NSPS Notebook
Petroleum Refineries -  Subpart J

Applicability: eCFR Subpart J [ecfr.gov]

This subpart applies to:
  1. All petroleum refineries commencing construction, reconstruction, or modification after the applicability dates listed below.

Affected facilities under this subpart:
  1. Fluid cracking unit catalyst regenerators
  2. Fuel gas combustion devices
  3. All Claus sulfur recovery plants with a design capacity for > 20 long tons of sulfur feed per day.
    • This includes any recovery plants that process gases produced within a refinery, even if the plants are not physically located at the refinery.
Applicability dates for Affected Facilities:
  1. Fluid catalytic cracking unit catalyst regenerator or fuel gas combustion device (except flares):
    • Commenced construction, reconstruction or modification after June 11, 1973 and before May 14, 2007
  2. Fuel gas combustion devices that are also flares:
    • Commenced construction, reconstruction, or modification after June 11, 1973 and on or before June 24, 2008
  3. Claus sulfur recovery plants:
    • Commenced construction, reconstruction, or modification after Oct 4, 1976 and on or before May 14, 2007.
Any of the affected facilities that commenced construction, reconstruction, or modification after the above dates are subject to NSPS Subpart Ja.

Exemptions:
  1. Fluid catalytic cracking unit catalyst regenerators that commence construction, reconstruction, or modification on or before Jan 17, 1984 are exempt from the sulfur oxide standards in 60.104 (b).
  2. Fluid catalytic cracking units that commence construction, reconstruction, or modification on or before Jan 17, 1984, and in which a contact material reacts with petroleum derivatives to improve feedstock quality and in which the contact material is regenerated by burning off coke and/or other deposits are exempt from this subpart.
  3. Owners or operators that comply with NSPS Subpart Ja automatically satisfy the requirements of this subpart.
Known Sources in NDEE Jurisdiction:
Date of Original Final Rule: 3/8/74
Amendments Dates: 12/01/2015 (80 FR 75229)
09/12/2012 (77 FR 56463)
06/24/2008 (73 FR 35838)
09/21/2006 (71 FR 55127)
10/17/2000 (65 FR 61744)
02/12/1999 (64 FR 7465)
02/04/1991 (56 FR 4176)
10/02/1990 (55 FR 40175)
08/17/1989 (54 FR 34026)
10/21/1988 (53 FR 41333)
06/01/1987 (52 FR 20392)
11/26/1986 (51 FR 42842)
08/05/1985 (50 FR 31701)
05/25/1983 (48 FR 23611)
12/01/1980 (45 FR 79453)
10/25/1979 (44 FR 61543)
03/12/1979 (44 FR 13481)
03/15/1978 (43 FR 10868)
08/04/1977 (42 FR 39389)
06/24/1977 (42 FR 32427)
10/05/1975 (40 FR 46259)
State Regulations: Title 129, Chapter 12, Sectoin 001.15

Previously: Chapter 18, Section 001.36
Federal Regulations: 40 CFR 60.100
Related Rules:

NSPS - 40 CFR Part 60

Subpart Ja - Petroleum Refineries
Subparts GGG and GGGa - Equipment Leaks at Refineries
Subpart QQQ - Wastewater Treatment at Refineries

NESHAP - 40 CFR Part 63
Subpart CC - Petroleum Refineries
Subpart UUU - Catalytic Cracking Units, Catalytic
Reforming Units, and Sulfur Recovery Units at Petroleum Refineries
Regulations and Federal Registers: eCFR Subpart J [ecfr.gov]

(See attached file: 1J & Ja - Fed. Reg. 2014-05-15 - Proposed Rule.pdf)

(See attached file: 1J & Ja - Fed. Reg. 2012-09-12 - Final Rule.pdf)

SizeFile Name
2,647 KB 1J & Ja - Fed. Reg. 2014-05-15 - Proposed Rule.pdf
761 KB 1J & Ja - Fed. Reg. 2012-09-12 - Final Rule.pdf
FAQs, Fact Sheets, and Rule Summaries: EPA's Petroleum Refinery Website [epa.gov] - contains federal register notices and technical information

Rule Flowchart - Texas CEQ [tceq.state.tx.us]

Other Information and Resources:
Notes: EPA proposed amendments to this subpart on May 15, 2014. The proposed amendments would eliminate exemptions for Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction (SSM) events; add additional emission control requirements for storage tanks, flares, and coking units; require fenceline ambient air monitoring; and add efficiency requirements for flaring of waste gases.
Page Last Updated: 12/20/22