Permitting Update

South Coast AQMD has completed the review of the permit applications for Quemetco’s proposed process weight increase at the facility (also known as the Quemetco Capacity Upgrade Project (proposed Project) in the Draft EIR). More information regarding the proposed Project can be found below in the section “Pending Permit Applications and Compliance Plans – Throughput/Process Weight Increase.” A draft copy of the permit can be accessed here: Quemetco Permit Draft Copy.  Information regarding the CEQA review for the proposed Project may be found in the Quemetco CEQA page. The permitting action also includes other equipment and modifications that are not related to the proposed Project and can be found in the section “Other Permits Applications."

Recent Permitting Activities

NOx Reduction Project
A permit revision was issued on June 8, 2023, which included changes to the reverberatory furnace and its associated air pollution control systems (APCS). The reverberatory furnace is one of the processes that extracts lead from feedstock and the operation of the furnace results in NOx emissions.  The facility requested to increase the allowable upper limit of oxygen enrichment to the reverberatory furnace and to install an additional ozone injector in the reverberatory furnace process APCS.  Each of the proposed changes are expected to contribute to a reduction in NOx emissions along with the existing air pollution controls. There are no emissions increases expected because of this project.

Business Name Change
A request for a Business Name Change was submitted by the facility to update the facility/business name from Quemetco, Inc. to Ecobat Resources California, Inc. South Coast AQMD records have been updated as of April 2023 and the facility permit was reissued in conjunction with the NOx Reduction Project.  The public may see the facility referred to as both Quemetco or Ecobat, but both names refer to the same facility permitted under South Coast AQMD Facility ID 8547.  Historical references on this page will remain as Quemetco, however, new additions after the name change will be referred to as Ecobat.

Research Permit
A Rule 441 Research Permit was issued to Quemetco on July 29, 2022. Rule 441 allows a facility to research for knowledge purposes, a permitted piece of equipment for a short period of time while still being required to meet air quality requirements. Quemetco will be utilizing oxygen enrichment to research additional NOx emission reduction capabilities along with existing air pollution controls to reduce NOx emissions from the natural gas-fired reverberatory furnace. There are no emission increases expected during the research period. The Rule 441 Research Permit was reissued on March 9, 2023, extending the Research Permit duration to September 2023 or upon final action on the NOx Reduction Project, whichever is sooner.

Replacement Baghouse
A permit revision consisting of replacing the existing baghouse venting the rotary dryer, with a new baghouse was evaluated by South Coast AQMD. The rotary dryer heats and dries the feedstock prior to introduction into the reverberatory furnace and emissions from the rotary dryer are vented to this baghouse. This permit revision did not result in any emission increases. A public notice for this permit revision was published in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune on October 19, 2020 for a 30-day public comment period, which ended on November 20, 2020. This permit revision was also provided to U.S. EPA for review, which ended on December 28, 2020. No comments were received during the comment period pertaining to the technical analysis and Statement of Basis. A Permit to Construct was issued to Quemetco on January 8, 2021. As of August 2022, the replacement baghouse has been constructed and source tested.

Existing Permits

Permit applications are required whenever any facility installs new equipment that causes or controls a source of air pollution. Additionally, permit applications are required to modify equipment or to propose permit condition changes.
 
Numerous Permits to Construct and Permits to Operate have been issued to Quemetco since 1970. Prior to 1970, the facility operated as Western Lead. An initial Title V permit was issued to the facility on May 9, 2000 and renewals (which occur every 5 years) for Quemetco’s Title V permit have been issued in 2006, 2012, and 2018. In between the renewals, several revisions of the Title V permit have occurred. Most often, these permit revisions have not been for the addition of new process equipment, but for the addition and/or enhancement of air pollution control equipment and techniques. These pollution control upgrades have included high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that effectively reduce particulate matter, a regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) that reduces volatile organic compounds (including the toxic species of benzene and 1,3-butadiene), and a wet electrostatic precipitator (WESP) which is a final reduction scheme for minimizing the toxic metal emissions of lead and arsenic. The WESP and the RTO were initially permitted to be constructed in 2007. The facility is currently restricted by permit condition to a process throughput of 600 tons per day.

Pending Permit Applications and Compliance Plans

Quemetco has submitted permit applications for various projects that are undergoing review by South Coast AQMD. Details on the permit applications listed below can be found by entering Facility ID 8547 or the application number on F.I.N.D.

Throughput/Process Weight Increase

In 2013, Quemetco applied for a 25 percent facility process weight increase from the current permitted limit of 600 tons per day to 750 tons per day. The proposed process weight increase does not involve any new equipment but would increase the hours that the Rotary Dryer and furnaces are allowed to receive feed each day, essentially increasing 4-6 hours per day for a 24/7 operation for the Rotary Dryer and furnaces. The remainder of the facility already operates 24/7. Additionally, Quemetco is requesting to allow the use of petroleum coke (pet coke) in addition to the use of calcined coke.

Since the proposed process weight increase covers all permitted equipment associated with the production process, separate applications were required for each piece of equipment. The following application numbers are being evaluated as part of the proposed process weight increase. 

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Other Permit Applications

Quemetco also has ongoing projects associated with their current operations that are not associated with their proposed process weight increase. Below are the more recent permit applications for projects that are currently being reviewed.

The following permit applications have been submitted by Quemetco (Ecobat) and are currently undergoing evaluation.