Notice of Requests for Approval of an Alternative Means of Emission Limitation at Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP

This action provides public notice and solicits comment on the alternative means of emission limitation (AMEL) request from Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP (CP Chem), requested under the Clean Air Act (CAA), to operate a multi-point ground flare (MPGF) at their new ethylene plant in Baytown, Texas, and an MPGF at their new polyethylene plant in Old Ocean, Texas.\1\ In this action, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting comment on all aspects of this request for an AMEL and the alternative operating conditions that would be sufficient to achieve a reduction in emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and hazardous air pollutants (HAP) at least equivalent to the reduction in emissions required by various standards in 40 CFR parts 60, 61, and 63 that apply to emission sources controlled by these MPGFs. These standards incorporate the design and operating requirements for flares in the General Provisions to parts 60 and 63, respectively, as part of the emission reduction requirements. The proposed MPGF designs cannot meet the velocity requirements in these General Provisions; however, CP Chem's request for an alternative means of emission limit demonstrates that the alternative proposed would achieve at least equivalent emissions reductions as flares that meet the standards in the General Provisions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------