EPA`s evaluation of utility emissions data submitted under Title IV: Application of software tools in an operational data quality assurance program

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:271857

Hillock, C S; Wockenfuss, M E ^[1]

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1. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States). Acid Rain Div.

Title IV (Acid Deposition Control) of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 requires annual reductions of 10 million tons of sulfur dioxide and substantial reductions of nitrogen oxides from electric utilities. These reductions will occur in two phases with Phase 1 beginning in 1995. To ensure the reduction goals are met, affected utilities must monitor their emissions, perform quality assurance and quality control tests, and report the data to EPA as required by 40 CFR Part 75. EPA`s Emissions Tracking System (ETS) was developed to analyze all submitted data reports and to provide the annual emissions data needed to determine whether utilities comply with their allowable SO{sub 2} emissions. EPA received the first quarterly reports from Phase 1 utilities at the end of January, 1994. A substantial number of these initial reports exhibited major problems and EPA required many utilities to improve and resubmit their reports. Data reports for the following three quarters of 1994 showed continual improvement as utilities gained experience in operating and improving their monitoring hardware and software and as EPA clarified published guidance. Helpful utility comments enabled EPA to correct and refine ETS. Phase 2 will affect approximately 700 additional plants. These plants will begin reporting their emissions data to EPA at the beginning of May, 1995. EPA is improving data handling and processing procedures and expanding the ETS software system capabilities to receive and process the substantial increase in submitted data during 1995.

• OSTI ID: 271857
• Report Number(s): CONF-950196--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
CLEAN AIR ACTS
COMPLIANCE
DEPOSITION
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
NITROGEN OXIDES
SULFUR DIOXIDE