DAR File No. 39744

Environmental Quality, Air Quality

Rule R307-306

PM10 Nonattainment and Maintenance Areas: Abrasive Blasting

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 39744
Filed: 09/15/2015 09:13:59 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

On 03/25/2015, Governor Gary Herbert signed Utah H.B. 229, Air Quality Modifications, from the 2015 General Session into law. H.B. 229 revised the statutory definitions of several terms in Section 19-2-102. The purpose of this rule is to amend the Utah Air Quality Rules so that they reflect the changes made to Section 19-2-102.

Summary of the rule or change:

The word "contaminant(s)" was replaced with "pollutant(s)" throughout the rule.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Section 19-2-104

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

Replacing "contaminants" with "pollutants" will not create additional obligations for regulated entities. There are no anticipated costs or savings to the state budget.

local governments:

Replacing "contaminants" with "pollutants" will not create additional obligations for regulated entities. There are no anticipated costs or savings to local governments.

small businesses:

Replacing "contaminants" with "pollutants" will not create additional obligations for regulated entities. There are no anticipated costs or savings to small businesses.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

Replacing "contaminants" with "pollutants" will not create additional obligations for regulated entities. There are no anticipated costs or savings to other persons.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

Replacing "contaminants" with "pollutants" will not create additional obligations for regulated entities. There are no compliance costs for affected persons.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

Replacing "contaminants" with "pollutants" will not create additional obligations for regulated entities. Therefore, the amendments will have no fiscal impact on businesses.

Alan Matheson, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Environmental Quality
Air QualityRoom Fourth Floor
195 N 1950 W
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84116-3085

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Ryan Stephens at the above address, by phone at 801-536-4419, by FAX at 801-536-0085, or by Internet E-mail at rstephens@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

11/02/2015

This rule may become effective on:

12/03/2015

Authorized by:

Bryce Bird, Director

R307. Environmental Quality, Air Quality.

R307-306. PM10 Nonattainment and Maintenance Areas: Abrasive Blasting.

R307-306-1. Purpose.

This rule establishes requirements that apply to abrasive blasting operations in PM10 nonattainment and maintenance areas.

 

R307-306-2. Definitions.

The following additional definitions apply to R307-306.

"Abrasive Blasting" means the operation of cleaning or preparing a surface by forcibly propelling a stream of abrasive material against the surface.

"Abrasive Blasting Equipment" means any equipment used in abrasive blasting operations.

"Abrasives" means any material used in abrasive blasting operations including but not limited to sand, slag, steel shot, garnet or walnut shells.

"Confined Blasting" means any abrasive blasting conducted in an enclosure that significantly restricts air [contaminants]pollutants from being emitted to the ambient atmosphere, including but not limited to shrouds, tanks, drydocks, buildings and structures.

"Hydroblasting" means any abrasive blasting using high pressure liquid as the propelling force.

"Multiple Nozzles" means a group of two or more nozzles used for abrasive cleaning of the same surface in such close proximity that their separate plumes are indistinguishable.

"Unconfined Blasting" means any abrasive blasting that is not confined blasting as defined above.

"Wet Abrasive Blasting" means any abrasive blasting using compressed air as the propelling force and sufficient water to minimize the plume.

 

R307-306-3. Applicability.

R307-306 applies to any person who operates abrasive blasting equipment in a PM10 nonattainment or maintenance area, or to sources listed in Section IX, Part H of the state implementation plan.

 

R307-306-4. Visible Emission Standard.

(1) Except as provided in (2) below, visible emissions from abrasive blasting operations shall not exceed 20% opacity except for an aggregate period of three minutes in any one hour.

(2) If the abrasive blasting operation complies with the performance standards in R307-306-6, visible emissions from the operation shall not exceed 40% opacity, except for an aggregate period of 3 minutes in any one hour.

 

R307-306-5. Visible Emission Evaluation Techniques.

(1) Visible emissions shall be measured using EPA Method 9. Visible emissions from intermittent sources shall use procedures similar to Method 9, but the requirement for observations to be made at 15 second intervals over a six minute period shall not apply.

(2) Visible emissions from unconfined blasting shall be measured at the densest point of the emission after a major portion of the spent abrasive has fallen out at a point not less than five feet nor more than twenty-five feet from the impact surface from any single abrasive blasting nozzle.

(3) An unconfined blasting operation that uses multiple nozzles shall be considered a single source unless it can be demonstrated by the owner or operator that each nozzle, measured separately, meets the visible emission standards in R307-306-4.

(4) Emissions from confined blasting shall be measured at the densest point after the air [contaminant]pollutant leaves the enclosure.

 

R307-306-6. Performance Standards.

(1) To satisfy the requirements of R307-306-4(2), the abrasive blasting operation shall use at least one of the following performance standards:

(a) confined blasting;

(b) wet abrasive blasting;

(c) hydroblasting; or

(d) unconfined blasting using abrasives as defined in (2) below.

(2) Abrasives.

(a) Abrasives used for dry unconfined blasting referenced in (1) above shall comply with the following performance standards:

(i) Before blasting, the abrasive shall not contain more than 1% by weight material passing a #70 U.S. Standard sieve.

(ii) After blasting the abrasive shall not contain more than 1.8% by weight material 5 microns or smaller.

(b) Abrasives reused for dry unconfined blasting are exempt from (a)(ii) above, but must conform with (a)(i) above.

(3) Abrasive Certification. Sources using the performance standard of (1)(d) above to meet the requirements of R307-306-4(2) must demonstrate they have obtained abrasives from a supplier who has certified (submitted test results) to the director at least annually that such abrasives meet the requirements of (2) above.

 

R307-306-7. Compliance Schedule.

The provisions of R307-306 shall apply in any new PM10 nonattainment area 180 days after the area is officially designated a nonattainment area for PM10 by the Environmental Protection Agency. Provisions of R307-206 shall continue to apply to the owner or operator of a source during this transition period.

 

KEY: air pollution, abrasive blasting, PM10

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [September 2, 2005]2015

Notice of Continuation: February 5, 2015

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 19-2-101(1)(a)