ncasi 

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR AIR AND STREAM IMPROVEMENT, INC. 

P.O. Box 13318, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3318 

Phone (919) 941-6400 | Fax (919) 941-6401 

 

                                               
                                               
                                               
                          Vipin K. Varma, PhD 

                                               
                                               
                                               
   (352) 331-1745 | (904) 891-5021 

                                               
                                               
                                               
                              HYPERLINK "mailto:vvarma@ncasi.org" 
vvarma@ncasi.org  

 

February 15, 2012 

 

 

TO:                     Robin Dunkins, Sector Policies and
Programs Division, OAQPS 

 

FROM:               Vipin Varma and John Pinkerton 

 

Dear Ms Robin Dunkins, 

 

In the December 27, 2011 Federal Register Residual Risk and Technology
Review proposal for the Pulp and Paper industry, EPA requested comments
on whether to remove or modify excess emissions allowances for Low
Volume High Concentration, High Volume Low Concentration, and steam
strippers (see FR 76 p. 81346).  Specifically, EPA has requested
information on the following: 

1.     Circumstances for excess emissions and whether they qualify as
Start-up, Shutdown and Malfunction (SSM) events (and if not, why not) 

2.     General categorization of excess emissions events (and causes) 

3.     Differentiating between routine excess emissions events and SSM
events 

4.     Frequency and duration of occurrences and, if available,
quantities of emissions 

5.     Compilation of prevalent monitoring procedures and work
practices, and 

6.     Whether excess emission periods are needed for technology or
operational reasons 

 

The assembly of this kind of information, in the form of substantive
comments reflecting industry-wide practices, is a complex endeavor and
cannot be accomplished by February 27 – the end of the comment period.
 NCASI is currently designing a targeted survey, working with AF&PA and
the industry, that attempts to address EPA’s questions and information
needs.  NCASI has a strong track record of conducting surveys around
complex technical and regulatory issues and providing thorough reviews
of the same.  This survey will attempt to provide relevant information
on categories of “routine” releases that are operational or process
driven and not SSM events, their frequency, duration, and other related
information.   

 

Comprehensive industry responses and subsequent assimilation of all data
is time consuming, especially considering other ongoing projects and
research.  Therefore, we request that EPA extend the timeline for
comments pertaining to excess emission allowances by four months until
June 27th.  This extension will enable a more comprehensive and
deliberate data collection process and more substantive and responsive
comments. 

 

The idea of undertaking such a survey has been broached with member
companies and they are willing to respond to this survey later this
spring. I have copied some of our member companies on this e-mail with
whom we will be working to acquire this additional information.  Please
do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. 

 

Best Regards 

Vipin 

 

Vipin K. Varma, PhD 

NCASI Inc. 

(352) 331 1745 x 260 

(904) 891 5021 

  HYPERLINK "mailto:vvarma@ncasi.org"  vvarma@ncasi.org  

