Estimating Air Emissions from Research and Development Activities

摘要

This paper presents the results of a recent study which estimated potential volatile organic compound (VOC) and hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions from research and development (R&D) activities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Unlike many industrial air emission sources, R&D activities are highly variable and therefore do not have emission factors. Although R&D activities use many different materials, VOCs and HAPs are the primary air pollutants of concern. A methodology was developed that allowed ORNL to estimate potential VOC and HAP air emissions without monitoring or costly emission estimation techniques. The methodology developed is consistent with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) language concerning R&D contained in Federal Register preamble language and other guidance documents. The study consisted of two distinct elements: (1) the estimation of potential HAP emissions from the entire facility, and (2) the estimation of potential VOC and HAP emissions from representative R&D activities. These estimates are needed for applicability determinations and to document that the majority of ORNL's R&D activities can be considered insignificant under the Tennessee Title V regulations. These emission estimates are based on an evaluation of several years of chemical procurement records and usage information supplied by laboratory-personnel.