40 CFR 63.10 – Recordkeeping and reporting requirements
(a) Applicability and general information. (1) The applicability of this section is set out in § 63.1(a)(4).
(2) For affected sources that have been granted an extension of compliance under subpart D of this part, the requirements of this section do not apply to those sources while they are operating under such compliance extensions.
(3) If any State requires a report that contains all the information required in a report listed in this section, an owner or operator may send the Administrator a copy of the report sent to the State to satisfy the requirements of this section for that report.
(4)(i) Before a State has been delegated the authority to implement and enforce recordkeeping and reporting requirements established under this part, the owner or operator of an affected source in such State subject to such requirements shall submit reports to the appropriate Regional Office of the EPA (to the attention of the Director of the Division indicated in the list of the EPA Regional Offices in § 63.13).
(ii) After a State has been delegated the authority to implement and enforce recordkeeping and reporting requirements established under this part, the owner or operator of an affected source in such State subject to such requirements shall submit reports to the delegated State authority (which may be the same as the permitting authority). In addition, if the delegated (permitting) authority is the State, the owner or operator shall send a copy of each report submitted to the State to the appropriate Regional Office of the EPA, as specified in paragraph (a)(4)(i) of this section. The Regional Office may waive this requirement for any reports at its discretion.
(5) If an owner or operator of an affected source in a State with delegated authority is required to submit periodic reports under this part to the State, and if the State has an established timeline for the submission of periodic reports that is consistent with the reporting frequency(ies) specified for such source under this part, the owner or operator may change the dates by which periodic reports under this part shall be submitted (without changing the frequency of reporting) to be consistent with the State’s schedule by mutual agreement between the owner or operator and the State. For each relevant standard established pursuant to section 112 of the Act, the allowance in the previous sentence applies in each State beginning 1 year after the affected source’s compliance date for that standard. Procedures governing the implementation of this provision are specified in § 63.9(i).
(6) If an owner or operator supervises one or more stationary sources affected by more than one standard established pursuant to section 112 of the Act, he/she may arrange by mutual agreement between the owner or operator and the Administrator (or the State permitting authority) a common schedule on which periodic reports required for each source shall be submitted throughout the year. The allowance in the previous sentence applies in each State beginning 1 year after the latest compliance date for any relevant standard established pursuant to section 112 of the Act for any such affected source(s). Procedures governing the implementation of this provision are specified in § 63.9(i).
(7) If an owner or operator supervises one or more stationary sources affected by standards established pursuant to section 112 of the Act (as amended November 15, 1990) and standards set under part 60, part 61, or both such parts of this chapter, he/she may arrange by mutual agreement between the owner or operator and the Administrator (or the State permitting authority) a common schedule on which periodic reports required by each relevant (i.e., applicable) standard shall be submitted throughout the year. The allowance in the previous sentence applies in each State beginning 1 year after the stationary source is required to be in compliance with the relevant section 112 standard, or 1 year after the stationary source is required to be in compliance with the applicable part 60 or part 61 standard, whichever is latest. Procedures governing the implementation of this provision are specified in § 63.9(i).
(b) General recordkeeping requirements. (1) The owner or operator of an affected source subject to the provisions of this part shall maintain files of all information (including all reports and notifications) required by this part recorded in a form suitable and readily available for expeditious inspection and review. The files shall be retained for at least 5 years following the date of each occurrence, measurement, maintenance, corrective action, report, or record. At a minimum, the most recent 2 years of data shall be retained on site. The remaining 3 years of data may be retained off site. Such files may be maintained on microfilm, on a computer, on computer floppy disks, on magnetic tape disks, or on microfiche.
(2) The owner or operator of an affected source subject to the provisions of this part shall maintain relevant records for such source of—
(i) The occurrence and duration of each startup or shutdown when the startup or shutdown causes the source to exceed any applicable emission limitation in the relevant emission standards;
(ii) The occurrence and duration of each malfunction of operation (i.e., process equipment) or the required air pollution control and monitoring equipment;
(iii) All required maintenance performed on the air pollution control and monitoring equipment;
(iv)(A) Actions taken during periods of startup or shutdown when the source exceeded applicable emission limitations in a relevant standard and when the actions taken are different from the procedures specified in the affected source’s startup, shutdown, and malfunction plan (see § 63.6(e)(3)); or
(B) Actions taken during periods of malfunction (including corrective actions to restore malfunctioning process and air pollution control and monitoring equipment to its normal or usual manner of operation) when the actions taken are different from the procedures specified in the affected source’s startup, shutdown, and malfunction plan (see § 63.6(e)(3));
(v) All information necessary, including actions taken, to demonstrate conformance with the affected source’s startup, shutdown, and malfunction plan (see § 63.6(e)(3)) when all actions taken during periods of startup or shutdown (and the startup or shutdown causes the source to exceed any applicable emission limitation in the relevant emission standards), and malfunction (including corrective actions to restore malfunctioning process and air pollution control and monitoring equipment to its normal or usual manner of operation) are consistent with the procedures specified in such plan. (The information needed to demonstrate conformance with the startup, shutdown, and malfunction plan may be recorded using a “checklist,” or some other effective form of recordkeeping, in order to minimize the recordkeeping burden for conforming events);
(vi) Each period during which a CMS is malfunctioning or inoperative (including out-of-control periods);
(vii) All required measurements needed to demonstrate compliance with a relevant standard (including, but not limited to, 15-minute averages of CMS data, raw performance testing measurements, and raw performance evaluation measurements, that support data that the source is required to report);
(A) This paragraph applies to owners or operators required to install a continuous emissions monitoring system (CEMS) where the CEMS installed is automated, and where the calculated data averages do not exclude periods of CEMS breakdown or malfunction. An automated CEMS records and reduces the measured data to the form of the pollutant emission standard through the use of a computerized data acquisition system. In lieu of maintaining a file of all CEMS subhourly measurements as required under paragraph (b)(2)(vii) of this section, the owner or operator shall retain the most recent consecutive three averaging periods of subhourly measurements and a file that contains a hard copy of the data acquisition system algorithm used to reduce the measured data into the reportable form of the standard.
(B) This paragraph applies to owners or operators required to install a CEMS where the measured data is manually reduced to obtain the reportable form of the standard, and where the calculated data averages do not exclude periods of CEMS breakdown or malfunction. In lieu of maintaining a file of all CEMS subhourly measurements as required under paragraph (b)(2)(vii) of this section, the owner or operator shall retain all subhourly measurements for the most recent reporting period. The subhourly measurements shall be retained for 120 days from the date of the most recent summary or excess emission report submitted to the Administrator.
(C) The Administrator or delegated authority, upon notification to the source, may require the owner or operator to maintain all measurements as required by paragraph (b)(2)(vii), if the administrator or the delegated authority determines these records are required to more accurately assess the compliance status of the affected source.
(viii) All results of performance tests, CMS performance evaluations, and opacity and visible emission observations;
(ix) All measurements as may be necessary to determine the conditions of performance tests and performance evaluations;
(x) All CMS calibration checks;
(xi) All adjustments and maintenance performed on CMS;
(xii) Any information demonstrating whether a source is meeting the requirements for a waiver of recordkeeping or reporting requirements under this part, if the source has been granted a waiver under paragraph (f) of this section;
(xiii) All emission levels relative to the criterion for obtaining permission to use an alternative to the relative accuracy test, if the source has been granted such permission under § 63.8(f)(6); and
(xiv) All documentation supporting initial notifications and notifications of compliance status under § 63.9.
(3) If an owner or operator determines that his or her existing or new stationary source is in the source category regulated by a standard established pursuant to section 112 of the Act, but that source is not subject to the relevant standard (or other requirement established under this part) because of enforceable limitations on the source’s potential to emit, or the source otherwise qualifies for an exclusion, the owner or operator must keep a record of the applicability determination. The applicability determination must be kept on site at the source for a period of 5 years after the determination, or until the source changes its operations to become an affected source subject to the relevant standard (or other requirement established under this part), whichever comes first if the determination is made prior to January 19, 2021. The applicability determination must be kept until the source changes its operations to become an affected source subject to the relevant standard (or other requirement established under this part) if the determination was made on or after January 19, 2021. The record of the applicability determination must be signed by the person making the determination and include an emissions analysis (or other information) that demonstrates the owner or operator’s conclusion that the source is unaffected (e.g., because the source is an area source). The analysis (or other information) must be sufficiently detailed to allow the Administrator to make an applicability finding for the source with regard to the relevant standard or other requirement. If applicable, the analysis must be performed in accordance with requirements established in relevant subparts of this part for this purpose for particular categories of stationary sources. If relevant, the analysis should be performed in accordance with EPA guidance materials published to assist sources in making applicability determinations under section 112 of the Act, if any. The requirements to determine applicability of a standard under § 63.1(b)(3) and to record the results of that determination under this paragraph (b)(3) of this section shall not by themselves create an obligation for the owner or operator to obtain a title V permit.
(c) Additional recordkeeping requirements for sources with continuous monitoring systems. In addition to complying with the requirements specified in paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section, the owner or operator of an affected source required to install a CMS by a relevant standard shall maintain records for such source of—
(1) All required CMS measurements (including monitoring data recorded during unavoidable CMS breakdowns and out-of-control periods);
(2)-(4) [Reserved]
(5) The date and time identifying each period during which the CMS was inoperative except for zero (low-level) and high-level checks;
(6) The date and time identifying each period during which the CMS was out of control, as defined in § 63.8(c)(7);
(7) The specific identification (i.e., the date and time of commencement and completion) of each period of excess emissions and parameter monitoring exceedances, as defined in the relevant standard(s), that occurs during startups, shutdowns, and malfunctions of the affected source;
(8) The specific identification (i.e., the date and time of commencement and completion) of each time period of excess emissions and parameter monitoring exceedances, as defined in the relevant standard(s), that occurs during periods other than startups, shutdowns, and malfunctions of the affected source;
(9) [Reserved]
(10) The nature and cause of any malfunction (if known);
(11) The corrective action taken or preventive measures adopted;
(12) The nature of the repairs or adjustments to the CMS that was inoperative or out of control;
(13) The total process operating time during the reporting period; and
(14) All procedures that are part of a quality control program developed and implemented for CMS under § 63.8(d).
(15) In order to satisfy the requirements of paragraphs (c)(10) through (c)(12) of this section and to avoid duplicative recordkeeping efforts, the owner or operator may use the affected source’s startup, shutdown, and malfunction plan or records kept to satisfy the recordkeeping requirements of the startup, shutdown, and malfunction plan specified in § 63.6(e), provided that such plan and records adequately address the requirements of paragraphs (c)(10) through (c)(12).
(d) General reporting requirements. (1) Notwithstanding the requirements in this paragraph or paragraph (e) of this section, and except as provided in § 63.16, the owner or operator of an affected source subject to reporting requirements under this part shall submit reports to the Administrator in accordance with the reporting requirements in the relevant standard(s).
(2) Reporting results of performance tests. Before a title V permit has been issued to the owner or operator of an affected source, the owner or operator shall report the results of any performance test under § 63.7 to the Administrator. After a title V permit has been issued to the owner or operator of an affected source, the owner or operator shall report the results of a required performance test to the appropriate permitting authority. The owner or operator of an affected source shall report the results of the performance test to the Administrator (or the State with an approved permit program) before the close of business on the 60th day following the completion of the performance test, unless specified otherwise in a relevant standard or as approved otherwise in writing by the Administrator. The results of the performance test shall be submitted as part of the notification of compliance status required under § 63.9(h).
(3) Reporting results of opacity or visible emission observations. The owner or operator of an affected source required to conduct opacity or visible emission observations by a relevant standard shall report the opacity or visible emission results (produced using Test Method 9 or Test Method 22, or an alternative to these test methods) along with the results of the performance test required under § 63.7. If no performance test is required, or if visibility or other conditions prevent the opacity or visible emission observations from being conducted concurrently with the performance test required under § 63.7, the owner or operator shall report the opacity or visible emission results before the close of business on the 30th day following the completion of the opacity or visible emission observations.
(4) Progress reports. The owner or operator of an affected source who is required to submit progress reports as a condition of receiving an extension of compliance under § 63.6(i) shall submit such reports to the Administrator (or the State with an approved permit program) by the dates specified in the written extension of compliance.
(5)(i) Periodic startup, shutdown, and malfunction reports. If actions taken by an owner or operator during a startup or shutdown (and the startup or shutdown causes the source to exceed any applicable emission limitation in the relevant emission standards), or malfunction of an affected source (including actions taken to correct a malfunction) are consistent with the procedures specified in the source’s startup, shutdown, and malfunction plan (see § 63.6(e)(3)), the owner or operator shall state such information in a startup, shutdown, and malfunction report. Actions taken to minimize emissions during such startups, shutdowns, and malfunctions shall be summarized in the report and may be done in checklist form; if actions taken are the same for each event, only one checklist is necessary. Such a report shall also include the number, duration, and a brief description for each type of malfunction which occurred during the reporting period and which caused or may have caused any applicable emission limitation to be exceeded. Reports shall only be required if a startup or shutdown caused the source to exceed any applicable emission limitation in the relevant emission standards, or if a malfunction occurred during the reporting period. The startup, shutdown, and malfunction report shall consist of a letter, containing the name, title, and signature of the owner or operator or other responsible official who is certifying its accuracy, that shall be submitted to the Administrator semiannually (or on a more frequent basis if specified otherwise in a relevant standard or as established otherwise by the permitting authority in the source’s title V permit). The startup, shutdown, and malfunction report shall be delivered or postmarked by the 30th day following the end of each calendar half (or other calendar reporting period, as appropriate). If the owner or operator is required to submit excess emissions and continuous monitoring system performance (or other periodic) reports under this part, the startup, shutdown, and malfunction reports required under this paragraph may be submitted simultaneously with the excess emissions and continuous monitoring system performance (or other) reports. If startup, shutdown, and malfunction reports are submitted with excess emissions and continuous monitoring system performance (or other periodic) reports, and the owner or operator receives approval to reduce the frequency of reporting for the latter under paragraph (e) of this section, the frequency of reporting for the startup, shutdown, and malfunction reports also may be reduced if the Administrator does not object to the intended change. The procedures to implement the allowance in the preceding sentence shall be the same as the procedures specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section.
(ii) Immediate startup, shutdown, and malfunction reports. Notwithstanding the allowance to reduce the frequency of reporting for periodic startup, shutdown, and malfunction reports under paragraph (d)(5)(i) of this section, any time an action taken by an owner or operator during a startup or shutdown that caused the source to exceed any applicable emission limitation in the relevant emission standards, or malfunction (including actions taken to correct a malfunction) is not consistent with the procedures specified in the affected source’s startup, shutdown, and malfunction plan, the owner or operator shall report the actions taken for that event within 2 working days after commencing actions inconsistent with the plan followed by a letter within 7 working days after the end of the event. The immediate report required under this paragraph (d)(5)(ii) shall consist of a telephone call (or facsimile (FAX) transmission) to the Administrator within 2 working days after commencing actions inconsistent with the plan, and it shall be followed by a letter, delivered or postmarked within 7 working days after the end of the event, that contains the name, title, and signature of the owner or operator or other responsible official who is certifying its accuracy, explaining the circumstances of the event, the reasons for not following the startup, shutdown, and malfunction plan, describing all excess emissions and/or parameter monitoring exceedances which are believed to have occurred (or could have occurred in the case of malfunctions), and actions taken to minimize emissions in conformance with § 63.6(e)(1)(i). Notwithstanding the requirements of the previous sentence, after the effective date of an approved permit program in the State in which an affected source is located, the owner or operator may make alternative reporting arrangements, in advance, with the permitting authority in that State. Procedures governing the arrangement of alternative reporting requirements under this paragraph (d)(5)(ii) are specified in § 63.9(i).
(e) Additional reporting requirements for sources with continuous monitoring systems—(1) General. When more than one CEMS is used to measure the emissions from one affected source (e.g., multiple breechings, multiple outlets), the owner or operator shall report the results as required for each CEMS.
(2) Reporting results of continuous monitoring system performance evaluations. (i) The owner or operator of an affected source required to install a CMS by a relevant standard shall furnish the Administrator a copy of a written report of the results of the CMS performance evaluation, as required under § 63.8(e), simultaneously with the results of the performance test required under § 63.7, unless otherwise specified in the relevant standard.
(ii) The owner or operator of an affected source using a COMS to determine opacity compliance during any performance test required under § 63.7 and described in § 63.6(d)(6) shall furnish the Administrator two or, upon request, three copies of a written report of the results of the COMS performance evaluation conducted under § 63.8(e). The copies shall be furnished at least 15 calendar days before the performance test required under § 63.7 is conducted.
(3) Excess emissions and continuous monitoring system performance report and summary report. (i) Excess emissions and parameter monitoring exceedances are defined in relevant standards. The owner or operator of an affected source required to install a CMS by a relevant standard shall submit an excess emissions and continuous monitoring system performance report and/or a summary report to the Administrator semiannually, except when—
(A) More frequent reporting is specifically required by a relevant standard;
(B) The Administrator determines on a case-by-case basis that more frequent reporting is necessary to accurately assess the compliance status of the source; or
(C) [Reserved]
(D) The affected source is complying with the Performance Track Provisions of § 63.16, which allows less frequent reporting.
(ii) Request to reduce frequency of excess emissions and continuous monitoring system performance reports. Notwithstanding the frequency of reporting requirements specified in paragraph (e)(3)(i) of this section, an owner or operator who is required by a relevant standard to submit excess emissions and continuous monitoring system performance (and summary) reports on a quarterly (or more frequent) basis may reduce the frequency of reporting for that standard to semiannual if the following conditions are met:
(A) For 1 full year (e.g., 4 quarterly or 12 monthly reporting periods) the affected source’s excess emissions and continuous monitoring system performance reports continually demonstrate that the source is in compliance with the relevant standard;
(B) The owner or operator continues to comply with all recordkeeping and monitoring requirements specified in this subpart and the relevant standard; and
(C) The Administrator does not object to a reduced frequency of reporting for the affected source, as provided in paragraph (e)(3)(iii) of this section.
(iii) The frequency of reporting of excess emissions and continuous monitoring system performance (and summary) reports required to comply with a relevant standard may be reduced only after the owner or operator notifies the Administrator in writing of his or her intention to make such a change and the Administrator does not object to the intended change. In deciding whether to approve a reduced frequency of reporting, the Administrator may review information concerning the source’s entire previous performance history during the 5-year recordkeeping period prior to the intended change, including performance test results, monitoring data, and evaluations of an owner or operator’s conformance with operation and maintenance requirements. Such information may be used by the Administrator to make a judgment about the source’s potential for noncompliance in the future. If the Administrator disapproves the owner or operator’s request to reduce the frequency of reporting, the Administrator will notify the owner or operator in writing within 45 days after receiving notice of the owner or operator’s intention. The notification from the Administrator to the owner or operator will specify the grounds on which the disapproval is based. In the absence of a notice of disapproval within 45 days, approval is automatically granted.
(iv) As soon as CMS data indicate that the source is not in compliance with any emission limitation or operating parameter specified in the relevant standard, the frequency of reporting shall revert to the frequency specified in the relevant standard, and the owner or operator shall submit an excess emissions and continuous monitoring system performance (and summary) report for the noncomplying emission points at the next appropriate reporting period following the noncomplying event. After demonstrating ongoing compliance with the relevant standard for another full year, the owner or operator may again request approval from the Administrator to reduce the frequency of reporting for that standard, as provided for in paragraphs (e)(3)(ii) and (e)(3)(iii) of this section.
(v) Content and submittal dates for excess emissions and monitoring system performance reports. All excess emissions and monitoring system performance reports and all summary reports, if required, shall be delivered or postmarked by the 30th day following the end of each calendar half or quarter, as appropriate. Written reports of excess emissions or exceedances of process or control system parameters shall include all the information required in paragraphs (c)(5) through (c)(13) of this section, in §§ 63.8(c)(7) and 63.8(c)(8), and in the relevant standard, and they shall contain the name, title, and signature of the responsible official who is certifying the accuracy of the report. When no excess emissions or exceedances of a parameter have occurred, or a CMS has not been inoperative, out of control, repaired, or adjusted, such information shall be stated in the report.
(vi) Summary report. As required under paragraphs (e)(3)(vii) and (e)(3)(viii) of this section, one summary report shall be submitted for the hazardous air pollutants monitored at each affected source (unless the relevant standard specifies that more than one summary report is required, e.g., one summary report for each hazardous air pollutant monitored). The summary report shall be entitled “Summary Report—Gaseous and Opacity Excess Emission and Continuous Monitoring System Performance” and shall contain the following information:
(A) The company name and address of the affected source;
(B) An identification of each hazardous air pollutant monitored at the affected source;
(C) The beginning and ending dates of the reporting period;
(D) A brief description of the process units;
(E) The emission and operating parameter limitations specified in the relevant standard(s);
(F) The monitoring equipment manufacturer(s) and model number(s);
(G) The date of the latest CMS certification or audit;
(H) The total operating time of the affected source during the reporting period;
(I) An emission data summary (or similar summary if the owner or operator monitors control system parameters), including the total duration of excess emissions during the reporting period (recorded in minutes for opacity and hours for gases), the total duration of excess emissions expressed as a percent of the total source operating time during that reporting period, and a breakdown of the total duration of excess emissions during the reporting period into those that are due to startup/shutdown, control equipment problems, process problems, other known causes, and other unknown causes;
(J) A CMS performance summary (or similar summary if the owner or operator monitors control system parameters), including the total CMS downtime during the reporting period (recorded in minutes for opacity and hours for gases), the total duration of CMS downtime expressed as a percent of the total source operating time during that reporting period, and a breakdown of the total CMS downtime during the reporting period into periods that are due to monitoring equipment malfunctions, nonmonitoring equipment malfunctions, quality assurance/quality control calibrations, other known causes, and other unknown causes;
(K) A description of any changes in CMS, processes, or controls since the last reporting period;
(L) The name, title, and signature of the responsible official who is certifying the accuracy of the report; and
(M) The date of the report.
(vii) If the total duration of excess emissions or process or control system parameter exceedances for the reporting period is less than 1 percent of the total operating time for the reporting period, and CMS downtime for the reporting period is less than 5 percent of the total operating time for the reporting period, only the summary report shall be submitted, and the full excess emissions and continuous monitoring system performance report need not be submitted unless required by the Administrator.
(viii) If the total duration of excess emissions or process or control system parameter exceedances for the reporting period is 1 percent or greater of the total operating time for the reporting period, or the total CMS downtime for the reporting period is 5 percent or greater of the total operating time for the reporting period, both the summary report and the excess emissions and continuous monitoring system performance report shall be submitted.
(4) Reporting continuous opacity monitoring system data produced during a performance test. The owner or operator of an affected source required to use a COMS shall record the monitoring data produced during a performance test required under § 63.7 and shall furnish the Administrator a written report of the monitoring results. The report of COMS data shall be submitted simultaneously with the report of the performance test results required in paragraph (d)(2) of this section.
(f) Waiver of recordkeeping or reporting requirements. (1) Until a waiver of a recordkeeping or reporting requirement has been granted by the Administrator under this paragraph, the owner or operator of an affected source remains subject to the requirements of this section.
(2) Recordkeeping or reporting requirements may be waived upon written application to the Administrator if, in the Administrator’s judgment, the affected source is achieving the relevant standard(s), or the source is operating under an extension of compliance, or the owner or operator has requested an extension of compliance and the Administrator is still considering that request.
(3) If an application for a waiver of recordkeeping or reporting is made, the application shall accompany the request for an extension of compliance under § 63.6(i), any required compliance progress report or compliance status report required under this part (such as under §§ 63.6(i) and 63.9(h)) or in the source’s title V permit, or an excess emissions and continuous monitoring system performance report required under paragraph (e) of this section, whichever is applicable. The application shall include whatever information the owner or operator considers useful to convince the Administrator that a waiver of recordkeeping or reporting is warranted.
(4) The Administrator will approve or deny a request for a waiver of recordkeeping or reporting requirements under this paragraph when he/she—
(i) Approves or denies an extension of compliance; or
(ii) Makes a determination of compliance following the submission of a required compliance status report or excess emissions and continuous monitoring systems performance report; or
(iii) Makes a determination of suitable progress towards compliance following the submission of a compliance progress report, whichever is applicable.
(5) A waiver of any recordkeeping or reporting requirement granted under this paragraph may be conditioned on other recordkeeping or reporting requirements deemed necessary by the Administrator.
(6) Approval of any waiver granted under this section shall not abrogate the Administrator’s authority under the Act or in any way prohibit the Administrator from later canceling the waiver. The cancellation will be made only after notice is given to the owner or operator of the affected source.