FABRIC
FILTER       NEWSLETTER 

 

February 2009
No. 400

KU Agrees to Add SCR and FGD at E. W. Brown 3

Kentucky Utilities has agreed to pay $1.4 million in civil penalties and spend about $135 million on new pollution-control equipment in a settlement with federal regulators over pollution from the E.W. Brown Generating Station. “Today’s settlement sets the most stringent limit for nitrogen oxide emissions ever imposed in a federal settlement with a coal-fired power plant,” Catherine McCabe, acting assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, said in a statement. Under the settlement, KU is to install new pollution-control equipment to cut combined SO₂ and NO_x emissions by more than 31,000 tons annually. That would be a reduction of 90 percent from 2007 levels, according to regulators. The utility also must install controls to lower particulate emissions by about 1,000 tons per year. The new pollution-control equipment will be installed over the next four years on E.W. Brown 3. The utility also agreed to give up its excess NO_x and SO₂ allowances once the new pollution-control equipment is installed.

 The terms of the consent decree include:

·       By no later than December 31, 2012, Kentucky Utilities shall install an SCR at Brown 3. The SCR will be run year round and maintain a 30-day rolling average emission rate of no greater than 0.070 lb/MMBtu.

 

·       Beginning 30 days from entry of this Consent Decree, Kentucky Utilities shall continuously operate the existing low NO_x burners and over-fire air at Brown.

 

·       At least 180 days prior to commencing operation of the SCR, and no later than June 30, 2012, Kentucky Utilities shall submit to EPA for review and approval a plan for the placement and installation of NO_x CEMS at Brown 3 for the purpose of measuring NO_x emissions from only Brown 3 and not Brown 1 and 2.

 

·       Beginning no later than December 31, 2010, Kentucky Utilities shall install a FGD at Brown 3. The FGD will achieve and maintain a 30-day rolling average emission rate for SO₂ of no greater than 0.100 lb/MMBtu or a 30-day rolling average SO₂ removal efficiency of not lower than 97 percent.

 

·       Beginning thirty (30) days after entry of this Consent Decree and continuing thereafter, Kentucky Utilities shall continuously operate the ESP at Brown 3 to maximize PM emission reductions at all times when the Unit is in operation. The ESP will achieve a PM emission rate no greater than 0.030 lb/MMBtu. Compliance with the 0.030 lb/MMBtu emission rate shall be demonstrated by stack tests.

 

·       Kentucky Utilities shall install, correlate, operate, and maintain a PM CEMS at the common stack servicing Brown 3. The PM CEMS shall be comprised of (a) a continuous particle mass monitor that measures particulate matter concentrations, directly or indirectly, on an hourly average basis and (b) a CO₂ monitor used to convert the concentration to units of lb/MMBtu.

 See http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/ConsentDecrees/994_4_Kentucky_Utilities_Company_CDFinal.pdf for more details.

 

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