| Rule Number: |
11P020 |
| Title: |
Sulfur Limitations in Fuel |
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Type:
|
Standard |
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Status:
|
Adopted |
| Agency: |
Agency of Natural Resources
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| Legal Authority: |
10 V.S.A. §§ 554 and 558 |
| Summary:
| The proposed rule seeks to amend section 5-221(1) of the Air Pollution Control Regulations to require lower sulfur limits for fuel used for heat or power generation as part of a regional strategy agreed to by mid-Atlantic and Northeast states to reduce regional haze. The amendments will reduce the sulfur content of No. 2 and lighter distillate oils and animal and vegetable oil fuel oils to 0.0015 by weight; the sulfur content of No. 4 residual oil to 0.25 by weight; and the sulfur content of No. 5 and No. 6 residual oils and heavier residual oils to 0.5 sulfur by weight. Vermont is working in coordination with other states in the region to adopt these sulfur limits. The proposed rule allows existing stocks in Vermont to be used and sold after the effective dates of the applicable limits. Corresponding revisions to Vermont's State Implementation Plan (SIP) will be submitted to the U.S. Environmnental Protection Agency. |
| Persons Affected:
| The fuel oil industry, including distributors, wholesalers and refiners, heating oil consumers, gas turbine driven peaking units that use the affected fuels, electric consumers, Vermonters with respiratory ailments, and the Air Pollution Control Division of the Department of Environmental Conservation will be potentially affected by the adoption of this rule. |
| Economic Impact:
| The removal of sulfur from fuel oil is a refinery process step that will add cost that is expected to be passed on to consumers. While the estimated cost of low sulfur fuel varies, studies generally conclude that shifting to low sulfur heating oil should yield net savings for heating oil consumers due to decreased heating system maintenance costs and a small increase in efficiency. The economic impact to gas turbines and electric consumers should be minimal because the affected turbines only operate a few hours a year to provide extra electricity needed during emergencies and peak usage periods. In addition, the rule will help reduce regional haze, which could have a positive economic impact on Vermont's tourism industry. The rule will |
| Posting date: |
May 18,2011 |
| Information for Contact # 1 |
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Level:
|
Primary
|
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| Name: |
Elaine O'grady, Air Pollution Control Division |
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Agency:
|
Agency of Natural Resources
|
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| Address: |
103 South Main St., Bldg. 3 South, Waterbury, |
|
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| City: |
Waterbury |
|
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| State: |
VT |
|
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| Zip: |
05671 |
|
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| Telephone: |
802-241-3604 |
|
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| Fax: |
802-241-2590 |
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Email: |
elaine.ogrady@state.vt.us
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| Website Address: |
http://www.anr.state.vt.us/air/htm/proposedamendments.htm
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| Information for Contact # 2 |
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Level:
|
Secondary
|
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| Name: |
Richard Valentinetti |
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Agency:
|
Agency of Natural Resources
|
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| Address: |
Air Pollution Control Division, 103 South Main St., Bldg. 3 South |
|
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| City: |
Waterbury |
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| State: |
VT |
|
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| Zip: |
05671 |
|
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| Telephone: |
802-241-3860 |
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| Fax: |
802-241-2590 |
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Email: |
dick.valentinetti@state.vt.us
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| Website Address: |
http://www.anr.state.vt.us/air/htm/proposedamendments.htm
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