Revision of Source Category Lists for Standards Under Sections 112(c) and 112(k) of the Clean Air Act; and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Area Sources: Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking Facilities, 53814-53836 [E7-18343]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 182 / Thursday, September 20, 2007 / Proposed Rules
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 63
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2004–0083; FRL–8470–2]
RIN 2060–AM71
Revision of Source Category Lists for
Standards Under Sections 112(c) and
112(k) of the Clean Air Act; and
National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants for Area
Sources: Electric Arc Furnace
Steelmaking Facilities
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of
revisions to source category lists.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: EPA is adding electric arc
furnace steelmaking facilities to the list
of source categories subject to regulation
under Clean Air Act (CAA) section
112(c)(6) and revising the area source
category list for the Integrated Urban Air
Toxics Strategy. At the same time, EPA
is proposing national emission
standards for electric arc furnace
steelmaking facilities that are area
sources of hazardous air pollutants
(HAP). The proposed standards
establish requirements for the control of
mercury emissions that are based on the
maximum achievable control
technology (MACT) and requirements
for the control of other hazardous air
pollutants that are based on generally
available control technology or
management practices.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before October 22, 2007, unless a
public hearing is requested by October
1, 2007. If a hearing is requested on the
proposed rule, written comments must
be received by November 5, 2007. Under
the Paperwork Reduction Act,
comments on the information collection
provisions must be received by OMB on
or before October 22, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2004–0083, by one of the
following methods:
• https://www.regulations.gov: Follow
the on-line instructions for submitting
comments.
Industry .....................................................
1 North
331111
the body of your comment and with any
disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA
cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact
you for clarification, EPA may not be
able to consider your comment.
Electronic files should avoid the use of
special characters, any form of
encryption, and be free of any defects or
viruses.
Docket: All documents in the docket
are listed in the https://
www.regulations.gov index. Although
listed in the index, some information is
not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Certain other
material, such as copyrighted material,
will be publicly available only in hard
copy form. Publicly available docket
materials are available either
electronically in https://
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
the National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants for Area
Sources: Electric Arc Furnace
Steelmaking Facilities Docket at the
EPA Docket and Information Center in
the EPA Headquarters Library, EPA
West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution
Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The Public
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays. The telephone
number for the Public Reading Room is
(202) 566–1744, and the telephone
number for the Air Docket is (202) 566–
1742.
Mr.
Phil Mulrine, Sector Policies and
Program Division, Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards (D243–02),
Environmental Protection Agency,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
27711, telephone number (919) 541–
5289; fax number (919) 541–3207, email address: mulrine.phil@epa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
The regulated category and entities
affected by this proposed action
include:
Examples of regulated
entities
NAICS code 1
Category
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• E-mail: a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov.
• Fax: (202) 566–9744.
• Mail: National Emission Standards
for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Area
Sources: Electric Arc Furnace
Steelmaking Facilities Docket,
Environmental Protection Agency, Air
and Radiation Docket and Information
Center, Mailcode: 2822T, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20460. Please include a total of two
copies. In addition, please mail a copy
of your comments on the information
collection provisions to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), Attn: Desk Officer for EPA, 725
17th St., NW., Washington, DC 20503.
• Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center,
Public Reading Room, EPA West, Room
3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460. Such deliveries
are only accepted during the Docket’s
normal hours of operation, and special
arrangements should be made for
deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2004–
0083. EPA’s policy is that all comments
received will be included in the public
docket without change and may be
made available online at https://
www.regulations.gov including any
personal information provided, unless
the comment includes information
claimed to be confidential business
information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise
protected through https://
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The
https://www.regulations.gov Web site is
an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which
means EPA will not know your identity
or contact information unless you
provide it in the body of your comment.
If you send an e-mail comment directly
to EPA without going through https://
www.regulations.gov, your e-mail
address will be automatically captured
and included as part of the comment
that is placed in the public docket and
made available on the Internet. If you
submit an electronic comment, EPA
recommends that you include your
name and other contact information in
Steel mills with electric arc furnace steelmaking facilities.
American Industry Classification System.
This table is not intended to be
exhaustive, but rather provides a guide
for readers regarding entities likely to be
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affected by this action. To determine
whether your facility would be
regulated by this action, you should
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examine the applicability criteria in 40
CFR 63.10680 of subpart YYYYY
(National Emission Standards for
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 182 / Thursday, September 20, 2007 / Proposed Rules
Hazardous Air Pollutants for Area
Sources: Electric Arc Furnace
Steelmaking Facilities). If you have any
questions regarding the applicability of
this action to a particular entity, consult
either the air permit authority for the
entity or your EPA regional
representative as listed in 40 CFR 63.13
of subpart A (General Provisions).
B. What should I consider as I prepare
my comments for EPA?
Do not submit information containing
CBI to EPA through https://
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. Send or
deliver information identified as CBI
only to the following address: Roberto
Morales, OAQPS Document Control
Officer (C404–02), Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards, Environmental
Protection Agency, Research Triangle
Park, North Carolina 27711, Attention
Docket ID EPA–HQ–OAR–2004–0083.
Clearly mark the part or all of the
information that you claim to be CBI.
For CBI information in a disk or CD–
ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the
outside of the disk or CD–ROM as CBI
and then identify electronically within
the disk or CD–ROM the specific
information that is claimed as CBI. In
addition to one complete version of the
comment that includes information
claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment
that does not contain the information
claimed as CBI must be submitted for
inclusion in the public docket.
Information so marked will not be
disclosed except in accordance with
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
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C. Where can I get a copy of this
document?
In addition to being available in the
docket, an electronic copy of this notice
and proposed action will also be
available on the Worldwide Web
(WWW) through the Technology
Transfer Network (TTN). Following
signature, a copy of this proposed action
will be posted on the TTN’s policy and
guidance page for newly proposed or
promulgated rules at the following
address: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/.
The TTN provides information and
technology exchange in various areas of
air pollution control.
D. When would a public hearing occur?
If anyone contacts EPA requesting to
speak at a public hearing concerning the
proposed rule by October 1, 2007, we
will hold a public hearing on October 5,
2007. If you are interested in attending
the public hearing, contact Ms. Pamela
Garrett at (919) 541–7966 to verify that
a hearing will be held. If a public
hearing is held, it will be held at 10 a.m.
at the EPA’s Environmental Research
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Center Auditorium, Research Triangle
Park, NC, or an alternate site nearby.
E. How is this document organized?
The information in this preamble is
organized as follows:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
B. What should I consider as I prepare my
comments to EPA?
C. Where can I get a copy of this
document?
D. When would a public hearing occur?
E. How is this document organized?
II. Background Information
A. What is the statutory authority for the
proposed NESHAP?
B. What criteria did EPA use in developing
this proposed NESHAP?
III. Addition and Revision to Source Category
Lists
IV. Proposed NESHAP for EAF Steelmaking
Facilities
A. What area source category is affected by
the proposed NESHAP?
B. What are the production processes and
emissions sources?
C. Summary of the Proposed Requirements
D. What is our rationale for the proposed
MACT and GACT standards?
V. Impacts of the Proposed Standards
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
Planning and Review
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
and Safety Risks
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
I. National Technology Transfer
Advancement Act
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions
To Address Environmental Justice in
Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations
II. Background Information
A. What is the statutory authority for the
proposed NESHAP?
Section 112(k)(3)(B) of the CAA
requires EPA to identify at least 30
hazardous air pollutants (HAP), which,
as the result of emissions of area
sources,1 pose the greatest threat to
public health in urban areas. Consistent
with this provision, in 1999, in the
Integrated Urban Air Toxics Strategy,
EPA identified the 30 HAP that pose the
greatest potential health threat in urban
1 An area source is a stationary source of
hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions that is not
a major source. A major source is a stationary
source that emits or has the potential to emit 10
tons per year (tpy) or more of any HAP or 25 tpy
or more of any combination of HAP.
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areas, and these HAP are referred to as
the ‘‘Urban HAP.’’ See 64 FR 38715, July
19, 1999. Section 112(c)(3) requires EPA
to list sufficient categories or
subcategories of area sources to ensure
that area sources representing 90
percent of the emissions of the 30 Urban
HAP are subject to regulation. EPA
listed the source categories that account
for 90 percent of the Urban HAP
emissions in the Integrated Urban Air
Toxics Strategy.2 Sierra Club sued EPA,
alleging a failure to complete standards
for the area source categories listed
pursuant to CAA sections 112(c)(3) and
(k)(3)(B) within the time frame specified
by the statute. See Sierra Club v.
Johnston, No. 01–1537, (D.D.C.). On
March 31, 2006, the court issued an
order requiring EPA to promulgate
standards under CAA section 112(d) for
those area source categories listed
pursuant to CAA section 112(c)(3).
We added electric arc furnace (EAF)
steelmaking facilities to the Integrated
Urban Air Toxics Strategy Area Source
Category List on June 26, 2002 (67 FR
43112). The inclusion of this source
category on the section 112(c)(3) area
source category list is based on 1990
emissions data, as EPA used 1990 as the
baseline year for that listing. This source
category was listed as contributing a
percentage of the total area source
emissions for the following ‘‘Urban
HAP’’: arsenic, cadmium, chromium,
lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, and
trichloroethylene. We subsequently
discovered that the 1990 emissions data
for trichloroethylene was for a few
specialty EAF facilities that used
trichloroethylene in vapor degreasing.
These emission units at both major and
area sources are already subject to
standards for halogenated solvent
cleaning under 40 CFR part 63, subpart
T. Consequently, we are not proposing
any additional standards for
trichloroethylene from EAF steelmaking
facilities.
Section 112(c)(6) requires EPA to list,
and subject to standards pursuant to
section 112(d)(2) or (d)(4), categories of
sources accounting for not less than 90
percent of emissions of each of seven
specific HAP: alkylated lead
compounds, polycyclic organic matter,
hexachlorobenzene, mercury,
polychlorinated biphenyls, 2,3,7,9tetrachlorodibenzofurans, and 2,3,7,8tetrachloridibenzo-p-dioxin. Congress
targeted these HAP for regulation
because of their persistence and
tendency to bioaccumulate in the
environment. These HAP are also
2 Since its publication in the Integrated Urban Air
Toxics Strategy in 1999, EPA has revised the area
source category list several times.
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associated with adverse health effects
such as nervous system damage and
reproductive effects. We published an
initial list of source categories under
CAA section 112(c)(6) on April 10, 1998
(63 FR 17838). As discussed below in
section III of this preamble, we are
adding EAF steelmaking facilities that
are area sources to this list of source
categories under CAA section 112(c)(6)
solely on the basis of mercury
emissions.
During the development of these
proposed emissions standards, we
discovered two EAF facilities that are
co-located at integrated iron and steel
plants that are major sources, of which
we were previously not aware. We plan
to list EAF steelmaking facilities as
major sources under CAA section 112(c)
and to develop national emission
standards for hazardous air pollutants
(NESHAP) for them based on the
performance of maximum achievable
control technology (MACT). However,
these two major sources are not needed
to fulfill the CAA section 112(c)(6)
requirement to develop standards for
sources accounting for not less than 90
percent of the emissions of mercury so
we are not pursuing such action in this
rulemaking given the severe time
constraints to which this rulemaking is
subject.
B. What criteria did EPA use in
developing this proposed NESHAP?
We are proposing standards for
mercury in response to a court-ordered
deadline that requires promulgation of
standards for listed CAA section
112(c)(6) source categories by December
15, 2007 (Sierra Club v. Johnson, no.
01–1537, D.D.C). The proposed
standards for mercury emissions from
all EAF steelmaking facilities that are
area sources of HAP are consistent with
CAA section 112(c)(6).
The court order in Sierra Club v.
Johnson also requires EPA to issue
standards for 10 source categories that
EPA listed pursuant to CAA section
112(c)(3) and (k)(3)(B) by December 15,
2007. In response to this requirement,
we are proposing standards based on
generally available control technology
(GACT) for the control of the Urban
HAP arsenic, cadmium, chromium,
lead, manganese, and nickel from area
source electric arc furnace steelmaking
facilities. The bases for these standards
are described below.
Under CAA section 112(d)(5), we may
elect to promulgate standards or
requirements for area sources ‘‘which
provide for the use of generally
available control technologies or
management practices by such sources
to reduce emissions of hazardous air
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pollutants.’’ The alternative is to base
standards on performance of MACT
under section 112(d)(2) and (3) as
described below. Additional
information on the definition of
‘‘generally available control technology
or management practices’’ is found in
the Senate report on the 1990
amendments to the CAA (S. Rep. No.
101–228, 101st Cong. 1st sess. 171–172).
That report states that GACT is to
encompass:
* * * methods, practices and techniques
which are commercially available and
appropriate for application by the sources in
the category considering economic impacts
and the technical capabilities of the firms to
operate and maintain the emissions control
systems.
Consistent with this legislative history,
we can and do consider costs and
economic impacts in determining
GACT.
As provided in CAA section 112(d)(5),
EPA is electing to propose standards
under CAA section 112(c)(3) based on
GACT for EAF steelmaking facilities
that are area sources. As stated further
below (see section IV.D.3 of this
preamble), we do not believe that a
choice to base standards for these area
sources on GACT, rather than MACT,
requires justification. However, should
justification be required, we are
proposing standards based on GACT
rather than on MACT because these
facilities are already well controlled for
the metal HAP these sources emit, and
a regulation based on GACT will
appropriately allow us to consider the
costs and economic impacts of more
stringent regulations. See the discussion
of particulate matter (PM) controls in
section IV.D.4 of this preamble. We
believe the consideration of costs and
economic impacts is especially
important for EAF area sources because,
given their current well-controlled
levels, a MACT floor determination
could result in only marginal reductions
in HAP emissions at very high costs for
modest incremental improvement in
control. The consideration of cost is
especially important for the small
businesses that operate small specialty
and stainless steel EAF facilities.
We are proposing standards pursuant
to CAA section 112(d)(2) for mercury
emissions from all EAF steelmaking
facilities that are area sources of HAP.
Standards established under CAA
section 112(d)(2) must reflect
performance of MACT. The MACTbased regulation can be based on the
emissions reductions achievable
through application of measures,
processes, methods, systems, or
techniques including, but not limited to:
(1) Reducing the volume of, or
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eliminating emissions of, such
pollutants through process changes,
substitutions of materials, or other
modifications; (2) enclosing systems or
processes to eliminate emissions; (3)
collecting, capturing, or treating such
pollutants when released from a
process, stack, storage or fugitive
emission point; (4) design, equipment,
work practices, or operational standards
as provided in section 112(h) of the
CAA; or (5) a combination of the above.3
The MACT floor is the minimum
control level allowed for NESHAP and
is defined under CAA section 112(d)(3).
For new sources, MACT standards
cannot be less stringent than the
emission control achieved in practice by
the best-controlled similar source, as
determined by the Administrator. The
MACT standards for existing sources
can be less stringent than standards for
new sources, but they cannot be less
stringent than the average emission
limitation achieved by the best
performing 12 percent of existing
sources in the category or subcategory
(for which the Administrator has
emission information) or the best
performing 5 sources for categories or
subcategories with fewer than 30
sources.
Although emission standards are
often structured in terms of numerical
emissions limits, alternative approaches
are sometimes necessary and are
authorized pursuant to CAA section
112(d)(2). For example, in some cases,
physically measuring emissions from a
source may be not practicable due to
technological and economic limitations.
Sections 112(d)(2)(D) and 112(h) of the
CAA authorize EPA to promulgate a
design, equipment, work practice, or
operational standard, or combination
thereof, consistent with the provisions
of CAA sections 112(d) or (f), in those
cases where it is not feasible to
prescribe or enforce an emission
standard. Under CAA section 112(h)(2),
the phrase ‘‘not feasible to prescribe or
enforce an emission standard’’ includes
situations in which the EPA determines
that the HAP emissions cannot be
emitted through a conveyance designed
and constructed to emit or capture the
emissions or the application of
measurement methodology to a
particular class of sources is not
practicable due to technological and
economic limitations.
We are proposing an emissions
standard for mercury pursuant to CAA
section 112(d)(2)(A) that is based on
pollution prevention measures which
3 Section 112(d)(4) (not relevant here) allows
alternative risk-based standards for HAP which are
threshold pollutants.
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‘‘reduce the volume of, or eliminate
emissions of, such pollutants through
process changes, substitution of
materials, or other modifications.’’ We
describe below why this standard
establishes the MACT floor for mercury
under section 112(d)(3), and further
why we are not proposing beyond-thefloor standards for mercury. We note
first, however, that we do not view
standards requiring (or directly based
upon) pollution prevention to be work
practices under section 112(h). This is
because the statute specifically
differentiates between emission
standards requiring pollution
prevention measures (‘‘measures which
reduce the volume of, or eliminate
emissions of, such [HAP] through * * *
substitution of materials’’) and those
requiring work practices, with only the
latter requiring separate justification
under section 112(h). Compare section
112(d)(2)(A) and (D).4 This is a
reasonable construction, since there is
reason to favor standards requiring use
of pollution prevention measures,
which eliminate HAP emissions
altogether, over standards reflecting
merely the capture of some portion of an
emitted HAP. There is thus no reason to
disfavor pollution prevention-based
standards by allowing their use only if
the section 112(h) criteria are also
satisfied.
However, even assuming, for the sake
of argument, that the proposed pollution
prevention standards for mercury are
considered to be work practices, it is not
feasible to prescribe or enforce an
emissions limit for mercury, within the
meaning of section 112(h). We believe
that continuous emission monitoring
systems (CEMS) for mercury
concentration and volumetric flow rate
would be needed for EAF, because EAF
steelmaking is a batch process, and
mercury emissions vary enormously
from batch to batch as different scrap
sources are processed. Indeed,
emissions have been shown to vary by
two orders of magnitude at a single
plant.5 Cf. Mossville Environmental
Action Now v. EPA, 370 F. 3d 1232,
1240 (D.C. Cir. 2004) (noting that EPA
reasonably declined to establish MACT
floor levels based on single emission
level measurements from batch process
operations because of constant change
in those levels).
We therefore examined the
technological and economic feasibility
of continuous monitoring for mercury
4 Such
a standard is an ‘‘emission standard’’ since
it ‘‘limits the quantity * * * of emissions of air
pollutants on a continuous basis’’. See section
302(k)(definition of ‘‘emission standard’’).
5 See ‘‘Analysis of Mercury Emissions Test Data’’
in Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2004–0083.
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from these sources. We note first that
mercury CEMS are not demonstrated for
EAF, raising a threshold question of
their technical feasibility for all EAF.
Furthermore, most EAF discharge
emissions from positive pressure
baghouses without stacks. Continuous
mercury monitoring would not be
technically feasible for these EAF (i.e.,
stackless EAF), even assuming that
mercury CEMS were otherwise
demonstrated for EAF. This is because
volumetric flow rate and concentration
would need to be determined by CEMS
to measure the mass emission rate of
mercury, and without a stack, it is
nearly impossible to obtain an accurate
measurement of volumetric flow rate or
to obtain representative measurements
of mercury concentration in the
discharged emissions. Indeed, EPA has
previously determined that the use of
continuous opacity monitoring systems
(COMS) was not feasible for positive
pressure baghouses without stacks for
this reason.6, 7
Some EAF do have stacks, and the
limited amount of mercury emissions
data from EAF which EPA has comes
from such sources. These limited test
data were collected using manual test
methods and are therefore not reliable
for determining an EAF’s actual
performance because these short-term
test results are not representative of the
long-term operation of a cyclic batch
process. The results of the different
manual tests (typically 1-hour runs)
show a variability of over two orders of
magnitude within a single source (as
well as across sources) and reinforce the
conclusion that continuous monitoring
would be needed to prescribe and
enforce a numerical emissions limit for
mercury.8 As noted, CEMS are not
demonstrated for these sources. For
these reasons, we do not believe it
technologically practicable to apply
continuous measurement methodology
to even EAFs with stacks.
6 For example, EPA estimated that 70 of 130
electric arc furnaces (EAF) subject to the new
source performance standard (NSPS) were not
required to install continuous opacity monitors
because of the configuration of their baghouse. (See
the EPA fact sheet for the NSPS amendments
available at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t1/
fact_sheets/eaf_npsfs.pdf).
7 Retrofitting such sources with stacks would be
extremely costly for most electric arc furnaces
(EAFs) to the point that it would not be
economically practicable to do so. See ‘‘Estimated
Impacts of Proposed Area Source Standard for
EAF’’ in EPA Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2004–
0083. EPA believes that one takes a source as one
finds it for purposes of applying section 112(h), and
therefore that it is simply not technologically
practicable to apply continuous mercury
monitoring technology to a stackless EAF.
8 See ‘‘Analysis of Mercury Emissions Test Data’’
in EPA Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2004–0083.
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We also examined the possibility of
setting a direct limit on the amount of
mercury entering the EAF and thus
limiting emissions.9 However, the scrap
charged to EAF includes many shapes
and sizes, bundles, discrete pieces, and
various sizes of shredded metal.
Accordingly, there is no way to obtain
representative samples for analysis of
mercury content to develop or enforce a
mercury limit for the scrap. The number
of mercury switches in the scrap (the
predominant source of mercury in the
scrap, and hence to an EAF) also cannot
be determined for the same reasons. In
addition, the switches would not be
recognizable after scrap dealers have
crushed and shredded incoming scrap.
Consequently, we propose that it is not
feasible or practicable to establish a
limit for mercury in the scrap.
The pollution prevention approach
which is the basis for the proposed
MACT standard for mercury is
discussed below in section IV.D.1 of this
preamble.
III. Addition and Revision to Source
Category Lists
Section 112(c)(6) of the CAA requires
us to list categories and subcategories of
sources accounting for not less than 90
percent of the aggregate emissions of
each of seven specific HAP. Since the
publication of the original 1998 CAA
section 112(c)(6) source category list, we
have collected additional data on
mercury emissions in 1990 and
performed another review of
information on the 1990 baseline
emissions inventory that served as the
basis for the listing. In re-evaluating the
baseline inventory, we have determined
that EAF steelmaking facilities emit
mercury and contributed to the 90
percent of the aggregate emissions of
mercury in 1990, and we have updated
our estimates of the 1990 baseline year
to reflect this contribution of mercury
from EAF.10 Consequently, we are
adding EAF steelmaking facilities to the
list of source categories under CAA
section 112(c)(6) on the basis of mercury
emissions.
This notice also announces a revision
to the area source category list
developed under our Integrated Urban
Air Toxics Strategy pursuant to CAA
section 112(c)(3). The revision changes
the name of the listed area source
category, ‘‘Stainless and Nonstainless
Steel Manufacturing Electric Arc
9 However, as explained in section IV.D.1 of this
preamble, the standard we are proposing effectively
establishes such a limit.
10 Additional information on the ‘‘1990 Emissions
Inventory of Section 112(c)(6) Pollutants’’ is
available at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/112c6/
112c6pg.html.
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Furnaces (EAF)’’ to ‘‘Electric Arc
Furnace Steelmaking Facilities.’’ We are
making this revision to clarify that the
source category includes all types of
steel made in EAF, such as stainless
steel, carbon steel, specialty steel, and
other grades and alloys of steel. This is
simply a change in the name of the
source category and does not change the
universe of sources that were the basis
of the original listing notice.
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IV. Proposed NESHAP for EAF
Steelmaking Facilities
A. What area source category is affected
by the proposed NESHAP?
The EAF steelmaking area source
category consists of facilities engaged in
the production of steel using EAF to
melt primarily ferrous scrap to produce
molten steel. The molten steel is refined
by ladle metallurgy processing and
subsequently cast into basic steel shapes
that are further processed in rolling
mills.
The U.S. steel industry produced
about 106 million tons of raw steel in
2006, and approximately 93
‘‘minimills’’ that melt ferrous scrap in
EAF accounted for 57 percent of the
total U.S. production. Critically, for
purposes of the mercury standard
proposed in this rule, the EAF at
minimills produce steel by melting
recycled ferrous scrap. The reason this
is critical is that the mercury emitted by
EAF comes almost exclusively from
automotive scrap, and approximately 50
to 80 percent of this mercury can be
eliminated from the scrap feed by
pollution prevention measures carried
out upstream of the EAF.
The production of steel in minimills
has increased dramatically over the past
30 years. Minimills accounted for 10
percent of the national steel production
in 1970, 30 to 40 percent in the 1980s,
40 to 50 percent in the 1990s, and (as
noted) 57 percent in 2006. The growth
has been attributed in part to an
expansion in the types and quality of
steel products that minimills can
produce, including heavy structurals,
rail, plate, specialty bar, hot rolled, cold
rolled, galvanized, and stainless flat
rolled products.
Most of the steel produced in EAF is
carbon steel used in the manufacture of
construction materials, automobiles,
appliances, and other applications.
Approximately 4 percent (about 2
million tons) is specialty and stainless
steel, which are high value steel
products. The types of steel are defined
by their composition of alloying
elements. Stainless and alloy steels
contain less carbon and zinc and more
chromium, manganese, and nickel than
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carbon steels. Some stainless steel
grades contain 12 to 28 percent
chromium and 4 to 25 percent nickel.
U.S. minimills are the largest
recyclers of metal scrap in the world.
Recycled iron and steel scrap
nationwide in 2004 included 25 percent
‘‘home scrap’’ (from current operations
at the plant), 26 percent ‘‘prompt scrap’’
(from plants manufacturing steel
products), and 49 percent postconsumer scrap. The primary source of
post-consumer scrap is the automobile,
and in 2004, the steel industry recycled
14.2 million tons of iron and steel scrap
from 14 million vehicles.
B. What are the production processes
and emissions sources?
Most EAF are equipped with three
carbon electrodes that are raised or
lowered through the furnace roof. When
the electrodes are retracted, the furnace
roof can be rotated to allow the charge
of scrap steel by an overhead crane.
Electric current that is passed between
the electrodes and through the scrap
generates heat to melt the scrap. The
stages of each production cycle include
charging (loading scrap and other raw
materials into the furnace), melting,
removing slag (a layer of impurities that
forms on top of the molten steel), and
tapping (pouring molten steel into a
ladle). Operating cycles in this batch
process range from 35 to more than 200
minutes; the longer cycle times are
generally used when producing
stainless and specialty steels. After
tapping, the steel is transferred to the
ladle metallurgy facility where it
undergoes additional refining in a ladle
to produce the desired final properties.
After the composition and temperature
are adjusted in the ladle metallurgy
facility, the molten steel is transferred to
the continuous caster, which forms the
steel into semi-finished shapes. The
steel shapes are then processed in
rolling mills to produce the final steel
product.
Emissions from the EAF occur during
charging, melting, and tapping.
Emissions may also occur when the
molten steel is processed at the ladle
metallurgy facility. The type and
volume of emissions of HAP metals are
affected by the quantity and type of
HAP metals in the ferrous scrap being
melted and the addition of certain alloys
(e.g., chromium, manganese, and
nickel). Some HAP metals, such as
manganese, are an inherent and
necessary component of ferrous scrap
and the final steel product. Other HAP
metals, such as mercury, arsenic, and
cadmium, are undesirable elements
introduced with the ferrous scrap. Other
HAP metals, such as chromium and
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nickel, are introduced as alloying
elements and are necessary to produce
stainless and specialty steels.
Capture systems for emissions from
EAF typically include direct-shell
evacuation control (DEC) systems;
canopy hoods, side draft hoods, and
tapping hoods; partial or total
enclosures; scavenger duct systems; and
building evacuation systems. The most
common types of capture systems for
ladle metallurgy are canopy hoods, side
draft hoods, and close fitting hoods.
Nearly all plants duct process and
fugitive emissions to a baghouse. These
capture systems and PM control devices
are highly efficient for the capture and
control of PM and HAP metals that are
in particulate form, including the Urban
HAP arsenic, cadmium, chromium,
lead, manganese, and nickel. However,
mercury emitted from the EAF is in
vapor form and is not controlled by the
PM control devices.
A detailed survey of 27 plants showed
that EAF steelmaking facilities use scrap
specifications, scrap management plans,
and inspections to ensure that charge
materials do not adversely affect the
quality of steel or create dangerous
operating conditions. Common
requirements include testing for
radiation; rejecting scrap containing
sealed containers, hazardous materials,
or explosives; and prohibiting materials
such as lead, copper, oil, grease,
batteries, and refrigerants. Most plants
also require some type of visual
inspection of incoming scrap. These
scrap management procedures also
serve to reduce HAP emissions by
preventing HAP materials and
precursors from entering the EAF and
subsequently being emitted.
C. Summary of the Proposed
Requirements
This section presents a summary of
the requirements of the proposed rule.
Additional details and the rationale for
the proposed requirements are provided
in the following section IV.D of this
preamble.
1. Applicability and Compliance Dates
The proposed NESHAP applies to
each new or existing EAF steelmaking
facility that is an area source of HAP.
We are proposing that the owner or
operator of an existing area source that
does not have to install or modify
emissions control equipment to meet
the opacity limit for fugitive emissions
comply with all applicable rule
requirements no later than six months
after the date of publication of the final
rule in the Federal Register. We are
proposing that the owner or operator of
an existing area source that must install
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or modify emission control equipment
to meet the opacity limit for fugitive
emissions may request a compliance
date for the opacity limit that is no later
than two years after the date of
publication of the final rule in the
Federal Register based on a
demonstration to the satisfaction of the
permitting authority that the additional
time is needed. The owner or operator
of a new affected source would be
required to comply with all applicable
rule requirements by the date of
publication of the final rule in the
Federal Register (if the startup date is
on or before promulgation) or upon
startup (if the startup date is after
promulgation).
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2. Proposed MACT Standards for the
Control of Mercury
The proposed standards for mercury
are based on pollution prevention and
require an EAF owner or operator who
melts scrap from motor vehicles either
to purchase (or otherwise obtain) the
motor vehicle scrap only from scrap
providers participating in an EPAapproved program for the removal of
mercury switches or to fulfill the
alternative requirements described
below. EAF facilities participating in an
approved program must maintain
records identifying each scrap provider
and documenting the scrap provider’s
participation in the EPA-approved
mercury switch removal program. A
proposed compliance option is for the
EAF facility to prepare and operate
pursuant to an EPA-approved sitespecific plan that includes
specifications to the scrap provider that
mercury switches must be removed
from motor vehicle bodies at an
efficiency comparable to that of the
EPA-approved mercury switch removal
program (see below). An equivalent
compliance option is provided for
facilities that do not utilize motor
vehicle scrap that contains mercury
switches.
We expect most facilities that use
motor vehicle scrap will choose to
comply by purchasing motor vehicle
scrap only from scrap providers who
participate in a program for removal of
mercury switches that has been
approved by the Administrator. The
National Vehicle Mercury Switch
Recovery Program (NVMSRP) 11 would
be an approved program under this
proposed standard. Facilities choosing
to use the NVMSRP as a compliance
option would have to assume all of the
11 Additional
details can be found at https://
www.epa.gov/mercury/switch.htm and in section
IV.D.1 of this preamble. In particular, see the signed
Memorandum of Understanding.
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responsibilities for steelmakers as
described in the Memorandum of
Understanding. The NVMSRP is
described in detail in section IV.D.1 of
this preamble.
EAF facilities could also obtain scrap
from scrap providers participating in
other programs. To do so, the facility
owner or operator would have to submit
a request to the Administrator for
approval to comply by purchasing scrap
from scrap providers that are
participating in another switch removal
program and demonstrate to the
Administrator’s satisfaction that the
program meets the following specified
criteria: (1) There is an outreach
program that informs automobile
dismantlers of the need for removal of
mercury switches and provides training
and guidance on switch removal, (2) the
program has a goal for the removal of at
least 80 percent of the mercury
switches, and (3) the program sponsor
must submit annual progress reports on
the number of switches removed and
the estimated number of motor vehicle
bodies processed (from which a
percentage of switches removed is easily
derivable).
EAF facilities that purchase motor
vehicle scrap from scrap providers that
do not participate in an EPA-approved
mercury switch removal program would
have to prepare and operate pursuant to
and in conformance with a site-specific
plan for the removal of mercury
switches. The facility’s scrap
specifications would have to include a
requirement for the removal of mercury
switches, and the plan must include
provisions for obtaining assurance from
scrap providers that mercury switches
have been removed. The plan would be
submitted to the Administrator for
approval and would demonstrate how
the facility will comply with specific
requirements that include: (1) A means
of communicating to scrap purchasers
and scrap providers the need to obtain
or provide motor vehicle scrap from
which mercury switches have been
removed and the need to ensure the
proper disposal of the mercury
switches, (2) provisions for obtaining
assurance from scrap providers that
motor vehicle scrap provided to the
facility meets the scrap specifications,
(3) provisions for periodic inspection,
site visits, or other means of
corroboration to ensure that scrap
providers and dismantlers are
implementing appropriate steps to
minimize the presence of mercury
switches in motor vehicle scrap, (4)
provisions for taking corrective actions
if needed, and (5) requiring each motor
vehicle scrap provider to provide an
estimate of the number of mercury
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switches removed from motor vehicle
scrap sent to the facility during the
previous year and the basis for the
estimate. The Administrator would be
able to request documentation or
additional information from the owner
or operator at any time. The site-specific
plan must establish a goal for the
removal of at least 80 percent of the
mercury switches. All documented and
verifiable mercury-containing
components removed from motor
vehicle scrap would count towards the
80 percent goal.
An equivalent compliance option
would be provided for EAF steelmakers
who do not utilize motor vehicle scrap
that contains mercury. The option
would require the facility to certify that
the only materials they are charging
from motor vehicle scrap are materials
recovered for their specialty alloy, such
as chromium in certain exhaust systems.
Such materials are known not to contain
mercury, and because the specialty
steels must meet stringent product
quality and performance specifications,
automobile scrap with contaminants
such as mercury, lead, zinc, and copper
is not accepted.12
3. Proposed GACT Standards for EAF
and Ladle Metallurgy Operations
We propose that the owner or
operator would be required to install,
operate, and maintain capture systems
for EAF and ladle metallurgy operations
that convey the collected gases and
fumes to a venturi scrubber or baghouse
for the removal of PM. We are proposing
separate emissions limits for new and
existing EAF steelmaking facilities that
produce less than 150,000 tpy of
stainless or specialty steel, and for
larger, non-specialty EAF steelmaking
facilities. The small facilities would be
required to comply with a PM emissions
limit of 0.8 pounds of PM per ton (lb/
ton) of steel for each control device
serving an EAF or ladle metallurgy
operation and an opacity limit of 6
percent for melt shop emissions. All
other EAF steelmaking facilities (both
existing and new) would be required to
meet a PM limit of 0.0052 grains per dry
standard cubic foot (gr/dscf) for
emissions from a control device for an
EAF or ladle metallurgy operation. The
opacity of emissions from melt shops
from these sources would be limited to
6 percent.
Performance tests would be required
for each emissions source to
demonstrate initial compliance with the
12 Letter from Joseph Green, Counsel to the
Specialty Steel Industry of North America, to Steve
Fruh, Environmental Protection Agency.
Information Regarding Specialty Steel Industry
Segment. July 30, 2004.
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PM and opacity limits. Provisions are
included in the proposed rule for
conducting the tests. The owner or
operator of an existing EAF steelmaking
facility would be allowed to certify
initial compliance with the emissions
limits if a previous test was conducted
during the past 5 years using the
methods and procedures in the rule and
either no process changes have been
made since the test, or the owner or
operator can demonstrate that the test
results, with or without adjustments,
reliably demonstrate compliance despite
process changes.
All EAF steelmaking facilities would
be required to obtain a title V permit.
The proposed rule would require each
EAF steelmaking facility to monitor the
capture system, PM control device, and
melt shop; maintain records; and submit
reports according to the compliance
assurance monitoring (CAM)
requirements in 40 CFR part 64. The
existing part 64 rule requires the owner
or operator to establish appropriate
ranges for selected indicators for each
emissions unit (i.e., operating limits)
such that operation within the ranges
will provide a reasonable assurance of
compliance with the emissions
limitations or standards.
The CAM rule requires the owner or
operator to submit certain monitoring
information to the permitting authority
for approval. This information includes:
(1) The indicators to be monitored; (2)
the ranges or designated conditions for
such indicators, or the process by which
such indicator ranges or designated
conditions will be established; (3)
performance criteria for the monitoring;
and if applicable, (4) the indicator
ranges and performance criteria for a
CEMS, COMS, or predictive emissions
monitoring system. The owner or
operator also must submit a justification
for the proposed elements of the
monitoring control device (and process
and capture system, if applicable) and
operating parameter data obtained
during the conduct of the applicable
compliance or performance test.
If monitoring indicates that the unit is
operating outside of the acceptable
range established in its permit, the
owner or operator must return the
operation to within the established
range consistent with 40 CFR 64.7(d).
4. Proposed GACT Standards for Scrap
Management
In addition to meeting PM and
opacity limits reflecting GACT, we are
also proposing that EAF facilities be
required to restrict the use of certain
scrap or follow a pollution prevention
plan for scrap inspection and selection
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that minimizes the amount of specific
contaminants in the scrap.
The proposed requirements are based
on two pollution prevention approaches
depending on the type of scrap that is
used, and a facility may have some
scrap subject to one approach and other
scrap subject to the other approach. One
provision is for scrap that does not
contain certain contaminants and would
simply prohibit the processing of scrap
containing these contaminants
(restricted scrap). Compliance would be
demonstrated by a certification that the
owner or operator will not process scrap
with the contaminants. This scrap
management approach is expected to be
most useful to stainless and specialty
steel producers with stringent scrap
specifications that do not permit the use
of motor vehicle scrap and scrap
containing free organic liquids. The
other approach for scrap that may
contain certain contaminants is more
prescriptive and requires a pollution
prevention plan, scrap specifications,
and procedures for determining that
these requirements are met. This
pollution prevention approach was
developed primarily for carbon steel
producers that accept motor vehicle
scrap and many other types of ferrous
scrap.
Under the restricted scrap provision,
the plant owner or operator would agree
to restrict the use of certain scrap,
including metallic scrap from motor
vehicle bodies, engine blocks, oil filters,
oily turnings, machine shop borings,
transformers and capacitors containing
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), leadcontaining components, chlorinated
plastics, or free organic liquids. The
restriction on lead-containing
components would not apply to the
production of leaded steel (where lead
is obviously needed for production).
The other proposed scrap
management provision would require
the plant owner or operator to prepare
a pollution prevention plan for metallic
scrap selection and inspection to
minimize the amount of chlorinated
plastics, lead (except for the production
of leaded steel), and free organic liquids.
This plan would be submitted to the
Administrator for approval. The owner
or operator would be required to keep
a copy of the plan onsite and train plant
personnel with materials acquisition or
inspection duties in the plan’s
requirements.
The plan would include
specifications for scrap materials to be
depleted (to the extent practicable) of
lead-containing components (except for
the production of leaded steel),
undrained used oil filters, chlorinated
plastics, and free organic liquids. The
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plan would also contain procedures for
determining if these requirements are
met (e.g., visual inspection or periodic
audits of scrap suppliers) and
procedures for taking corrective actions
with vendors whose shipments are not
within specifications.
5. Proposed Requirements for
Recordkeeping and Reporting
Area sources subject to the proposed
requirements for EAF and ladle
metallurgy operations would be subject
to the recordkeeping and reporting
requirements of the part 64 CAM rule.
The general recordkeeping requirements
of the part 64 rule directs the owner or
operator to comply with the
recordkeeping requirements for title V
operating permits in 40 CFR
70.6(a)(3)(ii), which require records of
analyses, measurements, and sampling
data. The part 64 rule also requires the
owner or operator to maintain records of
monitoring data, monitor performance
data, corrective actions taken, any
written quality improvement plan (QIP),
any activities undertaken to implement
a QIP, and other supporting information
required by the part 64 rule (such as
data used to document the adequacy of
monitoring, or records of monitoring
maintenance or corrective actions).
The general reporting requirements of
part 64 require the owner or operator to
submit monitoring reports to the
permitting authority in accordance with
the requirements for facilities with title
V operating permits. The title V
reporting requirements in 40 CFR
70.6(c)(1) and 40 CFR 71.6(c)(1) include
a 6-month monitoring report, deviation
reports, and annual compliance
certifications. The reporting
requirements under part 64 requires that
the 6-month monitoring report include:
(1) Summary information on the
number, duration and cause (including
unknown cause, if applicable) of
excursions or exceedances, as
applicable, and the corrective actions
taken; (2) summary information on the
number, duration and cause (including
unknown cause, if applicable) for
monitor downtime incidents (other than
downtime associated with zero and
span or other daily calibration checks, if
applicable); and (3) a description of the
actions taken to implement a QIP during
the reporting period. Upon completion
of a QIP, the owner or operator must
include in the next summary report
documentation that the implementation
of the plan has been completed and
reduced the likelihood of similar levels
of excursions or exceedances occurring.
All EAF steelmaking facilities subject
to this proposed NESHAP would also be
subject to certain specified requirements
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of the NESHAP general provisions (40
CFR part 63, subpart A). The general
provisions include requirements for
initial notifications; startup, shutdown,
and malfunction records and reports;
recordkeeping; and semiannual excess
emissions and monitoring system
performance reports. The information
required in these records and reports is
similar to the information required by
the CAM rule (40 CFR part 64) and the
operating permits rules (40 CFR parts 70
and 71).
The proposed NESHAP also includes
specific recordkeeping and reporting
requirements for area source facilities
subject to requirements for control of
contaminants from scrap. The area
source facilities would be required to
keep records to demonstrate compliance
with the requirements for their
pollution prevention plan for
minimizing the amount of chlorinated
plastics, lead, and free organic liquids
charged to a furnace or for the use of
only restricted scrap and the sitespecific plan for mercury or any of the
mercury compliance options.
As noted above, facilities subject to
the site-specific plan for mercury would
be required to keep records and submit
semiannual reports on the number of
mercury switches removed by the scrap
provider or the weight of mercury
recovered from those switches, an
estimate of the percent of mercury
switches recovered, and certification
that the recovered mercury switches
were managed at RCRA-permitted
facilities. In contrast, facilities
participating in an EPA-approved
program for switch removal must keep
records that identify their scrap
providers and document that they
participate in an approved switch
removal program. As discussed in more
detail in section IV.D.1 of this preamble,
we are proposing to require more
extensive records for a site-specific plan
than for an approved program because
extensive recordkeeping, reporting, and
measurement of success are already
required for approval of such a removal
program, the NVMSRP being the prime
example.
All facilities subject to the
requirements for the control of
contaminants from scrap would be
required to submit semiannual reports
according to the requirements in
§ 63.10(e) of the general provisions. The
report would identify any deviation
from the rule requirements and the
corrective action taken.
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D. What is our rationale for the
proposed MACT and GACT standards?
1. Proposed MACT Standard for
Mercury
Background. Mercury enters the EAF
steelmaking process almost exclusively
with the ferrous scrap that is charged to
the furnace. A few other materials are
charged to the EAF in small quantities
(e.g., coke, coal, lime); however, they
contribute little mercury because they
are used in very small quantities relative
to the scrap charge and contain virtually
no mercury in any case. The major
source of mercury in ferrous scrap is
convenience light switches in end-oflife vehicles that contain 0.8 grams (g)
to 1.2 g of mercury per switch. These
switches (called mercury switches or tilt
switches) control lights under the hoods
and in the trunks of older model
vehicles. The Ecology Center estimated
that the vehicles retired in 2003
contained 8.5 million switches and 9.3
tons of mercury. Pilot studies in New
Jersey and Michigan reported 0.54 to 0.8
mercury switches per vehicle processed.
For 14 million vehicles recycled in
2004, the number of switches thus
would be in the range of 7.6 to 11
million. Although mercury switches
were phased out of automobiles in 2002,
there is a 10 to 15 year supply of
existing vehicles destined for recycling
that still contain the switches. There are
other components in automobile scrap
which contain small amounts of
mercury, such as anti-lock braking
sensors, security systems, and active
ride control systems. However, most of
the mercury is contributed by
convenience light switches, which are
estimated to be the source of 87 percent
of the mercury in motor vehicle scrap by
the Ecology Center.13
We have very limited data on the
mercury species emitted from EAFs;
however, the limited data indicate that
over 99 percent of the mercury
emissions are in the gaseous form, and
about 93 percent of the gaseous mercury
is elemental mercury. Although
baghouses are highly efficient at
removing HAP metals that are in the
particulate phase, the baghouses do not
control gaseous or vapor phase mercury
and thus (for practical purposes) do not
control mercury emissions from EAFs.
No EAFs use add-on controls for
gaseous mercury emissions.
The limited test data show extreme
variability (orders of magnitude) in
mercury emissions from plant to plant
and from the same plant over time as
13 The Ecology Center report and other
information cited for mercury switches is available
in EPA Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2004–0083.
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different batches of scrap are melted.
The limited sampling results of input
materials likewise indicate that the
mercury content of scrap typically
varies widely.14
We also examined scrap
specifications that may be in use to
reduce mercury emissions. Three
companies reported in their survey
responses that their scrap specifications
prohibited mercury-containing
components. However, there was no
measure of effectiveness of the written
specification.
Over the past few years, there has
been an increasing awareness that a
highly effective way of reducing
mercury releases to the environment
from scrap using entities like EAFs is to
remove mercury switches from end-oflife vehicles prior to crushing,
shredding, and melting. Numerous
interested parties have been involved at
the local, State, and national level in the
development and implementation of
switch removal programs, including
local and State environmental agencies,
national and local environmental
groups, steel recyclers, steel producers,
automobile makers, various EPA offices,
and others. Many successful State and
local switch removal programs are
already in place, and more are expected
in the future.
Several State programs for mercury
switch removal have been implemented,
and there are many different variations.
Some programs are mandated by law,
and others are voluntary. Some offer
financial incentives provided by
different stakeholders, some specify
financial incentives to be provided by
automobile makers, and some have no
financial incentives. Some have a strict
accounting of switches removed and
requirements for proper collection,
management, and disposal of the
switches.
There have been direct measurements
of the mercury emission reductions that
can be achieved at minimills by switch
removal programs. For example, a pilot
program administered by the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection
reported a reduction of 50 percent in
mercury emissions when the EAF
melted scrap that had been processed in
a switch removal program.15 We also
identified one minimill in Minnesota
that had implemented a mercury switch
removal program that included removal
prior to processing in their on-site
shredder and a system for paying other
14 See ‘‘Analysis of Mercury Emissions Test Data’’
in Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2004–0083.
15 ‘‘Mercury Switch Data Collection Pilot
Project.’’ Prepared by K.L. Woodruff. New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection. March 24,
2004.
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scrap suppliers to remove switches.
This program has resulted in a
quantifiable reduction in environmental
releases of mercury. These two studies
confirm that a national mercury switch
removal program for end-of-life vehicles
will reduce mercury emissions.
Switch removal programs reduce
mercury releases to all media. Switch
removal reduces mercury releases to air,
water, and land when automobiles are
crushed and shredded prior to delivery
to the minimills. Mercury
contamination of auto shred residue
(plastics, fabrics, and other unwanted
materials in the automobile) is reduced
making safer the further management of
the material. The switches themselves
are isolated and managed in RCRA
subtitle C hazardous waste management
facilities where they are subject to
stringent regulatory control. As a result
of the mercury switch removal
programs, mercury emissions are
reduced at all facilities which use the
scrap as raw material, including not
only EAFs but integrated iron and steel
plants and iron and steel foundries.
Finally, mercury emissions are reduced
from scrap that is exported and melted
in furnaces in other countries.
The National Vehicle Mercury Switch
Recovery Program (NVMSRP).16 A
significant step forward in reducing
mercury emissions was made on August
11, 2006 when a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) was signed by
representatives of the steel industry,
automobile makers, scrap recyclers,
environmental groups, State and local
agencies, and EPA.17 The MOU
established the NVMSRP, and this
program has been implemented and is
already removing and recovering
mercury switches from end-of-life
vehicles before the metallic scrap is
recycled at EAFs (and other steelproducing entities).
The NVMSRP is the result of a twoyear collaborative effort involving EPA,
the End of Life Vehicle Solutions
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16 This
section describes the national switch
recovery program in detail. As discussed in the
following sections of this preamble, the proposed
rule does not codify these details as part of the
proposed standard for mercury emissions. The
proposed rule requires the owner or operator to: (1)
Certify they are participants in the national program
and that scrap is purchased only from scrap
providers participating in such a national program,
(2) maintain records documenting such
participation, and (3) submit semiannual reports if
there are any deviations from the requirements.
However, the proposed rule also allows an owner
or operator to comply with the proposed rule if they
can demonstrate that they are participating in a
program that is equivalent to the national program
and is of demonstrably equal effectiveness.
17 Additional details and the signed
Memorandum of Understanding can be found at
https://www.epa.gov/mercury/switch.htm.
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Corporation (ELVS),18 the American
Iron and Steel Institute, the Steel
Manufacturers Association, the Institute
of Scrap Recycling Industries, the
Automotive Recyclers Association,
Environmental Defense, the Ecology
Center (Ann Arbor), and representatives
of the Environmental Council of the
States. The goal of the NVMSRP is to
significantly reduce air emissions of
mercury from steelmaking facilities that
utilize auto shred by substantially
reducing the number of mercurycontaining switches in scrap
automobiles before they are crushed and
shredded for recycling. This is being
accomplished through education and
outreach for those removing switches;
removal, collection and management of
switches; transport of the switches to a
qualified retorter that has the permits
that allow for managing the switches
under RCRA subtitle C; recordkeeping
and accountability of mercury recovery;
scrap selection and corroboration; and
review and improvement of the
NVMSRP. The vehicle manufacturers
and steelmakers have created a threeyear, $4 million dollar implementation
fund in support of the program. The
fund will support the implementation of
the NMSRP through incentive payments
to those entities recovering (i.e. pulling)
the switches. Performance will be
assessed on a regular basis by all of the
participating parties.
Finally, the MOU contains a provision
providing that the agreement may
terminate with the consent of the parties
based on the phase out of automobiles
containing mercury switches. A
potential termination date mentioned in
the MOU is December 31, 2017, a date
when it is projected that 90 percent of
vehicles containing mercury switches
will be retired.19 EPA believes that any
issues raised by this potential ‘‘sunset’’
provision are best addressed when EPA
reexamines the MACT standard
pursuant to section 112(d)(6) (which
must occur no later than 2015). At that
18 ELVS is a non-profit corporation established by
several motor vehicle manufacturers who are listed
at https://www.elvsolutions.org/about.htm.
19 The MOU states ‘‘The NVMSRP will be
implemented until December 31, 2017 based on
estimates that 90% of the vehicles containing
mercury switches would be retired by that time. If,
before that date, based on Program data and other
information, the Parties or their designees
determine that the number of remaining Mercury
Switches no longer constitutes a significant source
of mercury, they may determine that the program
should end. In such a case, the Parties may
terminate this MOU through written notice to all
signatories and Participants. If the Parties or their
designees determine that the number of mercury
switches is still significant after that date, they may
extend the Program. If the Program is extended, the
Parties and U.S. EPA may continue this MOU
through written mutual consent of all parties and
U.S. EPA.’’
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time, there will be robust information
available as to switch removal rates and
rate of fleet retirement.
The NVMSRP was designed to
harmonize with existing State programs
and to be implemented State-by-State by
the participants, in consultation with
appropriate State agencies, in the
remaining States to form a coordinated
national program. The NVMSRP has
shown success in just a few months
following the MOU. As of July 9, 2007,
programs were operational in 45 States,
and 5,633 participants have collected
more than 575,841 mercury switches
with 1,267 pounds of mercury.
Programs are expected to be
implemented in all of the remaining
States in 2007.
Proposed MACT floor determination.
More than 12 percent of the EAF
steelmaking facilities are participants in
this national program and have been
participants in previous State and local
programs. We believe that these
operations pursuant to the national
program represent the best performers
and best performance for mercury—the
chief source of mercury in emissions is
being removed from feedstock—so that
the MACT floor for new and existing
EAF steelmaking facilities is for the
owner or operator to operate pursuant to
such a program; i.e., to obtain scrap only
from scrap providers that are first
removing mercury switches pursuant to
the national program or an equivalent
program of demonstrably equal
effectiveness.20 We are also proposing
that a switch removal program is the
MACT floor for new sources because the
best-controlled similar source is among
those that prevent mercury switches
from entering with the scrap.
We examined the features of the
NVMSRP and other switch removal
programs to identify those features that
would be the necessary components of
a national emission standard to ensure
that the program would be effective at
reducing mercury emissions. These
features include assurance that each
20 We estimate that the mercury switch removal
program will reduce mercury emissions to below 90
mg Hg/ton of steel produced (based on two State
pilot program studies showing approximately 50
percent reduction from switch removal and average
baseline mercury emissions of 180 mg Hg/ton),
which results in an estimated reduction of 5 tpy of
mercury. For perspective, 90 mg/ton of steel
corresponds to a trace mercury level of 0.1 ppm in
the steel scrap or the equivalent of about one
mercury switch (one gram or 1,000 mg of mercury)
per 10 tons of steel scrap (about one switch per ten
end-of-life vehicles at one ton of steel per vehicle).
In contrast, we estimate that the MACT floor based
on our limited mercury emissions test data, which
comes from a time when switch removal
agreements were not in place, would be 650 mg Hg/
ton of steel. Additional details are provided in
‘‘Analysis of Mercury Emissions Test Data’’ in
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2004–0083.
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facility is participating in a switch
removal program that has been
approved by the Administrator, a
program goal for the percent of switches
removed (80 percent), a system that
accounts for the number of switches (or
quantity of mercury) removed and the
number of vehicle bodies processed, a
mechanism to ensure the switches are
properly disposed of or recycled, and an
outreach program that informs
dismantlers of the need for removal of
mercury switches and provides training
and guidance for removal. The national
program has these features, and we are
proposing that these features represent
the MACT floor for mercury for new and
existing sources because this is the
mercury control approach that is being
used by the best-performing sources.
The national program also has a
mechanism to measure performance
because the number of switches and
amount of mercury recovered is
reported by State, and from an estimate
of the number of vehicles processed, the
progress toward the goal of 80 percent
removal can be determined. The MOU
also includes ongoing measures to track
and measure progress. For example, the
parties will assess development and
implementation of State plans and
identification and participation of
program participants at three-month
intervals for the first year following the
effective date of the MOU. At six-month
intervals thereafter, the parties will
collectively review by State the status of
implementation and participation in the
program and make adjustments as
necessary. The indicators to be reviewed
will include the status of plans for 50State implementation, number of States
where the program has been initiated,
the status of Web-based information on
the NVMSRP, the status of identification
of dismantlers and dismantler
participation in all States (starting with
those States targeted for initial
implementation), and the status of the
mercury recovery database and rate of
information collection.
The parties to the MOU expect that in
the first three years of the program,
capture rates will be ramping up due to
the realities of program implementation
and will not fully achieve the 80 to 90
percent switch recovery rate goal. It is
expected that a minimum of four
million mercury switches will be
recovered during the first three years of
the program in addition to the mercury
being recovered by existing State
programs. The parties agreed to make
every effort to exceed this amount
through aggressive implementation of
the responsibilities detailed in this
agreement.
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One year following the effective date
of the MOU and each year thereafter, the
parties or their designees and EPA
agreed to meet to review the
effectiveness of the program at the State
level based upon recovery and capture
rates. The parties to the agreement
agreed to use the results to improve the
performance of the program and to
explore implementation of a range of
options in that effort. Two and one-half
years from the inception of the program,
the parties agreed to meet and review
overall program effectiveness and
performance. This review will include
discussion of the number of switches
that have been collected and what
factors have contributed to program
effectiveness.
A key element of measuring the
success of the program is maintaining a
database of participants that has
detailed contact information,
documentation showing when the
participant joined the program (or
started submitting mercury switches),
records of all submissions by the
participant including date, number of
mercury switches, and confirmation that
the participant has submitted mercury
switches as expected. Another
important element is aggregated
information to be updated on a quarterly
basis, including progress reports,
summaries of the number of program
participants by State, individual
program participants, and State and
national recovery totals. The program is
also estimating the number of motor
vehicles recycled. The NVMSRP will
issue reports quarterly during the first
year of the program, every six months in
the second and third year of the
program, and annually thereafter. The
reports prepared by ELVS will include
the total number of dismantlers or other
potential participants identified; the
total number of dismantlers or others
contacted; and the total number of
dismantlers or others participating. The
annual report will include the total
mercury (in pounds) and number of
mercury switches recovered nationwide;
the total pounds of mercury, number of
mercury switches, and an estimated
national capture rate, with information
organized by State, compared with the
expected range of mercury switch
retirement rates for each State; and the
total number and identity of dismantlers
or others dropped due to inactivity or
withdrawal from the program.
Facilities choosing to use the
NVMSRP to comply with this proposed
standard would have to assume all of
the responsibilities for steelmakers as
described in the MOU and take steps
consistent with the NVMSRP to
minimize the presence of mercury in
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53823
scrap from end-of-life vehicles.
Participating steelmakers were to
initiate the following steps when the
NVMSRP went into effect:
• Issue a statement that the
individual steel company is
participating in the NVMSRP.
• Acting independently, develop a
plan demonstrating the manner through
which it is participating in the
NVMSRP. The plan should include
facility-specific implementation
elements, corporate-wide policies, and/
or efforts coordinated by a trade
association as appropriate for each
facility.
• Provide in the plan documentation
of direction to appropriate staff to
communicate to suppliers the need to
promote the NVMSRP with suppliers
throughout the scrap supply chain. The
steel mill should be able to provide
examples of materials that it uses for
outreach to suppliers, such as letters,
contract language, policies for
purchasing agents, and scrap inspection
protocols.
• Strongly encourage their suppliers
and others in the scrap supply chain to
support and participate in the NVMSRP.
• Take steps to minimize the
presence of mercury in scrap, which
includes notifying suppliers that the
steelmaker, acting independently
pursuant to the NVMSRP, intends to use
in their operations, to the maximum
extent possible, scrap from vehicles
which do not contain mercury switches
or from which mercury switches have
been removed and to adapt their
respective purchasing practices to that
end.
• Use the ELVS database or other
appropriate means to demonstrate that
suppliers (spot suppliers and those
under continuous contracts) are
participating as anticipated in the
NVMSRP and periodically re-affirm
their commitment to provide only
reduced-mercury automobile scrap.
Steelmakers will conduct occasional
spot checks, site visits or other means of
corroboration to ensure that suppliers
are aware of the need and are
implementing appropriate steps to
minimize the presence of mercury in
automobile scrap.
• Cooperate with ELVS in the
development of education, training
materials, and outreach where
appropriate.
• Work with the Institute of Scrap
Recycling Industries to assure that any
scrap work practice standards or other
programs that may be implemented in
accordance with the NVMSRP take into
account market and technological
factors and do not create unreasonable
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or unworkable certification
requirements for scrap processors.
We propose that the Administrator
can evaluate the success of the program
at any time, identify States where
improvements might be needed,
recommend options for improving the
program in a particular State, and if
necessary, disapprove the program as
implemented in a State from being used
to demonstrate compliance with this
proposed rule based on an assessment of
this performance. The evaluation would
be based on progress reports submitted
to the Administrator that provide the
number of mercury switches removed,
the estimated number of vehicles
processed, and percent of mercury
switches recovered. The Administrator
will assess the information with respect
to the program’s goal for percent switch
recovery and trends in recovery rates.
Although the national program would
be an EPA-approved program for the
purpose of complying with the
proposed MACT standard, other State,
local, or facility-specific programs could
qualify as a compliance option on a
case-by-case basis if they met the same
criteria. Consequently, we also are
proposing as the MACT floor
participation in these other programs
after satisfying criteria based on the
national program, i.e., showing that
these other programs would assure the
same level of mercury control that the
national program utilized by the best
existing performers achieves, that would
be used by the Administrator to
determine if other switch removal
programs could be used to demonstrate
compliance.
For example, we are proposing that a
facility could prepare and operate
pursuant to a site-specific plan for the
removal of mercury switches and
establish scrap specifications for the
removal of mercury switches to achieve
the MACT level of control (i.e., control
as effective as the national plan). The
plan would be submitted to the
Administrator for approval and would
demonstrate how the EAF steelmaking
facility will comply with the following
specific requirements: (1) A means of
communicating to scrap purchasers and
scrap providers the need to obtain or
provide motor vehicle scrap from which
mercury switches have been removed
and the need to ensure the proper
management of the removed mercury
switches, (2) provisions for obtaining
assurance from scrap providers that
motor vehicle scrap provided to the EAF
meets the scrap specifications, (3)
provisions for periodic inspection, site
visits, or other means of corroboration
for the EAF to ensure that scrap
providers and dismantlers are
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implementing appropriate steps to
minimize the presence of mercury
switches in motor vehicle scrap, (4) a
goal for the removal of at least 80
percent of the mercury switches, (5)
provisions for taking corrective actions
if needed, and (6) requiring each motor
vehicle scrap provider to provide an
estimate of the number of mercury
switches removed from motor vehicle
scrap sent to the facility during the
previous year and the basis for the
estimate. The Administrator would be
able to request documentation or
additional information and change the
approval status of the plan at any time
based on a review of progress toward
meeting the switch removal goal and
other factors.
We developed an equivalent
compliance option (also based on
pollution prevention) for steelmakers
who do not purchase motor vehicle
scrap that contains mercury switches.
The compliance option would require
the facility to certify that the only
materials from motor vehicle scrap are
materials recovered for their specialty
alloy, such as chromium in certain
exhaust systems, and that the type of
scrap is not reasonably expected to
contain mercury switches.
Proposed beyond-the-floor
determination. As a beyond-the-floor
option, we considered the upstream
removal of mercury-containing
components other than mercury
switches. There is no practical or
reasonable way to remove trace amounts
of mercury entering with raw materials
(such as fluxing agents and alloys) other
than scrap. Although there are other
components in automobile scrap
containing small amounts of mercury
(see the earlier discussion above), pilot
studies by various States have found
that most of the mercury is contributed
by the mercury switches, which take
only a few minutes to locate and
remove. (See the reports of switch
removal studies in Maine, New Jersey,
and Michigan in the rulemaking
docket.) Other mercury-containing
components contribute less mercury,
and they are more difficult to locate,
identify, and remove. For example, the
mercury switch study performed by the
New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection found that
convenience light switches could be
located and removed in less than one
minute. However, the time to remove
and locate switches in anti-lock braking
systems (ABS) required 7 to 8 minutes
to locate, remove the rear seat, unbolt
the unit, and remove it. In some cases,
no ABS mercury switches were found.
Some vehicles had to be raised on lifts,
which required 10 to 15 minutes to
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locate and remove the ABS switch. In
other cases, the ABS mercury bullet
could not be removed separately
because it was encased in a plastic resin
material. Since the removal of these
other mercury-containing components is
costly and not practical in many cases,
we have initially determined that the
removal of these other mercurycontaining components is not justified
as a beyond-the-floor standard.
However, we propose to encourage their
removal by crediting all documented
and verifiable mercury-containing
components removed from motor
vehicle scrap (such as sensors in ABS
systems, security systems, active ride
control, and other applications) when
evaluating progress towards the 80
percent goal.
We also examined the feasibility and
cost of an add-on control device for
mercury and continuous emissions
monitoring as a beyond-the-floor option
for mercury for existing and new
sources. Activated carbon injection has
been used on other somewhat similar
processes (i.e., similar with respect to
temperature and volumetric flow rate);
however, it has never been used at EAF
facilities, and thus is not a demonstrated
mercury control technology for EAF
facilities. The nationwide cost of
activated carbon injection and
monitoring on EAFs is estimated as
$100 million/yr. The mercury
reductions are estimated as about 5 tpy
after implementation of the national
mercury switch recovery program.
Assuming that activated carbon
injection could be applied to EAFs and
would reduce the remaining mercury
emissions by 90 percent (4.5 tpy), the
cost effectiveness would be $22 million
per ton of mercury. This cost does not
include the further high cost of waste
treatment and disposal noted in the next
paragraph.
We also considered other factors: (1)
The EAF batch process has highly
variable concentrations of mercury in
the exhaust gases (which results in a
great deal of uncertainty with respect to
cost, design, and efficiency of an add-on
control system), (2) carbon injection
could result in landfilling large
quantities of hazardous EAF dust (since
the carbon injection residue is
commingled with other baghouse dust)
that is currently recycled to recover its
zinc value (see American Petroleum
Inst. v. EPA, 906 F. 2d 729, 734, 740–
41 (D.C. Cir. 1990) and 53 FR 11752–
11753, August 17, 1988) because the
mercury would either be re-emitted at
the zinc smelter (in which case there
would effectively be no further
reduction of mercury emissions) or the
baghouse dust which is otherwise
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recyclable would have to be treated and
disposed in a RCRA subtitle C landfill
(a non-air adverse environmental impact
we are required to consider under
section 112(d)(2)) at a significant cost,
and (3) the operation of a carbon
injection (or any type of mercury
emissions control device) would result
in increased energy consumption
(another adverse impact we are required
to consider under section 112(d)(2)).
Based on the fact that activated
carbon injection is not a demonstrated
mercury control technology for EAF
facilities, the uncertainty in design and
performance of the add-on controls and
hence of the actual mercury emission
reductions for EAF facilities, the cost
impacts per ton of emission reduction,
and the adverse energy and solid waste
impacts, we determined that control
beyond the floor is not warranted for
mercury. Therefore, we are proposing
that the removal of mercury switches
from the scrap before it is melted in the
EAF represents MACT for mercury for
new and existing EAF facilities.
2. Proposed GACT Standards for Metal
HAP Other Than Mercury
Background. EAF steelmaking
facilities were listed under CAA section
112(c)(3) for emissions of the Urban
HAP arsenic, cadmium, chromium,
lead, manganese, mercury, and nickel
(67 FR 43112). As just explained in
section IV.D.2 of this preamble, we are
proposing a MACT standard for mercury
based on its listing under CAA section
112(c)(6). For metal HAP other than
mercury, we decided that it is not
practical to establish individual
standards for each specific type of
metallic HAP that could be present in
the emissions (e.g., separate standards
for manganese emissions, lead
emissions, and so forth for each of the
metals listed as HAP that may be
present) because the types and
quantities of metal HAP can vary widely
in the scrap. When released, each of the
metallic HAP compounds other than
mercury behaves as PM. The control
technologies used for the control of PM
emissions achieve comparable levels of
performance for these metallic HAP
emissions, i.e., when PM is captured,
HAP metals are captured nonpreferentially as part of the PM.
Therefore, emission standards requiring
control of PM will also achieve
comparable control of metallic HAP
emissions. Establishing separate
standards for each individual type of
metallic HAP would impose costly and
significantly more complex compliance
and monitoring requirements and
achieve no HAP emissions reductions
beyond what would be achieved using
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the surrogate pollutant approach based
on capture and control of PM.
As provided in CAA section 112(d)(5),
we are proposing standards representing
GACT for the Urban HAP metals other
than mercury. EPA believes that the
statute allows the agency to elect to
establish standards for area sources
listed pursuant to section 112(c) based
on GACT without further explanation.
The statute simply does not set any
condition precedent for issuing
standards under section 112(d)(5) other
than that the area source category or
subcategory at issue must be one that
EPA listed pursuant to section 112(c),
which is the case here. See 72 FR 38880
(July 16, 2007).
We reviewed the control technologies
and management practices used by the
existing EAF steelmaking facilities, and
we found that all of the plants are well
controlled for PM emissions and are
subject to emissions limits for PM. All
plants have capture systems that collect
emissions from charging, melting,
tapping and ladle metallurgy and route
the collected gases to a PM control
device. All plants have title V permits
because they are major sources for
criteria pollutants (hence the standards
proposed today would be implemented
via title V permits). In addition, all
plants are subject to the CAM
requirements in 40 CFR part 64.
There are a wide variety of capture
systems and types of control devices
that EAFs employ to achieve control of
PM, and all of these systems are
effective and generally available. For
example, capture systems include
direct-shell evacuation, canopy hoods,
close-fitting hoods, side draft hoods,
tapping hoods, partial enclosures, total
enclosures, scavenger duct systems,
building evacuation, or a combination.
Control devices include many different
types of baghouses (positive pressure,
negative pressure, reverse air, shaker,
and pulse jet) and venturi scrubbers. We
concluded from our technology review
that the generally available control
technologies and management practices
for PM emissions, and thus for
emissions of HAP metals other than
mercury, consist of the installation,
operation, and maintenance of capture
and control systems for PM emissions
from charging, melting, tapping, and
ladle metallurgy. Compliance assurance
monitoring under 40 CFR part 64 is
required for EAF facilities to ensure that
the capture and control systems are
properly installed, operated, and
maintained on a continuing basis.
Subcategories. As part of the GACT
analysis, we considered whether there
were differences in processes, sizes, or
other factors affecting emissions and
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53825
control technologies that would warrant
subcategorization. Under section
112(d)(1) of the CAA, EPA ‘‘may
distinguish among classes, types, and
sizes within a source category or
subcategory in establishing such
standards * * *’’. We found that there
is a segment of the EAF steelmaking
industry that is comprised of small
facilities producing specialty and
stainless steel. These facilities produce
less than 150,000 tpy of steel per plant,
and they represent 0.5 percent of the
national steelmaking capacity and
contribute only 0.5 percent of the HAP
emissions.21 The EAF process at these
small producers is characterized by
small furnaces with low volume of
emissions, longer cycle times, and
intermittent rather than continuous
operation. In addition, they use high
quality scrap that must meet
specifications much more stringent than
those applied to scrap for carbon steel
producers. The HAP metals emitted
from these facilities are primarily
chromium and nickel, whereas carbon
steel producers emit primarily
manganese and lead. Consequently, we
are proposing to develop GACT
standards for two subcategories of EAF
steelmaking: one for all carbon steel and
large stainless and specialty steel
producers and one for small stainless
and specialty steel producers (i.e., less
than 150,000 tpy).
Proposed GACT determination for
carbon steel and large specialty steel
producers. We examined emission
limits in title V permits to determine if
GACT for the carbon steel and large
specialty steel producers could be
expressed in terms of PM emission
limits for control devices and opacity
limits for fugitive emissions from the
melt shop. The emission and opacity
limits vary quite widely depending on
whether the facility is in a nonattainment area for PM; whether the
EAF had recently been constructed,
modified, or reconstructed; EAF age;
design of the capture and control
system; and other factors. (Details on the
permit information are provided in the
rulemaking docket in the questionnaire
responses for each company that was
surveyed.) The most commonly-applied
emissions and opacity limits are those
in the new source performance standard
(NSPS) in 40 CFR part 60, subpart AAa,
which applies to EAFs constructed after
August 7, 1983. Approximately 80 of the
91 EAF steelmaking area source
facilities that we have identified are
subject to the NSPS. These limits are
21 Additional details on the characteristics of the
small specialty steel plants can be found in the
rulemaking docket.
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0.0052 gr/dscf for the control device and
a melt shop opacity limit of 6 percent
(6-minute average) for fugitive
emissions.
We gathered additional information
on the 10 older EAFs in the carbon steel
and large specialty steel subcategory
that are not subject to the NSPS and
found that four facilities are currently
meeting the NSPS limits and six
facilities are not meeting the NSPS
opacity limit for fugitive emissions. We
found that the facilities not meeting the
NSPS opacity limit would require either
new or extensively upgraded capture
and control equipment to achieve the
level of control required for the newer
facilities subject to the NSPS. We
confirmed that these facilities would
need higher evacuation rates for their
capture systems and new or expanded
baghouse capacity. We obtained cost
estimates from the plants, and we
performed our own independent
estimates of the cost to upgrade capture
and control systems. The total
nationwide capital cost to upgrade to
meet the NSPS limit for opacity was
estimated as $26 to $34 million.22 The
total annualized cost was estimated as
$4.9 to $6.2 million per year
nationwide. PM emissions would be
reduced by 540 tpy, and HAP metals
other than mercury would be reduced
by 34 tpy. The average cost effectiveness
per plant ranged from $2,000 to $14,000
per ton of PM with an overall cost
effectiveness of $10,000 per ton of PM.
For metal HAP other than mercury, the
average cost effectiveness per plant
ranged from $40,000 to $250,000 per ton
with an overall cost effectiveness of
$160,000 per ton of HAP. The cost
effectiveness for PM is well within the
range that EPA has considered
acceptable for other sources, such as PM
standards for mobile sources. For
example, the cost effectiveness of
mobile source programs adopting (quite
aggressive) PM controls has ranged from
$2,390 per ton of PM to $31,530 per ton
of PM with estimates for three mobile
source programs in the range of $10,000
to $20,000 per ton of PM (69 FR 39133,
June 29, 2004).23
22 The capital cost per plant ranged from $1.5
million to $12 million, and the total annualized cost
per plant ranged from $140,000 to $2.8 million per
year. All estimates of impacts (e.g., costs and
emission reductions) are documented in the
rulemaking docket.
23 We note that, although section 112(d) only
authorizes control of hazardous air pollutants
(HAP), and particulate matter (PM) is not itself a
HAP but a surrogate for HAP metals, Congress
expected the maximum achievable control
technology (MACT) program to result in significant
emissions reductions of criteria air pollutants (of
which PM is one), and viewed this as an important
benefit of the MACT (and residual risk) provisions.
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Our economic analysis indicated the
facilities are owned and operated by
large corporations, and all but one of
these corporations operate multiple
plants with EAFs. We believe that the
costs of upgrades to meet the NSPS level
of control for opacity are economical
and would not pose adverse economic
impacts on the companies. After
considering the economic impacts, the
reasonable costs and cost effectiveness
for control of PM and HAP, and the
emissions reductions that would be
obtained, we have determined initially
that an opacity limit of 6 percent
represented the GACT level of control
for this subcategory of carbon steel and
large stainless and specialty steel
producers.
We acknowledge that there is
uncertainty in our estimates of costs,
emission reductions, and cost
effectiveness. The estimates of costs and
cost effectiveness for the older nonNSPS plants could be higher than we
have initially estimated, and if that is
the case and these costs are
disproportionately different from those
of other sources, it might be appropriate
to consider a separate subcategory based
on the technical and economic
feasibility (i.e., facilities constructed
prior to 1983 may need to add or alter
existing infrastructure, upgrade their
hooding, close vents, install partitions,
or re-route crane ways) of retrofitting
facilities based on their age.24 If
subcategorization on this basis is
appropriate, we believe that GACT for
these older facilities would achieve an
opacity limit of 6 percent except for 20
percent opacity during charging and
tapping. This alternative standard
would yield an improvement in existing
performance at reasonable cost. We
request comment, along with supporting
documentation, on our estimates of cost
and cost effectiveness and the
See 5 Legislative History at 8512 (Senate Committee
Report) (‘‘[w]hen establishing technology-based
standards under this subsection, the Administrator
may consider the benefits which result from control
of air pollutants that are not listed but the emissions
of which are, nevertheless, reduced by control
technologies or practices necessary to meet the
prescribed limitation’’)
24 See Texas Oil and Gas Ass’n v. EPA, 161 F.3d
923, 934 (5th Cir. 1998) (age as subcategorization
factor under Clean Water Act); American Iron and
Steel Inst. v. EPA, 568 F. 2d 244, 299 (3rd Cir. 1977)
(same). Here, the year 1983 is critical since EPA
promulgated new source performance standards
(NSPS) for the electric arc furnace (EAF) source
category in that year. Most of the industry is subject
to these standards, but 10 EAFs are not, raising the
question of whether these sources should be
considered as a separate subcategory for purposes
of determining generally available control
technology (GACT). See Cf. American Iron and
Steel Inst. v. EPA, 526 F. 2d 1046, 1048 (3rd Cir.
1975) (age of source may bear on technical and
economic feasibility of retrofitting).
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possibility of creating a separate
subcategory for older facilities and
whether these costs are
disproportionately different from those
of other industry sources. Supporting
documentation must be provided in
sufficient detail to allow
characterization of the quality and
representativeness of the data.
We also evaluated the generally
available controls and emission limits
applied to emissions from control
devices on EAFs and ladle metallurgy
operations. A total of 80 plants are
subject to and achieve the NSPS PM
limit of 0.0052 gr/dscf, and the other 10
plants not subject to the NSPS have
installed baghouses that can achieve the
limit. Consequently, we are also
proposing that the PM limit of 0.0052
gr/dscf is GACT for control devices
applied to EAFs and ladle metallurgy
operations.
We also considered whether
additional control and emission
reductions might be generally available
beyond those achieved by the NSPS.
The NSPS opacity limit of 6 percent is
one of the most stringent Federal limits
in effect for fugitive emissions and is
well below the most commonly applied
limit of 20 percent for fugitive emissions
in State regulations. The NSPS opacity
limit was based on the best-performing
plants in terms of their ability to capture
and control fugitive emissions. A limit
more stringent than 6 percent opacity
for fugitive emissions has not been
applied to EAFs or other similar
processes, and any limit more stringent
would approach an infeasible standard
of no visible emissions. Consequently,
we concluded that an opacity limit of 6
percent is GACT for fugitive emissions
from EAF operations.
We also considered whether a PM
limit more stringent than the NSPS limit
of 0.0052 gr/dscf might be achieved by
all facilities using the technology
described above. Although the NSPS is
20 years old, it was based on the best
technology and best-performing sources
at that time. The NSPS level of control
is achieved by a well-designed and
properly-operated baghouse with a low
air-to-cloth ratio that is characteristic of
baghouses in use today, and generally
reflected testing of the baghouses when
performing at their optimum. For
example, essentially the same level of
PM control (a limit of 0.005 gr/dscf) was
promulgated as the MACT standard for
EAFs and induction furnaces at iron and
steel foundries, which melt similar
scrap and have similar operating
characteristics (69 FR 21924, April 22,
2004). An upgrade of existing baghouses
(e.g., increasing bag filtering area to
lower the air-to-cloth ratio) would result
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in expensive retrofit costs for a very
marginal improvement in PM control.
Consequently, we are proposing that the
NSPS PM limit of 0.0052 gr/dscf is
GACT for control devices applied to
EAFs and ladle metallurgy.
Proposed GACT determination for
small stainless and specialty steel
producers. We also examined the
control technologies used by the small
stainless and specialty steel producers
with a production of less than 150,000
tpy. We identified five plants in this
subcategory, and all of these plants
apply capture systems for emissions
from charging, melting, tapping, and
ladle metallurgy (i.e., the direct, nonfugitive PM emissions) and vent the
captured emissions to a PM control
device. Most plants use baghouses as
the PM control device and meet the
NSPS limit; however, one plant uses a
venturi scrubber as the control device
and meets a PM emission level of 0.8 lb/
ton of steel produced. We performed an
analysis of costs and cost effectiveness
to determine if the GACT level of
emission control for this subcategory
should be represented by the
performance of a baghouse at the NSPS
level of control, the level achieved by
the venturi scrubber, or some other
level. The estimated capital cost to
replace the venturi scrubber with a
baghouse ranged from $4 to $14 million
(depending on retrofit assumptions and
their costs) with a total annualized cost
of $0.7 to $2 million per year. PM
emissions would be reduced by 27 tpy,
and emissions of HAP metals other than
mercury would be reduced by 4.6 tpy.
The estimated cost effectiveness was
$52,000 per ton of PM and $300,000 per
ton of HAP. We believe that the costs
and cost effectiveness are unacceptably
high and that the emission reductions
achieved would be low (resulting in
poor cost effectiveness (which is
certainly higher than those considered
acceptable in the context just discussed
of fugitive emission control for EAFs).
We concluded that the NSPS level of
PM control (0.0052 gr/dscf) does not
represent GACT for this subcategory.
Consequently, we reviewed the
emission control performance of the
plant with the venturi scrubber. The
results of four tests for PM emissions
ranged from 0.4 to 0.7 lb/ton of steel
with an average of 0.5 lb/ton and a
standard deviation of 0.11 lb/ton. The
99th percentile of performance (the
average plus 2.33 standard deviations) is
0.8 lb/ton. (The 99th percentile is the
level of emission control that the plant
can achieve at least 99 percent of the
time, i.e., 99 percent of the test results
would be below this level.) See National
Wildlife Federation v. EPA, 286 F.3d
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554, 572 (D.C. Cir. 2002)
(reasonableness of adopting 99th
percentile confidence level); Chemical
Mfr’s. Ass’n v. EPA, 870 F.2d, 229 (5th
Cir.) (same). We are proposing a PM
emission limit of 0.8 lb/ton of steel
produced for this source category of
small stainless and specialty steel
producers based on the 99th percentile
of emission control performance
demonstrated by the venturi scrubber.
We also examined the control of
fugitive emissions at the small stainless
and specialty steel producers. All of the
plants have effective capture and
control systems for fugitive emissions.
Although two plants are not subject to
the NSPS opacity limit of 6 percent for
fugitive emissions, these plants and all
other plants in the subcategory can meet
the NSPS limit. Consequently, we have
initially determined that the NSPS limit
of 6 percent for fugitive emissions from
the melt shop represented GACT. As we
discussed above, the NSPS opacity limit
of 6 percent is one of the most stringent
limits in effect for fugitive emissions
and is well below the most commonly
applied limit of 20 percent for fugitive
emissions in State regulations. The
NSPS opacity limit was based on the
best performing plants in terms of their
ability to capture and control fugitive
emissions. Consequently, we initially
concluded that an opacity limit more
stringent than 6 percent for this
subcategory is not warranted and would
not represent GACT.
Proposed compliance monitoring. We
are proposing compliance assurance
monitoring as required by 40 CFR part
64 for all EAF steelmaking facilities.
This proposal is based on a review of
the compliance monitoring procedures
that are currently in place at EAF
facilities and are generally available. All
EAF facilities have title V permits and
are subject to the CAM requirements.
The CAM rule requires the owner or
operator to maintain records of
monitoring data, monitor performance
data, corrective actions taken, any
written QIP, any activities undertaken to
implement a QIP, and other supporting
information required by the part 64 rule
(such as data used to document the
adequacy of monitoring, or records of
monitoring maintenance or corrective
actions). The general reporting
requirements of part 64 requires the
owner or operator to submit monitoring
reports to the permitting authority in
accordance with the requirements for
facilities with title V operating permits,
which include a 6-month monitoring
report, deviation reports, and annual
compliance certifications. The reporting
requirements under part 64 require that
the 6-month monitoring report include:
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53827
(1) Summary information on the
number, duration and cause (including
unknown cause, if applicable) of
excursions or exceedances, as
applicable, and the corrective actions
taken; (2) summary information on the
number, duration and cause (including
unknown cause, if applicable) for
monitor downtime incidents (other than
downtime associated with zero and
span or other daily calibration checks, if
applicable); and (3) a description of the
actions taken to implement a QIP during
the reporting period. Upon completion
of a QIP, the owner or operator must
include in the next summary report
documentation that the implementation
of the plan has been completed and
reduced the likelihood of similar levels
of excursions or exceedances occurring.
We are proposing to adopt the extensive
compliance assurance monitoring
requirements in part 64 in this proposed
NESHAP for EAF steelmaking facilities.
3. Proposed GACT Standards for Scrap
to Control HAP Other Than Mercury
In addition to the standards for PM,
EPA is proposing further measures to
minimize the amount of contamination
in scrap to EAFs. Our studies of
industry practices indicate that many
facilities have scrap specifications and
procedures to minimize contaminants in
the scrap. For example, emissions of the
Urban HAP lead are reduced by
ensuring that lead components, such as
wheel weights, batteries, and cables, are
removed before the scrap is processed
and melted (loosely analogous to the
mercury switch program discussed for
mercury in that the HAP is removed
from the scrap before it reaches the
EAF). Although EAFs were not listed for
emissions of organic Urban HAP, it is
also common industry practice to limit
the amount of plastics and organic
liquids in the scrap, which reduces the
emissions of organic HAP. Unlike
mercury, bulky items such as batteries
and cables, as well as dripping liquids,
can often be visually detected in a scrap
load. Consequently, we are proposing
pollution prevention measures as GACT
for lead and organic HAP. These
pollution prevention measures reduce
emissions beyond those achieved by the
emission controls that are already in
place. For example, all EAFs have PM
control devices, which also control lead
emissions; however, preventing lead
from entering the EAF provides
additional reductions even with PM
controls. Similarly, some organic HAP
are destroyed at the high temperatures
used to melt scrap, but preventing
plastics and organic liquids from
entering with the scrap provides
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reductions beyond that achieved by this
thermal destruction.
Our survey of EAF plants indicated
that all of the plants have specifications
for their scrap, including measures that
reduce HAP emissions by preventing
certain materials from entering the EAF
with the scrap. For example, some
specify no non-ferrous metals, no nonmetallic materials, no free-flowing oil,
etc. Excluding organic materials (such
as plastics and oil) and metals such as
lead will reduce HAP emissions, and in
the case of organics, also reduce the
formation of combustion-product
organic HAP at the high operating
temperatures of the EAF.
It is difficult to quantify specific
emissions reductions achieved by these
scrap management programs. First,
nearly all plants implement some sort of
formal or informal scrap management
program (to maintain product quality),
so it is difficult to assess what the
baseline emissions might be without
one. Second, these scrap management
programs are used in conjunction with
other air emissions control technologies
to reduce emissions from the EAF. The
emissions reductions specifically
attributable to the scrap management
program are impossible to separate out.
Nonetheless, it is clear that any
reduction in HAP content or HAP
precursors entering the EAF will reduce
the emissions of HAP metals and
organics from the EAF.
While a scrap management program is
expected to reduce HAP emissions, it
cannot be expected to eliminate all HAP
elements or precursors in the scrap.
First, scrap loads are generally large and
difficult to inspect. A load of scrap may
contain thousands of different pieces,
and some scrap may be shredded and
bundled. Visual inspections are only
able to identify obvious off-specification
materials that are on the top of a load.
Second, some of the HAP elements are
desirable components in the scrap iron
and steel that contribute to the overall
chemistry of the product and provide
valuable properties in the cast metal
(e.g., manganese and chromium.) Third,
even undesirable HAP metals cannot be
eliminated from the cast iron and steel
as they are trace components in the
scrap iron and steel that cannot be
separated. For example, all cast iron
contains trace amounts of lead (typically
0.5 to 4 percent). As such, a load of
scrap meeting a ‘‘no lead’’ scrap
specification does not mean that the
scrap is lead-free—only that the scrap is
free of lead components (e.g., batteries
or wheel weights).
We have determined that the
management practice of limiting the
amount of organic impurities and lead
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in the scrap represents GACT (along
with the emission controls described in
the previous section of this preamble)
because they are in widespread use,
there is little additional cost for all
plants to implement them (most already
have), and there is no doubt that
preventing these materials from entering
the EAF will reduce emissions of the
HAP which would otherwise be charged
to the furnace. (A summary of the
proposed scrap management practices is
provided in section IV.C.4 of this
preamble.)
V. Impacts of the Proposed Standards
As proposed, the standards would
reduce mercury emissions from EAF by
an estimated 5 tons per year (tpy) and
would reduce mercury releases to the
environment by 8 tpy. The proposed
standards would also reduce emissions
of other metallic HAP (primarily
manganese with some lead, nickel and
chromium) by about 34 tpy. Emissions
of PM would be reduced by 540 tpy.
The capital cost of the proposed
standards is estimated as $26 to $34
million. The total annualized cost of the
proposed rule is estimated at $4.9 to
$6.2 million/yr, including the
annualized cost of capital and the
annual operating costs for emission
control systems. The additional cost of
monitoring, reporting, and
recordkeeping attributable to the
proposed rule, including the
preparation of scrap management plans
and scrap specifications, is estimated as
$122,000 per year. No adverse economic
impacts are expected for large or small
entities. Secondary impacts would
include an increase in the generation of
hazardous waste (540 tpy) and an
increase in electricity usage (10,400
megawatt-hours per year) from
additional fans and fan capacity
associated with baghouse installations
and upgrades to meet the proposed
opacity standard. (All estimates of
primary and secondary impacts are
documented in the rulemaking docket.)
VI. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
Planning and Review
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR
51735, October 4, 1993), this action is a
‘‘significant regulatory action’’ because
it may raise novel legal or policy issues.
Accordingly, EPA submitted this action
to OMB for review under Executive
Order 12866, and any changes made in
response to OMB recommendations
have been documented in the docket for
this action.
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B. Paperwork Reduction Act
The information collection
requirements in the proposed rule have
been submitted for approval to OMB
under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq. The Information
Collection Request (ICR) document
prepared by EPA has been assigned EPA
ICR No. 2277.02.
The proposed information
requirements are based on notification,
recordkeeping, and reporting
requirements in the NESHAP General
Provisions (40 CFR part 63, subpart A),
which are mandatory for all operators
subject to national emission standards,
and the recordkeeping and reporting
requirements in the part 64 CAM rule,
which are based on the requirements in
the operating permits rule (40 CFR parts
70 and 71). These recordkeeping and
reporting requirements are specifically
authorized by section 114 of the CAA
(42 U.S.C. 7414). All information
submitted to EPA pursuant to the
recordkeeping and reporting
requirements for which a claim of
confidentiality is made is safeguarded
according to Agency policies set forth in
40 CFR part 2, subpart B.
The proposed rule requires all
facilities to submit a one-time
notification of applicability and
notification of compliance status
required by the NESHAP general
provisions (40 CFR part 63, subpart A).
The notification of compliance status
would include compliance certifications
for various rule requirements. The
general provisions also require
preparation of a test plan for
performance tests and advance
notification of the date the performance
test is to be conducted.
The proposed requirements for the
control of contaminants from scrap
require a pollution prevention plan to
minimize the amount of chlorinated
plastics, lead, and free organic liquids
that are charged to the furnace and
submit the plan to the Administrator for
approval. Facilities must keep the plan
onsite and train certain employees in
the plan’s requirements. Alternatively,
the facility must restrict the type of
scrap charged to the furnace. For
mercury, facilities must prepare a sitespecific plan for removal of mercury
switches, submit the plan to the
Administrator for approval, and submit
semiannual progress reports containing
information on the mercury switches
that have been removed would also be
required. Alternatively, facilities must
purchase motor vehicle scrap only from
suppliers that participate in an
approved program for the removal of
mercury switches or recover only
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material for its specialty alloy content
that does not contain mercury switches.
Facilities would be required to maintain
records to demonstrate compliance with
the selected option. Records of specific
information would be required for
plants electing to comply with the sitespecific plan for mercury; semiannual
progress reports would also be required.
All area source facilities would be
required to conduct performance tests to
demonstrate initial compliance with the
applicable PM and opacity limits.
Existing facilities would be allowed to
certify initial compliance based on the
results of a previous performance test
that meets the rule requirements. All
facilities would be required to monitor
capture systems and PM control devices
for EAF and ladle metallurgy
operations, maintain records, and
submit reports according to the part 64
CAM requirements. These reports
include deviation reports, semiannual
monitoring reports, and annual
compliance certifications.
Consistent with § 63.6(e) of the
general provisions, all plants would be
required to prepare and operate by a
startup, shutdown, and malfunction
plan, and make an immediate report if
a startup, shutdown, or malfunction was
not consistent with their plan. Plants
also would keep records and make
semiannual reports according to the
requirements in § 63.10.
The annual average monitoring,
reporting, and recordkeeping burden for
this collection (averaged over the first 3
years of this ICR) is estimated to total
2,393 labor hours per year at a cost of
$121,573. This includes 2.7 responses
per year from each of 91 respondents for
an average of about 9.7 hours per
response. There are no additional
capital/startup costs or operation and
maintenance costs associated with the
proposed rule.
Burden means the total time, effort, or
financial resources expended by persons
to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose
or provide information to or for a
Federal agency. This includes the time
needed to review instructions; develop,
acquire, install, and utilize technology
and systems for the purposes of
collecting, validating, and verifying
information, processing and
maintaining information, and disclosing
and providing information; adjust the
existing ways to comply with any
previously applicable instructions and
requirements; train personnel to be able
to respond to a collection of
information; search data sources;
complete and review the collection of
information; and transmit or otherwise
disclose the information.
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An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to,
respond to a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number. The OMB control
numbers for EPA’s regulations in 40
CFR part 63 are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
To comment on the Agency’s need for
this information, the accuracy of the
provided burden estimates, and any
suggested methods for minimizing
respondent burden, including the use of
automated collection techniques, EPA
has established a public docket for the
proposed rule, which includes this ICR,
under Docket ID number EPA–HQ–
OAR–2004–0083. Submit any comments
related to the ICR for the proposed rule
to EPA and OMB. See the ADDRESSES
section at the beginning of this notice
for where to submit comments to EPA.
Send comments to OMB at the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget, 725
17th Street, NW., Washington, DC
20503, Attention: Desk Office for EPA.
Because OMB is required to make a
decision concerning the ICR between 30
and 60 days after September 20, 2007,
a comment to OMB is best assured of
having its full effect if OMB receives it
by October 22, 2007. The final rule will
respond to any OMB or public
comments on the information collection
requirements contained in the proposal.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act
generally requires an agency to prepare
a regulatory flexibility analysis of any
rule subject to notice and comment
rulemaking requirements under the
Administrative Procedure Act or any
other statute unless the agency certifies
that the rule would not have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
Small entities include small businesses,
small not-for-profit enterprises, and
small governmental jurisdictions.
For the purposes of assessing the
impacts of this proposed rule on small
entities, small entity is defined as: (1) A
small business that meets the Small
Business Administration size standards
for small businesses at 13 CFR 121.201
(whose parent company has fewer than
1,000 employees for NAICS code
331111; (2) a small governmental
jurisdiction that is a government of a
city, county, town, school district, or
special district with a population of less
than 50,000; and (3) a small
organization that is any not-for-profit
enterprise which is independently
owned and operated and is not
dominant in its field. We estimate that
fewer than 9 EAF steelmaking facilities
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53829
are owned by small businesses (less
than 10 percent of the total facilities).
After considering the economic
impacts of this proposed rule on small
entities, I certify that this action will not
have a significant economic impact on
a substantial number of small entities.
Electric arc furnaces and ladle
metallurgy operations at all EAF
steelmaking facilities that are area
sources are already equipped with
capture systems and control devices. We
have identified six plants that may have
to upgrade the capture and control
systems for fugitive emissions at a total
capital cost of $26 to $34 million and a
total annualized cost of $4.9 to $6.2
million per year. However, none of
these plants are owned by small
businesses. The only other additional
requirements of the proposed NESHAP
consist of preparing a scrap selection
plan or mercury switch removal plan (if
these options are selected) and
maintaining records to document
compliance with these requirements.
The requirements of the part 63 General
Provisions would include notifications,
records, semiannual reports, and a
startup, shutdown, and malfunction
plan. The information required in these
information collection requirements are
very similar to the information
collection requirements in 40 CFR parts
64, 70, and 71. The cost of these
requirements (about $3,500 per year per
facility) would not result in an adverse
economic impact on any facility, large
or small (i.e., the cost is less than one
percent of total revenues, even for small
businesses).
Although the proposed rule will not
have a significant economic impact on
a substantial number of small entities,
we nonetheless tried to reduce the
impact of the proposed rule on small
entities. We held meetings with
industry trade associations and
company representatives to discuss the
proposed rule and have included
provisions such as the lb/ton limit for
small facilities that address their
concerns. We have also proposed to
include a subcategory based partially on
facility size that allows more
individualized consideration of EAFs in
the proposed subcategory, which
include small businesses. We continue
to be interested in the potential impacts
of the proposed action on small entities
and welcome comments on issues
related to such impacts.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public
Law 104–4, establishes requirements for
Federal agencies to assess the effects of
their regulatory actions on State, local,
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and tribal governments and the private
sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA,
EPA generally must prepare a written
statement, including a cost-benefit
analysis, for proposed and final rules
with ‘‘Federal mandates’’ that may
result in expenditures by State, local,
and tribal governments, in the aggregate,
or to the private sector, of $100 million
or more in any 1 year. Before
promulgating an EPA rule for which a
written statement is needed, section 205
of the UMRA generally requires EPA to
identify and consider a reasonable
number of regulatory alternatives and
adopt the least costly, most costeffective, or least burdensome
alternative that achieves the objectives
of the rule. The provisions of section
205 do not apply when they are
inconsistent with applicable law.
Moreover, section 205 allows EPA to
adopt an alternative other than the least
costly, most cost-effective, or least
burdensome alternative if the
Administrator publishes with the final
rule an explanation why that alternative
was not adopted. Before EPA establishes
any regulatory requirements that may
significantly or uniquely affect small
governments, including tribal
governments, it must have developed
under section 203 of the UMRA a small
government agency plan. The plan must
provide for notifying potentially
affected small governments, enabling
officials of affected small governments
to have meaningful and timely input in
the development of EPA regulatory
proposals with significant Federal
intergovernmental mandates, and
informing, educating, and advising
small governments on compliance with
the regulatory requirements.
The EPA has determined that the
proposed rule does not contain a
Federal mandate that may result in
expenditures of $100 million or more
for State, local, and tribal governments,
in the aggregate, or to the private sector
in any one year. Thus, the proposed rule
is not subject to the requirements of
sections 202 and 205 of the UMRA. In
addition, the proposed rule does not
significantly or uniquely affect small
governments. The proposed rule
contains no requirements that apply to
such governments and impose no
obligations upon them, and the
proposed rule is not subject to section
203 of the UMRA.
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255,
August 10, 1999) requires EPA to
develop an accountable process to
ensure ‘‘meaningful and timely input by
State and local officials in the
development of regulatory policies that
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have federalism implications.’’ ‘‘Policies
that have federalism implications’’ are
defined in the Executive Order to
include regulations that have
‘‘substantial direct effects on the States,
on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government.’’
The proposed rule does not have
federalism implications. It would not
have substantial direct effects on the
States, on the relationship between the
national government and the States, or
on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government, as specified in
Executive Order 13132. The proposed
rule does not impose any requirements
on State and local governments. Thus,
Executive Order 13132 does not apply
to the proposed rule.
In the spirit of Executive Order 13132,
and consistent with EPA policy to
promote communications between EPA
and State and local officials, EPA
specifically solicits comments on this
proposed rule from State and local
officials.
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,
November 6, 2000), requires EPA to
develop an accountable process to
ensure ‘‘meaningful and timely input by
tribal officials in the development of
regulatory policies that have tribal
implications.’’ The proposed rule does
not have tribal implications, as specified
in Executive Order 13175. It would not
have substantial direct effects on tribal
governments, on the relationship
between the Federal government and
Indian tribes, or on the distribution of
power and responsibilities between the
Federal government and Indian tribes,
as specified in Executive Order 13175.
The proposed rule imposes no
requirements on tribal governments.
Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not
apply to the proposed rule.
EPA specifically solicits additional
comment on this proposed rule from
tribal officials.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
and Safety Risks
Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885,
April 23, 1997) applies to any rule that:
(1) Is determined to be ‘‘economically
significant,’’ as defined under Executive
Order 12866, and (2) concerns an
environmental health or safety risk that
EPA has reason to believe may have a
disproportionate effect on children. If
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the regulatory action meets both criteria,
EPA must evaluate the environmental
health or safety effects of the planned
rule on children, and explain why the
planned regulation is preferable to other
potentially effective and reasonably
feasible alternatives considered by the
Agency.
EPA interprets Executive Order 13045
as applying only to those regulatory
actions that are based on health or safety
risks, such that the analysis required
under section 5–501 of the Executive
Order has the potential to influence the
regulation. The proposed rule is not
subject to the Executive Order because
it is based on technology performance
and not on health or safety risks.
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
This proposed rule is not a
‘‘significant energy action’’ as defined in
Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use’’ (66 FR 28355, May
22, 2001) because it is not likely to have
a significant adverse effect on the
supply, distribution, or use of energy.
Further, we have concluded that the
proposed rule is not likely to have any
adverse energy effects because only a
slight increase in energy requirements
would occur.
I. National Technology Transfer
Advancement Act
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act (NTTAA) of 1995 (Public Law No.
104–113, 15 U.S.C. 272 note) directs
EPA to use voluntary consensus
standards (VCS) in its regulatory
activities, unless to do so would be
inconsistent with applicable law or
otherwise impractical. The VCS are
technical standards (e.g., materials
specifications, test methods, sampling
procedures, and business practices) that
are developed or adopted by VCS
bodies. The NTTAA directs EPA to
provide Congress, through OMB,
explanations when the Agency does not
use available and applicable VCS.
This proposed rule involves technical
standards. EPA is proposing to use EPA
Methods 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2F, 2G,
3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 5D, and 9 in 40 CFR part
60, appendix A; EPA Method 9095B,
‘‘Paint Filter Liquids Test,’’ in ‘‘Test
Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste,
Physical/Chemical Methods,’’ EPA
Publication SW–846, revision 2 and
subsequent revisions, dated November
2004 and in Update IIIB (incorporated
by reference in 63.10692—see 40 CFR
63.14); and ASTM D2216–05 and
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subsequent revisions, ‘‘Standard Test
Methods for Laboratory Determination
of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and
Rock by Mass’’, incorporated by
reference approved for § 63.10692.
Consistent with the NTTAA, EPA
conducted searches to identify VCS in
addition to these EPA methods. No
applicable VCS were identified for EPA
Methods 1A, 2A, 2D, 2F, 2G, 5D, 9,
9095B, or ASTM D2216–05. The search
and review results are in the docket for
these proposed rules.
One voluntary consensus standard
was identified as applicable to this
proposed rule. The standard ASME PTC
19.10–1981, ‘‘Flue and Exhaust Gas
Analyses,’’ is cited in this proposed rule
for its manual method for measuring the
oxygen, carbon dioxide, and carbon
monoxide content of the exhaust gas.
This part of ASME PTC 19.10–1981 is
an acceptable alternative to EPA Method
3B.
The search for emissions
measurement procedures identified 12
other VCS. The EPA determined that
these 12 standards identified for
measuring emissions of the HAP or
surrogates subject to emissions
standards in this proposed rule were
impractical alternatives to EPA test
methods. Therefore, EPA does not
intend to adopt these standards for this
purpose. The reasons for the
determinations for the 12 methods are
discussed in a memorandum included
in the docket for this proposed rule.
For the methods required or
referenced by this proposed rule, a
source may apply to EPA for permission
to use alternative test methods or
alternative monitoring requirements in
place of any required testing methods,
performance specifications, or
procedures under § 63.7(f) and § 63.8(f)
of subpart A of the General Provisions.
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal
Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and
Low-Income Populations
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629,
February 16, 1994) establishes Federal
executive policy on environmental
justice. Its main provision directs
Federal agencies, to the greatest extent
practicable and permitted by law, to
make environmental justice part of their
mission by identifying and addressing,
as appropriate, disproportionately high
and adverse human health or
environmental effects of their programs,
policies, and activities on minority
populations and low-income
populations in the United States.
EPA has determined that this
proposed rule will not have
disproportionately high and adverse
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human health or environmental effects
on minority or low-income populations
because it increases the level of
environmental protection for all affected
populations without having any
disproportionately high and adverse
human health or environmental effects
on any population, including any
minority or low-income population.
This proposed rule establishes national
standards for the area source category.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 63
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Hazardous
substances, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: September 12, 2007.
Stephen L. Johnson,
Administrator.
For the reasons stated in the
preamble, title 40, chapter I, part 63 of
the Code of Federal Regulations is
proposed to be amended as follows:
PART 63—[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 63
continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart A—[AMENDED]
2. Section 63.14 is amended as
follows:
a. By adding paragraph (b)(63);
b. By revising paragraph (i)(1); and
c. By adding paragraph (k)(1)(iv).
§ 63.14
Incorporations by reference.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(63) ASTM D2216–05 and subsequent
revisions, ‘‘Standard Test Methods for
Laboratory Determination of Water
(Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by
Mass’’, IBR approved for § 63.10692.
*
*
*
*
*
(i) * * *
(1) ANSI/ASME PTC 19.10–1981,
‘‘Flue and Exhaust Gas Analyses [Part
10, Instruments and Apparatus],’’ IBR
approved for §§ 63.309(k)(1)(iii),
63.865(b), 63.3166(a)(3),
63.3360(e)(1)(iii), 63.3545(a)(3),
63.3555(a)(3), 63.4166(a)(3),
63.4362(a)(3), 63.4766(a)(3),
63.4965(a)(3), 63.5160(d)(1)(iii),
63.9307(c)(2), 63.9323(a)(3), 63.10702,
63.11148(e)(3)(iii), 63.11155(e)(3),
63.11162(f)(3)(iii) and (f)(4),
63.11163(g)(1)(iii) and (g)(2),
63.11410(j)(1)(iii, and Table 5 to subpart
DDDDD of this part.
*
*
*
*
*
(k) * * *
(1) * * *
(iv) Method 9095B, ‘‘Paint Filter
Liquids Test,’’ (revision 2 and
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subsequent revisions), dated November
2004 and in Update IIIB, IBR approved
for § 63.10692.
*
*
*
*
*
3. Part 63 is amended by adding
subpart YYYYY to read as follows:
Subpart YYYYY—National Emission
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for
Area Sources: Electric Arc Furnace
Steelmaking Facilities
Applicability and Compliance Dates
Sec.
63.10680 Am I subject to this subpart?
63.10681 What are my compliance dates?
Standards and Compliance Requirements
63.10685 What are the requirements for the
control of contaminants from scrap?
63.10686 What are the requirements for
electric arc furnaces and ladle metallurgy
operations?
Other Requirements and Information
63.10690 What parts of the General
Provisions apply to me?
63.10691 Who implements and enforces
this subpart?
63.10692 What definitions apply to this
subpart?
Tables to Subpart YYYYY of Part 63
Table 1 to Subpart YYYYY of Part 63—
Applicability of General Provisions to
Subpart YYYYY
Subpart YYYYY—National Emission
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
for Area Sources: Electric Arc Furnace
Steelmaking Facilities
Applicability and Compliance Dates
§ 63.10680
Am I subject to this subpart?
(a) You are subject to this subpart if
you own or operate an electric arc
furnace (EAF) steelmaking facility that
is an area source of hazardous air
pollutant (HAP) emissions.
(b) This subpart applies to each new
or existing affected source. The affected
source is each EAF steelmaking facility.
(1) An affected source is existing if
you commenced construction or
reconstruction of the affected source on
or before September 20, 2007.
(2) An affected source is new if you
commenced construction or
reconstruction of the affected source
after September 20, 2007.
(c) This subpart does not apply to
research and development facilities, as
defined in section 112(c)(7) of the Clean
Air Act (CAA).
(d) If you own or operate an area
source subject to this subpart, you must
obtain a permit under 40 CFR part 70 or
40 CFR part 71.
§ 63.10681
dates?
What are my compliance
(a) Except as provided in paragraph
(b) of this section, if you own or operate
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an existing affected source, you must
achieve compliance with the applicable
provisions of this subpart by no later
than 6 months after the date of
publication of the final rule in the
Federal Register.
(b) If you own or operate an existing
affected source, you must achieve
compliance with the opacity limit in
§ 63.10686 (b)(2) or (c)(2) by no later
than 2 years after the date of publication
of the final rule in the Federal Register
if you demonstrate to the satisfaction of
the permitting authority that additional
time is needed to install or modify
emission control equipment.
(c) If you start up a new affected
source on or before the date of date of
publication of the final rule in the
Federal Register, you must achieve
compliance with the applicable
provisions of this subpart by no later
than the date of publication of the final
rule in the Federal Register.
(d) If you start up a new affected
source after the date of publication of
the final rule in the Federal Register,
you must achieve compliance with the
applicable provisions of this subpart
upon startup of your affected source.
Standards and Compliance
Requirements
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§ 63.10685 What are the requirements for
the control of contaminants from scrap?
(a) Chlorinated plastics, lead, and free
organic liquids. For metallic scrap
utilized in the EAF at your facility, you
must comply with the requirements in
either paragraph (a)(1) or (2) of this
section. You may have certain scrap at
your facility subject to paragraph (a)(1)
of this section and other scrap subject to
paragraph (a)(2) of this section provided
the scrap remains segregated until
charge make-up.
(1) Pollution prevention plan. For the
production of steel other than leaded
steel, you must prepare and implement
a pollution prevention plan for metallic
scrap selection and inspection to
minimize the amount of chlorinated
plastics, lead, and free organic liquids
that is charged to the furnace. For the
production of leaded steel, you must
prepare and implement a pollution
prevention plan for scrap selection and
inspection to minimize the amount of
chlorinated plastics and free organic
liquids in the scrap that is charged to
the furnace. The requirements for a
pollution prevention plan do not apply
to the routine recycling of baghouse
bags or other internal process or
maintenance materials in the furnace.
You must submit the scrap pollution
prevention plan to the Administrator for
approval. You must keep a copy of the
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plan onsite, and you must provide
training on the plan’s requirements to
all plant personnel with materials
acquisition or inspection duties. Each
plan must include the information in
paragraphs (a)(1) (i) through (iii) of this
section:
(i) Specifications that scrap materials
must be depleted (to the extent
practicable) of undrained used oil
filters, chlorinated plastics, and free
organic liquids at the time of charging
to the furnace.
(ii) A requirement in your scrap
specifications for removal (to the extent
practicable) of lead-containing
components (such as batteries, battery
cables, and wheel weights) from the
scrap according to standard industry
practice, except for scrap used to
produce leaded steel.
(iii) Procedures for determining if the
requirements and specifications in
paragraph (a)(1) of this section are met
(such as visual inspection or periodic
audits of scrap providers) and
procedures for taking corrective actions
with vendors whose shipments are not
within specifications.
(iv) The requirements of paragraph
(a)(1) of this section do not apply to the
routine recycling of baghouse bags or
other internal process or maintenance
materials in the furnace.
(2) Restricted metallic scrap. For the
production of steel other than leaded
steel, you must not charge to a furnace
metallic scrap that contains scrap from
motor vehicle bodies, engine blocks, oil
filters, oily turnings, machine shop
borings, transformers or capacitors
containing polychlorinated biphenyls,
lead-containing components,
chlorinated plastics, or free organic
liquids. For the production of leaded
steel, you must not charge to the furnace
metallic scrap that contains scrap from
motor vehicle bodies, engine blocks, oil
filters, oily turnings, machine shop
borings, transformers or capacitors
containing polychlorinated biphenyls,
chlorinated plastics, or free organic
liquids. This restriction does not apply
to any post-consumer engine blocks,
post-consumer oil filters, or oily
turnings that are processed or cleaned to
the extent practicable such that the
materials do not include lead
components, chlorinated plastics, or
free organic liquids. This restriction
does not apply to motor vehicle scrap
that is charged to recover the chromium
or nickel content if you meet the
requirements in paragraph (b)(3) of this
section.
(b) Mercury requirements. For each
scrap provider, contract, or shipment,
you must procure all motor vehicle
scrap pursuant to one of the compliance
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options in paragraphs (b)(1), (2), or (3)
of this section. You may have one scrap
provider, contract, or shipment subject
to one compliance option and others
subject to another option.
(1) Site-specific plan for mercury
switches. You must comply with the
requirements in paragraphs (b)(1)(i)
through (v) of this section.
(i) You must include a requirement in
your scrap specifications for removal of
mercury switches from vehicle bodies
used to make the scrap.
(ii) You must prepare and operate
according to a plan demonstrating how
your facility will implement the scrap
specification in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of
this section for removal of mercury
switches. You must submit the plan to
the Administrator for approval. The
Administrator may change the approval
status of the plan upon 90-days written
notice based upon the semiannual
compliance report or other information.
The plan must include:
(A) A means of communicating to
scrap purchasers and scrap providers
the need to obtain or provide motor
vehicle scrap from which mercury
switches have been removed and the
need to ensure the proper management
of the mercury switches removed from
that scrap as required under the rules
implementing subtitle C of the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
(40 CFR parts 261 through 265 and 268);
(B) Provisions for obtaining assurance
from scrap providers that motor vehicle
scrap provided to the facility meet the
scrap specification;
(C) Provisions for periodic inspection,
site visits, or other means of
corroboration to ensure that scrap
providers and dismantlers are
implementing appropriate steps to
minimize the presence of mercury
switches in motor vehicle scrap and that
the mercury switches removed are being
properly managed, including the
minimum frequency such means of
corroboration will be implemented; and
(D) Provisions for taking corrective
actions (i.e., actions resulting in scrap
providers removing a higher percentage
of mercury switches or other mercurycontaining components) if needed,
based on the results of procedures
implemented in paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(C)
of this section).
(iii) You must require each motor
vehicle scrap provider to provide an
estimate of the number of mercury
switches removed from motor vehicle
scrap sent to your facility during the
previous year and the basis for the
estimate. The Administrator may
request documentation or additional
information at any time.
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(iv) You must establish a goal for each
scrap provider to remove at least 80
percent of the mercury switches.
Although a site-specific plan approved
under paragraph (b)(1) of this section
may require only the removal of
convenience light switch mechanisms,
the Administrator will credit all
documented and verifiable mercurycontaining components removed from
motor vehicle scrap (such as sensors in
anti-locking brake systems, security
systems, active ride control, and other
applications) when evaluating progress
towards the 80 percent goal.
(v) For each scrap provider, you must
submit semiannual progress reports to
the Administrator that provide the
number of mercury switches removed or
the weight of mercury recovered from
the switches, the estimated number of
vehicles processed, an estimate of the
percent of mercury switches removed,
and certification that the removed
mercury switches were recycled at
RCRA-permitted facilities or otherwise
properly managed pursuant to RCRA
subtitle C regulations referenced in
paragraph (b)(1)(A) of this section. The
Administrator may change the approval
status of a site-specific plan following
90-days notice based on the progress
reports or other information.
(2) Option for approved mercury
programs. You must certify in your
notification of compliance status that
you participate in and purchase motor
vehicle scrap only from scrap providers
who participate in a program for
removal of mercury switches that has
been approved by the Administrator
based on the criteria in paragraphs
(b)(2)(i) through (iii) of this section. The
National Vehicle Mercury Switch
Recovery Program is an EPA-approved
program under paragraph (b)(2) of this
section unless and until the
Administrator disapproves the program
(in part or in whole) under paragraph
(b)(2)(iii) of this section.
(i) The program includes outreach
that informs the dismantlers of the need
for removal of mercury switches and
provides training and guidance for
removing mercury switches;
(ii) The program has a goal for each
scrap provider which is a party to the
agreement to remove at least 80 percent
of mercury switches from the motor
vehicle scrap the scrap provider
processes. Although a program
approved under paragraph (b)(2) of this
section may require only the removal of
convenience light switch mechanisms,
the Administrator will credit all
documented and verifiable mercurycontaining components removed from
motor vehicle scrap (such as sensors in
anti-locking brake systems, security
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systems, active ride control, and other
applications) when evaluating progress
towards the 80 percent goal; and
(iii) The program sponsor agrees to
submit progress reports to the
Administrator no less frequently than
once every year that provide the number
of mercury switches removed or the
weight of mercury recovered from the
switches, the estimated number of
vehicles processed, an estimate of the
percent of mercury switches recovered,
and certification that the recovered
mercury switches were recycled at
facilities with permits as required under
the rules implementing subtitle C of
RCRA (40 CFR parts 261 through 265
and 268). The progress reports must be
based on a database that includes data
for each program participant; however,
data may be aggregated at the State level
for progress reports that will be publicly
available. The Administrator may
change the approval status of a program
or portion of a program (e.g., at the State
level) following 90-days notice based on
the progress reports or on other
information.
(3) Option for specialty metal scrap.
You must certify in your notification of
compliance status that the only
materials from motor vehicles in the
scrap are materials recovered for their
specialty alloy (including, but not
limited to, chromium, nickel,
molybdenum, or other alloys) content
(such as certain exhaust systems) and,
based on the nature of the scrap and
purchase specifications, that the type of
scrap is not reasonably expected to
contain mercury switches.
(c) Recordkeeping and reporting
requirements. (1) In addition to the
records required by § 63.10, you must
keep records to demonstrate compliance
with the requirements for your pollution
prevention plan in paragraph (a)(1) of
this section and/or for the use of only
restricted scrap in paragraph (a)(2) of
this section and for mercury in
paragraph (b)(1) of this section,
including any compliance options in
paragraphs (b)(2) and (3) of this section.
(1) If you are subject to the
requirements for a site-specific plan for
mercury under paragraph (b)(1) of this
section, you must:
(i) Maintain records of the number of
mercury switches removed or the
weight of mercury recovered from the
switches and properly managed, the
estimated number of vehicles processed,
and an estimate of the percent of
mercury switches recovered; and
(ii) Submit semiannual reports of the
number of mercury switches removed or
the weight of mercury recovered from
the switches and properly managed, the
estimated number of vehicles processed,
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an estimate of the percent of mercury
switches recovered, and certification
that the recovered mercury switches
were recycled at RCRA-permitted
facilities. The semiannual reports must
include a certification that you have
conducted inspections, site visits, or
taken other means of corroboration as
required under paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(C) of
this section. You may include this
information in the semiannual
compliance reports required under
paragraph (c)(3) of this section.
(2) If you are subject to the option for
approved mercury programs under
paragraph (b)(2) of this section, you
must maintain records identifying each
scrap provider and documenting the
scrap provider’s participation in an
approved mercury switch removal
program.
(3) You must submit semiannual
compliance reports to the Administrator
for the control of contaminants from
scrap according to the requirements in
§ 63.10(e). The report must clearly
identify any deviation from the
requirements in paragraphs (a) and (b)
of this section and the corrective action
taken. You must identify which
compliance option in paragraph (b) of
this section applies to each scrap
provider, contract, or shipment.
§ 63.10686 What are the requirements for
electric arc furnaces and ladle metallurgy
operations?
(a) You must install, operate, and
maintain a capture system that collects
the gases and fumes from each EAF
(including charging, melting, and
tapping operations) and ladle
metallurgy operation and conveys the
collected gas stream to a control device
for the removal of particulate matter
(PM).
(b) Except as provided in paragraph
(c) of this section, you must not
discharge or cause the discharge into the
atmosphere from an EAF or ladle
metallurgy operation any gases which:
(1) Exit from a control device and
contain in excess of 0.0052 grains of PM
per dry standard cubic foot (gr/dscf);
and
(2) Exit from a melt shop and, due
solely to the operations of any affected
EAF(s) or ladle metallurgy operation(s),
exhibit 6 percent opacity or greater.
(c) If you own or operate a new or
existing affected source that produces
less than 150,000 tons per year (tpy) of
stainless or specialty steel, you must not
discharge or cause the discharge into the
atmosphere from an EAF or ladle
metallurgy operation any gases which:
(1) Exit from a control device and
contain in excess of 0.8 pounds of PM
per ton (lb/ton) of steel; and
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(2) Exit from a melt shop and, due
solely to the operations of any affected
EAF(s) or ladle metallurgy operation(s),
exhibit 6 percent opacity or greater.
(d) Except as provided in paragraph
(d)(6) of this section, you must conduct
performance tests to demonstrate initial
compliance with the applicable
emissions limit for each emissions
source subject to an emissions limit in
paragraph (b) or (c) of this section.
(1) You must conduct each PM
performance test for an EAF or ladle
metallurgy operation according to the
procedures in § 63.7 and 40 CFR
60.275a using the following test
methods in 40 CFR part 60, appendices
A–1, A–2, A–3, and A–4:
(i) Method 1 or 1A of Appendix
A–1 of 40 CFR part 60 to select
sampling port locations and the number
of traverse points in each stack or duct.
Sampling sites must be located at the
outlet of the control device (or at the
outlet of the emissions source if no
control device is present) prior to any
releases to the atmosphere.
(ii) Method 2, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2F, or 2G
of Appendix A–1 of 40 CFR part 60 to
determine the volumetric flow rate of
the stack gas.
(iii) Method 3, 3A, or 3B of Appendix
A–2 of 40 CFR part 60 to determine the
dry molecular weight of the stack gas.
You may use ANSI/ASME PTC 19.10–
1981, ‘‘Flue and Exhaust Gas Analyses
(incorporated by reference—see § 63.14)
as an alternative to EPA Method 3B.
(iv) Method 4 of Appendix A–3 of 40
CFR part 60 to determine the moisture
content of the stack gas.
(v) Method 5 or 5D of Appendix
A–3 of 40 CFR part 60 to determine the
PM concentration. Three valid test runs
are needed to comprise a PM
performance test. For EAF, sample only
when metal is being melted and refined.
For ladle metallurgy operations, sample
only when the operation(s) are being
conducted.
(2) You must conduct each opacity
test for a melt shop according to the
procedures in § 63.6(h) and Method 9 of
Appendix A–4 of 40 CFR part 60. When
emissions from any EAF or ladle
metallurgy operation are combined with
emissions from emission sources not
subject to this subpart, you must
demonstrate compliance with the melt
shop opacity limit based on emissions
from only the emission sources subject
to this subpart.
(3) During any performance test, you
must monitor and record the
information specified in 40 CFR
60.274a(h) for all heats covered by the
test.
(4) You must notify, and receive
approval from the Administrator for
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procedures that will be used to
determine compliance for an EAF or
ladle metallurgy operation when
emissions are combined with those from
facilities not subject to this subpart.
(5) To determine compliance with the
PM emissions limit in paragraph (c) of
this section for an EAF or ladle
metallurgy operation in a lb/ton of steel
format, compute the process-weighted
mass emissions (Ep) for each test run
using Equation 1 of this section:
Ep =
C×Q×T
P×K
(Eq. 1)
Where:
Ep = Process-weighted mass emissions of PM,
lb/ton;
C = Concentration of PM or total metal HAP,
gr/dscf;
Q = Volumetric flow rate of stack gas, dscf/
hr;
T = Total time during a test run that a sample
is withdrawn from the stack during steel
production cycle, hr;
P = Total amount of metal produced during
the test run, tons; and
K = Conversion factor, 7,000 grains per
pound.
(6) If you own or operate an existing
affected source that is subject to the
emissions limits in paragraph (b) or (c)
of this section, you may certify initial
compliance for one or more emissions
sources based on the results of a
previous performance test for that
emissions source in lieu of the
requirement for an initial performance
test provided that the test(s) were
conducted within 5 years of the
compliance date using the methods and
procedures specified in paragraph (d)(1)
or (2) of this section; the test(s) were for
the affected facility; and the test(s) were
representative of current or anticipated
operating processes and conditions.
Should the permitting authority deem
the prior test data unacceptable, the
owner or operator must conduct an
initial performance test within 180 days
of the rule compliance date.
(e) You must monitor the capture
system and PM control device required
by this subpart, maintain records, and
submit reports according to the
compliance assurance monitoring
requirements in 40 CFR part 64. The
exemption in 40 CFR 64.2(b)(1)(i) for
emissions limitations or standards
proposed after November 15, 1990
under section 111 or 112 of the CAA
does not apply. In lieu of the deadlines
for submittal in 40 CFR 64.5, you must
submit the monitoring information
required by 40 CFR 64.4 to the
applicable permitting authority for
approval by no later than the
compliance date for your affected source
for this subpart and operate according to
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the approved plan by no later than 180
days after the date of approval by the
permitting authority.
Other Requirements and Information
§ 63.10690 What parts of the General
Provisions apply to this subpart?
(a) You must comply with the
requirements of the NESHAP General
Provisions (40 CFR part 63, subpart A)
as provided in Table 1 of this subpart.
(b) The notification of compliance
status required by § 63.9(h) must
include each applicable certification of
compliance, signed by a responsible
official, in paragraphs (b)(1) through (6)
of this section.
(1) For the pollution prevention plan
requirements in § 63.10685(a)(1): ‘‘This
facility has submitted a pollution
prevention plan for metallic scrap
selection and inspection in accordance
with § 63.10685(a)(1)’’;
(2) For the restrictions on metallic
scrap in § 63.10685(a)(2): ‘‘This facility
complies with the requirements for
restricted metallic scrap in accordance
with § 63.10685(a)(2)’’;
(3) For the mercury requirements in
§ 63.10685(b):
(i) ‘‘This facility has prepared a sitespecific plan for mercury switches in
accordance with § 63.10685(b)(1)’’;
(ii) ‘‘This facility participates in and
purchases motor vehicle scrap only
from scrap providers who participate in
a program for removal of mercury
switches that has been approved the
EPA Administrator in accordance with
§ 63.10685(b)(2)’’; or
(iii) ‘‘The only materials from motor
vehicles in the scrap charged to an
electric arc furnace at this facility are
materials recovered for their specialty
alloy content in accordance with
§ 63.10685(b)(3) which are not
reasonably expected to contain mercury
switches’’.
(4) This certification of compliance
for the capture system requirements in
§ 63.10686(a), signed by a responsible
official: ‘‘This facility operates a capture
system for each electric arc furnace and
ladle metallurgy operation that conveys
the collected gas stream to a PM control
device in accordance with
§ 63.10686(a)’’.
(5) If applicable, this certification of
compliance for the performance test
requirements in § 63.10686(d)(6): ‘‘This
facility certifies initial compliance with
the applicable emissions limit in
§ 63.10686(a) or (b) based on the results
of a previous performance test in
accordance with § 63.10686(d)(6)’’.
(6) This certification of compliance
for the monitoring requirements in
§ 63.10686(e), signed by a responsible
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official: ‘‘This facility has developed
and submitted proposed monitoring
information in accordance with 40 CFR
part 64’’.
§ 63.10691 Who implements and enforces
this subpart?
(a) This subpart can be implemented
and enforced by the EPA or a delegated
authority such as a State, local, or tribal
agency. If the EPA Administrator has
delegated authority to a State, local, or
tribal agency, then that Agency has the
authority to implement and enforce this
subpart. You should contact your EPA
Regional Office to find out if this
subpart is delegated to your State, local,
or tribal agency.
(b) In delegating implementation and
enforcement authority of this subpart to
a State, local, or tribal agency under 40
CFR part 63, subpart E, the authorities
contained in paragraph (c) of this
section are retained by the
Administrator and are not transferred to
the State, local, or tribal agency.
(c) The authorities that will not be
delegated to State, local, or tribal
agencies are listed in paragraphs (c)(1)
through (3) of this section.
(1) Approval of a major change to test
methods under § 63.7(e)(2)(ii) and (f). A
‘‘major change to test method’’ is
defined in 40 CFR 63.90.
(2) Approval of major change to
monitoring under 40 CFR 63.8(f). A
‘‘major change to monitoring’’ is defined
in 40 CFR 63.90.
(3) Approval of a major change to
recordkeeping/reporting under 40 CFR
63.10(f). A ‘‘major change to
recordkeeping/reporting’’ is defined in
40 CFR 63.90.
§ 63.10692
subpart?
What definitions apply to this
Terms used in this subpart are
defined in the Clean Air Act, in § 63.2,
and in this section as follows:
Capture system means the equipment
(including ducts, hoods, fans, dampers,
etc.) used to capture or transport
particulate matter generated by an
electric arc furnace or ladle metallurgy
operation to the air pollution control
device.
Chlorinated plastics means solid
polymeric materials that contain
chlorine in the polymer chain, such as
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and PVC
copolymers.
Control device means the air pollution
control equipment used to remove
particulate matter from the effluent gas
stream generated by an electric arc
furnace or ladle metallurgy operation(s).
Deviation means any instance where
an affected source subject to this
subpart, or an owner or operator of such
a source:
(1) Fails to meet any requirement or
obligation established by this subpart,
including but not limited to any
emissions limitation or work practice
standard;
(2) Fails to meet any term or condition
that is adopted to implement an
applicable requirement in this subpart
and that is included in the operating
permit for any affected source required
to obtain such a permit; or
(3) Fails to meet any emissions
limitation in this subpart during startup,
shutdown, or malfunction, regardless of
whether or not such failure is permitted
by this subpart.
Electric arc furnace (EAF) means a
furnace that produces molten steel and
heats the charge materials with electric
arcs from carbon electrodes. An electric
arc furnace consists of the furnace shell,
roof, and the transformer.
Electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking
facility means a steel plant that
produces carbon, alloy, or specialty
steels using an EAF. This definition
excludes EAF steelmaking facilities at
steel foundries.
Free organic liquids means material
that fails the paint filter test by EPA
Method 9095B (incorporated by
reference—see 40 CFR 63.14) after
accounting for water using a moisture
determination test by ASTM Method
D2216–05 or subsequent versions
(incorporated by reference-see 40 CFR
63.14). If, after conducting a moisture
determination test, any portion of the
material passes through and drops from
the filter within the 5-minute test
53835
period, the material contains free
organic liquids.
Ladle metallurgy means a steelmaking
process that is performed typically in a
ladle after initial refining in an electric
arc furnace, including argon-oxygen
decarburization, alloy addition,
temperature adjustment, and other
processes that adjust or amend the
chemical and/or mechanical properties
of steel. This definition does not include
vacuum degassing.
Leaded steel means steel that must
meet a minimum specification for lead
content (typically 0.25 percent or more)
and for which lead is a necessary alloy
for that grade of steel.
Mercury switch means each mercurycontaining capsule or switch assembly
that is part of a convenience light switch
mechanism installed in a vehicle.
Motor vehicle means an automotive
vehicle not operated on rails and
usually is operated with rubber tires for
use on highways.
Motor vehicle scrap means vehicle or
automobile bodies, including
automobile body hulks, that have been
processed through a shredder. Motor
vehicle scrap does not include
automobile manufacturing bundles, or
miscellaneous vehicle parts, such as
wheels, bumpers or other components
that do not contain mercury switches.
Scrap provider means the person
(including a broker) who contracts
directly with a steel mill to provide
motor vehicle scrap. Scrap processors
such as shredder operators or vehicle
dismantlers that do not sell scrap
directly to a steel mill are not scrap
providers.
Specialty steel means low carbon and
high alloy steel other than stainless steel
that is processed in an argon-oxygen
decarburization vessel.
Stainless steel means low carbon steel
that contains at least 10.5 percent
chromium.
As required in § 63.10691(a), you
must comply with the requirements of
the NESHAP General Provisions (40
CFR part 63, subpart A) shown in the
following table:
TABLE 1 TO SUBPART YYYYY OF PART 63.—APPLICABILITY OF GENERAL PROVISIONS TO SUBPART YYYYY
Applies to
Subpart
YYYYY?
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Citation
Subject
§ 63.1(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4), (a)(6),
(a)(10)–(a)(12), (b)(1), (b)(3), (c)(1),
(c)(2), (c)(5), (e).
§ 63.1(a)(5), (a)(7)–(a)(9), (b)(2), (c)(3),
(c)(4), (d).
§ 63.2 .......................................................
§ 63.3 .......................................................
§ 63.4 .......................................................
Applicability ............................................
Yes.
Reserved ................................................
No.
Definitions ..............................................
Units and Abbreviations .........................
Prohibited Activities and Circumvention
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
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Explanation
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TABLE 1 TO SUBPART YYYYY OF PART 63.—APPLICABILITY OF GENERAL PROVISIONS TO SUBPART YYYYY—Continued
Applies to
Subpart
YYYYY?
Citation
Subject
§ 63.5 .......................................................
Preconstruction Review and Notification
Requirements.
Compliance with Standards and Maintenance Requirements.
Yes.
Reserved ................................................
No.
Applicability and Performance Test
Dates.
Monitoring Requirements .......................
Yes.
[Reserved] ..............................................
Additional Monitoring Requirements for
Control Devices in § 63.11.
Continuous Monitoring System Requirements.
RATA Alternative ...................................
Notification Requirements ......................
No.
No.
Reserved ................................................
................................................................
Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements.
No.
No.
Yes ...................
CMS Records for RATA Alternative ......
Reserved ................................................
Control Device Requirements ................
State Authority and Delegations ............
Addresses, Incorporations by Reference, Availability of Information,
Performance Track Provisions.
Yes ...................
No.
No.
Yes.
Yes.
§ 63.6(a), (b)(1)–(b)(5), (b)(7), (c)(1),
(c)(2), (c)(5), (e)(1), (e)(3)(i), (e)(3)(iii)–
(e)(3)(ix), (f), (g), (h)(1), (h)(2), (h)(5)–
(h)(9), (i), (j).
§ 63.6(b)(6), (c)(3), (c)(4), (d), (e)(2),
(e)(3)(ii), (h)(3), (h)(5)(iv).
§ 63.7 .......................................................
§ 63.8(a)(1), (a)(2),
(f)(1)–(5), (g).
(b),
(c),
(d),(e),
§ 63.8(a)(3) ..............................................
§ 63.8(a)(4) ..............................................
§ 63.8(c)(4) ..............................................
§ 63.8(f)(6) ...............................................
§ 63.9(a), (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(5), (c), (d),
(f), (g), (h)(1)–(h)(3), (h)(5), (h)(6), (i),
(j).
§ 63.9(b)(3), (h)(4) ...................................
§ 63.9(b)(4) ..............................................
§ 63.10(a), (b)(1), (b)(2)(i)–(v), (b)(2)(xiv),
(b)(3), (c)(1), (c)(5)–(c)(8), (c)(10)–
(c)(15), (d), (e)(1)–(e)(4), (e)(4), (f).
§ 63.10(b)(2)(xiii) ......................................
§ 63.10(c)(2)–(c)(4), (c)(9) .......................
§ 63.11 .....................................................
§ 63.12 .....................................................
§ 63.13–63.16 ..........................................
Explanation
Yes.
Yes ...................
Yes ...................
Yes ...................
Yes.
Requirements
in
§ 63.8(c)(4)(i)–(ii),
(c)(5) and (c)(6), (d), (e), and (g)
apply if a COMS or CEMS is used.
Requirements apply if a COMS or
CEMS is used.
Requirements apply if a CEMS is used.
Additional records for CMS in § 63.10(c)
(1)–(6), (9)–(15), and reports in
§ 63.10(d)(1)–(2) apply if a COMS or
CEMS is used.
Requirements apply if a CEMS is used.
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 182 (Thursday, September 20, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53814-53836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18343]
[[Page 53813]]
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Part II
Environmental Protection Agency
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
40 CFR Part 63
Revision of Source Category Lists for Standards Under Sections 112(c)
and 112(k) of the Clean Air Act; and National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants for Area Sources: Electric Arc Furnace
Steelmaking Facilities; Proposed Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 182 / Thursday, September 20, 2007 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 53814]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 63
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0083; FRL-8470-2]
RIN 2060-AM71
Revision of Source Category Lists for Standards Under Sections
112(c) and 112(k) of the Clean Air Act; and National Emission Standards
for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Area Sources: Electric Arc Furnace
Steelmaking Facilities
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of revisions to source category lists.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA is adding electric arc furnace steelmaking facilities to
the list of source categories subject to regulation under Clean Air Act
(CAA) section 112(c)(6) and revising the area source category list for
the Integrated Urban Air Toxics Strategy. At the same time, EPA is
proposing national emission standards for electric arc furnace
steelmaking facilities that are area sources of hazardous air
pollutants (HAP). The proposed standards establish requirements for the
control of mercury emissions that are based on the maximum achievable
control technology (MACT) and requirements for the control of other
hazardous air pollutants that are based on generally available control
technology or management practices.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 22, 2007, unless
a public hearing is requested by October 1, 2007. If a hearing is
requested on the proposed rule, written comments must be received by
November 5, 2007. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, comments on the
information collection provisions must be received by OMB on or before
October 22, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2004-0083, by one of the following methods:
https://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov.
Fax: (202) 566-9744.
Mail: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants for Area Sources: Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking
Facilities Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, Air and Radiation
Docket and Information Center, Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC 20460. Please include a total of two copies. In
addition, please mail a copy of your comments on the information
collection provisions to the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attn: Desk Officer for
EPA, 725 17th St., NW., Washington, DC 20503.
Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, Public Reading Room, EPA
West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of
boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2004-0083. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at
https://www.regulations.gov including any personal information provided,
unless the comment includes information claimed to be confidential
business information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to
be CBI or otherwise protected through https://www.regulations.gov or e-
mail. The https://www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous
access'' system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you
send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through https://
www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be automatically captured
and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket
and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic
comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact
information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you
submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties
and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to
consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special
characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or
viruses.
Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the https://
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy
form. Publicly available docket materials are available either
electronically in https://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Area
Sources: Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking Facilities Docket at the EPA
Docket and Information Center in the EPA Headquarters Library, EPA
West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The
Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public
Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the Air
Docket is (202) 566-1742.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Phil Mulrine, Sector Policies and
Program Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (D243-
02), Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina 27711, telephone number (919) 541-5289; fax number (919) 541-
3207, e-mail address: mulrine.phil@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
The regulated category and entities affected by this proposed
action include:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Examples of regulated
Category NAICS code \1\ entities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry....................... 331111 Steel mills with
electric arc furnace
steelmaking
facilities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ North American Industry Classification System.
This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a
guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this
action. To determine whether your facility would be regulated by this
action, you should examine the applicability criteria in 40 CFR
63.10680 of subpart YYYYY (National Emission Standards for
[[Page 53815]]
Hazardous Air Pollutants for Area Sources: Electric Arc Furnace
Steelmaking Facilities). If you have any questions regarding the
applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult either the
air permit authority for the entity or your EPA regional representative
as listed in 40 CFR 63.13 of subpart A (General Provisions).
B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?
Do not submit information containing CBI to EPA through https://
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. Send or deliver information identified
as CBI only to the following address: Roberto Morales, OAQPS Document
Control Officer (C404-02), Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park,
North Carolina 27711, Attention Docket ID EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0083. Clearly
mark the part or all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For
CBI information in a disk or CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the
outside of the disk or CD-ROM as CBI and then identify electronically
within the disk or CD-ROM the specific information that is claimed as
CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes
information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain
the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the
public docket. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in
accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
C. Where can I get a copy of this document?
In addition to being available in the docket, an electronic copy of
this notice and proposed action will also be available on the Worldwide
Web (WWW) through the Technology Transfer Network (TTN). Following
signature, a copy of this proposed action will be posted on the TTN's
policy and guidance page for newly proposed or promulgated rules at the
following address: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/. The TTN provides
information and technology exchange in various areas of air pollution
control.
D. When would a public hearing occur?
If anyone contacts EPA requesting to speak at a public hearing
concerning the proposed rule by October 1, 2007, we will hold a public
hearing on October 5, 2007. If you are interested in attending the
public hearing, contact Ms. Pamela Garrett at (919) 541-7966 to verify
that a hearing will be held. If a public hearing is held, it will be
held at 10 a.m. at the EPA's Environmental Research Center Auditorium,
Research Triangle Park, NC, or an alternate site nearby.
E. How is this document organized?
The information in this preamble is organized as follows:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments to EPA?
C. Where can I get a copy of this document?
D. When would a public hearing occur?
E. How is this document organized?
II. Background Information
A. What is the statutory authority for the proposed NESHAP?
B. What criteria did EPA use in developing this proposed NESHAP?
III. Addition and Revision to Source Category Lists
IV. Proposed NESHAP for EAF Steelmaking Facilities
A. What area source category is affected by the proposed NESHAP?
B. What are the production processes and emissions sources?
C. Summary of the Proposed Requirements
D. What is our rationale for the proposed MACT and GACT
standards?
V. Impacts of the Proposed Standards
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With
Indian Tribal Governments
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From
Environmental Health and Safety Risks
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
I. National Technology Transfer Advancement Act
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations
II. Background Information
A. What is the statutory authority for the proposed NESHAP?
Section 112(k)(3)(B) of the CAA requires EPA to identify at least
30 hazardous air pollutants (HAP), which, as the result of emissions of
area sources,\1\ pose the greatest threat to public health in urban
areas. Consistent with this provision, in 1999, in the Integrated Urban
Air Toxics Strategy, EPA identified the 30 HAP that pose the greatest
potential health threat in urban areas, and these HAP are referred to
as the ``Urban HAP.'' See 64 FR 38715, July 19, 1999. Section 112(c)(3)
requires EPA to list sufficient categories or subcategories of area
sources to ensure that area sources representing 90 percent of the
emissions of the 30 Urban HAP are subject to regulation. EPA listed the
source categories that account for 90 percent of the Urban HAP
emissions in the Integrated Urban Air Toxics Strategy.\2\ Sierra Club
sued EPA, alleging a failure to complete standards for the area source
categories listed pursuant to CAA sections 112(c)(3) and (k)(3)(B)
within the time frame specified by the statute. See Sierra Club v.
Johnston, No. 01-1537, (D.D.C.). On March 31, 2006, the court issued an
order requiring EPA to promulgate standards under CAA section 112(d)
for those area source categories listed pursuant to CAA section
112(c)(3).
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\1\ An area source is a stationary source of hazardous air
pollutant (HAP) emissions that is not a major source. A major source
is a stationary source that emits or has the potential to emit 10
tons per year (tpy) or more of any HAP or 25 tpy or more of any
combination of HAP.
\2\ Since its publication in the Integrated Urban Air Toxics
Strategy in 1999, EPA has revised the area source category list
several times.
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We added electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking facilities to the
Integrated Urban Air Toxics Strategy Area Source Category List on June
26, 2002 (67 FR 43112). The inclusion of this source category on the
section 112(c)(3) area source category list is based on 1990 emissions
data, as EPA used 1990 as the baseline year for that listing. This
source category was listed as contributing a percentage of the total
area source emissions for the following ``Urban HAP'': arsenic,
cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, and
trichloroethylene. We subsequently discovered that the 1990 emissions
data for trichloroethylene was for a few specialty EAF facilities that
used trichloroethylene in vapor degreasing. These emission units at
both major and area sources are already subject to standards for
halogenated solvent cleaning under 40 CFR part 63, subpart T.
Consequently, we are not proposing any additional standards for
trichloroethylene from EAF steelmaking facilities.
Section 112(c)(6) requires EPA to list, and subject to standards
pursuant to section 112(d)(2) or (d)(4), categories of sources
accounting for not less than 90 percent of emissions of each of seven
specific HAP: alkylated lead compounds, polycyclic organic matter,
hexachlorobenzene, mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, 2,3,7,9-
tetrachlorodibenzofurans, and 2,3,7,8-tetrachloridibenzo-p-dioxin.
Congress targeted these HAP for regulation because of their persistence
and tendency to bioaccumulate in the environment. These HAP are also
[[Page 53816]]
associated with adverse health effects such as nervous system damage
and reproductive effects. We published an initial list of source
categories under CAA section 112(c)(6) on April 10, 1998 (63 FR 17838).
As discussed below in section III of this preamble, we are adding EAF
steelmaking facilities that are area sources to this list of source
categories under CAA section 112(c)(6) solely on the basis of mercury
emissions.
During the development of these proposed emissions standards, we
discovered two EAF facilities that are co-located at integrated iron
and steel plants that are major sources, of which we were previously
not aware. We plan to list EAF steelmaking facilities as major sources
under CAA section 112(c) and to develop national emission standards for
hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for them based on the performance of
maximum achievable control technology (MACT). However, these two major
sources are not needed to fulfill the CAA section 112(c)(6) requirement
to develop standards for sources accounting for not less than 90
percent of the emissions of mercury so we are not pursuing such action
in this rulemaking given the severe time constraints to which this
rulemaking is subject.
B. What criteria did EPA use in developing this proposed NESHAP?
We are proposing standards for mercury in response to a court-
ordered deadline that requires promulgation of standards for listed CAA
section 112(c)(6) source categories by December 15, 2007 (Sierra Club
v. Johnson, no. 01-1537, D.D.C). The proposed standards for mercury
emissions from all EAF steelmaking facilities that are area sources of
HAP are consistent with CAA section 112(c)(6).
The court order in Sierra Club v. Johnson also requires EPA to
issue standards for 10 source categories that EPA listed pursuant to
CAA section 112(c)(3) and (k)(3)(B) by December 15, 2007. In response
to this requirement, we are proposing standards based on generally
available control technology (GACT) for the control of the Urban HAP
arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, and nickel from area
source electric arc furnace steelmaking facilities. The bases for these
standards are described below.
Under CAA section 112(d)(5), we may elect to promulgate standards
or requirements for area sources ``which provide for the use of
generally available control technologies or management practices by
such sources to reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants.'' The
alternative is to base standards on performance of MACT under section
112(d)(2) and (3) as described below. Additional information on the
definition of ``generally available control technology or management
practices'' is found in the Senate report on the 1990 amendments to the
CAA (S. Rep. No. 101-228, 101st Cong. 1st sess. 171-172). That report
states that GACT is to encompass:
* * * methods, practices and techniques which are commercially
available and appropriate for application by the sources in the
category considering economic impacts and the technical capabilities
of the firms to operate and maintain the emissions control systems.
Consistent with this legislative history, we can and do consider costs
and economic impacts in determining GACT.
As provided in CAA section 112(d)(5), EPA is electing to propose
standards under CAA section 112(c)(3) based on GACT for EAF steelmaking
facilities that are area sources. As stated further below (see section
IV.D.3 of this preamble), we do not believe that a choice to base
standards for these area sources on GACT, rather than MACT, requires
justification. However, should justification be required, we are
proposing standards based on GACT rather than on MACT because these
facilities are already well controlled for the metal HAP these sources
emit, and a regulation based on GACT will appropriately allow us to
consider the costs and economic impacts of more stringent regulations.
See the discussion of particulate matter (PM) controls in section
IV.D.4 of this preamble. We believe the consideration of costs and
economic impacts is especially important for EAF area sources because,
given their current well-controlled levels, a MACT floor determination
could result in only marginal reductions in HAP emissions at very high
costs for modest incremental improvement in control. The consideration
of cost is especially important for the small businesses that operate
small specialty and stainless steel EAF facilities.
We are proposing standards pursuant to CAA section 112(d)(2) for
mercury emissions from all EAF steelmaking facilities that are area
sources of HAP. Standards established under CAA section 112(d)(2) must
reflect performance of MACT. The MACT-based regulation can be based on
the emissions reductions achievable through application of measures,
processes, methods, systems, or techniques including, but not limited
to: (1) Reducing the volume of, or eliminating emissions of, such
pollutants through process changes, substitutions of materials, or
other modifications; (2) enclosing systems or processes to eliminate
emissions; (3) collecting, capturing, or treating such pollutants when
released from a process, stack, storage or fugitive emission point; (4)
design, equipment, work practices, or operational standards as provided
in section 112(h) of the CAA; or (5) a combination of the above.\3\
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\3\ Section 112(d)(4) (not relevant here) allows alternative
risk-based standards for HAP which are threshold pollutants.
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The MACT floor is the minimum control level allowed for NESHAP and
is defined under CAA section 112(d)(3). For new sources, MACT standards
cannot be less stringent than the emission control achieved in practice
by the best-controlled similar source, as determined by the
Administrator. The MACT standards for existing sources can be less
stringent than standards for new sources, but they cannot be less
stringent than the average emission limitation achieved by the best
performing 12 percent of existing sources in the category or
subcategory (for which the Administrator has emission information) or
the best performing 5 sources for categories or subcategories with
fewer than 30 sources.
Although emission standards are often structured in terms of
numerical emissions limits, alternative approaches are sometimes
necessary and are authorized pursuant to CAA section 112(d)(2). For
example, in some cases, physically measuring emissions from a source
may be not practicable due to technological and economic limitations.
Sections 112(d)(2)(D) and 112(h) of the CAA authorize EPA to promulgate
a design, equipment, work practice, or operational standard, or
combination thereof, consistent with the provisions of CAA sections
112(d) or (f), in those cases where it is not feasible to prescribe or
enforce an emission standard. Under CAA section 112(h)(2), the phrase
``not feasible to prescribe or enforce an emission standard'' includes
situations in which the EPA determines that the HAP emissions cannot be
emitted through a conveyance designed and constructed to emit or
capture the emissions or the application of measurement methodology to
a particular class of sources is not practicable due to technological
and economic limitations.
We are proposing an emissions standard for mercury pursuant to CAA
section 112(d)(2)(A) that is based on pollution prevention measures
which
[[Page 53817]]
``reduce the volume of, or eliminate emissions of, such pollutants
through process changes, substitution of materials, or other
modifications.'' We describe below why this standard establishes the
MACT floor for mercury under section 112(d)(3), and further why we are
not proposing beyond-the-floor standards for mercury. We note first,
however, that we do not view standards requiring (or directly based
upon) pollution prevention to be work practices under section 112(h).
This is because the statute specifically differentiates between
emission standards requiring pollution prevention measures (``measures
which reduce the volume of, or eliminate emissions of, such [HAP]
through * * * substitution of materials'') and those requiring work
practices, with only the latter requiring separate justification under
section 112(h). Compare section 112(d)(2)(A) and (D).\4\ This is a
reasonable construction, since there is reason to favor standards
requiring use of pollution prevention measures, which eliminate HAP
emissions altogether, over standards reflecting merely the capture of
some portion of an emitted HAP. There is thus no reason to disfavor
pollution prevention-based standards by allowing their use only if the
section 112(h) criteria are also satisfied.
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\4\ Such a standard is an ``emission standard'' since it
``limits the quantity * * * of emissions of air pollutants on a
continuous basis''. See section 302(k)(definition of ``emission
standard'').
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However, even assuming, for the sake of argument, that the proposed
pollution prevention standards for mercury are considered to be work
practices, it is not feasible to prescribe or enforce an emissions
limit for mercury, within the meaning of section 112(h). We believe
that continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) for mercury
concentration and volumetric flow rate would be needed for EAF, because
EAF steelmaking is a batch process, and mercury emissions vary
enormously from batch to batch as different scrap sources are
processed. Indeed, emissions have been shown to vary by two orders of
magnitude at a single plant.\5\ Cf. Mossville Environmental Action Now
v. EPA, 370 F. 3d 1232, 1240 (D.C. Cir. 2004) (noting that EPA
reasonably declined to establish MACT floor levels based on single
emission level measurements from batch process operations because of
constant change in those levels).
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\5\ See ``Analysis of Mercury Emissions Test Data'' in Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0083.
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We therefore examined the technological and economic feasibility of
continuous monitoring for mercury from these sources. We note first
that mercury CEMS are not demonstrated for EAF, raising a threshold
question of their technical feasibility for all EAF. Furthermore, most
EAF discharge emissions from positive pressure baghouses without
stacks. Continuous mercury monitoring would not be technically feasible
for these EAF (i.e., stackless EAF), even assuming that mercury CEMS
were otherwise demonstrated for EAF. This is because volumetric flow
rate and concentration would need to be determined by CEMS to measure
the mass emission rate of mercury, and without a stack, it is nearly
impossible to obtain an accurate measurement of volumetric flow rate or
to obtain representative measurements of mercury concentration in the
discharged emissions. Indeed, EPA has previously determined that the
use of continuous opacity monitoring systems (COMS) was not feasible
for positive pressure baghouses without stacks for this
reason.6, 7
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\6\ For example, EPA estimated that 70 of 130 electric arc
furnaces (EAF) subject to the new source performance standard (NSPS)
were not required to install continuous opacity monitors because of
the configuration of their baghouse. (See the EPA fact sheet for the
NSPS amendments available at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t1/fact_
sheets/eaf_npsfs.pdf).
\7\ Retrofitting such sources with stacks would be extremely
costly for most electric arc furnaces (EAFs) to the point that it
would not be economically practicable to do so. See ``Estimated
Impacts of Proposed Area Source Standard for EAF'' in EPA Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0083. EPA believes that one takes a source as
one finds it for purposes of applying section 112(h), and therefore
that it is simply not technologically practicable to apply
continuous mercury monitoring technology to a stackless EAF.
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Some EAF do have stacks, and the limited amount of mercury
emissions data from EAF which EPA has comes from such sources. These
limited test data were collected using manual test methods and are
therefore not reliable for determining an EAF's actual performance
because these short-term test results are not representative of the
long-term operation of a cyclic batch process. The results of the
different manual tests (typically 1-hour runs) show a variability of
over two orders of magnitude within a single source (as well as across
sources) and reinforce the conclusion that continuous monitoring would
be needed to prescribe and enforce a numerical emissions limit for
mercury.\8\ As noted, CEMS are not demonstrated for these sources. For
these reasons, we do not believe it technologically practicable to
apply continuous measurement methodology to even EAFs with stacks.
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\8\ See ``Analysis of Mercury Emissions Test Data'' in EPA
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0083.
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We also examined the possibility of setting a direct limit on the
amount of mercury entering the EAF and thus limiting emissions.\9\
However, the scrap charged to EAF includes many shapes and sizes,
bundles, discrete pieces, and various sizes of shredded metal.
Accordingly, there is no way to obtain representative samples for
analysis of mercury content to develop or enforce a mercury limit for
the scrap. The number of mercury switches in the scrap (the predominant
source of mercury in the scrap, and hence to an EAF) also cannot be
determined for the same reasons. In addition, the switches would not be
recognizable after scrap dealers have crushed and shredded incoming
scrap. Consequently, we propose that it is not feasible or practicable
to establish a limit for mercury in the scrap.
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\9\ However, as explained in section IV.D.1 of this preamble,
the standard we are proposing effectively establishes such a limit.
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The pollution prevention approach which is the basis for the
proposed MACT standard for mercury is discussed below in section IV.D.1
of this preamble.
III. Addition and Revision to Source Category Lists
Section 112(c)(6) of the CAA requires us to list categories and
subcategories of sources accounting for not less than 90 percent of the
aggregate emissions of each of seven specific HAP. Since the
publication of the original 1998 CAA section 112(c)(6) source category
list, we have collected additional data on mercury emissions in 1990
and performed another review of information on the 1990 baseline
emissions inventory that served as the basis for the listing. In re-
evaluating the baseline inventory, we have determined that EAF
steelmaking facilities emit mercury and contributed to the 90 percent
of the aggregate emissions of mercury in 1990, and we have updated our
estimates of the 1990 baseline year to reflect this contribution of
mercury from EAF.\10\ Consequently, we are adding EAF steelmaking
facilities to the list of source categories under CAA section 112(c)(6)
on the basis of mercury emissions.
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\10\ Additional information on the ``1990 Emissions Inventory of
Section 112(c)(6) Pollutants'' is available at https://www.epa.gov/
ttn/atw/112c6/112c6pg.html.
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This notice also announces a revision to the area source category
list developed under our Integrated Urban Air Toxics Strategy pursuant
to CAA section 112(c)(3). The revision changes the name of the listed
area source category, ``Stainless and Nonstainless Steel Manufacturing
Electric Arc
[[Page 53818]]
Furnaces (EAF)'' to ``Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking Facilities.'' We
are making this revision to clarify that the source category includes
all types of steel made in EAF, such as stainless steel, carbon steel,
specialty steel, and other grades and alloys of steel. This is simply a
change in the name of the source category and does not change the
universe of sources that were the basis of the original listing notice.
IV. Proposed NESHAP for EAF Steelmaking Facilities
A. What area source category is affected by the proposed NESHAP?
The EAF steelmaking area source category consists of facilities
engaged in the production of steel using EAF to melt primarily ferrous
scrap to produce molten steel. The molten steel is refined by ladle
metallurgy processing and subsequently cast into basic steel shapes
that are further processed in rolling mills.
The U.S. steel industry produced about 106 million tons of raw
steel in 2006, and approximately 93 ``minimills'' that melt ferrous
scrap in EAF accounted for 57 percent of the total U.S. production.
Critically, for purposes of the mercury standard proposed in this rule,
the EAF at minimills produce steel by melting recycled ferrous scrap.
The reason this is critical is that the mercury emitted by EAF comes
almost exclusively from automotive scrap, and approximately 50 to 80
percent of this mercury can be eliminated from the scrap feed by
pollution prevention measures carried out upstream of the EAF.
The production of steel in minimills has increased dramatically
over the past 30 years. Minimills accounted for 10 percent of the
national steel production in 1970, 30 to 40 percent in the 1980s, 40 to
50 percent in the 1990s, and (as noted) 57 percent in 2006. The growth
has been attributed in part to an expansion in the types and quality of
steel products that minimills can produce, including heavy structurals,
rail, plate, specialty bar, hot rolled, cold rolled, galvanized, and
stainless flat rolled products.
Most of the steel produced in EAF is carbon steel used in the
manufacture of construction materials, automobiles, appliances, and
other applications. Approximately 4 percent (about 2 million tons) is
specialty and stainless steel, which are high value steel products. The
types of steel are defined by their composition of alloying elements.
Stainless and alloy steels contain less carbon and zinc and more
chromium, manganese, and nickel than carbon steels. Some stainless
steel grades contain 12 to 28 percent chromium and 4 to 25 percent
nickel.
U.S. minimills are the largest recyclers of metal scrap in the
world. Recycled iron and steel scrap nationwide in 2004 included 25
percent ``home scrap'' (from current operations at the plant), 26
percent ``prompt scrap'' (from plants manufacturing steel products),
and 49 percent post-consumer scrap. The primary source of post-consumer
scrap is the automobile, and in 2004, the steel industry recycled 14.2
million tons of iron and steel scrap from 14 million vehicles.
B. What are the production processes and emissions sources?
Most EAF are equipped with three carbon electrodes that are raised
or lowered through the furnace roof. When the electrodes are retracted,
the furnace roof can be rotated to allow the charge of scrap steel by
an overhead crane. Electric current that is passed between the
electrodes and through the scrap generates heat to melt the scrap. The
stages of each production cycle include charging (loading scrap and
other raw materials into the furnace), melting, removing slag (a layer
of impurities that forms on top of the molten steel), and tapping
(pouring molten steel into a ladle). Operating cycles in this batch
process range from 35 to more than 200 minutes; the longer cycle times
are generally used when producing stainless and specialty steels. After
tapping, the steel is transferred to the ladle metallurgy facility
where it undergoes additional refining in a ladle to produce the
desired final properties. After the composition and temperature are
adjusted in the ladle metallurgy facility, the molten steel is
transferred to the continuous caster, which forms the steel into semi-
finished shapes. The steel shapes are then processed in rolling mills
to produce the final steel product.
Emissions from the EAF occur during charging, melting, and tapping.
Emissions may also occur when the molten steel is processed at the
ladle metallurgy facility. The type and volume of emissions of HAP
metals are affected by the quantity and type of HAP metals in the
ferrous scrap being melted and the addition of certain alloys (e.g.,
chromium, manganese, and nickel). Some HAP metals, such as manganese,
are an inherent and necessary component of ferrous scrap and the final
steel product. Other HAP metals, such as mercury, arsenic, and cadmium,
are undesirable elements introduced with the ferrous scrap. Other HAP
metals, such as chromium and nickel, are introduced as alloying
elements and are necessary to produce stainless and specialty steels.
Capture systems for emissions from EAF typically include direct-
shell evacuation control (DEC) systems; canopy hoods, side draft hoods,
and tapping hoods; partial or total enclosures; scavenger duct systems;
and building evacuation systems. The most common types of capture
systems for ladle metallurgy are canopy hoods, side draft hoods, and
close fitting hoods. Nearly all plants duct process and fugitive
emissions to a baghouse. These capture systems and PM control devices
are highly efficient for the capture and control of PM and HAP metals
that are in particulate form, including the Urban HAP arsenic, cadmium,
chromium, lead, manganese, and nickel. However, mercury emitted from
the EAF is in vapor form and is not controlled by the PM control
devices.
A detailed survey of 27 plants showed that EAF steelmaking
facilities use scrap specifications, scrap management plans, and
inspections to ensure that charge materials do not adversely affect the
quality of steel or create dangerous operating conditions. Common
requirements include testing for radiation; rejecting scrap containing
sealed containers, hazardous materials, or explosives; and prohibiting
materials such as lead, copper, oil, grease, batteries, and
refrigerants. Most plants also require some type of visual inspection
of incoming scrap. These scrap management procedures also serve to
reduce HAP emissions by preventing HAP materials and precursors from
entering the EAF and subsequently being emitted.
C. Summary of the Proposed Requirements
This section presents a summary of the requirements of the proposed
rule. Additional details and the rationale for the proposed
requirements are provided in the following section IV.D of this
preamble.
1. Applicability and Compliance Dates
The proposed NESHAP applies to each new or existing EAF steelmaking
facility that is an area source of HAP. We are proposing that the owner
or operator of an existing area source that does not have to install or
modify emissions control equipment to meet the opacity limit for
fugitive emissions comply with all applicable rule requirements no
later than six months after the date of publication of the final rule
in the Federal Register. We are proposing that the owner or operator of
an existing area source that must install
[[Page 53819]]
or modify emission control equipment to meet the opacity limit for
fugitive emissions may request a compliance date for the opacity limit
that is no later than two years after the date of publication of the
final rule in the Federal Register based on a demonstration to the
satisfaction of the permitting authority that the additional time is
needed. The owner or operator of a new affected source would be
required to comply with all applicable rule requirements by the date of
publication of the final rule in the Federal Register (if the startup
date is on or before promulgation) or upon startup (if the startup date
is after promulgation).
2. Proposed MACT Standards for the Control of Mercury
The proposed standards for mercury are based on pollution
prevention and require an EAF owner or operator who melts scrap from
motor vehicles either to purchase (or otherwise obtain) the motor
vehicle scrap only from scrap providers participating in an EPA-
approved program for the removal of mercury switches or to fulfill the
alternative requirements described below. EAF facilities participating
in an approved program must maintain records identifying each scrap
provider and documenting the scrap provider's participation in the EPA-
approved mercury switch removal program. A proposed compliance option
is for the EAF facility to prepare and operate pursuant to an EPA-
approved site-specific plan that includes specifications to the scrap
provider that mercury switches must be removed from motor vehicle
bodies at an efficiency comparable to that of the EPA-approved mercury
switch removal program (see below). An equivalent compliance option is
provided for facilities that do not utilize motor vehicle scrap that
contains mercury switches.
We expect most facilities that use motor vehicle scrap will choose
to comply by purchasing motor vehicle scrap only from scrap providers
who participate in a program for removal of mercury switches that has
been approved by the Administrator. The National Vehicle Mercury Switch
Recovery Program (NVMSRP) \11\ would be an approved program under this
proposed standard. Facilities choosing to use the NVMSRP as a
compliance option would have to assume all of the responsibilities for
steelmakers as described in the Memorandum of Understanding. The NVMSRP
is described in detail in section IV.D.1 of this preamble.
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\11\ Additional details can be found at https://www.epa.gov/
mercury/switch.htm and in section IV.D.1 of this preamble. In
particular, see the signed Memorandum of Understanding.
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EAF facilities could also obtain scrap from scrap providers
participating in other programs. To do so, the facility owner or
operator would have to submit a request to the Administrator for
approval to comply by purchasing scrap from scrap providers that are
participating in another switch removal program and demonstrate to the
Administrator's satisfaction that the program meets the following
specified criteria: (1) There is an outreach program that informs
automobile dismantlers of the need for removal of mercury switches and
provides training and guidance on switch removal, (2) the program has a
goal for the removal of at least 80 percent of the mercury switches,
and (3) the program sponsor must submit annual progress reports on the
number of switches removed and the estimated number of motor vehicle
bodies processed (from which a percentage of switches removed is easily
derivable).
EAF facilities that purchase motor vehicle scrap from scrap
providers that do not participate in an EPA-approved mercury switch
removal program would have to prepare and operate pursuant to and in
conformance with a site-specific plan for the removal of mercury
switches. The facility's scrap specifications would have to include a
requirement for the removal of mercury switches, and the plan must
include provisions for obtaining assurance from scrap providers that
mercury switches have been removed. The plan would be submitted to the
Administrator for approval and would demonstrate how the facility will
comply with specific requirements that include: (1) A means of
communicating to scrap purchasers and scrap providers the need to
obtain or provide motor vehicle scrap from which mercury switches have
been removed and the need to ensure the proper disposal of the mercury
switches, (2) provisions for obtaining assurance from scrap providers
that motor vehicle scrap provided to the facility meets the scrap
specifications, (3) provisions for periodic inspection, site visits, or
other means of corroboration to ensure that scrap providers and
dismantlers are implementing appropriate steps to minimize the presence
of mercury switches in motor vehicle scrap, (4) provisions for taking
corrective actions if needed, and (5) requiring each motor vehicle
scrap provider to provide an estimate of the number of mercury switches
removed from motor vehicle scrap sent to the facility during the
previous year and the basis for the estimate. The Administrator would
be able to request documentation or additional information from the
owner or operator at any time. The site-specific plan must establish a
goal for the removal of at least 80 percent of the mercury switches.
All documented and verifiable mercury-containing components removed
from motor vehicle scrap would count towards the 80 percent goal.
An equivalent compliance option would be provided for EAF
steelmakers who do not utilize motor vehicle scrap that contains
mercury. The option would require the facility to certify that the only
materials they are charging from motor vehicle scrap are materials
recovered for their specialty alloy, such as chromium in certain
exhaust systems. Such materials are known not to contain mercury, and
because the specialty steels must meet stringent product quality and
performance specifications, automobile scrap with contaminants such as
mercury, lead, zinc, and copper is not accepted.\12\
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\12\ Letter from Joseph Green, Counsel to the Specialty Steel
Industry of North America, to Steve Fruh, Environmental Protection
Agency. Information Regarding Specialty Steel Industry Segment. July
30, 2004.
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3. Proposed GACT Standards for EAF and Ladle Metallurgy Operations
We propose that the owner or operator would be required to install,
operate, and maintain capture systems for EAF and ladle metallurgy
operations that convey the collected gases and fumes to a venturi
scrubber or baghouse for the removal of PM. We are proposing separate
emissions limits for new and existing EAF steelmaking facilities that
produce less than 150,000 tpy of stainless or specialty steel, and for
larger, non-specialty EAF steelmaking facilities. The small facilities
would be required to comply with a PM emissions limit of 0.8 pounds of
PM per ton (lb/ton) of steel for each control device serving an EAF or
ladle metallurgy operation and an opacity limit of 6 percent for melt
shop emissions. All other EAF steelmaking facilities (both existing and
new) would be required to meet a PM limit of 0.0052 grains per dry
standard cubic foot (gr/dscf) for emissions from a control device for
an EAF or ladle metallurgy operation. The opacity of emissions from
melt shops from these sources would be limited to 6 percent.
Performance tests would be required for each emissions source to
demonstrate initial compliance with the
[[Page 53820]]
PM and opacity limits. Provisions are included in the proposed rule for
conducting the tests. The owner or operator of an existing EAF
steelmaking facility would be allowed to certify initial compliance
with the emissions limits if a previous test was conducted during the
past 5 years using the methods and procedures in the rule and either no
process changes have been made since the test, or the owner or operator
can demonstrate that the test results, with or without adjustments,
reliably demonstrate compliance despite process changes.
All EAF steelmaking facilities would be required to obtain a title
V permit. The proposed rule would require each EAF steelmaking facility
to monitor the capture system, PM control device, and melt shop;
maintain records; and submit reports according to the compliance
assurance monitoring (CAM) requirements in 40 CFR part 64. The existing
part 64 rule requires the owner or operator to establish appropriate
ranges for selected indicators for each emissions unit (i.e., operating
limits) such that operation within the ranges will provide a reasonable
assurance of compliance with the emissions limitations or standards.
The CAM rule requires the owner or operator to submit certain
monitoring information to the permitting authority for approval. This
information includes: (1) The indicators to be monitored; (2) the
ranges or designated conditions for such indicators, or the process by
which such indicator ranges or designated conditions will be
established; (3) performance criteria for the monitoring; and if
applicable, (4) the indicator ranges and performance criteria for a
CEMS, COMS, or predictive emissions monitoring system. The owner or
operator also must submit a justification for the proposed elements of
the monitoring control device (and process and capture system, if
applicable) and operating parameter data obtained during the conduct of
the applicable compliance or performance test.
If monitoring indicates that the unit is operating outside of the
acceptable range established in its permit, the owner or operator must
return the operation to within the established range consistent with 40
CFR 64.7(d).
4. Proposed GACT Standards for Scrap Management
In addition to meeting PM and opacity limits reflecting GACT, we
are also proposing that EAF facilities be required to restrict the use
of certain scrap or follow a pollution prevention plan for scrap
inspection and selection that minimizes the amount of specific
contaminants in the scrap.
The proposed requirements are based on two pollution prevention
approaches depending on the type of scrap that is used, and a facility
may have some scrap subject to one approach and other scrap subject to
the other approach. One provision is for scrap that does not contain
certain contaminants and would simply prohibit the processing of scrap
containing these contaminants (restricted scrap). Compliance would be
demonstrated by a certification that the owner or operator will not
process scrap with the contaminants. This scrap management approach is
expected to be most useful to stainless and specialty steel producers
with stringent scrap specifications that do not permit the use of motor
vehicle scrap and scrap containing free organic liquids. The other
approach for scrap that may contain certain contaminants is more
prescriptive and requires a pollution prevention plan, scrap
specifications, and procedures for determining that these requirements
are met. This pollution prevention approach was developed primarily for
carbon steel producers that accept motor vehicle scrap and many other
types of ferrous scrap.
Under the restricted scrap provision, the plant owner or operator
would agree to restrict the use of certain scrap, including metallic
scrap from motor vehicle bodies, engine blocks, oil filters, oily
turnings, machine shop borings, transformers and capacitors containing
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), lead-containing components,
chlorinated plastics, or free organic liquids. The restriction on lead-
containing components would not apply to the production of leaded steel
(where lead is obviously needed for production).
The other proposed scrap management provision would require the
plant owner or operator to prepare a pollution prevention plan for
metallic scrap selection and inspection to minimize the amount of
chlorinated plastics, lead (except for the production of leaded steel),
and free organic liquids. This plan would be submitted to the
Administrator for approval. The owner or operator would be required to
keep a copy of the plan onsite and train plant personnel with materials
acquisition or inspection duties in the plan's requirements.
The plan would include specifications for scrap materials to be
depleted (to the extent practicable) of lead-containing components
(except for the production of leaded steel), undrained used oil
filters, chlorinated plastics, and free organic liquids. The plan would
also contain procedures for determining if these requirements are met
(e.g., visual inspection or periodic audits of scrap suppliers) and
procedures for taking corrective actions with vendors whose shipments
are not within specifications.
5. Proposed Requirements for Recordkeeping and Reporting
Area sources subject to the proposed requirements for EAF and ladle
metallurgy operations would be subject to the recordkeeping and
reporting requirements of the part 64 CAM rule. The general
recordkeeping requirements of the part 64 rule directs the owner or
operator to comply with the recordkeeping requirements for title V
operating permits in 40 CFR 70.6(a)(3)(ii), which require records of
analyses, measurements, and sampling data. The part 64 rule also
requires the owner or operator to maintain records of monitoring data,
monitor performance data, corrective actions taken, any written quality
improvement plan (QIP), any activities undertaken to implement a QIP,
and other supporting information required by the part 64 rule (such as
data used to document the adequacy of monitoring, or records of
monitoring maintenance or corrective actions).
The general reporting requirements of part 64 require the owner or
operator to submit monitoring reports to the permitting authority in
accordance with the requirements for facilities with title V operating
permits. The title V reporting requirements in 40 CFR 70.6(c)(1) and 40
CFR 71.6(c)(1) include a 6-month monitoring report, deviation reports,
and annual compliance certifications. The reporting requirements under
part 64 requires that the 6-month monitoring report include: (1)
Summary information on the number, duration and cause (including
unknown cause, if applicable) of excursions or exceedances, as
applicable, and the corrective actions taken; (2) summary information
on the number, duration and cause (including unknown cause, if
applicable) for monitor downtime incidents (other than downtime
associated with zero and span or other daily calibration checks, if
applicable); and (3) a description of the actions taken to implement a
QIP during the reporting period. Upon completion of a QIP, the owner or
operator must include in the next summary report documentation that the
implementation of the plan has been completed and reduced the
likelihood of similar levels of excursions or exceedances occurring.
All EAF steelmaking facilities subject to this proposed NESHAP
would also be subject to certain specified requirements
[[Page 53821]]
of the NESHAP general provisions (40 CFR part 63, subpart A). The
general provisions include requirements for initial notifications;
startup, shutdown, and malfunction records and reports; recordkeeping;
and semiannual excess emissions and monitoring system performance
reports. The information required in these records and reports is
similar to the information required by the CAM rule (40 CFR part 64)
and the operating permits rules (40 CFR parts 70 and 71).
The proposed NESHAP also includes specific recordkeeping and
reporting requirements for area source facilities subject to
requirements for control of contaminants from scrap. The area source
facilities would be required to keep records to demonstrate compliance
with the requirements for their pollution prevention plan for
minimizing the amount of chlorinated plastics, lead, and free organic
liquids charged to a furnace or for the use of only restricted scrap
and the site-specific plan for mercury or any of the mercury compliance
options.
As noted above, facilities subject to the site-specific plan for
mercury would be required to keep records and submit semiannual reports
on the number of mercury switches removed by the scrap provider or the
weight of mercury recovered from those switches, an estimate of the
percent of mercury switches recovered, and certification that the
recovered mercury switches were managed at RCRA-permitted facilities.
In contrast, facilities participating in an EPA-approved program for
switch removal must keep records that identify their scrap providers
and document that they participate in an approved switch removal
program. As discussed in more detail in section IV.D.1 of this
preamble, we are proposing to require more extensive records for a
site-specific plan than for an approved program because extensive
recordkeeping, reporting, and measurement of success are already
required for approval of such a removal program, the NVMSRP being the
prime example.
All facilities subject to the requirements for the control of
contaminants from scrap would be required to submit semiannual reports
according to the requirements in Sec. 63.10(e) of the general
provisions. The report would identify any deviation from the rule
requirements and the corrective action taken.
D. What is our rationale for the proposed MACT and GACT standards?
1. Proposed MACT Standard for Mercury
Background. Mercury enters the EAF steelmaking process almost
exclusively with the ferrous scrap that is charged to the furnace. A
few other materials are charged to the EAF in small quantities (e.g.,
coke, coal, lime); however, they contribute little mercury because they
are used in very small quantities relative to the scrap charge and
contain virtually no mercury in any case. The major source of mercury
in ferrous scrap is convenience light switches in end-of-life vehicles
that contain 0.8 grams (g) to 1.2 g of mercury per switch. These
switches (called mercury switches or tilt switches) control lights
under the hoods and in the trunks of older model vehicles. The Ecology
Center estimated that the vehicles retired in 2003 contained 8.5
million switches and 9.3 tons of mercury. Pilot studies in New Jersey
and Michigan reported 0.54 to 0.8 mercury switches per vehicle
processed. For 14 million vehicles recycled in 2004, the number of
switches thus would be in the range of 7.6 to 11 million. Although
mercury switches were phased out of automobiles in 2002, there is a 10
to 15 year supply of existing vehicles destined for recycling that
still contain the switches. There are other components in automobile
scrap which contain small amounts of mercury, such as anti-lock braking
sensors, security systems, and active ride control systems. However,
most of the mercury is contributed by convenience light switches, which
are estimated to be the source of 87 percent of the mercury in motor
vehicle scrap by the Ecology Center.\13\
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\13\ The Ecology Center report and other information cited for
mercury switches is available in EPA Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-
0083.
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We have very limited data on the mercury species emitted from EAFs;
however, the limited data indicate that over 99 percent of the mercury
emissions are in the gaseous form, and about 93 percent of the gaseous
mercury is elemental mercury. Although baghouses are highly efficient
at removing HAP metals that are in the particulate phase, the baghouses
do not control gaseous or vapor phase mercury and thus (for practical
purposes) do not control mercury emissions from EAFs. No EAFs use add-
on controls for gaseous mercury emissions.
The limited test data show extreme variability (orders of
magnitude) in mercury emissions from plant to plant and from the same
plant over time as different batches of scrap are melted. The limited
sampling results of input materials likewise indicate that the mercury
content of scrap typically varies widely.\14\
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\14\ See ``Analysis of Mercury Emissions Test Data'' in Docket
ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0083.
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We also examined scrap specifications that may be in use to reduce
mercury emissions. Three companies reported in their survey responses
that their scrap specifications prohibited mercury-containing
components. However, there was no measure of effectiveness of the
written specification.
Over the past few years, there has been an increasing awareness
that a highly effective way of reducing mercury releases to the
environment from scrap using entities like EAFs is to remove mercury
switches from end-of-life vehicles prior to crushing, shredding, and
melting. Numerous interested parties have been involved at the local,
State, and national level in the development and implementation of
switch removal programs, including local and State environmental
agencies, national and local environmental groups, steel recyclers,
steel producers, automobile makers, various EPA offices, and others.
Many successful State and local switch removal programs are already in
place, and more are expected in the future.
Several State programs for mercury switch removal have been
implemented, and there are many different variations. Some programs are
mandated by law, and others are voluntary. Some offer financial
incentives provided by different stakeholders, some specify financial
incentives to be provided by automobile makers, and some have no
financial incentives. Some have a strict accounting of switches removed
and requirements for proper collection, management, and disposal of the
switches.
There have been direct measurements of the mercury emission
reductions that can be achieved at minimills by switch removal
programs. For example, a pilot program administered by the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection reported a reduction of 50
percent in mercury emissions when the EAF melted scrap that had been
processed in a switch removal program.\15\ We also identified one
minimill in Minnesota that had implemented a mercury switch removal
program that included removal prior to processing in their on-site
shredder and a system for paying other
[[Page 53822]]
scrap suppliers to remove switches. This program has resulted in a
quantifiable reduction in environmental releases of mercury. These two
studies confirm that a national mercury switch removal program for end-
of-life vehicles will reduce mercury emissions.
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\15\ ``Mercury Switch Data Collection Pilot Project.'' Prepared
by K.L. Woodruff. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
March 24, 2004.
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Switch removal programs reduce mercury releases to all media.
Switch removal reduces mercury releases to air, water, and land when
automobiles are crushed and shredded prior to delivery to the
minimills. Mercury contamination of auto shred residue (plastics,
fabrics, and other unwanted materials in the automobile) is reduced
making safer the further management of the material. The switches
themselves are isolated and managed in RCRA subtitle C hazardous waste
management facilities where they are subject to stringent regulatory
control. As a result of the mercury switch removal programs, mercury
emissions are reduced at all facilities which use the scrap as raw
material, including not only EAFs but integrated iron and steel plants
and iron and steel foundries. Finally, mercury emissions are reduced
from scrap that is exported and melted in furnaces in other countries.
The National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program (NVMSRP).\16\
A significant step forward in reducing mercury emissions was made on
August 11, 2006 when a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by
representatives of the steel industry, automobile makers, scrap
recyclers, environmental groups, State and local agencies, and EPA.\17\
The MOU established the NVMSRP, and this program has been implemented
and is already removing and recovering mercury switches from end-of-
life vehicles before the metallic scrap is recycled at EAFs (and other
steel-producing entities).
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\16\ This section describes the national switch recovery program
in detail. As discussed in the following sections of this preamble,
the proposed rule does not codify these details as part of the
proposed standard for mercury emissions. Th