HomeMy WebLinkAbout07. Consider agreement with Montrose Air Quality Services for air emissions testing services Page 1 of 4
Item 7.
CENTRAL SAN CENTRAL SAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
POSITION PAPER
MEETING DATE: SEPTEMBER 6, 2018
SUBJECT: CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE
TECHNICAL CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH MONTROSE
AIR QUALITY SERVICES, LLC FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $220,000 TO PROVIDE AIR EMISSIONS TESTING SERVICES
FOR MULTIPLE HEARTH FURNACES, COGENERATION, AND AUXILIARY
BOILERS THROUGH JUNE 30, 2019
SUBMITTED BY: INITIATING DEPARTMENT:
RANDYSCHMIDT, SENIOR ENGINEER ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES-
ERC-REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
REVIEWED BY: LORI SCHECTEL, ENVIRONMENTAL & REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
DIVISION MANAGER
JEAN-MARC PETIT, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERINGAND TECHNICAL
SERVICES
Roger S. Bailey Kenton L. Alm
General Manager District Counsel
ISSUE
Board authorization is required to execute an agreement in an amount greater than $100,000 to perform air
emissions testing through the end of Fiscal Year(FY) 2018-19.
September 6, 2018 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 103 of 135
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BACKGROUND
The proposed agreement would provide air emissions testing services to meet the following objectives
related to regulatory compliance:
1. Annual Title V Auxiliary Boilers Compliance Emissions Test (Scheduled to start September 2018)
• The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Permit-to-Operate requires an annual
emissions test of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide (CO), non-methane organic compounds, and
sulfur dioxide to demonstrate compliance with the annual Title V testing requirements and emissions
limits.
2. Annual Title V Cogeneration Emissions Test (Scheduled to start September 2018)
• The BAAQMD Permit-to-Operate requires an annual source test of CO emissions from
Cogeneration to demonstrate compliance with the annual Title V testing requirements and emissions
limit.
3. Hydrogen Chloride (HCI) Engineering Evaluation and Compliance Emissions Testing on Multiple
Hearth Furnace (MHF) No. 2 (Scheduled to start September 2018)
•
In May 2018, the average HCI emissions measured on MHF No. 2 exhaust during the annual Clean
Air Act (CAA) Section 129 compliance emissions test exceeded the applicable 1.2 parts per million
by volume, dry (ppmvd) at 7% oxygen limit. BAAQMD staff has been notified of the HCI
exceedance, and a Notice of Violation is anticipated from BAAQMD enforcement staff. BAAQMD
indicated that a HCI compliance emissions re-test on MHF No. 2 may be required in the near future.
To minimize the risks associated with another HCI emissions violation, the Central San Regulatory
Compliance staff recommends conducting an engineering evaluation HCI emissions test followed by
the HCI compliance emissions re-test on MHF No. 2. The HCI engineering evaluation would involve
working with Operations staff to optimize the injection of sodium hydroxide (caustic) into the wet
scrubber to ensure efficient acid gas removal and establish a target caustic injection dosage rate for
the HCI compliance emissions re-test.
4. New Oxygen Monitor Certification on MHF No. 2 (Scheduled to start September 2018)
• A new oxygen monitor was recently installed on the second hearth on MHF No. 2 next to the existing
oxygen monitor. The new oxygen monitor is a more robust analyzer and requires less maintenance.
The Title V Major Facility Review Permit requires a continuous measurement of the oxygen
concentration in the combustion process and establishes a reporting limit of 10% on the oxygen
concentration. Since this oxygen monitor will serve as a continuous emissions monitor for
compliance determination, BAAQMD requires the completion of a Relative Accuracy Test Audit to
certify the accuracy of the new oxygen monitor before it is used to demonstrate compliance.
5. Annual CAA Section 129 and Title V MHF No.1 Compliance Emissions Test (Tentatively scheduled to
start in February 2019)
• MHF No. 1 is anticipated to begin its annual operation in early 2019. CAA Section 129 requires an
annual compliance emissions test on the operating MHF within 60 days of start-up for the following
parameters: CO, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, total particulate matter, HCI, dioxins/furans, mercury,
cadmium, and lead. Additionally, the Title V Major Facility Review Permit requires the annual testing
of non-methane organic compounds and sulfur dioxide emissions on the operating MHF.
September 6, 2018 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 104 of 135
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6. Contingency Emissions Tests
• Due to increasing regulatory requirements and recent air-related violations, Regulatory Compliance
staff recommends the inclusion of a contingency amount of$83,000 to cover any unanticipated air
emission testing services that may be needed to demonstrate compliance, mitigate a potential
compliance issue, and/or prepare for upcoming regulatory requirements. Potential items to be
covered by this contingency air emissions testing item include:
- Measurement of air pollutants for the development of site-specific emissions factors to
improve the accuracy of the treatment plant health risk assessment in preparation for
compliance with the BAAQMD Regulation 11, Rule 18;
-Additional HCI emissions testing to optimize the wet scrubber caustic injection; and
-Additional testing of HCI emissions to demonstrate compliance with the CAA Section 129
limit.
An informal request for proposals (RFP)was issued for the aforementioned scope items. Montrose Air
Quality Services, LLC was the only respondent to the request and was determined to be a responsive and
responsible vendor. Due to recent air emissions testing, data quality, and reporting issues, Blue Sky
Environmental, I nc. (Blue Sky) is no longer under consideration for emissions testing services for Central
San until they have resolved these issues with BAAQMD. As such, Blue Sky and Central San have
agreed to terminate the contract for convenience. In Spring 2018, Central San was notified by BAAQMD
of a testing method error by Blue Sky found in a recent compliance test report for Central San's furnace
emissions. BAAQMD requested that Central San retest for a specific pollutant with the correct method.
Blue Sky completed the retest with the proper method at their cost. However, upon resubmittal of the
latest test results, BAAQMD identified significant data discrepancies (report prepared by Blue Sky
indicated passing test results, while the independent lab test data showed results above the permitted
limit). BAAQMD may require another retest for this pollutant.
ALTERNATIVES/CONSIDERATIONS
The Board could reject the proposed agreement. This is not recommended for the following reasons:
First, the Title V Major Facility Review Permit and the CAA Section 129 regulations require an emissions
test to be conducted on the online MHF every year, and failure to do so will result in violations and potential
enforcement actions from BAAQMD.
Second, the Title V Major Facility Review Permit and the BAAQMD Permit-to-Operate require an
emissions test to be conducted on the Auxiliary Boilers and Cogeneration every year, and failure to do so
will result in violations and potential enforcement actions from BAAQMD.
Third, without an emissions testing contract, staff would not be able to certify the newly installed oxygen
monitor on MHF No. 2. The new oxygen monitor is more robust and provides a more reliable method for
measuring oxygen continuously. The new oxygen monitor is also expected to reduce Instrument Shop
staff time to troubleshoot issues related to sensor plugging.
Lastly, without the contingency emissions testing funds, Central San faces additional risks associated with
air-related violations and will be unable to efficiently conduct air emissions testing to mitigate potential air
emissions compliance issues and/or properly plan for upcoming regulatory requirements.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
The air emission testing for this single contract includes:
September 6, 2018 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 105 of 135
Page 4 of 4
Annual Compliance Emissions Test on Auxiliary Boilers $ 15,624
Annual Compliance Emissions Test on Cogeneration 7,391
HCI Engineering Evaluation Emissions Test on 25,375
MHF No. 2
HCI Compliance Emissions Test on MHF No. 2 19,210
MHF No. 2 Oxygen Monitor Certification 3,709
Annual Title V and 129 Compliance Emissions Test on 65,691
MHF No. 1
Contingency Emissions Testing 83,000
TOTAL: $220,000
This project will be funded from the Operations and Maintenance account for Technical Services,Air
Sources Test/Emission Inventory(Account No. 001-0270-760-09-02).
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
This matter was not reviewed by a Board Committee.
RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION
Authorize the General Manager to approve a technical consulting services agreement with Montrose Air
Quality Services, LLC for an amount not to exceed $220,000 for air emissions testing services for MHFs,
Cogeneration, and Auxiliary Boilers through June 30, 2019.
Strategic Plan Tie-In
GOAL TWO: Strive to Meet Regulatory Requirements
Strategy 1 - Strive to achieve 100%permit compliance in air, water, land, and other regulations
September 6, 2018 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 106 of 135