An Insider's Guide to Air Pollution Control Equipment

Pollution everywhere

In the AEIR Program, you've got to report not only the main pollution controls, but also backups or alternative controls. Section 3.2 of the AEIR Standard explains what to include.

The AEIR Form has fields for reporting pollution control technologies and equipment in worksheets 2.2 (for release points) and 3.3 (for non-point sources). Reporting for release points is covered in Section 10.2, while reporting for non-point sources is covered in Section 10.3.

Even if a pollution control is permanently decommissioned, it should still be listed in the AEIR. Set its status to "decommissioned" with zero operating hours. AEIR forms shouldn't be removed from pollution controls.

Appendix D lists air pollution control equipment by sector, which can help you identify them. Some industrial operations have unique controls that aren't listed.

Last but not least, pollution controls, in the context of the AEIR Program, are equipment, technologies, and efforts that industrial operations take to reduce air pollution.

Section 9 of the AEIR Standard discusses non-pollution control units, processes, and equipment. Pollution controls are reported on worksheet 2.2 instead of 2.1 for certain equipment and processes.

Regulations for the air

Occasionally, essential identification information can only be retrieved by directly examining the equipment or its identification plate. While this does not mean shutting down operations, a reasonable effort is sufficient. In the Quantification Methodology Document, you can note if this information is still unavailable in the "Missing Required Information" section.

Fill in the required fields based on the available information for future pollution controls approved under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA).  Worksheet 2.2 in the AEIR Form is where you will input pollution control technology and equipment information. Here are the fields you'll encounter:

1 - Are there any release points controlled? (Y/N) - Indicate whether air pollution control equipment is used to control release points, units, processes, or equipment at the industrial operation.

2 - 'Release Point Descriptive Name': This field is pre-filled with information from worksheet 2.0, so there is no need to enter anything.

3 - Controlled or uncontrolled: Indicate whether the release point is controlled or uncontrolled. For uncontrolled release points, no further information is required.

4 - Input the number of pollution control technologies or equipment associated with the release point. Worksheet 2.2 will require you to fill in the following columns based on this number.

For each pollution control technology or equipment, this section is repeated. Please provide the following information:

1 - Describe the control devices.

2 - An EPEA approval or renewal application specifies a unique designation for air pollution control equipment or technology. The equipment is usually identified by letters and numbers.

3 - Identify the type of control technology or equipment from the dropdown list, or select "Other Control Technology or Equipment" if none of the types are appropriate.

4 - "Other Type" (if applicable): If you choose "Other Control Technology or Equipment," describe what it is and why it doesn't fit into the standard categories.

5 - Identify the unit, process, or equipment being controlled by this control technology or equipment (if applicable). In worksheet 2.1, it should match what was entered.

Tracking and managing pollution control efforts at industrial operations and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations require this information.

Next, we break down the information you provided about pollution control technology or equipment as follows:

The Source Classification Code (SCC) identifies the most appropriate code for the control technology or equipment. It facilitates the categorization and classification of equipment. Section 6.2 of the AEIR Standard provides guidance on selecting an SCC. It must not be left blank.

Enter the manufacturer or make of the pollution control technology or equipment here. Usually, this information can be found on the equipment itself if it isn't documented elsewhere. You can label it as "Custom" if it is custom-built.

Then you specify the model number of the pollution control technology or equipment, if applicable. Like the make, this information may be found on the equipment or in the documentation. "Custom" can be used for custom-built equipment.

Enter the year when the control technology or equipment was actually manufactured, not when it was installed. For older equipment, you can provide a reasonable estimate based on factors that indicate its age if you don't know the exact year.

The year in which the control technology or equipment was installed at the industrial operation is required for the next field. This field can be left blank if it hasn't been installed yet. If you don't know the exact year of manufacture for older equipment, try to estimate it reasonably.

When did the pollution control technology or equipment start operating at the industrial operation? It is usually close to the installation year, but if it hasn't started yet, you can leave it blank. Again, a reasonable estimate is acceptable for older equipment.

In this dropdown menu that follows, you can indicate the general operating status of the control technology or equipment for the inventory year. The options include "Operating," "Temporarily shut-down," "Decommissioned," and "Not yet constructed/operating."

• It was "operating" for all or part of the inventory year.
• "Temporarily shut-down" indicates that it operated previously but was temporarily shut down during the inventory year. 
•  A decommissioned piece of equipment has been permanently shut down after operating in previous years.
• Equipment approved but not yet built or operational is referred to as "not yet constructed/operating".

From the dropdown menu, select how the control technology or equipment operated during the inventory year. This field helps account for variations in operation by offering options such as "Normal," "Start-up," "Turnaround," "Upset," "Low Annual Output," and "High Annual Variability."

Air pollution reduction parameters

To use the AEIR Form fields, indicate whether pollution controls are in place for non-point sources. This is a carryover from a previous section. How controlled or uncontrolled is the non-point source?

Enter the number of pollution controls associated with the non-point source. Name the pollution control by giving it a descriptive name. Or use the formal designation of the control as specified in approvals.

Choose a pollution control type. For "Other Type" (if applicable), describe the control type if none of the listed types apply.  When dealing with a controlled unit, process, or equipment, identify what's being controlled.

What about an AMS/SCC?  Specify the Area and Mobile Source Code or Source Classification Code. Definitions of pollution control types help classify different industrial control technologies.

Overall, this information is crucial for tracking and managing pollution controls at industrial sites.

Details about pollution control equipment are in this next section:

Manufacturer of pollution control equipment: List the manufacturer or label it "Custom" if it's custom-built.

The model number of the pollution control equipment goes here. Include the manufacturing year, when the pollution control equipment was made and the installation year, when the air pollution control equipment was installed.

Provide the year of start-up, when the pollution control equipment started working. For your inventory year, this field allows you to indicate whether pollution control equipment was in operation, temporarily shut down, decommissioned, or not yet constructed/operating. And it describes whether the pollution control was operating normally or had conditions like start-ups, turnarounds, upsets, low annual outputs, or high annual variability during the inventory year.

The next thing is the number of hours the pollution control equipment operated during the inventory year, where you provide the estimated number of hours the pollution control equipment operated.

If applicable, show the date the pollution control equipment was permanently shut down or decommissioned. The approval status of a future pollution control indicates whether it's approved but not yet built or operational. If it's an approved future control, give the year it's expected to start.

Lists the pollutants controlled or captured by pollution control. Each substance's control effectiveness is an estimate of how much it reduces emissions. The amount may depend on information used to estimate control effectiveness, like manufacturer specs. In this part, you can also specify if the pollution control is primary, backup, alternative, or other and which primary control it serves as a backup for (by naming the primary control).

The details help track and report pollution control equipment's effectiveness at reducing emissions.