La. Admin. Code tit. 33 § III-2521

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024

Section III-2521 - Refuse Incinerators

A. Scope. The purpose of this Subchapter is to prevent the operation or construction of refuse incinerators in such a manner as to cause air pollution.

B. Applicability. This Subchapter applies to all incinerators operated or constructed in the state for the purpose of reducing refuse.

C. Determination of Incinerator Maximum Burning Capacity. The burning capacity of a refuse incinerator shall be the manufacturer's or designer's guaranteed maximum rate or such other rate as may be determined by the department in accordance with good engineering practices. In case of conflict, the determination made by the department shall govern.

D. All Incinerators Must Be Approved Prior to Installation. All refuse incinerators must be approved by the department prior to installation. Any person planning to install or operate a refuse incinerator must make suitable application to the department. Forms are available from the department.

E. Allowable Emissions from Incinerator. The amount of particulate matter (PM₁₀) emitted by a refuse incinerator shall be determined using the test methods from 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix A, as incorporated by reference at LAC 33:III.3003: Method 5 - Determination of Particulate Emissions from Stationary Sources ( 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix A, as incorporated by reference at LAC 33:III.3003).

F. Restrictions on Emissions

1. No person shall cause or permit the emissions of PM₁₀ from any refuse incinerator (with a capacity less than 250 pounds-per-hour) in excess of 0.10 grains per dry standard cubic foot of dry flue gas corrected to 7 percent excess oxygen or 12 percent carbon dioxide. PM₁₀ emission limits for larger incinerators are:

Capacity	PM10
250-499 pounds-per-hour	0.08
500-1000 pounds-per-hour	0.06
Over 1000 pounds-per-hour	0.04

2. All refuse incinerators must be multi-chambered or equivalent as determined by the department. All multi-chambered incinerators must be equipped with secondary burners of such a design as to assure a temperature in the secondary chamber of at least 1500°F for at least 0.5 seconds for incinerators with a capacity less than 250 pounds-per-hour. The minimum secondary chamber temperature for larger incinerators is:

Capacity	Temperature
250-499 pounds-per-hour	1500°F for at least 1 second
500-1000 pounds-per-hour	1600°F for at least 1 second
Over 1000 pounds-per-hour	1800°F for at least 1 second

3. All refuse incinerators shall be equipped with an interlock that prevents the charge door from opening for 10 minutes after the secondary burner is ignited, or until the secondary chamber exit gases reach 1500°F for incinerators with a capacity less than 500 pounds-per-hour, 1600°F with a capacity 500-1000 pounds-per-hour, and 1800°F for incinerators with a capacity greater than 1000 pounds-per-hour, whichever occurs first. A visual warning system shall alert the operator when the interlock is by-passed for service or cleaning.

4. No person shall burn or cause or permit the burning of refuse in any installation which was designed for the sole purpose of burning fuel without the authorization of the administrative authority.

5. All refuse incinerators shall be designed with a stack emission point which does not adversely impact the local area air quality. All incinerator stack heights must be approved by the administrative authority.

6. All secondary combustion chambers shall be equipped with a continuous temperature recorder to measure and record the exit flue gas temperature. All refuse incinerators with a capacity greater than 500 pounds-per-hour shall have a continuous monitoring and recording system installed for CO and O₂ concentration in the exit flue gas.

7. All refuse incinerators which burn waste generated off-site shall be equipped with an acid gas control device of 98 percent efficiency, have a continuous monitoring system for CO and O₂, and have a secondary combustion chamber burner capable of maintaining a minimum temperature of 1800°F for at least one second in the secondary chamber.

8. Emission limits for all refuse incinerators shall include:

a. hydrogen chloride (HCl)-no refuse incinerators shall emit hydrogen chloride in excess of 4 pounds-per-hour, or they shall operate a control device with a minimum efficiency of 98 percent. All incinerators over 500 pounds-per-hour design capacity shall be equipped with a 98 percent efficient HCl control device or shall continuously monitor flue gas to show compliance with HCl emission limits;

b. carbon monoxide-100 ppmv maximum (one hour rolling average) dry basis at 7 percent oxygen;

c. nitrogen dioxide-250 ppmv maximum dry basis at seven percent oxygen;

d. excess oxygen in flue gas-2 percent minimum by volume dry basis;

e. opacity of stack gases shall not exceed 10 percent; and

f. sulfur dioxide-100 ppmv maximum dry basis at 7 percent oxygen or 70 percent control.

9. All refuse incinerators with a design charging rate in excess of 250 pounds-per-hour shall conduct emission tests to verify compliance with this Subsection for PM₁₀ and HCl. In addition, all refuse incinerators with a design charging rate of 500 pounds or more per hour shall conduct emission tests to verify compliance with the standards for the following pollutants using the test methods from 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix A:

a. Method 5-Determination of Particulate Emissions from Stationary Sources (40 CFR Part 60, Appendix A, as incorporated by reference at LAC 33:III.3003);

b. Method 6-Determination of Sulfur Dioxide Emissions from Stationary Sources ( 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix A, as incorporated by reference at LAC 33:III.3003);

c. Method 7-Determination of Nitrogen Oxide Emissions from Stationary Sources ( 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix A, as incorporated by reference at LAC 33:III.3003);

d. Method 26-Determination of Hydrogen Chloride Emissions from Stationary Sources ( 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix A, as incorporated by reference at LAC 33:III.3003); and/or

e. other tests which may be added at pretest meetings.

10. At least 30 days prior to performing any emission test, notification of testing shall be made to the Office of Environmental Services to afford the department the opportunity to conduct a pretest conference and to have an observer present.

11. A copy of all monitoring and tests results shall be submitted to the Office of Environmental Services for review and approval within 60 days of completion of testing.

G. Control of Particulate Matter. No person shall cause or permit the handling, use, transport, or storage of any material in a manner which allows or may allow particulate matter, fly ash, etc., to become airborne in amounts that will cause a public nuisance or cause ambient air quality standards to be violated.

H. All Incinerator Equipment to be Kept in Good Working Condition. All equipment, accessories, and appurtenances, (i.e., secondary burners, etc.) of a refuse incinerator installation shall be maintained in proper working condition and shall be operational at all times when the refuse incinerator is in use. (See also LAC 33:III.905 and 915.E)

La. Admin. Code tit. 33, § III-2521

Promulgated by the Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Air Quality and Radiation Protection, Air Quality Division, LR 20:1100 (October 1994), amended LR 22:1212 (December 1996), amended by the Office of Environmental Assessment, Environmental Planning Division, LR 26:2456 (November 2000), amended by the Office of the Secretary, Legal Affairs Division, LR 31:2443 (October 2005), LR 33:2089 (October 2007), LR 34:1904 (September 2008), amended by the Office of the Secretary, Legal Division, LR 38:2754 (November 2012).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:2054.