On February 1, 2013 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized amendments (changes) to the rule "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Area Sources: Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers," also called the Boiler 6J GACT Rule. The rule provides for the use of generally available control technologies [''GACT''] or management practices by area sources to reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants. It covers boilers burning oil, coal, biomass (wood), and other solid or liquid fuels to produce steam or hot water for energy or heat. Gas only-fired boilers and gas-fired (used only during periods of gas curtailment) are not subject to this rule.

Most boilers covered by this rule are non-residential oil or biomass (wood)-fired boilers that existed prior to June 4, 2010, and are generally required to:

  • Submit an initial notification by January 20, 2014
  • Conduct an initial tune-up by March 21, 2014 and periodic tune-ups thereafter
  • Keep tune-up and fuel usage records
  • Submit a Notification of Compliance Status for the initial tune-up by July 19, 2014
  • Repeat tune-ups every two years for most boilers; see exceptions below for boilers with tune-ups required every five years
  • Complete and keep on file a compliance certification, and
  • If the heat input capacity of the boiler is 10 million Btu per hour (MMBtu/hr) or larger,
    1. conduct a one-time energy assessment prior to March 21, 2014, and
    2. submit a Notification of Compliance Status for the tune-up and energy assessment by July 19, 2014

Periodic Tune-up Requirement Information

  • Conduct a tune-up:

  • Keep tune-up and fuel usage records
  • Keep on file a copy of Tune-up Compliance Certification (last page of above recordkeeping form)
  • Repeat tune-ups every 2 years for many boilers, but see following exceptions
  • Repeat tune-ups every 5 years for:
    • Seasonal boilers (only biomass or oil), those undergoing a shutdown for at least 7 consecutive months (210 consecutive days) each 12-month period due to seasonal conditions, except for periodic testing
    • Small oil-fired boilers, those ≤ 5 MMBtu/hr
    • Limited-use boilers, those that burn any amount of solid or liquid fuels and has a federally enforceable average annual capacity factor of no more than 10 percent
    • Any boiler fired with oil, coal, or biomass equipped with an oxygen trim system

Energy Assessment Information

  • If the heat input capacity of the existing boiler is 10 million Btu per hour (MMBtu/hr) or larger,

    1. conduct a one-time energy assessment prior to March 21, 2014, and
    2. submit a Notification of Compliance Status form by July 19, 2014
  • If the heat input capacity of the boiler is less than 10 MMBtu/hr, there is no requirement for a one-time energy assessment.
  • DAQ Summary of energy assessment requirement

Most boilers affected by this rule are existing sources located at small industries, commercial buildings, or institutions burning oil or biomass (wood). If your boiler falls outside these parameters or if you are planning to install a new boiler, then additional information may be in order.

Please contact the Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service for free, confidential assistance at 1-877-623-6748. If you have compliance questions or desire regulatory assistance, please contact the closest DAQ Regional Office.

EPA Training Videos

The video series consists of four modules that explain various aspects of the rule.

Related Links