November 21, 2001
The regular meeting of the Air Pollution Control Board of Jefferson County was called to order November 21, 2001, at 9:17 a.m. in the Board Room of the Air Pollution Control District, 850 Barret Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky, by the Chairman, Joe Vibbert. Lewis Hammond, Dr. Wayne Tuckson, Lee Howard, and Michael Hesse were present. A quorum was present.
The following staff were present: Art Williams, Jon Trout, Gayle Ballard, Diane Hazellief, Art Chang, Bruce Gaylord, Terri Phelps, Tom Pinto, Nancy Kottak, Doug Spillman, Bob Dorzback, T.J. Jessie, John McCarthy, Phyllis Fitzgerald, Jesse Goldsmith, and Patricia Stovall.
The following guests were present: Martin Luther, Ky. Division for Air Quality; Bob Ehrler, Frost Brown Todd; Regina Henry, Cemex-Kosmos Cement Co.; Kathy Matheny, County Judge/Executive’s Office; Brad Dillon, Greenebaum Doll & McDonald; Robert Gioffre, Gordon-Darby; Pat Moran, Rohm and Haas; Malcolm Winsper, KY Motorcycle Association; and Caryl Pfeiffer, Merlene Zeckner Pardee, Jason Wilkerson, and Mike Kirkland, LG&E.
Lawn Care for Cleaner Air Awards
Phyllis Fitzgerald presented Lawn Care for Cleaner Air Awards in absentia to the following:
Jim and Gerry Harrah
Beverly Jean Schere
David and Julie Doll
Keith Williams
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Public Hearing and Board meeting of October 17, 2001, were approved as mailed.
Unfinished Business
A. Update report on Louisville Gas & Electric - Mill Creek Generating Station
Ms. Pfeiffer and Mr. Kirkland, both of the Louisville Gas & Electric Company (LG&E), gave a presentation on the history of environmental controls at the Mill Creek Generating Station (MCGS). The first unit at the MCGS began operation in 1972 and the last of the four units began operation in 1982. The first two units were built without flue gas desulfurization (FGD) controls for sulfur dioxide (SO2) and were later retrofitted with FGD controls; the last two units were built with FGD controls. Reactive particle emissions were associated with equipment malfunctions, scrubber by-passes, and carryover through the mist eliminators.
The measures implemented in the 1992 to 1995 time frame reduced reactive particle emission episodes but did not adequately abate the problems. The current Board Order with LG&E outlines the wet stack conversion project, which requires lining the stacks with a high-grade stainless steel alloy, replacing the mist eliminator and wash systems, eliminating the exhaust gas reheat equipment, and enlarging the stack breachings. The LG&E is on schedule to complete the wet stack conversion project by the fall of 2002. Additionally, selective catalytic reduction (SCR) control systems to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions will be installed on units 3 and 4, with initial operation occurring during the 2002 ozone season.
Ms. Phelps confirmed that the LG&E wet stack conversion project was meeting the schedule in the Board Order. She explained that the reactive particles, the abatement of which is the goal of the wet stack conversion project, are not the common flyash emissions associated with coal burning, but are the larger particles that form in the process after the particulate control devices. The reactive particles are formed by the unintended reaction of combustion gases with the steel of the ductwork and stack liner and produce a distinct yellow or orange stain, which is difficult to remove with conventional cleaning methods. Ms. Phelps indicated that the March 2001 Board Order prohibits the District from taking enforcement actions for any “reactive particle conditions which are the subject of this Order” so long as LG&E is in compliance with the requirements of the Board Order. She emphasized, however, that this provision of the Board Order does not prohibit the District from taking enforcement actions for other regulation or permit violations at the MCGS.
New Business
A. Amendments to Regulation 8.01 Mobile Source Emissions Control Requirements, Version #13, Draft #3 - Proposed, October 2, 2001, and Regulation 8.02 Vehicle Emissions Testing Procedure, Version #5, Draft #3 - Proposed, October 2, 2001.
The District recommended that the Board adopt the amendment to Regulation 8.01 as proposed (Version #13, Draft #3 - Proposed, October 2, 2001) and the amendment as presented today to Regulation 8.02 (Version #5, Draft #4- Proposed - Revision 1, November 20, 2001).
ACTION: Mr. Hammond moved to adopt the amendments to Regulations 8.01 (Version #13, Draft #3 - Proposed, October 2, 2001) and 8.02 (Version #5, Draft #4- Proposed - Revision 1, November 20, 2001) as presented today.
The motion passed unanimously.
Committee Reports
A. Policy Committee
The Policy Committee met on November 6, 2001, to discuss the amendments to Regulation 1.02 Definitions. The purpose of the proposed action to amend the current version of this regulation is to update the definitions to be consistent with current definitions used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and to remove definitions that are no longer used in District regulations. A broader goal is to clarify the terms used in the regulations and use those terms consistently throughout the regulations. The Policy Committee moved to proceed with the Public Review Process for the draft amended regulation.
B. Strategy Committee
The Strategy Committee did not meet.
Staff Reports
A. Director
Mr. Williams indicated that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project has been released for public review and comment. This document is more than 1000 pages long and is contained in two volumes. The public comment period will extend until February 25, 2002, and there will be a public hearing in both Jeffersonville, Indiana, and Louisville, Kentucky.
Chairman Vibbert expressed concern that the length of the document would make it difficult for the Board members to read the entire document but that the decision on the bridges project could have a direct impact on the air quality in the Louisville area. This concern was shared by other members of the Board. Chairman Vibbert, expressing a consensus of the Board, requested that the District prepare a report for the Board regarding the air quality impacts of the various options as presented in this document. Mr. Williams indicated that he would have a report for the Board prepared for the January Board meeting.
Mr. Williams said that the ozone ambient air monitoring season ended October 31 and there was only one exceedance this year of the 1-hour ozone standard, that being on Monday, July 30, 2001, at the Shepherdsville monitor. This was the only 1-hour ozone standard exceedance on that day in the entire eastern United States. There have been 13 exceedances on 9 days of the 8-hour ozone standard in the Louisville area. Mr. Williams discussed a chart showing a significant decline over the last three years in both the number of exceedances and the number of days during which an exceedance occurred of the 8-hour ozone standard in both Jefferson County as well as the interstate Louisville area.
Mr. Williams discussed the October 2001 PM2.5 monthly average and year-to-date annual average summary. A copy is attached to the original minutes. The month of October averaged 13.8 µg/m3. The annual PM2.5 standard is 15.0 µg/m3. During the past 34 months, the average was 17.7 µg/m3.
B. VET
The VET Report for October 2001 was submitted for filing. A copy is attached to the original minutes.
C. Enforcement Status
The Enforcement Status Report dated November 13, 2001, was submitted for filing. A copy is attached to the original minutes.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 10:20 a.m.
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Joseph D. Vibbert
Chairman
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Jonathan L. Trout
Secretary-Treasurer