Section Env-A 2002.04 - Activities Exempt from Visible Emission Standards(a) For those steam generating units subject to 40 CFR 60, no more than one of the following 2 exemptions shall be taken:(1) During periods of startup, shutdown, and malfunction, average opacity shall be allowed to be in excess of 20% for one period of 6 continuous minutes in any 60-minute period; or(2) During periods of normal operation, soot blowing, grate cleaning, and cleaning of fires, average opacity shall be allowed to be in excess of 20% but not more than 27% for one period of 6 continuous minutes in any 60-minute period.(b) For those devices installed on or before May 13, 1970, having a gross heat input equal to or greater than 500 million BTU/hr, and equipped with automatic soot blowers, the average opacity shall be allowed to be in excess of 40% percent for a non-overlapping set or sets of time up to 60 minutes in any 8-hour period during startup, shutdown, malfunction, soot blowing, grate cleaning, and cleaning of fires.(c) For those fuel burning devices not included in items (a) and (b), above, the average opacity shall be allowed to be in excess of those standards specified in Env-A 2002.01 and Env-A 2002.02 for one period of 6 continuous minutes in any 60-minute period during startup, shutdown, malfunction, soot blowing, grate cleaning, and cleaning of fires.(d) Exceedances of the opacity standard shall not be considered violations of this chapter if the owner or operator demonstrates to the department that such exceedances were the result of the adherence to good boiler operating practices which, in the long term, results in the most efficient or safe operation of the boiler.(e) Examples of activities that might cause exceedances of the opacity standard that shall not be considered violations include the following:(1) Continuous soot blowing of the entire boiler tube sections over regular time intervals as determined by the operator and in conformance with good boiler operating practice; and(2) Cold startup of a boiler over a continuous period of time resulting in efficient heat-up and stabilization of its operation and the expeditious achievement of normal operation of the unit.(f) Exceedances of the opacity standard shall not be considered violations of this chapter if the source demonstrates to the department that such exceedances were the result of the occurrence of an unplanned incident in which the opacity exceedance was beyond the control of the operator and that in response to such an incident, the operator took appropriate steps in conformance with good boiler operating practice to eliminate the excess opacity as quickly as possible.N.H. Code Admin. R. Env-A 2002.04
#6505-B, eff 5-1-97 (formerly Env-A 1202); ss and moved by #8331, eff 4-23-05 (from Env-A 2003.04); ss by #10416, eff 9-24-13
Amended by Number 50, Filed December 14, 2023, Proposed by #13809, Effective 11/18/2023, Expires 11/18/2033.