Model Clearinghouse Information Storage and Retrieval System
Record Details

Issue:  EPA Region 5 is seeking concurrence from the Model Clearinghouse 
on extending an alternative model approval by EPA Region 3 for modeling 
the AK Steel – Mountain State Carbon facility located in Follansbee, 
Brooke County, West Virginia with a combination of the Buoyant Line and 
Point Source model (BLP) and the American Meteorological Society/Environmental 
Protection Agency Regulatory Model (AERMOD) or BLP/AERMOD Hybrid Alternative 
Modeling Approach to Ohio’s 2010 1-hour SO2 National Ambient Air Quality 
Standard (NAAQS) Nonattainment Area State Implementation Plan (SIP) for 
the Steubenville, Ohio-West Virginia multi-state nonattainment area. The 
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency proposes to model all the sources 
within the nonattainment area identically to that of the modeling included 
in the West Virginia 2010 1-hour SO2 NAAQS SIP for this same multi-state 
nonattainment area with the exception of making targeted changes to the 
stack characterization and modeled emissions limits at one facility, the 
Cardinal Power Plant located in the Wells Township, Jefferson County, Ohio, 
and an updated background concentration. This would include modeling the 
Mountain State Carbon facility with the BLP/AERMOD Hybrid Alternative Model 
Approach exactly as West Virginia based on the same alternative model 
justification as presented to and approved by EPA Region 3.

C/H Response:  The Model Clearinghouse fully concurs with EPA Region 5
that the BLP/AERMOD Hybrid Alternative Modeling Approach that is being 
considered as a part of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s 2010 
1-hour SO2 NAAQS SIP for the Steubenville Ohio-West Virginia Multi-State 
Nonattainment Area to represent fugitive emissions from four coke oven 
batteries at the AK Steel – Mountain State Carbon facility located in 
Follansbee, Brooke County, West Virginia has already been appropriately 
vetted and approved by EPA Region 3 (MCHISRS Record 18-III-02). The  
targeted changes to the stack emissions and modeled emissions limit at 
the Cardinal Power Plant in the Wells Township, Jefferson County, Ohio 
and updates to background concentrations do not influence the basis of 
the BLP/AERMOD Hybrid Alternative Modeling Approach for estimating the 
fugitive emissions impacts of Mountain State Carbon.

Memo:  Model Clearinghouse Review of the Proposed Region 5 Approval for the
Application of the BLP/AERMOD Hybrid Alternative Model Approach in the
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's 2010 I-hour SO2 National Ambient Air
Quality Standard State Implementation Plan for the Steubenville Ohio-West
Virginia Multi-State Nonattainment Area
        Dated: March 14, 2019
        From:  George Bridgers, Model Clearinghouse Director
                 Air Quality Modeling Group, Air Quality Assessment Division, 
                 Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
        To:    Randy Robinson, Meteorologist
                 Control Strategies Section, Air Programs Branch, Air and Radiation Division, 
                 EPA Region 5
               John Mooney, Chief
                 Air Programs Branch, Air and Radiation Division, EPA Region 5 

Memo:  Concurrence Request for Approval of Alternative Model: BLP/AERMOD Hybrid as
Applied to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency State Implementation Plan
for the Steubenville Ohio/West Virginia Multi-State Nonattainment Area
        Dated: March 11, 2019
        From:  Randy Robinson, Meteorologist
                 Control Strategies Section, Air Programs Branch, Air and Radiation Division, 
                 EPA Region 5
        Thru:  John Mooney, Chief
                 Air Programs Branch, Air and Radiation Division, EPA Region 5 
        To:    George Bridgers, Model Clearinghouse Director
                 Air Quality Modeling Group, Air Quality Assessment Division, 
                 Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards