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EPA/AR

RIN: 2060-AR69

Publication ID: Spring 2013

Title: Petroleum Refinery Sector Amendment for Flares
Abstract: In this action, the EPA plans to amend the flare operational requirements in 40 CFR part 63, subparts CC and UUU (a.k.a., Refinery Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) 1 and 2). Flares are often used at petroleum refineries as a control device for regulated vent streams, as well as to handle nonroutine emissions (e.g., leaks, purges, emergency releases); and since the development of the current flare regulations, the industry has significantly reduced the amount of waste gas being routed to flares. Generally, this reduction has affected the base load to flares and many are now receiving a small fraction of what the flare was originally designed to receive, with only periodic releases of episodic or emergency waste gas that use the full capacity of the flare. Many regulated flare vent gas streams are often continuous streams that contribute to the base load of a flare; therefore, it is critical for flares to achieve good combustion efficiency at all levels of utilization. The EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) compiled available information and test data on flare performance and submitted the information to an ad hoc flare peer review panel to evaluate parameters affecting flare performance. The panel concluded their review in the spring of 2012 and their review suggests that major factors that may affect combustion efficiency and overall flare performance include over-steaming of steam assisted flares, excess aeration of air assisted flares, and vent gas composition.
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)	Priority: Other Significant
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda	Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage
Major: No	Unfunded Mandates: No
CFR Citation: 40 CFR 63
Legal Authority: CAA sec 112

Legal Deadline: None

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	12/00/2013
Final Rule	12/00/2014

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined	Government Levels Affected: Federal
Federalism: Undetermined
Included in the Regulatory Plan: Yes
Sectors Affected: 32411 Petroleum Refineries
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No
Agency Contact: Brenda Shine Environmental Protection Agency Air and Radiation 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Mail Code E143-01, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 Phone:919 541-3608 Email: shine.brenda@epa.gov Brenda Shine Environmental Protection Agency Air and Radiation 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Mail Code E143-01, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 Phone:919 541-3608 Fax:919 541-0516 Email: shine.brenda@epa.gov