General Permit

Oregon recently adopted regulations governing the issuance of a general permit for minor source EGUs. The permit is available for stationary or portable facilities of up to 25 MW, powered by reciprocating internal combustion engines burning diesel or dual-fuel that emit less than 39 tons of NOx per year (*natural gas engines and units in Lane County are not eligible for this permit). The rules were adopted on August 10, 2001 and become effective on January 1, 2002. EGUs electing to apply for a general permit will fall under the requirements of section AQGP-018 of Oregon's permitting requirements. This regulation requires the permittee to self-classify their generator as Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3. Based on the tier level and unit size the general permit will limit operating hours for a unit site according to the table below.

Tier 1 - Emissions > 0.016 lb NOx/hp-hr (7.26 g/hp-hr)

Generators are classified as Tier 1, unless a Source Test shows that the NOx emission rate falls into the Tier 2 or Tier 3 range.

Tier 2 - Emissions between 0.008 lb NOx/hp-hr and 0.016 lb NOx/hp-hr (3.63-7.26 g/hp-hr).

Tier 3 - Emissions of 0.008 lb NOx/hp-hr or less (3.63 g/hp-hr).

Operating Limits According to Tier Level

Additional Requirements

Not later than January 1, 2002, all generators used for power production under this rule, must be equipped with an exhaust emission control system or systems that are designed and certified by the manufacturer(s) to reduce PM, CO and VOC emissions. Particulate filters alone do not satisfy this requirement. The control system must be specifically designed to reduce CO and VOC as well as PM. The use of fuel catalysts does not satisfy this requirement, unless the manufacturer or supplier demonstrates to the Department’s satisfaction, through rigorous testing, that the fuel catalyst is at least as effective as exhaust emission control systems in reducing emissions of PM, CO and VOC. This requirement does not outline any minimum levels of reduction.

The permit includes tons per year limits according to the following schedule:

• In the Ashland and Medford areas PM limits are 4.5 tpy and 49 lbs/day. 
• Units installed prior to 1970 cannot exceed 40% opacity for more than 3 minutes, while newer units cannot exceed 20% in the same amount of time. Units in Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah and Washington Counties cannot exceed 20% opacity for more than 30 seconds. 
• The PM limit for units installed prior to 1970 is 0.2 grains per cubic foot. Later units are limited to 0.1 grains. 
• The diesel fuel burned by these units cannot have a sulfur content of more than 0.05% by weight. 
• All units are required to monitor and record total hours of operation and analyze emissions for sulfur content unless a certificate guaranteeing the percent of sulfur was obtained prior to the burning of the fuel. 
• Each February operators must submit a report with the following information:

Major maintenance

Operating parameters

Tier level

Records of all excess emissions

Summary of any complaints received by permittee

A list of permanent changes made to the plant or control equipment

• An annual compliance fee of $900 will be assessed.