Down the Road: The Future of Ground Flares and Amels

Facilities using pressure-assisted multi-point ground flares have requested Alternative Means of Emissions Limitations (AMELs) from the U.S. EPA to operate above the limits on exit velocity found in the General Provisions and Refinery Sector Rule. On October 9, 2019, the U.S. EPA proposed amendments to the Ethylene Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standards. These proposed changes include a new set of compliance requirements for ground flares without the need to request an AMEL. This presentation will review the new requirements for ground flares found in the Ethylene MACT draft rule. The presentation will also discuss how these proposed changes could affect ground flares in other sectors and the future of the AMEL process.