Overview/Update of EPA

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Overview/Update of EPAs Mercury Emissions
Monitoring ProgramScott Hedges, USEPA,
CAMDEPRI CEM Users Group MeetingPhoenix, AZMay
9 - 11, 2007
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Background

• The Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR) requires
  sources to install and certify mercury monitoring
  systems by January 1, 2009
• Affected sources have begun ordering monitoring
  and data acquisition systems
• Vendors have expressed a high level of confidence
  that continuous mercury emission monitoring
  systems will be available to meet industry needs
  and CAMR requirements

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Background

• Development of the CAMR monitoring program has
  been a collaborative effort between EPA (OAQPS,
  ORD, CAMD), NIST and industry (EPRI, RMB, WRI,
  EERC and others)
• EPA continues its full commitment to working with
  utilities, vendors, academia, NIST, and other
  organizations to successfully develop all aspects
  of the CAMR mercury monitoring program
• Most major technical issues are behind us but
  some challenges remain

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Mercury Monitoring Next Steps

• Promulgate instrumental and sorbent-based mercury
  reference methods
• Develop NIST-traceable calibration gases and
  protocols
• Develop training materials and conduct training
  for EPA Regions, States and sources
• Ordering, installation and certification of
  monitors by sources
• Collect, quality assure, and report data

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Availability of Alternative Reference Methods

• EPA is preparing a rule package for both the
  instrumental and sorbent-based reference methods
• Process being expedited through direct final rule
  making effort
• Final rule tentatively scheduled for early August
  publication in the Federal Register
• Would become final in October if no adverse
  comments are received

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Proposed Monitoring Changes to Part 75

• Proposed Part 75 rule changes published August
  22, 2006
• Comment period closed in October 06
• Reference Method 29 proposed as an alternative
  Ontario Hydro reference method
• Minor technical/procedural changes proposed to
  Subpart I of Part 75 including adding
  multiple/common stack heat input procedures
• Solicited comments relating to the development of
  reference method based on sorbent trap technology
• Received comments were not extensive -
  essentially supportive of changes
• Rule expected to become final late summer

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Additional Hg-Related Part 75 Changes being
Considered

• Possible changes to Subpart B (Monitoring
  Provisions) and Appendix K being considered for
  inclusion in the Alternative Reference Method
  Rule Package
• Providing minor clarifications to the Hg
  monitoring and measurement provisions
• Requiring same type of sorbent material used
  during an Appendix K RATA also be used during
  daily operation
• Allowing smaller sorbent traps to be used during
  an Appendix K RATA than used during daily
  operation
• will reduce the required sampling time per run
• Removing spike recovery normalization correction
  to sorbent trap monitoring systems
• Tightening spike recovery acceptance criteria for
  sorbent trap monitoring systems
• Providing alternatives to dry gas meters in
  Appendix K (e.g., allowing the use of thermal
  mass flow meters)

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NIST-Traceable Hg Calibration Standards

• EPA and NIST continue their collaborative work to
  provide NIST traceability for elemental and
  oxidized mercury calibration standards
• We are expecting to have NIST-traceability
  protocol documents this year for use in
  certifying CEMS and sorbent trap monitoring
  systems

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NIST-Traceable Hg Calibration Standards

• To date EPA
• Has prepared working draft elemental mercury gas
  generator traceability protocol
• Will be incorporating user-friendly uncertainty
  calculation spreadsheets into the draft
• Working draft has been sent to vendors
• Is preparing oxidized mercury gas traceability
  protocol

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NIST-Traceable Hg Calibration Standards

• To date NIST
• Has developed draft certification procedures for
  elemental and oxidized mercury gas generators
  (vendor-prime generators)
• Invited generator vendors to come in and begin
  certifying elemental mercury gas generators

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Mercury Monitoring Other Issues

• Allow time for adequate installation and
  certification of monitors
• If youre planning on reporting emissions using
  the Low Mass Emissions (LME) option, make sure
  your unit qualifies
• If youre installing an FGD and new stack(s) in
  2009, consider petitioning the Agency for relief

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• Questions? Comments?
• THANK YOU!