The Environmental Quality Board published notice in the January 25 PA Bulletin inviting comments on proposed “corrections” to regulations setting RACT requirements for major sources of NOx and VOCs related to meeting the ozone pollution standard may affect natural gas-fired power plants.

This proposed rulemaking would amend the optional alternative compliance demonstration method provisions to correct errors in the mass-equivalent basis factors established in § 129.115(c)(2)—(4).  Read more here.

It also corrects a cross reference error in § 129.115(d). The proposed amendment would provide the correct cross reference of subsection (b) to clarify that the owners and operators of affected facilities shall demonstrate compliance using the monitoring and testing procedures in subsection (b), not by using the notification procedures in subsection (a).  Read more here.

This proposed rulemaking may affect the owner and operator of a combined cycle or combined heat and power combustion turbine with a rated output equal to or greater than 180 megawatts (MW) located at a major NOx emitting facility or a major VOC emitting facility, or both, that was in existence on or before August 3, 2018.  Read more here.

These facilities are power plants whose turbines are fired either primarily or exclusively on natural gas.

The owners and operators of the 17 affected power plants under the Department’s jurisdiction have the option to elect to use the mass-equivalent basis factors as an alternative method to demonstrate compliance with the presumptive RACT emission limits.

As of June 4, 2024, no affected owners or operators have requested to use the optional alternative compliance demonstration method.

3 Hearings

The EQB has scheduled three hearings starting at 1:00 p.m.--

-- February 25: DEP Southwest Regional Office, 500 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh.

-- February 26: Room 105 Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg

-- February 26: DEP Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main Street, Norristown.

Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for information on submitting comments and more background.

Click Here for background documents on this rulemaking.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website.  Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - January 18 to 24: DEP Issues Abandoned Well Plugging Order; Well Leaks Gas For 9 Months [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - January 25 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 90 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In January 25 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

Related Articles:

-- Senate Environmental Committee Meets Jan. 27 On Establishing An Independent Energy Office, Eliminate Carbon Pollution Reduction Program Covering Power Plants   [PaEN]

-- PA Senate Republicans Reintroduce Bills To Eliminate State Appeals Of Pipeline Permits; Limit Grounds For Appeal Of Any DEP Permits; Punish Communities For Protecting Their Constituents Against Shale Gas Drilling Impacts  [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Oil & Gas Companies Need Greater Incentives To Plug Their Old Wells - Raise Bond Rates Upfront For Plugging  [PaEN]

-- Dept. Of Health, Penn State Project ECHO Host Feb. 13 Webinar On Caring For Persons Living And Working In Communities Involved In Oil & Natural Gas Extraction  [PaEN]

-- EQB Invites Comments On Corrections To RACT Air Quality Regulations That May Affect Natural Gas-Fired Power Plants; 3 Hearings Set  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 310 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In 2024  [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection: Extreme Cold Produces PJM Record For Winter Electricity Demand; Maximum Generation Alert Remains In Effect Into Thursday  [PaEN]

-- New Federal Administration Reverses LNG Gas Export Facility Permit Pause, Extends Comment Period On LNG Impact Study  [PaEN]

-- New Federal Administration Issues Executive Order Declaring A National Energy Emergency; Order Repealing Other Energy, Climate Orders; Regulatory Freeze  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Financial Times: Wall Street Will Stymie President’s US Oil, Gas Surge Plan, Say Shale Bosses; Lower Prices Will Not Make Companies ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’

-- Post-Gazette: New Administration Reverses Pause On New LNG Gas Export Project Permits [Helps Pave Way For Potential LNG Terminal In Philadelphia]

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Billions Have Been Allocated To PA From Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure, Inflation Reduction Acts, New Administration Ordered Halt To Disbursements  [Water Infrastructure, Mine Reclamation, Conventional Oil & Gas Well Plugging, $396 million in RISE PA decarbonization funding]

-- CanaryMedia.com: Executive Order Freezes Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act Funding For 90 Day Review [Water Infrastructure, Mine Reclamation, Conventional Oil & Gas Well Plugging, $396 million in RISE PA decarbonization funding]

-- Warren Times/AP: President Pivots To Pro-Oil And Gas Policies, But Likes Renewable Geothermal

-- Observer-Reporter: ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub Discussed At Washington & Jefferson College Public Outreach Session

[Posted: January 24, 2025]

1/27/2025