Proposed rules affecting internal combustion engines available for review and comment until December 9

The Air Quality Bureau is proposing rules that include adoption of new federal regulations affecting stationary internal combustion engines. The proposed rules also include amendments to a construction permit exemption for small stationary internal combustion engines.

The Department is proposing to adopt New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for stationary internal combustion engines. Currently, stationary internal combustion engines less than 400 horsepower (HP) are eligible for exemption from the requirement to obtain a construction permit. When this exemption was originally adopted into state rules there were no federal requirements applicable to these smaller engines. The new NSPS and NESHAP regulations require all sizes of new, modified or reconstructed engines to meet certain emissions requirements.

To address this, the Department is amending the 400 HP exemption to require submittal of a registration certifying NSPS and NESHAP compliance prior to installation of the engine. The registration will guide owners and operators of affected engines through a series of questions to assist them in ensuring that the engine they order and install complies with the NSPS and NESHAP, while still allowing the engine to be exempt from the requirement to obtain a construction permit. The registration will also assist the Department air quality and field office staff to ensure that affected facilities are in compliance. Registration will be required only for new engines under 400 HP that are ordered after the effective date of the final rules (scheduled for March 18, 2009) and only for engines subject to the applicable NSPS or NESHAP.

The Department encourages those who may be impacted by the proposed rules to review the rulemaking and the draft engine registration forms available at www.iowacleanair.com/input/input.html. Items 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the proposed rulemaking pertain to the new engine requirements. The proposed rules also include adoption of federal NESHAP impacting surface coating operations at area sources, including surface coating of motor vehicles, and federal NESHAP impacting gasoline distribution and dispensing at area sources.

Any person may make written suggestions or comments on the proposed amendments and the associated forms on or before December 9, 2008. Written comments should be directed to Christine Paulson, Department of Natural Resources, Air Quality Bureau, 7900 Hickman Road, Suite 1, Urbandale, Iowa 50322, fax 515-242–5094, or by electronic mail to christine.paulson@dnr.iowa.gov.

A public hearing will be held Monday, December 8, 2008, at 1 p.m. in the conference rooms at the Air Quality Bureau office located at 7900 Hickman Road, Urbandale, Iowa. At the public hearing, comments on the proposed amendments may be submitted orally or in writing. All comments must be received no later than Tuesday, December 9, 2008.

For more information, contact Christine Paulson by phone at 515-242-5154 or by e-mail at christine.paulson@dnr.iowa.gov.