Spark Ignition (SI) Engine Rulemaking Workshop

July 22-23, 2008, Houston, Texas

Learn more about EPA's Spark Ignition Combined Engine Rulemaking at the API and INGA Workshops.

On December 20, 2007, as mandated by Consent Decree, the U.S. EPA signed a rule to reduce emissions of criteria and air toxic pollutants from stationary internal combustion engines. These engines are used extensively in the upstream segment of the oil and gas industry for compression, power generation and utility purposes. They are also used at gas transmission compressor stations, and facilities such as power plants, refineries and chemical and manufacturing plants to generate electricity and run power pumps and compressors. EPA published the final rule on January 18, 2008 and the new rule affects engines currently being placed into service. Applicability dates depend upon the manufacture date, engine size, and type of service.

The final spark ignition (SI) rulemaking is referred to as a “combined engine rule” because it consists of two parts:

• The first part is the NSPS, which will limit emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOC) from new, modified, and reconstructed stationary spark ignition internal combustion (IC) engines.
• The second part amends the existing RICE MACT rule to limit air toxic emissions from new and reconstructed IC engines. These amendments address small engines at major source facilities and all area source engines.

EPA chose to regulate all stationary IC engines regardless of size, and followed mobile source engine analogies in many cases. Industry’s main concern throughout the rulemaking process was trying to clarify, with EPA, how rules developed for off-the-shelf mobile source equipment (i.e. cranes, bulldozers, welding machines, air compressors) can be used for stationary sources and how operators are to comply with a multitude of other air quality related rules [e.g. CAA Title V Permitting and compliance certification; Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Permitting; etc.] in conjunction with the new IC engine requirements. Industry was also concerned that engine certification analogies from mobile source rules would introduce compliance confusion and operating limitations.

The final SI rulemaking is a very difficult rulemaking to decipher, even for the engine or regulatory expert. As a result, API and INGAA have joined together to sponsor a series of workshops (each workshop will consist of two-half days) intended to help industry EHS experts better understand what is required under the new regulations and when! These training workshops will be instructed by Jim McCarthy and Jeff Panek from Innovative Environmental Solutions, Inc.

Who Should Attend

This is a targeted workshop intended to educate API and INGAA members and others in the upstream segment on the elements of this complicated rulemaking. Environment Health and Safety (EHS) managers and subject matter experts should attend as well as facility operations personnel, responsible for implementing the new combustion engine requirements.

• Preliminary Program Agenda
  Day 1: 11:30 AM - 5:00 PM
  Day 2: 7:30 AM - 12:00 PM
  
• SI Workshop Manual Table of Contents

Houston, Texas:
The workshop will be held at the Houston Airport Marriott at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. A block of rooms has been reserved for the night of July 22 at a rate of $169.00/night. Please contact the hotel directly at 800-228-9290 or at local phone number 281-443-2310 and ask for the API "Spark Ignition Workshop" meeting. The cut-off date for making reservations is Tuesday, July 8.

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Questions?

• Contact Matthew Cunningham at 202-682-8158 or cunninghamm@api.org with questions regarding logistics.
• Contact the Registrar at 202-682-8195 or registrar@api.org with questions regarding registration.