GHG Threshold Proposed For Mandatory Environmental Assessment Worksheet EAW

The Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) has published its intent to adopt rules without a public hearing that would add a specific threshold number applying to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the mandatory EAW category for air pollutants at part 4410.4300, subpart 15. The level proposed is a combined total of 100,000 tons per year of GHGs, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents. The gases to which this threshold would apply are carbon dioxide; methane; nitrous oxide; hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs); perfluorocarbons (PFCs); and sulfur hexafluoride.


The proposed rule amendments requiring a mandatory Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) include:

"Subp. 15. Air pollution. Items A and B designate the RGU for the type of project listed.

A. For construction of a stationary source facility that generates 250 tons or more per year or modification of a stationary source facility that increases generation by 250 tons or more per year of any single air pollutant, other than those air pollutants described in item
B, after installation of air pollution control equipment, the PCA shall be the RGU.

B. For construction of a stationary source facility that generates a combined 100,000 tons or more per year or modification of a stationary source facility that increases generation by a combined 100,000 tons or more per year of greenhouse gas emissions, after installation of air pollution control equipment, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents, the PCA shall be the RGU. For purposes of this subpart, “greenhouse gases” include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride, and their combined carbon dioxide equivalents shall be computed by multiplying the mass amount of emissions for each of the six greenhouse gases in the pollutant GHGs by the gas’s associated global warming potential published in the Federal Register, volume 74, pages 56395 and 56396, as amended, to be codified as Table A-1 to subpart A of Code of Federal Regulations, title 40, part 98, Global Warming Potentials, as amended, and summing the resultant value for each. "

Written comments on the proposed rule amendment are being accepted by EQB until February 23, 2011.

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