EPA emission standards

Roasting metal sulfides requires a fair amount of energy. Furthermore, sulfur dioxide is a toxic gas that contributes to acid rain, and so its emission must be minimized. Most companies comply with EPA emissions standards by converting the sulfur dioxide to marketable sulfuric acid, H2S04. 

Once a substance is designated by EPA as a ha2ardous air pollutant (HAP), EPA has to promulgate a NESHAP (National Emission Standard for Ha2ardous Air Pollutants), designed to protect pubHc health with an ample margin of safety. 

Review of National Emission Standards forMercuy, EPA-450/3-84-014b, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., 1987. 

Emission Standards. In order to have a nationwide basis for air pollution emission controls and to set a minimum emission limit, the EPA developed New Source Performance Standards (NSPS). The NSPS set specific poUutant emission limits or describe the best available control technology (BACT) that should be appUed at that source. The EPA has issued NSPS, which apply to new constmction as weU as to large modifications, for many different sources. Sources in the chemical industry include the foUowing. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Ageny Report No. EPA-450/2-75-009, Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, N.C., Oct. 1975. EPA Regulations, 40 CFR 61, Subpart F—National Emission Standard for Viayl Chloride, Aug. 27, 1993. 

Finally, Sec. 112 of the Clean Air Act required that EPA pronml-gate National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs). Between 1970 and 1989, standards were promulgated for asbestos, beiylhum, mercuiy, vinyl chloride, benzene, arsenic, radionuclides, and coke-oven emissions. 

Title I allows the EPA to define the boundaries of "nonattainment" areas for ozone, CO, and PMjg. Emission standards for these areas will be based on a new set of "nonattainment categories." EPA has established a classification system for ozone design values (goals) and attainment deadlines. Table 24-2 lists these parameters. 

Before the U.S. Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (3), hazardous air pollutants were regulated through federal promulgation of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS). The EPA listed only eight hazardous air pollutants under NESHAPS. 

EPA Federal Register, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Source Categories Aerospace Manufacturing and Rework Facilites 60, 170 p. 45947, 1995. 

Besides cleaner fuels, vehicle makers have developed many emission-reducing technologies—both in cleaner combustion and in catalytic converter technologies—to comply with ever stricter tailpipe emission standards. The U.S. EPA stringent standards proposed in 1999 for model year 2004 vehicles will result in new vehicles emitting less than 1 percent of the VOC and NO, emissions of their 1960s counterparts. 

Reduction of exhaust emissions is being tackled in two ways by engineers, including precombustion and postcombustion technology. One of the most effective methods now being researched and adopted includes use of synthetic fuel made from natural gas. This fuel is crystal clear, and just like water, it has no aromatics, contains no sulfur or heavy metals, and when used with a postcombustion device such as a catalytic converter any remaining NO, or other emissions can be drastically reduced. Estimates currently place the cost of this fuel at 1.50 per gallon, with availability in 2004 to meet the next round of stiff EPA exhaust emission standards. 

In 1999, the EPA proposed stringent standards applicable to model year 2004 vehicles. Thus, the EPA continues to implement technology-forcing regulations, in which EPA tasks manufacturers with an emissions standard, and industry must develop... 

In April of 1998, the EPA published a final rule for emission of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), hydrocarbons (EIC), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), and smoke opacity for newly manufactured and rcmanufacturcd locomotives. The rulemaking took effect in 2000 and is estimated by the EPA to cost the railroads 80 million per year—about 163 per ton of NOx reduced, according to EPA figures. The emissions standards for the several pollutants will be implemented in three tiers—for locomotives... 

EPA. 1990c. Standards of performance for volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions from synthetic organic chemical manufacturing industry (SOCMI) distillation operation. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Code of Federal Regulations. 40 CFR 60.667. 

U.S. EPA, Pulp, Paper and Paperboard Industry—Background Information for Proposed Air Emission Standards Manufacturing Processes at Kraft, Sulfite, Soda, and SemiChemical Mills (NESHAP), U.S. EPA, Washington, 1993. 

Until U.S. EPA calls in the facility s Part B permit application, where precise permit conditions will be established through a trial burn, owners/operators of interim status BIFs must ensure compliance with emission standards by showing certification of precompliance and certification of compliance. As the deadlines for these certifications have already passed, all interim status BIFs, except for possible extenuating circumstances, should be in the compliance stage. 

On April 19, 1996, U.S. EPA published a proposed rule, called the MACT rule, under the joint authority of the RCRA and the CAA, to upgrade the emission standards for HWCs. Specifically, this rule will affect incinerators, cement kilns, and lightweight aggregate kilns. It proposes emission standards for dioxins, furans, mercury, cadmium, lead, PM, hydrochloric acid, chlorine,... 

The NESHAPs were issued by U.S. EPA for air quality protection from HWCs. The standards implement a section of the CAA by requiring HWCs to meet HAP emission standards reflecting the application of the MACT.30... 

---