83 FR 9313 - Review of Existing VOC Emissions Factor for Flares at Natural Gas Production Sites and New Emissions Factors for Enclosed Ground Flares

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 43 (March 5, 2018)

On February 5, 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took final action on its review of the existing volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions factor for flares at natural gas production sites pursuant to section 130 of the Clean Air Act (CAA). While the review did not result in a revision to this existing VOC emissions factor, the EPA issued new total hydrocarbon (THC) emissions factors for enclosed ground flares based on the available flare data.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 43 (Monday, March 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9313-9314]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04373]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL 9974-90-OAR]


Review of Existing VOC Emissions Factor for Flares at Natural Gas 
Production Sites and New Emissions Factors for Enclosed Ground Flares

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of final action.

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SUMMARY: On February 5, 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
took final action on its review of the existing volatile organic 
compounds (VOC) emissions factor for flares at natural gas production 
sites pursuant to section 130 of the Clean Air Act (CAA). While the 
review did not result in a revision to this existing VOC emissions 
factor, the EPA issued new total hydrocarbon (THC) emissions factors 
for enclosed ground flares based on the available flare data.

DATES: Applicable on March 5, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may view this final action and the supporting 
information electronically at: https://www.epa.gov/air-emissions-factors-and-quantification/new-emissions-factors-enclosed-ground-flares.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Gerri Garwood, Measurement Policy 
Group (MPG), Sector Policies and Programs Division (D243-05), Office of 
Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, telephone number: 
(919) 541-2406; fax number: (919) 541-4991; and email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 5, 2018, the EPA finalized its 
review of the existing VOC emissions factor for flares at natural gas 
production sites pursuant to its obligation under CAA section 130 to 
review, and, if necessary, revise emissions factors for certain 
pollutants, including VOC, at least every 3 years.
    We evaluated test data available to the Agency for flares at 
natural gas production sites, data from testing conducted by 
manufacturers under 40 CFR part 60, subparts OOOO and OOOOa and 40 CFR 
part 63, subpart HH and HHH, and information submitted during the 
public comment period. The available flare data pertained to THC 
emissions and did not provide sufficient information for estimating VOC 
emissions from the tested flares. As such, the available data gave no 
indication that the existing VOC

[[Page 9314]]

emissions factor for flares at natural gas production sites is somehow 
flawed or outdated and, thus, warrants revision. Therefore, our review 
did not result in a revision to this VOC emissions factor.
    While we have not revised the existing VOC emissions factor, we did 
use the available THC emissions data for enclosed ground flares to 
develop six new THC emissions factors for enclosed ground flares. The 
six emissions factors are finalized as an update to Section 13.5 of AP-
42, Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors. AP-42 is the primary 
compilation of EPA's emissions factor information. We have also 
clarified the heating value basis for the emissions factors in AP-42 
Tables 13.5-1 through 13.5-3 in order to allow users to generate more 
accurate emissions estimates and clarified that the emissions factors 
in the tables represent the emissions at the exit of a flare, not the 
uncontrolled VOC or THC emissions routed to the flare.
    The final actions described above were issued on February 5, 2018. 
Our review and analysis of the data are documented in a report titled 
``Review and Analysis of Emissions Test Reports for Purposes of 
Reviewing the Natural Gas Production Flares Volatile Organic Compounds 
Emissions Factor Under Clean Air Act Section 130.'' Prior to taking 
final action, the EPA issued a proposal on its AP-42 website on June 5, 
2017, and solicited comment on the proposal. The EPA responded to the 
comments received during the public comment period in a memorandum 
titled ``Summary of EPA Responses to Public Comments Received on the 
Proposed Emissions Factors for Enclosed Ground Flares at Natural Gas 
Production Sites and Chemical Manufacturing Processes.'' These 
documents, along with a link to the updated section in AP-42, were 
posted on the website listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice on 
February 5, 2018.
    These actions constitute final agency action of national 
applicability for purposes of section 307(b)(1) of the CAA. Pursuant to 
CAA section 307(b)(1), judicial review of these final agency actions 
may be sought only in the United States Court of Appeals for the 
District of Columbia Circuit. Petitions for review must be filed by May 
4, 2018. Judicial review of these final agency actions may not be 
obtained in subsequent proceedings, pursuant to CAA section 307(b)(2). 
These actions are not a rulemaking and are not subject to the various 
statutory and other provisions applicable to a rulemaking.

    Dated: February 26, 2018.
Panagiotis E. Tsirigotis,
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2018-04373 Filed 3-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P