by Kurt Gilliam The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently has proposed or adopted several amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP).  The changes appear to stem from several factors including the agency’s statutory requirement to periodically review control technology, response to recent lawsuits, and a push to move to electronic reporting.   In the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, Congress required the EPA to establish Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standards for NESHAP sources.  The agency is required to reevaluate the NESHAPs at least every eight years for any new technology and "residual risk" (additional pollution sources that were not included in the original standards).  EPA recently performed these residual risk and technology reviews (RTRs) for a number of NESHAP source categories, resulting in proposed and adopted changes to various MACT rules.   Boiler MACT - PROPOSED  The proposed amendments for Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters would further reduce toxic emissions from certain types of units.  The proposed changes to the “Boiler MACT” (40 CFR 63 Subpart DDDDD) establish emission standards for categories of boilers based on current technology.  The EPA is accepting public comments on the proposed rule until September 7, 2020    The primary purpose of the proposed amendments is to satisfy remands from three separate court decisions.  The EPA is proposing to revise 34 different emission limits under the existing rule.  Twenty-eight of the existing limits would become more stringent and six would become less stringent.  Overall, the proposed rules will result in more stringent emission limits for equipment burning solid and liquid fuels, and less stringent limits for those burning gases, with the intent to decrease particulate and hazardous air pollutant emissions.  The proposed amendments also may require additional and/or modified testing.     Boat and Reinforced Plastic Composites Manufacturing - ADOPTED  The agency adopted amendments for Boat Manufacturing (40 CFR 63 Subpart VVVV) and Reinforced Plastic Composites Manufacturing (40 CFR 63 Subpart WWWW) are designed to improve compliance and implementation.  Following a residual risk and technology review, the EPA: 
  • revised the startup, shutdown, and malfunction language to be consistent with recent court decisions; and  
  • now requires electronic submittal of compliance reports, including performance test results.  
  The requirement for electronic reporting represents the most significant change to the rules.  Key points of the electronic report submittal process include: 
  • Reports for the second half of 2020 must be submitted electronically to the EPA through the CDX/CEDRI system. 
  • MACT reports submitted to a state must follow that state’s rules and could still require submission of a signed paper copy.   
  • The EPA has developed a required reporting spreadsheet. 
  • If no deviations are reported, a facility is only required to complete the Company Information and Certification tabs.  Other tabs will be left blank. 
  • In order to “sign” the electronic reports, the responsible official must register in the system and “sign” by acknowledging an email after the report is submitted. 
  Surface Coatings – ADOPTED  EPA took final action and adopted amendments to the NESHAP for Surface Coating of Automobiles and Light-Duty Trucks (40 CFR 63 Subpart IIII); Surface Coating of Miscellaneous Metal Parts and Products (Subpart MMMM); and the Surface Coating of Plastic Parts and Products (Subpart PPPP) after conducting residual risk and technology reviews.  Although, the emission limits remain the same, amendments to the rules include: 
  • revisions addressing emissions during startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM);  
  • a requirement for electronic submittal of compliance reports, including performance test results, following the same process as above;  
  • the addition of EPA Method 18 and updates to several measurement methods; and  
  • the addition of requirements for periodic performance testing. 
  Others - ADOPTED  The EPA also finalized technical corrections to the NESHAP for: 
  • Surface Coating of Large Appliances (Subpart NNNN);  
  • Printing, Coating, and Dyeing of Fabrics and Other Textiles (Subpart OOOO); and  
  • Surface Coating of Metal Furniture (Subpart RRRR). 
  Are you looking for a trusted partner to help you manage your facility’s compliance with Clean Air Act and NESHAP regulations?  Contact Cornerstone today at info@corner-enviro.com or (317) 733-2637 to get our Air Compliance Team on your side. 
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