EPA Allows Area Source Facilities More Time to Meet Tune-Up Requirements

THOMASVILLE, Ga.:  March 26, 2012

On March 13, 2012, the EPA issued a “No Action Assurance (NAA) Letter” to area source facilities required to conduct a boiler tune-up by March 21, 2012, under the Area Source Rule.  This means that the EPA will exercise its discretion not to pursue enforcement action against sources that fail to complete the boiler tune-up by the compliance date.  The NAA remains in effect for area source boilers until October 1, 2012, or until the effective date of a final rule, whichever comes first.   

Welch Goggins, president and CEO of Cleaver-Brooks, commented, “Even though the EPA has extended the tune-up deadline for area source boilers, we strongly recommend that these facilities take the necessary steps to meet this and other compliance requirements set forth in the rule.”  

According to the EPA, many facilities with older affected boilers notified the EPA that it was not possible to meet several tune-up requirements by the March 21, 2012, deadline.  The tune-up requires operators to conduct stack testing to measure carbon monoxide and oxygen, and many operators said they would have to undergo alterations such as the installation of a sampling port or platform to conduct this type of test.  In addition, the tune-up also requires that combustion be optimized consistent with manufacturer specifications, and many older boilers must be repaired in order to meet such specifications.  

Area source facilities subject to the tune-up requirement include: existing coal units with heat input capacity of less than 10 million BTU per hour and existing biomass or oil units.  For more information about Area Source Rule requirements by fuel type, consult the decision tree available at cleaverbrooks.com/epa.  

If a facility emits 10 or more tons per year of any single air toxic or 25 tons or more per year of any combination of air toxics, it is considered a major source facility subject to Boiler MACT requirements. For more information about the Boiler MACT (also known as the Major Source Rule), visit cleaverbrooks.com/epa.  

“Knowing that stricter emissions levels were imminent, our R&D team has been engineering boiler room solutions that minimize emissions while achieving best-in-class efficiency,” said Goggins.  “We have a dedicated network of representatives who have the knowledge, experience, and tools necessary to help facilities determine the most cost-efficient way to maintain compliance with the newly enforced regulations.” 

Cleaver-Brooks has a dedicated alliance of representatives throughout the world who can be tapped for consultation, sales, maintenance, and aftermarket support.  To locate a representative, visit cleaverbrooks.com or call (800) 250-5883. 

About Cleaver-Brooks

Cleaver-Brooks, a world-renowned provider of boiler room products and systems, is committed to providing efficient solutions that help its customers and the industry reduce energy usage, cost and environmental impact. As the pioneer of packaged firetube and watertube boilers, Cleaver-Brooks is the only manufacturer in the world to offer an entirely integrated boiler room solution for any size application. Its products are backed by a world-class representative network offering superior aftermarket service and solutions.

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