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MACT WWWW Reinforced Plastic Composites Production To find out more about MACT WWWW's applicability and requirements, read the full regulatory update. Iron & Steel Foundry MACT Bulletin IV Now that the rule has been proposed, it's time for iron and steel foundries to take action. To find out what you can do to prepare and to get an overview of the proposed requirements, read the full regulatory update. Iron & Steel Foundry MACT Bulletin III The proposing of the Foundry MACT standard continues to be delayed. At the 14th Annual American Foundry Society (AFS) Environmental Health & Safety Conference (August 25-28, 2002), Kevin Cavender (EPA) presented the latest developments and stated that a proposed rule should be published by November 2002. Cavender’s presentation included several possible changes that could be incorporated into the proposed rule. These changes are included in the full regulatory update. Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans On August 16, 2002, the USEPA’s recent amendments to the Oil Pollution Prevention regulations (40 CFR Part 112) promulgated under the Clean Water Act went into effect. The final rule includes requirements for Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans and Facility Response Plans (FRPs). The recent changes not only affect facilities that currently have SPCC Plans but also bring new facilities and industries under jurisdiction of these regulations. Facilities operational on or before August 16, 2002 must modify their SPCC Plans to incorporate the amendments by February 17, 2003 (six months from the effective date), and implement the Plans by August 18, 2003. Facilities that become operational between August 16, 2002 and August 18, 2003 must prepare and implement a SPCC Plan no later than August 18, 2003, while those that become operational after August 18, 2003 must prepare and implement their Plan before beginning operations. For highlights of the final rule, read the full regulatory update.Section 112(j) - The MACT Hammer On January 17, 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) promulgated final Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting requirements for Lead and Lead Compounds (Lead Rule) under the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1987 (EPCRA). These revised annual TRI reporting requirements are effective starting with the 2001 reporting year, which covers activities from January 1 through December 31, 2001--all reports for this period must be filed by July 1, 2002. Under the amended Lead Rule, reporting thresholds were lowered to 100 lbs for lead and lead compounds manufactured, processed or otherwise used (excluding lead contained in stainless steel, brass, and bronze alloys). For more information on the revised lead rule, read the full regulatory update or visit the EPA-TRI web site at www.epa.gov/tri. Under the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, EPA was directed to develop Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standards for all major sources of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs). As a part of this effort, EPA is currently developing MACT standards for both iron foundries and steel foundries. The proposed rule for the Iron Foundry MACT was expected in Fall 2001. Due to several delays, it is not expected to be published in the Federal Register until February or March 2002. Although no decision has been made regarding steel foundries, EPA is considering the possibility of delisting this source category. If delisted, there would be no MACT standard for steel foundries. Although the proposed Iron Foundry MACT standards have not yet been published, EPA is already considering implementing certain provisions. To read more about the tentative MACT requirements for iron foundries and to get more information about the MACT standards, read the full regulatory update. In 1975, the EPA published the first Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for arsenic in drinking water in the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) at 50 parts per billion (ppb). When the SDWA was amended in 1996, Congress directed EPA to propose a new arsenic regulation to reduce public health risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other medical conditions. After careful consideration of the benefits and costs of lowering the MCL, EPA published a final rule on January 22, 2001, which set the MCL at 10 ppb. Not long after this rule was published, the Bush administration announced that it would delay implementation pending further investigation. Based on the review of three expert panels, the EPA announced on October 31, 2001 that the final arsenic standard for public water supplies is 10 ppb. For more information on how the new standard affects you, please read the full regulatory update. On January 3, 2001, EPA announced the proposed effluent limitations guidelines and standards for the Metal Products & Machinery (MP&M) Point Source Category. The proposed regulation would establish technology-based effluent limitations and pretreatment standards for wastewater discharges associated with the operation of new and existing metal products and machinery facilities. The agency estimates that the proposed rule will affect almost 90,000 facilities, of which an estimated 63,000 discharge process wastewater. Of those discharging wastewater, EPA estimates that 7% are direct dischargers and fall under effluent limitation standards; 93% are indirect dischargers falling under pre-treatment standards.For additional information, read the full regulatory update. Due to the comprehensive nature of this rule, determining how it affects your facility is complicated at best. For additional information or assistance, visit the EPA web site.In 1998, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched an industry-based initiative to enforce new source review (NSR) requirements. The initiative began with pulp and paper, moved into electric utilities, and then targeted petroleum refineries. As the enforcement arm of the EPA continues on its mission, it appears that the most recent target of NSR reviews is the chemicals industry. EPA has been sending NSR 114 letters, filing lawsuits, issuing enforcement orders, and entering agreed judgments contending that major sources have been "modified" without NSR permits. The agency’s new interpretation of what is considered exempt could call into question virtually every process improvement project at a plant. For industries across the country, this could result in legal battles and heavy fines. For more information regarding these issues, please read the full regulatory update.
The 2001 Reforms build upon the actions already taken by the EPA to accelerate cleanups and foster creative solutions. Specifically, the 2001 Reforms will pilot innovative approaches, accelerate changes in culture, connect communities to cleanups, and capitalize on redevelopment potential. For more information, read the full regulatory update. In 1990, former President Bush signed the Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA). Since then, the EPA has been developing regulations to fulfill the requirements of these amendments. Potentially, the greatest impact of the CAAA on foundries will be the regulation of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) in Section 112. The CAAA identifies 188 HAPs that are subject to regulations. Under the CAAA, EPA was directed to compile a list of categories of all major sources of HAPs and to develop standards for each category. Major sources are defined as those that emit more than 10 tons per year of a single HAP or 25 tons per year of multiple HAPs. On July 16, 1992, the EPA published a list of source categories, which includes iron and steel foundries.For further information, please read the full regulatory update. In July 1999, the RCRA Cleanup Baseline was finalized and included a static list of 1,714 facilities that were identified as facilities that would benefit from early cleanup. These Baseline facilities comprise the basis of the EPA Corrective Action Program’s 2005 Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) goals. In order to measure progress towards the 2005 cleanup goals two milestones, known as environmental indicators (EI), have been created: Current Human Exposures Controlled (CA725) and Migration of Contaminated Groundwater Controlled (CA750). By the end of 2005, the GPRA goal is to have human exposure controlled at 95% of baseline facilities and migration of contaminated groundwater controlled at 70% of these facilities. For more information on RCRA Corrective Action Reforms, read the full regulatory update.
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