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Performance Testing for Stationary Source Air Emissions

StacksPerformance testing for stationary source air emissions is also known as stack testing or source testing. Performance testing is the quantification, measurement or determination of the physical or chemical properties of a stationary source's emissions. Performance tests are conducted by independent testing companies contracted by the facility required to perform source testing.

State Continuous Emissions Monitor Systems (CEMS) and Performance Test Rules are located at Minn. Rule Chapter 7017.

What's New

Guidance

Types of Engineering Tests

  • True Engineering Tests - Are conducted voluntarily by an emission facility with no intention to use the results as a data submittal. The test need not conform to the notification, procedural, and submittal requirements of the performance test rule, as long as the emission facility is operated within the parameters allowed under its current permit and any applicable rules or compliance documents. If a true engineering test indicates noncompliance with an emission or other limit, the Company must inform the MPCA. The MPCA may request test results, if necessary.
  • Data Submittal Engineering Tests - Are conducted voluntarily by the emission facility for the purpose of submitting the results to the MPCA. Data Submittal Engineering Tests are typically used to support a permit application or an emission inventory. The performance test rules notification, procedural, and submittal requirements must be followed.
  • Compliance Engineering Test -  Are conducted voluntarily by an emission facility for the purpose of submitting the results to the MPCA to change an existing operating limit or to demonstrate compliance at an alternate operating scenario. The performance test rules notification, procedural, and submittal requirements must be followed.

Noncompliance Reporting

Please be aware that all periods of noncompliance with emission or other limits must be reported to the MPCA.  Engineering tests are not exempt from this reporting requirement. Operating at a rate other than that allowed by the current air permit must also be reported. Deviations must be reported on the facility’s semiannual deviation (DRF-2) and annual compliance certification (CR-04) reporting forms.

Performance Test Facts

Testing Frequency Planning

While some permits require initial performance testing only, others require performance testing on a set schedule determined by the initial performance test. If you are required to test on a set schedule after your initial test, you should have a permit requirement to submit a test frequency plan after conducting your initial performance tests. After a test frequency plan is submitted to the MPCA, Performance Testing staff review the proposed test frequency and issue a review letter. Discretion may be used when establishing a testing frequency. If it is evident that problems exist with the equipment a more stringent testing frequency may be required. The testing frequency defined in the MPCA review letter becomes effective when it is received by the facility and will be incorporated into the facility’s permit in the next permit amendment.

A facility may request to relax a testing frequency if there is adequate historical information suggesting that the testing frequency could be reduced. Typically, adequate historical information consists of data from three or more performance tests. Below is MPCA guidance for establishing a testing frequency.

As general guidance if:

Then:

Test Result ≥ 90% of limit

Performance Test due every 12 months

60% ≤ Test Result < 90% of limit

Performance Test due every 36 months

Test Result < 60% of limit

Performance Test due every 60 months

Presentations

Staff Contacts

Staff

Area and Counties Served

Specialty Areas

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 651-757-2174
Fax: 651-296-8717

Southern Minnesota: Blue Earth, Brown, Caver, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Dakota, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac-Qui-Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmstead, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Scott, Sibley, Steele, Swift, Wabasha, Waseca, Watonwan, Winona, and Yellow Medicine

Nonmetallic, Asphalt

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Phone: 651-757-2652
Fax: 651-296-8717

Northeast Minnesota: Aitkin, Carlton, Cass, Cook, Crow Wing, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Mille Lacs, Pine, and St. Louis

Mining, Electronic Submittal Policy

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Phone: 651-757-2757
Fax: 651-296-8717

Metro Area: Anoka, Chisago, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Washington, and Wright

Ethanol Facilities and Refineries

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Phone: 651-757-2716
Fax: 651-296-8717

Metro Area: Anoka, Chisago, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Washington

West and Northwest Minnesota: Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Clay, Clearwater, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Morrison, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Roseau, Sherburne, Stearns, Stevens, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Wilkin, and Wright

Waste Combustors

All mailed correspondence and submittals should be addressed to:

  • Air Quality Compliance Tracking Coordinator
    Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
    520 Lafayette Road North
    St. Paul, Minnesota 55155-4194

All correspondence mailed directly to Performance Testing staff should be addressed to:

  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
    520 Lafayette Road North
    St. Paul, Minnesota 55155-4194

Links

Last modified on Monday, May 07, 2012 13:49
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