bulletins:
Landfill Gas Emissions Model (LandGEM) version
2.01 and "User's Manual -
Landfill Gas Emissions Model," EPA-600/R-98-054,
May 1998. (CATC)
CATC Product
Information
Technical Bulletin: "Zeolite, A Versatile Air Pollutant Adsorber," EPA-456/F-98-
004, July 1998. (CATC)
"RACT/BACT/LAER Clearinghouse Annual Report for 1998: A compilation of
Control Technology Determinations" EPA-456/R-98-004, June 1998. (RBLC)
"RACT/BACT/LAER Clearinghouse Information System (RBLC) User's
Manual," EPA-456/B-98-002. (RBLC)
"Emisiones al Aire de la Combustion de Llantas I/sac/as," Spanish language
version of "Air Emissions from Scrap Tire Combustion" (EPA-600/R-97-115),
October 1997. (CICA)
Coming Attractions:
The long awaited paint spray gun cleaning equipment test method
report is finally making progress. The draft report has been reviewed and
comments are being addressed. A final report is expected in early 1999.
The CATC is working on several Technical Bulletins. Topics include selection
of an adsorber for VOC control, NOx control and prevention, VOC-free
coatings, and refrigerated condensers. We hope to release one Technical
Bulletin every 3 months. Check the CATC Web, Product Information, for the
latest release.
CICA is finalizing reports on auto refinishing in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico,
unique emission sources in Mexican, Mexico, and emissions from street
vendor cooking activities. All of these reports should be available by January
31, 1999.
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Technology &
Regulation Data Bases
RBLC Web Developments:
The RBLC has experienced some
delays in entering and updating data due to
a change in contractor support. The new
contractor is now onboard and things should
be returning to normal. We hope to add links
to the text of all regulations summarized in
our regulation data base, software tools to help you evaluate control/prevention
options, and a library of useful reference material. Thanks for your patience and
cooperation as we gradually transform the RBLC Web into a more user-friendly and
useful Web site.
NSR Early Notification System: The RBLC will be the home for the NSR
Early Notification System. Prototype development work is now underway.
Current plans are to replace the old RBLC Transient data base on the TTN BBS
with the NSR Early Notification System and make it an integral part of entering new
data into the RBLC Web. The Transient data base currently stores new
determinations prior to promotion to the main RBLC data base. Our goal is to
provide agencies with a convenient way to enter the required early notification
information on new permit applications. This will allow Federal Land Managers and
others responsible for protecting our natural resources to identify potential
problems early in the permitting process. In addition, the notification will serve as
an initial data entry into the RBLC with provisions to complete data entry as permits
are processed and finalized. The early notification program will be required in final
NSR regulations scheduled to be promulgated in June 1999. The RBLC's NSR
early Notification System will be operational by the promulgation date.
New/Innovative Technology Web Site: The RBLC is developing a
prototype Web site that will allow vendors to post information on new and emerging
air pollution technologies, and probably existing technologies. Our goal is to
provide timely access to information on new technologies to help you identify
options and make decisions related to RACT/BACT/LAER or other regulatory
requirements. We hope to have a prototype available by April 1999.
Contributions to the RBLC: Thank you for all the updates and additions to
the RBLC. The RBLC has been working with EPA Regional Offices to identify
and include determinations that need to be in the Clearinghouse. In addition to
RACT, BACT, and LAER permits, you should also submit any precedent-setting
technology application that achieves a lower emission rate, is more cost
effective, and/or demonstrates a new or innovative approach in controlling or
preventing air pollution. Often the best solutions are demonstrated by sources
trying to avoid the NSR process by getting under applicability emission
thresholds. Even if these accomplishments are not subject to NSR, they need
to be in the RBLC.
If you need a little more motivation, remember that the CAA requires
agencies to submit LAER determinations. New NSR rules will require the same
for BACT determinations and also will require that a source be listed in the NSR
Early Notification System (i.e., to be part of the RBLC) before a valid permit can
be issued. So, for those of you who are RBLC contributors, thankyou and keep
up the good work. For those of you who are not yet contributing or are
procrastinating, we suggest that you get into the habit of entering data now and
avoid the rush when the new NSR rules are promulgated in June 1999.
MACT STANDARDS / AIR TOXICS
The latest information on MACT standards (including schedules),
hazardous air pollutants (HAP), urban air toxics and/or air toxics program
activities in general can be found on the Unified Air Toxics Web site (UATW) on
the TTN. To directly access the UATW, go to .
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ACCESS TO CATC SERVICES
Fourth Quarter FY98
ACTIVITY
4th Qtr. FY98
Yr-to-Date Change From 4th Qtr. FY97
HOTLINE:
CATC Calls 223
CATC Products 50
CATC Web/BBS 19,763
RBLC 7,401
Small Business 924
Total Accesses to
CATC Services 28,361
1,088
903
61,728
26,764
5,448
95,931
+ 23%
- 46%
+ 72%
+ 20%
+131%
+ 52%
Small
Business
Assistance
"Potential to Emit: A Guide for Small
Businesses" should be available by December
1998. Prepared by the Small Business Assistance
Program (SBAP), this document will provide plain
English guidance to owners and operators of small businesses on what is
potential to emit, and how to determine potential to emit for their facility
(including example calculations). Information on how to obtain a copy of this
guidebook will be available on the SBAP Web site (www.epa.gov/ttn/sbap).
Short Talk
CAA-
CTC-
HAP-
LAER-
MACT-
NOx-
NSR-
RACT-
RBLC-
TTN-
UATW
VOC-
Clean Air Act
Control Technology Center (now CATC)
Hazardous Air Pollutants
Lowest Achievable Emission Rate
Maximum Achievable Control Technology
Oxides of Nitrogen
New Source Review
Reasonably Available Control Technology
RACT/BACT/LAER Clearinghouse
Technology Transfer Network
-Unified Air Toxics Web Site
Volatile Organic Compounds
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