Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 408.02

Current through October 28, 2024
Section NR 408.02 - Definitions

The definitions contained in ch. NR 400 apply to the terms used in this chapter. In addition, the following definitions apply to the terms used in this chapter:

(1) "Actual emissions" means the actual rate of emissions of a regulated NSR air contaminant from an emissions unit, as determined in accordance with pars. (a) to (c), except that this definition does not apply for calculating whether a significant emissions increase has occurred, or for establishing a PAL under s. NR 408.11. Instead, subs. (2m) and (28s) shall apply for those purposes.
(a) Actual emissions as of a particular date shall equal the average rate, in tons per year, at which the unit actually emitted the pollutant during a consecutive 24-month period which precedes the particular date and which is representative of normal source operation. The department shall allow the use of a different time period upon a determination by the department that it is more representative of normal source operation. Actual emissions shall be calculated using the unit's actual operating hours, production rates and types of materials processed, stored or combusted during the selected time period.
(b) For any emissions unit which has not begun normal operations on the particular date, actual emissions shall equal the potential to emit of the unit on that date.
(c) The department may presume that source-specific allowable emissions for the unit are equivalent to the actual emissions of the unit.
(2) "Allowable emissions" means the emissions rate of a stationary source calculated using the maximum rated capacity of the source, or using federally enforceable limits which restrict the operating rate, or hours of operation or both, if the source is subject to such federally enforceable limits, and using the most stringent of the following:
(a) Any applicable standards in chs. NR 440 and 447 to 449 and subch. IV of ch. NR 446.
(b) Any applicable emissions limitations in chs. NR 400 to 499.
(c) Any applicable state implementation plan emissions limitation including a limitation with a future compliance date.
(d) Any emissions rate specified as a federally enforceable permit condition, including a limitation with a future compliance date.
(2m) "Baseline actual emissions" means the rate of emissions, in tons per year, of a regulated NSR air contaminant, as determined in accordance with pars. (a) to (d).
(a) For any existing electric utility steam generating unit, baseline actual emissions means the average rate, in tons per year, at which the unit actually emitted the air contaminant during any consecutive 24-month period selected by the owner or operator within the 5-year period immediately preceding when the owner or operator begins actual construction of the project. The department shall allow the use of a different time period upon a determination that it is more representative of normal source operation.
1. The average rate shall include fugitive emissions to the extent quantifiable, and emissions associated with startups, shutdowns and malfunctions.
2. The average rate shall be adjusted downward to exclude any emissions in excess of an emission limitation that was legally enforceable during the consecutive 24-month period.
3. For a regulated NSR air contaminant, when a project involves multiple emissions units, only one consecutive 24-month period may be used to determine the baseline actual emissions for the emissions units being changed. A different consecutive 24-month period may be used for each regulated NSR air contaminant.
4. The average rate may not be based on any consecutive 24-month period for which there is inadequate information for determining annual emissions, in tons per year, or for adjusting this amount if required by subd. 2.
(b) For an existing emissions unit, other than an electric utility steam generating unit, baseline actual emissions means the average rate, in tons per year, at which the emissions unit actually emitted the air contaminant during any consecutive 24-month period selected by the owner or operator within the 10-year period immediately preceding either the date the owner or operator begins actual construction of the project, or, the date a complete permit application is received by the department for a permit required under ch. NR 406 or for a permit revision under ch. NR 407, whichever is earlier, except that the 10-year period may not include any period earlier than November 15, 1990.
1. The average rate shall include fugitive emissions to the extent quantifiable, and emissions associated with startups, shutdowns and malfunctions.
2. The average rate shall be adjusted downward to exclude any emissions in excess of an emission limitation that was legally enforceable during the consecutive 24-month period.
3. The average rate shall be adjusted downward to exclude any emissions that would have exceeded an emission limitation with which the major stationary source must currently comply, had the major stationary source been required to comply with the limitation during the consecutive 24-month period. However, if an emission limitation is part of a maximum achievable control technology standard that the administrator proposed or promulgated under 40 CFR part 63, the baseline actual emissions need only be adjusted if the state has taken credit for the emissions reductions in an attainment demonstration or maintenance plan consistent with the requirements of s. NR 408.06(9).
4. For a regulated NSR air contaminant, when a project involves multiple emissions units, only one consecutive 24-month period may be used to determine the baseline actual emissions for the emissions units being changed. A different consecutive 24-month period may be used for each regulated NSR air contaminant.
5. The average rate may not be based on any consecutive 24-month period for which there is inadequate information for determining annual emissions, in tons per year, or for adjusting this amount if required by subds. 2. and 3.
(c) For a new emissions unit, the baseline actual emissions for purposes of determining the emissions increase that will result from the initial construction and operation of the unit shall equal zero; and thereafter, shall equal the unit's potential to emit.
(d) For a PAL for a stationary source, the baseline actual emissions shall be calculated for existing electric utility steam generating units in accordance with the procedures contained in par. (a), for other existing emissions units in accordance with the procedures contained in par. (b), and for a new emissions unit in accordance with the procedures contained in par. (c).
(3) "Begin actual construction" means the initiation of physical on-site construction activities on an emissions unit which are of a permanent nature. Activities include, but are not limited to, installation of building supports and foundations, laying of underground pipe work and construction of permanent storage structures. With respect to a change in method of operation, this term refers to those on-site activities other than preparatory activities which mark the initiation of the change.
(4) "Best available control technology" or "BACT" means an emission limitation, including a visible emissions standard, based on the maximum degree of reduction for each regulated NSR air contaminant which would be emitted from any proposed major stationary source or major modification which the department, on a case-by-case basis, taking into account energy, environmental and economic impacts and other costs, determines is achievable for the source or modification through application of production processes or available methods, systems and techniques, including fuel cleaning or treatment or innovative fuel combustion techniques for control of the air contaminant. In no event may application of best available control technology result in emissions of any air contaminant which would exceed the emissions allowed by any applicable standard under chs. NR 440 and 447 to 449 and subch. IV of ch. NR 446 and 40 CFR parts 60 and 61. If the department determines that technological or economic limitations on the application of measurement methodology to a particular emissions unit would make the imposition of an emissions standard infeasible, a design, equipment, work practice, operational standard or combination thereof, may be prescribed instead to satisfy the requirement for the application of best available control technology. The standard shall, to the degree possible, set forth the emissions reduction achievable by implementation of a design, equipment, work practice or operation, and shall provide for compliance by means which achieve equivalent results.
(5) "Building, structure, facility or installation" means all of the activities which emit or may emit a regulated NSR air contaminant, which belong to the same industrial grouping, are located on one or more contiguous or adjacent properties, and are under the control of the same person, or persons under common control, except the activity of any vessel. Regulated NSR air contaminant sources shall be considered as part of the same industrial grouping if they are classified under the same 2-digit major group as described in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1987, incorporated by reference in s. NR 484.05.
(6) "Clean coal technology" means any technology, including technologies applied at the precombustion, combustion or post combustion stage, at a new or existing facility which will achieve significant reductions in emissions of sulfur dioxide or oxides of nitrogen associated with the utilization of coal in the generation of electricity or process steam which was not in widespread use as of November 15, 1990.
(7) "Clean coal technology demonstration project" means a project using funds appropriated under the heading `Department of Energy-Clean Coal Technology', up to a total amount of $2,500,000,000 for commercial demonstration of clean coal technology, or similar projects funded through appropriations for the U.S. environmental protection agency. The federal contribution for a qualifying project shall be at least 20% of the total cost of the demonstration project.
(8) "Commence" as applied to construction of a major source or major modification means that the owner or operator has all necessary preconstruction approvals or permits and has done one of the following:
(a) Begun, or caused to begin, a continuous program of actual on- site construction of the source, to be completed within a reasonable time.
(b) Entered into binding agreements or contractual obligations, which cannot be canceled or modified without substantial loss to the owner or operator, to undertake a program of actual construction of the source to be completed within a reasonable time.
(9) "Commence operation" means the initial startup of an emissions unit following completion of construction which results in the emission of an air contaminant for which the area is designated nonattainment. Any replacement unit that requires shakedown commences operation after a reasonable shakedown period, not to exceed 180 days.
(10) "Complete" means, in reference to an application for a permit, that the application contains all of the information necessary, as determined by the department, for processing the application. Designating an application complete for purposes of permit processing does not preclude the department from requesting or accepting any additional information.
(11) "Construction" means any physical change or change in the method of operation, including fabrication, erection, installation, demolition or modification of an emissions unit, which would result in a change in emissions.
(11e) "Continuous emissions monitoring system" or "CEMS" means all of the equipment that may be required to meet the data acquisition and availability requirements of this chapter, to sample, condition if applicable, analyze and provide a record of emissions on a continuous basis.
(11m) "Continuous emissions rate monitoring system" or "CERMS" means the total equipment required for the determination and recording of the air contaminant mass emissions rate in terms of mass per unit of time.
(11s) "Continuous parameter monitoring system" or "CPMS" means all of the equipment necessary to meet the data acquisition and data availability requirements of this chapter to monitor process and control device operational parameters, and to record average operational parameter values on a continuous basis.

Note: Process and control device operational parameters include secondary voltages and electric currents, and other information, such as gas flow rate, O 2 or CO 2 concentrations.

(12) "Electric utility steam generating unit" means any steam electric generating unit that is constructed for the purpose of supplying more than one-third of its potential electric output capacity and more than 25 MW of electrical output to any utility power distribution system for sale. Any steam supplied to a steam distribution system for the purpose of providing steam to a steam-electric generator that would produce electrical energy for sale is also considered in determining the electrical energy output capacity of the affected facility.
(13) "Emissions unit" means any part of a stationary source which emits or would have the potential to emit any regulated NSR air contaminant and includes an electric utility steam generating unit. For purposes of this chapter, there are 2 types of emissions units described as follows:
(a) A new emissions unit is any emissions unit which is or will be newly constructed and which has existed for less than 2 years from the date the emissions unit first operated.
(b) An existing emissions unit is any emissions unit that does not meet the requirements in par. (a). Notwithstanding par. (a), a replacement unit, as defined in sub. (29s), is an existing emissions unit.
(13m) "Federal land manager" means, with respect to any lands in the United States, the secretary of the department with authority over the lands.
(14) "Fossil fuel-fired boiler" means a unit, or combination of units, which combusts fossil fuel, or receives heat from other fossil fuel-fired units, to produce steam by indirect heat transfer, and includes units that produce steam for electric generation. The heat input for the units includes any heat provided to the units from the combustion of fossil fuels in other units. The total heat input from fossil fuel-firing for a combination of units is the sum of the heat inputs from fossil fuel-firing for each unit.
(15) "Fossil fuel-fired electric plant" means one or more units that combust fossil fuel to produce electricity. The total heat input for a plant from fossil fuel-firing is the sum of the heat inputs from fossil fuel-firing for each combustion unit that is part of the plant.
(16) "Fugitive emissions" means those emissions which could not reasonably pass through a stack, chimney, vent or other functionally equivalent opening.
(17) "Indian governing body" means the governing body of any tribe, band or group of Indians subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and recognized by the United States as possessing power of self- government.
(18) "Indian tribe" means any Indian tribe, band, nation or other organized group or community, including any Alaskan native village, which is federally recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.
(19) "Lowest achievable emission rate" or "LAER" means, for any source, the more stringent rate of emissions based on the following:
(a) The most stringent emissions limitation which is contained in the implementation plan of any state for the class or category of stationary source, unless the owner or operator of the proposed stationary source demonstrates that the limitation is not achievable.
(b) The most stringent emissions limitation which is achieved in practice by the class or category of stationary source. This limitation, when applied to a modification, means the lowest achievable emission rate for the new or modified emissions units within a stationary source. In no event may the application of the term permit a proposed new or modified stationary source to emit any pollutant in excess of the amount allowable under a new source standard of performance which applies under ch. NR 440 or under 40 CFR part 60 .
(20) "Major modification" means any physical change in, or change in the method of operation of a major stationary source that would result in a significant emissions increase of a regulated NSR air contaminant and a significant net emissions increase of that air contaminant from the major stationary source.
(a) Any physical change in, or change in the method of operation of a major source of VOCs located in an extreme nonattainment area for ozone which results in any increase in emissions of VOCs from any discrete operation, emissions unit or other pollutant emitting activity at the source shall be considered a major modification for ozone.
(b) Any significant emissions increase from any emissions units or net emissions increase at a major stationary source, that is considered significant for VOCs shall be considered significant for ozone.
(c) For the purpose of applying the requirements of s. NR 408.03(6) to major sources of nitrogen oxides located in ozone nonattainment areas or in ozone transport regions, any significant net emissions increase of nitrogen oxides is considered significant for ozone, in addition to any separate requirements for nitrogen oxides.
(d) For the purposes of applying the requirements of s. NR 408.03(4) to major sources of PM 10 precursors, any significant net emissions increase of a PM 10 precursor is considered significant for PM 10.
(e) A physical change or change in the method of operation does not include:
1. Routine maintenance, repair and replacement.
2. Use of an alternative fuel or raw material by reason of any order under section 2 (a) and (b) of the Federal Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act of 1974 (15 USC 791 to 798) or by reason of a natural gas curtailment plan pursuant to the Federal Power Act (16 USC 791a to 828c).
3. Use of an alternative fuel by reason of an order or rule under section 125 of the Act (42 USC 7425).
4. Use of an alternative fuel at a steam generating unit to the extent that the fuel is generated from municipal solid waste.
5. Use of an alternative fuel or raw material by a stationary source when one of the following applies:
a. The source was capable of accommodating before December 21, 1976, unless the change would be prohibited under any federally enforceable permit condition which was established after December 21, 1976 pursuant to this chapter or ch. NR 405 or 406 or under an operation permit issued pursuant to ch. NR 407, or pursuant to a permit issued under 40 CFR Part 51 Appendix S, 40 CFR 52.21, or regulations approved pursuant to 40 CFR Part 51 subpart I.
b. The source is approved to use an alternative fuel or raw material under any permit issued under this chapter or ch. NR 405, 406, or 407, or pursuant to a permit issued under 40 CFR part 51 Appendix S, 40 CFR 52.21, or regulations approved pursuant to 40 CFR Part 51 subpart I.
6. An increase in the hours of operation or in the production rate, unless the change would be prohibited under any federally enforceable permit condition which was established after December 21, 1976 pursuant to this chapter, ch. NR 405, or 406 or under operation permits issued pursuant to ch. NR 407, or pursuant to a permit issued under 40 CFR Part 51 Appendix S, 40 CFR 52.21, or regulations approved pursuant to 40 CFR Part 51 subpart I.
7. Any change in ownership at a stationary source.
8. The installation, operation, cessation of operation or removal of a temporary clean coal technology demonstration project, provided that the project complies with both of the following:
a. The state implementation plan.
b. Other requirements necessary to attain and maintain the national ambient air quality standards during the project and after it is terminated.
(f) This definition does not apply with respect to a particular regulated NSR air contaminant when the major stationary source is complying with the requirements of s. NR 408.11 for a PAL for that air contaminant. Instead the definition in s. NR 408.11(2) (e) shall apply.
(21) "Major source" means the following:
(a)
1. Any stationary source of air contaminants which emits or has the potential to emit 100 tons per year (tpy) or more of any air contaminant for which the area in which the source is located is nonattainment, except that lower emissions thresholds shall apply as follows to any stationary source for which a complete construction permit application was submitted or was required to be submitted after November 15, 1992:
a. 70 tpy of PM 10, or where applicable, a PM 10 precursor, in any serious nonattainment area for PM 10.
b. 50 tpy of VOC in any serious nonattainment area for ozone.
c. 50 tpy of VOC in areas within ozone transport regions except for any severe or extreme nonattainment area for ozone.
d. 25 tpy of VOC in any severe nonattainment area for ozone.
e. 10 tpy of VOC in any extreme nonattainment area for ozone.
f. 50 tpy of carbon monoxide in any serious nonattainment area for carbon monoxide, where stationary sources contribute significantly to carbon monoxide levels in the area.

Note: If any serious nonattainment area for carbon monoxide is designated in the state, the department will make the determination of whether stationary sources contribute significantly to the carbon monoxide levels in accordance with rules or guidance issued by the U.S. environmental protection agency.

2. Any stationary source of nitrogen oxides identified under par. (b).
3. Any physical change that would occur at a stationary source not qualifying under subd. 1. or 2. as a major source, if the change would constitute a major source by itself.
(b) For the purposes of applying the requirements of s. NR 408.03(5), a stationary source for which a complete construction permit application was submitted or was required to be submitted after November 15, 1992 is major for nitrogen oxides if it is located in any ozone nonattainment area or ozone transport region and it emits, or has the potential to emit, nitrogen oxides as follows:
1. 100 tpy or more of nitrogen oxides in:
a. Any ozone nonattainment area classified as rural transport, marginal or moderate.
b. Any ozone nonattainment area classified as transitional, submarginal or an incomplete or no data area, that is located in any ozone transport region.
c. Areas classified under the Act as attainment or unclassifiable for ozone that are located in any ozone transport region.
2. 50 tpy or more of nitrogen oxides in any serious nonattainment area for ozone.
3. 25 tpy or more of nitrogen oxides in any severe nonattainment area for ozone.
4. 10 tpy or more of nitrogen oxides in any extreme nonattainment area for ozone.
(c) A stationary source that is major for VOC shall be considered major for ozone and subject to the requirements for ozone in this chapter.
(d) For purposes of implementing the requirements of s. NR 408.03(4), a stationary source that is major for any PM 10 precursor shall be considered major for PM 10.
(e) The fugitive emissions of a stationary source may not be included in determining, for any of the purposes of this chapter, whether it is a major source unless the source belongs to one of the following categories of stationary sources:
1. Carbon black plants (furnace process).
2. Coal cleaning plants (with thermal dryers).
3. Coke oven batteries.
4. Charcoal production plants.
5. Chemical process plants. The chemical processing plants category does not include ethanol production facilities that produce ethanol by natural fermentation, as described by the 6-digit code of 312140 or 325193 in the North American Industry Classification System United States, 2007, incorporated by reference in s. NR 484.05(17).
6. Fuel conversion plants.
7. Fossil fuel-fired boilers (or combination thereof) totaling more than 250 million Btu per hour heat input.
8. Fossil fuel-fired electric plants of more than 250 million Btu per hour heat input.
9. Glass fiber manufacturing plants.
10. Hydrofluoric acid plants.
11. Iron and steel mills.
12. Kraft pulp mills.
13. Lime plants.
14. Municipal incinerators (or combinations thereof) capable of charging more than 50 tons of refuse per day.
15. Nitric acid plants.
16. Petroleum refineries.
17. Petroleum storage and transfer units with a total storage capacity exceeding 300,000 barrels.
18. Phosphate rock processing plants.
19. Portland cement plants.
20. Primary aluminum ore reduction plants.
21. Primary copper smelters.
22. Primary lead smelters.
23. Primary zinc smelters.
24. Secondary metal production plants.
25. Sintering plants.
26. Sulfuric acid plants.
27. Sulfur recovery plants.
28. Taconite ore processing plants.
29. Any other stationary source category regulated under section 111 or 112 of the Act (42 USC 7411 or 7412) before November 15, 1990.
(f) Mobile source emissions indirectly caused by a source which attracts mobile source activity may not be considered in determining whether the source is a major stationary source for the purposes of this chapter.
(22) "Necessary preconstruction approvals or permits" means those permits or approvals required under federal air quality control laws and regulations and those air quality control laws and regulations which are part of the applicable state implementation plan.
(23)
(a) "Net emissions increase" means, with respect to any regulated NSR air contaminant emitted by a major stationary source, the amount by which the difference between the sum of emission increases and the sum of emission decreases of the following exceeds zero:
1. The increase in emissions from a particular physical change or change in the method of operation at a stationary source calculated pursuant to the methods contained in s. NR 408.025.
2. Any other increases and decreases in actual emissions at the major stationary source that are contemporaneous with the particular change and are otherwise creditable. Baseline actual emissions for calculating increases and decreases under this subdivision shall be determined as provided in sub. (2m), except that sub. (2m) (a) 3. and (b) 4. do not apply.
(b) An increase or decrease in actual emissions is contemporaneous with the increase from the particular change only if it occurs between the following:
1. The date 5 years before construction on the particular change commences.
2. The date that the increase from the particular change occurs.
(c) An increase or decrease in actual emissions is creditable only if all of the following are satisfied:
1. It is contemporaneous with the particular change.
2. The department has not relied on it in issuing a permit for the source under this chapter and the permit is in effect when the increase in actual emissions from the particular change occurs.
(d) An increase in actual emissions is creditable only to the extent that the new level of actual emissions exceeds the old level.
(e) A decrease in actual emissions is creditable only to the extent that all of the following are satisfied:
1. The old level of actual emissions or the old level of allowable emissions, whichever is lower, exceeds the new level of actual emissions.
2. It is enforceable as a practical matter at and after the time that actual construction on the particular change begins.
3. The department has not relied on it in issuing any permit under ch. NR 405, 406, 407 or this chapter or the state has not relied on it in demonstrating attainment or reasonable further progress.
4. It has approximately the same qualitative significance for public health and welfare as that attributed to the increase from the particular change.
(f) An increase that results from a physical change at a source occurs when the emissions unit on which construction occurred becomes operational and begins to emit an air contaminant. Any replacement unit that requires shakedown becomes operational only after a reasonable shakedown period, not to exceed 180 days.
(g) Subsection NR 408.02(1) (a) does not apply for determining creditable increases and decreases or after a change.
(24)
(a) "Nonattainment area" means any area that does not meet the primary or secondary ambient air quality standard for a pollutant and that is designated nonattainment with respect to that pollutant by the administrator pursuant to section 107 (d) of the Act (42 USC 7407(d)) or by the department pursuant to s. 285.23(2), Stats.
(b) For certain pollutants, nonattainment areas are classified for the purpose of applying an attainment date or for other purposes, in accordance with procedures in the act. The following nonattainment area classifications have been established:
1. For ozone: rural transport, marginal, moderate, serious, severe and extreme.
2. For PM 10: moderate and serious.
3. For carbon monoxide: moderate and serious.

Note: See 40 CFR part 81 for a listing of the specific areas.

(c) The classification with the lowest emission threshold under s. NR 407.02(4) (c) 1.
a. determines the major source or major modification threshold in an area classified as nonattainment for more than one ozone national ambient air quality standard, until the area is redesignated to attainment for a current standard or a redesignation substitute for a revoked standard has been approved by the EPA for the standard with the lowest emission threshold.

Note: The department maintains materials accessible to the public that show current Wisconsin nonattainment areas and summarizes the applicable permitting requirements for major sources of emissions within these areas.

(24m) "Nonattainment major new source review" or "NSR" program means a major source preconstruction permit program that has been approved by the administrator and incorporated into the state implementation plan to implement the requirements of 40 CFR part 51, Appendix S, Sections I to VI. Any permit issued under the program is a major NSR permit.
(25) "Ozone transport region" means any interstate transport region which has been established for ozone pursuant to section 176A of the Act (42 USC 7506a).
(25s) "Plant-wide applicability limitation" or "PAL" means an emission limitation expressed in tons per year, for a regulated NSR air contaminant at a major stationary source, that is enforceable as a practical matter and established source-wide in accordance with s. NR 408.11.
(26) "PM 10 precursor" means, for the purposes of implementing the requirements of s. NR 408.03(4), sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides or volatile organic compounds.
(28) "Potential to emit" means the maximum capacity of a stationary source to emit a pollutant under its physical and operational design. Any physical or operation limitation on the capacity of the source to emit a pollutant shall be treated as part of its design if the limitation or the effect it would have on emissions is federally enforceable. Limitations which can be considered in the determination of potential to emit include the application of air pollution control equipment and restrictions on hours of operation or on the type or amount of material combusted, stored or processed. Secondary emissions may not be counted in determining a source's potential to emit.

Note: A permit limitation on emissions from any source, including a minor source which would otherwise be considered a major source, shall include adequate testing, monitoring and recordkeeping procedures in order to be considered a federally enforceable limitation.

(28e) "Predictive emissions monitoring system" or "PEMS" means all of the equipment necessary to monitor process and control device operational parameters and to calculate and record the mass emissions rate on a continuous basis.

Note: Process and control device operational parameters include secondary voltages and electric currents, and other information, such as gas flow rate, O 2 or CO 2 concentrations.

(28j) "Prevention of significant deterioration permit" or "PSD permit" means a major source preconstruction permit issued under ch. NR 405.
(28m) "Project" means a physical change in, or change in method of operation of, an existing major stationary source.
(28s)
(a) "Projected actual emissions" means the maximum annual rate, in tons per year, at which an existing emissions unit is projected to emit a regulated NSR air contaminant in any one of the 5 years following the date the unit resumes regular operation after the project. If the project involves increasing the emissions unit's design capacity or the emissions unit's potential to emit the regulated NSR air contaminant, and full utilization of the emissions unit's capacity or potential would result in a significant net emissions increase, "projected actual emissions" means the maximum annual rate, in tons per year, at which an existing emissions unit is projected to emit a regulated NSR air contaminant in any one of the 10 years following the date the unit resumes regular operation after the project.
(b)
1. In determining the projected actual emissions before beginning actual construction, the owner or operator of the major stationary source shall do all of the following:
a. Consider all relevant information, including historical operational data, the company's own representations, the company's expected business activity and the company's highest projections of business activity, the company's filings with the state or federal regulatory authorities and compliance plans under the approved state implementation plan.
b. Include fugitive emissions to the extent quantifiable and emissions associated with startups, shutdowns and malfunctions.
2. In determining the projected actual emissions before beginning actual construction, the owner or operator shall exclude, in calculating any increase in emissions that results from the particular project, that portion of the unit's emissions following the project that an existing unit could have accommodated during the consecutive 24-month period used to establish the baseline actual emissions under sub. (2m) and that are also unrelated to the particular project, including any increased utilization due to product demand growth.
(c) In lieu of using the method in par. (b), the owner or operator may elect to use the emissions unit's potential to emit, in tons per year, as defined under sub. (28).
(29) "Reasonable further progress" means annual incremental reductions in emissions of the relevant air pollutant required by part D of title I of the Act (42 USC 7501 to 7515) or may reasonably be required by the department or the administrator for the purpose of ensuring attainment of the applicable national ambient air quality standards in an area by the applicable statutory deadline.
(29m) "Regulated NSR air contaminant" means all of the following:
(a) Nitrogen oxides or any volatile organic compounds.
(b) Any air contaminant for which a national ambient air quality standard has been promulgated.
(c) Any air contaminant that is identified under this paragraph as a precursor of a general air contaminant listed under par. (a) or (b), or that the EPA has determined to be a constituent or precursor of a general air contaminant listed under par. (a) or (b), provided that a constituent or precursor pollutant may only be regulated under this chapter as part of regulation of the general air contaminant. The precursors identified by the administrator are as follows:
1. Volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides are precursors to ozone in all ozone nonattainment areas.
2. Sulfur dioxide is a precursor to PM 2.5 in all PM 2.5 nonattainment areas.
3. Nitrogen oxides are presumed to be precursors to PM 2.5 in all PM 2.5 nonattainment areas, unless the department demonstrates to the administrator's satisfaction or the EPA demonstrates that emissions of nitrogen oxides from sources in a specific area are not a significant contributor to the area's ambient PM 2.5 concentrations.
(d) PM 2.5 emissions and PM 10 emissions. As defined in s. NR 400.02(123m) and (124), respectively, these terms include filterable emissions and gaseous emissions from a source or activity which condense to form particulate matter at ambient temperatures.
(29s) "Replacement unit" means an emissions unit for which all the criteria listed in pars. (a) to (d) are met. No creditable emission reductions shall be generated from shutting down the existing emissions unit that is replaced.
(a) The emissions unit is a reconstructed unit within the meaning of s. NR 400.02(130), or the emissions unit completely takes the place of an existing emissions unit.
(b) The emissions unit is identical to or functionally equivalent to the replaced emissions unit.
(c) The replacement does not change any of the basic design parameters of the process line.
(d) The replaced emissions unit is permanently removed from the major stationary source, otherwise permanently disabled, or permanently barred from operation by a permit that is enforceable as a practical matter. If the replaced emissions unit is brought back into operation, it shall constitute a new emissions unit.
(30) "Representative actual annual emissions" means the average rate, in tons per year, at which the source is projected to emit a pollutant for the 2-year period after a physical change or change in the method of operation of a unit, or a different consecutive 2-year period within 10 years after that change, where the department determines that the period is more representative of normal source operations, considering the effect any change will have on increasing or decreasing the hourly emissions rate and on projected capacity utilization. In projecting future emissions the department shall:
(a) Consider all relevant information, including but not limited to, historical operational data, the company's own representations, filings with the state or federal regulatory authorities, and compliance plans under title IV of the act.
(b) Exclude, in calculating any increase in emissions that results from the particular physical change or change in the method of operation at an electric utility steam generating unit, that portion of the unit's emissions following the change that could have been accommodated during the representative baseline period and is attributable to an increase in projected capacity utilization at the unit that is unrelated to the particular change, including any increased utilization due to the rate of electricity demand growth for the utility system as a whole.
(31) "Secondary emissions" means emissions which would occur as a result of the construction or operation of a major source or major modification, but do not come from the major source or major modification itself. For the purpose of this chapter, secondary emissions shall be specific, well defined, quantifiable and impact the same general area as the stationary source or modification which causes the secondary emissions. Secondary emissions include emissions from any off-site support facility which would not be constructed or increase its emissions except as a result of the construction or operation of the major source or major modification. Secondary emissions do not include tailpipe emissions from any source regulated under title II of the Act or any emissions from in-transit marine vessels.
(32)
(a) "Significant" means, in reference to a net emissions increase or the potential of a source to emit any of the following pollutants, a rate of emissions that would equal or exceed any of the following, except as provided in pars. (b) to (h):
1. Carbon monoxide: 100 tons per year (tpy).
2. Nitrogen oxides: 40 tpy.
3. Sulfur dioxide: 40 tpy.
4. Particulate matter: 25 tpy.
5. PM 10: 15 tpy.
5m. PM 2.5: 10 tpy; 40 tpy for nitrogen oxides; and 40 tpy for sulfur dioxide.
6. Ozone: 40 tpy of VOC or 40 tpy of nitrogen oxides.
7. Lead: 0.60 tpy.
(b) Notwithstanding the significant emission rate for carbon monoxide under par. (a), a net increase in carbon monoxide emissions resulting from any physical change in, or change in the method of operation of, a stationary source in a serious nonattainment area for carbon monoxide is significant if the increase exceeds 50 tpy, provided stationary sources contribute significantly to carbon monoxide levels in that area.

Note: If any serious nonattainment area for carbon monoxide is designated in the state, the department will make the determination of whether stationary sources contribute significantly to the carbon monoxide levels in accordance with rules or guidance issued by the U.S. environmental protection agency.

(c) Notwithstanding the significant emissions rate for ozone under par. (a), a net increase in emissions of VOCs that would result from any physical change in, or change in the method of operation of, a stationary source for which a complete construction permit application was submitted or was required to be submitted after November 15, 1992 and which is located in a serious or severe nonattainment area for ozone is significant if the increase exceeds 25 tpy when aggregated with all creditable increases and decreases in emissions of that precursor from the source over any period of 5 consecutive years, which includes the calendar year in which the increase will occur.
(d) Notwithstanding the significant emissions rates for ozone under pars. (a) and (c), any increase in VOC emissions from any discrete operation, unit or other pollutant emitting activity at a major source of VOCs located in an extreme nonattainment area for ozone shall be considered significant.
(e) Notwithstanding the significant emission rates for PM 10 under par. (a), a net increase in PM 10 emission resulting from a physical change in, or a change in the method of operation of, a stationary source in a serious nonattainment area for PM 10 is significant if the increase exceeds 10 tpy.
(f) For the purposes of applying the requirements of s. NR 408.03(5) to major sources of nitrogen oxides for which a complete construction permit application was submitted or was required to be submitted after November 15, 1992 and which are located in ozone nonattainment areas or in ozone transport regions, the significant emission rates and other requirements for VOC in this subsection shall apply to nitrogen oxides emissions.
(g) For the purposes of applying the requirements of s. NR 408.03(4) to a major source of a PM 10 precursor located in a moderate PM 10 nonattainment area, the significant emission rate for the PM 10 precursor is 15 tpy.
(h) For the purposes of applying the requirements of s. NR 408.03(4) to a major source of a PM 10 precursor located in a serious PM 10 nonattainment area, the significant emission rate for the PM 10 precursor is 10 tpy.
(32m) "Significant emissions increase" means, for a regulated NSR air contaminant, an increase in emissions that is equal to or greater than the value for that air contaminant listed in s. NR 408.02(32).
(33) "Temporary clean coal technology demonstration project" means a clean coal technology demonstration project that is operated for a period of 5 years or less, and which complies with the state implementation plan and other requirements necessary to attain and maintain the national ambient air quality standards during the project and after it is terminated.

Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 408.02

Cr. Register, May, 1993, No. 449, eff. 6-1-93; am. (21) (a) 1. intro., cr. (21) (f), Register, June, 1995, No. 474, eff. 7-1-95; am. (4), (5), (20) (e) 5. a. and b., (21) (intro.), Register, December, 1995, No. 480, eff. 1-1-96; am. (1)(b), (c), (4), (6), (8) (intro.), (20) (e) 2., 3., 8., 9. (intro.), (21) (b) 1. a., (e) 29., (23) (b) (intro.), 1., (24) (a), (b) 1., (25), (29), Register, December, 1996, No. 492, eff. 1-1-97; CR 01-081: am. (2) (a) and (4) Register September 2004 No. 585, eff. 10-1-04; CR 03-118: am. (1), (4), (5), (11), (13) and (21) (a) 1., cr. (2m), (11e), (11m), (11s), (13m), (24m), (25s), (28e), (28j), (28m), (28s), (29m) and (32m), r. and recr. (20) and (23), r. (27), Register June 2007 No. 618, eff. 7-1-07; CR 07-104: am. (13) (b) and (21) (e) 5., cr. (29s) Register July 2008 No. 631, eff. 8-1-08; CR 07-036: am. (2) (a) and (4) Register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08; CR 10-050: cr. (32) (a) 5m. Register November 2010 No. 659, eff. 12-1-10; CR 13-070: am. (20) (e) 5. a., b., 6., renum. (29m) (c) to (c) (intro.) and am., cr. (29m) (c) 1. to 3., (d) Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14.
Amended by, CR 21-022: cr. (24) (c), am. (32) (a) 6. Register February 2022 No. 794, eff. 3/1/2022