New Registration Requirements for Stationary Internal Combustion Engines

Owners and operators intending to install stationary internal combustion engines rated at less than 400 horsepower (HP) after March 18, 2009, may need to submit a registration form to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to be exempt from the requirement to obtain an air construction permit. The new registration forms will assist those ordering and installing these smaller engines in ensuring that the engines comply with new federal regulations adopted by the DNR. The new registration forms are available on the Air Quality Bureau website at www.iowacleanair.com/ on both the Construction Permits and Area Source Toxics Standards pages.

The new registration requirements apply to engines rated at less than 400 HP that are affected units under the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for new, stationary internal combustion engines (40 CFR Part 60, Subparts IIII and JJJJ), and the newly revised National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for these engines (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart ZZZZ). The registration forms will guide owners and operators through a brief series of questions to determine if the engine is affected by the NSPS and NESHAP regulations.

If the engine is subject to the NSPS or NESHAP and will be installed after March 18, 2009, the owner or operator must submit a registration form to the DNR prior to installing the engine if they wish to use the 400 HP construction permit exemption (567 Iowa Administrative Code 22.1(2)”r”).

Engines installed on or before March 18 and engines that are not subject to applicable NSPS or NESHAP do not require registration. Additionally, an engine qualifying for another exemption other than the 400 HP exemption does not require registration. Engines rated at 400 HP or greater and engines located in Polk or Linn counties must still obtain the required construction permits unless otherwise exempt.

When the DNR originally adopted the 400 HP exemption, 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, either through manufacturer certification or an alternative demonstration. The new regulations also impose operating and recordkeeping requirements. The NSPS requirements, in particular, are complex and lengthy, with a myriad of requirements depending on factors such as engine type, engine model year, engine size, engine use and engine fuel. The NSPS regulations phase in more stringent requirements for engines with later manufacture dates.

The DNR’s new registration forms are intended to be a compliance assistance tool for owners and operators of smaller engines, and will also assist the DNR’s air quality and field office staff in ensuring compliance. The DNR will post Frequently Asked Questions and other information about the new engine registration forms and the NSPS and NESHAP requirements in the near future.

For assistance with the new registration forms or construction permit requirements, please contact the Air Quality Bureau permit hotline at 1-877-AIR-IOWA (1-877-247-4692), Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.