Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 415.075

Current through October 28, 2024
Section NR 415.075 - Particulate matter emission limitations for ledge rock quarries and industrial sand mines
(1) APPLICABILITY.
(a) Except as provided in par. (b), the provisions of this section are applicable to the following operations and emission points in ledge rock quarries and industrial sand mines: blasting, drilling, roads, storage piles and use of haul trucks.
(b) Operations at any of the following ledge rock quarries and industrial sand mines are not subject to the provisions of subs. (2) to (4):
1. Ledge rock quarries with actual production of less than 25,000 tons per month on a rolling 12 month average.
2. Ledge rock quarries with actual operation of less than 365 days per 5 year period.
3. Industrial sand mines with actual production of less than 2,000 tons per month on a rolling 12 month average.
(c) When a ledge rock quarry or industrial sand mine is operated by more than one owner or operator, then actual production and actual operation shall be cumulative at the site. The applicable particulate emissions limitations of this section shall be applicable to all subsequent operators or owners at that site.
(2) PARTICULATE EMISSION LIMITATIONS IN ALL AREAS OF THE STATE.
(a) No person may cause, allow or permit the use of any parking lot, road or other area by haul trucks or any drilling or blasting without taking precautions to prevent particulate matter from becoming airborne. These precautions shall be taken to the extent necessary so that any applicable requirements are met and shall include one or more of the following:
1. Application of asphalt, water or suitable chemicals on unpaved roads or other areas used by haul trucks which can create airborne dust, provided the application does not create a hydrocarbon, odor or water pollution problem.
2. Posting and maintenance of a 10 MPH speed limit on paved or unpaved roads or other areas used by haul trucks inside the facility's property line.
3. Covering, treatment or securing of materials likely to become airborne from haul trucks during transport, prior to any transportation off site from the quarry or mine.
4. Use of wet drilling or other means of control approved by the department.
5. The use of blast hole stemming materials that have been approved by either the department or the department of safety and professional services.
6. Any precautions proposed by the owner or operator and accepted by the department in a permit or fugitive dust control plan.
7. Use of no precautions where control measures are unnecessary due to site or meteorological conditions.
(b) In addition to meeting the requirements of par. (a), the owner or operator shall control fugitive emissions from a road or other area used by haul trucks and from drilling so that visible emissions do not exceed 20% opacity at the source.
(c) The owner or operator shall submit to the department the fugitive dust control plan described in sub. (6).
(3) PARTICULATE EMISSIONS LIMITATIONS FOR OPERATIONS IN SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREAS. In addition to meeting the limitations of sub. (2), the owner or operator of any ledge rock quarry or industrial sand mine located in an area identified in s. NR 415.035(1) shall do all of the following:
(a) Prior to a haul truck's departure from plant property, the haul truck's wheels and tires shall be sprayed with water or otherwise cleaned at the exit point from plant property.
(b) Storage piles of material having a silt content of greater than 5% shall be treated with water, surfactants, stabilizers or chemicals; draped; or enclosed on a minimum of 3 sides. The height of enclosure shall ensure that excessive fugitive dust emissions are prevented. Access areas surrounding storage piles shall be watered, cleaned or treated with stabilizers as needed to prevent fugitive dust from vehicle traffic.
(c) Emissions from all fugitive sources related to the operation of the quarry shall be controlled so that no visible emissions from these sources, as measured using Method 22 in Appendix A of 40 CFR part 60, incorporated by reference in s. NR 484.04 (18), cross the facility's property line.
(d) Emissions from activities not associated with processing equipment, including but not limited to roads, other areas used by haul trucks, storage piles and drilling, shall be controlled so that visible emissions do not exceed 5% opacity at the source.
(e) Roads and other areas used by haul trucks shall be paved with asphalt, concrete or other material approved by the department, or treated by other methods of dust control which the department approves for the particular road, driveway or trafficable area so that the visible emissions limits of pars. (c) and (d) are met. Other methods of dust control which may be approved by the department include but are not limited to periodic application of water or suitable chemicals provided the application does not create a hydrocarbon, odor or water pollution problem. In reviewing and approving other materials or methods for compliance with this subsection, the department shall consider the effects of the use of paving or other methods of dust control upon the rate and volume of surface water runoff and water quality. All roads and other areas, if paved, shall be kept free of material likely to become airborne, through a program of periodic cleaning.
(4) AMBIENT AIR MONITORING.
(a) Except as provided in par. (b), the owner or operator of any operation subject to the provisions of this section shall set up, operate and report the results obtained with a particulate matter ambient air monitoring system. The monitoring system shall comply with all of the following requirements:
1. A plan that describes the ambient air monitoring program shall be submitted to the department within 30 days of the date of issuance of a permit under ch. NR 406 or 407.
2. The department shall review the plan to determine whether it will provide accurate and reliable monitoring at the operation site. Department approval, conditional approval or disapproval of any ambient air monitoring plan shall be completed within 60 days of receipt of the plan.
3. Monitoring for particulate matter shall be conducted for a 24-hour period on the 6 day schedule established by the U.S. environmental protection agency, or more frequently if required by the department. The department shall specify the schedule in the approved plan.
4. Monitoring results shall be submitted to the department on a monthly basis. Results for each month shall be postmarked or received by the department no later than the last day of the following month.
5. The owner or operator shall start monitoring by 120 days from the date of permit issuance under ch. NR 407 or as specified in the ambient air monitoring plan for any source subject to the permit requirements of ch. NR 406.
(b) The owner or operator of a source may apply for, and the department may grant, a variance from the monitoring requirements of this subsection if the applicant demonstrates that the general public will not be exposed to significant levels of particulate matter from the source, and that the source's emissions units and processes are controlled to a level which meets all applicable requirements. The department may review any variance granted under this paragraph on a biennial basis. Following its review, the department may modify, extend or rescind the variance.
(5) RECORDKEEPING. Each owner or operator of any ledge rock quarry or industrial sand mine shall keep the following records. Recordkeeping and access to these records shall be in accordance with ss. NR 439.03 to 439.05.
(a) Records of actual operation on a monthly basis.
(b) Records of actual production on a monthly basis.
(6) FUGITIVE DUST CONTROL PLAN.
(a) Each owner or operator of any ledge rock quarry or industrial sand mine shall prepare a fugitive dust control plan to prevent, detect and correct malfunctions, equipment failures or other circumstances which may cause any applicable emission limitation to be violated or which may cause air pollution. The plan shall be in writing, and updated as needed, and shall include all of the following:
1. Identification of the individual responsible for implementing the fugitive dust control plan.
2. The maximum intervals for inspection and routine maintenance of fugitive dust control equipment, including a description of the items or conditions that will be checked.
3. Schedules for watering, treating or periodic cleaning of roads, trafficable areas and storage piles.
4. A listing of materials, equipment and spare parts that will be maintained in inventory.
5. Other information as the department may deem pertinent.
(b) The department may order any owner or operator to submit the plan required by par. (a) to the department for review. The department may request any owner or operator to amend the plan if deemed necessary for malfunction prevention or the reduction of excess emissions.
(c) No owner or operator may fail to implement the plan required under par. (a) or as amended under par. (b).
(d) All air pollution control equipment shall be operated and maintained in conformance with good engineering practices to minimize the possibility for the exceedance of any emission limitations.

Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 415.075

Cr. Register, June, 1994, No. 462, eff. 7-1-94; am. (2) (a) 5. and (3) (c), Register, December, 1995, No. 480, eff. 1-1-96; CR 01-002: am. (3) (intro.), Register, October 2001 No. 550, eff. 11-1-01; correction in (3) (c) made under s. 13.93(2m) (b) 7, Stats., Register October 2003 No. 574.
Amended by, correction in (2) (a) 5. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6, Stats., Register April 2023 No. 808, eff. 5/1/2023