Proposed Air Quality Permit 6648-A1 - Gallaudet University

PUBLIC NOTICE

Proposed Air Quality Permit 6648-A1, Gallaudet University, One 12.60 MMBTU/hr dual fuel boiler at the Central Utilities Building of Gallaudet University, 800 Florida Avenue NE

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to 40 C.F.R. Part 51.161, D.C. Official Code §2-505, and 20 DCMR §210,  the Air Quality Division (AQD) of the District Department of the Environment (DDOE), located at 1200 First Street NE, 5^th Floor, Washington, DC, intends to issue an air quality permit amendment (#6648-A1) to Gallaudet University to construct and operate one (1) 12.60 MMBtu per hour dual fuel (natural gas and No. 2 fuel oil) fired boiler (burner model number LNICM9A-GO-30) at the Gallaudet University Central Utilities Building, located at 800 Florida Avenue NE, Washington, DC, 20002. The contact person for the facility is Amon Brown, Interim Director, Maintenance and Operations, Gallaudet University, at (202) 651-5007.    The facility’s mailing address is 800 Florida Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002.

Emissions:

Maximum emissions from the unit operating 24 hours per day for 365 days per year burning natural gas are expected to be as follows:

	Maximum Annual Emissions
Pollutant	(tons/yr)
Particulate Matter (PM) (Total)	0.265
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)	0.028
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)	1.600
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)	1.379
Carbon Monoxide (CO)	2.042

Alternatively, although use of No. 2 fuel oil is severely limited to periods of gas supply emergencies, periods of gas curtailment, and periodic testing, as a worst case estimate, assuming that the No. 2 fuel oil were the only fuel used, maximum annual emissions (24 hours per day, 365 days per year) would be as follows:

	Maximum Annual Emissions
Pollutant	(tons/yr)
Particulate Matter (PM) (Total)	0.789
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)	0.087
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)	6.623
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)	2.097
Carbon Monoxide (CO)	2.042

This proposed permit will amend and replace a permit issued earlier for this unit that incorrectly identified the size of the unit and therefore had a potential to emit calculation indicating that emissions would not exceed levels approximately 25% below those reported above.

The proposed overall emission limits for the equipment are as follows:

1. The 12.60 million BTU per hour dual fuel–fired boiler (identified as Boiler #3) shall not emit pollutants in excess of those specified in the following table [20 DCMR 201]:

Pollutant	Short-Term Limit (Natural Gas) (lb/hr)	Short-Term Limit (No. 2 Fuel oil) (lb/hr)
Carbon Monoxide (CO)	0.446	0.446
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)	0.365	1.512
Total Particulate Matter (PM Total)*	0.060	0.180
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)	0.315	0.479
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)	0.006	0.019

*PM Total includes both filterable and condensable fractions.

b.   Visible emissions shall not be emitted into the outdoor atmosphere from the boiler, except that discharges not exceeding forty percent (40%) opacity (unaveraged) shall be permitted for two (2) minutes in any sixty (60) minute period and for an aggregate of twelve (12) minutes in any twenty-four hour (24 hr.) period during start-up, cleaning, adjustment of combustion controls, or malfunction of the equipment [20 DCMR 606.1]

c.   An emission into the atmosphere of odorous or other air pollutants from any source in any quantity and of any characteristic, and duration which is, or is likely to be injurious to the public health or welfare, or which interferes with the reasonable enjoyment of life or property is prohibited. [20 DCMR 903.1]

d.   Total suspended particulate matter (TSP) emissions from the boiler shall not exceed 0.0962 pound per million BTU. [20 DCMR 600.1]

e.   Emissions shall not exceed those achieved with the performance of annual combustion adjustments on the boiler.  To show compliance with this condition, the Permittee shall, each calendar year, perform adjustments of the combustion processes of the boiler with the following characteristics [20 DCMR 805.8(a) and (b)]:

1.   Inspection, adjustment, cleaning or replacement of fuel burning equipment, including the burners and moving parts necessary for proper operation as specified by the manufacturer;

2.   Inspection of the flame pattern or characteristics and adjustments necessary to minimize total emissions of NO_x and, to the extent practicable, minimize emissions of CO;

3.   Inspection of the air-to-fuel ratio control system and adjustments necessary to ensure proper calibration and operation as specified by the manufacturer; and

4.   Adjustments shall be made such that the maximum emission rate for any contaminant does not exceed the maximum allowable emission rate as set forth in this section.

The permit application and supporting documentation, along with the draft permit are available for public inspection at AQD and copies may be made available between the hours of 8:15 A.M. and 4:45 P.M. Monday through Friday.  Interested parties wishing to view these documents should provide their names, addresses, telephone numbers and affiliation, if any, to Stephen S. Ours at (202) 535-1747.

Interested persons may submit written comments or may request a hearing on this subject within 30 days of publication of this notice.  The written comments must also include the person’s name, telephone number, affiliation, if any, mailing address and a statement outlining the air quality issues in dispute and any facts underscoring those air quality issues.  All relevant comments will be considered in issuing the final permit.

Comments on the proposed permit and any request for a public hearing should be addressed to:

Stephen S. Ours     
Chief, Permitting Branch - Air Quality Division

District Department of the Environment
1200 First Street NE, 5^th Floor
Washington, DC 20002

[email protected]

No written comments or hearing requests postmarked after May 4, 2015 will be accepted.

For more information, please contact Stephen S. Ours at (202) 535-1747.