Air Quality

DeKalb County (DeKalb) wanted to expand its ability to use excess landfill gas (LFG) at its Seminole Road Municipal Solid Waste Landfill for beneficial use. DeKalb desired to: (i) construct a facility that would convert LFG to renewable natural gas (RNG); (ii) add a third engine to an existing Green Energy Facility (GEF) producing electric power through landfill gas-fired reciprocating internal combustion engines; and (iii) install a second flare to increase the capacity to burn LFG when both the GEF and the LFG to RNG were down. Because this facility is located in Atlanta's Nonattainment Area (NA) for ozone emissions, it is considered a New Source Review (NSR) NA major source. Therefore, it may only increase its nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions by 25 tons every five calendar years. Otherwise, costly and time consuming NSR NA permitting would be required. The site also is a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) major source for carbon monoxide (CO), and NSR PSD permitting would be required if CO emissions increased by more than 100 tons per year.