 |
 |
|
Contact Information:
Department of Health
Environmental Health Administration - Air Quality Division
51 N Street, NE, 5th Floor
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 535-2257
Or view the Department's
Website
|
 |
|
|
District of Columbia
DE MINIMIS EXEMPTIONS:
Fuel burning equipment with a capacity of 5 MMBtu/hr or less of heat input and, which uses for fuel
only gaseous fuels or distillate oils were exempt from the permitting process. However the EPA
overturned this exemption since a group of these sources at a single facility could generate
emissions over the major source threshold. The DC regulations do not currently contain modified
exemption limits to reflect the EPA ruling. All other stationary sources must obtain a
permit from the Mayor prior to construction, modification, or installation of a pollution control device.
MINOR SOURCE PERMITTING:
MAJOR NSR/PSD PERMITTING:
RACT applies to major stationary sources of NOx. More specifically, RACT applies to a
source having the potential to emit 50 tons per year or more of NOx, including
the following facilities:
• Fossil fuel fired steam generators with a heat input of 20 MMBtu/hr or more;
• Stationary combustion turbines with a heat input capacity of 100 MMBtu/hr or more;
• Asphalt concrete plants with the potential to emit 50 tons per year or more of NOx
• Any major stationary source or part of a major source, other than those listed above, which has the potential to emit 50 tons per year or more of NOx.
Any person whose facility is subject to RACT must submit an emission control plan to the Mayor for review and approval prior to RACT implementation.
Applicable RACT Emission Limits are as follows:
| RACT Emission Limits, applicable after 5/31/1995 |
NOx Emission Limit (ppmvd) |
CO Concentration Limit (ppmvd) |
| Simple Cycle Stationary Combustion Turbines, heat input 100 MMBtu/hr or greater |
75 ppmvd, corrected to 15% O2 for oil-fired turbines |
50 ppmvd at 15% O2 under any operating condition for a one hour average |
| RACT for Fossil-Fuel-Fired Steam Generating Units, applies after 5/31/1995 |
|
NOx Emission Rate, based on a calendar day average |
| Heat input of 50 MMBtu/hr or greater and less than 100 MMBtu/hr for tangential or face fired units using oil only |
0.30 ppm |
| Heat input of 100 MMBtu/hr or greater for tangential, face-fired, or stoker fired dry bottom coal units |
0.43 ppm |
| Heat input of 100 MMBtu/hr or greater for tangential, face-fired, or stoker fired dry bottom coal units |
0.43 ppm |
| Heat input of 100 MMBtu/hr or greater for tangential or face-fired units using other fuels |
| Powered by fuel oil or a combination of fuel oil and natural gas |
0.25 ppm |
| Powered by natural gas only |
0.20 ppm |
NOx emissions from fossil fuel fired steam generating units of more than 100 MMBTU/hr heat input must meet the following emission limits.
• Two tenths (0.2) lb. per million BTU heat input (0.36 g. per million cal.) maximum two (2) hour average, expressed in NO2,when gaseous fossil fuel is burned;
• Three tenths (0.3) lb. per million BTU heat input (0.54 g. per million cal.) maximum two (2) hour average, express as NO2, when liquid fossil fuel is burned;
• Seven tenths (0.7) lb. per million BTU heat input (1.26 g. per million cal.) maximum two (2) hour average, expressed NO2, when solid fossil fuel (except lignite) is burned; and
• When different fossil fuels are burned simultaneously in any combination the applicable standard shall be determined by proration, according to the following formula:
x (0.20) + y (0.30) + z (0.70)/(x + y + z)
x is the percent of total heat input derived from gaseous fossil fuel;
y is the percent of total heat input derived from liquid fossil fuel; and
z is the percent of total heat input derived from solid fossil fuel.
Sulfur limits apply in DC. Fuel oil which contains more than 1% sulfur by weight is prohibited from being burned and coal with more than 1% sulfur by weight also cannot be burned in most circumstances. Emission of SO2 in excess of 0.05% by volume is also not allowed.
TREATMENT OF EMERGENCY ENGINES:
Emergency standby engines which operate less than 500 hours per year are exempt from RACT requirements.
Regulated public utilities under the jurisdiction of the DC Public Service Commission must receive approval prior
to the construction of an electric generating facility. Any person who plans on constructing an electric generating
facility or an overhead transmission line designed to carry 69,000 volts or greater in a state adjacent to DC for which a Certificate
of Public Convenience and Necessity is required by that state must file formal notice of construction with the Commission.
An application must also be filed with the Commission for the construction of a generating facility, transmission line or
substation. Application criteria can be found here. The application must contain the following information:
1. The name and primary business address of the applicant
2. The name, title, and address of the person authorized to receive information about the application
3. The location(s) where the public can inspect or obtain a copy of the application
4. A list of each DC, state, or federal government agency having the authority to approve or disapprove
the construction or operation of the project and containing the following information:
- A statement indicating whether the necessary approval from each agency has been obtained, a copy of each approval
or disapproval must be attached;
- A statement indicating the circumstances under which any necessary approval has been obtained; and
- A statement indicating whether any waiver or variance has been requested, with a copy of each approval or
disapproval attached.
5. A description of the generating station under statute 2102, or the transmission line under statute 2104, and
the alternatives considered under statute 2103 and 2104,
6. The environmental information under statute 2108
7. A statement of the engineering justifications for the project;
8. A statement of the safety considerations incorporated into the design, construction, and maintenance of the project;
9. A statement of the socioeconomic impact of the project;
10. A statement of contacts with community groups and the affected community;
11. A statement that the applicant has complied with all applicable environmental and zoning laws;
12. A statement that the applicant has complied or will comply with the applicable PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.
tariff and requirements for the interconnection of new and expanded electric generating facilities within the
PJM transmission system.
The applicant can request, or the Commission may decided to review the project in two or more phases. If the
Commission decides to undertake a phased proceeding then the process is as follows:
1. An applicant may file a partial petition
2. The Commission may render separate finding of fact on any phase or any issue within a pahse; and
3. Findings of fact are pursuant to D.C. Code, 2001 Ed. statute 34-605(a) and may not be subject to further
litigation unless warranted by new substantive issues or changed circumstances.
Electric corporations which operate in D.C. must submit an annual report, on or before February 15 of each calendar
year. This report must summarize smaller-scale construction and the costs associated with these projects during the previous year.
There are no exit fees for DG in the District of Columbia.
DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
(BBRS):
The DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs is in charge of establishing and enforcing building and zoning codes.
More specifcally, the Building Code Advisory Committee consists of
professionals who perform assessments of building codes and the Office of
the Zoning Administrator administers, interprets, and enforces zoning regulations. The Department of Fire and
Emergency Medical Services is the entity in charge of promoting and enforcing fire and emergency safety.
International Code Council State Adoption Information Page
Provides an easy to use US map to locate state and local adoption of the International Code Council's model codes.
US DOE's Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs, Building Codes Database
The US DOE's database provides a comprehensive look at a state's building code implementation and enforcement
process.
|
