Federal New Source Performance Standard

Some variants of best practicable means are spelled out in the U.S. Clean Air Act of 1977. One is the requirement that best available control technology (BACT) for a specific pollutant be employed on new "major sources" that are to be located in an area that has attained the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for that pollutant. BACT is also required for pollutants for which there is no NAAQS [e.g., total reduced sulfur (TRS), for which emission limits are specified by a Federal New Source Performance Standard (NSPS)]. BACT must be at least as stringent as NSPS but is determined on a case-by-case basis. 

Federal New Source Performance Standards for control of SO2 from power plants are applicable to electric utility steam-generating units that are capable of firing more than 73 MW (250 million Btw h l heat input of fossil fuel and for which construction or modification was commenced after September 18,1978. This regulation was proposed in the Federal Register, Vol. 43. No. 182, TUesday, Sept. 19,1978. The 520 ng/J limit applies to solid fuels. The notation MWe should be read as megawatts of electricity. 

TABLE 4.11 Typical Categories for Federal New Source Performance Standards ... 

Facilities in PSD areas are required to apply Best Available Control Technology (BACT) which takes into account economic impact. BACT is analyzed by regulators and applied to facilities on a case by case basis. BACT determination must result in emissions reduction as stringent as the federal New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) rule. 

EPA. 1985c. Pesticide chemicals category effluent limitations guidelines, pretreatment standards, and new source performance standards. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Federal Register 51 40672-40777. 

CFR, Metal Molding and Casting Industry Point Source Category Effluent Limitations Guidelines, Pretreatment Standards and New Source Performance Standards, Part 464, Code of Federal Register,... 

While medical waste is not subject to federal RCRA regulation, air emissions from new and existing hospital, infectious, and medical waste incinerators are subject to New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and emission guidelines under CAA. 

EPA. 1982c. New source performance standards. By-product cokemaking - iron and steel. Iron and steel manufacturing point source category. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Code of Federal Regulations 40 CFR 420.14(a). 

Emissions from individual sources can be closely regulated, both within a facility (occupational standards) and outside it (with New Source Performance Standards at the federal level and/or Air Toxic Hot Spots regulations in California). The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) began in 1970, with the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, to develop recommended exposure limits (RELs) for chemicals in the workplace. In 1974, NIOSH joined with OSHA to update the OSHA program for PELs for a wide variety of substances, incorporating cancer potency data as it became available over subsequent years. Their evaluations were published in criteria documents. Special Hazard Reviews, and summarized in a Compendium of Policy Documents and Statements (NIOSH 1992). Available information is periodically updated in the NIOSH Pocket... 

The CAA is the comprehensive federal law that regulates emissions of pollutants into the air from stationary and mobile sources. Oil and gas exploration and drilling operations must meet certain new source performance standards, national emissions standards for various pollutants, and technological standards. 

EPA s New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for Volatile organic compoimds (VOCs) include the first federal air standards for natiu al gas wells that are hydraulically frac-tiu ed, along with several other first-time reqiiirements for many other soiu ces of pollution in the oil and gas industry. 

The alert clarifies the federal requirements for flares. These requirements are in accordance with New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) in 60.18 and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) in 63.11. At a minimum, these rules require flares to be ... 

New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) set the limits for facilities built after 1971. They require that new coal-fired plants meet more stringent federal emission standards than plants that have already been constructed. In areas of the US that already meet national standards, the Prevention of Significant Deterioration provisions require that the quality of the air does not get appreciably more polluted. These standards allow irtcreases in poliution concentrations only to a certain level. Qnce this level has been reached, any further emissions must be offset try reductions from existing sources. This programme also monitors compliance with the visibility section of the Act. 

Continuous emission monitoring (CEM) systems are required to be installed in facilities specified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Standard of Performance for New Stationary Sources and by other federal and state regulations. The systems are used to continuously monitor the effectiveness of air pollution control equipment/systems and to determine if source compliance standards are being met. 

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