RACT/BACT/LAER Clearinghouse (RBLC) Basic Information

This page provides an overview of the RBLC web site and includes instructions for searching the data bases. Scroll down the page or use the links to the right to learn more about the RBLC. If you want detailed instructions about searching the data bases, download our User's Manual from the RBLC Products webpage.

Introduction

Under EPA's "New Source Review" (NSR) program, if a company is planning to build a new plant or modify an existing plant such that air pollution emissions will increase by a large amount, then the company must obtain an NSR permit. The NSR permit is a construction permit which requires the company to minimize air pollution emissions by changing the process to prevent air pollution and/or installing air pollution control equipment.  See the New Source Review (NSR) Permitting web area for more information.

The terms "RACT," "BACT," and "LAER" are acronyms for different program requirements under the NSR program.

RACT, or Reasonably Available Control Technology, is required on existing sources in areas that are not meeting national ambient air quality standards (i.e., non-attainment areas).

BACT, or Best Available Control Technology, is required on major new or modified sources in clean areas (i.e., attainment areas).

LAER, or Lowest Achievable Emission Rate, is required on major new or modified sources in non-attainment areas.

BACT and LAER (and sometimes RACT) are determined on a case-by-case basis, usually by State or local permitting agencies. EPA established the RACT/BACT/LAER Clearinghouse, or RBLC, to provide a central data base of air pollution technology information (including past RACT, BACT, and LAER decisions contained in NSR permits) to promote the sharing of information among permitting agencies and to aid in future case-by-case determinations. However, data in the RBLC are not limited to sources subject to RACT, BACT, and LAER requirements. Noteworthy prevention and control technology decisions and information are included even if they are not related to past RACT, BACT, or LAER decisions.

Permit Data Base

The RBLC permit data base contains approximately 8,000 determinations that can help you identify appropriate technologies to mitigate most air pollutant emission streams. The RBLC permit data base was designed to help permit applicants and reviewers make pollution prevention and control technology decisions for stationary air pollution sources, and includes data submitted by several U.S. territories and all 50 States on over 200 different air pollutants and 1,000 industrial processes.

You can search the RBLC permit data base on-line. You choose what you want to see by making selections in a search routine or typing in search criteria. The result is a subset of data that you can either view, print, or downloaded to your PC.

Data Elements

The RBLC permit data base groups the data into three levels:

• Facility data,
• Process data, and
• Pollutant data.

The data are organized so that each facility determination may have multiple processes and each process may emit multiple pollutants. Each facility has at least one process and at least one pollutant. Together these data make up the RBLC permit data base.

Searching

The RBLC gives you several options for searching the permit data base on-line to locate the determinations you are most interested in:

• Basic Search
• Find the Lowest Emission Rate Search
• Standard Search
• Advanced Search
• Search by RBLC Identifier
• Greenhouse Gas Search

Whichever option is used, the RBLC saves the results of your search in a data set that you can view on-line. You can select successively more detailed information by examining the processes and pollutants that comprise the determination for any facility found by your search. You can also choose a report format and save your results in a file to download to your PC.

The Basic Search is the easiest search routine for the new user of RBLC. There are a limited number of search criteria, most of which have drop-down lists to choose from. Easy to use.

The Find the Lowest Emission Rate Search provides a rank order listing (most stringent to least stringent emission rate) for the process and pollutant you select. The search is currently limited to combustion sources and may be expanded in the future.    (NOTE: The age of the code is affecting the search.  This means that code that generates this report may malfunction. )

The Standard Search option offers more flexibility than the Basic search. The Standard Search includes over twenty searchable data fields from all levels of the RBLC. The user selects the field(s) to search, if applicable an operator (greater than, equal to, etc.), and enters/selects the value to search on. Once all the desired conditions are selected the user clicks the SEARCH button. 

The Advanced Search option is the fastest way to build and run a customized search. To search the RBLC using the Advanced Search  option first, select any individual or combination of the 21 searchable fields; second, select the search operators for each of the data field; and third, enter or select a value for each data field. Finally, click the "Run Search Now" button to begin the search.   

The Advance Search option is different from the standard option because under advanced the entry in the "value" field is not restricted.  Using the EPA Region as an example, in standard search the user must select one of the discrete values 1 through 10 via a drop-down list, nothing else. In advanced the user may enter whatever is needed. May sound strange, however as an example the user could enter the values "19", "er", "??" in the EPA Region search field.  Of course nothing will be found, however, the searches may the run.  Try the same under Standard and you'll either just not be able to start it or get an error.  This search option is very helpful when unusual conditions are required.

For Example, perhaps you need info on all Large Combustion Simple Cycle Turbines in EPA Regions 2 through 5.  Easy:

1) Advanced search for EPA Region greater than "1"  AND

2) EPA Region less than "6" AND

3) Process Type Code begins with "15.1". 

Run the search and Done! (Check the list of Process Type Codes for the 15.1 values.) (NOTE: Don't hold me to this. The RBLC has not had ANY maintenance in 4 years! Some of the code is now kind of flaky.)

I don't think this could be done in one search under any other search routine. Just be imaginative and remember to craft the values EXACTLY correct or you'll exclude information. If your search does not produce the number of hits yo think it should research the data base using a less restrictive item. This will give you a feeling for the number of entries you might find.

The Search by RBLC Identifier allows you to find determinations by typing in from one to three of these unique RBLC identifiers.  An RBLC ID number is simple, it starts with the two-letter State abbreviation (for the agency that submitted it) followed by a incremental four-digit number. 

An RBLC ID is assigned by the system during the initial data entry session. Creating a new entry for your agency is straight forward.  An editor clicks on the Add New Determination button. A blank New RBLC Entry page opens.  Next enter certain important pieces of data - permit number, facility name, permitting agency (automatically entered) and permit date - the all it takes is a click on one of the SAVE buttons and a new RBLC determination has been created.  (You CAN stop the process by clicking on the "ABORT" button at the top of the page.  However, you must hit ABORT before any of the saves are clicked.)  

The Greenhouse Gas Search allows you to find information on a specific greenhouse gas or on greenhouse gasses as a group. Other search parameters are the name of the process, the RBLC Process Type code, and the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code. 

Output Report Formats

To generate a report first you must create a data set by searching the data base.  Once the data set is generated you must select a report format to use. (The reports formats options are the same no matter how the data set was generated.) The reports vary from simple summaries to detail listings to comma-delimited formats that may be imported into spreadsheets or desktop data bases.  After you select the format, RBLC processes the data set, extracts the information requested, and creates either a text report or a spreadsheet file.  Once completed your file is displayed on your screen. (Spreadsheet format reports are an exception. Spreadsheet reports are automatically saved to your machine.) 

Spreadsheet files are created in a different way.  After performing a search select the "Export/Import Report (ASCII Delineated Text)" report option at the bottom of the Search Results page and click "Create Report".  The next page allows you to select the RBLC data fields you want to include in the spreadsheet.  (You may select as many as you like.) Here is the important part:  In the 4th column, titled "Report Format," you must select the  "Spreadsheet Format (CSV)" option before running the report. Once generated you will not see the report. The RBLC will ask you either Save the File or Open the File. The initial option is self-explanatory. The latter option will open the spreadsheet in you default spreadsheet program.

The RBLC report system allows users to print Acrobat PDF files.  In order for the RBLC system to create a PDF file after you have selected, be sure to click the "Spreadsheet Format (CSV)" option a report format be sure to select the "PDF" and not "TXT" radio button.  The system defaults to "TXT" so be sure to check this.  

You may select as many report formats as you like for the same data set. However, once another data set is created (ie., another search is performed) the data set used to generate the report is lost.  In order to generate another report for the original data set, that data set must be recreated by re-running the previous search.

Data Entry

RBLC gives designated users from State and local agencies the opportunity to input their agency's determinations directly. Other users who are aware of a source or who have a unique process should contact their State or local air quality authority with the pertinent information. Authorized users can select from electronic or paper submittals:

RBLC Standalone Editor for new determinations (See Note Below)
RBLC Web editor for new or updated determinations
Hard-copy submittals

Note: Unfortunately, the RBLC Standalone Editor (SAE) is no longer available and the RBLC no longer accepts determinations/permits submitted via the SAE.  The program has not been updated for several years and needs a complete rewrite.   Budget constraints meant that funding for the rewrite is not available.  

Agency users with update responsibility who wish to add or change determinations using the RBLC Web must obtain update authority and use an RBLC password in order to take advantage of this feature. To receive an RBLC password, call EPA at (919) 541-0800. To input new determinations or update determinations already entered for their agency, authorized users must go to the Data Entry area of the RBLC Web. Then the user must enter the correct password and select the option to add or edit RBLC determination(s). RBLC displays a warning message and denies access if you try to update a determination not authorized for your agency.

A blank input form that you may print and use for paper submittals is available from the RBLC Products area. Completed input forms should be mailed directly to EPA at:

RACT/BACT/LAER Clearinghouse
USEPA (D243-01)
RTP, NC 27709

RBLC Products, Links, Technical Resources

In addition to the Permit data base, the RBLC contains links to Products (software and documents), State/local agency contacts, and other Technical Resources.  RBLC Documents include the User's Manual, Data Entry form, and annual reports of RBLC activity. State and local Agency Links provides links to State and local air permitting agencies. The Related Links area contains links to other clearinghouses and Web Sites where air pollution technology information may be found. The Technical Resources area has links to software tools that can be used to estimate emissions, evaluate alternative control and prevention technologies, or identify less polluting materials. For more information see the RBLC Products webpage.

When you have a question about the RBLC, browse through the list of downloadable files in the RBLC Products area. The information you need may be available on-line. You may be able to display several types of files in your browser. The most common types of these files are indicated by a TXT or PDF icon. Follow your browser's procedures for viewing a file. You must download and unarchive files with a ZIP extension. To download a file from the RBLC Web, follow the file transfer procedures for your browser.