PERMIT REVIEW SUMMARY

Permit Writer:	Brad Luke 	Date:	April 22, 2026

Company Name:	ABB Motors and Mechanical Inc

Facility Location:	70 Industrial Park Access Road, Columbus, MS 39701

Source Number:	1680-00065

County: 		Lowndes

FACILITY DESCRIPTION

ABB Motors and Mechanical, Inc. (“ABB”) is an existing industrial facility that manufactures large electric-powered aluminum-alloy motors ranging between 40 horsepower (HP) and 450 HP. To produce the major motor component, including rotors, end plates, bar stocks, ABB previously operated an aluminum foundry that transfers molten metal via high pressure into die-cast housings. After creating the appropriate molds, metal working activities, including welding, cutting, broaching, stamping, grinding, drilling, and welding, are performed to refine and combine individual components. Before a motor is considered complete, appropriate surface coatings are applied to individual components in pre-assembly and to the entire motor in post-assembly. Under normal operations, ABB manufactures approximately 1,500 motors each week.

PROJECT/PERMIT ACTION DESCRIPTION

ABB is requesting a renewal of their existing Synthetic Minor Operating Permit (SMOP) that was reissued on February 11, 2020, and expired on January 31, 2025. Additionally, ABB is requesting modifications to the list of onsite emissions.

Emission Point AB-003 containing the natural gas-fired varnish burn-off oven was previously given a rated capacity at 0.50 million British thermal units (MMBTU) / hour, but the rated capacity was discovered to be 0.80 MMBTU / hour. The natural gas-fired rotor hot drop burn-off oven that makes up Emission Point AB-004 was previously given a rated capacity of 0.50 MMBTU / hour but was discovered to be electric and will not have emissions thus it will not be included in the permit. Emission Point AB-006 was previously reported as having seven (7) natural gas-fired brazing torches with a total rated capacity of 0.70 MMBTU / hour, however there are nine (9) natural gas-fired brazing torches making up Emission Point AB-006 with a total rated capacity 0.90 MMBTU / hour. The previous No.1 natural gas-fired waste water evaporator making up Emission Point AB-007 had a rated capacity of 0.225 MMBTU / hour but was taken out of service and has been replaced by an evaporator with a rated capacity of 0.327 MMBTU / hour. The No.2 natural gas-fired waste water evaporator that makes up Emission Point AB-008 has the same rated heat input capacity as Emission Point AB-007 therefore Emission Points AB-007 and AB-008 will be combined into a single emission source, Emission Point AB-007, made up of both natural gas-fired waste water evaporators. The natural gas-fired ingot-melting furnace with a rated capacity of 0.80 MMBTU / hour, which was part of Emission Point AB-100 alongside the two (2) natural gas-fired ingot melting furnaces each with a rated capacity of 1.60 MMBTU / hour, was never installed and was removed from the site in 2017. Additionally, the aluminum die-casting operations making up Emission Point AB-100 were removed from the facility in February 2025 and so Emission Point AB-100 will no longer be considered in the permit. There were two (2) 345-gallon above-ground paint thinner storage tanks grouped together as Emission Point AE-001, but one (1) 345-gallon above-ground paint thinner storage tank was emptied and removed in July of 2024. Emission Point AA-100 should include varnish coating operations alongside the surface coating operations. The cleaners used in part washing operations were discovered to have some volatile organic compound material (VOCs) so part washing operations will be added to Emission Point AC-100. The following table includes the emission points at the facility.

Emission 
Point	Description	
AA-100	Surface Coating Operations (includes five (5) spray booths (three (3) assembled motor coating booths (two manual; one robotic), one (1) die-cast priming booth, and one (1) rotor priming booth), varnish coating operations, and paint mixing room)	
AB-001	2.60 MMBTU / Hour Natural Gas-Fired Varnish System Cure Oven	
AB-002	Two (2) Natural Gas-Fired Vacuum-Pressure Impregnation (VPI) System Cure Ovens (Individual Heat Input Capacity: 0.50 MMBTU / Hour)	
AB-003	0.80 MMBTU / Hour Natural Gas-Fired Varnish Burn-Off Oven	
AB-005	Forty-Four (44) Natural Gas-Fired Space Heaters (Total Heat Input Capacity: 27.83 MMBTU / Hour)	
AB-006	Nine (9) Natural Gas-Fired Brazing Torches (Total Heat Input Capacity: 0.90 MMBTU / Hour)	
AB-007	Two (2) Natural Gas-Fired Waste Water Evaporator (Individual Heat Input Capacity: 0.327 MMBTU / Hour; the water phase of waste water is evaporated in order to create sludge for disposal / recycling)	
AC-100	Miscellaneous Metal Working and Maintenance (e.g. drilling, cutting, grinding, welding, stamping, assembly activities to manufacture motor components, part washers, etc.)	
AD-001	168 HP Diesel-Fired Emergency Generator Engine (Heat Input Capacity: 0.43 MMBTU / Hour; manufactured in March 2006) equipped with 230-gal diesel belly tank 	
AD-002	308 HP Diesel-Fired Emergency Generator Engine (Heat Input Capacity: 0.79 MMBTU / Hour; manufactured in August 2005) equipped with 410-gal diesel belly tank	
AE-001	345-Gallon Above-Ground Paint Thinner Storage Tanks	
AE-002	525-Gallon Above-Ground Varnish Storage Tank / VPI Reservoir Tank	

EMISSION SUMMARY

The maximum uncontrolled facility-wide emissions were calculated under a scenario in which the application of all coating materials including varnish, epoxies, adhesives, paints, and thinners was performed over a period of 8,760 hours in a calendar year using actual hours of operation, actual material volume usage, and material compositional data. Based on the calculations, ABB has the potential to exceed the respective Title V thresholds for VOCs, individual hazardous air pollutant (HAPs) (xylene), and total HAPs as illustrated in Table 1:

Table 1: Maximum Facility-Wide Emissions
	PM	PM10	PM2.5	SO2	NOX	CO	VOCs	Lead	Ind. HAP*	Total HAPs	
Maximum Uncontrolled Emissions (tpy)	
51.55	
51.55	
51.55	
4.47	
16.63	
27.85	
163.11	
0.00008	
13.86	
33.43	
*Maximum facility-wide emissions for an individual HAP are based on “xylene” pollutant

Therefore, to maintain its status as a synthetic minor source, ABB will maintain facility-wide emission limitations on a tons per year (tpy) basis for VOCs (99.0 tpy), any individual HAP (9.00 tpy), and all HAPs in total (24.00 tpy) based on a rolling 12-month period. Additionally, by maintaining the HAP-related emission limitations, ABB will be considered as an area source for HAP emissions.

All noted limitations were incorporated in the existing SMOP and compliance will be demonstrated through applicable monitoring and recordkeeping requirements outlined within the permit.

APPLICABLE/PROPOSED PERMIT LIMITATIONS

Maximum uncontrolled emissions for the facility exceed the Title V major source thresholds of  100 tpy for VOCs, 10 tpy for any HAPs, and 25 tpy for total HAPs. Therefore, to avoid becoming a major source, ABB proposes to comply with facility wide emission limitations for VOCs, total HAPs, and individual HAPs. For VOCs, the facility shall limit emissions to 99.0 tpy. For total HAPs, the facility shall limit emissions to 24.00 tpy. For individual HAPs, the facility shall limit emissions to 9.00 tpy. 

Additionally, for the entire facility the permittee shall determine the following for each coating, adhesive, solvent, or other VOC or HAP containing material used: (a) Quantity used (in gallons), (b) the percentage of VOCs by weight, (c) the percentage of each HAP by weight, and (d) the density in (lbs / gal). The permittee shall use these parameters to determine VOC and HAP emissions on a monthly basis and for each consecutive 12-month period on a rolling basis.

NSPS APPLICABILITY

40 CFR Part 60 Subpart Kb (Standards of Performance for Volatile Organic Liquid Storage Vessels (Including Petroleum Liquid Storage Vessels) for Which Construction, Reconstruction, or Modification Commenced After July 23, 1984, and On or Before October 4, 2023): ABB possesses one (1) 325-gallon above-ground thinner storage tank and one (1) 525-gallon above-ground varnish storage tank. Based on the specified capacities, neither storage tank meets the minimum volume threshold of 19,812.9 gallons (or 75 cubic meters) outlined in Subpart Kb. Therefore, ABB is not subject to the requirements of Subpart Kb.

40 CFR Part 60 Subpart IIII (Standards of Performance for Stationary Compression Ignition Internal Combustion Engines): ABB operates two (2) diesel-fired, compression-ignition emergency engines (Emission Points AD-001 & AD-002) that were each manufactured before the applicable date of April 1, 2006. Therefore, ABB is not subject to the requirements of Subpart IIII.

MACT APPLICABILITY

40 CFR Part 63 Subpart EEEE (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Organic Liquids Distribution (Non-Gasoline)): As previously noted in the “40 CFR Part 60, Subpart Kb” applicability section, ABB possesses two (2) above-ground storage tanks that store liquid materials with at least five percent (5%) by weight of organic HAPs.

However, ABB is classified as an area source of HAP emissions because it takes a limit to keep below the major source threshold. Applicability to Subpart EEEE requires that a facility be a “major source” meaning a source that has emissions of > 10 tpy of any individual HAP or > 25 tpy of all HAPs in total. Therefore, ABB is not subject to the requirements of Subpart EEEE.

40 CFR Part 63 Subpart MMMM (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Surface Coating of Miscellaneous Metal Parts and Products): Within Surface Coating Operations, ABB applies at least two hundred fifty (250) gallons of coating materials that contain HAPs to miscellaneous metal parts including industrial machinery. 

However, as applicability to this subpart requires that a facility be a major source of HAP emissions, ABB is not subject to the requirements of Subpart MMMM given its classification as an area source of HAP emissions. 

40 CFR Part 63 Subpart ZZZZ (National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Stationary Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines): As established in the 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart IIII applicability section, ABB operates two (2) diesel-fired, compression-ignition emergency generator engines (Emission Points AD-001 & AD-002). Given that ABB is an industrial entity and that the engines are existing units meaning they were constructed before June 12, 2006, the noted engines are subject to the requirements of Subpart ZZZZ. Therefore, ABB must comply with applicable operating limitations and work practice standards found in the subpart. Operating limitations of Subpart ZZZZ include installing a non-resettable hour meter, recording the hours of operation, and operating the engines according to manufacturer’s operation and maintenance instructions. Work practice standards include changing the oil and filter every five hundred (500 hours) of operation or within one (1) year and thirty (30) days of the last change, inspecting the air cleaner every one thousand (1,000) hours of operation or within 1 year and 30 days of the previous inspection and replacing air cleaner as needed, and inspecting all hoses and belts every 500 hours of operation or within 1 year and 30 days of the previous inspection and replacing hoses and belts as needed.

40 CFR Part 63 Subpart HHHHHH (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Paint Stripping and Miscellaneous Surface Coating Operations at Area Sources): While ABB performs surface coating operations and is classified as an area source of HAP emissions, applicable material safety data sheets show the facility does not use coatings that contain the target HAPs of chromium, lead, manganese, nickel, and cadmium. Therefore, ABB is not subject to Subpart HHHHHH.

40 CFR Part 63 Subpart XXXXXX (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants Area Source Standards for Nine Metal Fabrication and Finishing Source Categories): ABB is classified as an area source of HAP emissions, manufactures electric-powered motors encompassing it under the source category of “Electrical and Electronic Equipment Finishing Operations”, and uses materials that contain or have the potential to emit one or more of the metal fabrication / finishing metal hazardous air pollutants (MFHAPs), meaning that a material contains cadmium, chromium, lead, or nickel in amounts greater than or equal to 0.1 percent (wt.%) as the metal or if it contains manganese in amounts greater than 1.0 wt.% as the metal.  Therefore, ABB is subject to Subpart XXXXXX. Only the machining and welding activities are subject to Subpart XXXXXX as the spray-painting operations do not use MFHAPs that meet the threshold established in this subpart. ABB shall comply with Subpart XXXXXX by minimizing dust and operating all equipment according to manufacturer specifications on the machining operations, implementing one or more of a selection of management practices for minimizing MFHAP emissions for welding operations, and by performing visual determinations of opacities for welding activities using various EPA Test Methods.

40 CFR Part 63 Subpart ZZZZZZ (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Area Source Standards for Aluminum, Copper, and Other Nonferrous Foundries): ABB, which is classified as an area source of HAP emissions, operates an aluminum foundry in order to create individual motor components via molten metal. However, ABB transfers the molten metal into molds under high pressure to make “die castings”. By conducting this specific operation, ABB is not subject to the requirements of Subpart ZZZZZZ.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

The 30-day public notice period began on , when the notice was posted on MDEQ’s website and ends .