National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Secondary Aluminum Production, 72873-72912 [2014-27497]
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Vol. 79
Monday,
No. 235
December 8, 2014
Part III
Environmental Protection Agency
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40 CFR Part 63
National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Secondary
Aluminum Production; Proposed Rule
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 63
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2010–0544; FRL–9919–33–
OAR]
RIN 2060–AQ40
National Emissions Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants: Secondary
Aluminum Production
Environmental Protection
Agency.
ACTION: Supplemental notice of
proposed rulemaking.
AGENCY:
This action supplements our
notice of proposed rulemaking for the
national emissions standards for
hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for
secondary aluminum production, which
was published in the Federal Register
on February 14, 2012. In that action, the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
proposed decisions concerning the
residual risk and technology review for
the Secondary Aluminum Production
source category and proposed
amendments to correct and clarify rule
requirements. This supplemental
proposal presents a revised risk review
(including a revised inhalation risk
assessment, a refined multipathway risk
assessment, and an updated ample
margin of safety analysis) and a revised
technology review for the Secondary
Aluminum Production source category.
Similar to the 2012 proposal, we found
risks due to emissions of air toxics to be
acceptable from this source category and
we identified no cost effective controls
under the updated ample margin of
safety analysis or the technology review
to achieve further emissions reductions.
Therefore, we are proposing no
revisions to the numeric emission
standards based on these revised
analyses. However, this supplemental
proposal supplements and modifies
several of the proposed technical
corrections and rule clarifications that
were originally presented in the
February 14, 2012 proposal; withdraws
our previous proposal to include
affirmative defense provisions in the
regulation; proposes alternative
compliance options for the operating
and monitoring requirements for sweat
furnaces; and provides a revised cost
analysis for compliance testing. This
action, if finalized, would result in
improved monitoring, compliance and
implementation of the rule.
DATES: Comments. Comments must be
received on or before January 22, 2015.
A copy of comments on the information
collection provisions should be
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SUMMARY:
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submitted to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) on or before January
7, 2015.
Public Hearing. If anyone contacts the
EPA requesting a public hearing by
December 15, 2014, the EPA will hold
a public hearing on December 23, 2014
at the U.S. EPA building at 109 T.W.
Alexander Drive, Research Triangle
Park, NC 27711. If you are interested in
requesting a public hearing or attending
the public hearing, contact Ms. Virginia
Hunt at (919) 541–0832 or at
hunt.virginia@epa.gov. If the EPA holds
a public hearing, the EPA will keep the
record of the hearing open for 30 days
after completion of the hearing to
provide an opportunity for submission
of rebuttal and supplementary
information.
Comments. Submit your
comments, identified by Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–OAR–2010–0544, by one of
the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
• Email: A-and-R-docket@epa.gov.
Include Attention Docket ID No. EPA–
HQ–OAR–2010–0544 in the subject line
of the message.
• Fax: (202) 566–9744, Attention
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2010–
0544.
• Mail: Environmental Protection
Agency, EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC),
Mail Code 28221T, Attention Docket ID
No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2010–0544, 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington,
DC 20460. 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 Street
NW., Washington, DC 20503.
• Hand/Courier Delivery: EPA Docket
Center, Room 3334, EPA WJC West
Building, 1301 Constitution Avenue
NW., Washington, DC 20004, Attention
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2010–
0544. 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–2010–
0544. The 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.
ADDRESSES:
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Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise
protected through https://
www.regulations.gov or email. The
https://www.regulations.gov Web site is
an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which
means the EPA will not know your
identity or contact information unless
you provide it in the body of your
comment. If you send an email
comment directly to the EPA without
going through https://
www.regulations.gov, your email
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, the 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 the EPA
cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact
you for clarification, the EPA may not
be able to consider your comment.
Electronic files should not include
special characters or any form of
encryption and be free of any defects or
viruses. For additional information
about the EPA’s public docket, visit the
EPA Docket Center homepage at https://
www.epa.gov/dockets.
Docket: The EPA has established a
docket for this rulemaking under Docket
ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2010–0544. All
documents in the docket are listed in
the 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, is not placed on
the Internet and will be publicly
available only in hard copy. Publicly
available docket materials are available
either electronically in https://
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
the EPA Docket Center, Room 3334,
EPA WJC West Building, 1301
Constitution Avenue 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 EPA
Docket Center is (202) 566–1742.
Public Hearing: If anyone contacts the
EPA requesting a public hearing by
December 15, 2014, the public hearing
will be held on December 23, 2014 at
the EPA’s campus at 109 T.W.
Alexander Drive, Research Triangle
Park, North Carolina. The hearing will
begin at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard
Time) and conclude at 5:00 p.m.
(Eastern Standard Time). Please contact
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Ms. Virginia Hunt at 919–541–0832 or at
hunt.virginia@epa.gov to register to
speak at the hearing or to inquire as to
whether or not a hearing will be held.
The last day to pre-register in advance
to speak at the hearing will be December
22, 2014. Additionally, requests to
speak will be taken the day of the
hearing at the hearing registration desk,
although preferences on speaking times
may not be able to be accommodated. If
you require the service of a translator or
special accommodations such as audio
description, please let us know at the
time of registration. If you require an
accommodation, we ask that you preregister for the hearing, as we may not
be able to arrange such accommodations
without advance notice.
If no one contacts the EPA requesting
a public hearing to be held concerning
this proposed rule by December 15,
2014, a public hearing will not take
place. If a hearing is held, it will
provide interested parties the
opportunity to present data, views or
arguments concerning the supplemental
notice of proposed rulemaking. The EPA
will make every effort to accommodate
all speakers who arrive and register.
Because the hearing will be held at a
U.S. government facility, individuals
planning to attend the hearing should be
prepared to show valid picture
identification to the security staff in
order to gain access to the meeting
room. Please note that the REAL ID Act,
passed by Congress in 2005, established
new requirements for entering federal
facilities. If your driver’s license is
issued by Alaska, American Samoa,
Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana,
New York, Oklahoma or the state of
Washington, you must present an
additional form of identification to enter
the federal building. Acceptable
alternative forms of identification
include: Federal employee badges,
passports, enhanced driver’s licenses
and military identification cards. In
addition, you will need to obtain a
property pass for any personal
belongings you bring with you. Upon
leaving the building, you will be
required to return this property pass to
the security desk. No large signs will be
allowed in the building, cameras may
only be used outside of the building and
demonstrations will not be allowed on
federal property for security reasons.
The EPA may ask clarifying questions
during the oral presentations, but will
not respond to the presentations at that
time. Written statements and supporting
information submitted during the
comment period will be considered
with the same weight as oral comments
and supporting information presented at
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the public hearing. Commenters should
notify Ms. Hunt if they will need
specific equipment, or if there are other
special needs related to providing
comments at the hearings. Verbatim
transcripts of the hearing and written
statements will be included in the
docket for the rulemaking. The EPA will
make every effort to follow the schedule
as closely as possible on the day of the
hearing; however, please plan for the
hearing to run either ahead of schedule
or behind schedule. Again, a hearing
will not be held unless requested. Please
contact Ms. Virginia Hunt at (919) 541–
0832 or at hunt.virginia@epa.gov to
request or register to speak at the
hearing or to inquire as to whether or
not a hearing will be held.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
questions about this proposed action,
contact Ms. Rochelle Boyd, Sector
Policies and Programs Division (D243–
02), Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Research Triangle
Park, North Carolina 27711, telephone
(919) 541–1390; fax number: (919) 541–
3207; and email address: boyd.rochelle@
epa.gov. For specific information
regarding the risk modeling
methodology, contact James Hirtz,
Health and Environmental Impacts
Division, (C539–02), Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711;
telephone number: (919) 541–0881; fax
number: (919) 541–0840; and email
address: hirtz.james@epa.gov. For
information about the applicability of
the NESHAP to a particular entity,
contact Scott Throwe, Office of
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
(OECA), telephone number (202) 564–
7013; and email address: throwe.scott@
epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Preamble Acronyms and
Abbreviations: We use multiple
acronyms and terms in this preamble.
While this list may not be exhaustive, to
ease the reading of this preamble and for
reference purposes, the EPA defines the
following terms and acronyms here:
ACGIH American Conference of
Government Industrial Hygienists
AEGL acute exposure guideline levels
AERMOD air dispersion model used by the
HEM–3 model
AMOS ample margin of safety
ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry
BACT best available control technology
CAA Clean Air Act
CalEPA California Environmental
Protection Agency
CBI confidential business information
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
D/F dioxins and furans
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EJ environmental justice
EPA United States Environmental
Protection Agency
ERPG Emergency Response Planning
Guidelines
ERT Electronic Reporting Tool
HAP hazardous air pollutants
HCl hydrogen chloride
HEM–3 Human Exposure Model, Version 3
HF hydrogen fluoride
HI hazard index
HQ hazard quotient
ICR information collection request
IRIS Integrated Risk Information System
km kilometer
lb/yr pounds per year
LOAEL lowest-observed-adverse-effect level
MACT maximum achievable control
technology
mg/m3 milligrams per cubic meter
MIR maximum individual risk
NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality
Standard
NAICS North American Industry
Classification System
NAS National Academy of Sciences
NATA National Air Toxics Assessment
NEI National Emissions Inventory
NESHAP National Emissions Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants
NOAEL no observed adverse effects level
NRC National Research Council
NTTAA National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
O&M operation and maintenance
OAQPS Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards
OECA Office of Enforcement and
Compliance Assurance
OMB Office of Management and Budget
OM&M operation, maintenance and
monitoring
PAH polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
PB–HAP hazardous air pollutants known to
be persistent and bio-accumulative in the
environment
PEL probable effect levels
PM particulate matter
POM polycyclic organic matter
REL reference exposure level
RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act
RfC reference concentration
RfD reference dose
RTR residual risk and technology review
SAB Science Advisory Board
SAPU secondary aluminum processing unit
SBA Small Business Administration
SOP standard operating procedures
SSM startup, shutdown, and malfunction
TEQ toxic equivalents
THC total hydrocarbons
TOSHI target organ-specific hazard index
tpy tons per year
TRIM.FaTE Total Risk Integrated
Methodology Fate, Transport and
Ecological Exposure model
TTN Technology Transfer Network
UBC used beverage containers
UF uncertainty factor
mg/m3 microgram per cubic meter
UMRA Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
URE unit risk estimate
WHO World Health Organization
Organization of this Document. The
information in this preamble is
organized as follows:
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
B. Where can I get a copy of this document
and other related information?
C. What should I consider as I prepare my
comments for the EPA?
II. Background Information
A. What is the statutory authority for this
action?
B. What is this source category and how
does the current NESHAP regulate its
HAP emissions?
C. What is the history of the Secondary
Aluminum Risk and Technology
Review?
D. What data collection activities were
conducted to support this action?
III. Analytical Procedures
A. How did we evaluate the post-MACT
risks posed by the Secondary Aluminum
Production source category in the risk
assessment developed for this
supplemental proposal?
B. How did we consider the risk results in
making decisions for this supplemental
proposal?
C. How did we perform the technology
review?
IV. Revised Analytical Results and Proposed
Decisions for the Secondary Aluminum
Production Source Category
A. What are the results of the risk
assessment and analysis?
B. What are our proposed decisions
regarding risk acceptability, ample
margin of safety and adverse
environmental effects based on our
revised analyses?
C. What are the results and proposed
decisions based on our technology
review?
D. What other actions are we proposing?
E. What compliance dates are we
proposing?
V. Summary of the Revised Cost,
Environmental and Economic Impacts
A. What are the affected sources?
B. What are the air quality impacts?
C. What are the cost impacts?
D. What are the economic impacts?
E. What are the benefits?
VI. Request for Comments
VII. Submitting Data Corrections
VIII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
Planning and Review and Executive
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and
Regulatory 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
Risks and Safety Risks
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions
to Address Environmental Justice in
Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
The regulated industrial source
category that is the subject of this
supplemental proposal is listed in Table
1 of this preamble. Table 1 of this
preamble is not intended to be
exhaustive, but rather provides a guide
for readers regarding the entities likely
to be affected by this proposed action.
These standards, once finalized, will be
directly applicable to affected sources.
Federal, state, local and tribal
government entities are not affected by
this proposed action. To determine
whether your facility would be affected,
you should examine the applicability
criteria in the NESHAP. The Secondary
Aluminum Production source category
includes any facility using clean charge,
aluminum scrap or dross from
aluminum production, as the raw
material and performing one or more of
the following processes: scrap
shredding, scrap drying/delacquering/
decoating, thermal chip drying, furnace
operations (i.e., melting, holding,
sweating, refining, fluxing or alloying),
recovery of aluminum from dross, inline fluxing or dross cooling.
TABLE 1—NESHAP AND INDUSTRIAL SOURCE CATEGORIES AFFECTED BY THIS PROPOSED ACTION
Industrial source category
NESHAP
Secondary Aluminum Production ............................................................................................................
Primary Aluminum Production Facilities .................................................................................................
Aluminum Sheet, Plate, and Foil Manufacturing Facilities .....................................................................
Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing Facilities ............................................................................
Other Aluminum Rolling and Drawing Facilities .....................................................................................
Aluminum Die Casting Facilities .............................................................................................................
Aluminum Foundry Facilities ...................................................................................................................
Secondary ..............................
Aluminum ...............................
Production ..............................
................................................
................................................
................................................
................................................
a North
331314
331312
331315
331316
331319
331521
331524
American Industry Classification System.
B. Where can I get a copy of this
document and other related
information?
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NAICS
Code a
In addition to being available in the
docket, an electronic copy of this action
is available on the Internet through
EPA’s Technology Transfer Network
(TTN) Web site, a forum for information
and technology exchange in various
areas of air pollution control. Following
signature by the EPA Administrator, the
EPA will post a copy of this
supplemental proposal at: https://
www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/alum2nd/
alum2pg.html. Following publication in
the Federal Register, the EPA will post
the Federal Register version of the
proposal and key technical documents
at this same Web site. Information on
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the overall residual risk and technology
review program is available at the
following Web site: https://www.epa.gov/
ttn/atw/rrisk/rtrpg.html.
C. What should I consider as I prepare
my comments for the EPA?
Submitting CBI. Do not submit
information containing CBI to the EPA
through https://www.regulations.gov or
email. Clearly mark the part or all of the
information that you claim to be CBI.
For CBI information on a disk or CD–
ROM that you mail to the 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
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comments that includes information
claimed as CBI, you must submit a copy
of the comments that does not contain
the information claimed as CBI for
inclusion in the public docket. If you
submit a CD–ROM or disk that does not
contain CBI, mark the outside of the
disk or CD–ROM clearly that it does not
contain CBI. Information not marked as
CBI will be included in the public
docket and the EPA’s electronic public
docket without prior notice. Information
marked as CBI will not be disclosed
except in accordance with procedures
set forth in 40 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) part 2. Send or
deliver information identified as CBI
only to the following address: Roberto
Morales, OAQPS Document Control
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Officer (C404–02), OAQPS, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
27711, Attention Docket ID No. EPA–
HQ–OAR–2010–0544.
II. Background Information
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A. What is the statutory authority for
this action?
Section 112 of the Clean Air Act
(CAA) establishes a two-stage regulatory
process to address emissions of
hazardous air pollutants (HAP) from
stationary sources. In the first stage,
after the EPA has identified categories of
sources emitting one or more of the HAP
listed in CAA section 112(b), CAA
section 112(d) requires us to promulgate
technology-based NESHAP for those
sources. ‘‘Major sources’’ are those that
emit or have the potential to emit 10
tons per year (tpy) or more of a single
HAP or 25 tpy or more of any
combination of HAP. For major sources,
the technology-based NESHAP must
reflect the maximum degree of emission
reductions of HAP achievable (after
considering cost, energy requirements
and non-air quality health and
environmental impacts) and are
commonly referred to as maximum
achievable control technology (MACT)
standards.
MACT standards must reflect the
maximum degree of emission reduction
achievable through the application of
measures, processes, methods, systems
or techniques, including, but not limited
to, measures that (1) reduce the volume
of or eliminate pollutants through
process changes, substitution of
materials or other modifications; (2)
enclose systems or processes to
eliminate emissions; (3) capture or treat
pollutants when released from a
process, stack, storage or fugitive
emissions point; (4) are design,
equipment, work practice or operational
standards (including requirements for
operator training or certification); or (5)
are a combination of the above. CAA
section 112(d)(2)(A) through (E). The
MACT standards may take the form of
design, equipment, work practice or
operational standards where the EPA
first determines either that (1) a
pollutant cannot be emitted through a
conveyance designed and constructed to
emit or capture the pollutant, or that
any requirement for, or use of, such a
conveyance would be inconsistent with
law; or (2) the application of
measurement methodology to a
particular class of sources is not
practicable due to technological and
economic limitations. CAA section
112(h)(1) and (2).
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The MACT ‘‘floor’’ is the minimum
control level allowed for MACT
standards promulgated under CAA
section 112(d)(3) and may not be based
on cost considerations. For new sources,
the MACT floor cannot be less stringent
than the emissions control that is
achieved in practice by the bestcontrolled similar source. The MACT
floor for existing sources can be less
stringent than floors for new sources but
not less stringent than the average
emissions limitation achieved by the
best-performing 12 percent of existing
sources in the category or subcategory
(or the best-performing five sources for
categories or subcategories with fewer
than 30 sources). In developing MACT
standards, the EPA must also consider
control options that are more stringent
than the floor. We may establish
standards more stringent than the floor
based on considerations of the cost of
achieving the emission reductions, any
non-air quality health and
environmental impacts and energy
requirements.
The EPA is then required to review
these technology-based standards and
revise them ‘‘as necessary (taking into
account developments in practices,
processes, and control technologies)’’ no
less frequently than every eight years.
CAA section 112(d)(6). In conducting
this review, the EPA is not required to
recalculate the MACT floor. Natural
Resources Defense Council (NRDC) v.
EPA, 529 F.3d 1077, 1084 (D.C. Cir.
2008). Association of Battery Recyclers,
Inc. v. EPA, 716 F.3d 667 (D.C. Cir.
2013).
The second stage in standard-setting
focuses on reducing any remaining (i.e.,
‘‘residual’’) risk according to CAA
section 112(f). Section 112(f)(1) required
that the EPA prepare a report to
Congress discussing (among other
things) methods of calculating the risks
posed (or potentially posed) by sources
after implementation of the MACT
standards, the public health significance
of those risks and the EPA’s
recommendations as to legislation
regarding such remaining risk. The EPA
prepared and submitted the Residual
Risk Report to Congress, EPA–453/R–
99–001 (Risk Report) in March 1999.
CAA section 112(f)(2) then provides that
if Congress does not act on any
recommendation in the Risk Report, the
EPA must analyze and address residual
risk for each category or subcategory of
sources 8 years after promulgation of
such standards pursuant to CAA section
112(d).
Section 112(f)(2) of the CAA requires
the EPA to determine for source
categories subject to MACT standards
whether the emission standards provide
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an ample margin of safety to protect
public health. Section 112(f)(2)(B) of the
CAA expressly preserves the EPA’s use
of the two-step process for developing
standards to address any residual risk
and the agency’s interpretation of
‘‘ample margin of safety’’ developed in
the National Emissions Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants: Benzene
Emissions from Maleic Anhydride
Plants, Ethylbenzene/Styrene Plants,
Benzene Storage Vessels, Benzene
Equipment Leaks, and Coke By-Product
Recovery Plants (Benzene NESHAP) (54
FR 38044, September 14, 1989). The
EPA notified Congress in the Risk
Report that the agency intended to use
the Benzene NESHAP approach in
making CAA section 112(f) residual risk
determinations (EPA–453/R–99–001, p.
ES–11). The EPA subsequently adopted
this approach in its residual risk
determinations and in a challenge to the
risk review for the Synthetic Organic
Chemical Manufacturing source
category, the United States Court of
Appeals for the District of Columbia
Circuit upheld as reasonable the EPA’s
interpretation that subsection 112(f)(2)
incorporates the approach established in
the Benzene NESHAP. See NRDC v.
EPA, 529 F.3d 1077, 1083 (D.C. Cir.
2008)(‘‘[S]ubsection 112(f)(2)(B)
expressly incorporates the EPA’s
interpretation of the Clean Air Act from
the Benzene standard, complete with a
citation to the Federal Register.’’); see
also A Legislative History of the Clean
Air Act Amendments of 1990, vol. 1, p.
877 (Senate debate on Conference
Report).
The first step in the process of
evaluating residual risk is the
determination of acceptable risk. If risks
are unacceptable, the EPA cannot
consider cost in identifying the
emissions standards necessary to bring
risks to an acceptable level. The second
step is the determination of whether
standards must be further revised in
order to provide an ample margin of
safety to protect public health. The
ample margin of safety is the level at
which the standards must be set, unless
an even more stringent standard is
necessary to prevent, taking into
consideration costs, energy, safety and
other relevant factors, an adverse
environmental effect.
1. Step 1—Determination of
Acceptability
The agency in the Benzene NESHAP
concluded that ‘‘the acceptability of risk
under section 112 is best judged on the
basis of a broad set of health risk
measures and information’’ and that the
‘‘judgment on acceptability cannot be
reduced to any single factor.’’ Benzene
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NESHAP at 38046. The determination of
what represents an ‘‘acceptable’’ risk is
based on a judgment of ‘‘what risks are
acceptable in the world in which we
live’’ (Risk Report at 178, quoting NRDC
v. EPA, 824 F. 2d 1146, 1165 (D.C. Cir.
1987) (en banc) (‘‘Vinyl Chloride’’),
recognizing that our world is not riskfree.
In the Benzene NESHAP, we stated
that ‘‘EPA will generally presume that if
the risk to [the maximum exposed]
individual is no higher than
approximately one in 10 thousand, that
risk level is considered acceptable.’’ 54
FR at 38045. We discussed the
maximum individual lifetime cancer
risk (or maximum individual risk (MIR))
as being ‘‘the estimated risk that a
person living near a plant would have
if he or she were exposed to the
maximum pollutant concentrations for
70 years.’’ Id. We explained that this
measure of risk ‘‘is an estimate of the
upper bound of risk based on
conservative assumptions, such as
continuous exposure for 24 hours per
day for 70 years.’’ Id. We explained that
this measure of risk ‘‘is an estimate of
the upper bound of risk based on
conservative assumptions, such as
continuous exposure for 24 hours per
day for 70 years.’’ Id. We acknowledged
that maximum individual lifetime
cancer risk ‘‘does not necessarily reflect
the true risk, but displays a conservative
risk level which is an upper-bound that
is unlikely to be exceeded.’’ Id.
Understanding that there are both
benefits and limitations to using the
MIR as a metric for determining
acceptability, we acknowledged in the
Benzene NESHAP that ‘‘consideration of
maximum individual risk . . . must
take into account the strengths and
weaknesses of this measure of risk.’’ Id.
Consequently, the presumptive risk
level of 100-in-1 million (1-in-10
thousand) provides a benchmark for
judging the acceptability of maximum
individual lifetime cancer risk, but does
not constitute a rigid line for making
that determination. Further, in the
Benzene NESHAP, we noted that:
‘‘[p]articular attention will also be accorded
to the weight of evidence presented in the
risk assessment of potential carcinogenicity
or other health effects of a pollutant. While
the same numerical risk may be estimated for
an exposure to a pollutant judged to be a
known human carcinogen, and to a pollutant
considered a possible human carcinogen
based on limited animal test data, the same
weight cannot be accorded to both estimates.
In considering the potential public health
effects of the two pollutants, the Agency’s
judgment on acceptability, including the
MIR, will be influenced by the greater weight
of evidence for the known human
carcinogen.’’
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Id. at 38046. The agency also explained
in the Benzene NESHAP that:
‘‘[i]n establishing a presumption for MIR,
rather than a rigid line for acceptability, the
Agency intends to weigh it with a series of
other health measures and factors. These
include the overall incidence of cancer or
other serious health effects within the
exposed population, the numbers of persons
exposed within each individual lifetime risk
range and associated incidence within,
typically, a 50 km exposure radius around
facilities, the science policy assumptions and
estimation uncertainties associated with the
risk measures, weight of the scientific
evidence for human health effects, other
quantified or unquantified health effects,
effects due to co-location of facilities, and coemission of pollutants.’’
Id. at 38045. In some cases, these health
measures and factors taken together may
provide a more realistic description of
the magnitude of risk in the exposed
population than that provided by
maximum individual lifetime cancer
risk alone.
As noted earlier, in NRDC v. EPA, the
court held that section 112(f)(2)
‘‘incorporates the EPA’s interpretation
of the Clean Air Act from the Benzene
Standard.’’ The court further held that
Congress’ incorporation of the Benzene
standard applies equally to carcinogens
and non-carcinogens. 529 F.3d at 1081–
82. Accordingly, we also consider noncancer risk metrics in our determination
of risk acceptability and ample margin
of safety.
2. Step 2—Determination of Ample
Margin of Safety
CAA section 112(f)(2) requires the
EPA to determine, for source categories
subject to MACT standards, whether
those standards provide an ample
margin of safety to protect public health.
As explained in the Benzene NESHAP,
‘‘the second step of the inquiry,
determining an ‘ample margin of safety,’
again includes consideration of all of
the health factors, and whether to
reduce the risks even further. . . .
Beyond that information, additional
factors relating to the appropriate level
of control will also be considered,
including costs and economic impacts
of controls, technological feasibility,
uncertainties and any other relevant
factors. Considering all of these factors,
the agency will establish the standard at
a level that provides an ample margin of
safety to protect the public health, as
required by section 112.’’ 54 FR at
38046, September 14, 1989.
According to CAA section
112(f)(2)(A), if the MACT standards for
HAP ‘‘classified as a known, probable,
or possible human carcinogen do not
reduce lifetime excess cancer risks to
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the individual most exposed to
emissions from a source in the category
or subcategory to less than one in one
million,’’ the EPA must promulgate
residual risk standards for the source
category (or subcategory), as necessary
to provide an ample margin of safety to
protect public health. In doing so, the
EPA may adopt standards equal to
existing MACT standards if the EPA
determines that the existing standards
(i.e., the MACT standards) are
sufficiently protective. NRDC v. EPA,
529 F.3d 1077, 1083 (D.C. Cir. 2008) (‘‘If
EPA determines that the existing
technology-based standards provide an
‘ample margin of safety,’ then the
Agency is free to readopt those
standards during the residual risk
rulemaking.’’) The EPA must also adopt
more stringent standards, if necessary,
to prevent an adverse environmental
effect,1 but must consider cost, energy,
safety and other relevant factors in
doing so.
The CAA does not specifically define
the terms ‘‘individual most exposed,’’
‘‘acceptable level’’ and ‘‘ample margin
of safety.’’ In the Benzene NESHAP, 54
FR at 38044–38045, September 14, 1989,
we stated as an overall objective:
In protecting public health with an ample
margin of safety under section 112, EPA
strives to provide maximum feasible
protection against risks to health from
hazardous air pollutants by (1) protecting the
greatest number of persons possible to an
individual lifetime risk level no higher than
approximately 1-in-1 million and (2) limiting
to no higher than approximately 1-in-10
thousand [i.e., 100-in-1 million] the
estimated risk that a person living near a
plant would have if he or she were exposed
to the maximum pollutant concentrations for
70 years.
The agency further stated that ‘‘[t]he
EPA also considers incidence (the
number of persons estimated to suffer
cancer or other serious health effects as
a result of exposure to a pollutant) to be
an important measure of the health risk
to the exposed population. Incidence
measures the extent of health risks to
the exposed population as a whole, by
providing an estimate of the occurrence
of cancer or other serious health effects
in the exposed population.’’ Id. at
38045.
In the ample margin of safety decision
process, the agency again considers all
of the health risks and other health
information considered in the first step,
including the incremental risk reduction
1 ‘‘Adverse environmental effect’’ is defined as
any significant and widespread adverse effect,
which may be reasonably anticipated to wildlife,
aquatic life or natural resources, including adverse
impacts on populations of endangered or threatened
species or significant degradation of environmental
qualities over broad areas. CAA section 112(a)(7).
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associated with standards more
stringent than the MACT standard or a
more stringent standard that the EPA
has determined is necessary to ensure
risk is acceptable. In the ample margin
of safety analysis, the agency considers
additional factors, including costs and
economic impacts of controls,
technological feasibility, uncertainties
and any other relevant factors.
Considering all of these factors, the
agency will establish the standard at a
level that provides an ample margin of
safety to protect the public health, as
required by CAA section 112(f). 54 FR
38046, September 14, 1989.
B. What is this source category and how
does the current NESHAP regulate its
HAP emissions?
The Secondary Aluminum Production
source category includes facilities that
produce aluminum from scrap
aluminum material and consists of the
following operations: (1) Preprocessing
of scrap aluminum, including size
reduction and removal of oils, coatings
and other contaminants; (2) furnace
operations, including melting, infurnace refining, fluxing and tapping;
(3) additional refining, by means of inline fluxing; and (4) cooling of dross.
The following sections include
descriptions of the affected sources in
the Secondary Aluminum Production
source category, the origin of HAP
emissions from these affected sources
and factors affecting the emissions.
Scrap aluminum is often preprocessed
prior to melting. Preprocessing steps
may include shredding to reduce the
size of aluminum scrap; drying of oily
scrap such as machine turnings and
borings; and/or heating in a scrap dryer,
delacquering kiln or decoating kiln to
remove coatings or other contaminants
that may be present on the scrap.
Heating of high iron content scrap in a
sweat furnace to reclaim the aluminum
content is also a preprocessing
operation.
Crushing, shredding and grinding
operations are used to reduce the size of
scrap aluminum. Particulate matter
(PM) and HAP metals emissions are
generated as dust from coatings and
other contaminants contained in the
scrap aluminum.
A chip dryer is used to evaporate oil
and/or moisture from uncoated
aluminum chips and borings. Chip
dryers typically operate at temperatures
ranging between 150 °C to 400 °C (300
°F to 750 °F). An uncontrolled chip
dryer may emit dioxins and furans (D/
F) and total hydrocarbons (THC), of
which some fraction is organic HAP.
Painted and/or coated materials are
processed in a scrap dryer/delacquering
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kiln/decoating kiln to remove coatings
and other contaminants that may be
present in the scrap prior to melting.
Coatings, oils, grease and lubricants
represent up to 20 percent of the total
weight of these materials. Organic HAP,
D/F and inorganic HAP including
particulate metal HAP are emitted
during the drying/delacquering/
decoating process.
Used beverage containers (UBC)
comprise a major portion of the recycled
aluminum scrap used as feedstock by
the industry. In scrap drying/
delacquering/decoating operations, UBC
and other post-consumer coated
products (e.g., aluminum siding) are
heated to an exit temperature of up to
540 °C (1,000 °F) to volatilize and
remove various organic contaminants
such as paints, oils, lacquers, rubber and
plastic laminates prior to melting. An
uncontrolled scrap dryer/delacquering
kiln/decoating kiln emits PM (of which
some fraction is particulate metal HAP),
hydrogen chloride (HCl), THC (of which
some fraction is organic HAP) and D/F.
A sweat furnace is typically used to
reclaim (or ‘‘sweat’’) the aluminum from
scrap with high levels of iron. These
furnaces operate in batch mode at a
temperature that is high enough to melt
the aluminum, but not high enough to
melt the iron. The aluminum melts and
flows out of the furnace while the iron
remains in the furnace in solid form.
The molten aluminum can be cast into
sows, ingots or T-bars that are used as
feedstock for aluminum melting and
refining furnaces. Alternately, molten
aluminum can be fed directly to a
melting or refining furnace. An
uncontrolled sweat furnace may emit
D/F.
Process (i.e., melting, holding or
refining) furnaces are refractory-lined
metal vessels heated by an oil or gas
burner to achieve a metal temperature of
about 760 °C (1,400 °F). The melting
process begins with the charging of
scrap into the furnace. A gaseous
(typically, chlorine) or salt flux may be
added to remove impurities and reduce
aluminum oxidation. Once molten, the
chemistry of the bath is adjusted by
adding selected scrap or alloying agents,
such as silicon. Salt and other fluxes
contain chloride and fluoride
compounds that may be released when
introduced to the bath. HCl may also be
released when chlorine-containing
contaminants (such as polyvinyl
chloride coatings) present in some types
of scrap are introduced to the bath.
Argon and nitrogen fluxes are not
reactive and do not produce HAP. In a
sidewell melting furnace, fluxing is
performed in the sidewell, and fluxing
emissions from the sidewell are
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72879
controlled. In this type of furnace,
fluxing is not typically done in the
hearth, and hearth emissions (which
include products of combustion from
the oil and gas-fired furnaces) are
typically uncontrolled.
Process furnaces may process
contaminated scrap which can result in
HAP emissions. In addition, fluxing
agents may contain compounds capable
of producing HAP, some fraction of
which is emitted from the furnace.
Process furnaces are significant sources
of HAP emissions in the secondary
aluminum industry. An uncontrolled
melting furnace which processes
contaminated scrap and uses reactive
fluxes emits PM (of which some fraction
is particulate metal HAP), HCl and D/F.
Process furnaces are divided into
group 1 and group 2 furnaces. Group 1
furnaces are unrestricted in the type of
scrap they process and the type of fluxes
they can use. Group 2 furnaces process
only clean charge and conduct no
reactive fluxing.
Dross-only furnaces are furnaces
dedicated to reclamation of aluminum
from drosses formed during the melting/
holding/alloying operations carried out
in other furnaces. Exposure to the
atmosphere causes the molten
aluminum to oxidize, and the flotation
of the impurities to the surface along
with any salt flux creates ‘‘dross.’’ Prior
to tapping, the dross is periodically
skimmed from the surface of the
aluminum bath and cooled. Dross-only
furnaces are typically rotary barrel
furnaces (also known as salt furnaces).
A dross-only furnace emits PM (of
which some fraction is particulate metal
HAP).
Rotary dross coolers are devices used
to cool dross in a rotating, water-cooled
drum. A rotary dross cooler emits PM
(of which some fraction is particulate
metal HAP).
In-line fluxers are devices used for
aluminum refining, including degassing,
outside the furnace. The process
involves the injection of chlorine, argon,
nitrogen or other gases to achieve the
desired metal purity. In-line fluxers are
found primarily at facilities that
manufacture very high quality
aluminum or in facilities with no other
means of degassing. An in-line fluxer
operating without emission controls
emits HCl and PM.
A summary description of
requirements in the existing subpart
RRR NESHAP is provided below for the
convenience of the reader. The
inclusion of this description, however,
does not reopen the existing rule
requirements and we are neither
reconsidering nor soliciting public
comment on the requirements
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described. In addition, this summary
description should not be relied on to
determine applicability of the regulatory
provisions or compliance obligations.
The proposed decisions and rule
amendments addressed in section IV
below are the only provisions on which
we are taking comment.
The NESHAP for the Secondary
Aluminum Production source category
were promulgated on March 23, 2000
(65 FR 15690) and codified at 40 CFR
part 63, subpart RRR (referred to from
here on as subpart RRR in the remainder
of this document). The rule was
amended at 67 FR 79808, December 30,
2002; 69 FR 53980, September 3, 2004;
70 FR 57513, October 3, 2005 and 70 FR
75320, December 19, 2005. The existing
subpart RRR NESHAP regulates HAP
emissions from secondary aluminum
production facilities that are major
sources of HAP that operate aluminum
scrap shredders, thermal chip dryers,
scrap dryers/delacquering kilns/
decoating kilns, group 1 furnaces, group
2 furnaces, sweat furnaces, dross-only
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furnaces, rotary dross coolers and
secondary aluminum processing units
(SAPUs). The SAPUs include group 1
furnaces and in-line fluxers. The
subpart RRR NESHAP regulates HAP
emissions from secondary aluminum
production facilities that are area
sources of HAP only with respect to
emissions of D/F from thermal chip
dryers, scrap dryers/delacquering kilns/
decoating kilns, group 1 furnaces, sweat
furnaces and SAPUs.
The secondary aluminum industry
consists of approximately 161 secondary
aluminum production facilities, of
which the EPA estimates 53 to be major
sources of HAP. The HAP emitted by
these facilities are metals, organic HAP,
D/F, HCl and hydrogen fluoride (HF).
Several of the secondary aluminum
facilities are co-located with primary
aluminum, coil coating and possibly
other source category facilities. Natural
gas boilers or process heaters may also
be co-located at a few secondary
aluminum facilities.
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The standards promulgated in 2000
established emission limits for PM as a
surrogate for metal HAP, THC as a
surrogate for organic HAP other than
D/F, D/F expressed as toxic equivalents
and HCl as a surrogate for acid gases
including HF, chlorine and fluorine.
HAP are emitted from the following
affected sources: Aluminum scrap
shredders (subject to PM standards),
thermal chip dryers (subject to
standards for THC and D/F), scrap
dryers/delacquering kilns/decoating
kilns (subject to standards for PM, D/F,
HCl and THC), sweat furnaces (subject
to D/F standards), dross-only furnaces
(subject to PM standards), rotary dross
coolers (subject to PM standards), group
1 furnaces (subject to standards for PM,
HCl and D/F) and in-line fluxers
(subject to standards for PM and HCl).
Group 2 furnaces and certain in-line
fluxers are subject to work practice
standards. Table 2 provides a summary
of the current MACT emissions limits
for existing and new sources under the
subpart RRR NESHAP.
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Table 2. Emission Standards for New and Existing Affected
Sources for the Secondary Aluminum Source Category 2
Affected source/ Emission unit
Pollutant
All new and existing affected
sources and emission units
that are controlled with a PM
add-on control device and that
choose to monitor with a
Continuous Opacity Monitor
(COM) and all new and existing
aluminum scrap shredders that
choose to monitor with a COM
or to monitor visible
emissions
Opacity
New and existing aluminum
scrap shredder
PM
Limit
Units
10 percent
0.01 gr/dscf
New and existing thermal chip
dryer
THC
D/Fa
0.80 lb/ton of feed
2.50 pg TEQ/Mg of
feed
New and existing scrap
dryer/delacquering
kiln/decoating kiln
PM
HCl
THC
D/Fa
0.08 lb/ton of
0.80 lb/ton of
0.06 lb/ton of
0.25 pg TEQ/Mg
feed
feed
feed
feed
of
PM
HCl
THC
D/Fa
0.30
1.50
0.20
lb/ton of
lb/ton of
lb/ton of
5. 0 pg TEQ/Mg
feed
feed
feed
feed
of
Or
Alternative limits if
afterburner has a design
residence time of at least 1
second and operates at a
temperature of at least
1,400°F
New and existing sweat furnace
0.80 ng TEQ/dscm@
11% 02b
New and existing dross-only
furnace
PM
0.30
lb/ton of feed
New and existing in-line
fluxerc
HCl
PM
0.04
0.01
lb/ton of feed
lb/ton of feed
New and existing in-line
fluxer with no reactive
fluxing
No
limit
PM
2
0. 04 gr/dscf
40 CFR Part 63, Subpart RRR, Table 1.
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New and existing rotary dross
cooler
Work practice:
no reactive
fluxing
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New and existing clean furnace
(Group 2)
No
limit
Work practices:
clean charge
only and no
reactive fluxing
New and existing group 1
melting/holding furnace
(processing only clean
charge) c
PM
HCl
0.80 lb/ton of feed
0.40 lb/ton of feed
or
10 percent of the
HCl upstream of
an add-on
control device
New and existing group 1
furnacec
PM
HCl
0.40 lb/ton of feed
0.40 lb/ton of feed
or
10 Percent of the
HCl upstream of
an add-on
control device
15.0 pg TEQ/Mg of
feed
New and existing group 1
furnacec with clean charge
only
PM
HCl
0.40 lb/ton of feed
0.40 lb/ton of feed
or
10 percent of the
HCl upstream of
an add-on
control device
No
Limit
New and existing secondary
aluminum processing unita,d
(consists of all existing
group 1 furnaces and existing
in-line flux boxes at the
facility, or all
simultaneously constructed new
group 1 furnaces and new inline fluxers)
Clean charge
only
~(L.
~
lpM
L
x
T.)
l
i=l
n
fp;vt
:L,(T;)
i=l
L
n
L
(
L.
xT
'HCt
l
)
i=I
t
n
riC!
:L,(T;)
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i=l
Control devices currently in use to
reduce emissions from affected sources
subject to the subpart RRR NESHAP
include fabric filters for control of PM
from aluminum scrap shredders;
afterburners for control of THC and D/
F from thermal chip dryers; afterburners
plus lime-injected fabric filters for
control of PM, HCl, THC and D/F from
scrap dryers/delacquering kilns/
decoating kilns; afterburners for control
of D/F from sweat furnaces; fabric filters
for control of PM from dross-only
furnaces and rotary dross coolers; limeinjected fabric filters for control of PM
and HCl from in-line fluxers; and limeinjected fabric filters for control of PM,
HCl and D/F from group 1 furnaces. All
affected sources with add-on controls
are also subject to design requirements
and operating limits to limit fugitive
emissions.
Compliance with the emission limits
in the current rule is demonstrated by
an initial performance test for each
affected source. Repeat performance
tests are required every 5 years. Area
sources are only subject to one-time
performance tests for D/F. After the
compliance tests, facilities are required
to monitor various control parameters or
conduct other types of monitoring to
ensure continuous compliance with the
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MACT standards. Owners or operators
of sweat furnaces that operate an
afterburner that meets temperature and
residence time requirements are not
required to conduct performance tests.
C. What is the history of the Secondary
Aluminum Risk and Technology
Review?
On February 14, 2012 (77 FR 8576),
we proposed that no amendments to
subpart RRR were necessary as a result
of the residual risk and technology
review (RTR) conducted for the
Secondary Aluminum Production
source category. In the same notice (77
FR 8576, which is referred to as the
2012 proposal in the remainder of this
Federal Register document), we
proposed amendments to correct and
clarify existing requirements in subpart
RRR. In this supplemental proposal, we
are soliciting comment on modified
proposed amendments to the subpart
RRR rule requirements and on
alternative compliance options related
to sweat furnaces. The proposed
revisions and alternative compliance
options, described in more detail later
in this document, on which we are
soliciting comment are:
• Revised proposed limit on number
of allowed furnace operating mode
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72883
changes per year (i.e., frequency) in
proposed section 63.1514(e) of four
times in any 6-month period, with the
ability of sources to apply to the
appropriate authority for additional
furnace operating mode changes;
• Revised wording in proposed
section 63.1511(b)(1) related to testing
under worst-case scenario clarifying
under what conditions the performance
tests are to be conducted;
• Revised proposed requirements to
account for fugitive emissions during
performance testing of uncontrolled
furnaces, including: (1) Installation of
hooding according to American
Conference of Government Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH) guidelines; (2)
application of an assumption of 67
percent capture/control efficiency when
calculating emissions; or (3) in certain
cases where installing ACGIH hooding
is impractical, allowing the facility to
petition the permitting authority for
major sources or the Administrator for
area sources, for approval to use
alternative testing procedures that will
minimize fugitive emissions;
• Revised proposed requirement that
emission sources comply with the
emissions limits at all times including
periods of startup and shutdown.
Definitions of startup and shutdown are
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being proposed as well as an alternative
method for demonstrating compliance
with emission limits;
• Revised proposed monitoring
requirements in section 63.1510(d)(2)
that require annual inspection of
capture/collection systems;
• Revised proposed compliance dates
of 180 days for certain requirements and
2 years for other requirements; and
• Revised operating and monitoring
requirements for demonstrating
compliance for sweat furnaces.
In addition, we are withdrawing our
2012 proposal to include provisions
establishing an affirmative defense in
light of a recent court decision vacating
an affirmative defense in one of the
EPA’s section 112(d) regulations. NRDC
v. EPA, 749 F.3d 1055 (D.C. Cir. 2014)
(vacating affirmative defense provisions
in Section 112(d) rule establishing
emission standards for Portland cement
kilns).
After reviewing the comments, data
and other information received after the
2012 proposal, we determined it is
appropriate to present certain revised
analyses and revised proposed
amendments in this supplemental
proposal to allow the public an
opportunity to review and comment on
these revised analyses and revised
proposed amendments.
The 2012 proposal also contained
other proposed requirements (topics
listed below) for which we have not
made any changes to the analyses, and,
therefore, on which we are not seeking
public comment in this document.
Other amendments or requirements that
we proposed in 2012, which we are not
re-opening for comment, are the
following:
• Electronic reporting.
• ACGIH Guidelines.
• Lime injection rate.
• Flux monitoring.
• Cover flux.
• Bale breakers.
• Bag Leak Detection Systems (BLDS).
• Sidewell furnaces.
• Testing representative units.
• Initial performance tests.
• Scrap dryer/delacquering/decoating
kiln definition.
• Group 2 furnace definition.
• HF emissions compliance.
• SAPU definition.
• Clean charge definition.
• Residence time definition.
• SAPU feed/charge rate.
• Dross-only versus dross/scrap
furnaces.
• Applicability of rule to area
sources.
• Altering parameters during testing
with new scrap streams.
• Controlled furnaces that are
temporarily idled for 24 hours or longer.
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• Annual compliance certification for
area sources.
The comment period for the February
2012 proposal ended on April 13, 2012.
We will address the comments we
received during the public comment
period for the 2012 proposal, as well as
comments received during the comment
period for this supplemental proposal,
at the time we take final action.
Subpart RRR inadvertently uses
several different terms for the agency
that has primary responsibility for
implementation of certain subpart RRR
provisions. The terms used include
‘‘responsible permitting authority,’’
‘‘permitting authority,’’ ‘‘applicable
permitting authority’’ and ‘‘delegated
authority.’’ Depending on the particular
state and whether the facility is a major
or area source, the permitting authority
and the delegated authority for purposes
of subpart RRR may be the same or may
differ. Therefore, the EPA deems it
appropriate to clarify for purposes of
these specific subpart RRR provisions
that the ‘‘permitting authority’’ (defined
in the General Provisions as the Title V
permitting authority) is the primary
implementing authority for major
sources, and the Administrator is the
primary implementing authority for area
sources. The General Provisions define
‘‘Administrator’’ to mean the EPA
Administrator or his or her authorized
representative (e.g., a state that has been
delegated authority to implement
Subpart RRR).
Where these terms for the
implementing authority appear in this
supplemental proposal, we have made
the necessary corrections. We plan to
correct the remainder of these references
when we issue the final rule.
D. What data collection activities were
conducted to support this action?
For the risk analysis performed for the
2012 proposal, we compiled a dataset
from two primary sources: (1) A ninecompany testing information collection
request (ICR) sent in May 2010, and (2)
an all-company ICR sent to companies
in February 2011. These data collection
efforts are described in the 2012
proposal, and a comprehensive
description of the emissions data,
calculations and risk assessment inputs
are in the memorandum, Development
of the RTR Risk Modeling Dataset for
the Secondary Aluminum Production
Source Category (Docket item EPA–HQ–
OAR–2010–0544–0149).
For the revised risk analysis
conducted for this supplemental
proposal, changes were made in the
methodology used to calculate
allowable emissions. Generally,
allowable emissions were calculated for
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the 2012 proposal as the product of the
emissions limit for the secondary
aluminum emissions unit and the
maximum production capacity of the
unit. For the revised emissions
modeling for this supplemental
proposal, the amount of charge to the
unit from the all-company ICR was used
in the allowable emissions calculation,
rather than the maximum production
capacity of the unit. Uniformly
assuming that every piece of equipment
is being used at maximum capacity
results in an overestimate of total
aluminum throughput that is much
larger than the actual throughput for the
facility as a whole. Moreover, if we
assume maximum production capacity
coupled with the assumption that all
HAP are being emitted at the highest
level allowed by the MACT rule (i.e., at
the level of the emissions limit), this
results in an overly conservative
estimate of emissions. This
overestimation is magnified for large
facilities, with multiple pieces of
equipment. Therefore, for this
supplemental proposal, the amount of
charge to the unit from the all-company
ICR was used in the allowable emissions
calculation, rather than the maximum
production capacity of the unit.
Furthermore, this revised methodology
is consistent with EPA’s risk assessment
methodology performed in other RTR
modeling projects. See National
Emission Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants: Primary Lead Smelting;
proposed rule (76 FR 9410, February 17,
2011), National Emissions Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants: Secondary
Lead Smelting; proposed rule (76 FR
29032, May 19, 2011) and National
Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants: Ferroalloys Production (76
FR 72508, November 23, 2011). For an
in-depth description of the revised risk
modeling dataset, including changes in
methodologies between the emissions
modeling for the 2012 proposal and the
emissions modeling for this
supplemental proposal, see the
memorandum, Development of the RTR
Supplemental Proposal Risk Modeling
Dataset for the Secondary Aluminum
Production Source Category, available
in this rulemaking docket.
As part of the revised risk analysis,
process equipment and unit emissions
data used in the emissions modeling for
the 2012 proposal were also reviewed.
Since cancer risks were driven by D/F
emissions in the modeling done for the
2012 proposal, we focused our refined
assessment on the D/F emissions data.
The other modeled pollutants had
considerably lower estimated risks
(compared to D/F) and the estimated
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risks for all these HAP were well below
the presumptive acceptable risk levels.
For almost all facilities, the D/F
emissions reported in the 2011 ICR
responses were used for the revised
modeling. However, for the companies
operating the 10 facilities that had the
highest modeled risk from actual
emissions in the modeling for the 2012
proposal, we requested and received
results from additional compliance D/F
testing that was conducted since the
2011 ICR. The results for all test runs
associated with 2011 ICR responses and
all test runs received as part of the
request for additional test data were
averaged together for each facility to
provide more accurate estimates of the
D/F emissions and resulting risks for
these facilities. A memorandum
comparing the 2011 emissions data with
the revised emissions data used for this
supplemental proposal and the reasons
for differences is available in the docket
for this rulemaking. See Modeling Input
Revisions for the RTR Risk Modeling
Dataset for the Secondary Aluminum
Production Source Category.
We also revised emissions data for
primary aluminum operations at
primary aluminum facilities that were
co-located at secondary aluminum
facilities. The revised primary
aluminum emissions data were based on
recent test data used in the
supplemental proposed rulemaking for
the Primary Aluminum Production
source category. These data included
the following:
• Additional emission test data for
polycyclic organic matter (POM)
emissions from prebake potlines;
• Additional emission test data for
PM emissions from prebake and
Soderberg potlines, anode bake furnaces
and paste plants;
• Additional emission test data for
speciated polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs), speciated HAP
metals, speciated polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) and speciated D/Fs
from potlines, anode bake furnaces and
paste plants.
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III. Analytical Procedures
A. How did we evaluate the post-MACT
risks posed by the Secondary Aluminum
Production source category in the risk
assessment developed for this
supplemental proposal?
The EPA conducted a risk assessment
that provides estimates of the MIR
posed by the HAP emissions from each
source in the source category, the
hazard index (HI) for chronic exposures
to HAP with the potential to cause
noncancer health effects and the hazard
quotient (HQ) for acute exposures to
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HAP with the potential to cause
noncancer health effects. The
assessment also provides estimates of
the distribution of cancer risks within
the exposed populations, cancer
incidence and an evaluation of the
potential for adverse environmental
effects. The seven sections that follow
this paragraph describe how we
estimated emissions and conducted the
risk assessment. The docket for this
rulemaking contains the following
document which provides more
information on the risk assessment
inputs and models used for this revised
assessment: Residual Risk Assessment
for the Secondary Aluminum
Production Source Category in Support
of the 2014 Supplemental Proposal. The
methods used to assess risks (as
described in the seven primary steps
below) are consistent with those peerreviewed by a panel of the EPA’s
Science Advisory Board (SAB) in 2009
and described in their peer review
report issued in 2010; 3 they are also
consistent with the key
recommendations contained in that
report.
1. How did we estimate actual
emissions and identify the emissions
release characteristics?
As explained in section II.D above,
the revised RTR emissions dataset for
the Secondary Aluminum Production
source category constitutes the basis for
the revised risk assessment. This
includes recent test data received from
the primary aluminum facilities that
were co-located at secondary aluminum
production facilities. We estimated the
magnitude of emissions using emissions
test data collected through ICRs along
with more recent data submitted by
companies with facilities identified as
the highest risk facilities for D/F
emissions in the 2012 risk analysis. We
also reviewed the information regarding
emissions release characteristics such as
stack heights, stack gas exit velocities,
stack temperatures and source locations.
In addition to the data quality checks
performed on the source data for the
facilities contained in the dataset, we
also verified the coordinates of every
emission source in the dataset through
visual observations using Google Earth.
We also performed data quality checks
on the emissions data and release
characteristics. The revised emissions
data, the data quality checks and the
methods used to estimate emissions
from all the various emissions sources,
3 U.S. EPA SAB. Risk and Technology Review
(RTR) Risk Assessment Methodologies: For Review
by the EPA’s Science Advisory Board with Case
Studies—MACT I Petroleum Refining Sources and
Portland Cement Manufacturing, May 2010.
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are described in more detail in the
technical documents: Development of
the RTR Supplemental Proposal Risk
Modeling Dataset for the Secondary
Aluminum Production Source Category
and Modeling Input Revisions for the
RTR Risk Modeling Dataset for the
Secondary Aluminum Production
Source Category, which are available in
the docket for this action.
2. How did we estimate MACTallowable emissions?
The available emissions data in the
RTR emissions dataset include estimates
of the mass of HAP emitted during the
specified annual time period. In some
cases, these ‘‘actual’’ emission levels are
lower than the emission levels required
to comply with the MACT standards.
The emissions level allowed to be
emitted by the MACT standards is
referred to as the ‘‘MACT-allowable’’
emissions level. We discussed the use of
both MACT-allowable and actual
emissions in the final Coke Oven
Batteries residual risk rule (70 FR
19998–19999, April 15, 2005) and in the
proposed and final Hazardous Organic
NESHAP residual risk rules (71 FR
34428, June 14, 2006 and 71 FR 76609,
December 21, 2006, respectively). In
those previous actions, we noted that
assessing the risks at the MACTallowable level is inherently reasonable
since these risks reflect the maximum
level facilities could emit and still
comply with national emission
standards. We also explained that it is
reasonable to consider actual emissions,
where such data are available, in both
steps of the risk analysis, in accordance
with the Benzene NESHAP approach
(54 FR 38044, September 14, 1989).
For this supplemental proposal, we
evaluated allowable stack emissions
based on the level of control required by
the subpart RRR MACT standards. As
described in section II.D above, changes
were made in the methodology used to
calculate the allowable emissions for the
revised risk analysis conducted for this
supplemental proposal. In the 2012
proposal, allowable emissions were
calculated using the emissions limits for
the 67 secondary aluminum emissions
units and the maximum production
capacity of each unit. For the revised
emissions modeling, the actual amount
of charge to the unit from the allcompany ICR was used in the allowable
emissions calculation, rather than the
maximum production capacity of the
unit. The methodology used to calculate
allowable emissions is explained in
more detail in the technical documents:
Development of the RTR Supplemental
Proposal Risk Modeling Dataset for the
Secondary Aluminum Production
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Source Category and Modeling Input
Revisions for the RTR Risk Modeling
Dataset for the Secondary Aluminum
Production Source Category, which are
available in the docket for this action.
3. How did we conduct dispersion
modeling, determine inhalation
exposures and estimate individual and
population inhalation risks?
Both long-term and short-term
inhalation exposure concentrations and
health risks from the source category
addressed in this proposal were
estimated using the Human Exposure
Model (Community and Sector HEM–3
version 1.1.0). The HEM–3 performs
three primary risk assessment activities:
(1) Conducting dispersion modeling to
estimate the concentrations of HAP in
ambient air, (2) estimating long-term
and short-term inhalation exposures to
individuals residing within 50
kilometers (km) of the modeled
sources 4, and (3) estimating individual
and population-level inhalation risks
using the exposure estimates and
quantitative dose-response information.
The air dispersion model used by the
HEM–3 model (AERMOD) is one of the
EPA’s preferred models for assessing
pollutant concentrations from industrial
facilities.5 To perform the dispersion
modeling and to develop the
preliminary risk estimates, HEM–3
draws on three data libraries. The first
is a library of meteorological data,
which is used for dispersion
calculations. This library includes 1
year (2011) of hourly surface and upper
air observations for more than 800
meteorological stations, selected to
provide coverage of the United States
and Puerto Rico. A second library of
United States Census Bureau census
block 6 internal point locations and
populations provides the basis of
human exposure calculations (U.S.
Census, 2010). In addition, for each
census block, the census library
includes the elevation and controlling
hill height, which are also used in
dispersion calculations. A third library
of pollutant unit risk factors and other
health benchmarks is used to estimate
health risks. These risk factors and
health benchmarks are the latest values
recommended by the EPA for HAP and
other toxic air pollutants. These values
are available at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/
4 This
metric comes from the Benzene NESHAP.
See 54 FR 38046.
5 U.S. EPA. Revision to the Guideline on Air
Quality Models: Adoption of a Preferred General
Purpose (Flat and Complex Terrain) Dispersion
Model and Other Revisions (70 FR 68218,
November 9, 2005).
6 A census block is the smallest geographic area
for which census statistics are tabulated.
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atw/toxsource/summary.html and are
discussed in more detail later in this
section.
In developing the risk assessment for
chronic exposures, we used the
estimated annual average ambient air
concentrations of each HAP emitted by
each major source and D/F emissions
from each area source for which we
have emissions data in the source
category. The air concentrations at each
nearby census block centroid were used
as a surrogate for the chronic inhalation
exposure concentration for all the
people who reside in that census block.
We calculated the MIR for each facility
as the cancer risk associated with a
continuous lifetime (24 hours per day,
7 days per week and 52 weeks per year
for a 70-year period) exposure to the
maximum concentration at the centroid
of inhabited census blocks. Individual
cancer risks were calculated by
multiplying the estimated lifetime
exposure to the ambient concentration
of each of the HAP (in micrograms per
cubic meter (mg/m3)) by its unit risk
estimate (URE). The URE is an upper
bound estimate of an individual’s
probability of contracting cancer over a
lifetime of exposure to a concentration
of 1 microgram of the pollutant per
cubic meter of air. For residual risk
assessments, we generally use URE
values from the EPA’s Integrated Risk
Information System (IRIS). For
carcinogenic pollutants without EPA
IRIS values, we look to other reputable
sources of cancer dose-response values,
often using California EPA (CalEPA)
URE values, where available. In cases
where new, scientifically credible dose
response values have been developed in
a manner consistent with the EPA
guidelines and have undergone a peer
review process similar to that used by
the EPA, we may use such doseresponse values in place of, or in
addition to, other values, if appropriate.
The EPA estimated incremental
individual lifetime cancer risks
associated with emissions from the
facilities in the source category as the
sum of the risks for each of the
carcinogenic HAP (including those
classified as carcinogenic to humans,
likely to be carcinogenic to humans and
suggestive evidence of carcinogenic
potential 7) emitted by the modeled
7 These classifications also coincide with the
terms ‘‘known carcinogen, probable carcinogen, and
possible carcinogen,’’ respectively, which are the
terms advocated in the EPA’s previous Guidelines
for Carcinogen Risk Assessment, published in 1986
(51 FR 33992, September 24, 1986). Summing the
risks of these individual compounds to obtain the
cumulative cancer risks is an approach that was
recommended by the EPA’s SAB in their 2002 peer
review of the EPA’s National Air Toxics Assessment
(NATA) titled, NATA—Evaluating the National-
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sources. Cancer incidence and the
distribution of individual cancer risks
for the population within 50 km of the
sources were also estimated for the
source category as part of this
assessment by summing individual
risks. A distance of 50 km is consistent
with both the analysis supporting the
1989 Benzene NESHAP (54 FR 38044,
September 14, 1989) and the limitations
of Gaussian dispersion models,
including AERMOD.
To assess the risk of non-cancer
health effects from chronic exposures,
we summed the HQ for each of the HAP
that affects a common target organ
system to obtain the HI for that target
organ system (or target organ-specific
HI, TOSHI). The HQ is the estimated
exposure divided by the chronic
reference value, which is a value
selected from one of several sources.
First, the chronic reference level can be
the EPA reference concentration (RfC)
(https://www.epa.gov/riskassessment/
glossary.htm), defined as ‘‘an estimate
(with uncertainty spanning perhaps an
order of magnitude) of a continuous
inhalation exposure to the human
population (including sensitive
subgroups) that is likely to be without
an appreciable risk of deleterious effects
during a lifetime.’’ Alternatively, in
cases where an RfC from the EPA’s IRIS
database is not available or where the
EPA determines that using a value other
than the RfC is appropriate, the chronic
reference level can be a value from the
following prioritized sources: (1) The
Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry (ATSDR) Minimum
Risk Level (https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/
mrls/index.asp), which is defined as ‘‘an
estimate of daily human exposure to a
hazardous substance that is likely to be
without an appreciable risk of adverse
non-cancer health effects (other than
cancer) over a specified duration of
exposure’’; (2) the CalEPA Chronic
Reference Exposure Level (REL) (https://
www.oehha.ca.gov/air/hot_spots/pdf/
HRAguidefinal.pdf), which is defined as
‘‘the concentration level (that is
expressed in units of micrograms per
cubic meter (mg/m3) for inhalation
exposure and in a dose expressed in
units of milligram per kilogram-day
(mg/kg-day) for oral exposures), at or
below which no adverse health effects
are anticipated for a specified exposure
duration’’; or (3), as noted above, a
scientifically credible dose-response
value that has been developed in a
scale Air Toxics Assessment 1996 Data—an SAB
Advisory, available at: https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/
sabproduct.nsf/
214C6E915BB04E14852570CA007A682C/$File/
ecadv02001.pdf.
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manner consistent with the EPA
guidelines and has undergone a peer
review process similar to that used by
the EPA, in place of or in concert with
other values.
The EPA also evaluated screening
estimates of acute exposures and risks
for each of the HAP at the point of
highest potential off-site exposure for
each facility. To do this, the EPA
estimated the risks when both the peak
hourly emissions rate and worst-case
dispersion conditions occur. We also
assume that a person is located at the
point of highest impact during that same
time. In accordance with our mandate in
section 112 of the CAA, we use the
point of highest off-site exposure to
assess the potential risk to the
maximally exposed individual. In some
cases, the agency may choose to refine
the acute screen by also assessing the
exposure that may occur at a centroid of
a census block. The acute HQ is the
estimated acute exposure divided by the
acute dose-response value. In each case,
the EPA calculated acute HQ values
using best available, short-term doseresponse values. These acute doseresponse values, which are described
below, include the acute REL, acute
exposure guideline levels (AEGL) and
emergency response planning
guidelines (ERPG) for 1-hour exposure
durations. As discussed below, we used
conservative assumptions for emissions
rates, meteorology and exposure
location for our acute analysis.
As described in the CalEPA’s Air
Toxics Hot Spots Program Risk
Assessment Guidelines, Part I, The
Determination of Acute Reference
Exposure Levels for Airborne Toxicants,
an acute REL value (https://www.oehha.
ca.gov/air/pdf/acuterel.pdf) is defined
as ‘‘the concentration level at or below
which no adverse health effects are
anticipated for a specified exposure
duration.’’ Id. at page 2. Acute REL
values are based on the most sensitive,
relevant, adverse health effect reported
in the peer-reviewed medical and
toxicological literature. Acute REL
values are designed to protect the most
sensitive individuals in the population
through the inclusion of margins of
safety. Because margins of safety are
incorporated to address data gaps and
uncertainties, exceeding the REL does
not automatically indicate an adverse
health impact.
As we state above, in assessing the
potential risks associated with acute
exposures to HAP, we do not follow a
prioritization scheme and, therefore, we
consider available dose-response values
from multiple authoritative sources. In
the RTR program, the EPA assesses
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acute risk using toxicity values derived
from one hour exposures.
AEGL values were derived in
response to recommendations from the
National Research Council (NRC). As
described in Standing Operating
Procedures (SOP) of the National
Advisory Committee on Acute Exposure
Guideline Levels for Hazardous
Substances (https://www.epa.gov/oppt/
aegl/pubs/sop.pdf),8 ‘‘the NRC’s
previous name for acute exposure
levels—community emergency exposure
levels—was replaced by the term AEGL
to reflect the broad application of these
values to planning, response, and
prevention in the community, the
workplace, transportation, the military,
and the remediation of Superfund
sites.’’ Id. at 2. This document also
states that AEGL values ‘‘represent
threshold exposure limits for the general
public and are applicable to emergency
exposures ranging from 10 minutes to
eight hours.’’ Id. at 2.
The document lays out the purpose
and objectives of AEGL by stating that
‘‘the primary purpose of the AEGL
program and the National Advisory
Committee for Acute Exposure
Guideline Levels for Hazardous
Substances is to develop guideline
levels for once-in-a-lifetime, short-term
exposures to airborne concentrations of
acutely toxic, high-priority chemicals.’’
Id. at 21. In detailing the intended
application of AEGL values, the
document states that ‘‘[i]t is anticipated
that the AEGL values will be used for
regulatory and nonregulatory purposes
by U.S. Federal and state agencies and
possibly the international community in
conjunction with chemical emergency
response, planning, and prevention
programs. More specifically, the AEGL
values will be used for conducting
various risk assessments to aid in the
development of emergency
preparedness and prevention plans, as
well as real-time emergency response
actions, for accidental chemical releases
at fixed facilities and from transport
carriers.’’ Id. at 31.
The AEGL–1 value is then specifically
defined as ‘‘the airborne concentration
(expressed as ppm (parts per million) or
mg/m3 (milligrams per cubic meter)) of
a substance above which it is predicted
that the general population, including
susceptible individuals, could
experience notable discomfort,
irritation, or certain asymptomatic
nonsensory effects. However, the effects
are not disabling and are transient and
8 National Academy of Sciences (NAS), 2001.
Standing Operating Procedures for Developing
Acute Exposure Levels for Hazardous Chemicals,
page 2.
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reversible upon cessation of exposure.’’
Id. at 3. The document also notes that,
‘‘Airborne concentrations below AEGL–
1 represent exposure levels that can
produce mild and progressively
increasing but transient and
nondisabling odor, taste, and sensory
irritation or certain asymptomatic,
nonsensory effects.’’ Id. Similarly, the
document defines AEGL–2 values as
‘‘the airborne concentration (expressed
as parts per million or milligrams per
cubic meter) of a substance above which
it is predicted that the general
population, including susceptible
individuals, could experience
irreversible or other serious, long-lasting
adverse health effects or an impaired
ability to escape.’’ Id.
ERPG values are derived for use in
emergency response, as described in the
American Industrial Hygiene
Association’s Emergency Response
Planning (ERP) Committee document
titled, ERPGS Procedures and
Responsibilities (https://www.aiha.org/
get-involved/AIHAGuideline
Foundation/EmergencyResponse
PlanningGuidelines/Documents/ERP–
SOPs2006.pdf), which states that,
‘‘Emergency Response Planning
Guidelines were developed for
emergency planning and are intended as
health based guideline concentrations
for single exposures to chemicals.’’ 9 Id.
at 1. The ERPG–1 value is defined as
‘‘the maximum airborne concentration
below which it is believed that nearly
all individuals could be exposed for up
to 1 hour without experiencing other
than mild transient adverse health
effects or without perceiving a clearly
defined, objectionable odor.’’ Id. at 2.
Similarly, the ERPG–2 value is defined
as ‘‘the maximum airborne
concentration below which it is
believed that nearly all individuals
could be exposed for up to one hour
without experiencing or developing
irreversible or other serious health
effects or symptoms which could impair
an individual’s ability to take protective
action.’’ Id. at 1.
As can be seen from the definitions
above, the AEGL and ERPG values
include the similarly-defined severity
levels 1 and 2. For many chemicals, a
severity level 1 value AEGL or ERPG has
not been developed because the types of
effects for these chemicals are not
consistent with the AEGL–1/ERPG–1
definitions; in these instances, we
compare higher severity level AEGL–2
or ERPG–2 values to our modeled
exposure levels to screen for potential
9 ERP Committee Procedures and Responsibilities.
November 1, 2006. American Industrial Hygiene
Association.
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acute concerns. When AEGL–1/ERPG–1
values are available, they are used in
our acute risk assessments.
Acute REL values for 1-hour exposure
durations are typically lower than their
corresponding AEGL–1 and ERPG–1
values. Even though their definitions are
slightly different, AEGL–1 values are
often the same as the corresponding
ERPG–1 values and AEGL–2 values are
often equal to ERPG–2 values.
Maximum HQ values from our acute
screening risk assessments typically
result when basing them on the acute
REL value for a particular pollutant. In
cases where our maximum acute HQ
value exceeds 1, we also report the HQ
value based on the next highest acute
dose-response value (usually the AEGL–
1 and/or the ERPG–1 value).
To develop screening estimates of
acute exposures in the absence of hourly
emissions data, generally we first
develop estimates of maximum hourly
emissions rates by multiplying the
average actual annual hourly emissions
rates by a default factor to cover
routinely variable emissions. We choose
the factor to use partially based on
process knowledge and engineering
judgment. The factor chosen also
reflects a Texas study of short-term
emissions variability, which showed
that most peak emission events in a
heavily-industrialized four-county area
(Harris, Galveston, Chambers and
Brazoria Counties, Texas) were less than
twice the annual average hourly
emissions rate. The highest peak
emissions event was 74 times the
annual average hourly emissions rate
and the 99th percentile ratio of peak
hourly emissions rate to the annual
average hourly emissions rate was 9.10
Considering this analysis, to account for
more than 99 percent of the peak hourly
emissions, we apply a conservative
screening multiplication factor of 10 to
the average annual hourly emissions
rate in our acute exposure screening
assessments as our default approach.
However, we use a factor other than 10
if we have information that indicates
that a different factor is appropriate for
a particular source category. For this
source category, there was no such
information available and the default
factor of 10 was used in the acute
screening process.
Ideally, we would prefer to have
continuous measurements over time to
see how the emissions vary by each
hour over an entire year. Having a
frequency distribution of hourly
emissions rates over a year would allow
10 See https://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/
field_ops/eer/ or docket to access the
source of these data.
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us to perform a probabilistic analysis to
estimate potential threshold
exceedances and their frequency of
occurrence. Such an evaluation could
include a more complete statistical
treatment of the key parameters and
elements adopted in this screening
analysis. Recognizing that this level of
data is rarely available, we instead rely
on the multiplier approach.
As part of our acute risk assessment
process, for cases where acute HQ
values from the screening step are less
than or equal to 1 (even under the
conservative assumptions of the
screening analysis), acute impacts are
deemed negligible and no further
analysis is performed. In cases where an
acute HQ from the screening step are
greater than 1, additional site-specific
data would be considered to develop a
more refined estimate of the potential
for acute impacts of concern. However,
for this source category, no acute values
were greater than 1. Therefore, further
refinement was not performed.
To better characterize the potential
health risks associated with estimated
acute exposures to HAP, and in
response to a key recommendation from
the SAB’s peer review of the EPA’s RTR
risk assessment methodologies,11 we
generally examine a wider range of
available acute health metrics (e.g.,
RELs, AEGLs) than we do for our
chronic risk assessments. This is in
response to the SAB’s acknowledgement
that there are generally more data gaps
and inconsistencies in acute reference
values than there are in chronic
reference values. In some cases, when
Reference Value Arrays 12 for HAP have
been developed, we consider additional
acute values (i.e., occupational and
international values) to provide a more
complete risk characterization.
4. How did we conduct the
multipathway exposure and risk
screening?
The EPA conducted a screening
analysis examining the potential for
significant human health risks due to
exposures via routes other than
inhalation (i.e., ingestion). We first
determined whether any major sources
in the source category emitted any HAP
11 The SAB peer review of RTR Risk Assessment
Methodologies is available at: https://
yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/
4AB3966E263D943A8525771F00668381/$File/EPASAB-10-007-unsigned.pdf.
12 U.S. EPA. (2009) Chapter 2.9 Chemical Specific
Reference Values for Formaldehyde in Graphical
Arrays of Chemical-Specific Health Effect Reference
Values for Inhalation Exposures (Final Report). U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC,
EPA/600/R–09/061 and available online at https://
cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/
recordisplay.cfm?deid=211003.
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known to be persistent and
bioaccumulative in the environment
(PB–HAP). The PB–HAP compounds or
compound classes are identified for the
screening from the EPA’s Air Toxics
Risk Assessment Library (available at:
https://www2.epa.gov/fera/riskassessment-and-modeling-air-toxicsrisk-assessment-reference-library). Since
D/F is the only pollutant for which
subpart RRR area sources are regulated
under CAA section 112(d), this was the
only PB–HAP evaluated in this
screening analysis for area sources.
For major sources in the Secondary
Aluminum Production source category,
we identified emissions of cadmium
compounds, D/F, lead compounds,
mercury compounds and POM. Because
one or more of these PB–HAP are
emitted by at least one facility in the
Secondary Aluminum Production
source category, we proceeded to the
next step of the evaluation. In this step,
we determined whether the facilityspecific emissions rates of the emitted
PB–HAP were large enough to create the
potential for significant non-inhalation
human health risks under reasonable
worst-case conditions. To facilitate this
step, we developed emissions rate
screening levels for several PB–HAP
using a hypothetical upper-end
screening exposure scenario developed
for use in conjunction with the EPA’s
Total Risk Integrated Methodology.Fate,
Transport and Ecological Exposure
(TRIM.FaTE) model. The PB–HAP with
emissions rate screening levels are: lead,
cadmium, D/F, mercury compounds and
POM. We conducted a sensitivity
analysis on the screening scenario to
ensure that its key design parameters
would represent the upper end of the
range of possible values, such that it
would represent a conservative but not
impossible scenario. The facilityspecific emissions rates of these PB–
HAP were compared to the emission
rate screening levels for these PB–HAP
to assess the potential for significant
human health risks via non-inhalation
pathways. We call this application of
the TRIM.FaTE model the Tier 1 TRIMscreen or Tier 1 screen.
For the purpose of developing
emissions rates for our Tier 1 TRIMscreen, we derived emission levels for
these PB–HAP (other than lead
compounds) at which the maximum
excess lifetime cancer risk would be 1in-1 million (i.e., for D/F and POM) or,
for HAP that cause non-cancer health
effects (i.e., cadmium compounds and
mercury compounds), the maximum HQ
would be 1. If the emissions rate of any
PB–HAP included in the Tier 1 screen
exceeds the Tier 1 screening emissions
rate for any facility, we conduct a
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second screen, which we call the Tier 2
TRIM-screen or Tier 2 screen.
In the Tier 2 screen, the location of
each facility that exceeded the Tier 1
emission rate is used to refine the
assumptions associated with the
environmental scenario while
maintaining the exposure scenario
assumptions. A key assumption that is
part of the Tier 1 screen is that a lake
is located near the facility; we confirm
the existence of lakes near the facility as
part of the Tier 2 screen. We then adjust
the risk-based Tier 1 screening level for
each PB–HAP for each facility based on
an understanding of how exposure
concentrations estimated for the
screening scenarios for the subsistence
fisher and the subsistence farmer change
with meteorology and environmental
assumptions. PB–HAP emissions that do
not exceed these new Tier 2 screening
levels are considered to pose no
unacceptable risks. If the PB–HAP
emissions for a facility exceed the Tier
2 screening emissions rate and data are
available, we may decide to conduct a
more refined Tier 3 multipathway
screening analysis. There are several
analyses that can be included in a Tier
3 screen depending upon the extent of
refinement warranted, including
validating that the lake is fishable and
considering plume-rise to estimate
emissions lost above the mixing layer. If
the Tier 3 screen is exceeded, the EPA
may further refine the assessment.
For this source category, we
conducted a Tier 3 screening analysis
for six major sources with Tier 2 cancer
screen values greater than or equal to 50
times the Tier 2 threshold for the
subsistence fisher scenario. The major
sources represented the highest
screened cancer risk for multipathway
impacts. Therefore, further screening
analyses were not performed on the area
sources. A detailed discussion of the
approach for this risk assessment can be
found in Appendix 8 of the Residual
Risk Assessment for the Secondary
Aluminum Production Source Category
in Support of the 2014 Supplemental
Proposal.
In evaluating the potential
multipathway risk from emissions of
lead compounds, rather than developing
a screening emissions rate for them, we
compared maximum estimated chronic
inhalation exposures with the level of
the current National Ambient Air
Quality Standard (NAAQS) for lead.13
13 In doing so, the EPA notes that the legal
standard for a primary NAAQS—that a standard is
requisite to protect public health and provide an
adequate margin of safety (CAA section 109(b))—
differs from the CAA section 112(f) standard
(requiring among other things that the standard
provide an ‘‘ample margin of safety’’). However, the
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Values below the level of the primary
(health-based) lead NAAQS were
considered to have a low potential for
multipathway risk.
For further information on the
multipathway analysis approach, see
the Residual Risk Assessment for the
Secondary Aluminum Production
Source Category in Support of the 2014
Supplemental Proposal, which is
available in the docket for this action.
5. How did we conduct the
environmental risk screening
assessment?
a. Adverse Environmental Effect
The EPA conducts a screening
assessment to examine the potential for
adverse environmental effects as
required under section 112(f)(2)(A) of
the CAA. Section 112(a)(7) of the CAA
defines ‘‘adverse environmental effect’’
as ‘‘any significant and widespread
adverse effect, which may reasonably be
anticipated, to wildlife, aquatic life, or
other natural resources, including
adverse impacts on populations of
endangered or threatened species or
significant degradation of
environmental quality over broad
areas.’’
b. Environmental HAP
The EPA focuses on seven HAP,
which we refer to as ‘‘environmental
HAP,’’ in its screening analysis: Five
PB–HAP and two acid gases. The five
PB–HAP are cadmium, D/F, POM,
mercury (both inorganic mercury and
methyl mercury) and lead compounds.
The two acid gases are HCl and HF. The
rationale for including these seven HAP
in the environmental risk screening
analysis is presented below.
The HAP that persist and
bioaccumulate are of particular
environmental concern because they
accumulate in the soil, sediment and
water. The PB–HAP are taken up,
through sediment, soil, water and/or
ingestion of other organisms, by plants
or animals (e.g., small fish) at the
bottom of the food chain. As larger and
larger predators consume these
organisms, concentrations of the PB–
HAP in the animal tissues increase as
does the potential for adverse effects.
The five PB–HAP we evaluate as part of
our screening analysis account for 99.8
lead NAAQS is a reasonable measure of
determining risk acceptability (i.e., the first step of
the Benzene NESHAP analysis) since it is designed
to protect the most susceptible group in the human
population—children, including children living
near major lead emitting sources. 73 FR 67002/3; 73
FR 67000/3; 73 FR 67005/1. In addition, applying
the level of the primary lead NAAQS at the risk
acceptability step is conservative, since that
primary lead NAAQS reflects an adequate margin
of safety.
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percent of all PB–HAP emissions
nationally from stationary sources (on a
mass basis from the 2005 National
Emissions Inventory (NEI)).
In addition to accounting for almost
all of the mass of PB–HAP emitted, we
note that the TRIM.FaTE model that we
use to evaluate multipathway risk
allows us to estimate concentrations of
cadmium compounds, D/F, POM and
mercury in soil, sediment and water.
For lead compounds, we currently do
not have the ability to calculate these
concentrations using the TRIM.FaTE
model. Therefore, to evaluate the
potential for adverse environmental
effects from lead compounds, we
compare the estimated HEM-modeled
exposures from the source category
emissions of lead with the level of the
secondary NAAQS for lead.14 We
consider values below the level of the
secondary lead NAAQS as unlikely to
cause adverse environmental effects.
Due to their well-documented
potential to cause direct damage to
terrestrial plants, we include two acid
gases, HCl and HF, in the environmental
screening analysis. According to the
2005 NEI, HCl and HF account for about
99 percent (on a mass basis) of the total
acid gas HAP emitted by stationary
sources in the U.S. In addition to the
potential to cause direct damage to
plants, high concentrations of HF in the
air have been linked to fluorosis in
livestock. Air concentrations of these
HAP are already calculated as part of
the human multipathway exposure and
risk screening analysis using the HEM3–
AERMOD air dispersion model, and we
are able to use the air dispersion
modeling results to estimate the
potential for an adverse environmental
effect.
The EPA acknowledges that other
HAP beyond the seven HAP discussed
above may have the potential to cause
adverse environmental effects.
Therefore, the EPA may include other
relevant HAP in its environmental risk
screening in the future, as modeling
science and resources allow. The EPA
invites comment on the extent to which
other HAP emitted by the source
category may cause adverse
environmental effects. Such information
should include references to peerreviewed ecological effects benchmarks
that are of sufficient quality for making
14 The secondary lead NAAQS is a reasonable
measure of determining whether there is an adverse
environmental effect since it was established
considering ‘‘effects on soils, water, crops,
vegetation, man-made materials, animals, wildlife,
weather, visibility and climate, damage to and
deterioration of property, and hazards to
transportation, as well as effects on economic
values and on personal comfort and well-being.’’
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regulatory decisions, as well as
information on the presence of
organisms located near facilities within
the source category that such
benchmarks indicate could be adversely
affected.
c. Ecological Assessment Endpoints and
Benchmarks for PB–HAP
An important consideration in the
development of the EPA’s screening
methodology is the selection of
ecological assessment endpoints and
benchmarks. Ecological assessment
endpoints are defined by the ecological
entity (e.g., aquatic communities
including fish and plankton) and its
attributes (e.g., frequency of mortality).
Ecological assessment endpoints can be
established for organisms, populations,
communities or assemblages and
ecosystems.
For PB–HAP (other than lead
compounds), we evaluated the
following community-level ecological
assessment endpoints to screen for
organisms directly exposed to HAP in
soils, sediment and water:
• Local terrestrial communities (i.e.,
soil invertebrates, plants) and
populations of small birds and
mammals that consume soil
invertebrates exposed to PB–HAP in the
surface soil;
• Local benthic (i.e., bottom sediment
dwelling insects, amphipods, isopods
and crayfish) communities exposed to
PB–HAP in sediment in nearby water
bodies; and
• Local aquatic (water-column)
communities (including fish and
plankton) exposed to PB–HAP in nearby
surface waters.
For PB–HAP (other than lead
compounds), we also evaluated the
following population-level ecological
assessment endpoint to screen for
indirect HAP exposures of top
consumers via the bioaccumulation of
HAP in food chains;
• Piscivorous (i.e., fish-eating)
wildlife consuming PB–HAPcontaminated fish from nearby water
bodies.
For cadmium compounds, D/F, POM
and mercury, we identified the available
ecological benchmarks for each
assessment endpoint. An ecological
benchmark represents a concentration of
HAP (e.g., 0.77 mg of HAP per liter of
water) that has been linked to a
particular environmental effect level
through scientific study. For PB–HAP
we identified, where possible,
ecological benchmarks at the following
effect levels:
• Probable effect levels (PEL): Level
above which adverse effects are
expected to occur frequently;
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• Lowest-observed-adverse-effect
level (LOAEL): The lowest exposure
level tested at which there are
biologically significant increases in
frequency or severity of adverse effects;
and
• No-observed-adverse-effect levels
(NOAEL): The highest exposure level
tested at which there are no biologically
significant increases in the frequency or
severity of adverse effect.
We established a hierarchy of
preferred benchmark sources to allow
selection of benchmarks for each
environmental HAP at each ecological
assessment endpoint. In general, the
EPA sources that are used at a
programmatic level (e.g., Office of
Water, Superfund Program) were used
in the analysis, if available. If not, the
EPA benchmarks used in regional
programs (e.g., Superfund) were used. If
benchmarks were not available at a
programmatic or regional level, we used
benchmarks developed by other federal
agencies (e.g., National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA))
or state agencies.
Benchmarks for all effect levels are
not available for all PB–HAP and
assessment endpoints. In cases where
multiple effect levels were available for
a particular PB–HAP and assessment
endpoint, we use all of the available
effect levels to help us to determine
whether ecological risks exist and, if so,
whether the risks could be considered
significant and widespread.
d. Ecological Assessment Endpoints and
Benchmarks for Acid Gases
The environmental screening analysis
also evaluated potential damage and
reduced productivity of plants due to
direct exposure to acid gases in the air.
For acid gases, we evaluated the
following ecological assessment
endpoint:
• Local terrestrial plant communities
with foliage exposed to acidic gaseous
HAP in the air.
The selection of ecological
benchmarks for the effects of acid gases
on plants followed the same approach
as for PB–HAP (i.e., we examine all of
the available benchmarks). For HCl, the
EPA identified chronic benchmark
concentrations. We note that the
benchmark for chronic HCl exposure to
plants is greater than the reference
concentration for chronic inhalation
exposure for human health. This means
that where the EPA includes regulatory
requirements to prevent an exceedance
of the reference concentration for
human health, additional analyses for
adverse environmental effects of HCl
would not be necessary.
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For HF, the EPA identified chronic
benchmark concentrations for plants
and evaluated chronic exposures to
plants in the screening analysis. High
concentrations of HF in the air have also
been linked to fluorosis in livestock.
However, the HF concentrations at
which fluorosis in livestock occur are
higher than those at which plant
damage begins. Therefore, the
benchmarks for plants are protective of
both plants and livestock.
e. Screening Methodology
For the environmental risk screening
analysis, the EPA first determined
whether any of the major source
facilities in the Secondary Aluminum
Production source category emitted any
of the seven environmental HAP. We
identified emissions of five of the PB–
HAP (cadmium, mercury, lead, D/F,
PAHs) and two acid gases (HCl and HF).
Because one or more of the seven
environmental HAP evaluated were
emitted by facilities in the source
category, we proceeded to the second
step of the evaluation. Since D/F is the
only pollutant for which subpart RRR
area sources are regulated under CAA
section 112(d), this was the only PB–
HAP evaluated in this screening
analysis.
f. PB–HAP Methodology
For cadmium, mercury, POM and D/
F, the environmental screening analysis
consists of two tiers, while lead
compounds are analyzed differently as
discussed earlier. In the first tier, we
determined whether the maximum
facility-specific emission rates of each of
the emitted environmental HAP for the
major sources were large enough to
create the potential for adverse
environmental effects under reasonable
worst-case environmental conditions.
This same assessment was done for area
sources for D/F because this is the only
pollutant for which subpart RRR area
sources are regulated under CAA
section 112(d). These are the same
environmental conditions used in the
human multipathway exposure and risk
screening analysis.
To facilitate this step, TRIM.FaTE was
run for each PB–HAP under
hypothetical environmental conditions
designed to provide conservatively high
HAP concentrations. The model was set
to maximize runoff from terrestrial
parcels into the modeled lake, which in
turn, maximized the chemical
concentrations in the water, the
sediments and the fish. The resulting
media concentrations were then used to
back-calculate a screening level
emission rate that corresponded to the
relevant exposure benchmark
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concentration value for each assessment
endpoint. To assess emissions from a
facility, the reported emission rate for
each PB–HAP was compared to the
screening level emission rate for that
PB–HAP for each assessment endpoint.
If emissions from a facility do not
exceed the Tier 1 screening level, the
facility ‘‘passes’’ the screen, and,
therefore, is not evaluated further under
the screening approach. If emissions
from a facility exceed the Tier 1
screening level, we evaluate the facility
further in Tier 2.
In Tier 2 of the environmental
screening analysis, the emission rate
screening levels are adjusted to account
for local meteorology and the actual
location of lakes in the vicinity of
facilities that did not pass the Tier 1
screen. The modeling domain for each
facility in the Tier 2 analysis consists of
eight octants. Each octant contains 5
modeled soil concentrations at various
distances from the facility (5 soil
concentrations × 8 octants = total of 40
soil concentrations per facility) and one
lake with modeled concentrations for
water, sediment and fish tissue. In the
Tier 2 environmental risk screening
analysis, the 40 soil concentration
points are averaged to obtain an average
soil concentration for each facility for
each PB–HAP. For the water, sediment
and fish tissue concentrations, the
highest value for each facility for each
pollutant is used. If emission
concentrations from a facility do not
exceed the Tier 2 screening level, the
facility passes the screen, and is
typically not evaluated further. If
emissions from a facility exceed the Tier
2 screening level, the facility does not
pass the screen and, therefore, may have
the potential to cause adverse
environmental effects. Such facilities
are evaluated further to investigate
factors such as the magnitude and
characteristics of the area of exceedance.
g. Acid Gas Methodology
The environmental screening analysis
evaluates the potential phytotoxicity
and reduced productivity of plants due
to chronic exposure to acid gases. The
environmental risk screening
methodology for acid gases is a singletier screen that compares the average
off-site ambient air concentration over
the modeling domain to ecological
benchmarks for each of the acid gases.
Because air concentrations are
compared directly to the ecological
benchmarks, emission-based screening
levels are not calculated for acid gases
as they are in the ecological risk
screening methodology for PB–HAP.
For purposes of ecological risk
screening, the EPA identifies a potential
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for adverse environmental effects to
plant communities from exposure to
acid gases when the average
concentration of the HAP around a
facility exceeds the LOAEL ecological
benchmark. In such cases, we further
investigate factors such as the
magnitude and characteristics of the
area of exceedance (e.g., land use of
exceedance area, size of exceedance
area) to determine if there is an adverse
environmental effect. For further
information on the environmental
screening analysis approach, see the
Residual Risk Assessment for the
Secondary Aluminum Production
Source Category in Support of the 2014
Supplemental Proposal, which is
available in the docket for this action.
6. How did we conduct facility-wide
assessments?
To put the source category risks in
context, we typically examine the risks
from the entire ‘‘facility,’’ where the
facility includes all HAP-emitting
operations within a contiguous area and
under common control. In other words,
we examine the HAP emissions not only
from the source category of interest, but
also emissions of HAP from all other
emissions sources at the facility for
which we have data. For the Secondary
Aluminum Production source category,
we had nine facilities that were colocated with primary aluminum
reduction plants.
7. How did we consider uncertainties in
risk assessment?
In the Benzene NESHAP, we
concluded that risk estimation
uncertainty should be considered in our
decision-making under the ample
margin of safety framework. Uncertainty
and the potential for bias are inherent in
all risk assessments, including those
performed for this proposal. Although
uncertainty exists, we believe that our
approach, which used conservative
tools and assumptions, ensures that our
decisions are health protective and
environmentally protective. A brief
discussion of the uncertainties in the
RTR emissions dataset, dispersion
modeling, inhalation exposure estimates
and dose-response relationships follows
below. A more thorough discussion of
these uncertainties is included in the
Development of the RTR Supplemental
Proposal Risk Modeling Dataset for the
Secondary Aluminum Production
Source Category and Modeling Input
Revisions for the RTR Risk Modeling
Dataset for the Secondary Aluminum
Production Source Category, which are
available in the docket for this action.
The other uncertainties are described in
more detail in the Residual Risk
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Assessment for the Secondary
Aluminum Production Source Category
in Support of the 2014 Supplemental
Proposal, which is available in the
docket for this action.
a. Uncertainties in the RTR Emissions
Dataset
Although the development of the RTR
emissions dataset involved quality
assurance/quality control processes, the
accuracy of emissions values will vary
depending on the source of the data, the
degree to which data are incomplete or
missing, the degree to which
assumptions made to complete the
datasets are accurate, errors in emission
estimates and other factors. The
emission estimates considered in this
analysis generally are annual totals for
certain years, and they do not reflect
short-term fluctuations during the
course of a year or variations from year
to year. The estimates of peak hourly
emission rates for the acute effects
screening assessment were based on an
emission adjustment factor of 10
applied to the average annual hourly
emission rates for all emission process
groups, which are intended to account
for emission fluctuations due to normal
facility operations. A description of the
development of the emissions dataset is
in section II.D of this preamble and in
the documents, Development of the RTR
Supplemental Proposal Risk Modeling
Dataset for the Secondary Aluminum
Production Source Category and
Modeling Input Revisions for the RTR
Risk Modeling Dataset for the Secondary
Aluminum Production Source Category,
which are in the docket for this
rulemaking.
b. Uncertainties in Dispersion Modeling
We recognize there is uncertainty in
ambient concentration estimates
associated with any model, including
the EPA’s recommended regulatory
dispersion model, AERMOD. In using a
model to estimate ambient pollutant
concentrations, the user chooses certain
options to apply. For RTR assessments,
we select some model options that have
the potential to overestimate ambient air
concentrations (e.g., not including
plume depletion or pollutant
transformation). We select other model
options that have the potential to
underestimate ambient impacts (e.g., not
including building downwash). Other
options that we select have the potential
to either under- or overestimate ambient
levels (e.g., meteorology and receptor
locations). On balance, considering the
directional nature of the uncertainties
commonly present in ambient
concentrations estimated by dispersion
models, the approach we apply in the
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RTR assessments should yield unbiased
estimates of ambient HAP
concentrations.
c. Uncertainties in Inhalation Exposure
The EPA did not include the effects
of human mobility on exposures in the
assessment. Specifically, short-term
mobility and long-term mobility
between census blocks in the modeling
domain were not considered.15 The
approach of not considering short or
long-term population mobility does not
bias the estimate of the theoretical MIR
(by definition), nor does it affect the
estimate of cancer incidence because the
total population number remains the
same. It does, however, affect the shape
of the distribution of individual risks
across the affected population, shifting
it toward higher estimated individual
risks at the upper end and reducing the
number of people estimated to be at
lower risks, thereby increasing the
estimated number of people at specific
high risk levels (e.g., 1-in-10 thousand
or 1-in-1 million).
In addition, the assessment predicted
the chronic exposures at the centroid of
each populated census block as
surrogates for the exposure
concentrations for all people living in
that block. Using the census block
centroid to predict chronic exposures
tends to over-predict exposures for
people in the census block who live
farther from the facility and underpredict exposures for people in the
census block who live closer to the
facility. Thus, using the census block
centroid to predict chronic exposures
may lead to a potential understatement
or overstatement of the true maximum
impact, but is an unbiased estimate of
average risk and incidence. We reduce
this uncertainty by analyzing large
census blocks near facilities using aerial
imagery and adjusting the location of
the block centroid to better represent the
population in the block, as well as
adding additional receptor locations
where the block population is not well
represented by a single location.
The assessment evaluates the cancer
inhalation risks associated with
pollutant exposures over a 70-year
period, which is the assumed lifetime of
an individual. In reality, both the length
of time that modeled emission sources
at facilities actually operate (i.e., more
or less than 70 years) and the domestic
growth or decline of the modeled
industry (i.e., the increase or decrease in
the number or size of domestic
15 Short-term mobility is movement from one
micro-environment to another over the course of
hours or days. Long-term mobility is movement
from one residence to another over the course of a
lifetime.
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facilities) will influence the future risks
posed by a given source or source
category. Depending on the
characteristics of the industry, these
factors will, in most cases, result in an
overestimate both in individual risk
levels and in the total estimated number
of cancer cases. However, in the
unlikely scenario where a facility
maintains, or even increases, its
emissions levels over a period of more
than 70 years, residents live beyond 70
years at the same location, and the
residents spend most of their days at
that location, then the cancer inhalation
risks could potentially be
underestimated. However, annual
cancer incidence estimates from
exposures to emissions from these
sources would not be affected by the
length of time an emissions source
operates.
The exposure estimates used in these
analyses assume chronic exposures to
ambient (outdoor) levels of pollutants.
Because most people spend the majority
of their time indoors, actual exposures
may not be as high, depending on the
characteristics of the pollutants
modeled. For many of the HAP, indoor
levels are roughly equivalent to ambient
levels, but for very reactive pollutants or
larger particles, indoor levels are
typically lower. This factor has the
potential to result in an overestimate of
25 to 30 percent of exposures.16
In addition to the uncertainties
highlighted above, there are several
factors specific to the acute exposure
assessment that the EPA conducts as
part of the risk review under section 112
of the CAA that should be highlighted.
The accuracy of an acute inhalation
exposure assessment depends on the
simultaneous occurrence of
independent factors that may vary
greatly, such as hourly emissions rates,
meteorology and the presence of
humans at the location of the maximum
concentration. In the acute screening
assessment that we conduct under the
RTR program, we assume that peak
emissions from the source category and
worst-case meteorological conditions
co-occur, thus, resulting in maximum
ambient concentrations. These two
events are unlikely to occur at the same
time, making these assumptions
conservative. We then include the
additional assumption that a person is
located at this point during this same
time period. For this source category,
these assumptions would tend to be
worst-case actual exposures as it is
unlikely that a person would be located
16 U.S. EPA. National-Scale Air Toxics
Assessment for 1996. (EPA 453/R–01–003; January
2001; page 85.)
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at the point of maximum exposure
during the time when peak emissions
and worst-case meteorological
conditions occur simultaneously.
d. Uncertainties in Dose-Response
Relationships
There are uncertainties inherent in
the development of the dose-response
values used in our risk assessments for
cancer effects from chronic exposures
and non-cancer effects from both
chronic and acute exposures. Some
uncertainties may be considered
quantitatively, and others generally are
expressed in qualitative terms. We note
as a preface to this discussion a point on
dose-response uncertainty that is
brought out in the EPA’s 2005 Cancer
Guidelines; namely, that ‘‘the primary
goal of EPA actions is protection of
human health; accordingly, as an
Agency policy, risk assessment
procedures, including default options
that are used in the absence of scientific
data to the contrary, should be health
protective’’ (EPA 2005 Cancer
Guidelines, pages 1–7). This is the
approach followed here as summarized
in the next several paragraphs. A
complete detailed discussion of
uncertainties and variability in doseresponse relationships is given in the
Residual Risk Assessment for the
Secondary Aluminum Production
Source Category in Support of the 2014
Supplemental Proposal, which is
available in the docket for this action.
Cancer URE values used in our risk
assessments are those that have been
developed to generally provide an upper
bound estimate of risk. That is, they
represent a ‘‘plausible upper limit to the
true value of a quantity’’ (although this
is usually not a true statistical
confidence limit).17 In some
circumstances, the true risk could be as
low as zero; however, in other
circumstances the risk could be
greater.18 When developing an upper
bound estimate of risk and to provide
risk values that do not underestimate
risk, health-protective default
approaches are generally used. To err on
the side of ensuring adequate health
protection, the EPA typically uses the
upper bound estimates rather than
lower bound or central tendency
estimates in our risk assessments, an
approach that may have limitations for
17 IRIS glossary (https://www.epa.gov/NCEA/iris/
help_gloss.htm).
18 An exception to this is the URE for benzene,
which is considered to cover a range of values, each
end of which is considered to be equally plausible,
and which is based on maximum likelihood
estimates.
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other uses (e.g., priority-setting or
expected benefits analysis).
Chronic non-cancer RfC and reference
dose (RfD) values represent chronic
exposure levels that are intended to be
health-protective levels. Specifically,
these values provide an estimate (with
uncertainty spanning perhaps an order
of magnitude) of a continuous
inhalation exposure (RfC) or a daily oral
exposure (RfD) to the human population
(including sensitive subgroups) that is
likely to be without an appreciable risk
of deleterious effects during a lifetime.
To derive values that are intended to be
‘‘without appreciable risk,’’ the
methodology relies upon an uncertainty
factor (UF) approach (U.S. EPA, 1993,
1994) which considers uncertainty,
variability and gaps in the available
data. The UF are applied to derive
reference values that are intended to
protect against appreciable risk of
deleterious effects. The UF are
commonly default values,19 e.g., factors
of 10 or 3, used in the absence of
compound-specific data; where data are
available, UF may also be developed
using compound-specific information.
When data are limited, more
assumptions are needed and more UF
are used. Thus, there may be a greater
tendency to overestimate risk in the
sense that further study might support
development of reference values that are
higher (i.e., less potent) because fewer
default assumptions are needed.
However, for some pollutants, it is
possible that risks may be
underestimated.
While collectively termed ‘‘UF,’’ these
factors account for a number of different
quantitative considerations when using
observed animal (usually rodent) or
human toxicity data in the development
of the RfC. The UF are intended to
account for: (1) Variation in
susceptibility among the members of the
19 According to the NRC report, Science and
Judgment in Risk Assessment (NRC, 1994)
‘‘[Default] options are generic approaches, based on
general scientific knowledge and policy judgment,
that are applied to various elements of the risk
assessment process when the correct scientific
model is unknown or uncertain.’’ The 1983 NRC
report, Risk Assessment in the Federal Government:
Managing the Process, defined default option as
‘‘the option chosen on the basis of risk assessment
policy that appears to be the best choice in the
absence of data to the contrary’’ (NRC, 1983a, p. 63).
Therefore, default options are not rules that bind
the agency; rather, the agency may depart from
them in evaluating the risks posed by a specific
substance when it believes this to be appropriate.
In keeping with the EPA’s goal of protecting public
health and the environment, default assumptions
are used to ensure that risk to chemicals is not
underestimated (although defaults are not intended
to overtly overestimate risk). See EPA, 2004, An
Examination of EPA Risk Assessment Principles
and Practices, EPA/100/B–04/001 available at:
https://www.epa.gov/osa/pdfs/ratf-final.pdf.
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human population (i.e., inter-individual
variability); (2) uncertainty in
extrapolating from experimental animal
data to humans (i.e., interspecies
differences); (3) uncertainty in
extrapolating from data obtained in a
study with less-than-lifetime exposure
(i.e., extrapolating from sub-chronic to
chronic exposure); (4) uncertainty in
extrapolating the observed data to
obtain an estimate of the exposure
associated with no adverse effects; and
(5) uncertainty when the database is
incomplete or there are problems with
the applicability of available studies.
Many of the UF used to account for
variability and uncertainty in the
development of acute reference values
are quite similar to those developed for
chronic durations, but they more often
use individual UF values that may be
less than 10. The UF are applied based
on chemical-specific or health effectspecific information (e.g., simple
irritation effects do not vary appreciably
between human individuals, hence a
value of 3 is typically used), or based on
the purpose for the reference value (see
the following paragraph). The UF
applied in acute reference value
derivation include: (1) Heterogeneity
among humans; (2) uncertainty in
extrapolating from animals to humans;
(3) uncertainty in lowest observed
adverse effect (exposure) level to no
observed adverse effect (exposure) level
adjustments; and (4) uncertainty in
accounting for an incomplete database
on toxic effects of potential concern.
Additional adjustments are often
applied to account for uncertainty in
extrapolation from observations at one
exposure duration (e.g., 4 hours) to
derive an acute reference value at
another exposure duration (e.g., 1 hour).
Not all acute reference values are
developed for the same purpose and
care must be taken when interpreting
the results of an acute assessment of
human health effects relative to the
reference value or values being
exceeded. Where relevant to the
estimated exposures, the lack of shortterm dose-response values at different
levels of severity should be factored into
the risk characterization as potential
uncertainties.
Although every effort is made to
identify appropriate human health effect
dose-response assessment values for all
pollutants emitted by the sources in this
risk assessment, some HAP emitted by
this source category are lacking doseresponse assessments. Accordingly,
these pollutants cannot be included in
the quantitative risk assessment, which
could result in quantitative estimates
understating HAP risk. To help to
alleviate this potential underestimate,
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where we conclude similarity with a
HAP for which a dose-response
assessment value is available, we use
that value as a surrogate for the
assessment of the HAP for which no
value is available. To the extent use of
surrogates indicates appreciable risk, we
may identify a need to increase priority
for new IRIS assessment of that
substance. We additionally note that,
generally speaking, HAP of greatest
concern due to environmental
exposures and hazard are those for
which dose-response assessments have
been performed, reducing the likelihood
of understating risk.
For a group of compounds that are
unspeciated (e.g., glycol ethers), we
conservatively use the most protective
reference value of an individual
compound in that group to estimate
risk. Similarly, for an individual
compound in a group (e.g., ethylene
glycol diethyl ether) that does not have
a specified reference value, we also
apply the most protective reference
value from the other compounds in the
group to estimate risk.
e. Uncertainties in the Multipathway
Assessment
For each source category, we
generally rely on site-specific levels of
PB-HAP emissions to determine
whether a refined assessment of the
impacts from multipathway exposures
is necessary. This determination is
based on the results of a tiered screening
analysis that relies on the outputs from
models that estimate environmental
pollutant concentrations and human
exposures for four PB-HAP. Two
important types of uncertainty
associated with the use of these models
in RTR risk assessments and inherent to
any assessment that relies on
environmental modeling are model
uncertainty and input uncertainty.20
Model uncertainty concerns whether
the selected models are appropriate for
the assessment being conducted and
whether they adequately represent the
actual processes that might occur for
that situation. An example of model
uncertainty is the question of whether
the model adequately describes the
movement of a pollutant through the
soil. This type of uncertainty is difficult
to quantify. However, based on feedback
received from previous SAB reviews
and other reviews, we are confident that
the models used in the screen are
20 In the context of this discussion, the term
‘‘uncertainty’’ as it pertains to exposure and risk
encompasses both variability in the range of
expected inputs and screening results due to
existing spatial, temporal, and other factors, as well
as uncertainty in being able to accurately estimate
the true result.
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appropriate and state-of-the-art for the
multipathway risk assessments
conducted in support of RTR.
Input uncertainty is concerned with
how accurately the models have been
configured and parameterized for the
assessment at hand. For Tier 1 of the
multipathway screen, we configured the
models to avoid underestimating
exposure and risk. This was
accomplished by selecting upper-end
values from nationally-representative
datasets for the more influential
parameters in the environmental model,
including selection and spatial
configuration of the area of interest, lake
location and size, meteorology, surface
water and soil characteristics and
structure of the aquatic food web. We
also assume an ingestion exposure
scenario and values for human exposure
factors that represent reasonable
maximum exposures. The multipathway
screens include some hypothetical
elements, namely the hypothetical
farmer and fisher scenarios. It is
important to note that even though the
multipathway assessment has been
conducted, no data exist to verify the
existence of either the farmer or fisher
scenario outlined above.
In Tier 2 of the multipathway
assessment, we refine the model inputs
to account for meteorological patterns in
the vicinity of the facility versus using
upper-end national values and we
identify the actual location of lakes near
the facility rather than the default lake
location that we apply in Tier 1. By
refining the screening approach in Tier
2 to account for local geographical and
meteorological data, we decrease the
likelihood that concentrations in
environmental media are overestimated,
thereby increasing the usefulness of the
screen. The assumptions and the
associated uncertainties regarding the
selected ingestion exposure scenario are
the same for all the Tiers.
For both Tiers 1 and 2 of the
multipathway assessment, our approach
to addressing model input uncertainty is
generally cautious. We choose model
inputs from the upper end of the range
of possible values for the influential
parameters used in the models, and we
assume that the exposed individual
exhibits ingestion behavior that would
lead to a high total exposure. This
approach reduces the likelihood of not
identifying high risks for adverse
impacts.
Despite the uncertainties, when
individual pollutants or facilities do
screen out, we are confident that the
potential for adverse multipathway
impacts on human health is very low.
On the other hand, when individual
pollutants or facilities do not screen out,
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it does not mean that multipathway
impacts are significant, only that we
cannot rule out that possibility and that
a refined multipathway screening
analysis for the site might be necessary
to obtain a more accurate risk
characterization for the source category.
For further information on
uncertainties and the multipathway
screening methods, refer to the
Appendix 5 of the Residual Risk
Assessment for the Secondary
Aluminum Production Source Category
in Support of the 2014 Supplemental
Proposal.
We completed a Tier 3 refined
multipathway screening analysis for this
supplemental proposal for assessing
multipathway risks. This assessment
contains less uncertainty compared to
the Tier 1 and Tier 2 screens. The Tier
3 screen reduces uncertainty through
improved lake evaluations used in the
Tier 2 screen and by calculating the
amount of mass lost to the upper air
sink through plume rise. Nevertheless,
some uncertainties also exist with these
refined assessments. The Tier 3
multipathway screen and related
uncertainties are described in detail in
the Residual Risk Assessment for the
Secondary Aluminum Production
Source Category in Support of the 2014
Supplemental Proposal, which is
available in the docket for this action.
f. Uncertainties in the Environmental
Risk Screening Assessment
For each source category, we
generally rely on site-specific levels of
environmental HAP emissions to
perform an environmental screening
assessment. The environmental
screening assessment is based on the
outputs from models that estimate
environmental HAP concentrations. The
same models, specifically the
TRIM.FaTE multipathway model and
the AERMOD air dispersion model, are
used to estimate environmental HAP
concentrations for both the human
multipathway screening analysis and for
the environmental screening analysis.
Therefore, both screening assessments
have similar modeling uncertainties.
Two important types of uncertainty
associated with the use of these models
in RTR environmental screening
assessments—and inherent to any
assessment that relies on environmental
modeling—are model uncertainty and
input uncertainty.21
21 In the context of this discussion, the term
‘‘uncertainty,’’ as it pertains to exposure and risk
assessment, encompasses both variability in the
range of expected inputs and screening results due
to existing spatial, temporal and other factors, as
well as uncertainty in being able to accurately
estimate the true result.
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Model uncertainty concerns whether
the selected models are appropriate for
the assessment being conducted and
whether they adequately represent the
movement and accumulation of
environmental HAP emissions in the
environment. For example, does the
model adequately describe the
movement of a pollutant through the
soil? This type of uncertainty is difficult
to quantify. However, based on feedback
received from previous SAB reviews
and other reviews, we are confident that
the models used in the screen are
appropriate and state-of-the-art for the
environmental risk assessments
conducted in support of our RTR
analyses.
Input uncertainty is concerned with
how accurately the models have been
configured and parameterized for the
assessment at hand. For Tier 1 of the
environmental screen for PB–HAP, we
configured the models to avoid
underestimating exposure and risk to
reduce the likelihood that the results
indicate the risks are lower than they
actually are. This was accomplished by
selecting upper-end values from
nationally-representative datasets for
the more influential parameters in the
environmental model, including
selection and spatial configuration of
the area of interest, the location and size
of any bodies of water, meteorology,
surface water and soil characteristics
and structure of the aquatic food web.
In Tier 1, we used the maximum
facility-specific emissions for the PB–
HAP (other than lead compounds,
which were evaluated by comparison to
the secondary lead NAAQS) that were
included in the environmental
screening assessment and each of the
media when comparing to ecological
benchmarks. This is consistent with the
conservative design of Tier 1 of the
screen. In Tier 2 of the environmental
screening analysis for PB–HAP, we
refine the model inputs to account for
meteorological patterns in the vicinity
of the facility versus using upper-end
national values, and we identify the
locations of water bodies near the
facility location. By refining the
screening approach in Tier 2 to account
for local geographical and
meteorological data, we decrease the
likelihood that concentrations in
environmental media are overestimated,
thereby increasing the usefulness of the
screen. To better represent widespread
impacts, the modeled soil
concentrations are averaged in Tier 2 to
obtain one average soil concentration
value for each facility and for each PB–
HAP. For PB–HAP concentrations in
water, sediment and fish tissue, the
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highest value for each facility for each
pollutant is used.
For the environmental screening
assessment for acid gases, we employ a
single-tiered approach. We use the
modeled air concentrations and
compare those with ecological
benchmarks.
For both Tiers 1 and 2 of the
environmental screening assessment,
our approach to addressing model input
uncertainty is generally cautious. We
choose model inputs from the upper
end of the range of possible values for
the influential parameters used in the
models, and we assume that the
exposed individual exhibits ingestion
behavior that would lead to a high total
exposure. This approach reduces the
likelihood of not identifying potential
risks for adverse environmental impacts.
Uncertainty also exists in the
ecological benchmarks for the
environmental risk screening analysis.
We established a hierarchy of preferred
benchmark sources to allow selection of
benchmarks for each environmental
HAP at each ecological assessment
endpoint. In general, EPA benchmarks
used at a programmatic level (e.g.,
Office of Water, Superfund Program)
were used, if available. If not, we used
EPA benchmarks used in regional
programs (e.g., Superfund Program). If
benchmarks were not available at a
programmatic or regional level, we used
benchmarks developed by other
agencies (e.g., NOAA) or by state
agencies.
In all cases (except for lead
compounds, which were evaluated
through a comparison to the NAAQS),
we searched for benchmarks at the
following three effect levels, as
described in section III.A.6 of this
preamble:
1. A no-effect level (i.e., NOAEL).
2. Threshold-effect level (i.e.,
LOAEL).
3. Probable effect level (i.e., PEL).
For some ecological assessment
endpoint/environmental HAP
combinations, we could identify
benchmarks for all three effect levels,
but for most, we could not. In one case,
where different agencies derived
significantly different numbers to
represent a threshold for effect, we
included both. In several cases, only a
single benchmark was available. In
cases where multiple effect levels were
available for a particular PB–HAP and
assessment endpoint, we used all of the
available effect levels to help us to
determine whether risk exists and if the
risks could be considered significant
and widespread.
The EPA evaluates the following
seven HAP in the environmental risk
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screening assessment: cadmium, D/F,
POM, mercury (both inorganic mercury
and methyl mercury), lead compounds,
HCl and HF, where applicable. These
seven HAP represent pollutants that can
cause adverse impacts for plants and
animals either through direct exposure
to HAP in the air or through exposure
to HAP that is deposited from the air
onto soils and surface waters. These
seven HAP also represent those HAP for
which we can conduct a meaningful
environmental risk screening
assessment. For other HAP not included
in our screening assessment, the model
has not been parameterized such that it
can be used for that purpose. In some
cases, depending on the HAP, we may
not have appropriate multipathway
models that allow us to predict the
concentration of that pollutant. The EPA
acknowledges that other HAP beyond
the seven HAP that we are evaluating
may have the potential to cause adverse
environmental effects and, therefore, the
EPA may evaluate other relevant HAP in
the future, as modeling science and
resources allow.
Further information on uncertainties
and the Tier 1 and 2 screening methods
is provided in Appendix 5 of the
Residual Risk Assessment for the
Secondary Aluminum Production
Source Category in Support of the 2014
Supplemental Proposal, available in the
docket for this action.
B. How did we consider the risk results
in making decisions for this
supplemental proposal?
As discussed in section II.A of this
preamble, in evaluating and developing
standards under CAA section 112(f)(2),
we apply a two-step process to address
residual risk. In the first step, the EPA
determines whether risks are acceptable.
This determination ‘‘considers all health
information, including risk estimation
uncertainty, and includes a presumptive
limit on maximum individual lifetime
[cancer] risk (MIR) of approximately [1in-10 thousand] [i.e., 100-in-1 million].’’
54 FR 38045, September 14, 1989. If
risks are unacceptable, the EPA must
determine the emissions standards
necessary to bring risks to an acceptable
level without considering costs. In the
second step of the process, the EPA
considers whether the emissions
standards provide an ample margin of
safety ‘‘in consideration of all health
information, including the number of
persons at risk levels higher than
approximately 1-in-1 million, as well as
other relevant factors, including costs
and economic impacts, technological
feasibility, and other factors relevant to
each particular decision.’’ Id. The EPA
must promulgate emission standards
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necessary to provide an ample margin of
safety.
In past residual risk actions, the EPA
considered a number of human health
risk metrics associated with emissions
from the categories under review,
including the MIR, the number of
persons in various risk ranges, cancer
incidence, the maximum non-cancer HI
and the maximum acute non-cancer
hazard. See, e.g., 72 FR 25138, May 3,
2007; 71 FR 42724, July 27, 2006. The
EPA considered this health information
for both actual and allowable emissions.
See, e.g., 75 FR 65068, October 21, 2010;
75 FR 80220, December 21, 2010; 76 FR
29032, May 19, 2011. The EPA also
discussed risk estimation uncertainties
and considered the uncertainties in the
determination of acceptable risk and
ample margin of safety in these past
actions. The EPA considered this same
type of information in support of this
action.
The agency is considering these
various measures of health information
to inform our determinations of risk
acceptability and ample margin of safety
under CAA section 112(f). As explained
in the Benzene NESHAP, ‘‘the first step
judgment on acceptability cannot be
reduced to any single factor’’ and, thus,
‘‘[t]he Administrator believes that the
acceptability of risk under [previous]
section 112 is best judged on the basis
of a broad set of health risk measures
and information.’’ 54 FR 38046,
September 14, 1989. Similarly, with
regard to the ample margin of safety
determination, ‘‘the Agency again
considers all of the health risk and other
health information considered in the
first step. Beyond that information,
additional factors relating to the
appropriate level of control will also be
considered, including cost and
economic impacts of controls,
technological feasibility, uncertainties,
and any other relevant factors.’’ Id.
The Benzene NESHAP approach
provides flexibility regarding factors the
EPA may consider in making
determinations and how the EPA may
weigh those factors for each source
category. In responding to comment on
our policy under the Benzene NESHAP,
the EPA explained that:
‘‘[t]he policy chosen by the Administrator
permits consideration of multiple measures
of health risk. Not only can the MIR figure
be considered, but also incidence, the
presence of non-cancer health effects, and the
uncertainties of the risk estimates. In this
way, the effect on the most exposed
individuals can be reviewed as well as the
impact on the general public. These factors
can then be weighed in each individual case.
This approach complies with the Vinyl
Chloride mandate that the Administrator
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ascertain an acceptable level of risk to the
public by employing [her] expertise to assess
available data. It also complies with the
Congressional intent behind the CAA, which
did not exclude the use of any particular
measure of public health risk from the EPA’s
consideration with respect to CAA section
112 regulations, and thereby implicitly
permits consideration of any and all
measures of health risk which the
Administrator, in [her] judgment, believes are
appropriate to determining what will ‘protect
the public health’.’’
See 54 FR at 38057, September 14,
1989. Thus, the level of the MIR is only
one factor to be weighed in determining
acceptability of risks. The Benzene
NESHAP explained that ‘‘an MIR of
approximately one in 10 thousand
should ordinarily be the upper end of
the range of acceptability. As risks
increase above this benchmark, they
become presumptively less acceptable
under CAA section 112, and would be
weighed with the other health risk
measures and information in making an
overall judgment on acceptability. Or,
the Agency may find, in a particular
case, that a risk that includes MIR less
than the presumptively acceptable level
is unacceptable in the light of other
health risk factors.’’ Id. at 38045.
Similarly, with regard to the ample
margin of safety analysis, the EPA stated
in the Benzene NESHAP that: ‘‘EPA
believes the relative weight of the many
factors that can be considered in
selecting an ample margin of safety can
only be determined for each specific
source category. This occurs mainly
because technological and economic
factors (along with the health-related
factors) vary from source category to
source category.’’ Id. at 38061. We also
consider the uncertainties associated
with the various risk analyses, as
discussed earlier in this preamble, in
our determinations of acceptability and
ample margin of safety.
The EPA notes that it has not
considered certain health information to
date in making residual risk
determinations. At this time, we do not
attempt to quantify those HAP risks that
may be associated with emissions from
other facilities that do not include the
source categories in question, mobile
source emissions, natural source
emissions, persistent environmental
pollution or atmospheric transformation
in the vicinity of the sources in these
categories.
The agency understands the potential
importance of considering an
individual’s total exposure to HAP in
addition to considering exposure to
HAP emissions from the source category
and facility. We recognize that such
consideration may be particularly
important when assessing non-cancer
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risks, where pollutant-specific exposure
health reference levels (e.g., RfCs) are
based on the assumption that thresholds
exist for adverse health effects. For
example, the agency recognizes that,
although exposures attributable to
emissions from a source category or
facility alone may not indicate the
potential for increased risk of adverse
non-cancer health effects in a
population, the exposures resulting
from emissions from the facility in
combination with emissions from all of
the other sources (e.g., other facilities) to
which an individual is exposed may be
sufficient to result in increased risk of
adverse non-cancer health effects. In
May 2010, the SAB advised the EPA
‘‘that RTR assessments will be most
useful to decision makers and
communities if results are presented in
the broader context of aggregate and
cumulative risks, including background
concentrations and contributions from
other sources in the area.’’ 22
In response to the SAB
recommendations, the EPA is
incorporating cumulative risk analyses
into its RTR risk assessments, including
those reflected in this proposal. The
agency is: (1) Conducting facility-wide
assessments, which include source
category emission points as well as
other emission points within the
facilities; (2) considering sources in the
same category whose emissions result in
exposures to the same individuals; and
(3) for some persistent and
bioaccumulative pollutants, analyzing
the ingestion route of exposure. In
addition, the RTR risk assessments have
always considered aggregate cancer risk
from all carcinogens and aggregate noncancer hazard indices from all noncarcinogens affecting the same target
organ system.
Although we are interested in placing
source category and facility-wide HAP
risks in the context of total HAP risks
from all sources combined in the
vicinity of each source, we are
concerned about the uncertainties of
doing so. Because of the contribution to
total HAP risk from emission sources
other than those that we have studied in
depth during this RTR review, such
estimates of total HAP risks would have
significantly greater associated
uncertainties than the source category or
facility-wide estimates. Such aggregate
22 The EPA’s responses to this and all other key
recommendations of the SAB’s advisory on RTR
risk assessment methodologies (which is available
at: https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/
4AB3966E263D943A8525771F00668381/$File/EPASAB-10-007-unsigned.pdf) are outlined in a memo
to this rulemaking docket from David Guinnup
titled, EPA’s Actions in Response to the Key
Recommendations of the SAB Review of RTR Risk
Assessment Methodologies.
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or cumulative assessments would
compound those uncertainties, making
the assessments too unreliable.
C. How did we perform the technology
review?
Our technology review focused on the
identification and evaluation of
developments in practices, processes
and control technologies that have
occurred since the MACT standards
were promulgated. Where we identified
such developments, in order to inform
our decision of whether it is
‘‘necessary’’ to revise the emissions
standards, we analyzed the technical
feasibility of applying these
developments and the estimated costs,
energy implications, non-air
environmental impacts, as well as
considering the emission reductions.
We also considered the appropriateness
of applying controls to new sources
versus retrofitting existing sources.
Based on our analyses of the available
data and information, we identified
potential developments in practices,
processes and control technologies. For
this exercise, we considered any of the
following to be a ‘‘development’’:
• Any add-on control technology or
other equipment that was not identified
and considered during development of
the original MACT standards.
• Any improvements in add-on
control technology or other equipment
(that were identified and considered
during development of the original
MACT standards) that could result in
additional emission reduction.
• Any work practice or operational
procedure that was not identified or
considered during development of the
original MACT standards.
• Any process change or pollution
prevention alternative that could be
broadly applied to the industry and that
was not identified or considered during
development of the original MACT
standards.
• Any significant changes in the cost
(including cost effectiveness) of
applying controls (including controls
the EPA considered during the
development of the original MACT
standards).
We reviewed a variety of data sources
in our investigation of potential
practices, processes or controls to
consider. Among the sources we
reviewed were the NESHAP for various
industries that were promulgated since
the MACT standards being reviewed in
this action. We reviewed the regulatory
requirements and/or technical analyses
associated with these regulatory actions
to identify any practices, processes and
control technologies considered in these
efforts that could be applied to emission
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sources in the Secondary Aluminum
Production source category, as well as
the costs, non-air impacts and energy
implications associated with the use of
these technologies. Additionally, we
requested information from facilities
regarding developments in practices,
processes or control technology. Finally,
we reviewed information from other
sources, such as state and/or local
permitting agency databases and
industry-supported databases.
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IV. Revised Analytical Results and
Proposed Decisions for the Secondary
Aluminum Production Source Category
A. What are the results of the risk
assessment and analysis?
1. Inhalation Risk Assessment Results
Table 3 provides an overall summary
of the results of the inhalation risk
assessment.
TABLE 3—SECONDARY ALUMINUM PRODUCTION SOURCE CATEGORY INHALATION RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS
Maximum individual cancer
risk (in 1-million) a
Number of facilities modeled
Based on
actual
emissions
Based on
allowable
emissions
Estimated
annual
cancer
incidence
(cases/yr) d
Major Sources (52) .......................................
0.6
4
0.0007
Area Sources (103) .......................................
Facility-wide (52 Major Sources) ..................
0.3
70
1
NA
Estimated
population
at increased
risk of
cancer
≥1-in-1
million d
0.001
0.05
Maximum chronic non-cancer
TOSHI b
0
0
760,000
Based on
actual
emissions
level
Based on
allowable
emissions
level
0.04
0.1
0.0003
1
0.001
NA
Worst-case maximum
screening acute
non-cancer
HQ c
HQ(REL) = 0.7 (HF).
HQ(AEGL1) = 0.4 (HCl).
NA.
NA.
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a Estimated maximum individual excess lifetime cancer risk due to HAP emissions from the source category for major sources and for D/F emissions from the area
sources.
b Maximum TOSHI. The target organ with the highest TOSHI for the Secondary Aluminum Production source category for both actual and allowable emissions is
the respiratory system.
c There is no acute dose-response value for D/F. Thus an acute HQ value for area sources was not calculated. The maximum off-site HQ acute value of 0.7 for
actuals is driven by emissions of hydrofluoric acid. See section III.A.3 of this document for explanation of acute dose-response values. Acute assessments are not
performed on allowable emissions.
d These estimates are based upon actual emissions.
The inhalation risk modeling
performed to estimate risks based on
actual and allowable emissions relied
primarily on emissions data from the
ICRs. The results of the chronic baseline
inhalation cancer risk assessment
indicate that, based on estimates of
current actual emissions, the MIR posed
by the Secondary Aluminum Production
source category from major sources and
from area sources was less than 1-in-1
million. The estimated cancer incidence
is slightly higher for area sources
compared to the major sources due to
the larger number of area sources
nationwide. The total estimated cancer
incidence from secondary aluminum
production sources from both major and
area sources based on actual emission
levels is 0.002 excess cancer cases per
year, with emissions of D/F,
naphthalene and PAH contributing 48
percent, 31 percent and 11 percent,
respectively, to this cancer incidence. In
addition, we note that there are no
excess cancer risks greater than or equal
to 1-in-1 million as a result of actual
emissions from this source category over
a lifetime. The maximum modeled
chronic non-cancer HI (TOSHI) value
for the source category for both major
and area sources based on actual
emissions was estimated to be 0.04,
with HCl emissions from group 1
furnaces accounting for 99 percent of
the HI.
When considering MACT-allowable
emissions, the MIR is estimated to be up
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to 4-in-1 million, driven by emissions of
D/F compounds, naphthalene and PAHs
from the scrap dryer/delacquering/
decoating kiln. The estimated potential
cancer incidence considering allowable
emissions for both major and area
sources is estimated to be 0.014 excess
cancer cases per year, or 1 case every 70
years. Approximately 3,400 people were
estimated to have cancer risks greater
than or equal to 1-in-1 million
considering allowable emissions from
secondary aluminum plants. When
considering MACT-allowable emissions,
the maximum chronic non-cancer
TOSHI value was estimated to be 0.1,
driven by allowable emissions of HCl
from the group 1 furnaces.
2. Acute Risk Results
Our screening analysis for worst-case
acute impacts based on actual emissions
indicates no pollutants exceeding an HQ
value of 1 based upon the REL.
3. Multipathway Risk Screening Results
Results of the worst-case Tier 1
screening analysis indicate that 36 of
the 52 major sources exceeded the PB–
HAP emission cancer screening rates
(based on estimates of actual emissions)
for D/F, and 3 of the 52 major sources
exceeded the Tier 1 screen value for
PAHs. Regarding area sources, 60 of the
103 area sources exceeded the PB–HAP
emission cancer screening rates (based
on estimates of actual emissions) for D/
F. For the compounds and facilities that
did not screen out at Tier 1, we
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conducted a Tier 2 screen. The Tier 2
screen replaces some of the assumptions
used in Tier 1 with site-specific data,
including the location of fishable lakes
and local precipitation, wind direction
and speed. The Tier 2 screen continues
to rely on high-end assumptions about
consumption of local fish and locally
grown or raised foods (adult female
angler at 99th percentile consumption
for fish 23 for the subsistence fisherman
scenario and 90th percentile
consumption for locally grown or raised
foods 24 for the farmer scenario). It is
important to note that, even with the
inclusion of some site-specific
information in the Tier 2 analysis, the
multipathway screening analysis is still
a very conservative, health-protective
assessment (e.g., upper-bound
consumption of local fish and locally
grown and/or raised foods) and in all
likelihood will yield results that serve
as an upper-bound multipathway risk
associated with a facility.
While the screening analysis is not
designed to produce a quantitative risk
result, the factor by which the emissions
exceed the threshold serves as a rough
gauge of the ‘‘upper-limit’’ risks we
would expect from a facility. Thus, for
23 Burger, J. 2002. Daily Consumption of Wild
Fish and Game: Exposures of High End
Recreationists. International Journal of
Environmental Health Research 12:343–354.
24 U.S. EPA. Exposure Factors Handbook 2011
Edition (Final). U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R–09/052F,
2011.
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example, if a facility emitted a PB–HAP
carcinogen at a level 2 times the
screening threshold, we can say with a
high degree of confidence that the actual
maximum cancer risks will be less than
2-in-1 million. Likewise, if a facility
emitted a noncancer PB–HAP at a level
2 times the screening threshold, the
maximum noncancer hazard would
represent an HQ less than 2. The high
degree of confidence comes from the
fact that the screens are developed using
the very conservative (health-protective)
assumptions that we describe above.
Based on the Tier 2 cancer screening
analysis, 25 of the 52 major sources and
34 of the 103 area sources emit D/F
above the Tier 2 cancer screening
thresholds for the subsistence fisher and
farmer scenarios. The individual D/F
emissions are all scaled based on their
toxicity to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-pdioxin and reported as toxic equivalents
(TEQs). The subsistence fisher scenario
for the highest risk facilities exceeds the
D/F cancer threshold by a factor of 80
for the major sources and by a factor of
70 for the area sources. The Tier 2
analysis also identifies 23 of the 52
major sources and 26 of the 103 area
sources emitting D/F above the Tier 2
cancer screening thresholds for the
subsistence farmer scenario. The highest
exceedance of the Tier 2 screen value is
40 for the major sources and 20 for the
area sources for the farmer scenario.
We have only one major source
emitting PAHs above the Tier 2 cancer
screen value with an exceedance of 2 for
the farmer scenario. All PAH emissions
are scaled based on their toxicity to
benzo(a)pyrene and reported as TEQs.
A more refined Tier 3 multipathway
screening analysis was conducted for
six Tier 2 major source facilities. The six
facilities were selected because the Tier
2 cancer screening assessments for these
facilities had exceedances greater than
or equal to 50 times the screen value for
the subsistence fisher scenario. The
major sources represented the highest
screened cancer risk for multipathway
impacts. Therefore, further screening
analyses were not performed on the area
sources. The Tier 3 screen examined the
set of lakes from which the fisher might
ingest fish. Any lakes that appeared to
not be fishable or not publicly
accessible were removed from the
assessment, and the screening
assessment was repeated. After we made
the determination the critical lakes were
fishable, we analyzed plume rise data
for each of the sites. The Tier 3 screen
was conducted only on those HAP that
exceeded the Tier 2 screening threshold,
which for this assessment were D/F and
PAHs. Both of these PB–HAP are
carcinogenic. The Tier 3 screen resulted
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in lowering the maximum exceedance of
the screen value for the highest site from
80 to 70. Results for the other sites were
all less than 70. The highest exceedance
of the Tier 2 cancer screen value of 40
for the farmer scenario was also reduced
in the Tier 3 screening assessment to a
value of 30 for the major sources within
this source category.
Overall, the refined multipathway
screening analysis for D/F and PAHs
utilizing the Tier 3 screen predicts a
potential lifetime cancer risk of 70-in-1
million or lower to the most exposed
individual, with D/F emissions from
group 1 furnaces handling other than
clean charge driving the risk. Cancer
risks due to PAH emissions for the
maximum exposed individual were less
than 1-in-1 million.
The chronic non-cancer HQ is
predicted to be below 1 for cadmium
compounds and 1 for mercury
compounds. For lead, we did not
estimate any exceedances of the primary
lead NAAQS.
Further details on the refined
multipathway screening analysis can be
found in Appendix 8 of the Residual
Risk Assessment for the Secondary
Aluminum Production Source Category
in Support of the 2014 Supplemental
Proposal, which is available in the
docket.
Of the seven pollutants included in
the environmental risk screen, area
sources in this source category are
regulated only for D/F. In the Tier 1
screening analysis for D/F, none of the
individual modeled concentrations for
any facility in the source category
exceeded any of the ecological
benchmarks (either the LOAEL or
NOAEL) for D/F.
4. Environmental Risk Screening Results
As described in section III.A of this
document, we conducted an
environmental risk screening
assessment for the Secondary
Aluminum Production source category
for the following seven pollutants:
PAHs, mercury (methyl mercury and
mercuric chloride), cadmium, lead, D/F,
HCl and HF.
Of the seven pollutants included in
the environmental risk screen, major
sources in this source category emit
PAHs, mercuric chloride, cadmium,
lead, D/F, HCl and HF. In the Tier 1
screening analysis for PB–HAP, none of
the individual modeled concentrations
for any facility in the source category
exceeded any of the ecological
benchmarks (either the LOAEL or
NOAEL) for PAHs, mercuric chloride,
cadmium and D/F. For lead, we did not
estimate any exceedances of the
secondary lead NAAQS. For HCl and
HF, the average modeled concentration
around each facility (i.e., the average
concentration of all off-site data points
in the modeling domain) did not exceed
any ecological benchmark. In addition,
each individual modeled concentration
of HCl and HF (i.e., each off-site data
point in the modeling domain) was
below the ecological benchmarks for all
facilities.
6. What demographic groups might
benefit from this regulation?
To determine whether or not to
conduct a demographics analysis, which
is an assessment of risks to individual
demographic groups, we look at a
combination of factors including the
MIR, non-cancer TOSHI, population
around the facilities in the source
category and other relevant factors. For
the Secondary Aluminum Production
source category, inhalation risks were
low with excess cancer risks being less
than 1-in-1 million and non-cancer
hazards being less than 1. Therefore, we
did not conduct an assessment of risks
to individual demographic groups for
this rulemaking. However, we did
conduct a proximity analysis for both
area and major sources, which identifies
any overrepresentation of minority, low
income or indigenous populations near
facilities in the source category. The
results of the proximity analyses suggest
there are a higher percent of minorities,
people with low income, and people
without a high school diploma living
near these facilities (i.e., within 3 miles)
compared to the national averages for
these subpopulations. However, as
explained above, the risks due to HAP
emissions from this source category are
low for all populations (e.g., inhalation
cancer risks are less than 1-in-1 million
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5. Facility-Wide Risk Assessment
Results
Considering facility-wide emissions at
the 52 major sources, the MIR is
estimated to be 70-in-1 million driven
by arsenic and Ni emissions, and the
chronic non-cancer TOSHI value is
calculated to be 1 driven by emissions
of cadmium compounds. The above
risks are driven by emissions from the
potline roof vents at the co-located
primary aluminum production
operations. The Secondary Aluminum
Production source category represents
less than 1 percent of the inhalation
risks from the facility-wide assessment
based upon actual emissions. Emissions
from primary aluminum sources are
being addressed in a separate action.
Details regarding primary aluminum
sources are available at https://
www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/alum/
alumpg.html.
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for all populations and non-cancer
hazard indices are less than 1).
Furthermore, we do not expect this
supplemental proposal to achieve
reductions in HAP emissions. Therefore,
we conclude that this supplemental
proposal will not have
disproportionately high and adverse
human health or environmental effects
on minority or low-income populations
because it does not affect the level of
protection provided to human health or
the environment. However, this
supplemental proposal, if finalized, will
provide additional benefits to these
demographic groups by improving the
compliance, monitoring and
implementation of the NESHAP.
The detailed results of the proximity
analyses can be found in the EJ
Screening Report for Secondary
Aluminum Area Sources and the EJ
Screening Report for Secondary
Aluminum Major Sources, which are
available in the docket for this
rulemaking.
B. What are our proposed decisions
regarding risk acceptability, ample
margin of safety and adverse
environmental effects based on our
revised analyses?
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1. Risk Acceptability
As noted in section II.A.1 of this
preamble, the EPA sets standards under
CAA section 112(f)(2) using ‘‘a two-step
standard-setting approach, with an
analytical first step to determine an
‘acceptable risk’ that considers all
health information, including risk
estimation uncertainty, and includes a
presumptive limit on MIR of
approximately 1 in 10 thousand 25.’’ (54
FR 38045, September 14, 1989).
In this proposal, the EPA estimated
risks based on both actual and allowable
emissions from secondary aluminum
facilities. As discussed above, in
determining acceptability, we
considered risks based on both actual
and allowable emissions.
a. Estimated Risks From Actual
Emissions
The baseline inhalation cancer risk to
the individual most exposed to
emissions from the Secondary
Aluminum Production source category
is from major sources with cancer risks
less than 1-in-1 million based on actual
emissions. The total estimated
incidence of cancer for this source
category from both major and area
sources due to inhalation exposures is
0.002 excess cancer cases per year, or 1
25 1-in-10 thousand is equivalent to 100-in-1
million. The EPA currently describes cancer risks
as ‘‘n-in-1 million.’’
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case in 500 years. The agency estimates
that the maximum chronic non-cancer
TOSHI from inhalation exposure for this
source category is from major sources
with an HI of 0.04 based on actual
emissions, with HCl emissions from
group 1 furnaces accounting for a large
portion (99 percent) of the HI.
The multipathway screening analysis,
based upon actual emissions, indicates
the excess cancer risk from this source
category is lower than 70-in-1 million
with D/F emissions representing 99
percent of these potential risks based on
the fisher scenario. The multipathway
MIR cancer risks are the same for both
the major and area sources within this
source category for the fisher scenario.
For the farmer scenario, the excess
cancer risk is lower than 30-in-1 million
for the major sources and 20-in-1
million for the area sources. There were
no facilities within this source category
having a multipathway non-cancer
screen value greater than 1 for cadmium
or mercury. In evaluating the potential
for multipathway effects from emissions
of lead, modeled maximum annual lead
concentrations were compared to the
secondary NAAQS for lead (0.15 mg/m3).
Results of this analysis estimate that the
NAAQS for lead would not be exceeded
at any off-site locations.
As noted above, the multipathway
screens are conservative and incorporate
many health-protective assumptions.
For example, the EPA chooses inputs
from the upper end of the range of
possible values for the influential
parameters used in the Tier 2 screen and
assumes that the exposed individual for
each scenario exhibits ingestion
behavior that would lead to a high total
exposure. A Tier 2 or 3 exceedance of
a cancer or non-cancer screen value
cannot be equated with an actual risk
value or a HQ or HI. Rather, it
represents a high-end estimate of what
the risk or hazard may be. For example,
a non-cancer screen value of 2 can be
interpreted to mean that we have high
confidence that the HI is lower than 2.
Similarly, a cancer screen value of 30
for a carcinogen means that we have
high confidence that the risk is lower
than 30-in-1-million. Confidence comes
from the conservative, or healthprotective, assumptions that are used in
the Tier 2 and Tier 3 screens. The Tier
3 screen improves the accuracy of the
Tier 2 screen through validation of
impacted lakes assessed and accounting
for mass lost to the upper air sink,
which reduces the uncertainty in the
screen. The maximum Tier 3
exceedance of the cancer screen values
for the secondary aluminum source
category are 70 for the sustainable fisher
scenario and 30 for the farmer scenario,
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72899
both driven by D/F emissions from
major sources.
The screening assessment of worstcase acute inhalation impacts from
baseline actual emissions indicates no
pollutants exceeding an HQ value of 1
based on the REL, with an estimated
worst-case maximum acute HQ of 0.7
for HF based on the 1-hour REL.
b. Estimated Risks From Allowable
Emissions
The EPA estimates that the inhalation
cancer risk to the individual most
exposed to emissions from the
Secondary Aluminum Production
source category is up to 4-in-1 million
based on allowable emissions from
major sources, with D/F, naphthalene
and PAH emissions driving the risks.
The EPA estimates that the incidence of
cancer due to inhalation for the entire
source category based on allowable
emissions could be up to 0.014 excess
cancer cases per year, or 1 case
approximately every 70 years. About
3,400 people face an estimated
increased cancer risk greater than or
equal to 1-in-1 million due to inhalation
exposure to allowable HAP emissions
from this source category.
The risk assessment estimates that the
maximum chronic non-cancer TOSHI
from inhalation exposure values for the
source category is up to 0.1 based on
allowable emissions, driven by HCl
emissions from major sources.
c. Acceptability Determination
In determining whether risks are
acceptable for this source category, the
EPA considered all available health
information and risk estimation
uncertainty as described above. As
noted above, the agency estimated risk
from actual and allowable emissions.
While there are uncertainties associated
with both the actual and allowable
emissions, we consider the allowable
emissions to be an upper bound, based
on the conservative methods we used to
calculate allowable emissions.
The risk results indicate that both the
actual and allowable inhalation cancer
risks to the individual most exposed are
up to but no greater than approximately
4-in-1 million, based on allowable
emissions which is considerably less
than 100-in-1 million, the presumptive
limit of acceptability. The MIR based on
actual emissions is 0.6-in-1 million,
well below the presumptive limit as
well. The maximum chronic non-cancer
hazard indices for both the actual and
allowable inhalation non-cancer risks to
the individual most exposed are less
than 1. The maximum individual noncancer HI is 0.04 based on actual
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emissions and 0.1 based on allowable
emissions.
The maximum acute non-cancer HQ
for all pollutants was below 1, with a
maximum value of 0.7 based on the REL
for hydrofluoric acid. The excess cancer
risks from the multipathway screen
from actual D/F and PAH emissions
from major and area sources indicate
that the risk to the individual most
exposed could be up to, but no greater
than, 70-in-1 million for the fisher
scenario and 30-in-1 million for the
farmer scenario. These results are less
than 100-in-1 million, which is the
presumptive limit of acceptability. The
multipathway Tier 2 screen for noncancer is at 1 for mercury and cadmium.
The multipathway screens are based
on model runs that use upper end
values for influential parameters and we
assume that the exposed individual
exhibits ingestion behavior that would
lead to a high total exposure. The
multipathway screens also include some
hypothetical elements, namely the
existence and location of the
hypothetical farmer and fisher.
Considering all of the health risk
information and factors discussed
above, including the uncertainties
discussed in section III.A.8 of this
preamble, the EPA proposes that the
risks at baseline are acceptable since the
cancer risks are below the presumptive
limit of acceptability and the non-cancer
results indicate there is minimal
likelihood of adverse non-cancer health
effects due to HAP emissions from this
source category.
2. Ample Margin of Safety Analysis
Under the ample margin of safety
analysis, we evaluated the cost and
feasibility of available control
technologies and other measures
(including the controls, measures and
costs reviewed under the technology
review) that could be applied in this
source category to further reduce the
risks (or potential risks) due to
emissions of HAP identified in our risk
assessment, along with all of the health
risks and other health information
considered in the risk acceptability
determination described above. In this
analysis, we considered the results of
the technology review, risk assessment
and other aspects of our MACT rule
review to determine whether there are
any cost-effective controls or other
measures that would reduce emissions
further to provide an ample margin of
safety with respect to the risks
associated with these emissions.
Our inhalation risk analysis indicated
very low potential for risk from the
facilities in the source category, and,
therefore, very little inhalation risk
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reductions could be realized regardless
of the availability of control options.
Our technology review, which was
conducted for the 2012 proposal and is
in large part applicable to this
supplemental proposal (see section IV.C
below for more discussion of the
technology review), did not identify any
new practices, controls or process
options that are being used in this
industry or in other industries that
would be cost effective for further
reduction of these emissions and risks.
Our multipathway screening analysis
results for the 2012 proposal indicated
exceedances of the worst-case screening
levels which did not necessarily
indicate any risks. However, they did
suggest a potential for risks. For this
supplemental proposal, a more refined
multipathway screening analysis was
conducted, including a Tier 3 screen for
the top six major source facilities for
cancer. The more refined screening
analysis was conducted only on those
PB–HAP that exceeded the screening
threshold, which for this assessment
were PAHs and D/F. The refined
multipathway screening analysis
showed that the earlier screening
analysis for the 2012 proposal overpredicted the potential cancer risk when
compared to the refined analysis for
three of the six facilities assessed, with
emissions of D/F driving these cancer
risks. The remaining facilities had the
same cancer screen value in the refined
analysis as in the earlier screening
results when rounded to 1 significant
figure. The cancer risks due to PAH
emissions were less than 1-in-1 million
based on the refined analysis.
To evaluate the potential to reduce D/
F emissions and risks, as part of our
revised ample margin of safety analysis,
we used the same analysis that we
conducted for the 2012 proposal except
that we incorporated more recent D/F
emissions data and control cost
information. As in the analysis
conducted for the 2012 proposal, we
evaluated two control options. Option 1
considered lowering the existing D/F
emissions limit from 15 to 10 mg TEQ/
Mg feed for all group 1 furnaces
processing other than clean charge.
Option 2 considered lowering the
existing D/F limit for group 1 furnaces
processing other than clean charge after
applying a subcategorization based on
facility production capacity. An
emission reduction to 10 mg TEQ/Mg
represents a level that could potentially
be met with an activated carbon
injection system. With regard to the
option of lowering the D/F emission
limit to 10 mg TEQ/Mg feed for group 1
furnaces handling other than clean
charge, we estimate that about 12
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furnaces at eight facilities would need to
reduce their D/F emissions and that the
total capital costs would be $390,000
with total annualized costs of $1.4
million. This option would achieve an
estimated 0.49 grams TEQ reduction of
D/F emissions with an overall cost
effectiveness of about $2.9 million per
gram D/F TEQ. For the second option,
facilities with group 1 furnace
production capacity greater than
200,000 tpy (melting other than clean
charge) would be required to meet a
limit of 10 mg TEQ/Mg limit. For this
option, we estimate that 4 furnaces at
two facilities would be required to
reduce their D/F emissions. We estimate
that the total capital costs would be
$130,000 with total annualized costs of
$460,000. This option would achieve an
estimated 0.12 grams TEQ reduction of
D/F emissions with an overall costeffectiveness of about $3.8 million per
gram D/F TEQ. As we concluded in the
ample margin of safety analysis for the
2012 proposal, our analysis indicates
that these options would result in very
little emission reductions (0.49 grams
TEQ of D/F for Option 1 and 0.12 grams
TEQ of D/F reductions for Option 2)
and, therefore, would result in little or
no changes to the potential risk levels.
After considering the costs and the level
of reductions that would be achieved,
we have decided, as we did in the 2012
proposal, not to propose any of these
options. For more information on this
analysis, see the Supplemental Proposal
Technical Support Document for the
Secondary Aluminum Production
Source Category, which is available in
the public docket for this proposed
rulemaking.
In the 2012 proposal, we also
evaluated possible options based on
work practices to achieve further
emission reductions. The current
subpart RRR NESHAP includes work
practices to minimize D/F emissions
which include scrap inspection,
limitations on materials processed by
group 2 furnaces, temperature and
residence time requirements for
afterburners controlling sweat furnaces,
labeling requirements, capture/
collection requirements and
requirements for an operations,
maintenance and monitoring plan that
contains details on the proper operation
and maintenance of processes and
control equipment. For the 2012
proposal, we searched for and evaluated
other possible work practices such as
good combustion practices, better scrap
inspection and cleaning, and process
monitoring. However, none of these
potential work practices were
determined to be feasible and effective
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in further reducing D/F emissions for
this source category. Thus, we did not
identify any feasible or applicable work
practices for this industry beyond those
that are currently in the MACT rule.
Therefore, in the 2012 proposal we did
not propose any additional work
practices. Since the 2012 proposal, we
have not identified any changes in the
sources of emissions, the types of
pollutants emitted or the work practices
available to be used in the secondary
aluminum production industry.
Therefore, as in the 2012 proposal, we
are not proposing any revisions to
subpart RRR based on work practices.
Further details on work practices and
control options are provided in the
Supplemental Proposal Technology
Review for the Secondary Aluminum
Production Source Category, which is
available in the public docket for this
rulemaking.
In accordance with the approach
established in the Benzene NESHAP, we
weighed all health risk information and
factors considered in the risk
acceptability determination, including
uncertainties, along with the cost and
feasibility of control technologies and
other measures that could be applied in
this source category, in making our
ample margin of safety determination.
In summary, our risk analysis indicated
very low potential for risk, and we
identified no developments in
technology that would be cost effective
in reducing HAP emissions relative to
reductions already being achieved. We
also did not identify any cost effective
approaches to further reduce D/F
emissions and multipathway risk
beyond what is already being achieved
by the current NESHAP.
Because of the high cost associated
with the use of activated carbon
injection systems and because work
practices are already required to help
ensure low emissions, and in light of the
considerations discussed above, we
propose that the existing MACT
standards provide an ample margin of
safety to protect public health.
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3. Adverse Environmental Effects
Based on the results of our
environmental risk screening
assessment, we conclude that there is
not an adverse environmental effect as
a result of HAP emissions from the
Secondary Aluminum Production
source category. We are proposing that
it is not necessary to set a more stringent
standard to prevent, taking into
consideration costs, energy, safety and
other relevant factors, an adverse
environmental effect.
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C. What are the results and proposed
decisions based on our technology
review?
A technology review was conducted
for the Secondary Aluminum
Production source category and is
described in the 2012 proposal at 77 FR
8596, February 14, 2012. Details of the
technology review and its findings are
available in the memorandum, Draft
Technology Review for the Secondary
Aluminum Production Source Category
(Docket item EPA–HQ–OAR–2010–
0544–0144). The typical controls used
to minimize emissions at secondary
aluminum facilities include fabric filters
for control of PM from aluminum scrap
shredders; afterburners for control of
THC and D/F from thermal chip dryers;
afterburners plus lime-injected fabric
filters for control of PM, HCl, THC and
D/F from scrap dryers/delacquering
kilns/decoating kilns; afterburners for
control of D/F from sweat furnaces;
fabric filters for control of PM from
dross-only furnaces and rotary dross
coolers; lime-injected fabric filters for
control of PM and HCl from in-line
fluxers; and lime-injected fabric filters
for control of PM, HCl and D/F from
group 1 furnaces. In our review of
technology, we determined that there
have been some developments in
practices, processes or control
technologies that have been
implemented in this source category
since promulgation of the current
NESHAP. We stated in the 2012
proposal that these findings did not
warrant any changes to subpart RRR.
Following the 2012 proposal, no public
comments were received that would
alter the conclusions of our technology
review for the Secondary Aluminum
Production source category. Therefore,
for this supplemental proposal, we are
proposing that the technology review
findings are still valid. The EPA is not
aware of any changes in technology
development since the 2012 proposal.
As part of the technology review for
the 2012 proposal, we also evaluated
other technologies that have the
potential to reduce HAP emissions, in
particular emissions of D/F. See Draft
Technical Support Document for the
Secondary Aluminum Production
Source Category, Docket item EPA–HQ–
OAR–2010–0544–0152. We have
updated that analysis for this
supplemental proposal. See
Supplemental Proposal Technical
Support Document for the Secondary
Aluminum Production Source Category
and the Supplemental Proposal
Technology Review for the Secondary
Aluminum Production Source Category,
which are available in the public docket
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for this rulemaking. Under this analysis,
we evaluated the same approaches that
were evaluated under the ample margin
of safety analysis described in section
IV.B of this document. We evaluated the
option of lowering the existing D/F limit
from 15 to 10 mg TEQ/Mg feed for group
1 furnaces processing other than clean
charge either at all secondary aluminum
facilities or only at larger secondary
aluminum facilities based on facility
production capacity. The lower D/F
emissions limits potentially could be
met by using an activated carbon
injection system. Using updated
information on emissions and control
costs, we estimate that about 12
furnaces at eight facilities would need to
reduce their D/F emissions to meet the
10 mg TEQ/Mg feed for group 1 furnaces
and that the total capital costs would be
$390,000 with total annualized costs of
$1.4 million. This option would achieve
an estimated 0.49 grams TEQ reduction
of D/F emissions with an overall cost
effectiveness of about $2.9 million per
gram D/F TEQ. For the second option,
only facilities with group 1 furnace
production capacity greater than
200,000 tpy (melting other than clean
charge) would be required to meet the
lower 10 mg TEQ/Mg limit. For this
option, we estimate that four furnaces at
two facilities would be required to
reduce their D/F emissions. We estimate
that the total capital cost would be
$130,000 with total annualized costs of
$460,000. This option would achieve an
estimated 0.12 grams TEQ reduction of
D/F emissions with an estimated overall
cost effectiveness of $3.8 million per
gram D/F TEQ. (The details of this
analysis are in the Supplemental
Proposal Technical Support Document
for the Secondary Aluminum
Production Source Category, which is
available in the public docket for this
rulemaking. After considering the costs
and the small emission reductions that
would be achieved, we have decided
not to propose any of these options.
D. What other actions are we proposing?
In the 2012 proposal, we proposed
amendments to correct and clarify
existing requirements in subpart RRR. In
this supplemental proposal, we are
proposing revisions to certain rule
corrections and clarifications that were
in the 2012 proposal as well as
proposing alternative compliance
options to the operating and monitoring
requirements for sweat furnaces. On
these limited revisions, we are soliciting
comment. As discussed above, the 2012
proposal also contained other proposed
rule corrections and clarifications for
which we are not proposing any
changes in this document, and,
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therefore, for which we are not seeking
public comment (if EPA nonetheless
were to receive any such comments, the
comments would be outside the scope
of this supplemental proposal and
would not be considered).
1. Changing Furnace Classification
In the 2012 proposal, we proposed to
address an area of uncertainty under
subpart RRR by specifying in 40 CFR
63.1514 rule provisions expressly
allowing changes in furnace
classification, subject to procedural and
testing requirements, operating
requirements and recordkeeping
requirements. We proposed a frequency
limit of no more than one change in
classification (and associated reversion)
every six months, with an exception for
planned control device maintenance
activities requiring shutdown. We
received comments on the 2012
proposal requesting additional or
unlimited changes in furnace
classification. Based on the information
received, we reevaluated the
appropriate limit on frequency of
furnace classification changes. The EPA
received from one commenter an
inventory of the number of classification
changes that occurred each year at a
specific subpart RRR furnace over a
nearly 10-year period (available in the
docket for this rulemaking). The highest
number of furnace classification
changes in one year, including both
planned and unplanned changes, was
nine.
Based on the comments and
information received and because of the
potential difficulty in distinguishing
between a planned and unplanned
change in classification, we are
proposing and requesting comments on
a revised limit on the frequency of
changes in furnace classification of four
(including the four associated
reversions) in any 6-month period,
including both planned and unplanned
changes in classification, with a
provision allowing additional changes
by petitioning the permitting authority
for major sources, or the Administrator
for area sources. These revisions in
proposed 40 CFR 63.1514(e) would
balance the interest in allowing industry
to make furnace classification changes
while preserving the EPA’s and
delegated authorities’ practical and
effective enforcement of the emission
limitations, work practice standards and
other requirements of subpart RRR. We
request that any commenter who would
like the EPA to consider a different limit
on frequency to include a specific
rationale and factual basis for why a
different frequency would be
appropriate as well as any data on
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historical frequencies of furnace
classification changes under subpart
RRR.
We are specifically requesting
comments on the revised proposed
provisions in 40 CFR 63.1514(e), which
addresses the frequency of changing
furnace classification. No substantive
changes have been made to the other
proposed provisions in 40 CFR 63.1514,
and we are not requesting comments on
any other aspect of the proposed
provisions for furnace classification
changes. We will address the comments
previously received on the 2012
proposal, as well as comments that are
received in response to the revised
proposed frequency limit in this
document, when we take final
rulemaking action.
2. Worst Case Scenario Testing
In the 2012 proposal, we proposed
amendments to clarify that performance
tests under multiple scenarios may be
required in order to reflect the
emissions ranges for each regulated
pollutant. We received comments on the
2012 proposal that the worst case charge
materials, and blends of these, have
differing process rates and, therefore,
the charge rate from the stack tests is not
representative of the charge rate that
will be achieved during normal
operations. Based on the comments
received and recognizing that it may be
necessary to conduct performance tests
under one or multiple scenarios to be
representative of the range of normal
operating conditions, we are proposing
revised language in 40 CFR
63.1511(b)(1) to clarify the conditions
under which subpart RRR performance
tests must be conducted. The intention
in the subpart RRR rule is to require
testing under ‘‘worst case’’ conditions
from the standpoint of emissions and to
establish parameters based on such
testing that ensure compliance under all
operating conditions. For example, in a
response to comments on the original
proposed subpart RRR rule regarding
the inlet temperature requirement for
fabric filters, the EPA stated that testing
under worst case conditions, such as
higher than normal fabric filter inlet
temperatures, could provide a larger
temperature operating range, which
would be used to monitor and ensure
continuous compliance between
periodic performance tests (65 FR
15699, March 23, 2000). In the EPA
response-to-comments document
(Summary of Public Comments and
Responses on Secondary Aluminum
NESHAP, December 14, 1999, Docket
No. A–92–61, item V–C–1, comment
4.1.47), the EPA explained that
requiring multiple tests over a range of
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different furnace operating conditions
will show that the selected monitoring
parameters are valid indicators of
emissions and that it may not be
possible for a single test to be
representative of worst case conditions
and that more than a single test may be
required. It is not permissible, for
example, to demonstrate compliance
while processing relatively
uncontaminated scrap, and then at a
later time, when the supply of this scrap
is constrained, process more heavily
contaminated scrap, without
demonstrating compliance under these
conditions based on previous emissions
testing or on new emissions testing if
previous tests would not be
representative of the emissions from the
processing of the more heavily
contaminated scrap.
To clarify the requirements for testing,
we are proposing that performance tests
be conducted under representative
(normal) conditions expected to
produce the highest level of HAP
emissions expressed in the units of the
emission standards for the HAP
(considering the extent of scrap
contamination, reactive flux addition
rate and feed/charge rate). If a single test
condition is not expected to produce the
highest level of emissions for all HAP,
testing under two or more sets of
conditions (for example high
contamination at low feed/charge rate
and low contamination at high feed/
charge rate) may be required. Any
subsequent performance tests for the
purposes of establishing new or revised
parametric limits shall be allowed upon
pre-approval from the permitting
authority for major sources or the
Administrator for area sources. These
new parametric settings shall be used to
demonstrate compliance for the period
being tested. We solicit comment on
whether the proposed amendment
adequately addresses and clarifies the
requirement that multiple tests may be
necessary to represent different
operational conditions.
3. Testing of Uncontrolled Furnaces
As explained in the 2012 proposal,
while subpart RRR specifies capture and
collection requirements for emission
units that are equipped with add-on air
pollution control devices, there are no
such requirements for furnaces that are
not equipped with an add-on air
pollution control device. To clarify how
uncontrolled sources are to be tested for
compliance, in 2012 we proposed
compliance alternatives for
uncontrolled affected sources.
Specifically, in 2012 we proposed either
the installation of ACGIH hooding or an
assumption of 67-percent capture
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efficiency for furnace exhaust (i.e.,
multiply emissions measured at the
furnace exhaust outlet by 1.5 to
calculate the total estimated emissions
from the furnace). Under the 2012
proposed provisions, if the source fails
to demonstrate compliance using the 67percent capture efficiency assumption,
the source would have to retest using
hooding that meets ACGIH guidelines or
petition the permitting authority for
major sources, or the Administrator for
area sources, that such hoods are
impractical and propose alternative
testing procedures that will minimize
unmeasured fugitive emissions. In the
2012 proposal, we proposed that the
retesting would need to occur within 90
days.
We received comments that the EPA
was proposing to mandate ACGIH
hooding during performance testing for
uncontrolled furnaces. Commenters also
provided information that ACGIHcompliant hoods are not possible to
install on round top furnaces.
Based on the comments received and
our consideration of specific testing
scenarios and types of uncontrolled
furnaces, we are proposing revised
requirements for the testing of
uncontrolled furnaces. In this
supplemental proposal, we are
proposing that if the source fails to
demonstrate compliance by the
uncontrolled furnace using the 67percent capture efficiency assumption
proposed in the 2012 proposal, then
they must retest using ACGIH hooding
within 180 days (rather than the 90 days
specified in the 2012 proposal), or the
source can petition the appropriate
authority within 180 days that such
hoods are impracticable and propose
alternative testing procedures to
minimize emissions. No time
constraints on petitioning the
appropriate authority were specified in
the 2012 proposal. In this supplemental
proposal, we are also proposing to
clarify situations and circumstances
whereby installation of hooding
according to ACGIH guidelines would
be considered impractical and are
adding examples of procedures for
minimizing fugitive emissions during
testing for such situations and
circumstances. The EPA is proposing
conditions that would be considered
impractical to install hooding according
to ACGIH guidelines. The EPA is also
proposing alternative procedures to
minimize fugitive emissions in the
event that ACGIH-compliant hooding
cannot be installed. These alternative
procedures are described in more detail
below.
Comments on the 2012 proposal also
contained information regarding the
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feasibility of installing ACGIHcompliant hooding on certain furnace
types in preparation for testing. Based
on our review of the information
submitted by the commenters, we agree
that it is not possible to install ACGIHcompliant hoods on round top furnaces
for testing because the top of the furnace
would have to be removed by a crane
operating above the furnace. We also
agree that case-by-case impracticability
determinations are not necessary for
round top furnaces. Consequently, we
are proposing that existing round top
furnaces be excluded from the proposed
requirement either to install ACGIHcompliant hooding or to use a 67percent capture efficiency, as well as
from the proposed requirement that a
petition of impracticality be submitted
to the appropriate authority. Instead, we
propose that round top furnaces must be
operated to minimize fugitive emissions
during testing. We have not received
any documentation to support requests
by commenters to exclude other types of
furnaces such as box reverberatory
furnaces and box reverberatory furnaces
with a side door. Therefore, we have not
proposed to exclude them, but we are
prepared to evaluate any comments
submitted regarding impracticality and
other types of furnaces and, most
importantly, supporting documentation
that we may receive from commenters.
Under this supplemental proposal,
owners or operators of uncontrolled
furnaces, including round top furnaces,
who petition the appropriate authority
that it is impractical to install ACGIHcompliant hooding would be required to
minimize fugitive emissions from such
furnaces during testing. In response to
commenters’ requests, we are proposing
example procedures that can be used to
minimize unmeasured fugitive
emissions during testing. These
procedures may include, if practical,
one or more of the following, but are not
limited to:
• Installing a hood that does not
entirely meet ACGIH guidelines;
• Using the building as an enclosure
and measuring emissions exhausted
from the building if there are no other
furnaces or other significant sources in
the building of the pollutants to be
measured;
• Installing temporary baffles on the
sides or top of the furnace opening, if
it is practical to do so where they will
not interfere with material handling or
with the furnace door opening and
closing;
• Increasing the exhaust rate from the
furnace from furnaces with draft fans, so
as to capture emissions that might
otherwise escape into the building;
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• Minimizing the time the furnace
doors are open or the top is off;
• Delaying gaseous reactive fluxing
until charging doors are closed or the
top is on;
• Agitating or stirring molten metal as
soon as practicable after salt flux
addition and closing doors as soon as
possible after solid fluxing operations,
including mixing and dross removal;
• Keeping building doors and other
openings closed to the greatest extent
possible to minimize drafts that would
divert emissions from being drawn into
the furnace; and
• Maintaining burners on low-fire or
pilot operation while the doors are open
or the top is off.
We are also proposing revised
amendments to clarify in what
circumstances installation of temporary
capture hoods for testing would be
considered impractical. We are
proposing that temporary capture
hooding installation would be
considered impractical if:
• Building or equipment obstructions
(for example, wall, ceiling, roof,
structural beams, utilities, overhead
crane or other) are present such that the
temporary hood cannot be located
consistent with acceptable hood design
and installation practices;
• Space limitations or work area
constraints exist such that the
temporary hood cannot be supported or
located to prevent interference with
normal furnace operations or avoid
unsafe working conditions for the
furnace operator; or
• Other obstructions and limitations
subject to agreement by the permitting
authority for major sources, or the
Administrator for area sources.
We invite comments and solicit
information on certain aspects of the
proposed compliance provisions for
testing of uncontrolled furnaces.
Specifically, we are soliciting comments
and information on the requirements in
this supplemental proposal that specify
the types of obstacles and limitations
that can be used to show that testing
using ACGIH-compliant hooding is
impractical, the procedures that can be
implemented to minimize unmeasured
fugitive emissions during testing, and
the exemption of existing round top
furnaces from the requirements to test
using ACGIH-compliant hooding or
apply the 67-percent capture efficiency
assumption. We are not soliciting
comment on any other element of the
provisions proposed in the 2012
proposal regarding testing of
uncontrolled furnaces.
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4. Annual Inspections of Capture/
Collection Systems
In the 2012 proposal, we proposed
codifying in subpart RRR our existing
interpretation that annual hood
inspections include flow rate
measurements using EPA Reference
Methods 1 and 2 in Appendix A to 40
CFR part 60. These flow rate
measurements supplement the
effectiveness of the required visual
inspection for leaks, to reveal the
presence of obstructions in the
ductwork, confirm that fan efficiency
has not declined and provide a
measured value for air flow.
Commenters requested that the EPA
allow flexibility in the methods used to
complete the annual inspections of
capture/collection systems stating that
the use of volumetric flow measurement
was often not necessary and Method 1
and 2 tests could be a cost burden for
some facilities. Comments also
indicated that routine, but less frequent,
flow rate measurements could ensure
that capture/collection systems are
operated properly and suggested
alternative methods of ensuring the
efficiency of capture/collection systems.
Based on the comments received and
our consideration of inspection needs,
the EPA is proposing additional options
that provide more flexibility in how
affected sources can verify the efficiency
of their capture/collection system.
Instead of annual Methods 1 and 2
testing, we propose that sources may
choose to perform flow rate
measurements using EPA Methods 1
and 2 once every 5 years provided that
a flow rate indicator consisting of a pitot
tube and differential pressure gauge is
installed and used to record daily the
differential pressure and to ensure that
the differential pressure is maintained at
or above 90 percent of the pressure
differential measured during the most
recent Method 2 performance test series,
and that the flow rate indicator is
inspected annually. As another option
to annual flow rate measurements using
Methods 1 and 2, the EPA is proposing
to allow Methods 1 and 2 testing to be
performed every 5 years provided that
daily measurements of the revolutions
per minute (RPM) of the capture and
collection system’s fan are taken, the
readings are recorded daily and the fan
RPM is maintained at or above 90
percent of the RPM measured during the
most recent Method 2 performance test.
Further, we are proposing that as an
alternative to the flow rate
measurements using Methods 1 and 2,
the annual hood inspection
requirements can be satisfied by
conducting annual verification of a
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permanent total enclosure using EPA
Method 204. We are further proposing
that as an alternative to the annual
verification of a permanent total
enclosure using EPA Method 204,
verification can be performed once
every 5 years if negative pressure in the
enclosure is directly monitored by a
pressure indicator and readings are
recorded daily or the system is
interlocked to halt material feed should
the system not operate under negative
pressure. In this supplemental proposal,
we are also proposing that readings
outside a specified range would need to
be investigated and steps taken to
restore normal operation, and that
pressure indicators would need to be
inspected annually for damage and
operability.
5. Sweat Furnace Operating and
Monitoring Requirements
We are also proposing to amend 40
CFR 63.1506(c) and 63.1510(d) to
provide sweat furnaces with alternative
compliance options to the ACGIH
Guidelines and the required annual flow
rate measurements using EPA Methods
1 and 2. We are proposing that in lieu
of meeting the ACGIH guidelines for
capture and collection and the annual
flow rate measurements using Methods
1 and 2, sweat furnaces may comply by
demonstrating negative air flow into or
towards the sweat furnace opening as
well as operating and maintaining the
sweat furnace in such a way that
minimizes fugitive emissions.
6. Startup, Shutdown, Malfunction and
the Malfunction Affirmative Defense
In the 2012 proposal, we proposed to
eliminate provisions that exempt
sources from the requirement to comply
with the otherwise applicable CAA
section 112(d) emission standards
during periods of Startup, Shutdown
and Malfunction (SSM). We explained
in the 2012 proposal that because the
scrap processed at secondary aluminum
production facilities is the source of
emissions, we expect emissions during
startup and shutdown would be no
higher, and most likely would be
significantly lower, than emissions
during normal operations since no scrap
is processed during those periods. We
stated that we knew of no reason why
the existing standards should not apply
at all times. For production processes in
the Secondary Aluminum Production
source category where the standards are
expressed in units of pounds per ton of
feed or similar units (i.e., thermal chip
dyers, scrap dryer/delacquering kiln/
decoating kilns, dross-only furnaces, inline fluxers using reactive flux and
group 1 furnaces), the 2012 proposal
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included a method for demonstrating
compliance with those limits based on
emissions measured during startup and
shutdown.
Because conducting meaningful
testing during periods of startup and
shutdown can be problematic, in this
supplemental proposal we are
proposing an additional method that
can be used to demonstrate compliance
with production based emission limits
during periods of startup and shutdown.
Together, these proposed compliance
provisions for periods of startup and
shutdown better reflect the MACT
requirement for those periods.
Recognizing that the source of HAP
emissions is the processing of scrap and
the use of fluxes during processing and
that the heat for processing in the
Secondary Aluminum Production
source category is generated exclusively
by use of clean fuels—natural gas,
propane or electricity—we are
proposing that compliance with
emission standards during startup and
shutdown can be demonstrated by
keeping records that show that the feed/
charge rate was zero, the flux rate was
zero and the affected source or emission
unit either was heated with electricity,
propane or natural gas as the sole
sources of heat or was not heated (see
proposed section 63.1513(f)). We are
also proposing that the following
records be kept: The date and time of
each startup and shutdown, the quantity
of feed/charge and flux introduced
during each startup and shutdown and
the types of fuel used to heat the unit
during startup and shutdown.
We are also proposing to define
periods of startup and shutdown. For
the purposes of subpart RRR, startup
means ‘‘the period of operation for
thermal chip dryers, scrap dryers/
delacquering kilns, decoating kilns,
dross-only furnaces, group 1 furnaces,
in-line fluxers, sweat furnaces and
group 2 furnaces that begins with
equipment warming from a cold start or
a complete shutdown. Startup ends at
the point that feed/charge is
introduced.’’ Shutdown means the
period of operation for thermal chip
dryers, scrap dryers/delacquering kilns,
decoating kilns, dross-only furnaces,
group 1 furnaces, in-line fluxers, sweat
furnaces and group 2 furnaces that
begins when the introduction of feed/
charge is halted and all product has
been removed from the emission unit
(e.g., by tapping a furnace).’’
We solicit comments and additional
information related to the proposed
definitions of startup and shutdown, as
well as the additional option proposed
in this supplemental proposal for
demonstrating compliance during
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periods of startup and shutdown based
on the presence (or absence) in the
furnace of feed/charge or fluxing, and
the type of combustion fuels or the
absence of combustion fuels. We are
also proposing to move the
requirements for compliance
demonstration during startup and
shutdown from the emission standards
section (section 63.1505), where they
were in the 2012 proposal, to the more
appropriate compliance demonstration
section (section 63.1513). However, we
are not soliciting comments on the
compliance demonstration method for
periods of startup and shutdown that
was presented in the 2012 proposal.
In the 2012 proposal, we proposed to
eliminate provisions that exempt
sources from the requirement to comply
with the otherwise applicable CAA
section 112(d) emission standards
during periods of SSM. We also
included provisions for affirmative
defense to civil penalties for violations
of emission standards caused by
malfunctions. Periods of startup, normal
operations and shutdown are all
predictable and routine aspects of a
source’s operations. Malfunctions, in
contrast, are neither predictable nor
routine. Instead they are, by definition
sudden, infrequent and not reasonably
preventable failures of emissions
control, process or monitoring
equipment. As explained in the 2012
proposal (77 FR 8598), the EPA
interprets CAA section 112 as not
requiring emissions that occur during
periods of malfunction to be factored
into development of CAA section 112
standards. Under section 112, emissions
standards for new sources must be no
less stringent than the level ‘‘achieved’’
by the best controlled similar source
and for existing sources generally must
be no less stringent than the average
emission limitation ‘‘achieved’’ by the
best performing 12 percent of sources in
the category. There is nothing in section
112 that directs the agency to consider
malfunctions in determining the level
‘‘achieved’’ by the best performing
sources when setting emission
standards. As the United States Court of
Appeals for the District of Columbia
Circuit has recognized, the phrase
‘‘average emissions limitation achieved
by the best performing 12 percent of’’
sources ‘‘says nothing about how the
performance of the best units is to be
calculated.’’ Nat’l Ass’n of Clean Water
Agencies v. EPA, 734 F.3d 1115, 1141
(D.C. Cir. 2013). While the EPA
accounts for variability in setting
emissions standards, nothing in section
112 requires the agency to consider
malfunctions as part of that analysis. A
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malfunction should not be treated in the
same manner as the type of variation in
performance that occurs during routine
operations of a source. A malfunction is
a failure of the source to perform in a
‘‘normal or usual manner’’ and no
statutory language compels the EPA to
consider such events in setting section
112 standards.
Further, accounting for malfunctions
in setting emission standards would be
difficult, if not impossible, given the
myriad different types of malfunctions
that can occur across all sources in the
category and given the difficulties
associated with predicting or accounting
for the frequency, degree and duration
of various malfunctions that might
occur. As a result, the performance of
units that are malfunctioning is not
‘‘reasonably’’ foreseeable. See, e.g.,
Sierra Club v. EPA, 167 F.3d 658, 662
(D.C. Cir. 1999) (‘‘The EPA typically has
wide latitude in determining the extent
of data-gathering necessary to solve a
problem. We generally defer to an
agency’s decision to proceed on the
basis of imperfect scientific information,
rather than to ‘invest the resources to
conduct the perfect study.’ ’’) See also,
Weyerhaeuser v. Costle, 590 F.2d 1011,
1058 (D.C. Cir. 1978) (‘‘In the nature of
things, no general limit, individual
permit, or even any upset provision can
anticipate all upset situations. After a
certain point, the transgression of
regulatory limits caused by
‘uncontrollable acts of third parties,’
such as strikes, sabotage, operator
intoxication or insanity and a variety of
other eventualities, must be a matter for
the administrative exercise of case-bycase enforcement discretion, not for
specification in advance by
regulation.’’). In addition, emissions
during a malfunction event can be
significantly higher than emissions at
any other time of source operation. For
example, if an air pollution control
device with 99 percent removal goes offline as a result of a malfunction (as
might happen if, for example, the bags
in a baghouse catch fire) and the
emission unit is a steady state type unit
that would take days to shut down, the
source would go from 99 percent control
to zero control until the control device
was repaired. The source’s emissions
during the malfunction would be 100
times higher than during normal
operations. As such, the emissions over
a 4-day malfunction period would
exceed the annual emissions of the
source during normal operations. As
this example illustrates, accounting for
malfunctions could lead to standards
that are not reflective of (and
significantly less stringent than) levels
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that are achieved by a well-performing
non-malfunctioning source. It is
reasonable to interpret section 112 to
avoid such a result. The EPA’s approach
to malfunctions is consistent with
section 112 and is a reasonable
interpretation of the statute.
In the event that a source fails to
comply with the applicable CAA section
112(d) standards as a result of a
malfunction event, the EPA would
determine an appropriate response
based on, among other things, the good
faith efforts of the source to minimize
emissions during malfunction periods,
including preventative and corrective
actions, as well as root cause analyses
to ascertain and rectify excess
emissions. The EPA would also
consider whether the source’s failure to
comply with the CAA section 112(d)
standard was, in fact, sudden,
infrequent, not reasonably preventable
and was not instead caused in part by
poor maintenance or careless operation.
If the EPA determines in a particular
case that enforcement action against a
source for violation of an emission
standard is warranted, the source can
raise any and all defenses in that
enforcement action and the federal
district court will determine what, if
any, relief is appropriate. The same is
true for citizen enforcement actions.
Similarly, the presiding officer in an
administrative proceeding can consider
any defense raised and determine
whether administrative penalties are
appropriate.
In summary, the EPA interpretation of
the CAA and, in particular, section 112
is reasonable and encourages practices
that will avoid malfunctions.
Administrative and judicial procedures
for addressing exceedances of the
standards fully recognize that violations
may occur despite good faith efforts to
comply and can accommodate those
situations.
As noted above, the 2012 proposal
included an affirmative defense to civil
penalties for violations caused by
malfunctions. The EPA included the
affirmative defense in the 2012 proposal
as it had in several prior rules in an
effort to create a system that
incorporates some flexibility,
recognizing that there is a tension,
inherent in many types of air regulation,
to ensure adequate compliance while
simultaneously recognizing that despite
the most diligent of efforts, emission
standards may be violated under
circumstances entirely beyond the
control of the source. Although the EPA
recognized that its case-by-case
enforcement discretion provides
sufficient flexibility in these
circumstances, it included the
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affirmative defense in the 2012 proposal
and in several prior rules to provide a
more formalized approach and more
regulatory clarity. See Weyerhaeuser Co.
v. Costle, 590 F.2d 1011, 1057–58 (D.C.
Cir. 1978) (holding that an informal
case-by-case enforcement discretion
approach is adequate); but see Marathon
Oil Co. v. EPA, 564 F.2d 1253, 1272–73
(9th Cir. 1977) (requiring a more
formalized approach to consideration of
‘‘upsets beyond the control of the permit
holder.’’). Under the EPA’s regulatory
affirmative defense provisions, if a
source could demonstrate in a judicial
or administrative proceeding that it had
met the requirements of the affirmative
defense in the regulation, civil penalties
would not be assessed. The United
States Court of Appeals for the District
of Columbia Circuit vacated an
affirmative defense in one of the EPA’s
section 112(d) regulations. NRDC v.
EPA, 749 F.3d 1055 (D.C. Cir. 2014)
(vacating affirmative defense provisions
in section 112 rule establishing
emission standards for Portland cement
kilns). The court found that the EPA
lacked authority to establish an
affirmative defense for private civil suits
and held that under the CAA, the
authority to determine civil penalty
amounts in such cases lies exclusively
with the courts, not the EPA.
Specifically, the court found: ‘‘As the
language of the statute makes clear, the
courts determine, on a case-by-case
basis, whether civil penalties are
‘appropriate.’ ’’ See NRDC v. EPA, 749
F.3d 1055, 1063 (D.C. Cir. 2014)
(‘‘[U]nder this statute, deciding whether
penalties are ‘appropriate’ in a given
private civil suit is a job for the courts,
not for EPA.’’). In light of NRDC, the
EPA is withdrawing its proposal to
include a regulatory affirmative defense
provision in this rulemaking and in this
supplementary proposal has eliminated
section 63.1520 (the provision that
established the affirmative defense in
the proposed rule published in the
Federal Register on February 14, 2012
(77 FR 8576)). As explained above, if a
source is unable to comply with
emissions standards as a result of a
malfunction, the EPA may use its caseby-case enforcement discretion to
provide flexibility, as appropriate.
Further, as the D.C. Circuit recognized,
in an EPA or citizen enforcement action,
the court has the discretion to consider
any defense raised and determine
whether penalties are appropriate. Cf.
NRDC v. EPA, 749 F.3d 1055, 1064 (D.C.
Cir. 2014) (arguments that violation
were caused by unavoidable technology
failure can be made to the courts in
future civil cases when the issue arises).
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The same logic applies to EPA
administrative enforcement actions.
E. What compliance dates are we
proposing?
In the 2012 proposal, the EPA
proposed that owners or operators of
existing affected sources comply with
the proposed amendments within 90
days of the publication of the final rule
in the Federal Register. Commenters
stated that the proposed 90 day
compliance deadline was insufficient
for sources to comply with certain
provisions of the final rule. They
maintained that the rule changes would
require operational planning,
maintenance planning, reprogramming
of data acquisition systems, design and
installation of hooding equipment and/
or negotiations with permitting
authorities to gain performance test plan
approvals (with provisions to minimize
fugitive emissions during testing in
place of capture hoods). They pointed
out that facilities that choose to design
and install capture hoods for
performance testing will need time to
design and complete these installations,
conduct initial performance testing and
modify their operations, charge
materials and/or products to ensure
compliance. Some rule changes, furnace
switching, HF testing and testing
uncontrolled furnaces for example,
would require revisions to operation,
maintenance and monitoring (OM&M)
plans as well as to permits to include
newly established operating parameters
in cases where changes to furnace
classifications are made. Commenters
stated that compliance with HF
emission standards that may affect
choice of flux materials, daily
calculation of HF emissions and
compliance with SAPU limit that will
require reprogramming of data systems
to include HF and/or fluoride
containing flux composition data would
also require time to be researched,
selected, purchased, financed and
installed. Commenters suggested
compliance deadlines ranging from 2 to
3 years.
The EPA agrees with commenters that
the proposed 90-day compliance
deadline is insufficient for sources to
comply with certain provisions of the
final rule and is proposing extended
compliance periods. The EPA is
proposing a 180-day compliance period
for the revisions listed in section
63.1501(d). For the amendments to
include HF emissions (in section
63.1505(i)(4) and (k)(2)), the testing of
existing uncontrolled furnaces (sections
63.1512(e)(4), (e)(5), (e)(6) and (e)(7)),
and changing furnace classification
(section 63.1514), the EPA agrees that a
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longer compliance period is required
and is proposing a compliance date of
2 years after promulgation.
V. Summary of the Revised Cost,
Environmental and Economic Impacts
A. What are the affected sources?
We estimate that there are 161
secondary aluminum production
facilities that will be affected by this
proposed rule. We performed risk
modeling for 155 of these sources (52 of
the 53 major sources and 103 of the 108
area sources). There were six facilities
that are subject to the Secondary
Aluminum NESHAP that were not
included in the risk assessment input
modeling files. The facilities that were
not included in the risk assessment
input files included one major HAP
source and five area HAP sources. The
major HAP source was not included
because the secondary aluminum
equipment at the source consists of
group 2 furnaces, for which the EPA did
not have HAP emissions estimates. The
five area sources were not included
because they had no equipment subject
to D/F emission standards, which are
the only standards in the NESHAP
applicable to area sources. We estimate
that nine secondary aluminum facilities
have co-located primary aluminum
operations. The affected sources at
secondary aluminum production
facilities include new and existing scrap
shredders, thermal chip dryers, scrap
dryer/delacquering kiln/decoating kilns,
group 2 furnaces, sweat furnaces, drossonly furnaces, rotary dross cooler and
secondary aluminum processing units
containing group 1 furnaces and in-line
fluxers.
B. What are the air quality impacts?
No changes are being proposed to
numerical emissions limits. This
supplemental proposal affects the
number of times that a furnace can
switch operating modes, clarifies how
uncontrolled furnaces are to conduct
emissions testing, extends the
compliance deadline, revises the
monitoring requirements for annual
inspection of capture/collection
systems, clarifies the requirements for
conducting performance testing under
worst case conditions and provides
monitoring alternatives for sweat
furnaces. These proposed amendments
would not have any appreciable effect
on emissions or result in emission
reductions, although the proposed
requirements for testing uncontrolled
furnaces could result in some
unquantifiable emission reduction.
Therefore, no quantifiable air quality
impacts are expected. However, these
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proposed amendments will help to
improve compliance, monitoring and
implementation of the rule.
C. What are the cost impacts?
We conservatively estimate the total
cost of the proposed amendments to be
$1,711,000 per year (in 2011 dollars).
However, depending on assumptions
used for the costs for installing
temporary hooding for uncontrolled
furnaces, the estimate of total
annualized costs could range from
$611,000 to $2,871,000 per year.
Our estimate for the source category
includes an annualized cost of
$1,200,000 to $3,460,000 for installing
hooding that meets ACGIH guidelines
for testing uncontrolled furnaces,
assuming that 107 furnaces choose that
option (rather than assuming a 67percent capture efficiency for their
existing furnace exhaust system). We
believe that a number of these 107
furnaces will choose to apply the 67percent assumption rather than install
hooding. Therefore, these total cost
estimates are considered conservative
(more likely to be overestimates rather
than underestimates) of the total costs to
the industry. Our estimates of total costs
also include an annualized cost of
$11,000 for testing for HF on
uncontrolled furnaces that are already
testing for HCl. Finally, we estimate cost
savings of $600,000 per year for
furnaces that change furnace operating
modes and turn off their control
devices. Our estimate of savings is based
on 50 furnaces turning off their controls
for approximately 6 months every year.
This savings reflects the cost of testing
(to demonstrate these furnaces remain
in compliance with emission limits)
minus the savings realized from
operating with the control devices
turned off.
We estimate that 57 facilities will be
affected and that the cost per facility
ranges from negative $36,000 (a cost
savings) per year for a facility changing
furnace operating modes to $216,500
per year for a facility installing hooding
for testing.
The estimated costs are explained
further in the document titled Updated
Cost Estimates for the Proposed Rule
Changes to Secondary Aluminum
NESHAP, which is available in the
docket for this action.
D. What are the economic impacts?
We performed an economic impact
analysis for the proposed revisions and
amendments in this supplemental
proposed rulemaking. This analysis
estimates impacts based on using
annualized cost-to-sales ratios for
affected firms. For the 28 parent firms
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affected by this proposed rule, the costto-sales estimate for each parent firm is
less than 0.1 percent. For more
information, please refer to the
document titled Economic Impact
Analysis for the Secondary Aluminum
Supplemental Proposal, which is
available in the docket.
E. What are the benefits?
We do not anticipate any significant
reductions in HAP emissions as a result
of these proposed amendments.
However, we think that the proposed
amendments will help to improve the
clarity of the rule, which can improve
compliance and minimize emissions.
Certain provisions also provide
operational flexibility with no increase
in HAP emissions.
VI. Request for Comments
As discussed in detail above, we
solicit comments on the revised risk
assessment and proposed changes
presented in this supplemental
proposal. We are not re-opening
comment on any other elements of the
2012 proposal (77 FR 8576, February 14,
2012). Comments previously received
on the 2012 proposal, along with
comments received on and within the
scope of this supplemental proposal,
will be addressed in the final
rulemaking action.
We are also interested in any
additional data that may help to reduce
the uncertainties inherent in the risk
assessments and other analyses. We are
specifically interested in receiving
corrections to the site-specific emissions
profiles used for risk modeling. Such
data should include supporting
documentation in sufficient detail to
allow characterization of the quality and
representativeness of the data or
information. Section VII of this
preamble provides more information on
submitting data.
VII. Submitting Data Corrections
The site-specific emissions profiles
used in the source category risk and
demographic analyses and instructions
are available on the RTR Web page at
https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/rrisk/
rtrpg.html. The data files include
detailed information for each HAP
emissions release point for the facilities
in the source category.
If you believe that the data are not
representative or are inaccurate, please
identify the data in question, provide
your reason for concern and provide any
‘‘improved’’ data that you have, if
available. When you submit data, we
request that you provide documentation
of the basis for the revised values to
support your suggested changes. To
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submit comments on the data
downloaded from the RTR page,
complete the following steps:
1. Within this downloaded file, enter
suggested revisions to the data fields
appropriate for that information.
2. Fill in the commenter information
fields for each suggested revision (i.e.,
commenter name, commenter
organization, commenter email address,
commenter phone number and revision
comments).
3. Gather documentation for any
suggested emissions revisions (e.g.,
performance test reports, material
balance calculations, etc.).
4. Send the entire downloaded file
with suggested revisions in Microsoft®
Access format and all accompanying
documentation to Docket ID No. EPA–
HQ–OAR–2010–0544 (through one of
the methods described in the ADDRESSES
section of this preamble).
5. If you are providing comments on
a single facility or multiple facilities,
you need only submit one file for all
facilities. The file should contain all
suggested changes for all sources at that
facility. We request that all data revision
comments be submitted in the form of
updated Microsoft® Excel files that are
generated by the Microsoft® Access file.
These files are provided on the RTR
Web page at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/
atw/rrisk/rtrpg.html.
VIII. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
Planning and Review and Executive
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and
Regulatory Review
This action is not a ‘‘significant
regulatory action’’ under the terms of
Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993) and is, therefore, not
subject to review under Executive
Orders 12866 and 13563 (76 FR 3821,
January 21, 2011).
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
The information collection
requirements in this proposed action
have been submitted for approval to
OMB under the Paperwork Reduction
Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. The ICR
document prepared by the EPA has been
assigned the EPA ICR number 2453.01.
We are proposing changes to the
paperwork requirements to the
Secondary Aluminum Production
source category that were proposed in
2012.
In addition, in the 2012 proposal, we
included an estimate of the burden
associated with the affirmative defense
in the ICR. However, as explained
above, we are withdrawing our proposal
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to include affirmative defense
provisions, and the burden estimate has
been revised accordingly.
We estimate 161 regulated entities are
currently subject to subpart RRR. The
annual monitoring, reporting and
recordkeeping burden for this collection
(averaged over the first 3 years after the
effective date of the standards) for these
amendments to subpart RRR is
estimated to be $2,990,000 per year.
This includes 1,694 labor hours per year
at a total labor cost of $162,000 per year,
and total non-labor capital and
operation and maintenance (O&M) costs
of $2,828,000 per year. The total burden
for the federal government (averaged
over the first 3 years after the effective
date of the standard) is estimated to be
271 labor hours per year at an annual
cost of $12,231. Burden is defined at 5
CFR 1320.3(b).
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 the EPA’s regulations in 40
CFR 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, the EPA has
established a public docket for this rule,
which includes this ICR, under Docket
ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2010–0544.
Submit any comments related to the ICR
to the EPA and OMB. See the ADDRESSES
section at the beginning of this
document for where to submit
comments to the 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 the EPA.
Since OMB is required to make a
decision concerning the ICR between 30
and 60 days after December 8, 2014, a
comment to OMB is best assured of
having its full effect if OMB receives it
by January 7, 2015. The final rule will
respond to any OMB or public
comments on the information collection
requirements contained in this proposal.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
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 will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. Small entities
include small businesses, small
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organizations and small governmental
jurisdictions.
For purposes of assessing the impacts
of this action on small entities, small
entity is defined as: (1) A small business
as defined by the Small Business
Administration’s (SBA) regulations at 13
CFR 121.201; (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 that is independently owned
and operated and is not dominant in its
field. For this source category, which
has the NAICS code 331314 (i.e.,
Secondary Smelting and Alloying of
Aluminum), the SBA small business
size standard is 750 employees
according to the SBA small business
standards definitions.
After considering the economic
impacts of these proposed changes on
small entities, I certify that this action
will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small
entities. We determined in the economic
and small business analysis that, using
the results from the cost memorandum,
28 entities will incur costs associated
with the proposed rule. Of these 28
entities, nine of them are small. Of these
nine, all of them are estimated to
experience a negative cost (i.e., a cost
savings) as a result of the proposed
action according to our analysis. For
more information, please refer to the
Economic Impact Analysis for the
Secondary Aluminum Supplemental
Proposal, which is available in the
docket.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
This action 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 the private sector in any one year.
Thus, this action is not subject to the
requirements of section 202 or 205 of
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
(UMRA).
This action is also not subject to the
requirements of section 203 of UMRA
because it contains no regulatory
requirements that might significantly or
uniquely affect small governments as it
contains no requirements that apply to
such governments nor does it impose
obligations upon them.
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
This action does not have federalism
implications. It will 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
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responsibilities among the various
levels of government, as specified in
Executive Order 13132. None of the
facilities subject to this proposed action
are owned or operated by state
governments. Thus, Executive Order
13132 does not apply to this proposed
action.
In the spirit of Executive Order 13132,
and consistent with the EPA policy to
promote communications between the
EPA and State and local governments,
the EPA specifically solicits comment
on this proposed rule from state and
local officials.
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
This action does not have tribal
implications, as specified in Executive
Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9,
2000). There are no secondary
aluminum production facilities that are
owned or operated by tribal
governments. Thus, Executive Order
13175 does not apply to this action. The
EPA specifically solicits additional
comments on this proposed action from
tribal officials.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks
This action is not subject to Executive
Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23,
1997) because it is not economically
significant as defined in Executive
Order 12866 and because the agency
does not believe the environmental
health or safety risks addressed by this
action present a disproportionate risk to
children. This action’s health and risk
assessments are contained in sections III
and IV of this document. The public is
invited to submit comments or identify
peer-reviewed studies and data that
assess effects of early life exposures to
the pollutants emitted by this source
category.
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
This action is not subject to Executive
Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22,
2001) because it is not a significant
regulatory action under Executive Order
12866.
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (‘‘NTTAA’’), Public Law
104–113 (15 U.S.C. 272 note), directs
the EPA to use voluntary consensus
standards (VCS) in its regulatory
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activities unless to do so would be
inconsistent with applicable law or
otherwise impractical. VCS are
technical standards (e.g., materials
specifications, test methods, sampling
procedures and business practices) that
are developed or adopted by VCS
bodies. NTTAA directs the EPA to
provide Congress, through OMB,
explanations when the agency decides
not to use available and applicable VCS.
This proposed action involves
technical standards. Therefore, the
agency conducted a search to identify
potentially applicable VCS. The VCS
ASTM D7520–09, ‘‘Standard Test
Method for Determining the Opacity of
a Plume in the Outdoor Ambient
Atmosphere’’ was identified as an
acceptable alternative to EPA Method 9.
The standard was developed and is
published by the American Society for
Testing and Materials (ASTM). The
standard can be obtained by contacting
ASTM at 100 Barr Harbor Drive, Post
Office Box C700, West Conshohocken,
PA 19428–2959 or at their Web site,
https://www.astm.org.
In addition, as a result of comments
received on the 2012 proposal, EPA
Method 26 was identified as a
reasonable alternative to EPA Method
26A and EPA Method 204 was
identified as a reasonable alternative
method for EPA Methods 1 and 2. The
EPA agrees that EPA Methods 26 and
204 are acceptable alternatives for use in
this rule. Therefore, the EPA has
proposed adding ASTM D7520–09,
‘‘Standard Test Method for Determining
the Opacity of a Plume in the Outdoor
Ambient Atmosphere,’’ as an alternative
method for the currently required EPA
Method 9; EPA Method 26 as an
alternative for the currently required
EPA Method 26A; and EPA Method 204
as an alternative to the currently
required EPA Methods 1 and 2.
The EPA welcomes comments on this
aspect of the proposed rulemaking and,
specifically, invites the public to
identify potentially-applicable VCS and
to explain why such standards should
be used in this regulation.
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
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environmental effects of their programs,
policies and activities on minority
populations and low-income
populations in the United States.
The EPA has determined that this
proposed rule will not have
disproportionately high and adverse
human health or environmental effects
on minority or low-income populations
because it does not affect the level of
protection provided to human health or
the environment. This proposed rule
will not relax the emission limits on
regulated sources and will not result in
emissions increases.
Because our residual risk assessment
determined that there was minimal
residual risk associated with the
emissions from facilities in this source
category, a demographic risk analysis
was not necessary for this category.
However, the EPA did conduct a
proximity analysis for both area and
major sources. The results of these
analyses are summarized in section
IV.A.6 of this notice and in more detail
in the EJ Screening Report for Area
Sources and the EJ Screening Report for
Major Sources, which are available in
the docket for this rulemaking.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 63
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: November 13, 2014.
Gina McCarthy,
Administrator.
For the reasons stated in the
preamble, part 63 of title 40, chapter I,
of the Code of Federal Regulations is
proposed to be amended as follows:
PART 63—NATIONAL EMISSION
STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR
POLLUTANTS FOR SOURCES
CATEGORIES
1. The authority citation for part 63
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart RRR—NATIONAL EMISSION
STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR
POLLUTANTS FOR SECONDARY
ALUMINUM PRODUCTION
2. Section 63.1501 is amended by
adding paragraphs (d), (e), and (f) to
read as follows:
■
§ 63.1501
Dates.
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*
(d) The owner or operator of an
existing affected source must comply
with the following requirements of this
subpart by [DATE 180 DAYS FROM
PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL RULE
IN THE Federal Register]: § 63.1505 (k)
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introductory text, (k)(1) through (k)(5),
other than the emission standards for
HF in (k)(2); § 63.1506 (a)(1), (c)(1),
(g)(5), (k)(3), (m)(4), (n)(1); § 63.1510,
(b)(5), (b)(9), (d)(2), (d)(3), (f)(1)(ii),
(i)(4), (j)(4), (n)(1), (o)(1), (o)(1)(ii),
(s)(2)(iv), (t) introductory text, (t)(2)(i),
(t)(2)(ii), (t)(4), (t)(5); § 63.1511(a)
introductory text, (b) introductory text,
(b)(1), (b)(6), (c)(9), (f)(6), (g)(5);
§ 63.1512(e)(1), (e)(2), (e)(3), (h)(2), (j),
(j)(1)(i), (j)(2)(i), (o)(1), (p)(2);
§ 63.1513(b) introductory text, (b)(1),
(e)(1), (e)(2), (e)(3), (f); § 63.1516 (b)
introductory text, (b)(2)(iii), (b)(3), (d);
§ 63.1517(b)(16)(i), (b)(18), (b)(19), (c).
(e) The owner or operator of an
existing affected source must comply
with the following requirements of this
subpart by [DATE 2 YEARS FROM
PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL RULE
IN THE Federal Register]:
§ 63.1505(i)(4) and (k)(2) emission
standards for HF; § 63.1512(e)(4)
through (7) requirements for testing
existing uncontrolled group 1 furnaces;
and § 63.1514 requirements for change
of furnace classification.
(f) The owner or operator of a new
affected source that commences
construction or reconstruction after
February 14, 2012 must comply with all
of the requirements listed in paragraphs
(d) and (e) of this section by [DATE OF
PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL RULE
IN THE Federal Register] or upon
startup, whichever is later.
■ 3. Section 63.1503 is amended by
adding in alphabetical order definitions
for ‘‘round top furnace,’’ ‘‘shutdown,’’
and ‘‘startup’’ to read as follows:
§ 63.1503
Definitions.
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*
Round top furnace means a
cylindrically-shaped reverberatory
furnace that has a top that is removed
for charging and other furnace
operations.
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*
Shutdown means the period of
operation for thermal chip dryers, scrap
dryers/delacquering kilns, decoating
kilns, dross-only furnaces, group 1
furnaces, in-line fluxers, sweat furnaces
and group 2 furnaces that begins when
the introduction of feed/charge is halted
and all product has been removed from
the emission unit (e.g., by tapping a
furnace).
*
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Startup means the period of operation
for thermal chip dryers, scrap dryers/
delacquering kilns, decoating kilns,
dross-only furnaces, group 1 furnaces,
in-line fluxers, sweat furnaces and
group 2 furnaces that begins with
equipment warming from a cold start or
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a complete shutdown. Startup ends at
the point that feed/charge is introduced.
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■ 4. Section 63.1506 is amended by
adding paragraph (c)(4) to read as
follows:
§ 63.1506
Operating requirements.
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(c) * * *
(4) In lieu of paragraph (c)(1) of this
section, the owner or operator of a sweat
furnace may design, install and operate
each sweat furnace in accordance with
paragraphs (c)(4)(i) through (iii) of this
section.
(i) As demonstrated by an annual
negative air flow test conducted in
accordance with § 63.1510(d)(3), air
flow must be into the sweat furnace or
towards the plane of the sweat furnace
opening.
(ii) The owner or operator must
maintain and operate the sweat furnace
in a manner consistent with the good
practices requirements for minimizing
emissions, including fugitive emissions,
in paragraph (a)(5) of this section.
Procedures that will minimize fugitive
emissions may include, but are not
limited to the following:
(A) Increasing the exhaust rate from
the furnace with draft fans, so as to
capture emissions that might otherwise
escape from the sweat furnace opening;
(B) Minimizing the time the sweat
furnace doors are open;
(C) Keeping building doors and other
openings closed to the greatest extent
possible to minimize drafts that would
divert emissions from being drawn into
the sweat furnace;
(D) Maintaining burners on low-fire or
pilot operation while the doors are
open;
(E) Conducting periodic inspections
and maintenance of sweat furnace
components to ensure their proper
operation and performance including
but not limited to, door assemblies,
seals, combustion chamber refractory
material, afterburner and stack
refractory, blowers, fans, dampers,
burner tubes, door raise cables, pilot
light assemblies, baffles, sweat furnace
and afterburner shells and other internal
structures.
(iii) The owner or operator must
document in their OM&M plan the
procedures to be used to minimize
emissions, including fugitive emissions,
in addition to the procedures to ensure
the proper operation and maintenance
of the sweat furnace.
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■ 5. Section 63.1510 is amended by
revising paragraph (d)(2) and adding
paragraph (d)(3) to read as follows:
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§ 63.1510
Monitoring requirements.
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(d) * * *
(2) Inspect each capture/collection
and closed vent system at least once
each calendar year to ensure that each
system is operating in accordance with
the operating requirements in
§ 63.1506(c) and record the results of
each inspection. This inspection shall
include a volumetric flow rate
measurement taken at a location in the
ductwork downstream of the hoods that
is representative of the actual
volumetric flow rate without
interference due to leaks, ambient air
added for cooling or ducts from other
hoods. The flow rate measurement must
be performed in accordance with
paragraphs (d)(2)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this
section. As an alternative to the flow
rate measurement specified in this
paragraph, the inspection may satisfy
the requirements of this paragraph,
including the operating requirements in
§ 63.1506(c), by including permanent
total enclosure verification in
accordance with (d)(2)(i) or (iv) of this
section.
(i) Conduct annual flow rate
measurements using EPA Methods 1
and 2 in Appendix A to 40 CFR part 60,
or conduct annual verification of a
permanent total enclosure using EPA
Method 204; or
(ii) As an alternative to annual flow
rate measurements using EPA Methods
1 and 2, measurement with EPA
Methods 1 and 2 can be performed once
every 5 years, provided that:
(A) A flow rate indicator consisting of
a pitot tube and differential pressure
gauge (Magnehelic®, manometer or
other differential pressure gauge) is
installed with the pitot tube tip located
at a representative point of the duct
proximate to the location of the
Methods 1 and 2 measurement site; and
(B) The flow rate indicator is installed
and operated in accordance with the
manufacturer’s specifications; and
(C) The differential pressure is
recorded during the Method 2
performance test series; and
(D) Differential pressure readings are
recorded daily, and maintained at or
above 90 percent of the pressure
differential indicated by the flow rate
indicator during the most recent Method
2 performance test series; and
(E) An inspection of the pitot tube and
associated lines for damage, plugging,
leakage and operational integrity is
conducted at least once per year; or
(iii) As an alternative to annual flow
rate measurements using EPA Methods
1 and 2, measurement with EPA
Methods 1 and 2 can be performed once
every 5 years, provided that:
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(A) Daily measurements of the capture
and collection system’s fan revolutions
per minute (RPM) are made by taking
three measurements with at least 5
minutes between each measurement,
and averaging the three measurements;
and
(B) Readings are recorded daily and
maintained at or above 90 percent of the
RPM measured during the most recent
Method 2 performance test series.
(iv) As an alternative to the annual
verification of a permanent total
enclosure using EPA Method 204,
verification can be performed once
every 5 years, provided that:
(A) Negative pressure in the enclosure
is directly monitored by a pressure
indicator installed at a representative
location;
(B) Pressure readings are recorded
daily or the system is interlocked to halt
material feed should the system not
operate under negative pressure;
(C) When there are readings outside
the range specified in the OM&M plan,
the facility investigates and takes steps
to restore normal operation, which may
include initial inspection and
evaluation, recording that operations
returned to normal without operator
action or other applicable actions; and
(D) An inspection of the pressure
indicator for damage and operational
integrity is conducted at least once per
calendar year.
(3) In lieu of paragraph (d)(2) of this
section, the owner or operator of a sweat
furnace may inspect each sweat furnace
at least once each calendar year to
ensure that they are being operated in
accordance with the negative air flow
requirements in § 63.1506(c)(4). The
owner or operator of a sweat furnace
must demonstrate negative air flow into
the sweat furnace in accordance with
paragraphs (d)(3)(i) through (iii) of this
section.
(i) Perform an annual visual smoke
test to demonstrate airflow into the
sweat furnace or towards the plane of
the sweat furnace opening;
(ii) Perform the smoke test using a
smoke source, such as a smoke tube,
smoke stick, smoke cartridge, smoke
candle or other smoke source that
produces a persistent and neutral
buoyancy aerosol; and
(iii) Perform the visual smoke test at
a safe distance from and near the center
of the sweat furnace opening.
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■ 6. Section 63.1511 is amended by
revising paragraph (b)(1) to read as
follows:
§ 63.1511 Performance test/compliance
demonstration general requirements.
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(b) * * *
(1) The performance tests must be
conducted under representative
(normal) conditions expected to
produce the highest level of HAP
emissions expressed in the units of the
emission standards for the HAP
(considering the extent of scrap
contamination, reactive flux addition
rate and feed/charge rate). If a single test
condition is not expected to produce the
highest level of emissions for all HAP,
testing under two or more sets of
conditions (for example high
contamination at low feed/charge rate,
and low contamination at high feed/
charge rate) may be required. Any
subsequent performance tests for the
purposes of establishing new or revised
parametric limits shall be allowed upon
pre-approval from the permitting
authority for major sources, or the
Administrator for area sources. These
new parametric settings shall be used to
demonstrate compliance for the period
being tested.
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*
■ 7. Section 63.1512 is amended by
adding paragraphs (e)(4) through (7) to
read as follows:
§ 63.1512 Performance test/compliance
demonstration requirements and
procedures.
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(e) * * *
(4) When testing an existing
uncontrolled furnace, the owner or
operator must comply with the
requirements of either paragraphs
(e)(4)(i) or (ii) of this section at the next
required performance test.
(i) Install hooding that meets ACGIH
Guidelines, or
(ii) Assume a 67-percent capture
efficiency for the furnace exhaust (i.e.,
multiply emissions measured at the
furnace exhaust outlet by 1.5). If the
source fails to demonstrate compliance
using the 67-percent capture efficiency
assumption, the owner or operator must
re-test with a hood that meets the
ACGIH Guidelines within 180 days, or
petition the permitting authority for
major sources, or the Administrator for
area sources, within 180 days that such
hoods are impractical under the
provisions of paragraph (e)(6) of this
section and propose testing procedures
that will minimize fugitive emissions
during the performance test according to
paragraph (e)(7) of this section.
(iii) Existing round top furnaces are
exempt from the requirements of
paragraphs (e)(4)(i) and (ii) of this
section. Round top furnaces must be
operated to minimize fugitive emissions
according to paragraph (e)(7) of this
section.
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(5) When testing a new uncontrolled
furnace the owner or operator must:
(i) Install hooding that meets ACGIH
Guidelines or petition the permitting
authority for major sources, or the
Administrator for area sources, that
such hoods are impracticable under the
provisions of paragraph (e)(6) of this
section and propose testing procedures
that will minimize fugitive emissions
during the performance test according to
the provisions of paragraph (e)(7); and
(ii) Subsequent testing must be
conducted in accordance with
paragraphs (e)(4)(i) and (ii) of this
section.
(6) The installation of hooding that
meets ACGIH Guidelines is considered
impractical if any of the following
conditions exist:
(i) Building or equipment obstructions
(for example, wall, ceiling, roof,
structural beams, utilities, overhead
crane or other obstructions) are present
such that the temporary hood cannot be
located consistent with acceptable hood
design and installation practices;
(ii) Space limitations or work area
constraints exist such that the
temporary hood cannot be supported or
located to prevent interference with
normal furnace operations or avoid
unsafe working conditions for the
furnace operator; or
(iii) Other obstructions and
limitations subject to agreement of the
permitting authority for major sources,
or the Administrator for area sources.
(7) Testing procedures that will
minimize fugitive emissions may
include, but are not limited to the
following:
(i) Installing a hood that does not
entirely meet ACGIH guidelines;
(ii) Using the building as an
enclosure, and measuring emissions
exhausted from the building if there are
no other furnaces or other significant
sources in the building of the pollutants
to be measured;
(iii) Installing temporary baffles on
those sides or top of furnace opening if
it is practical to do so where they will
not interfere with material handling or
with the furnace door opening and
closing;
(iv) Increasing the exhaust rate from
the furnace with draft fans, so as to
capture emissions that might otherwise
escape into the building if it can be
done without increasing furnace
emissions in a way that make the test
non-representative;
(v) Minimizing the time the furnace
doors are open or the top is off;
(vi) Delaying gaseous reactive fluxing
until charging doors are closed and, for
round top furnaces, until the top is on;
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(vii) Agitating or stirring molten metal
as soon as practicable after salt flux
addition and closing doors as soon as
possible after solid fluxing operations,
including mixing and dross removal;
(viii) Keeping building doors and
other openings closed to the greatest
extent possible to minimize drafts that
would divert emissions from being
drawn into the furnace; or
(ix) Maintaining burners on low-fire
or pilot operation while the doors are
open or the top is off.
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■ 8. Section 63.1513 is amended by
adding paragraph (f) to read as follows:
§ 63.1513 Equations for determining
compliance.
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*
(f) Periods of startup and shutdown.
For a new or existing affected source, or
a new or existing emission unit subject
to an emissions limit in paragraphs
§ 63.1505(b) through (j) expressed in
units of pounds per ton of feed/charge,
or mg TEQ or ng TEQ per Mg of feed/
charge, demonstrate compliance during
periods of startup and shutdown in
accordance with paragraph (f)(1) of this
section or determine your emissions per
unit of feed/charge during periods of
startup and shutdown in accordance
with paragraph (f)(2) of this section.
Startup and shutdown emissions for
group 1 furnaces and in-line fluxers
must be calculated individually, and not
on the basis of a SAPU. Periods of
startup and shutdown are excluded
from the calculation of SAPU emission
limits in § 63.1505(k), the SAPU
monitoring requirements in § 63.1510(t)
and the SAPU emissions calculations in
§ 63.1513(e).
(1) For periods of startup and
shutdown, records establishing a feed/
charge rate of zero, a flux rate of zero,
and that the affected source or emission
unit was either heated with electricity,
propane or natural gas as the sole
sources of heat or was not heated, may
be used to demonstrate compliance with
the emission limit, or
(2) For periods of startup and
shutdown, divide your measured
emissions in lb/hr or mg/hr or ng/hr by
the feed/charge rate in tons/hr or Mg/hr
from your most recent performance test
associated with a production rate greater
than zero, or the rated capacity of the
affected source if no prior performance
test data is available.
■ 9. Amend section 63.1514, as
proposed to be added at 77 FR 8576
(February 14, 2012), by revising
paragraph (e) to read as follows:
§ 63.1514
Change of furnace classification.
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(e) Limit on Frequency of changing
furnace operating mode.
(1) Changing furnace operating mode
including reversion to the previous
mode, as provided in paragraphs (a)
through (d) of this section, may not be
done more frequently than 4 times in
any 6-month period.
(2) If additional changes are needed,
the owner or operator must apply in
advance to the permitting authority, for
major sources, or the Administrator, for
area sources, for approval.
■ 10. Section 63.1517 is amended by
adding paragraphs (b)(18) and (19) to
read as follows:
§ 63.1517
Records.
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(b) * * *
(18) For each period of startup or
shutdown for which the owner or
operator chooses to demonstrate
compliance for an affected source based
on a feed/charge rate of zero, a flux rate
of zero and the use of electricity,
propane or natural gas as the sole
sources of heating or the lack of heating,
the owner or operator must maintain the
following records:
(i) The date and time of each startup
and shutdown,
(ii) The quantities of feed/charge and
flux introduced during each startup and
shutdown, and
(iii) The types of fuel used to heat the
unit, or that no fuel was used, during
startup and shutdown.
(19) For owners or operators that
choose to change furnace operating
modes, the following records must be
maintained:
(i) The date and time of each change
in furnace operating mode, and
(ii) The nature of the change in
operating mode (for example, group 1
controlled furnace processing other than
clean charge to group 2).
■ 11. Table 2 to subpart RRR of part 63
is amended by revising the entry for
‘‘All affected sources and emission units
with an add-on air pollution control
device’’ to read as follows:
TABLE 2 TO SUBPART RRR OF PART 63—SUMMARY OF OPERATING REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW AND EXISTING AFFECTED
SOURCES AND EMISSION UNITS
Affected source/emission unit
Monitor type/operation/process
Operating requirements
All affected sources and emission units
with an add-on air pollution control
device.
Emission capture and collection system
Design and install in accordance with ACGIH Guidelines;
operate in accordance with OM&M plan (sweat furnaces
may be operated according to 63.1506(c)(4)).b
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b OM&M
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*
*
*
*
*
* *
plan—Operation, maintenance, and monitoring plan.
*
*
*
*
*
12. Table 3 to subpart RRR of part 63
is amended by revising the entry for
■
‘‘All affected sources and emission units
with an add-on air pollution control
device’’ and revising footnote d to Table
3 to read as follows:
TABLE 3 TO SUBPART RRR OF PART 63—SUMMARY OF MONITORING REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW AND EXISTING AFFECTED
SOURCES AND EMISSION UNITS
Affected source/emission unit
Monitor type/operation/process
Monitoring requirements
All affected sources and emission units
with an add-on air pollution control
device.
Emission capture and collection system
Annual inspection of all emission capture, collection, and
transport systems to ensure that systems continue to operate in accordance with ACGIH Guidelines. Inspection
includes volumetric flow rate measurements or verification
of a permanent total enclosure using EPA Method 204.d
*
*
*
*
*
*
d The
*
frequency of volumetric flow rate measurements may be decreased to once every 5 years if daily differential pressure measures or daily
fan RPM measurements are made in accordance with § 63.1510(d)(ii) and (iii). The frequency of annual verification of a permanent total enclosure may be decreased to once every 5 years if negative pressure measurements in the enclosure are made daily in accordance with
§ 63.1510(d)(iv). In lieu of volumetric flow rate measurements or verification of permanent total enclosure, sweat furnaces may demonstrate annually negative air flow into the sweat furnace opening in accordance with § 63.1510(d)(3).
[FR Doc. 2014–27497 Filed 12–5–14; 8:45 am]
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 235 (Monday, December 8, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 72873-72912]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27497]
[[Page 72873]]
Vol. 79
Monday,
No. 235
December 8, 2014
Part III
Environmental Protection Agency
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40 CFR Part 63
National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Secondary
Aluminum Production; Proposed Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 79 , No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 72874]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 63
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0544; FRL-9919-33-OAR]
RIN 2060-AQ40
National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants:
Secondary Aluminum Production
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action supplements our notice of proposed rulemaking for
the national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP)
for secondary aluminum production, which was published in the Federal
Register on February 14, 2012. In that action, the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) proposed decisions concerning the residual risk
and technology review for the Secondary Aluminum Production source
category and proposed amendments to correct and clarify rule
requirements. This supplemental proposal presents a revised risk review
(including a revised inhalation risk assessment, a refined multipathway
risk assessment, and an updated ample margin of safety analysis) and a
revised technology review for the Secondary Aluminum Production source
category. Similar to the 2012 proposal, we found risks due to emissions
of air toxics to be acceptable from this source category and we
identified no cost effective controls under the updated ample margin of
safety analysis or the technology review to achieve further emissions
reductions. Therefore, we are proposing no revisions to the numeric
emission standards based on these revised analyses. However, this
supplemental proposal supplements and modifies several of the proposed
technical corrections and rule clarifications that were originally
presented in the February 14, 2012 proposal; withdraws our previous
proposal to include affirmative defense provisions in the regulation;
proposes alternative compliance options for the operating and
monitoring requirements for sweat furnaces; and provides a revised cost
analysis for compliance testing. This action, if finalized, would
result in improved monitoring, compliance and implementation of the
rule.
DATES: Comments. Comments must be received on or before January 22,
2015. A copy of comments on the information collection provisions
should be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on or
before January 7, 2015.
Public Hearing. If anyone contacts the EPA requesting a public
hearing by December 15, 2014, the EPA will hold a public hearing on
December 23, 2014 at the U.S. EPA building at 109 T.W. Alexander Drive,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. If you are interested in requesting a
public hearing or attending the public hearing, contact Ms. Virginia
Hunt at (919) 541-0832 or at hunt.virginia@epa.gov. If the EPA holds a
public hearing, the EPA will keep the record of the hearing open for 30
days after completion of the hearing to provide an opportunity for
submission of rebuttal and supplementary information.
ADDRESSES: Comments. Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No.
EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0544, by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
Email: A-and-R-docket@epa.gov. Include Attention Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0544 in the subject line of the message.
Fax: (202) 566-9744, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2010-0544.
Mail: Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center
(EPA/DC), Mail Code 28221T, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-
0544, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460. 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 Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20503.
Hand/Courier Delivery: EPA Docket Center, Room 3334, EPA
WJC West Building, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20004,
Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0544. 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-
2010-0544. The 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 email. The https://www.regulations.gov Web site
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means the EPA will not know
your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body
of your comment. If you send an email comment directly to the EPA
without going through https://www.regulations.gov, your email 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, the 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 the EPA cannot read your comment
due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification,
the EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files
should not include special characters or any form of encryption and be
free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about the
EPA's public docket, visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
Docket: The EPA has established a docket for this rulemaking under
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0544. All documents in the docket are
listed in the 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, is not placed on the Internet
and will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available
docket materials are available either electronically in https://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the EPA Docket Center, Room
3334, EPA WJC West Building, 1301 Constitution Avenue 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
EPA Docket Center is (202) 566-1742.
Public Hearing: If anyone contacts the EPA requesting a public
hearing by December 15, 2014, the public hearing will be held on
December 23, 2014 at the EPA's campus at 109 T.W. Alexander Drive,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The hearing will begin at 1:00
p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) and conclude at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern
Standard Time). Please contact
[[Page 72875]]
Ms. Virginia Hunt at 919-541-0832 or at hunt.virginia@epa.gov to
register to speak at the hearing or to inquire as to whether or not a
hearing will be held. The last day to pre-register in advance to speak
at the hearing will be December 22, 2014. Additionally, requests to
speak will be taken the day of the hearing at the hearing registration
desk, although preferences on speaking times may not be able to be
accommodated. If you require the service of a translator or special
accommodations such as audio description, please let us know at the
time of registration. If you require an accommodation, we ask that you
pre-register for the hearing, as we may not be able to arrange such
accommodations without advance notice.
If no one contacts the EPA requesting a public hearing to be held
concerning this proposed rule by December 15, 2014, a public hearing
will not take place. If a hearing is held, it will provide interested
parties the opportunity to present data, views or arguments concerning
the supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking. The EPA will make every
effort to accommodate all speakers who arrive and register. Because the
hearing will be held at a U.S. government facility, individuals
planning to attend the hearing should be prepared to show valid picture
identification to the security staff in order to gain access to the
meeting room. Please note that the REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in
2005, established new requirements for entering federal facilities. If
your driver's license is issued by Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New
York, Oklahoma or the state of Washington, you must present an
additional form of identification to enter the federal building.
Acceptable alternative forms of identification include: Federal
employee badges, passports, enhanced driver's licenses and military
identification cards. In addition, you will need to obtain a property
pass for any personal belongings you bring with you. Upon leaving the
building, you will be required to return this property pass to the
security desk. No large signs will be allowed in the building, cameras
may only be used outside of the building and demonstrations will not be
allowed on federal property for security reasons.
The EPA may ask clarifying questions during the oral presentations,
but will not respond to the presentations at that time. Written
statements and supporting information submitted during the comment
period will be considered with the same weight as oral comments and
supporting information presented at the public hearing. Commenters
should notify Ms. Hunt if they will need specific equipment, or if
there are other special needs related to providing comments at the
hearings. Verbatim transcripts of the hearing and written statements
will be included in the docket for the rulemaking. The EPA will make
every effort to follow the schedule as closely as possible on the day
of the hearing; however, please plan for the hearing to run either
ahead of schedule or behind schedule. Again, a hearing will not be held
unless requested. Please contact Ms. Virginia Hunt at (919) 541-0832 or
at hunt.virginia@epa.gov to request or register to speak at the hearing
or to inquire as to whether or not a hearing will be held.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this proposed
action, contact Ms. Rochelle Boyd, Sector Policies and Programs
Division (D243-02), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
27711, telephone (919) 541-1390; fax number: (919) 541-3207; and email
address: boyd.rochelle@epa.gov. For specific information regarding the
risk modeling methodology, contact James Hirtz, Health and
Environmental Impacts Division, (C539-02), Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research
Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: (919) 541-0881; fax number:
(919) 541-0840; and email address: hirtz.james@epa.gov. For information
about the applicability of the NESHAP to a particular entity, contact
Scott Throwe, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA),
telephone number (202) 564-7013; and email address:
throwe.scott@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Preamble Acronyms and Abbreviations: We use multiple acronyms and
terms in this preamble. While this list may not be exhaustive, to ease
the reading of this preamble and for reference purposes, the EPA
defines the following terms and acronyms here:
ACGIH American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists
AEGL acute exposure guideline levels
AERMOD air dispersion model used by the HEM-3 model
AMOS ample margin of safety
ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
BACT best available control technology
CAA Clean Air Act
CalEPA California Environmental Protection Agency
CBI confidential business information
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
D/F dioxins and furans
EJ environmental justice
EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency
ERPG Emergency Response Planning Guidelines
ERT Electronic Reporting Tool
HAP hazardous air pollutants
HCl hydrogen chloride
HEM-3 Human Exposure Model, Version 3
HF hydrogen fluoride
HI hazard index
HQ hazard quotient
ICR information collection request
IRIS Integrated Risk Information System
km kilometer
lb/yr pounds per year
LOAEL lowest-observed-adverse-effect level
MACT maximum achievable control technology
mg/m\3\ milligrams per cubic meter
MIR maximum individual risk
NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standard
NAICS North American Industry Classification System
NAS National Academy of Sciences
NATA National Air Toxics Assessment
NEI National Emissions Inventory
NESHAP National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
NOAEL no observed adverse effects level
NRC National Research Council
NTTAA National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
O&M operation and maintenance
OAQPS Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
OECA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
OMB Office of Management and Budget
OM&M operation, maintenance and monitoring
PAH polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
PB-HAP hazardous air pollutants known to be persistent and bio-
accumulative in the environment
PEL probable effect levels
PM particulate matter
POM polycyclic organic matter
REL reference exposure level
RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act
RfC reference concentration
RfD reference dose
RTR residual risk and technology review
SAB Science Advisory Board
SAPU secondary aluminum processing unit
SBA Small Business Administration
SOP standard operating procedures
SSM startup, shutdown, and malfunction
TEQ toxic equivalents
THC total hydrocarbons
TOSHI target organ-specific hazard index
tpy tons per year
TRIM.FaTE Total Risk Integrated Methodology Fate, Transport and
Ecological Exposure model
TTN Technology Transfer Network
UBC used beverage containers
UF uncertainty factor
[micro]g/m\3\ microgram per cubic meter
UMRA Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
URE unit risk estimate
WHO World Health Organization
Organization of this Document. The information in this preamble is
organized as follows:
[[Page 72876]]
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
B. Where can I get a copy of this document and other related
information?
C. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for the EPA?
II. Background Information
A. What is the statutory authority for this action?
B. What is this source category and how does the current NESHAP
regulate its HAP emissions?
C. What is the history of the Secondary Aluminum Risk and
Technology Review?
D. What data collection activities were conducted to support
this action?
III. Analytical Procedures
A. How did we evaluate the post-MACT risks posed by the
Secondary Aluminum Production source category in the risk assessment
developed for this supplemental proposal?
B. How did we consider the risk results in making decisions for
this supplemental proposal?
C. How did we perform the technology review?
IV. Revised Analytical Results and Proposed Decisions for the
Secondary Aluminum Production Source Category
A. What are the results of the risk assessment and analysis?
B. What are our proposed decisions regarding risk acceptability,
ample margin of safety and adverse environmental effects based on
our revised analyses?
C. What are the results and proposed decisions based on our
technology review?
D. What other actions are we proposing?
E. What compliance dates are we proposing?
V. Summary of the Revised Cost, Environmental and Economic Impacts
A. What are the affected sources?
B. What are the air quality impacts?
C. What are the cost impacts?
D. What are the economic impacts?
E. What are the benefits?
VI. Request for Comments
VII. Submitting Data Corrections
VIII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and
Executive Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory 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 Risks and Safety Risks
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions to Address
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
The regulated industrial source category that is the subject of
this supplemental proposal is listed in Table 1 of this preamble. Table
1 of this preamble is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather
provides a guide for readers regarding the entities likely to be
affected by this proposed action. These standards, once finalized, will
be directly applicable to affected sources. Federal, state, local and
tribal government entities are not affected by this proposed action. To
determine whether your facility would be affected, you should examine
the applicability criteria in the NESHAP. The Secondary Aluminum
Production source category includes any facility using clean charge,
aluminum scrap or dross from aluminum production, as the raw material
and performing one or more of the following processes: scrap shredding,
scrap drying/delacquering/decoating, thermal chip drying, furnace
operations (i.e., melting, holding, sweating, refining, fluxing or
alloying), recovery of aluminum from dross, in-line fluxing or dross
cooling.
Table 1--NESHAP and Industrial Source Categories Affected by This
Proposed Action
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAICS
Industrial source category NESHAP Code \a\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Secondary Aluminum Production............. Secondary........ 331314
Primary Aluminum Production Facilities.... Aluminum......... 331312
Aluminum Sheet, Plate, and Foil Production....... 331315
Manufacturing Facilities.
Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing ................. 331316
Facilities.
Other Aluminum Rolling and Drawing ................. 331319
Facilities.
Aluminum Die Casting Facilities........... ................. 331521
Aluminum Foundry Facilities............... ................. 331524
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ North American Industry Classification System.
B. Where can I get a copy of this document and other related
information?
In addition to being available in the docket, an electronic copy of
this action is available on the Internet through EPA's Technology
Transfer Network (TTN) Web site, a forum for information and technology
exchange in various areas of air pollution control. Following signature
by the EPA Administrator, the EPA will post a copy of this supplemental
proposal at: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/alum2nd/alum2pg.html. Following
publication in the Federal Register, the EPA will post the Federal
Register version of the proposal and key technical documents at this
same Web site. Information on the overall residual risk and technology
review program is available at the following Web site: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/rrisk/rtrpg.html.
C. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for the EPA?
Submitting CBI. Do not submit information containing CBI to the EPA
through https://www.regulations.gov or email. Clearly mark the part or
all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information on
a disk or CD-ROM that you mail to the 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 comments that includes information claimed
as CBI, you must submit a copy of the comments that does not contain
the information claimed as CBI for inclusion in the public docket. If
you submit a CD-ROM or disk that does not contain CBI, mark the outside
of the disk or CD-ROM clearly that it does not contain CBI. Information
not marked as CBI will be included in the public docket and the EPA's
electronic public docket without prior notice. Information marked as
CBI will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set
forth in 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 2. Send or deliver
information identified as CBI only to the following address: Roberto
Morales, OAQPS Document Control
[[Page 72877]]
Officer (C404-02), OAQPS, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, Attention Docket ID No.
EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0544.
II. Background Information
A. What is the statutory authority for this action?
Section 112 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) establishes a two-stage
regulatory process to address emissions of hazardous air pollutants
(HAP) from stationary sources. In the first stage, after the EPA has
identified categories of sources emitting one or more of the HAP listed
in CAA section 112(b), CAA section 112(d) requires us to promulgate
technology-based NESHAP for those sources. ``Major sources'' are those
that emit or have the potential to emit 10 tons per year (tpy) or more
of a single HAP or 25 tpy or more of any combination of HAP. For major
sources, the technology-based NESHAP must reflect the maximum degree of
emission reductions of HAP achievable (after considering cost, energy
requirements and non-air quality health and environmental impacts) and
are commonly referred to as maximum achievable control technology
(MACT) standards.
MACT standards must reflect the maximum degree of emission
reduction achievable through the application of measures, processes,
methods, systems or techniques, including, but not limited to, measures
that (1) reduce the volume of or eliminate pollutants through process
changes, substitution of materials or other modifications; (2) enclose
systems or processes to eliminate emissions; (3) capture or treat
pollutants when released from a process, stack, storage or fugitive
emissions point; (4) are design, equipment, work practice or
operational standards (including requirements for operator training or
certification); or (5) are a combination of the above. CAA section
112(d)(2)(A) through (E). The MACT standards may take the form of
design, equipment, work practice or operational standards where the EPA
first determines either that (1) a pollutant cannot be emitted through
a conveyance designed and constructed to emit or capture the pollutant,
or that any requirement for, or use of, such a conveyance would be
inconsistent with law; or (2) the application of measurement
methodology to a particular class of sources is not practicable due to
technological and economic limitations. CAA section 112(h)(1) and (2).
The MACT ``floor'' is the minimum control level allowed for MACT
standards promulgated under CAA section 112(d)(3) and may not be based
on cost considerations. For new sources, the MACT floor cannot be less
stringent than the emissions control that is achieved in practice by
the best-controlled similar source. The MACT floor for existing sources
can be less stringent than floors for new sources but not less
stringent than the average emissions limitation achieved by the best-
performing 12 percent of existing sources in the category or
subcategory (or the best-performing five sources for categories or
subcategories with fewer than 30 sources). In developing MACT
standards, the EPA must also consider control options that are more
stringent than the floor. We may establish standards more stringent
than the floor based on considerations of the cost of achieving the
emission reductions, any non-air quality health and environmental
impacts and energy requirements.
The EPA is then required to review these technology-based standards
and revise them ``as necessary (taking into account developments in
practices, processes, and control technologies)'' no less frequently
than every eight years. CAA section 112(d)(6). In conducting this
review, the EPA is not required to recalculate the MACT floor. Natural
Resources Defense Council (NRDC) v. EPA, 529 F.3d 1077, 1084 (D.C. Cir.
2008). Association of Battery Recyclers, Inc. v. EPA, 716 F.3d 667
(D.C. Cir. 2013).
The second stage in standard-setting focuses on reducing any
remaining (i.e., ``residual'') risk according to CAA section 112(f).
Section 112(f)(1) required that the EPA prepare a report to Congress
discussing (among other things) methods of calculating the risks posed
(or potentially posed) by sources after implementation of the MACT
standards, the public health significance of those risks and the EPA's
recommendations as to legislation regarding such remaining risk. The
EPA prepared and submitted the Residual Risk Report to Congress, EPA-
453/R-99-001 (Risk Report) in March 1999. CAA section 112(f)(2) then
provides that if Congress does not act on any recommendation in the
Risk Report, the EPA must analyze and address residual risk for each
category or subcategory of sources 8 years after promulgation of such
standards pursuant to CAA section 112(d).
Section 112(f)(2) of the CAA requires the EPA to determine for
source categories subject to MACT standards whether the emission
standards provide an ample margin of safety to protect public health.
Section 112(f)(2)(B) of the CAA expressly preserves the EPA's use of
the two-step process for developing standards to address any residual
risk and the agency's interpretation of ``ample margin of safety''
developed in the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants: Benzene Emissions from Maleic Anhydride Plants,
Ethylbenzene/Styrene Plants, Benzene Storage Vessels, Benzene Equipment
Leaks, and Coke By-Product Recovery Plants (Benzene NESHAP) (54 FR
38044, September 14, 1989). The EPA notified Congress in the Risk
Report that the agency intended to use the Benzene NESHAP approach in
making CAA section 112(f) residual risk determinations (EPA-453/R-99-
001, p. ES-11). The EPA subsequently adopted this approach in its
residual risk determinations and in a challenge to the risk review for
the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing source category, the
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
upheld as reasonable the EPA's interpretation that subsection 112(f)(2)
incorporates the approach established in the Benzene NESHAP. See NRDC
v. EPA, 529 F.3d 1077, 1083 (D.C. Cir. 2008)(``[S]ubsection
112(f)(2)(B) expressly incorporates the EPA's interpretation of the
Clean Air Act from the Benzene standard, complete with a citation to
the Federal Register.''); see also A Legislative History of the Clean
Air Act Amendments of 1990, vol. 1, p. 877 (Senate debate on Conference
Report).
The first step in the process of evaluating residual risk is the
determination of acceptable risk. If risks are unacceptable, the EPA
cannot consider cost in identifying the emissions standards necessary
to bring risks to an acceptable level. The second step is the
determination of whether standards must be further revised in order to
provide an ample margin of safety to protect public health. The ample
margin of safety is the level at which the standards must be set,
unless an even more stringent standard is necessary to prevent, taking
into consideration costs, energy, safety and other relevant factors, an
adverse environmental effect.
1. Step 1--Determination of Acceptability
The agency in the Benzene NESHAP concluded that ``the acceptability
of risk under section 112 is best judged on the basis of a broad set of
health risk measures and information'' and that the ``judgment on
acceptability cannot be reduced to any single factor.'' Benzene
[[Page 72878]]
NESHAP at 38046. The determination of what represents an ``acceptable''
risk is based on a judgment of ``what risks are acceptable in the world
in which we live'' (Risk Report at 178, quoting NRDC v. EPA, 824 F. 2d
1146, 1165 (D.C. Cir. 1987) (en banc) (``Vinyl Chloride''), recognizing
that our world is not risk-free.
In the Benzene NESHAP, we stated that ``EPA will generally presume
that if the risk to [the maximum exposed] individual is no higher than
approximately one in 10 thousand, that risk level is considered
acceptable.'' 54 FR at 38045. We discussed the maximum individual
lifetime cancer risk (or maximum individual risk (MIR)) as being ``the
estimated risk that a person living near a plant would have if he or
she were exposed to the maximum pollutant concentrations for 70
years.'' Id. We explained that this measure of risk ``is an estimate of
the upper bound of risk based on conservative assumptions, such as
continuous exposure for 24 hours per day for 70 years.'' Id. We
explained that this measure of risk ``is an estimate of the upper bound
of risk based on conservative assumptions, such as continuous exposure
for 24 hours per day for 70 years.'' Id. We acknowledged that maximum
individual lifetime cancer risk ``does not necessarily reflect the true
risk, but displays a conservative risk level which is an upper-bound
that is unlikely to be exceeded.'' Id.
Understanding that there are both benefits and limitations to using
the MIR as a metric for determining acceptability, we acknowledged in
the Benzene NESHAP that ``consideration of maximum individual risk . .
. must take into account the strengths and weaknesses of this measure
of risk.'' Id. Consequently, the presumptive risk level of 100-in-1
million (1-in-10 thousand) provides a benchmark for judging the
acceptability of maximum individual lifetime cancer risk, but does not
constitute a rigid line for making that determination. Further, in the
Benzene NESHAP, we noted that:
``[p]articular attention will also be accorded to the weight of
evidence presented in the risk assessment of potential
carcinogenicity or other health effects of a pollutant. While the
same numerical risk may be estimated for an exposure to a pollutant
judged to be a known human carcinogen, and to a pollutant considered
a possible human carcinogen based on limited animal test data, the
same weight cannot be accorded to both estimates. In considering the
potential public health effects of the two pollutants, the Agency's
judgment on acceptability, including the MIR, will be influenced by
the greater weight of evidence for the known human carcinogen.''
Id. at 38046. The agency also explained in the Benzene NESHAP that:
``[i]n establishing a presumption for MIR, rather than a rigid line
for acceptability, the Agency intends to weigh it with a series of
other health measures and factors. These include the overall
incidence of cancer or other serious health effects within the
exposed population, the numbers of persons exposed within each
individual lifetime risk range and associated incidence within,
typically, a 50 km exposure radius around facilities, the science
policy assumptions and estimation uncertainties associated with the
risk measures, weight of the scientific evidence for human health
effects, other quantified or unquantified health effects, effects
due to co-location of facilities, and co-emission of pollutants.''
Id. at 38045. In some cases, these health measures and factors taken
together may provide a more realistic description of the magnitude of
risk in the exposed population than that provided by maximum individual
lifetime cancer risk alone.
As noted earlier, in NRDC v. EPA, the court held that section
112(f)(2) ``incorporates the EPA's interpretation of the Clean Air Act
from the Benzene Standard.'' The court further held that Congress'
incorporation of the Benzene standard applies equally to carcinogens
and non-carcinogens. 529 F.3d at 1081-82. Accordingly, we also consider
non-cancer risk metrics in our determination of risk acceptability and
ample margin of safety.
2. Step 2--Determination of Ample Margin of Safety
CAA section 112(f)(2) requires the EPA to determine, for source
categories subject to MACT standards, whether those standards provide
an ample margin of safety to protect public health. As explained in the
Benzene NESHAP, ``the second step of the inquiry, determining an `ample
margin of safety,' again includes consideration of all of the health
factors, and whether to reduce the risks even further. . . . Beyond
that information, additional factors relating to the appropriate level
of control will also be considered, including costs and economic
impacts of controls, technological feasibility, uncertainties and any
other relevant factors. Considering all of these factors, the agency
will establish the standard at a level that provides an ample margin of
safety to protect the public health, as required by section 112.'' 54
FR at 38046, September 14, 1989.
According to CAA section 112(f)(2)(A), if the MACT standards for
HAP ``classified as a known, probable, or possible human carcinogen do
not reduce lifetime excess cancer risks to the individual most exposed
to emissions from a source in the category or subcategory to less than
one in one million,'' the EPA must promulgate residual risk standards
for the source category (or subcategory), as necessary to provide an
ample margin of safety to protect public health. In doing so, the EPA
may adopt standards equal to existing MACT standards if the EPA
determines that the existing standards (i.e., the MACT standards) are
sufficiently protective. NRDC v. EPA, 529 F.3d 1077, 1083 (D.C. Cir.
2008) (``If EPA determines that the existing technology-based standards
provide an `ample margin of safety,' then the Agency is free to readopt
those standards during the residual risk rulemaking.'') The EPA must
also adopt more stringent standards, if necessary, to prevent an
adverse environmental effect,\1\ but must consider cost, energy, safety
and other relevant factors in doing so.
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\1\ ``Adverse environmental effect'' is defined as any
significant and widespread adverse effect, which may be reasonably
anticipated to wildlife, aquatic life or natural resources,
including adverse impacts on populations of endangered or threatened
species or significant degradation of environmental qualities over
broad areas. CAA section 112(a)(7).
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The CAA does not specifically define the terms ``individual most
exposed,'' ``acceptable level'' and ``ample margin of safety.'' In the
Benzene NESHAP, 54 FR at 38044-38045, September 14, 1989, we stated as
an overall objective:
In protecting public health with an ample margin of safety under
section 112, EPA strives to provide maximum feasible protection
against risks to health from hazardous air pollutants by (1)
protecting the greatest number of persons possible to an individual
lifetime risk level no higher than approximately 1-in-1 million and
(2) limiting to no higher than approximately 1-in-10 thousand [i.e.,
100-in-1 million] the estimated risk that a person living near a
plant would have if he or she were exposed to the maximum pollutant
concentrations for 70 years.
The agency further stated that ``[t]he EPA also considers incidence
(the number of persons estimated to suffer cancer or other serious
health effects as a result of exposure to a pollutant) to be an
important measure of the health risk to the exposed population.
Incidence measures the extent of health risks to the exposed population
as a whole, by providing an estimate of the occurrence of cancer or
other serious health effects in the exposed population.'' Id. at 38045.
In the ample margin of safety decision process, the agency again
considers all of the health risks and other health information
considered in the first step, including the incremental risk reduction
[[Page 72879]]
associated with standards more stringent than the MACT standard or a
more stringent standard that the EPA has determined is necessary to
ensure risk is acceptable. In the ample margin of safety analysis, the
agency considers additional factors, including costs and economic
impacts of controls, technological feasibility, uncertainties and any
other relevant factors. Considering all of these factors, the agency
will establish the standard at a level that provides an ample margin of
safety to protect the public health, as required by CAA section 112(f).
54 FR 38046, September 14, 1989.
B. What is this source category and how does the current NESHAP
regulate its HAP emissions?
The Secondary Aluminum Production source category includes
facilities that produce aluminum from scrap aluminum material and
consists of the following operations: (1) Preprocessing of scrap
aluminum, including size reduction and removal of oils, coatings and
other contaminants; (2) furnace operations, including melting, in-
furnace refining, fluxing and tapping; (3) additional refining, by
means of in-line fluxing; and (4) cooling of dross. The following
sections include descriptions of the affected sources in the Secondary
Aluminum Production source category, the origin of HAP emissions from
these affected sources and factors affecting the emissions.
Scrap aluminum is often preprocessed prior to melting.
Preprocessing steps may include shredding to reduce the size of
aluminum scrap; drying of oily scrap such as machine turnings and
borings; and/or heating in a scrap dryer, delacquering kiln or
decoating kiln to remove coatings or other contaminants that may be
present on the scrap. Heating of high iron content scrap in a sweat
furnace to reclaim the aluminum content is also a preprocessing
operation.
Crushing, shredding and grinding operations are used to reduce the
size of scrap aluminum. Particulate matter (PM) and HAP metals
emissions are generated as dust from coatings and other contaminants
contained in the scrap aluminum.
A chip dryer is used to evaporate oil and/or moisture from uncoated
aluminum chips and borings. Chip dryers typically operate at
temperatures ranging between 150 [deg]C to 400 [deg]C (300 [deg]F to
750 [deg]F). An uncontrolled chip dryer may emit dioxins and furans (D/
F) and total hydrocarbons (THC), of which some fraction is organic HAP.
Painted and/or coated materials are processed in a scrap dryer/
delacquering kiln/decoating kiln to remove coatings and other
contaminants that may be present in the scrap prior to melting.
Coatings, oils, grease and lubricants represent up to 20 percent of the
total weight of these materials. Organic HAP, D/F and inorganic HAP
including particulate metal HAP are emitted during the drying/
delacquering/decoating process.
Used beverage containers (UBC) comprise a major portion of the
recycled aluminum scrap used as feedstock by the industry. In scrap
drying/delacquering/decoating operations, UBC and other post-consumer
coated products (e.g., aluminum siding) are heated to an exit
temperature of up to 540 [deg]C (1,000 [deg]F) to volatilize and remove
various organic contaminants such as paints, oils, lacquers, rubber and
plastic laminates prior to melting. An uncontrolled scrap dryer/
delacquering kiln/decoating kiln emits PM (of which some fraction is
particulate metal HAP), hydrogen chloride (HCl), THC (of which some
fraction is organic HAP) and D/F.
A sweat furnace is typically used to reclaim (or ``sweat'') the
aluminum from scrap with high levels of iron. These furnaces operate in
batch mode at a temperature that is high enough to melt the aluminum,
but not high enough to melt the iron. The aluminum melts and flows out
of the furnace while the iron remains in the furnace in solid form. The
molten aluminum can be cast into sows, ingots or T-bars that are used
as feedstock for aluminum melting and refining furnaces. Alternately,
molten aluminum can be fed directly to a melting or refining furnace.
An uncontrolled sweat furnace may emit D/F.
Process (i.e., melting, holding or refining) furnaces are
refractory-lined metal vessels heated by an oil or gas burner to
achieve a metal temperature of about 760 [deg]C (1,400 [deg]F). The
melting process begins with the charging of scrap into the furnace. A
gaseous (typically, chlorine) or salt flux may be added to remove
impurities and reduce aluminum oxidation. Once molten, the chemistry of
the bath is adjusted by adding selected scrap or alloying agents, such
as silicon. Salt and other fluxes contain chloride and fluoride
compounds that may be released when introduced to the bath. HCl may
also be released when chlorine-containing contaminants (such as
polyvinyl chloride coatings) present in some types of scrap are
introduced to the bath. Argon and nitrogen fluxes are not reactive and
do not produce HAP. In a sidewell melting furnace, fluxing is performed
in the sidewell, and fluxing emissions from the sidewell are
controlled. In this type of furnace, fluxing is not typically done in
the hearth, and hearth emissions (which include products of combustion
from the oil and gas-fired furnaces) are typically uncontrolled.
Process furnaces may process contaminated scrap which can result in
HAP emissions. In addition, fluxing agents may contain compounds
capable of producing HAP, some fraction of which is emitted from the
furnace. Process furnaces are significant sources of HAP emissions in
the secondary aluminum industry. An uncontrolled melting furnace which
processes contaminated scrap and uses reactive fluxes emits PM (of
which some fraction is particulate metal HAP), HCl and D/F.
Process furnaces are divided into group 1 and group 2 furnaces.
Group 1 furnaces are unrestricted in the type of scrap they process and
the type of fluxes they can use. Group 2 furnaces process only clean
charge and conduct no reactive fluxing.
Dross-only furnaces are furnaces dedicated to reclamation of
aluminum from drosses formed during the melting/holding/alloying
operations carried out in other furnaces. Exposure to the atmosphere
causes the molten aluminum to oxidize, and the flotation of the
impurities to the surface along with any salt flux creates ``dross.''
Prior to tapping, the dross is periodically skimmed from the surface of
the aluminum bath and cooled. Dross-only furnaces are typically rotary
barrel furnaces (also known as salt furnaces). A dross-only furnace
emits PM (of which some fraction is particulate metal HAP).
Rotary dross coolers are devices used to cool dross in a rotating,
water-cooled drum. A rotary dross cooler emits PM (of which some
fraction is particulate metal HAP).
In-line fluxers are devices used for aluminum refining, including
degassing, outside the furnace. The process involves the injection of
chlorine, argon, nitrogen or other gases to achieve the desired metal
purity. In-line fluxers are found primarily at facilities that
manufacture very high quality aluminum or in facilities with no other
means of degassing. An in-line fluxer operating without emission
controls emits HCl and PM.
A summary description of requirements in the existing subpart RRR
NESHAP is provided below for the convenience of the reader. The
inclusion of this description, however, does not reopen the existing
rule requirements and we are neither reconsidering nor soliciting
public comment on the requirements
[[Page 72880]]
described. In addition, this summary description should not be relied
on to determine applicability of the regulatory provisions or
compliance obligations. The proposed decisions and rule amendments
addressed in section IV below are the only provisions on which we are
taking comment.
The NESHAP for the Secondary Aluminum Production source category
were promulgated on March 23, 2000 (65 FR 15690) and codified at 40 CFR
part 63, subpart RRR (referred to from here on as subpart RRR in the
remainder of this document). The rule was amended at 67 FR 79808,
December 30, 2002; 69 FR 53980, September 3, 2004; 70 FR 57513, October
3, 2005 and 70 FR 75320, December 19, 2005. The existing subpart RRR
NESHAP regulates HAP emissions from secondary aluminum production
facilities that are major sources of HAP that operate aluminum scrap
shredders, thermal chip dryers, scrap dryers/delacquering kilns/
decoating kilns, group 1 furnaces, group 2 furnaces, sweat furnaces,
dross-only furnaces, rotary dross coolers and secondary aluminum
processing units (SAPUs). The SAPUs include group 1 furnaces and in-
line fluxers. The subpart RRR NESHAP regulates HAP emissions from
secondary aluminum production facilities that are area sources of HAP
only with respect to emissions of D/F from thermal chip dryers, scrap
dryers/delacquering kilns/decoating kilns, group 1 furnaces, sweat
furnaces and SAPUs.
The secondary aluminum industry consists of approximately 161
secondary aluminum production facilities, of which the EPA estimates 53
to be major sources of HAP. The HAP emitted by these facilities are
metals, organic HAP, D/F, HCl and hydrogen fluoride (HF).
Several of the secondary aluminum facilities are co-located with
primary aluminum, coil coating and possibly other source category
facilities. Natural gas boilers or process heaters may also be co-
located at a few secondary aluminum facilities.
The standards promulgated in 2000 established emission limits for
PM as a surrogate for metal HAP, THC as a surrogate for organic HAP
other than D/F, D/F expressed as toxic equivalents and HCl as a
surrogate for acid gases including HF, chlorine and fluorine. HAP are
emitted from the following affected sources: Aluminum scrap shredders
(subject to PM standards), thermal chip dryers (subject to standards
for THC and D/F), scrap dryers/delacquering kilns/decoating kilns
(subject to standards for PM, D/F, HCl and THC), sweat furnaces
(subject to D/F standards), dross-only furnaces (subject to PM
standards), rotary dross coolers (subject to PM standards), group 1
furnaces (subject to standards for PM, HCl and D/F) and in-line fluxers
(subject to standards for PM and HCl). Group 2 furnaces and certain in-
line fluxers are subject to work practice standards. Table 2 provides a
summary of the current MACT emissions limits for existing and new
sources under the subpart RRR NESHAP.
[[Page 72881]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP08DE14.500
[[Page 72882]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP08DE14.501
[[Page 72883]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP08DE14.502
Control devices currently in use to reduce emissions from affected
sources subject to the subpart RRR NESHAP include fabric filters for
control of PM from aluminum scrap shredders; afterburners for control
of THC and D/F from thermal chip dryers; afterburners plus lime-
injected fabric filters for control of PM, HCl, THC and D/F from scrap
dryers/delacquering kilns/decoating kilns; afterburners for control of
D/F from sweat furnaces; fabric filters for control of PM from dross-
only furnaces and rotary dross coolers; lime-injected fabric filters
for control of PM and HCl from in-line fluxers; and lime-injected
fabric filters for control of PM, HCl and D/F from group 1 furnaces.
All affected sources with add-on controls are also subject to design
requirements and operating limits to limit fugitive emissions.
Compliance with the emission limits in the current rule is
demonstrated by an initial performance test for each affected source.
Repeat performance tests are required every 5 years. Area sources are
only subject to one-time performance tests for D/F. After the
compliance tests, facilities are required to monitor various control
parameters or conduct other types of monitoring to ensure continuous
compliance with the MACT standards. Owners or operators of sweat
furnaces that operate an afterburner that meets temperature and
residence time requirements are not required to conduct performance
tests.
C. What is the history of the Secondary Aluminum Risk and Technology
Review?
On February 14, 2012 (77 FR 8576), we proposed that no amendments
to subpart RRR were necessary as a result of the residual risk and
technology review (RTR) conducted for the Secondary Aluminum Production
source category. In the same notice (77 FR 8576, which is referred to
as the 2012 proposal in the remainder of this Federal Register
document), we proposed amendments to correct and clarify existing
requirements in subpart RRR. In this supplemental proposal, we are
soliciting comment on modified proposed amendments to the subpart RRR
rule requirements and on alternative compliance options related to
sweat furnaces. The proposed revisions and alternative compliance
options, described in more detail later in this document, on which we
are soliciting comment are:
Revised proposed limit on number of allowed furnace
operating mode changes per year (i.e., frequency) in proposed section
63.1514(e) of four times in any 6-month period, with the ability of
sources to apply to the appropriate authority for additional furnace
operating mode changes;
Revised wording in proposed section 63.1511(b)(1) related
to testing under worst-case scenario clarifying under what conditions
the performance tests are to be conducted;
Revised proposed requirements to account for fugitive
emissions during performance testing of uncontrolled furnaces,
including: (1) Installation of hooding according to American Conference
of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) guidelines; (2) application
of an assumption of 67 percent capture/control efficiency when
calculating emissions; or (3) in certain cases where installing ACGIH
hooding is impractical, allowing the facility to petition the
permitting authority for major sources or the Administrator for area
sources, for approval to use alternative testing procedures that will
minimize fugitive emissions;
Revised proposed requirement that emission sources comply
with the emissions limits at all times including periods of startup and
shutdown. Definitions of startup and shutdown are
[[Page 72884]]
being proposed as well as an alternative method for demonstrating
compliance with emission limits;
Revised proposed monitoring requirements in section
63.1510(d)(2) that require annual inspection of capture/collection
systems;
Revised proposed compliance dates of 180 days for certain
requirements and 2 years for other requirements; and
Revised operating and monitoring requirements for
demonstrating compliance for sweat furnaces.
In addition, we are withdrawing our 2012 proposal to include
provisions establishing an affirmative defense in light of a recent
court decision vacating an affirmative defense in one of the EPA's
section 112(d) regulations. NRDC v. EPA, 749 F.3d 1055 (D.C. Cir. 2014)
(vacating affirmative defense provisions in Section 112(d) rule
establishing emission standards for Portland cement kilns).
After reviewing the comments, data and other information received
after the 2012 proposal, we determined it is appropriate to present
certain revised analyses and revised proposed amendments in this
supplemental proposal to allow the public an opportunity to review and
comment on these revised analyses and revised proposed amendments.
The 2012 proposal also contained other proposed requirements
(topics listed below) for which we have not made any changes to the
analyses, and, therefore, on which we are not seeking public comment in
this document. Other amendments or requirements that we proposed in
2012, which we are not re-opening for comment, are the following:
Electronic reporting.
ACGIH Guidelines.
Lime injection rate.
Flux monitoring.
Cover flux.
Bale breakers.
Bag Leak Detection Systems (BLDS).
Sidewell furnaces.
Testing representative units.
Initial performance tests.
Scrap dryer/delacquering/decoating kiln definition.
Group 2 furnace definition.
HF emissions compliance.
SAPU definition.
Clean charge definition.
Residence time definition.
SAPU feed/charge rate.
Dross-only versus dross/scrap furnaces.
Applicability of rule to area sources.
Altering parameters during testing with new scrap streams.
Controlled furnaces that are temporarily idled for 24
hours or longer.
Annual compliance certification for area sources.
The comment period for the February 2012 proposal ended on April
13, 2012. We will address the comments we received during the public
comment period for the 2012 proposal, as well as comments received
during the comment period for this supplemental proposal, at the time
we take final action.
Subpart RRR inadvertently uses several different terms for the
agency that has primary responsibility for implementation of certain
subpart RRR provisions. The terms used include ``responsible permitting
authority,'' ``permitting authority,'' ``applicable permitting
authority'' and ``delegated authority.'' Depending on the particular
state and whether the facility is a major or area source, the
permitting authority and the delegated authority for purposes of
subpart RRR may be the same or may differ. Therefore, the EPA deems it
appropriate to clarify for purposes of these specific subpart RRR
provisions that the ``permitting authority'' (defined in the General
Provisions as the Title V permitting authority) is the primary
implementing authority for major sources, and the Administrator is the
primary implementing authority for area sources. The General Provisions
define ``Administrator'' to mean the EPA Administrator or his or her
authorized representative (e.g., a state that has been delegated
authority to implement Subpart RRR).
Where these terms for the implementing authority appear in this
supplemental proposal, we have made the necessary corrections. We plan
to correct the remainder of these references when we issue the final
rule.
D. What data collection activities were conducted to support this
action?
For the risk analysis performed for the 2012 proposal, we compiled
a dataset from two primary sources: (1) A nine-company testing
information collection request (ICR) sent in May 2010, and (2) an all-
company ICR sent to companies in February 2011. These data collection
efforts are described in the 2012 proposal, and a comprehensive
description of the emissions data, calculations and risk assessment
inputs are in the memorandum, Development of the RTR Risk Modeling
Dataset for the Secondary Aluminum Production Source Category (Docket
item EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0544-0149).
For the revised risk analysis conducted for this supplemental
proposal, changes were made in the methodology used to calculate
allowable emissions. Generally, allowable emissions were calculated for
the 2012 proposal as the product of the emissions limit for the
secondary aluminum emissions unit and the maximum production capacity
of the unit. For the revised emissions modeling for this supplemental
proposal, the amount of charge to the unit from the all-company ICR was
used in the allowable emissions calculation, rather than the maximum
production capacity of the unit. Uniformly assuming that every piece of
equipment is being used at maximum capacity results in an overestimate
of total aluminum throughput that is much larger than the actual
throughput for the facility as a whole. Moreover, if we assume maximum
production capacity coupled with the assumption that all HAP are being
emitted at the highest level allowed by the MACT rule (i.e., at the
level of the emissions limit), this results in an overly conservative
estimate of emissions. This overestimation is magnified for large
facilities, with multiple pieces of equipment. Therefore, for this
supplemental proposal, the amount of charge to the unit from the all-
company ICR was used in the allowable emissions calculation, rather
than the maximum production capacity of the unit. Furthermore, this
revised methodology is consistent with EPA's risk assessment
methodology performed in other RTR modeling projects. See National
Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Primary Lead Smelting;
proposed rule (76 FR 9410, February 17, 2011), National Emissions
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Secondary Lead Smelting;
proposed rule (76 FR 29032, May 19, 2011) and National Emissions
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Ferroalloys Production (76 FR
72508, November 23, 2011). For an in-depth description of the revised
risk modeling dataset, including changes in methodologies between the
emissions modeling for the 2012 proposal and the emissions modeling for
this supplemental proposal, see the memorandum, Development of the RTR
Supplemental Proposal Risk Modeling Dataset for the Secondary Aluminum
Production Source Category, available in this rulemaking docket.
As part of the revised risk analysis, process equipment and unit
emissions data used in the emissions modeling for the 2012 proposal
were also reviewed. Since cancer risks were driven by D/F emissions in
the modeling done for the 2012 proposal, we focused our refined
assessment on the D/F emissions data. The other modeled pollutants had
considerably lower estimated risks (compared to D/F) and the estimated
[[Page 72885]]
risks for all these HAP were well below the presumptive acceptable risk
levels.
For almost all facilities, the D/F emissions reported in the 2011
ICR responses were used for the revised modeling. However, for the
companies operating the 10 facilities that had the highest modeled risk
from actual emissions in the modeling for the 2012 proposal, we
requested and received results from additional compliance D/F testing
that was conducted since the 2011 ICR. The results for all test runs
associated with 2011 ICR responses and all test runs received as part
of the request for additional test data were averaged together for each
facility to provide more accurate estimates of the D/F emissions and
resulting risks for these facilities. A memorandum comparing the 2011
emissions data with the revised emissions data used for this
supplemental proposal and the reasons for differences is available in
the docket for this rulemaking. See Modeling Input Revisions for the
RTR Risk Modeling Dataset for the Secondary Aluminum Production Source
Category.
We also revised emissions data for primary aluminum operations at
primary aluminum facilities that were co-located at secondary aluminum
facilities. The revised primary aluminum emissions data were based on
recent test data used in the supplemental proposed rulemaking for the
Primary Aluminum Production source category. These data included the
following:
Additional emission test data for polycyclic organic
matter (POM) emissions from prebake potlines;
Additional emission test data for PM emissions from
prebake and Soderberg potlines, anode bake furnaces and paste plants;
Additional emission test data for speciated polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), speciated HAP metals, speciated
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and speciated D/Fs from potlines,
anode bake furnaces and paste plants.
III. Analytical Procedures
A. How did we evaluate the post-MACT risks posed by the Secondary
Aluminum Production source category in the risk assessment developed
for this supplemental proposal?
The EPA conducted a risk assessment that provides estimates of the
MIR posed by the HAP emissions from each source in the source category,
the hazard index (HI) for chronic exposures to HAP with the potential
to cause noncancer health effects and the hazard quotient (HQ) for
acute exposures to HAP with the potential to cause noncancer health
effects. The assessment also provides estimates of the distribution of
cancer risks within the exposed populations, cancer incidence and an
evaluation of the potential for adverse environmental effects. The
seven sections that follow this paragraph describe how we estimated
emissions and conducted the risk assessment. The docket for this
rulemaking contains the following document which provides more
information on the risk assessment inputs and models used for this
revised assessment: Residual Risk Assessment for the Secondary Aluminum
Production Source Category in Support of the 2014 Supplemental
Proposal. The methods used to assess risks (as described in the seven
primary steps below) are consistent with those peer-reviewed by a panel
of the EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) in 2009 and described in
their peer review report issued in 2010; \3\ they are also consistent
with the key recommendations contained in that report.
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\3\ U.S. EPA SAB. Risk and Technology Review (RTR) Risk
Assessment Methodologies: For Review by the EPA's Science Advisory
Board with Case Studies--MACT I Petroleum Refining Sources and
Portland Cement Manufacturing, May 2010.
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1. How did we estimate actual emissions and identify the emissions
release characteristics?
As explained in section II.D above, the revised RTR emissions
dataset for the Secondary Aluminum Production source category
constitutes the basis for the revised risk assessment. This includes
recent test data received from the primary aluminum facilities that
were co-located at secondary aluminum production facilities. We
estimated the magnitude of emissions using emissions test data
collected through ICRs along with more recent data submitted by
companies with facilities identified as the highest risk facilities for
D/F emissions in the 2012 risk analysis. We also reviewed the
information regarding emissions release characteristics such as stack
heights, stack gas exit velocities, stack temperatures and source
locations. In addition to the data quality checks performed on the
source data for the facilities contained in the dataset, we also
verified the coordinates of every emission source in the dataset
through visual observations using Google Earth. We also performed data
quality checks on the emissions data and release characteristics. The
revised emissions data, the data quality checks and the methods used to
estimate emissions from all the various emissions sources, are
described in more detail in the technical documents: Development of the
RTR Supplemental Proposal Risk Modeling Dataset for the Secondary
Aluminum Production Source Category and Modeling Input Revisions for
the RTR Risk Modeling Dataset for the Secondary Aluminum Production
Source Category, which are available in the docket for this action.
2. How did we estimate MACT-allowable emissions?
The available emissions data in the RTR emissions dataset include
estimates of the mass of HAP emitted during the specified annual time
period. In some cases, these ``actual'' emission levels are lower than
the emission levels required to comply with the MACT standards. The
emissions level allowed to be emitted by the MACT standards is referred
to as the ``MACT-allowable'' emissions level. We discussed the use of
both MACT-allowable and actual emissions in the final Coke Oven
Batteries residual risk rule (70 FR 19998-19999, April 15, 2005) and in
the proposed and final Hazardous Organic NESHAP residual risk rules (71
FR 34428, June 14, 2006 and 71 FR 76609, December 21, 2006,
respectively). In those previous actions, we noted that assessing the
risks at the MACT-allowable level is inherently reasonable since these
risks reflect the maximum level facilities could emit and still comply
with national emission standards. We also explained that it is
reasonable to consider actual emissions, where such data are available,
in both steps of the risk analysis, in accordance with the Benzene
NESHAP approach (54 FR 38044, September 14, 1989).
For this supplemental proposal, we evaluated allowable stack
emissions based on the level of control required by the subpart RRR
MACT standards. As described in section II.D above, changes were made
in the methodology used to calculate the allowable emissions for the
revised risk analysis conducted for this supplemental proposal. In the
2012 proposal, allowable emissions were calculated using the emissions
limits for the 67 secondary aluminum emissions units and the maximum
production capacity of each unit. For the revised emissions modeling,
the actual amount of charge to the unit from the all-company ICR was
used in the allowable emissions calculation, rather than the maximum
production capacity of the unit. The methodology used to calculate
allowable emissions is explained in more detail in the technical
documents: Development of the RTR Supplemental Proposal Risk Modeling
Dataset for the Secondary Aluminum Production
[[Page 72886]]
Source Category and Modeling Input Revisions for the RTR Risk Modeling
Dataset for the Secondary Aluminum Production Source Category, which
are available in the docket for this action.
3. How did we conduct dispersion modeling, determine inhalation
exposures and estimate individual and population inhalation risks?
Both long-term and short-term inhalation exposure concentrations
and health risks from the source category addressed in this proposal
were estimated using the Human Exposure Model (Community and Sector
HEM-3 version 1.1.0). The HEM-3 performs three primary risk assessment
activities: (1) Conducting dispersion modeling to estimate the
concentrations of HAP in ambient air, (2) estimating long-term and
short-term inhalation exposures to individuals residing within 50
kilometers (km) of the modeled sources \4\, and (3) estimating
individual and population-level inhalation risks using the exposure
estimates and quantitative dose-response information.
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\4\ This metric comes from the Benzene NESHAP. See 54 FR 38046.
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The air dispersion model used by the HEM-3 model (AERMOD) is one of
the EPA's preferred models for assessing pollutant concentrations from
industrial facilities.\5\ To perform the dispersion modeling and to
develop the preliminary risk estimates, HEM-3 draws on three data
libraries. The first is a library of meteorological data, which is used
for dispersion calculations. This library includes 1 year (2011) of
hourly surface and upper air observations for more than 800
meteorological stations, selected to provide coverage of the United
States and Puerto Rico. A second library of United States Census Bureau
census block \6\ internal point locations and populations provides the
basis of human exposure calculations (U.S. Census, 2010). In addition,
for each census block, the census library includes the elevation and
controlling hill height, which are also used in dispersion
calculations. A third library of pollutant unit risk factors and other
health benchmarks is used to estimate health risks. These risk factors
and health benchmarks are the latest values recommended by the EPA for
HAP and other toxic air pollutants. These values are available at
https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/toxsource/summary.html and are discussed in
more detail later in this section.
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\5\ U.S. EPA. Revision to the Guideline on Air Quality Models:
Adoption of a Preferred General Purpose (Flat and Complex Terrain)
Dispersion Model and Other Revisions (70 FR 68218, November 9,
2005).
\6\ A census block is the smallest geographic area for which
census statistics are tabulated.
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In developing the risk assessment for chronic exposures, we used
the estimated annual average ambient air concentrations of each HAP
emitted by each major source and D/F emissions from each area source
for which we have emissions data in the source category. The air
concentrations at each nearby census block centroid were used as a
surrogate for the chronic inhalation exposure concentration for all the
people who reside in that census block. We calculated the MIR for each
facility as the cancer risk associated with a continuous lifetime (24
hours per day, 7 days per week and 52 weeks per year for a 70-year
period) exposure to the maximum concentration at the centroid of
inhabited census blocks. Individual cancer risks were calculated by
multiplying the estimated lifetime exposure to the ambient
concentration of each of the HAP (in micrograms per cubic meter ([mu]g/
m\3\)) by its unit risk estimate (URE). The URE is an upper bound
estimate of an individual's probability of contracting cancer over a
lifetime of exposure to a concentration of 1 microgram of the pollutant
per cubic meter of air. For residual risk assessments, we generally use
URE values from the EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS).
For carcinogenic pollutants without EPA IRIS values, we look to other
reputable sources of cancer dose-response values, often using
California EPA (CalEPA) URE values, where available. In cases where
new, scientifically credible dose response values have been developed
in a manner consistent with the EPA guidelines and have undergone a
peer review process similar to that used by the EPA, we may use such
dose-response values in place of, or in addition to, other values, if
appropriate.
The EPA estimated incremental individual lifetime cancer risks
associated with emissions from the facilities in the source category as
the sum of the risks for each of the carcinogenic HAP (including those
classified as carcinogenic to humans, likely to be carcinogenic to
humans and suggestive evidence of carcinogenic potential \7\) emitted
by the modeled sources. Cancer incidence and the distribution of
individual cancer risks for the population within 50 km of the sources
were also estimated for the source category as part of this assessment
by summing individual risks. A distance of 50 km is consistent with
both the analysis supporting the 1989 Benzene NESHAP (54 FR 38044,
September 14, 1989) and the limitations of Gaussian dispersion models,
including AERMOD.
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\7\ These classifications also coincide with the terms ``known
carcinogen, probable carcinogen, and possible carcinogen,''
respectively, which are the terms advocated in the EPA's previous
Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment, published in 1986 (51 FR
33992, September 24, 1986). Summing the risks of these individual
compounds to obtain the cumulative cancer risks is an approach that
was recommended by the EPA's SAB in their 2002 peer review of the
EPA's National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) titled, NATA--Evaluating
the National-scale Air Toxics Assessment 1996 Data--an SAB Advisory,
available at: https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/
214C6E915BB04E14852570CA007A682C/$File/ecadv02001.pdf.
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To assess the risk of non-cancer health effects from chronic
exposures, we summed the HQ for each of the HAP that affects a common
target organ system to obtain the HI for that target organ system (or
target organ-specific HI, TOSHI). The HQ is the estimated exposure
divided by the chronic reference value, which is a value selected from
one of several sources. First, the chronic reference level can be the
EPA reference concentration (RfC) (https://www.epa.gov/riskassessment/glossary.htm), defined as ``an estimate (with uncertainty spanning
perhaps an order of magnitude) of a continuous inhalation exposure to
the human population (including sensitive subgroups) that is likely to
be without an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a
lifetime.'' Alternatively, in cases where an RfC from the EPA's IRIS
database is not available or where the EPA determines that using a
value other than the RfC is appropriate, the chronic reference level
can be a value from the following prioritized sources: (1) The Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Minimum Risk Level
(https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls/index.asp), which is defined as ``an
estimate of daily human exposure to a hazardous substance that is
likely to be without an appreciable risk of adverse non-cancer health
effects (other than cancer) over a specified duration of exposure'';
(2) the CalEPA Chronic Reference Exposure Level (REL) (https://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/hot_spots/pdf/HRAguidefinal.pdf), which is defined
as ``the concentration level (that is expressed in units of micrograms
per cubic meter ([mu]g/m\3\) for inhalation exposure and in a dose
expressed in units of milligram per kilogram-day (mg/kg-day) for oral
exposures), at or below which no adverse health effects are anticipated
for a specified exposure duration''; or (3), as noted above, a
scientifically credible dose-response value that has been developed in
a
[[Page 72887]]
manner consistent with the EPA guidelines and has undergone a peer
review process similar to that used by the EPA, in place of or in
concert with other values.
The EPA also evaluated screening estimates of acute exposures and
risks for each of the HAP at the point of highest potential off-site
exposure for each facility. To do this, the EPA estimated the risks
when both the peak hourly emissions rate and worst-case dispersion
conditions occur. We also assume that a person is located at the point
of highest impact during that same time. In accordance with our mandate
in section 112 of the CAA, we use the point of highest off-site
exposure to assess the potential risk to the maximally exposed
individual. In some cases, the agency may choose to refine the acute
screen by also assessing the exposure that may occur at a centroid of a
census block. The acute HQ is the estimated acute exposure divided by
the acute dose-response value. In each case, the EPA calculated acute
HQ values using best available, short-term dose-response values. These
acute dose-response values, which are described below, include the
acute REL, acute exposure guideline levels (AEGL) and emergency
response planning guidelines (ERPG) for 1-hour exposure durations. As
discussed below, we used conservative assumptions for emissions rates,
meteorology and exposure location for our acute analysis.
As described in the CalEPA's Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Risk
Assessment Guidelines, Part I, The Determination of Acute Reference
Exposure Levels for Airborne Toxicants, an acute REL value (https://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/pdf/acuterel.pdf) is defined as ``the
concentration level at or below which no adverse health effects are
anticipated for a specified exposure duration.'' Id. at page 2. Acute
REL values are based on the most sensitive, relevant, adverse health
effect reported in the peer-reviewed medical and toxicological
literature. Acute REL values are designed to protect the most sensitive
individuals in the population through the inclusion of margins of
safety. Because margins of safety are incorporated to address data gaps
and uncertainties, exceeding the REL does not automatically indicate an
adverse health impact.
As we state above, in assessing the potential risks associated with
acute exposures to HAP, we do not follow a prioritization scheme and,
therefore, we consider available dose-response values from multiple
authoritative sources. In the RTR program, the EPA assesses acute risk
using toxicity values derived from one hour exposures.
AEGL values were derived in response to recommendations from the
National Research Council (NRC). As described in Standing Operating
Procedures (SOP) of the National Advisory Committee on Acute Exposure
Guideline Levels for Hazardous Substances (https://www.epa.gov/oppt/aegl/pubs/sop.pdf),\8\ ``the NRC's previous name for acute exposure
levels--community emergency exposure levels--was replaced by the term
AEGL to reflect the broad application of these values to planning,
response, and prevention in the community, the workplace,
transportation, the military, and the remediation of Superfund sites.''
Id. at 2. This document also states that AEGL values ``represent
threshold exposure limits for the general public and are applicable to
emergency exposures ranging from 10 minutes to eight hours.'' Id. at 2.
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\8\ National Academy of Sciences (NAS), 2001. Standing Operating
Procedures for Developing Acute Exposure Levels for Hazardous
Chemicals, page 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The document lays out the purpose and objectives of AEGL by stating
that ``the primary purpose of the AEGL program and the National
Advisory Committee for Acute Exposure Guideline Levels for Hazardous
Substances is to develop guideline levels for once-in-a-lifetime,
short-term exposures to airborne concentrations of acutely toxic, high-
priority chemicals.'' Id. at 21. In detailing the intended application
of AEGL values, the document states that ``[i]t is anticipated that the
AEGL values will be used for regulatory and nonregulatory purposes by
U.S. Federal and state agencies and possibly the international
community in conjunction with chemical emergency response, planning,
and prevention programs. More specifically, the AEGL values will be
used for conducting various risk assessments to aid in the development
of emergency preparedness and prevention plans, as well as real-time
emergency response actions, for accidental chemical releases at fixed
facilities and from transport carriers.'' Id. at 31.
The AEGL-1 value is then specifically defined as ``the airborne
concentration (expressed as ppm (parts per million) or mg/m\3\
(milligrams per cubic meter)) of a substance above which it is
predicted that the general population, including susceptible
individuals, could experience notable discomfort, irritation, or
certain asymptomatic nonsensory effects. However, the effects are not
disabling and are transient and reversible upon cessation of
exposure.'' Id. at 3. The document also notes that, ``Airborne
concentrations below AEGL-1 represent exposure levels that can produce
mild and progressively increasing but transient and nondisabling odor,
taste, and sensory irritation or certain asymptomatic, nonsensory
effects.'' Id. Similarly, the document defines AEGL-2 values as ``the
airborne concentration (expressed as parts per million or milligrams
per cubic meter) of a substance above which it is predicted that the
general population, including susceptible individuals, could experience
irreversible or other serious, long-lasting adverse health effects or
an impaired ability to escape.'' Id.
ERPG values are derived for use in emergency response, as described
in the American Industrial Hygiene Association's Emergency Response
Planning (ERP) Committee document titled, ERPGS Procedures and
Responsibilities (https://www.aiha.org/get-involved/AIHAGuidelineFoundation/EmergencyResponsePlanningGuidelines/Documents/ERP-SOPs2006.pdf), which states that, ``Emergency Response Planning
Guidelines were developed for emergency planning and are intended as
health based guideline concentrations for single exposures to
chemicals.'' \9\ Id. at 1. The ERPG-1 value is defined as ``the maximum
airborne concentration below which it is believed that nearly all
individuals could be exposed for up to 1 hour without experiencing
other than mild transient adverse health effects or without perceiving
a clearly defined, objectionable odor.'' Id. at 2. Similarly, the ERPG-
2 value is defined as ``the maximum airborne concentration below which
it is believed that nearly all individuals could be exposed for up to
one hour without experiencing or developing irreversible or other
serious health effects or symptoms which could impair an individual's
ability to take protective action.'' Id. at 1.
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\9\ ERP Committee Procedures and Responsibilities. November 1,
2006. American Industrial Hygiene Association.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As can be seen from the definitions above, the AEGL and ERPG values
include the similarly-defined severity levels 1 and 2. For many
chemicals, a severity level 1 value AEGL or ERPG has not been developed
because the types of effects for these chemicals are not consistent
with the AEGL-1/ERPG-1 definitions; in these instances, we compare
higher severity level AEGL-2 or ERPG-2 values to our modeled exposure
levels to screen for potential
[[Page 72888]]
acute concerns. When AEGL-1/ERPG-1 values are available, they are used
in our acute risk assessments.
Acute REL values for 1-hour exposure durations are typically lower
than their corresponding AEGL-1 and ERPG-1 values. Even though their
definitions are slightly different, AEGL-1 values are often the same as
the corresponding ERPG-1 values and AEGL-2 values are often equal to
ERPG-2 values. Maximum HQ values from our acute screening risk
assessments typically result when basing them on the acute REL value
for a particular pollutant. In cases where our maximum acute HQ value
exceeds 1, we also report the HQ value based on the next highest acute
dose-response value (usually the AEGL-1 and/or the ERPG-1 value).
To develop screening estimates of acute exposures in the absence of
hourly emissions data, generally we first develop estimates of maximum
hourly emissions rates by multiplying the average actual annual hourly
emissions rates by a default factor to cover routinely variable
emissions. We choose the factor to use partially based on process
knowledge and engineering judgment. The factor chosen also reflects a
Texas study of short-term emissions variability, which showed that most
peak emission events in a heavily-industrialized four-county area
(Harris, Galveston, Chambers and Brazoria Counties, Texas) were less
than twice the annual average hourly emissions rate. The highest peak
emissions event was 74 times the annual average hourly emissions rate
and the 99th percentile ratio of peak hourly emissions rate to the
annual average hourly emissions rate was 9.\10\ Considering this
analysis, to account for more than 99 percent of the peak hourly
emissions, we apply a conservative screening multiplication factor of
10 to the average annual hourly emissions rate in our acute exposure
screening assessments as our default approach. However, we use a factor
other than 10 if we have information that indicates that a different
factor is appropriate for a particular source category. For this source
category, there was no such information available and the default
factor of 10 was used in the acute screening process.
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\10\ See https://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/field_ops/eer/ or docket to access the source of these data.
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Ideally, we would prefer to have continuous measurements over time
to see how the emissions vary by each hour over an entire year. Having
a frequency distribution of hourly emissions rates over a year would
allow us to perform a probabilistic analysis to estimate potential
threshold exceedances and their frequency of occurrence. Such an
evaluation could include a more complete statistical treatment of the
key parameters and elements adopted in this screening analysis.
Recognizing that this level of data is rarely available, we instead
rely on the multiplier approach.
As part of our acute risk assessment process, for cases where acute
HQ values from the screening step are less than or equal to 1 (even
under the conservative assumptions of the screening analysis), acute
impacts are deemed negligible and no further analysis is performed. In
cases where an acute HQ from the screening step are greater than 1,
additional site-specific data would be considered to develop a more
refined estimate of the potential for acute impacts of concern.
However, for this source category, no acute values were greater than 1.
Therefore, further refinement was not performed.
To better characterize the potential health risks associated with
estimated acute exposures to HAP, and in response to a key
recommendation from the SAB's peer review of the EPA's RTR risk
assessment methodologies,\11\ we generally examine a wider range of
available acute health metrics (e.g., RELs, AEGLs) than we do for our
chronic risk assessments. This is in response to the SAB's
acknowledgement that there are generally more data gaps and
inconsistencies in acute reference values than there are in chronic
reference values. In some cases, when Reference Value Arrays \12\ for
HAP have been developed, we consider additional acute values (i.e.,
occupational and international values) to provide a more complete risk
characterization.
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\11\ The SAB peer review of RTR Risk Assessment Methodologies is
available at: https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/
4AB3966E263D943A8525771F00668381/$File/EPA-SAB-10-007-unsigned.pdf.
\12\ U.S. EPA. (2009) Chapter 2.9 Chemical Specific Reference
Values for Formaldehyde in Graphical Arrays of Chemical-Specific
Health Effect Reference Values for Inhalation Exposures (Final
Report). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/
600/R-09/061 and available online at https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=211003.
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4. How did we conduct the multipathway exposure and risk screening?
The EPA conducted a screening analysis examining the potential for
significant human health risks due to exposures via routes other than
inhalation (i.e., ingestion). We first determined whether any major
sources in the source category emitted any HAP known to be persistent
and bioaccumulative in the environment (PB-HAP). The PB-HAP compounds
or compound classes are identified for the screening from the EPA's Air
Toxics Risk Assessment Library (available at: https://www2.epa.gov/fera/risk-assessment-and-modeling-air-toxics-risk-assessment-reference-library). Since D/F is the only pollutant for which subpart RRR area
sources are regulated under CAA section 112(d), this was the only PB-
HAP evaluated in this screening analysis for area sources.
For major sources in the Secondary Aluminum Production source
category, we identified emissions of cadmium compounds, D/F, lead
compounds, mercury compounds and POM. Because one or more of these PB-
HAP are emitted by at least one facility in the Secondary Aluminum
Production source category, we proceeded to the next step of the
evaluation. In this step, we determined whether the facility-specific
emissions rates of the emitted PB-HAP were large enough to create the
potential for significant non-inhalation human health risks under
reasonable worst-case conditions. To facilitate this step, we developed
emissions rate screening levels for several PB-HAP using a hypothetical
upper-end screening exposure scenario developed for use in conjunction
with the EPA's Total Risk Integrated Methodology.Fate, Transport and
Ecological Exposure (TRIM.FaTE) model. The PB-HAP with emissions rate
screening levels are: lead, cadmium, D/F, mercury compounds and POM. We
conducted a sensitivity analysis on the screening scenario to ensure
that its key design parameters would represent the upper end of the
range of possible values, such that it would represent a conservative
but not impossible scenario. The facility-specific emissions rates of
these PB-HAP were compared to the emission rate screening levels for
these PB-HAP to assess the potential for significant human health risks
via non-inhalation pathways. We call this application of the TRIM.FaTE
model the Tier 1 TRIM-screen or Tier 1 screen.
For the purpose of developing emissions rates for our Tier 1 TRIM-
screen, we derived emission levels for these PB-HAP (other than lead
compounds) at which the maximum excess lifetime cancer risk would be 1-
in-1 million (i.e., for D/F and POM) or, for HAP that cause non-cancer
health effects (i.e., cadmium compounds and mercury compounds), the
maximum HQ would be 1. If the emissions rate of any PB-HAP included in
the Tier 1 screen exceeds the Tier 1 screening emissions rate for any
facility, we conduct a
[[Page 72889]]
second screen, which we call the Tier 2 TRIM-screen or Tier 2 screen.
In the Tier 2 screen, the location of each facility that exceeded
the Tier 1 emission rate is used to refine the assumptions associated
with the environmental scenario while maintaining the exposure scenario
assumptions. A key assumption that is part of the Tier 1 screen is that
a lake is located near the facility; we confirm the existence of lakes
near the facility as part of the Tier 2 screen. We then adjust the
risk-based Tier 1 screening level for each PB-HAP for each facility
based on an understanding of how exposure concentrations estimated for
the screening scenarios for the subsistence fisher and the subsistence
farmer change with meteorology and environmental assumptions. PB-HAP
emissions that do not exceed these new Tier 2 screening levels are
considered to pose no unacceptable risks. If the PB-HAP emissions for a
facility exceed the Tier 2 screening emissions rate and data are
available, we may decide to conduct a more refined Tier 3 multipathway
screening analysis. There are several analyses that can be included in
a Tier 3 screen depending upon the extent of refinement warranted,
including validating that the lake is fishable and considering plume-
rise to estimate emissions lost above the mixing layer. If the Tier 3
screen is exceeded, the EPA may further refine the assessment.
For this source category, we conducted a Tier 3 screening analysis
for six major sources with Tier 2 cancer screen values greater than or
equal to 50 times the Tier 2 threshold for the subsistence fisher
scenario. The major sources represented the highest screened cancer
risk for multipathway impacts. Therefore, further screening analyses
were not performed on the area sources. A detailed discussion of the
approach for this risk assessment can be found in Appendix 8 of the
Residual Risk Assessment for the Secondary Aluminum Production Source
Category in Support of the 2014 Supplemental Proposal.
In evaluating the potential multipathway risk from emissions of
lead compounds, rather than developing a screening emissions rate for
them, we compared maximum estimated chronic inhalation exposures with
the level of the current National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS)
for lead.\13\ Values below the level of the primary (health-based) lead
NAAQS were considered to have a low potential for multipathway risk.
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\13\ In doing so, the EPA notes that the legal standard for a
primary NAAQS--that a standard is requisite to protect public health
and provide an adequate margin of safety (CAA section 109(b))--
differs from the CAA section 112(f) standard (requiring among other
things that the standard provide an ``ample margin of safety'').
However, the lead NAAQS is a reasonable measure of determining risk
acceptability (i.e., the first step of the Benzene NESHAP analysis)
since it is designed to protect the most susceptible group in the
human population--children, including children living near major
lead emitting sources. 73 FR 67002/3; 73 FR 67000/3; 73 FR 67005/1.
In addition, applying the level of the primary lead NAAQS at the
risk acceptability step is conservative, since that primary lead
NAAQS reflects an adequate margin of safety.
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For further information on the multipathway analysis approach, see
the Residual Risk Assessment for the Secondary Aluminum Production
Source Category in Support of the 2014 Supplemental Proposal, which is
available in the docket for this action.
5. How did we conduct the environmental risk screening assessment?
a. Adverse Environmental Effect
The EPA conducts a screening assessment to examine the potential
for adverse environmental effects as required under section
112(f)(2)(A) of the CAA. Section 112(a)(7) of the CAA defines ``adverse
environmental effect'' as ``any significant and widespread adverse
effect, which may reasonably be anticipated, to wildlife, aquatic life,
or other natural resources, including adverse impacts on populations of
endangered or threatened species or significant degradation of
environmental quality over broad areas.''
b. Environmental HAP
The EPA focuses on seven HAP, which we refer to as ``environmental
HAP,'' in its screening analysis: Five PB-HAP and two acid gases. The
five PB-HAP are cadmium, D/F, POM, mercury (both inorganic mercury and
methyl mercury) and lead compounds. The two acid gases are HCl and HF.
The rationale for including these seven HAP in the environmental risk
screening analysis is presented below.
The HAP that persist and bioaccumulate are of particular
environmental concern because they accumulate in the soil, sediment and
water. The PB-HAP are taken up, through sediment, soil, water and/or
ingestion of other organisms, by plants or animals (e.g., small fish)
at the bottom of the food chain. As larger and larger predators consume
these organisms, concentrations of the PB-HAP in the animal tissues
increase as does the potential for adverse effects. The five PB-HAP we
evaluate as part of our screening analysis account for 99.8 percent of
all PB-HAP emissions nationally from stationary sources (on a mass
basis from the 2005 National Emissions Inventory (NEI)).
In addition to accounting for almost all of the mass of PB-HAP
emitted, we note that the TRIM.FaTE model that we use to evaluate
multipathway risk allows us to estimate concentrations of cadmium
compounds, D/F, POM and mercury in soil, sediment and water. For lead
compounds, we currently do not have the ability to calculate these
concentrations using the TRIM.FaTE model. Therefore, to evaluate the
potential for adverse environmental effects from lead compounds, we
compare the estimated HEM-modeled exposures from the source category
emissions of lead with the level of the secondary NAAQS for lead.\14\
We consider values below the level of the secondary lead NAAQS as
unlikely to cause adverse environmental effects.
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\14\ The secondary lead NAAQS is a reasonable measure of
determining whether there is an adverse environmental effect since
it was established considering ``effects on soils, water, crops,
vegetation, man-made materials, animals, wildlife, weather,
visibility and climate, damage to and deterioration of property, and
hazards to transportation, as well as effects on economic values and
on personal comfort and well-being.''
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Due to their well-documented potential to cause direct damage to
terrestrial plants, we include two acid gases, HCl and HF, in the
environmental screening analysis. According to the 2005 NEI, HCl and HF
account for about 99 percent (on a mass basis) of the total acid gas
HAP emitted by stationary sources in the U.S. In addition to the
potential to cause direct damage to plants, high concentrations of HF
in the air have been linked to fluorosis in livestock. Air
concentrations of these HAP are already calculated as part of the human
multipathway exposure and risk screening analysis using the HEM3-AERMOD
air dispersion model, and we are able to use the air dispersion
modeling results to estimate the potential for an adverse environmental
effect.
The EPA acknowledges that other HAP beyond the seven HAP discussed
above may have the potential to cause adverse environmental effects.
Therefore, the EPA may include other relevant HAP in its environmental
risk screening in the future, as modeling science and resources allow.
The EPA invites comment on the extent to which other HAP emitted by the
source category may cause adverse environmental effects. Such
information should include references to peer-reviewed ecological
effects benchmarks that are of sufficient quality for making
[[Page 72890]]
regulatory decisions, as well as information on the presence of
organisms located near facilities within the source category that such
benchmarks indicate could be adversely affected.
c. Ecological Assessment Endpoints and Benchmarks for PB-HAP
An important consideration in the development of the EPA's
screening methodology is the selection of ecological assessment
endpoints and benchmarks. Ecological assessment endpoints are defined
by the ecological entity (e.g., aquatic communities including fish and
plankton) and its attributes (e.g., frequency of mortality). Ecological
assessment endpoints can be established for organisms, populations,
communities or assemblages and ecosystems.
For PB-HAP (other than lead compounds), we evaluated the following
community-level ecological assessment endpoints to screen for organisms
directly exposed to HAP in soils, sediment and water:
Local terrestrial communities (i.e., soil invertebrates,
plants) and populations of small birds and mammals that consume soil
invertebrates exposed to PB-HAP in the surface soil;
Local benthic (i.e., bottom sediment dwelling insects,
amphipods, isopods and crayfish) communities exposed to PB-HAP in
sediment in nearby water bodies; and
Local aquatic (water-column) communities (including fish
and plankton) exposed to PB-HAP in nearby surface waters.
For PB-HAP (other than lead compounds), we also evaluated the
following population-level ecological assessment endpoint to screen for
indirect HAP exposures of top consumers via the bioaccumulation of HAP
in food chains;
Piscivorous (i.e., fish-eating) wildlife consuming PB-HAP-
contaminated fish from nearby water bodies.
For cadmium compounds, D/F, POM and mercury, we identified the
available ecological benchmarks for each assessment endpoint. An
ecological benchmark represents a concentration of HAP (e.g., 0.77
[mu]g of HAP per liter of water) that has been linked to a particular
environmental effect level through scientific study. For PB-HAP we
identified, where possible, ecological benchmarks at the following
effect levels:
Probable effect levels (PEL): Level above which adverse
effects are expected to occur frequently;
Lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (LOAEL): The lowest
exposure level tested at which there are biologically significant
increases in frequency or severity of adverse effects; and
No-observed-adverse-effect levels (NOAEL): The highest
exposure level tested at which there are no biologically significant
increases in the frequency or severity of adverse effect.
We established a hierarchy of preferred benchmark sources to allow
selection of benchmarks for each environmental HAP at each ecological
assessment endpoint. In general, the EPA sources that are used at a
programmatic level (e.g., Office of Water, Superfund Program) were used
in the analysis, if available. If not, the EPA benchmarks used in
regional programs (e.g., Superfund) were used. If benchmarks were not
available at a programmatic or regional level, we used benchmarks
developed by other federal agencies (e.g., National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)) or state agencies.
Benchmarks for all effect levels are not available for all PB-HAP
and assessment endpoints. In cases where multiple effect levels were
available for a particular PB-HAP and assessment endpoint, we use all
of the available effect levels to help us to determine whether
ecological risks exist and, if so, whether the risks could be
considered significant and widespread.
d. Ecological Assessment Endpoints and Benchmarks for Acid Gases
The environmental screening analysis also evaluated potential
damage and reduced productivity of plants due to direct exposure to
acid gases in the air. For acid gases, we evaluated the following
ecological assessment endpoint:
Local terrestrial plant communities with foliage exposed
to acidic gaseous HAP in the air.
The selection of ecological benchmarks for the effects of acid
gases on plants followed the same approach as for PB-HAP (i.e., we
examine all of the available benchmarks). For HCl, the EPA identified
chronic benchmark concentrations. We note that the benchmark for
chronic HCl exposure to plants is greater than the reference
concentration for chronic inhalation exposure for human health. This
means that where the EPA includes regulatory requirements to prevent an
exceedance of the reference concentration for human health, additional
analyses for adverse environmental effects of HCl would not be
necessary.
For HF, the EPA identified chronic benchmark concentrations for
plants and evaluated chronic exposures to plants in the screening
analysis. High concentrations of HF in the air have also been linked to
fluorosis in livestock. However, the HF concentrations at which
fluorosis in livestock occur are higher than those at which plant
damage begins. Therefore, the benchmarks for plants are protective of
both plants and livestock.
e. Screening Methodology
For the environmental risk screening analysis, the EPA first
determined whether any of the major source facilities in the Secondary
Aluminum Production source category emitted any of the seven
environmental HAP. We identified emissions of five of the PB-HAP
(cadmium, mercury, lead, D/F, PAHs) and two acid gases (HCl and HF).
Because one or more of the seven environmental HAP evaluated were
emitted by facilities in the source category, we proceeded to the
second step of the evaluation. Since D/F is the only pollutant for
which subpart RRR area sources are regulated under CAA section 112(d),
this was the only PB-HAP evaluated in this screening analysis.
f. PB-HAP Methodology
For cadmium, mercury, POM and D/F, the environmental screening
analysis consists of two tiers, while lead compounds are analyzed
differently as discussed earlier. In the first tier, we determined
whether the maximum facility-specific emission rates of each of the
emitted environmental HAP for the major sources were large enough to
create the potential for adverse environmental effects under reasonable
worst-case environmental conditions. This same assessment was done for
area sources for D/F because this is the only pollutant for which
subpart RRR area sources are regulated under CAA section 112(d). These
are the same environmental conditions used in the human multipathway
exposure and risk screening analysis.
To facilitate this step, TRIM.FaTE was run for each PB-HAP under
hypothetical environmental conditions designed to provide
conservatively high HAP concentrations. The model was set to maximize
runoff from terrestrial parcels into the modeled lake, which in turn,
maximized the chemical concentrations in the water, the sediments and
the fish. The resulting media concentrations were then used to back-
calculate a screening level emission rate that corresponded to the
relevant exposure benchmark
[[Page 72891]]
concentration value for each assessment endpoint. To assess emissions
from a facility, the reported emission rate for each PB-HAP was
compared to the screening level emission rate for that PB-HAP for each
assessment endpoint. If emissions from a facility do not exceed the
Tier 1 screening level, the facility ``passes'' the screen, and,
therefore, is not evaluated further under the screening approach. If
emissions from a facility exceed the Tier 1 screening level, we
evaluate the facility further in Tier 2.
In Tier 2 of the environmental screening analysis, the emission
rate screening levels are adjusted to account for local meteorology and
the actual location of lakes in the vicinity of facilities that did not
pass the Tier 1 screen. The modeling domain for each facility in the
Tier 2 analysis consists of eight octants. Each octant contains 5
modeled soil concentrations at various distances from the facility (5
soil concentrations x 8 octants = total of 40 soil concentrations per
facility) and one lake with modeled concentrations for water, sediment
and fish tissue. In the Tier 2 environmental risk screening analysis,
the 40 soil concentration points are averaged to obtain an average soil
concentration for each facility for each PB-HAP. For the water,
sediment and fish tissue concentrations, the highest value for each
facility for each pollutant is used. If emission concentrations from a
facility do not exceed the Tier 2 screening level, the facility passes
the screen, and is typically not evaluated further. If emissions from a
facility exceed the Tier 2 screening level, the facility does not pass
the screen and, therefore, may have the potential to cause adverse
environmental effects. Such facilities are evaluated further to
investigate factors such as the magnitude and characteristics of the
area of exceedance.
g. Acid Gas Methodology
The environmental screening analysis evaluates the potential
phytotoxicity and reduced productivity of plants due to chronic
exposure to acid gases. The environmental risk screening methodology
for acid gases is a single-tier screen that compares the average off-
site ambient air concentration over the modeling domain to ecological
benchmarks for each of the acid gases. Because air concentrations are
compared directly to the ecological benchmarks, emission-based
screening levels are not calculated for acid gases as they are in the
ecological risk screening methodology for PB-HAP.
For purposes of ecological risk screening, the EPA identifies a
potential for adverse environmental effects to plant communities from
exposure to acid gases when the average concentration of the HAP around
a facility exceeds the LOAEL ecological benchmark. In such cases, we
further investigate factors such as the magnitude and characteristics
of the area of exceedance (e.g., land use of exceedance area, size of
exceedance area) to determine if there is an adverse environmental
effect. For further information on the environmental screening analysis
approach, see the Residual Risk Assessment for the Secondary Aluminum
Production Source Category in Support of the 2014 Supplemental
Proposal, which is available in the docket for this action.
6. How did we conduct facility-wide assessments?
To put the source category risks in context, we typically examine
the risks from the entire ``facility,'' where the facility includes all
HAP-emitting operations within a contiguous area and under common
control. In other words, we examine the HAP emissions not only from the
source category of interest, but also emissions of HAP from all other
emissions sources at the facility for which we have data. For the
Secondary Aluminum Production source category, we had nine facilities
that were co-located with primary aluminum reduction plants.
7. How did we consider uncertainties in risk assessment?
In the Benzene NESHAP, we concluded that risk estimation
uncertainty should be considered in our decision-making under the ample
margin of safety framework. Uncertainty and the potential for bias are
inherent in all risk assessments, including those performed for this
proposal. Although uncertainty exists, we believe that our approach,
which used conservative tools and assumptions, ensures that our
decisions are health protective and environmentally protective. A brief
discussion of the uncertainties in the RTR emissions dataset,
dispersion modeling, inhalation exposure estimates and dose-response
relationships follows below. A more thorough discussion of these
uncertainties is included in the Development of the RTR Supplemental
Proposal Risk Modeling Dataset for the Secondary Aluminum Production
Source Category and Modeling Input Revisions for the RTR Risk Modeling
Dataset for the Secondary Aluminum Production Source Category, which
are available in the docket for this action. The other uncertainties
are described in more detail in the Residual Risk Assessment for the
Secondary Aluminum Production Source Category in Support of the 2014
Supplemental Proposal, which is available in the docket for this
action.
a. Uncertainties in the RTR Emissions Dataset
Although the development of the RTR emissions dataset involved
quality assurance/quality control processes, the accuracy of emissions
values will vary depending on the source of the data, the degree to
which data are incomplete or missing, the degree to which assumptions
made to complete the datasets are accurate, errors in emission
estimates and other factors. The emission estimates considered in this
analysis generally are annual totals for certain years, and they do not
reflect short-term fluctuations during the course of a year or
variations from year to year. The estimates of peak hourly emission
rates for the acute effects screening assessment were based on an
emission adjustment factor of 10 applied to the average annual hourly
emission rates for all emission process groups, which are intended to
account for emission fluctuations due to normal facility operations. A
description of the development of the emissions dataset is in section
II.D of this preamble and in the documents, Development of the RTR
Supplemental Proposal Risk Modeling Dataset for the Secondary Aluminum
Production Source Category and Modeling Input Revisions for the RTR
Risk Modeling Dataset for the Secondary Aluminum Production Source
Category, which are in the docket for this rulemaking.
b. Uncertainties in Dispersion Modeling
We recognize there is uncertainty in ambient concentration
estimates associated with any model, including the EPA's recommended
regulatory dispersion model, AERMOD. In using a model to estimate
ambient pollutant concentrations, the user chooses certain options to
apply. For RTR assessments, we select some model options that have the
potential to overestimate ambient air concentrations (e.g., not
including plume depletion or pollutant transformation). We select other
model options that have the potential to underestimate ambient impacts
(e.g., not including building downwash). Other options that we select
have the potential to either under- or overestimate ambient levels
(e.g., meteorology and receptor locations). On balance, considering the
directional nature of the uncertainties commonly present in ambient
concentrations estimated by dispersion models, the approach we apply in
the
[[Page 72892]]
RTR assessments should yield unbiased estimates of ambient HAP
concentrations.
c. Uncertainties in Inhalation Exposure
The EPA did not include the effects of human mobility on exposures
in the assessment. Specifically, short-term mobility and long-term
mobility between census blocks in the modeling domain were not
considered.\15\ The approach of not considering short or long-term
population mobility does not bias the estimate of the theoretical MIR
(by definition), nor does it affect the estimate of cancer incidence
because the total population number remains the same. It does, however,
affect the shape of the distribution of individual risks across the
affected population, shifting it toward higher estimated individual
risks at the upper end and reducing the number of people estimated to
be at lower risks, thereby increasing the estimated number of people at
specific high risk levels (e.g., 1-in-10 thousand or 1-in-1 million).
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\15\ Short-term mobility is movement from one micro-environment
to another over the course of hours or days. Long-term mobility is
movement from one residence to another over the course of a
lifetime.
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In addition, the assessment predicted the chronic exposures at the
centroid of each populated census block as surrogates for the exposure
concentrations for all people living in that block. Using the census
block centroid to predict chronic exposures tends to over-predict
exposures for people in the census block who live farther from the
facility and under-predict exposures for people in the census block who
live closer to the facility. Thus, using the census block centroid to
predict chronic exposures may lead to a potential understatement or
overstatement of the true maximum impact, but is an unbiased estimate
of average risk and incidence. We reduce this uncertainty by analyzing
large census blocks near facilities using aerial imagery and adjusting
the location of the block centroid to better represent the population
in the block, as well as adding additional receptor locations where the
block population is not well represented by a single location.
The assessment evaluates the cancer inhalation risks associated
with pollutant exposures over a 70-year period, which is the assumed
lifetime of an individual. In reality, both the length of time that
modeled emission sources at facilities actually operate (i.e., more or
less than 70 years) and the domestic growth or decline of the modeled
industry (i.e., the increase or decrease in the number or size of
domestic facilities) will influence the future risks posed by a given
source or source category. Depending on the characteristics of the
industry, these factors will, in most cases, result in an overestimate
both in individual risk levels and in the total estimated number of
cancer cases. However, in the unlikely scenario where a facility
maintains, or even increases, its emissions levels over a period of
more than 70 years, residents live beyond 70 years at the same
location, and the residents spend most of their days at that location,
then the cancer inhalation risks could potentially be underestimated.
However, annual cancer incidence estimates from exposures to emissions
from these sources would not be affected by the length of time an
emissions source operates.
The exposure estimates used in these analyses assume chronic
exposures to ambient (outdoor) levels of pollutants. Because most
people spend the majority of their time indoors, actual exposures may
not be as high, depending on the characteristics of the pollutants
modeled. For many of the HAP, indoor levels are roughly equivalent to
ambient levels, but for very reactive pollutants or larger particles,
indoor levels are typically lower. This factor has the potential to
result in an overestimate of 25 to 30 percent of exposures.\16\
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\16\ U.S. EPA. National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment for 1996.
(EPA 453/R-01-003; January 2001; page 85.)
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In addition to the uncertainties highlighted above, there are
several factors specific to the acute exposure assessment that the EPA
conducts as part of the risk review under section 112 of the CAA that
should be highlighted. The accuracy of an acute inhalation exposure
assessment depends on the simultaneous occurrence of independent
factors that may vary greatly, such as hourly emissions rates,
meteorology and the presence of humans at the location of the maximum
concentration. In the acute screening assessment that we conduct under
the RTR program, we assume that peak emissions from the source category
and worst-case meteorological conditions co-occur, thus, resulting in
maximum ambient concentrations. These two events are unlikely to occur
at the same time, making these assumptions conservative. We then
include the additional assumption that a person is located at this
point during this same time period. For this source category, these
assumptions would tend to be worst-case actual exposures as it is
unlikely that a person would be located at the point of maximum
exposure during the time when peak emissions and worst-case
meteorological conditions occur simultaneously.
d. Uncertainties in Dose-Response Relationships
There are uncertainties inherent in the development of the dose-
response values used in our risk assessments for cancer effects from
chronic exposures and non-cancer effects from both chronic and acute
exposures. Some uncertainties may be considered quantitatively, and
others generally are expressed in qualitative terms. We note as a
preface to this discussion a point on dose-response uncertainty that is
brought out in the EPA's 2005 Cancer Guidelines; namely, that ``the
primary goal of EPA actions is protection of human health; accordingly,
as an Agency policy, risk assessment procedures, including default
options that are used in the absence of scientific data to the
contrary, should be health protective'' (EPA 2005 Cancer Guidelines,
pages 1-7). This is the approach followed here as summarized in the
next several paragraphs. A complete detailed discussion of
uncertainties and variability in dose-response relationships is given
in the Residual Risk Assessment for the Secondary Aluminum Production
Source Category in Support of the 2014 Supplemental Proposal, which is
available in the docket for this action.
Cancer URE values used in our risk assessments are those that have
been developed to generally provide an upper bound estimate of risk.
That is, they represent a ``plausible upper limit to the true value of
a quantity'' (although this is usually not a true statistical
confidence limit).\17\ In some circumstances, the true risk could be as
low as zero; however, in other circumstances the risk could be
greater.\18\ When developing an upper bound estimate of risk and to
provide risk values that do not underestimate risk, health-protective
default approaches are generally used. To err on the side of ensuring
adequate health protection, the EPA typically uses the upper bound
estimates rather than lower bound or central tendency estimates in our
risk assessments, an approach that may have limitations for
[[Page 72893]]
other uses (e.g., priority-setting or expected benefits analysis).
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\17\ IRIS glossary (https://www.epa.gov/NCEA/iris/help_gloss.htm).
\18\ An exception to this is the URE for benzene, which is
considered to cover a range of values, each end of which is
considered to be equally plausible, and which is based on maximum
likelihood estimates.
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Chronic non-cancer RfC and reference dose (RfD) values represent
chronic exposure levels that are intended to be health-protective
levels. Specifically, these values provide an estimate (with
uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of magnitude) of a continuous
inhalation exposure (RfC) or a daily oral exposure (RfD) to the human
population (including sensitive subgroups) that is likely to be without
an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime. To derive
values that are intended to be ``without appreciable risk,'' the
methodology relies upon an uncertainty factor (UF) approach (U.S. EPA,
1993, 1994) which considers uncertainty, variability and gaps in the
available data. The UF are applied to derive reference values that are
intended to protect against appreciable risk of deleterious effects.
The UF are commonly default values,\19\ e.g., factors of 10 or 3, used
in the absence of compound-specific data; where data are available, UF
may also be developed using compound-specific information. When data
are limited, more assumptions are needed and more UF are used. Thus,
there may be a greater tendency to overestimate risk in the sense that
further study might support development of reference values that are
higher (i.e., less potent) because fewer default assumptions are
needed. However, for some pollutants, it is possible that risks may be
underestimated.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\19\ According to the NRC report, Science and Judgment in Risk
Assessment (NRC, 1994) ``[Default] options are generic approaches,
based on general scientific knowledge and policy judgment, that are
applied to various elements of the risk assessment process when the
correct scientific model is unknown or uncertain.'' The 1983 NRC
report, Risk Assessment in the Federal Government: Managing the
Process, defined default option as ``the option chosen on the basis
of risk assessment policy that appears to be the best choice in the
absence of data to the contrary'' (NRC, 1983a, p. 63). Therefore,
default options are not rules that bind the agency; rather, the
agency may depart from them in evaluating the risks posed by a
specific substance when it believes this to be appropriate. In
keeping with the EPA's goal of protecting public health and the
environment, default assumptions are used to ensure that risk to
chemicals is not underestimated (although defaults are not intended
to overtly overestimate risk). See EPA, 2004, An Examination of EPA
Risk Assessment Principles and Practices, EPA/100/B-04/001 available
at: https://www.epa.gov/osa/pdfs/ratf-final.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
While collectively termed ``UF,'' these factors account for a
number of different quantitative considerations when using observed
animal (usually rodent) or human toxicity data in the development of
the RfC. The UF are intended to account for: (1) Variation in
susceptibility among the members of the human population (i.e., inter-
individual variability); (2) uncertainty in extrapolating from
experimental animal data to humans (i.e., interspecies differences);
(3) uncertainty in extrapolating from data obtained in a study with
less-than-lifetime exposure (i.e., extrapolating from sub-chronic to
chronic exposure); (4) uncertainty in extrapolating the observed data
to obtain an estimate of the exposure associated with no adverse
effects; and (5) uncertainty when the database is incomplete or there
are problems with the applicability of available studies.
Many of the UF used to account for variability and uncertainty in
the development of acute reference values are quite similar to those
developed for chronic durations, but they more often use individual UF
values that may be less than 10. The UF are applied based on chemical-
specific or health effect-specific information (e.g., simple irritation
effects do not vary appreciably between human individuals, hence a
value of 3 is typically used), or based on the purpose for the
reference value (see the following paragraph). The UF applied in acute
reference value derivation include: (1) Heterogeneity among humans; (2)
uncertainty in extrapolating from animals to humans; (3) uncertainty in
lowest observed adverse effect (exposure) level to no observed adverse
effect (exposure) level adjustments; and (4) uncertainty in accounting
for an incomplete database on toxic effects of potential concern.
Additional adjustments are often applied to account for uncertainty in
extrapolation from observations at one exposure duration (e.g., 4
hours) to derive an acute reference value at another exposure duration
(e.g., 1 hour).
Not all acute reference values are developed for the same purpose
and care must be taken when interpreting the results of an acute
assessment of human health effects relative to the reference value or
values being exceeded. Where relevant to the estimated exposures, the
lack of short-term dose-response values at different levels of severity
should be factored into the risk characterization as potential
uncertainties.
Although every effort is made to identify appropriate human health
effect dose-response assessment values for all pollutants emitted by
the sources in this risk assessment, some HAP emitted by this source
category are lacking dose-response assessments. Accordingly, these
pollutants cannot be included in the quantitative risk assessment,
which could result in quantitative estimates understating HAP risk. To
help to alleviate this potential underestimate, where we conclude
similarity with a HAP for which a dose-response assessment value is
available, we use that value as a surrogate for the assessment of the
HAP for which no value is available. To the extent use of surrogates
indicates appreciable risk, we may identify a need to increase priority
for new IRIS assessment of that substance. We additionally note that,
generally speaking, HAP of greatest concern due to environmental
exposures and hazard are those for which dose-response assessments have
been performed, reducing the likelihood of understating risk.
For a group of compounds that are unspeciated (e.g., glycol
ethers), we conservatively use the most protective reference value of
an individual compound in that group to estimate risk. Similarly, for
an individual compound in a group (e.g., ethylene glycol diethyl ether)
that does not have a specified reference value, we also apply the most
protective reference value from the other compounds in the group to
estimate risk.
e. Uncertainties in the Multipathway Assessment
For each source category, we generally rely on site-specific levels
of PB-HAP emissions to determine whether a refined assessment of the
impacts from multipathway exposures is necessary. This determination is
based on the results of a tiered screening analysis that relies on the
outputs from models that estimate environmental pollutant
concentrations and human exposures for four PB-HAP. Two important types
of uncertainty associated with the use of these models in RTR risk
assessments and inherent to any assessment that relies on environmental
modeling are model uncertainty and input uncertainty.\20\
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\20\ In the context of this discussion, the term ``uncertainty''
as it pertains to exposure and risk encompasses both variability in
the range of expected inputs and screening results due to existing
spatial, temporal, and other factors, as well as uncertainty in
being able to accurately estimate the true result.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Model uncertainty concerns whether the selected models are
appropriate for the assessment being conducted and whether they
adequately represent the actual processes that might occur for that
situation. An example of model uncertainty is the question of whether
the model adequately describes the movement of a pollutant through the
soil. This type of uncertainty is difficult to quantify. However, based
on feedback received from previous SAB reviews and other reviews, we
are confident that the models used in the screen are
[[Page 72894]]
appropriate and state-of-the-art for the multipathway risk assessments
conducted in support of RTR.
Input uncertainty is concerned with how accurately the models have
been configured and parameterized for the assessment at hand. For Tier
1 of the multipathway screen, we configured the models to avoid
underestimating exposure and risk. This was accomplished by selecting
upper-end values from nationally-representative datasets for the more
influential parameters in the environmental model, including selection
and spatial configuration of the area of interest, lake location and
size, meteorology, surface water and soil characteristics and structure
of the aquatic food web. We also assume an ingestion exposure scenario
and values for human exposure factors that represent reasonable maximum
exposures. The multipathway screens include some hypothetical elements,
namely the hypothetical farmer and fisher scenarios. It is important to
note that even though the multipathway assessment has been conducted,
no data exist to verify the existence of either the farmer or fisher
scenario outlined above.
In Tier 2 of the multipathway assessment, we refine the model
inputs to account for meteorological patterns in the vicinity of the
facility versus using upper-end national values and we identify the
actual location of lakes near the facility rather than the default lake
location that we apply in Tier 1. By refining the screening approach in
Tier 2 to account for local geographical and meteorological data, we
decrease the likelihood that concentrations in environmental media are
overestimated, thereby increasing the usefulness of the screen. The
assumptions and the associated uncertainties regarding the selected
ingestion exposure scenario are the same for all the Tiers.
For both Tiers 1 and 2 of the multipathway assessment, our approach
to addressing model input uncertainty is generally cautious. We choose
model inputs from the upper end of the range of possible values for the
influential parameters used in the models, and we assume that the
exposed individual exhibits ingestion behavior that would lead to a
high total exposure. This approach reduces the likelihood of not
identifying high risks for adverse impacts.
Despite the uncertainties, when individual pollutants or facilities
do screen out, we are confident that the potential for adverse
multipathway impacts on human health is very low. On the other hand,
when individual pollutants or facilities do not screen out, it does not
mean that multipathway impacts are significant, only that we cannot
rule out that possibility and that a refined multipathway screening
analysis for the site might be necessary to obtain a more accurate risk
characterization for the source category.
For further information on uncertainties and the multipathway
screening methods, refer to the Appendix 5 of the Residual Risk
Assessment for the Secondary Aluminum Production Source Category in
Support of the 2014 Supplemental Proposal.
We completed a Tier 3 refined multipathway screening analysis for
this supplemental proposal for assessing multipathway risks. This
assessment contains less uncertainty compared to the Tier 1 and Tier 2
screens. The Tier 3 screen reduces uncertainty through improved lake
evaluations used in the Tier 2 screen and by calculating the amount of
mass lost to the upper air sink through plume rise. Nevertheless, some
uncertainties also exist with these refined assessments. The Tier 3
multipathway screen and related uncertainties are described in detail
in the Residual Risk Assessment for the Secondary Aluminum Production
Source Category in Support of the 2014 Supplemental Proposal, which is
available in the docket for this action.
f. Uncertainties in the Environmental Risk Screening Assessment
For each source category, we generally rely on site-specific levels
of environmental HAP emissions to perform an environmental screening
assessment. The environmental screening assessment is based on the
outputs from models that estimate environmental HAP concentrations. The
same models, specifically the TRIM.FaTE multipathway model and the
AERMOD air dispersion model, are used to estimate environmental HAP
concentrations for both the human multipathway screening analysis and
for the environmental screening analysis. Therefore, both screening
assessments have similar modeling uncertainties.
Two important types of uncertainty associated with the use of these
models in RTR environmental screening assessments--and inherent to any
assessment that relies on environmental modeling--are model uncertainty
and input uncertainty.\21\
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\21\ In the context of this discussion, the term
``uncertainty,'' as it pertains to exposure and risk assessment,
encompasses both variability in the range of expected inputs and
screening results due to existing spatial, temporal and other
factors, as well as uncertainty in being able to accurately estimate
the true result.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Model uncertainty concerns whether the selected models are
appropriate for the assessment being conducted and whether they
adequately represent the movement and accumulation of environmental HAP
emissions in the environment. For example, does the model adequately
describe the movement of a pollutant through the soil? This type of
uncertainty is difficult to quantify. However, based on feedback
received from previous SAB reviews and other reviews, we are confident
that the models used in the screen are appropriate and state-of-the-art
for the environmental risk assessments conducted in support of our RTR
analyses.
Input uncertainty is concerned with how accurately the models have
been configured and parameterized for the assessment at hand. For Tier
1 of the environmental screen for PB-HAP, we configured the models to
avoid underestimating exposure and risk to reduce the likelihood that
the results indicate the risks are lower than they actually are. This
was accomplished by selecting upper-end values from nationally-
representative datasets for the more influential parameters in the
environmental model, including selection and spatial configuration of
the area of interest, the location and size of any bodies of water,
meteorology, surface water and soil characteristics and structure of
the aquatic food web. In Tier 1, we used the maximum facility-specific
emissions for the PB-HAP (other than lead compounds, which were
evaluated by comparison to the secondary lead NAAQS) that were included
in the environmental screening assessment and each of the media when
comparing to ecological benchmarks. This is consistent with the
conservative design of Tier 1 of the screen. In Tier 2 of the
environmental screening analysis for PB-HAP, we refine the model inputs
to account for meteorological patterns in the vicinity of the facility
versus using upper-end national values, and we identify the locations
of water bodies near the facility location. By refining the screening
approach in Tier 2 to account for local geographical and meteorological
data, we decrease the likelihood that concentrations in environmental
media are overestimated, thereby increasing the usefulness of the
screen. To better represent widespread impacts, the modeled soil
concentrations are averaged in Tier 2 to obtain one average soil
concentration value for each facility and for each PB-HAP. For PB-HAP
concentrations in water, sediment and fish tissue, the
[[Page 72895]]
highest value for each facility for each pollutant is used.
For the environmental screening assessment for acid gases, we
employ a single-tiered approach. We use the modeled air concentrations
and compare those with ecological benchmarks.
For both Tiers 1 and 2 of the environmental screening assessment,
our approach to addressing model input uncertainty is generally
cautious. We choose model inputs from the upper end of the range of
possible values for the influential parameters used in the models, and
we assume that the exposed individual exhibits ingestion behavior that
would lead to a high total exposure. This approach reduces the
likelihood of not identifying potential risks for adverse environmental
impacts.
Uncertainty also exists in the ecological benchmarks for the
environmental risk screening analysis. We established a hierarchy of
preferred benchmark sources to allow selection of benchmarks for each
environmental HAP at each ecological assessment endpoint. In general,
EPA benchmarks used at a programmatic level (e.g., Office of Water,
Superfund Program) were used, if available. If not, we used EPA
benchmarks used in regional programs (e.g., Superfund Program). If
benchmarks were not available at a programmatic or regional level, we
used benchmarks developed by other agencies (e.g., NOAA) or by state
agencies.
In all cases (except for lead compounds, which were evaluated
through a comparison to the NAAQS), we searched for benchmarks at the
following three effect levels, as described in section III.A.6 of this
preamble:
1. A no-effect level (i.e., NOAEL).
2. Threshold-effect level (i.e., LOAEL).
3. Probable effect level (i.e., PEL).
For some ecological assessment endpoint/environmental HAP
combinations, we could identify benchmarks for all three effect levels,
but for most, we could not. In one case, where different agencies
derived significantly different numbers to represent a threshold for
effect, we included both. In several cases, only a single benchmark was
available. In cases where multiple effect levels were available for a
particular PB-HAP and assessment endpoint, we used all of the available
effect levels to help us to determine whether risk exists and if the
risks could be considered significant and widespread.
The EPA evaluates the following seven HAP in the environmental risk
screening assessment: cadmium, D/F, POM, mercury (both inorganic
mercury and methyl mercury), lead compounds, HCl and HF, where
applicable. These seven HAP represent pollutants that can cause adverse
impacts for plants and animals either through direct exposure to HAP in
the air or through exposure to HAP that is deposited from the air onto
soils and surface waters. These seven HAP also represent those HAP for
which we can conduct a meaningful environmental risk screening
assessment. For other HAP not included in our screening assessment, the
model has not been parameterized such that it can be used for that
purpose. In some cases, depending on the HAP, we may not have
appropriate multipathway models that allow us to predict the
concentration of that pollutant. The EPA acknowledges that other HAP
beyond the seven HAP that we are evaluating may have the potential to
cause adverse environmental effects and, therefore, the EPA may
evaluate other relevant HAP in the future, as modeling science and
resources allow.
Further information on uncertainties and the Tier 1 and 2 screening
methods is provided in Appendix 5 of the Residual Risk Assessment for
the Secondary Aluminum Production Source Category in Support of the
2014 Supplemental Proposal, available in the docket for this action.
B. How did we consider the risk results in making decisions for this
supplemental proposal?
As discussed in section II.A of this preamble, in evaluating and
developing standards under CAA section 112(f)(2), we apply a two-step
process to address residual risk. In the first step, the EPA determines
whether risks are acceptable. This determination ``considers all health
information, including risk estimation uncertainty, and includes a
presumptive limit on maximum individual lifetime [cancer] risk (MIR) of
approximately [1-in-10 thousand] [i.e., 100-in-1 million].'' 54 FR
38045, September 14, 1989. If risks are unacceptable, the EPA must
determine the emissions standards necessary to bring risks to an
acceptable level without considering costs. In the second step of the
process, the EPA considers whether the emissions standards provide an
ample margin of safety ``in consideration of all health information,
including the number of persons at risk levels higher than
approximately 1-in-1 million, as well as other relevant factors,
including costs and economic impacts, technological feasibility, and
other factors relevant to each particular decision.'' Id. The EPA must
promulgate emission standards necessary to provide an ample margin of
safety.
In past residual risk actions, the EPA considered a number of human
health risk metrics associated with emissions from the categories under
review, including the MIR, the number of persons in various risk
ranges, cancer incidence, the maximum non-cancer HI and the maximum
acute non-cancer hazard. See, e.g., 72 FR 25138, May 3, 2007; 71 FR
42724, July 27, 2006. The EPA considered this health information for
both actual and allowable emissions. See, e.g., 75 FR 65068, October
21, 2010; 75 FR 80220, December 21, 2010; 76 FR 29032, May 19, 2011.
The EPA also discussed risk estimation uncertainties and considered the
uncertainties in the determination of acceptable risk and ample margin
of safety in these past actions. The EPA considered this same type of
information in support of this action.
The agency is considering these various measures of health
information to inform our determinations of risk acceptability and
ample margin of safety under CAA section 112(f). As explained in the
Benzene NESHAP, ``the first step judgment on acceptability cannot be
reduced to any single factor'' and, thus, ``[t]he Administrator
believes that the acceptability of risk under [previous] section 112 is
best judged on the basis of a broad set of health risk measures and
information.'' 54 FR 38046, September 14, 1989. Similarly, with regard
to the ample margin of safety determination, ``the Agency again
considers all of the health risk and other health information
considered in the first step. Beyond that information, additional
factors relating to the appropriate level of control will also be
considered, including cost and economic impacts of controls,
technological feasibility, uncertainties, and any other relevant
factors.'' Id.
The Benzene NESHAP approach provides flexibility regarding factors
the EPA may consider in making determinations and how the EPA may weigh
those factors for each source category. In responding to comment on our
policy under the Benzene NESHAP, the EPA explained that:
``[t]he policy chosen by the Administrator permits consideration of
multiple measures of health risk. Not only can the MIR figure be
considered, but also incidence, the presence of non-cancer health
effects, and the uncertainties of the risk estimates. In this way,
the effect on the most exposed individuals can be reviewed as well
as the impact on the general public. These factors can then be
weighed in each individual case. This approach complies with the
Vinyl Chloride mandate that the Administrator
[[Page 72896]]
ascertain an acceptable level of risk to the public by employing
[her] expertise to assess available data. It also complies with the
Congressional intent behind the CAA, which did not exclude the use
of any particular measure of public health risk from the EPA's
consideration with respect to CAA section 112 regulations, and
thereby implicitly permits consideration of any and all measures of
health risk which the Administrator, in [her] judgment, believes are
appropriate to determining what will `protect the public health'.''
See 54 FR at 38057, September 14, 1989. Thus, the level of the MIR
is only one factor to be weighed in determining acceptability of risks.
The Benzene NESHAP explained that ``an MIR of approximately one in 10
thousand should ordinarily be the upper end of the range of
acceptability. As risks increase above this benchmark, they become
presumptively less acceptable under CAA section 112, and would be
weighed with the other health risk measures and information in making
an overall judgment on acceptability. Or, the Agency may find, in a
particular case, that a risk that includes MIR less than the
presumptively acceptable level is unacceptable in the light of other
health risk factors.'' Id. at 38045. Similarly, with regard to the
ample margin of safety analysis, the EPA stated in the Benzene NESHAP
that: ``EPA believes the relative weight of the many factors that can
be considered in selecting an ample margin of safety can only be
determined for each specific source category. This occurs mainly
because technological and economic factors (along with the health-
related factors) vary from source category to source category.'' Id. at
38061. We also consider the uncertainties associated with the various
risk analyses, as discussed earlier in this preamble, in our
determinations of acceptability and ample margin of safety.
The EPA notes that it has not considered certain health information
to date in making residual risk determinations. At this time, we do not
attempt to quantify those HAP risks that may be associated with
emissions from other facilities that do not include the source
categories in question, mobile source emissions, natural source
emissions, persistent environmental pollution or atmospheric
transformation in the vicinity of the sources in these categories.
The agency understands the potential importance of considering an
individual's total exposure to HAP in addition to considering exposure
to HAP emissions from the source category and facility. We recognize
that such consideration may be particularly important when assessing
non-cancer risks, where pollutant-specific exposure health reference
levels (e.g., RfCs) are based on the assumption that thresholds exist
for adverse health effects. For example, the agency recognizes that,
although exposures attributable to emissions from a source category or
facility alone may not indicate the potential for increased risk of
adverse non-cancer health effects in a population, the exposures
resulting from emissions from the facility in combination with
emissions from all of the other sources (e.g., other facilities) to
which an individual is exposed may be sufficient to result in increased
risk of adverse non-cancer health effects. In May 2010, the SAB advised
the EPA ``that RTR assessments will be most useful to decision makers
and communities if results are presented in the broader context of
aggregate and cumulative risks, including background concentrations and
contributions from other sources in the area.'' \22\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\22\ The EPA's responses to this and all other key
recommendations of the SAB's advisory on RTR risk assessment
methodologies (which is available at: https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/
sabproduct.nsf/4AB3966E263D943A8525771F00668381/$File/EPA-SAB-10-
007-unsigned.pdf) are outlined in a memo to this rulemaking docket
from David Guinnup titled, EPA's Actions in Response to the Key
Recommendations of the SAB Review of RTR Risk Assessment
Methodologies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In response to the SAB recommendations, the EPA is incorporating
cumulative risk analyses into its RTR risk assessments, including those
reflected in this proposal. The agency is: (1) Conducting facility-wide
assessments, which include source category emission points as well as
other emission points within the facilities; (2) considering sources in
the same category whose emissions result in exposures to the same
individuals; and (3) for some persistent and bioaccumulative
pollutants, analyzing the ingestion route of exposure. In addition, the
RTR risk assessments have always considered aggregate cancer risk from
all carcinogens and aggregate non-cancer hazard indices from all non-
carcinogens affecting the same target organ system.
Although we are interested in placing source category and facility-
wide HAP risks in the context of total HAP risks from all sources
combined in the vicinity of each source, we are concerned about the
uncertainties of doing so. Because of the contribution to total HAP
risk from emission sources other than those that we have studied in
depth during this RTR review, such estimates of total HAP risks would
have significantly greater associated uncertainties than the source
category or facility-wide estimates. Such aggregate or cumulative
assessments would compound those uncertainties, making the assessments
too unreliable.
C. How did we perform the technology review?
Our technology review focused on the identification and evaluation
of developments in practices, processes and control technologies that
have occurred since the MACT standards were promulgated. Where we
identified such developments, in order to inform our decision of
whether it is ``necessary'' to revise the emissions standards, we
analyzed the technical feasibility of applying these developments and
the estimated costs, energy implications, non-air environmental
impacts, as well as considering the emission reductions. We also
considered the appropriateness of applying controls to new sources
versus retrofitting existing sources.
Based on our analyses of the available data and information, we
identified potential developments in practices, processes and control
technologies. For this exercise, we considered any of the following to
be a ``development'':
Any add-on control technology or other equipment that was
not identified and considered during development of the original MACT
standards.
Any improvements in add-on control technology or other
equipment (that were identified and considered during development of
the original MACT standards) that could result in additional emission
reduction.
Any work practice or operational procedure that was not
identified or considered during development of the original MACT
standards.
Any process change or pollution prevention alternative
that could be broadly applied to the industry and that was not
identified or considered during development of the original MACT
standards.
Any significant changes in the cost (including cost
effectiveness) of applying controls (including controls the EPA
considered during the development of the original MACT standards).
We reviewed a variety of data sources in our investigation of
potential practices, processes or controls to consider. Among the
sources we reviewed were the NESHAP for various industries that were
promulgated since the MACT standards being reviewed in this action. We
reviewed the regulatory requirements and/or technical analyses
associated with these regulatory actions to identify any practices,
processes and control technologies considered in these efforts that
could be applied to emission
[[Page 72897]]
sources in the Secondary Aluminum Production source category, as well
as the costs, non-air impacts and energy implications associated with
the use of these technologies. Additionally, we requested information
from facilities regarding developments in practices, processes or
control technology. Finally, we reviewed information from other
sources, such as state and/or local permitting agency databases and
industry-supported databases.
IV. Revised Analytical Results and Proposed Decisions for the Secondary
Aluminum Production Source Category
A. What are the results of the risk assessment and analysis?
1. Inhalation Risk Assessment Results
Table 3 provides an overall summary of the results of the
inhalation risk assessment.
Table 3--Secondary Aluminum Production Source Category Inhalation Risk Assessment Results
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum individual cancer Estimated Maximum chronic non-cancer
risk (in 1-million) \a\ Estimated population TOSHI \b\
--------------------------- annual at ----------------------------
cancer increased Worst-case maximum screening
Number of facilities modeled Based on Based on incidence risk of Based on Based on acute non-cancer HQ \c\
actual allowable (cases/yr) cancer >=1- actual allowable
emissions emissions \d\ in-1 emissions emissions
million \d\ level level
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Major Sources (52)................. 0.6 4 0.0007 0 0.04 0.1 HQ(REL) = 0.7 (HF).
HQ(AEGL1) = 0.4 (HCl).
Area Sources (103)................. 0.3 1 0.001 0 0.0003 0.001 NA.
Facility-wide (52 Major Sources)... 70 NA 0.05 760,000 1 NA NA.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Estimated maximum individual excess lifetime cancer risk due to HAP emissions from the source category for major sources and for D/F emissions from
the area sources.
\b\ Maximum TOSHI. The target organ with the highest TOSHI for the Secondary Aluminum Production source category for both actual and allowable
emissions is the respiratory system.
\c\ There is no acute dose-response value for D/F. Thus an acute HQ value for area sources was not calculated. The maximum off-site HQ acute value of
0.7 for actuals is driven by emissions of hydrofluoric acid. See section III.A.3 of this document for explanation of acute dose-response values. Acute
assessments are not performed on allowable emissions.
\d\ These estimates are based upon actual emissions.
The inhalation risk modeling performed to estimate risks based on
actual and allowable emissions relied primarily on emissions data from
the ICRs. The results of the chronic baseline inhalation cancer risk
assessment indicate that, based on estimates of current actual
emissions, the MIR posed by the Secondary Aluminum Production source
category from major sources and from area sources was less than 1-in-1
million. The estimated cancer incidence is slightly higher for area
sources compared to the major sources due to the larger number of area
sources nationwide. The total estimated cancer incidence from secondary
aluminum production sources from both major and area sources based on
actual emission levels is 0.002 excess cancer cases per year, with
emissions of D/F, naphthalene and PAH contributing 48 percent, 31
percent and 11 percent, respectively, to this cancer incidence. In
addition, we note that there are no excess cancer risks greater than or
equal to 1-in-1 million as a result of actual emissions from this
source category over a lifetime. The maximum modeled chronic non-cancer
HI (TOSHI) value for the source category for both major and area
sources based on actual emissions was estimated to be 0.04, with HCl
emissions from group 1 furnaces accounting for 99 percent of the HI.
When considering MACT-allowable emissions, the MIR is estimated to
be up to 4-in-1 million, driven by emissions of D/F compounds,
naphthalene and PAHs from the scrap dryer/delacquering/decoating kiln.
The estimated potential cancer incidence considering allowable
emissions for both major and area sources is estimated to be 0.014
excess cancer cases per year, or 1 case every 70 years. Approximately
3,400 people were estimated to have cancer risks greater than or equal
to 1-in-1 million considering allowable emissions from secondary
aluminum plants. When considering MACT-allowable emissions, the maximum
chronic non-cancer TOSHI value was estimated to be 0.1, driven by
allowable emissions of HCl from the group 1 furnaces.
2. Acute Risk Results
Our screening analysis for worst-case acute impacts based on actual
emissions indicates no pollutants exceeding an HQ value of 1 based upon
the REL.
3. Multipathway Risk Screening Results
Results of the worst-case Tier 1 screening analysis indicate that
36 of the 52 major sources exceeded the PB-HAP emission cancer
screening rates (based on estimates of actual emissions) for D/F, and 3
of the 52 major sources exceeded the Tier 1 screen value for PAHs.
Regarding area sources, 60 of the 103 area sources exceeded the PB-HAP
emission cancer screening rates (based on estimates of actual
emissions) for D/F. For the compounds and facilities that did not
screen out at Tier 1, we conducted a Tier 2 screen. The Tier 2 screen
replaces some of the assumptions used in Tier 1 with site-specific
data, including the location of fishable lakes and local precipitation,
wind direction and speed. The Tier 2 screen continues to rely on high-
end assumptions about consumption of local fish and locally grown or
raised foods (adult female angler at 99th percentile consumption for
fish \23\ for the subsistence fisherman scenario and 90th percentile
consumption for locally grown or raised foods \24\ for the farmer
scenario). It is important to note that, even with the inclusion of
some site-specific information in the Tier 2 analysis, the multipathway
screening analysis is still a very conservative, health-protective
assessment (e.g., upper-bound consumption of local fish and locally
grown and/or raised foods) and in all likelihood will yield results
that serve as an upper-bound multipathway risk associated with a
facility.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\23\ Burger, J. 2002. Daily Consumption of Wild Fish and Game:
Exposures of High End Recreationists. International Journal of
Environmental Health Research 12:343-354.
\24\ U.S. EPA. Exposure Factors Handbook 2011 Edition (Final).
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-09/
052F, 2011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
While the screening analysis is not designed to produce a
quantitative risk result, the factor by which the emissions exceed the
threshold serves as a rough gauge of the ``upper-limit'' risks we would
expect from a facility. Thus, for
[[Page 72898]]
example, if a facility emitted a PB-HAP carcinogen at a level 2 times
the screening threshold, we can say with a high degree of confidence
that the actual maximum cancer risks will be less than 2-in-1 million.
Likewise, if a facility emitted a noncancer PB-HAP at a level 2 times
the screening threshold, the maximum noncancer hazard would represent
an HQ less than 2. The high degree of confidence comes from the fact
that the screens are developed using the very conservative (health-
protective) assumptions that we describe above.
Based on the Tier 2 cancer screening analysis, 25 of the 52 major
sources and 34 of the 103 area sources emit D/F above the Tier 2 cancer
screening thresholds for the subsistence fisher and farmer scenarios.
The individual D/F emissions are all scaled based on their toxicity to
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and reported as toxic equivalents
(TEQs). The subsistence fisher scenario for the highest risk facilities
exceeds the D/F cancer threshold by a factor of 80 for the major
sources and by a factor of 70 for the area sources. The Tier 2 analysis
also identifies 23 of the 52 major sources and 26 of the 103 area
sources emitting D/F above the Tier 2 cancer screening thresholds for
the subsistence farmer scenario. The highest exceedance of the Tier 2
screen value is 40 for the major sources and 20 for the area sources
for the farmer scenario.
We have only one major source emitting PAHs above the Tier 2 cancer
screen value with an exceedance of 2 for the farmer scenario. All PAH
emissions are scaled based on their toxicity to benzo(a)pyrene and
reported as TEQs.
A more refined Tier 3 multipathway screening analysis was conducted
for six Tier 2 major source facilities. The six facilities were
selected because the Tier 2 cancer screening assessments for these
facilities had exceedances greater than or equal to 50 times the screen
value for the subsistence fisher scenario. The major sources
represented the highest screened cancer risk for multipathway impacts.
Therefore, further screening analyses were not performed on the area
sources. The Tier 3 screen examined the set of lakes from which the
fisher might ingest fish. Any lakes that appeared to not be fishable or
not publicly accessible were removed from the assessment, and the
screening assessment was repeated. After we made the determination the
critical lakes were fishable, we analyzed plume rise data for each of
the sites. The Tier 3 screen was conducted only on those HAP that
exceeded the Tier 2 screening threshold, which for this assessment were
D/F and PAHs. Both of these PB-HAP are carcinogenic. The Tier 3 screen
resulted in lowering the maximum exceedance of the screen value for the
highest site from 80 to 70. Results for the other sites were all less
than 70. The highest exceedance of the Tier 2 cancer screen value of 40
for the farmer scenario was also reduced in the Tier 3 screening
assessment to a value of 30 for the major sources within this source
category.
Overall, the refined multipathway screening analysis for D/F and
PAHs utilizing the Tier 3 screen predicts a potential lifetime cancer
risk of 70-in-1 million or lower to the most exposed individual, with
D/F emissions from group 1 furnaces handling other than clean charge
driving the risk. Cancer risks due to PAH emissions for the maximum
exposed individual were less than 1-in-1 million.
The chronic non-cancer HQ is predicted to be below 1 for cadmium
compounds and 1 for mercury compounds. For lead, we did not estimate
any exceedances of the primary lead NAAQS.
Further details on the refined multipathway screening analysis can
be found in Appendix 8 of the Residual Risk Assessment for the
Secondary Aluminum Production Source Category in Support of the 2014
Supplemental Proposal, which is available in the docket.
4. Environmental Risk Screening Results
As described in section III.A of this document, we conducted an
environmental risk screening assessment for the Secondary Aluminum
Production source category for the following seven pollutants: PAHs,
mercury (methyl mercury and mercuric chloride), cadmium, lead, D/F, HCl
and HF.
Of the seven pollutants included in the environmental risk screen,
major sources in this source category emit PAHs, mercuric chloride,
cadmium, lead, D/F, HCl and HF. In the Tier 1 screening analysis for
PB-HAP, none of the individual modeled concentrations for any facility
in the source category exceeded any of the ecological benchmarks
(either the LOAEL or NOAEL) for PAHs, mercuric chloride, cadmium and D/
F. For lead, we did not estimate any exceedances of the secondary lead
NAAQS. For HCl and HF, the average modeled concentration around each
facility (i.e., the average concentration of all off-site data points
in the modeling domain) did not exceed any ecological benchmark. In
addition, each individual modeled concentration of HCl and HF (i.e.,
each off-site data point in the modeling domain) was below the
ecological benchmarks for all facilities.
Of the seven pollutants included in the environmental risk screen,
area sources in this source category are regulated only for D/F. In the
Tier 1 screening analysis for D/F, none of the individual modeled
concentrations for any facility in the source category exceeded any of
the ecological benchmarks (either the LOAEL or NOAEL) for D/F.
5. Facility-Wide Risk Assessment Results
Considering facility-wide emissions at the 52 major sources, the
MIR is estimated to be 70-in-1 million driven by arsenic and Ni
emissions, and the chronic non-cancer TOSHI value is calculated to be 1
driven by emissions of cadmium compounds. The above risks are driven by
emissions from the potline roof vents at the co-located primary
aluminum production operations. The Secondary Aluminum Production
source category represents less than 1 percent of the inhalation risks
from the facility-wide assessment based upon actual emissions.
Emissions from primary aluminum sources are being addressed in a
separate action. Details regarding primary aluminum sources are
available at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/alum/alumpg.html.
6. What demographic groups might benefit from this regulation?
To determine whether or not to conduct a demographics analysis,
which is an assessment of risks to individual demographic groups, we
look at a combination of factors including the MIR, non-cancer TOSHI,
population around the facilities in the source category and other
relevant factors. For the Secondary Aluminum Production source
category, inhalation risks were low with excess cancer risks being less
than 1-in-1 million and non-cancer hazards being less than 1.
Therefore, we did not conduct an assessment of risks to individual
demographic groups for this rulemaking. However, we did conduct a
proximity analysis for both area and major sources, which identifies
any overrepresentation of minority, low income or indigenous
populations near facilities in the source category. The results of the
proximity analyses suggest there are a higher percent of minorities,
people with low income, and people without a high school diploma living
near these facilities (i.e., within 3 miles) compared to the national
averages for these subpopulations. However, as explained above, the
risks due to HAP emissions from this source category are low for all
populations (e.g., inhalation cancer risks are less than 1-in-1 million
[[Page 72899]]
for all populations and non-cancer hazard indices are less than 1).
Furthermore, we do not expect this supplemental proposal to achieve
reductions in HAP emissions. Therefore, we conclude that this
supplemental proposal will not have disproportionately high and adverse
human health or environmental effects on minority or low-income
populations because it does not affect the level of protection provided
to human health or the environment. However, this supplemental
proposal, if finalized, will provide additional benefits to these
demographic groups by improving the compliance, monitoring and
implementation of the NESHAP.
The detailed results of the proximity analyses can be found in the
EJ Screening Report for Secondary Aluminum Area Sources and the EJ
Screening Report for Secondary Aluminum Major Sources, which are
available in the docket for this rulemaking.
B. What are our proposed decisions regarding risk acceptability, ample
margin of safety and adverse environmental effects based on our revised
analyses?
1. Risk Acceptability
As noted in section II.A.1 of this preamble, the EPA sets standards
under CAA section 112(f)(2) using ``a two-step standard-setting
approach, with an analytical first step to determine an `acceptable
risk' that considers all health information, including risk estimation
uncertainty, and includes a presumptive limit on MIR of approximately 1
in 10 thousand 25.'' (54 FR 38045, September 14, 1989).
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\25\ 1-in-10 thousand is equivalent to 100-in-1 million. The EPA
currently describes cancer risks as ``n-in-1 million.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In this proposal, the EPA estimated risks based on both actual and
allowable emissions from secondary aluminum facilities. As discussed
above, in determining acceptability, we considered risks based on both
actual and allowable emissions.
a. Estimated Risks From Actual Emissions
The baseline inhalation cancer risk to the individual most exposed
to emissions from the Secondary Aluminum Production source category is
from major sources with cancer risks less than 1-in-1 million based on
actual emissions. The total estimated incidence of cancer for this
source category from both major and area sources due to inhalation
exposures is 0.002 excess cancer cases per year, or 1 case in 500
years. The agency estimates that the maximum chronic non-cancer TOSHI
from inhalation exposure for this source category is from major sources
with an HI of 0.04 based on actual emissions, with HCl emissions from
group 1 furnaces accounting for a large portion (99 percent) of the HI.
The multipathway screening analysis, based upon actual emissions,
indicates the excess cancer risk from this source category is lower
than 70-in-1 million with D/F emissions representing 99 percent of
these potential risks based on the fisher scenario. The multipathway
MIR cancer risks are the same for both the major and area sources
within this source category for the fisher scenario. For the farmer
scenario, the excess cancer risk is lower than 30-in-1 million for the
major sources and 20-in-1 million for the area sources. There were no
facilities within this source category having a multipathway non-cancer
screen value greater than 1 for cadmium or mercury. In evaluating the
potential for multipathway effects from emissions of lead, modeled
maximum annual lead concentrations were compared to the secondary NAAQS
for lead (0.15 [mu]g/m\3\). Results of this analysis estimate that the
NAAQS for lead would not be exceeded at any off-site locations.
As noted above, the multipathway screens are conservative and
incorporate many health-protective assumptions. For example, the EPA
chooses inputs from the upper end of the range of possible values for
the influential parameters used in the Tier 2 screen and assumes that
the exposed individual for each scenario exhibits ingestion behavior
that would lead to a high total exposure. A Tier 2 or 3 exceedance of a
cancer or non-cancer screen value cannot be equated with an actual risk
value or a HQ or HI. Rather, it represents a high-end estimate of what
the risk or hazard may be. For example, a non-cancer screen value of 2
can be interpreted to mean that we have high confidence that the HI is
lower than 2. Similarly, a cancer screen value of 30 for a carcinogen
means that we have high confidence that the risk is lower than 30-in-1-
million. Confidence comes from the conservative, or health-protective,
assumptions that are used in the Tier 2 and Tier 3 screens. The Tier 3
screen improves the accuracy of the Tier 2 screen through validation of
impacted lakes assessed and accounting for mass lost to the upper air
sink, which reduces the uncertainty in the screen. The maximum Tier 3
exceedance of the cancer screen values for the secondary aluminum
source category are 70 for the sustainable fisher scenario and 30 for
the farmer scenario, both driven by D/F emissions from major sources.
The screening assessment of worst-case acute inhalation impacts
from baseline actual emissions indicates no pollutants exceeding an HQ
value of 1 based on the REL, with an estimated worst-case maximum acute
HQ of 0.7 for HF based on the 1-hour REL.
b. Estimated Risks From Allowable Emissions
The EPA estimates that the inhalation cancer risk to the individual
most exposed to emissions from the Secondary Aluminum Production source
category is up to 4-in-1 million based on allowable emissions from
major sources, with D/F, naphthalene and PAH emissions driving the
risks. The EPA estimates that the incidence of cancer due to inhalation
for the entire source category based on allowable emissions could be up
to 0.014 excess cancer cases per year, or 1 case approximately every 70
years. About 3,400 people face an estimated increased cancer risk
greater than or equal to 1-in-1 million due to inhalation exposure to
allowable HAP emissions from this source category.
The risk assessment estimates that the maximum chronic non-cancer
TOSHI from inhalation exposure values for the source category is up to
0.1 based on allowable emissions, driven by HCl emissions from major
sources.
c. Acceptability Determination
In determining whether risks are acceptable for this source
category, the EPA considered all available health information and risk
estimation uncertainty as described above. As noted above, the agency
estimated risk from actual and allowable emissions. While there are
uncertainties associated with both the actual and allowable emissions,
we consider the allowable emissions to be an upper bound, based on the
conservative methods we used to calculate allowable emissions.
The risk results indicate that both the actual and allowable
inhalation cancer risks to the individual most exposed are up to but no
greater than approximately 4-in-1 million, based on allowable emissions
which is considerably less than 100-in-1 million, the presumptive limit
of acceptability. The MIR based on actual emissions is 0.6-in-1
million, well below the presumptive limit as well. The maximum chronic
non-cancer hazard indices for both the actual and allowable inhalation
non-cancer risks to the individual most exposed are less than 1. The
maximum individual non-cancer HI is 0.04 based on actual
[[Page 72900]]
emissions and 0.1 based on allowable emissions.
The maximum acute non-cancer HQ for all pollutants was below 1,
with a maximum value of 0.7 based on the REL for hydrofluoric acid. The
excess cancer risks from the multipathway screen from actual D/F and
PAH emissions from major and area sources indicate that the risk to the
individual most exposed could be up to, but no greater than, 70-in-1
million for the fisher scenario and 30-in-1 million for the farmer
scenario. These results are less than 100-in-1 million, which is the
presumptive limit of acceptability. The multipathway Tier 2 screen for
non-cancer is at 1 for mercury and cadmium.
The multipathway screens are based on model runs that use upper end
values for influential parameters and we assume that the exposed
individual exhibits ingestion behavior that would lead to a high total
exposure. The multipathway screens also include some hypothetical
elements, namely the existence and location of the hypothetical farmer
and fisher.
Considering all of the health risk information and factors
discussed above, including the uncertainties discussed in section
III.A.8 of this preamble, the EPA proposes that the risks at baseline
are acceptable since the cancer risks are below the presumptive limit
of acceptability and the non-cancer results indicate there is minimal
likelihood of adverse non-cancer health effects due to HAP emissions
from this source category.
2. Ample Margin of Safety Analysis
Under the ample margin of safety analysis, we evaluated the cost
and feasibility of available control technologies and other measures
(including the controls, measures and costs reviewed under the
technology review) that could be applied in this source category to
further reduce the risks (or potential risks) due to emissions of HAP
identified in our risk assessment, along with all of the health risks
and other health information considered in the risk acceptability
determination described above. In this analysis, we considered the
results of the technology review, risk assessment and other aspects of
our MACT rule review to determine whether there are any cost-effective
controls or other measures that would reduce emissions further to
provide an ample margin of safety with respect to the risks associated
with these emissions.
Our inhalation risk analysis indicated very low potential for risk
from the facilities in the source category, and, therefore, very little
inhalation risk reductions could be realized regardless of the
availability of control options. Our technology review, which was
conducted for the 2012 proposal and is in large part applicable to this
supplemental proposal (see section IV.C below for more discussion of
the technology review), did not identify any new practices, controls or
process options that are being used in this industry or in other
industries that would be cost effective for further reduction of these
emissions and risks.
Our multipathway screening analysis results for the 2012 proposal
indicated exceedances of the worst-case screening levels which did not
necessarily indicate any risks. However, they did suggest a potential
for risks. For this supplemental proposal, a more refined multipathway
screening analysis was conducted, including a Tier 3 screen for the top
six major source facilities for cancer. The more refined screening
analysis was conducted only on those PB-HAP that exceeded the screening
threshold, which for this assessment were PAHs and D/F. The refined
multipathway screening analysis showed that the earlier screening
analysis for the 2012 proposal over-predicted the potential cancer risk
when compared to the refined analysis for three of the six facilities
assessed, with emissions of D/F driving these cancer risks. The
remaining facilities had the same cancer screen value in the refined
analysis as in the earlier screening results when rounded to 1
significant figure. The cancer risks due to PAH emissions were less
than 1-in-1 million based on the refined analysis.
To evaluate the potential to reduce D/F emissions and risks, as
part of our revised ample margin of safety analysis, we used the same
analysis that we conducted for the 2012 proposal except that we
incorporated more recent D/F emissions data and control cost
information. As in the analysis conducted for the 2012 proposal, we
evaluated two control options. Option 1 considered lowering the
existing D/F emissions limit from 15 to 10 [mu]g TEQ/Mg feed for all
group 1 furnaces processing other than clean charge. Option 2
considered lowering the existing D/F limit for group 1 furnaces
processing other than clean charge after applying a subcategorization
based on facility production capacity. An emission reduction to 10
[mu]g TEQ/Mg represents a level that could potentially be met with an
activated carbon injection system. With regard to the option of
lowering the D/F emission limit to 10 [mu]g TEQ/Mg feed for group 1
furnaces handling other than clean charge, we estimate that about 12
furnaces at eight facilities would need to reduce their D/F emissions
and that the total capital costs would be $390,000 with total
annualized costs of $1.4 million. This option would achieve an
estimated 0.49 grams TEQ reduction of D/F emissions with an overall
cost effectiveness of about $2.9 million per gram D/F TEQ. For the
second option, facilities with group 1 furnace production capacity
greater than 200,000 tpy (melting other than clean charge) would be
required to meet a limit of 10 [mu]g TEQ/Mg limit. For this option, we
estimate that 4 furnaces at two facilities would be required to reduce
their D/F emissions. We estimate that the total capital costs would be
$130,000 with total annualized costs of $460,000. This option would
achieve an estimated 0.12 grams TEQ reduction of D/F emissions with an
overall cost-effectiveness of about $3.8 million per gram D/F TEQ. As
we concluded in the ample margin of safety analysis for the 2012
proposal, our analysis indicates that these options would result in
very little emission reductions (0.49 grams TEQ of D/F for Option 1 and
0.12 grams TEQ of D/F reductions for Option 2) and, therefore, would
result in little or no changes to the potential risk levels. After
considering the costs and the level of reductions that would be
achieved, we have decided, as we did in the 2012 proposal, not to
propose any of these options. For more information on this analysis,
see the Supplemental Proposal Technical Support Document for the
Secondary Aluminum Production Source Category, which is available in
the public docket for this proposed rulemaking.
In the 2012 proposal, we also evaluated possible options based on
work practices to achieve further emission reductions. The current
subpart RRR NESHAP includes work practices to minimize D/F emissions
which include scrap inspection, limitations on materials processed by
group 2 furnaces, temperature and residence time requirements for
afterburners controlling sweat furnaces, labeling requirements,
capture/collection requirements and requirements for an operations,
maintenance and monitoring plan that contains details on the proper
operation and maintenance of processes and control equipment. For the
2012 proposal, we searched for and evaluated other possible work
practices such as good combustion practices, better scrap inspection
and cleaning, and process monitoring. However, none of these potential
work practices were determined to be feasible and effective
[[Page 72901]]
in further reducing D/F emissions for this source category. Thus, we
did not identify any feasible or applicable work practices for this
industry beyond those that are currently in the MACT rule. Therefore,
in the 2012 proposal we did not propose any additional work practices.
Since the 2012 proposal, we have not identified any changes in the
sources of emissions, the types of pollutants emitted or the work
practices available to be used in the secondary aluminum production
industry. Therefore, as in the 2012 proposal, we are not proposing any
revisions to subpart RRR based on work practices. Further details on
work practices and control options are provided in the Supplemental
Proposal Technology Review for the Secondary Aluminum Production Source
Category, which is available in the public docket for this rulemaking.
In accordance with the approach established in the Benzene NESHAP,
we weighed all health risk information and factors considered in the
risk acceptability determination, including uncertainties, along with
the cost and feasibility of control technologies and other measures
that could be applied in this source category, in making our ample
margin of safety determination. In summary, our risk analysis indicated
very low potential for risk, and we identified no developments in
technology that would be cost effective in reducing HAP emissions
relative to reductions already being achieved. We also did not identify
any cost effective approaches to further reduce D/F emissions and
multipathway risk beyond what is already being achieved by the current
NESHAP.
Because of the high cost associated with the use of activated
carbon injection systems and because work practices are already
required to help ensure low emissions, and in light of the
considerations discussed above, we propose that the existing MACT
standards provide an ample margin of safety to protect public health.
3. Adverse Environmental Effects
Based on the results of our environmental risk screening
assessment, we conclude that there is not an adverse environmental
effect as a result of HAP emissions from the Secondary Aluminum
Production source category. We are proposing that it is not necessary
to set a more stringent standard to prevent, taking into consideration
costs, energy, safety and other relevant factors, an adverse
environmental effect.
C. What are the results and proposed decisions based on our technology
review?
A technology review was conducted for the Secondary Aluminum
Production source category and is described in the 2012 proposal at 77
FR 8596, February 14, 2012. Details of the technology review and its
findings are available in the memorandum, Draft Technology Review for
the Secondary Aluminum Production Source Category (Docket item EPA-HQ-
OAR-2010-0544-0144). The typical controls used to minimize emissions at
secondary aluminum facilities include fabric filters for control of PM
from aluminum scrap shredders; afterburners for control of THC and D/F
from thermal chip dryers; afterburners plus lime-injected fabric
filters for control of PM, HCl, THC and D/F from scrap dryers/
delacquering kilns/decoating kilns; afterburners for control of D/F
from sweat furnaces; fabric filters for control of PM from dross-only
furnaces and rotary dross coolers; lime-injected fabric filters for
control of PM and HCl from in-line fluxers; and lime-injected fabric
filters for control of PM, HCl and D/F from group 1 furnaces. In our
review of technology, we determined that there have been some
developments in practices, processes or control technologies that have
been implemented in this source category since promulgation of the
current NESHAP. We stated in the 2012 proposal that these findings did
not warrant any changes to subpart RRR. Following the 2012 proposal, no
public comments were received that would alter the conclusions of our
technology review for the Secondary Aluminum Production source
category. Therefore, for this supplemental proposal, we are proposing
that the technology review findings are still valid. The EPA is not
aware of any changes in technology development since the 2012 proposal.
As part of the technology review for the 2012 proposal, we also
evaluated other technologies that have the potential to reduce HAP
emissions, in particular emissions of D/F. See Draft Technical Support
Document for the Secondary Aluminum Production Source Category, Docket
item EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0544-0152. We have updated that analysis for this
supplemental proposal. See Supplemental Proposal Technical Support
Document for the Secondary Aluminum Production Source Category and the
Supplemental Proposal Technology Review for the Secondary Aluminum
Production Source Category, which are available in the public docket
for this rulemaking. Under this analysis, we evaluated the same
approaches that were evaluated under the ample margin of safety
analysis described in section IV.B of this document. We evaluated the
option of lowering the existing D/F limit from 15 to 10 [mu]g TEQ/Mg
feed for group 1 furnaces processing other than clean charge either at
all secondary aluminum facilities or only at larger secondary aluminum
facilities based on facility production capacity. The lower D/F
emissions limits potentially could be met by using an activated carbon
injection system. Using updated information on emissions and control
costs, we estimate that about 12 furnaces at eight facilities would
need to reduce their D/F emissions to meet the 10 [mu]g TEQ/Mg feed for
group 1 furnaces and that the total capital costs would be $390,000
with total annualized costs of $1.4 million. This option would achieve
an estimated 0.49 grams TEQ reduction of D/F emissions with an overall
cost effectiveness of about $2.9 million per gram D/F TEQ. For the
second option, only facilities with group 1 furnace production capacity
greater than 200,000 tpy (melting other than clean charge) would be
required to meet the lower 10 [mu]g TEQ/Mg limit. For this option, we
estimate that four furnaces at two facilities would be required to
reduce their D/F emissions. We estimate that the total capital cost
would be $130,000 with total annualized costs of $460,000. This option
would achieve an estimated 0.12 grams TEQ reduction of D/F emissions
with an estimated overall cost effectiveness of $3.8 million per gram
D/F TEQ. (The details of this analysis are in the Supplemental Proposal
Technical Support Document for the Secondary Aluminum Production Source
Category, which is available in the public docket for this rulemaking.
After considering the costs and the small emission reductions that
would be achieved, we have decided not to propose any of these options.
D. What other actions are we proposing?
In the 2012 proposal, we proposed amendments to correct and clarify
existing requirements in subpart RRR. In this supplemental proposal, we
are proposing revisions to certain rule corrections and clarifications
that were in the 2012 proposal as well as proposing alternative
compliance options to the operating and monitoring requirements for
sweat furnaces. On these limited revisions, we are soliciting comment.
As discussed above, the 2012 proposal also contained other proposed
rule corrections and clarifications for which we are not proposing any
changes in this document, and,
[[Page 72902]]
therefore, for which we are not seeking public comment (if EPA
nonetheless were to receive any such comments, the comments would be
outside the scope of this supplemental proposal and would not be
considered).
1. Changing Furnace Classification
In the 2012 proposal, we proposed to address an area of uncertainty
under subpart RRR by specifying in 40 CFR 63.1514 rule provisions
expressly allowing changes in furnace classification, subject to
procedural and testing requirements, operating requirements and
recordkeeping requirements. We proposed a frequency limit of no more
than one change in classification (and associated reversion) every six
months, with an exception for planned control device maintenance
activities requiring shutdown. We received comments on the 2012
proposal requesting additional or unlimited changes in furnace
classification. Based on the information received, we reevaluated the
appropriate limit on frequency of furnace classification changes. The
EPA received from one commenter an inventory of the number of
classification changes that occurred each year at a specific subpart
RRR furnace over a nearly 10-year period (available in the docket for
this rulemaking). The highest number of furnace classification changes
in one year, including both planned and unplanned changes, was nine.
Based on the comments and information received and because of the
potential difficulty in distinguishing between a planned and unplanned
change in classification, we are proposing and requesting comments on a
revised limit on the frequency of changes in furnace classification of
four (including the four associated reversions) in any 6-month period,
including both planned and unplanned changes in classification, with a
provision allowing additional changes by petitioning the permitting
authority for major sources, or the Administrator for area sources.
These revisions in proposed 40 CFR 63.1514(e) would balance the
interest in allowing industry to make furnace classification changes
while preserving the EPA's and delegated authorities' practical and
effective enforcement of the emission limitations, work practice
standards and other requirements of subpart RRR. We request that any
commenter who would like the EPA to consider a different limit on
frequency to include a specific rationale and factual basis for why a
different frequency would be appropriate as well as any data on
historical frequencies of furnace classification changes under subpart
RRR.
We are specifically requesting comments on the revised proposed
provisions in 40 CFR 63.1514(e), which addresses the frequency of
changing furnace classification. No substantive changes have been made
to the other proposed provisions in 40 CFR 63.1514, and we are not
requesting comments on any other aspect of the proposed provisions for
furnace classification changes. We will address the comments previously
received on the 2012 proposal, as well as comments that are received in
response to the revised proposed frequency limit in this document, when
we take final rulemaking action.
2. Worst Case Scenario Testing
In the 2012 proposal, we proposed amendments to clarify that
performance tests under multiple scenarios may be required in order to
reflect the emissions ranges for each regulated pollutant. We received
comments on the 2012 proposal that the worst case charge materials, and
blends of these, have differing process rates and, therefore, the
charge rate from the stack tests is not representative of the charge
rate that will be achieved during normal operations. Based on the
comments received and recognizing that it may be necessary to conduct
performance tests under one or multiple scenarios to be representative
of the range of normal operating conditions, we are proposing revised
language in 40 CFR 63.1511(b)(1) to clarify the conditions under which
subpart RRR performance tests must be conducted. The intention in the
subpart RRR rule is to require testing under ``worst case'' conditions
from the standpoint of emissions and to establish parameters based on
such testing that ensure compliance under all operating conditions. For
example, in a response to comments on the original proposed subpart RRR
rule regarding the inlet temperature requirement for fabric filters,
the EPA stated that testing under worst case conditions, such as higher
than normal fabric filter inlet temperatures, could provide a larger
temperature operating range, which would be used to monitor and ensure
continuous compliance between periodic performance tests (65 FR 15699,
March 23, 2000). In the EPA response-to-comments document (Summary of
Public Comments and Responses on Secondary Aluminum NESHAP, December
14, 1999, Docket No. A-92-61, item V-C-1, comment 4.1.47), the EPA
explained that requiring multiple tests over a range of different
furnace operating conditions will show that the selected monitoring
parameters are valid indicators of emissions and that it may not be
possible for a single test to be representative of worst case
conditions and that more than a single test may be required. It is not
permissible, for example, to demonstrate compliance while processing
relatively uncontaminated scrap, and then at a later time, when the
supply of this scrap is constrained, process more heavily contaminated
scrap, without demonstrating compliance under these conditions based on
previous emissions testing or on new emissions testing if previous
tests would not be representative of the emissions from the processing
of the more heavily contaminated scrap.
To clarify the requirements for testing, we are proposing that
performance tests be conducted under representative (normal) conditions
expected to produce the highest level of HAP emissions expressed in the
units of the emission standards for the HAP (considering the extent of
scrap contamination, reactive flux addition rate and feed/charge rate).
If a single test condition is not expected to produce the highest level
of emissions for all HAP, testing under two or more sets of conditions
(for example high contamination at low feed/charge rate and low
contamination at high feed/charge rate) may be required. Any subsequent
performance tests for the purposes of establishing new or revised
parametric limits shall be allowed upon pre-approval from the
permitting authority for major sources or the Administrator for area
sources. These new parametric settings shall be used to demonstrate
compliance for the period being tested. We solicit comment on whether
the proposed amendment adequately addresses and clarifies the
requirement that multiple tests may be necessary to represent different
operational conditions.
3. Testing of Uncontrolled Furnaces
As explained in the 2012 proposal, while subpart RRR specifies
capture and collection requirements for emission units that are
equipped with add-on air pollution control devices, there are no such
requirements for furnaces that are not equipped with an add-on air
pollution control device. To clarify how uncontrolled sources are to be
tested for compliance, in 2012 we proposed compliance alternatives for
uncontrolled affected sources. Specifically, in 2012 we proposed either
the installation of ACGIH hooding or an assumption of 67-percent
capture
[[Page 72903]]
efficiency for furnace exhaust (i.e., multiply emissions measured at
the furnace exhaust outlet by 1.5 to calculate the total estimated
emissions from the furnace). Under the 2012 proposed provisions, if the
source fails to demonstrate compliance using the 67-percent capture
efficiency assumption, the source would have to retest using hooding
that meets ACGIH guidelines or petition the permitting authority for
major sources, or the Administrator for area sources, that such hoods
are impractical and propose alternative testing procedures that will
minimize unmeasured fugitive emissions. In the 2012 proposal, we
proposed that the retesting would need to occur within 90 days.
We received comments that the EPA was proposing to mandate ACGIH
hooding during performance testing for uncontrolled furnaces.
Commenters also provided information that ACGIH-compliant hoods are not
possible to install on round top furnaces.
Based on the comments received and our consideration of specific
testing scenarios and types of uncontrolled furnaces, we are proposing
revised requirements for the testing of uncontrolled furnaces. In this
supplemental proposal, we are proposing that if the source fails to
demonstrate compliance by the uncontrolled furnace using the 67-percent
capture efficiency assumption proposed in the 2012 proposal, then they
must retest using ACGIH hooding within 180 days (rather than the 90
days specified in the 2012 proposal), or the source can petition the
appropriate authority within 180 days that such hoods are impracticable
and propose alternative testing procedures to minimize emissions. No
time constraints on petitioning the appropriate authority were
specified in the 2012 proposal. In this supplemental proposal, we are
also proposing to clarify situations and circumstances whereby
installation of hooding according to ACGIH guidelines would be
considered impractical and are adding examples of procedures for
minimizing fugitive emissions during testing for such situations and
circumstances. The EPA is proposing conditions that would be considered
impractical to install hooding according to ACGIH guidelines. The EPA
is also proposing alternative procedures to minimize fugitive emissions
in the event that ACGIH-compliant hooding cannot be installed. These
alternative procedures are described in more detail below.
Comments on the 2012 proposal also contained information regarding
the feasibility of installing ACGIH-compliant hooding on certain
furnace types in preparation for testing. Based on our review of the
information submitted by the commenters, we agree that it is not
possible to install ACGIH-compliant hoods on round top furnaces for
testing because the top of the furnace would have to be removed by a
crane operating above the furnace. We also agree that case-by-case
impracticability determinations are not necessary for round top
furnaces. Consequently, we are proposing that existing round top
furnaces be excluded from the proposed requirement either to install
ACGIH-compliant hooding or to use a 67-percent capture efficiency, as
well as from the proposed requirement that a petition of impracticality
be submitted to the appropriate authority. Instead, we propose that
round top furnaces must be operated to minimize fugitive emissions
during testing. We have not received any documentation to support
requests by commenters to exclude other types of furnaces such as box
reverberatory furnaces and box reverberatory furnaces with a side door.
Therefore, we have not proposed to exclude them, but we are prepared to
evaluate any comments submitted regarding impracticality and other
types of furnaces and, most importantly, supporting documentation that
we may receive from commenters.
Under this supplemental proposal, owners or operators of
uncontrolled furnaces, including round top furnaces, who petition the
appropriate authority that it is impractical to install ACGIH-compliant
hooding would be required to minimize fugitive emissions from such
furnaces during testing. In response to commenters' requests, we are
proposing example procedures that can be used to minimize unmeasured
fugitive emissions during testing. These procedures may include, if
practical, one or more of the following, but are not limited to:
Installing a hood that does not entirely meet ACGIH
guidelines;
Using the building as an enclosure and measuring emissions
exhausted from the building if there are no other furnaces or other
significant sources in the building of the pollutants to be measured;
Installing temporary baffles on the sides or top of the
furnace opening, if it is practical to do so where they will not
interfere with material handling or with the furnace door opening and
closing;
Increasing the exhaust rate from the furnace from furnaces
with draft fans, so as to capture emissions that might otherwise escape
into the building;
Minimizing the time the furnace doors are open or the top
is off;
Delaying gaseous reactive fluxing until charging doors are
closed or the top is on;
Agitating or stirring molten metal as soon as practicable
after salt flux addition and closing doors as soon as possible after
solid fluxing operations, including mixing and dross removal;
Keeping building doors and other openings closed to the
greatest extent possible to minimize drafts that would divert emissions
from being drawn into the furnace; and
Maintaining burners on low-fire or pilot operation while
the doors are open or the top is off.
We are also proposing revised amendments to clarify in what
circumstances installation of temporary capture hoods for testing would
be considered impractical. We are proposing that temporary capture
hooding installation would be considered impractical if:
Building or equipment obstructions (for example, wall,
ceiling, roof, structural beams, utilities, overhead crane or other)
are present such that the temporary hood cannot be located consistent
with acceptable hood design and installation practices;
Space limitations or work area constraints exist such that
the temporary hood cannot be supported or located to prevent
interference with normal furnace operations or avoid unsafe working
conditions for the furnace operator; or
Other obstructions and limitations subject to agreement by
the permitting authority for major sources, or the Administrator for
area sources.
We invite comments and solicit information on certain aspects of
the proposed compliance provisions for testing of uncontrolled
furnaces. Specifically, we are soliciting comments and information on
the requirements in this supplemental proposal that specify the types
of obstacles and limitations that can be used to show that testing
using ACGIH-compliant hooding is impractical, the procedures that can
be implemented to minimize unmeasured fugitive emissions during
testing, and the exemption of existing round top furnaces from the
requirements to test using ACGIH-compliant hooding or apply the 67-
percent capture efficiency assumption. We are not soliciting comment on
any other element of the provisions proposed in the 2012 proposal
regarding testing of uncontrolled furnaces.
[[Page 72904]]
4. Annual Inspections of Capture/Collection Systems
In the 2012 proposal, we proposed codifying in subpart RRR our
existing interpretation that annual hood inspections include flow rate
measurements using EPA Reference Methods 1 and 2 in Appendix A to 40
CFR part 60. These flow rate measurements supplement the effectiveness
of the required visual inspection for leaks, to reveal the presence of
obstructions in the ductwork, confirm that fan efficiency has not
declined and provide a measured value for air flow. Commenters
requested that the EPA allow flexibility in the methods used to
complete the annual inspections of capture/collection systems stating
that the use of volumetric flow measurement was often not necessary and
Method 1 and 2 tests could be a cost burden for some facilities.
Comments also indicated that routine, but less frequent, flow rate
measurements could ensure that capture/collection systems are operated
properly and suggested alternative methods of ensuring the efficiency
of capture/collection systems.
Based on the comments received and our consideration of inspection
needs, the EPA is proposing additional options that provide more
flexibility in how affected sources can verify the efficiency of their
capture/collection system. Instead of annual Methods 1 and 2 testing,
we propose that sources may choose to perform flow rate measurements
using EPA Methods 1 and 2 once every 5 years provided that a flow rate
indicator consisting of a pitot tube and differential pressure gauge is
installed and used to record daily the differential pressure and to
ensure that the differential pressure is maintained at or above 90
percent of the pressure differential measured during the most recent
Method 2 performance test series, and that the flow rate indicator is
inspected annually. As another option to annual flow rate measurements
using Methods 1 and 2, the EPA is proposing to allow Methods 1 and 2
testing to be performed every 5 years provided that daily measurements
of the revolutions per minute (RPM) of the capture and collection
system's fan are taken, the readings are recorded daily and the fan RPM
is maintained at or above 90 percent of the RPM measured during the
most recent Method 2 performance test. Further, we are proposing that
as an alternative to the flow rate measurements using Methods 1 and 2,
the annual hood inspection requirements can be satisfied by conducting
annual verification of a permanent total enclosure using EPA Method
204. We are further proposing that as an alternative to the annual
verification of a permanent total enclosure using EPA Method 204,
verification can be performed once every 5 years if negative pressure
in the enclosure is directly monitored by a pressure indicator and
readings are recorded daily or the system is interlocked to halt
material feed should the system not operate under negative pressure. In
this supplemental proposal, we are also proposing that readings outside
a specified range would need to be investigated and steps taken to
restore normal operation, and that pressure indicators would need to be
inspected annually for damage and operability.
5. Sweat Furnace Operating and Monitoring Requirements
We are also proposing to amend 40 CFR 63.1506(c) and 63.1510(d) to
provide sweat furnaces with alternative compliance options to the ACGIH
Guidelines and the required annual flow rate measurements using EPA
Methods 1 and 2. We are proposing that in lieu of meeting the ACGIH
guidelines for capture and collection and the annual flow rate
measurements using Methods 1 and 2, sweat furnaces may comply by
demonstrating negative air flow into or towards the sweat furnace
opening as well as operating and maintaining the sweat furnace in such
a way that minimizes fugitive emissions.
6. Startup, Shutdown, Malfunction and the Malfunction Affirmative
Defense
In the 2012 proposal, we proposed to eliminate provisions that
exempt sources from the requirement to comply with the otherwise
applicable CAA section 112(d) emission standards during periods of
Startup, Shutdown and Malfunction (SSM). We explained in the 2012
proposal that because the scrap processed at secondary aluminum
production facilities is the source of emissions, we expect emissions
during startup and shutdown would be no higher, and most likely would
be significantly lower, than emissions during normal operations since
no scrap is processed during those periods. We stated that we knew of
no reason why the existing standards should not apply at all times. For
production processes in the Secondary Aluminum Production source
category where the standards are expressed in units of pounds per ton
of feed or similar units (i.e., thermal chip dyers, scrap dryer/
delacquering kiln/decoating kilns, dross-only furnaces, in-line fluxers
using reactive flux and group 1 furnaces), the 2012 proposal included a
method for demonstrating compliance with those limits based on
emissions measured during startup and shutdown.
Because conducting meaningful testing during periods of startup and
shutdown can be problematic, in this supplemental proposal we are
proposing an additional method that can be used to demonstrate
compliance with production based emission limits during periods of
startup and shutdown. Together, these proposed compliance provisions
for periods of startup and shutdown better reflect the MACT requirement
for those periods. Recognizing that the source of HAP emissions is the
processing of scrap and the use of fluxes during processing and that
the heat for processing in the Secondary Aluminum Production source
category is generated exclusively by use of clean fuels--natural gas,
propane or electricity--we are proposing that compliance with emission
standards during startup and shutdown can be demonstrated by keeping
records that show that the feed/charge rate was zero, the flux rate was
zero and the affected source or emission unit either was heated with
electricity, propane or natural gas as the sole sources of heat or was
not heated (see proposed section 63.1513(f)). We are also proposing
that the following records be kept: The date and time of each startup
and shutdown, the quantity of feed/charge and flux introduced during
each startup and shutdown and the types of fuel used to heat the unit
during startup and shutdown.
We are also proposing to define periods of startup and shutdown.
For the purposes of subpart RRR, startup means ``the period of
operation for thermal chip dryers, scrap dryers/delacquering kilns,
decoating kilns, dross-only furnaces, group 1 furnaces, in-line
fluxers, sweat furnaces and group 2 furnaces that begins with equipment
warming from a cold start or a complete shutdown. Startup ends at the
point that feed/charge is introduced.'' Shutdown means the period of
operation for thermal chip dryers, scrap dryers/delacquering kilns,
decoating kilns, dross-only furnaces, group 1 furnaces, in-line
fluxers, sweat furnaces and group 2 furnaces that begins when the
introduction of feed/charge is halted and all product has been removed
from the emission unit (e.g., by tapping a furnace).''
We solicit comments and additional information related to the
proposed definitions of startup and shutdown, as well as the additional
option proposed in this supplemental proposal for demonstrating
compliance during
[[Page 72905]]
periods of startup and shutdown based on the presence (or absence) in
the furnace of feed/charge or fluxing, and the type of combustion fuels
or the absence of combustion fuels. We are also proposing to move the
requirements for compliance demonstration during startup and shutdown
from the emission standards section (section 63.1505), where they were
in the 2012 proposal, to the more appropriate compliance demonstration
section (section 63.1513). However, we are not soliciting comments on
the compliance demonstration method for periods of startup and shutdown
that was presented in the 2012 proposal.
In the 2012 proposal, we proposed to eliminate provisions that
exempt sources from the requirement to comply with the otherwise
applicable CAA section 112(d) emission standards during periods of SSM.
We also included provisions for affirmative defense to civil penalties
for violations of emission standards caused by malfunctions. Periods of
startup, normal operations and shutdown are all predictable and routine
aspects of a source's operations. Malfunctions, in contrast, are
neither predictable nor routine. Instead they are, by definition
sudden, infrequent and not reasonably preventable failures of emissions
control, process or monitoring equipment. As explained in the 2012
proposal (77 FR 8598), the EPA interprets CAA section 112 as not
requiring emissions that occur during periods of malfunction to be
factored into development of CAA section 112 standards. Under section
112, emissions standards for new sources must be no less stringent than
the level ``achieved'' by the best controlled similar source and for
existing sources generally must be no less stringent than the average
emission limitation ``achieved'' by the best performing 12 percent of
sources in the category. There is nothing in section 112 that directs
the agency to consider malfunctions in determining the level
``achieved'' by the best performing sources when setting emission
standards. As the United States Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit has recognized, the phrase ``average emissions
limitation achieved by the best performing 12 percent of'' sources
``says nothing about how the performance of the best units is to be
calculated.'' Nat'l Ass'n of Clean Water Agencies v. EPA, 734 F.3d
1115, 1141 (D.C. Cir. 2013). While the EPA accounts for variability in
setting emissions standards, nothing in section 112 requires the agency
to consider malfunctions as part of that analysis. A malfunction should
not be treated in the same manner as the type of variation in
performance that occurs during routine operations of a source. A
malfunction is a failure of the source to perform in a ``normal or
usual manner'' and no statutory language compels the EPA to consider
such events in setting section 112 standards.
Further, accounting for malfunctions in setting emission standards
would be difficult, if not impossible, given the myriad different types
of malfunctions that can occur across all sources in the category and
given the difficulties associated with predicting or accounting for the
frequency, degree and duration of various malfunctions that might
occur. As a result, the performance of units that are malfunctioning is
not ``reasonably'' foreseeable. See, e.g., Sierra Club v. EPA, 167 F.3d
658, 662 (D.C. Cir. 1999) (``The EPA typically has wide latitude in
determining the extent of data-gathering necessary to solve a problem.
We generally defer to an agency's decision to proceed on the basis of
imperfect scientific information, rather than to `invest the resources
to conduct the perfect study.' '') See also, Weyerhaeuser v. Costle,
590 F.2d 1011, 1058 (D.C. Cir. 1978) (``In the nature of things, no
general limit, individual permit, or even any upset provision can
anticipate all upset situations. After a certain point, the
transgression of regulatory limits caused by `uncontrollable acts of
third parties,' such as strikes, sabotage, operator intoxication or
insanity and a variety of other eventualities, must be a matter for the
administrative exercise of case-by-case enforcement discretion, not for
specification in advance by regulation.''). In addition, emissions
during a malfunction event can be significantly higher than emissions
at any other time of source operation. For example, if an air pollution
control device with 99 percent removal goes off-line as a result of a
malfunction (as might happen if, for example, the bags in a baghouse
catch fire) and the emission unit is a steady state type unit that
would take days to shut down, the source would go from 99 percent
control to zero control until the control device was repaired. The
source's emissions during the malfunction would be 100 times higher
than during normal operations. As such, the emissions over a 4-day
malfunction period would exceed the annual emissions of the source
during normal operations. As this example illustrates, accounting for
malfunctions could lead to standards that are not reflective of (and
significantly less stringent than) levels that are achieved by a well-
performing non-malfunctioning source. It is reasonable to interpret
section 112 to avoid such a result. The EPA's approach to malfunctions
is consistent with section 112 and is a reasonable interpretation of
the statute.
In the event that a source fails to comply with the applicable CAA
section 112(d) standards as a result of a malfunction event, the EPA
would determine an appropriate response based on, among other things,
the good faith efforts of the source to minimize emissions during
malfunction periods, including preventative and corrective actions, as
well as root cause analyses to ascertain and rectify excess emissions.
The EPA would also consider whether the source's failure to comply with
the CAA section 112(d) standard was, in fact, sudden, infrequent, not
reasonably preventable and was not instead caused in part by poor
maintenance or careless operation.
If the EPA determines in a particular case that enforcement action
against a source for violation of an emission standard is warranted,
the source can raise any and all defenses in that enforcement action
and the federal district court will determine what, if any, relief is
appropriate. The same is true for citizen enforcement actions.
Similarly, the presiding officer in an administrative proceeding can
consider any defense raised and determine whether administrative
penalties are appropriate.
In summary, the EPA interpretation of the CAA and, in particular,
section 112 is reasonable and encourages practices that will avoid
malfunctions. Administrative and judicial procedures for addressing
exceedances of the standards fully recognize that violations may occur
despite good faith efforts to comply and can accommodate those
situations.
As noted above, the 2012 proposal included an affirmative defense
to civil penalties for violations caused by malfunctions. The EPA
included the affirmative defense in the 2012 proposal as it had in
several prior rules in an effort to create a system that incorporates
some flexibility, recognizing that there is a tension, inherent in many
types of air regulation, to ensure adequate compliance while
simultaneously recognizing that despite the most diligent of efforts,
emission standards may be violated under circumstances entirely beyond
the control of the source. Although the EPA recognized that its case-
by-case enforcement discretion provides sufficient flexibility in these
circumstances, it included the
[[Page 72906]]
affirmative defense in the 2012 proposal and in several prior rules to
provide a more formalized approach and more regulatory clarity. See
Weyerhaeuser Co. v. Costle, 590 F.2d 1011, 1057-58 (D.C. Cir. 1978)
(holding that an informal case-by-case enforcement discretion approach
is adequate); but see Marathon Oil Co. v. EPA, 564 F.2d 1253, 1272-73
(9th Cir. 1977) (requiring a more formalized approach to consideration
of ``upsets beyond the control of the permit holder.''). Under the
EPA's regulatory affirmative defense provisions, if a source could
demonstrate in a judicial or administrative proceeding that it had met
the requirements of the affirmative defense in the regulation, civil
penalties would not be assessed. The United States Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia Circuit vacated an affirmative defense in one
of the EPA's section 112(d) regulations. NRDC v. EPA, 749 F.3d 1055
(D.C. Cir. 2014) (vacating affirmative defense provisions in section
112 rule establishing emission standards for Portland cement kilns).
The court found that the EPA lacked authority to establish an
affirmative defense for private civil suits and held that under the
CAA, the authority to determine civil penalty amounts in such cases
lies exclusively with the courts, not the EPA. Specifically, the court
found: ``As the language of the statute makes clear, the courts
determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether civil penalties are
`appropriate.' '' See NRDC v. EPA, 749 F.3d 1055, 1063 (D.C. Cir. 2014)
(``[U]nder this statute, deciding whether penalties are `appropriate'
in a given private civil suit is a job for the courts, not for EPA.'').
In light of NRDC, the EPA is withdrawing its proposal to include a
regulatory affirmative defense provision in this rulemaking and in this
supplementary proposal has eliminated section 63.1520 (the provision
that established the affirmative defense in the proposed rule published
in the Federal Register on February 14, 2012 (77 FR 8576)). As
explained above, if a source is unable to comply with emissions
standards as a result of a malfunction, the EPA may use its case-by-
case enforcement discretion to provide flexibility, as appropriate.
Further, as the D.C. Circuit recognized, in an EPA or citizen
enforcement action, the court has the discretion to consider any
defense raised and determine whether penalties are appropriate. Cf.
NRDC v. EPA, 749 F.3d 1055, 1064 (D.C. Cir. 2014) (arguments that
violation were caused by unavoidable technology failure can be made to
the courts in future civil cases when the issue arises). The same logic
applies to EPA administrative enforcement actions.
E. What compliance dates are we proposing?
In the 2012 proposal, the EPA proposed that owners or operators of
existing affected sources comply with the proposed amendments within 90
days of the publication of the final rule in the Federal Register.
Commenters stated that the proposed 90 day compliance deadline was
insufficient for sources to comply with certain provisions of the final
rule. They maintained that the rule changes would require operational
planning, maintenance planning, reprogramming of data acquisition
systems, design and installation of hooding equipment and/or
negotiations with permitting authorities to gain performance test plan
approvals (with provisions to minimize fugitive emissions during
testing in place of capture hoods). They pointed out that facilities
that choose to design and install capture hoods for performance testing
will need time to design and complete these installations, conduct
initial performance testing and modify their operations, charge
materials and/or products to ensure compliance. Some rule changes,
furnace switching, HF testing and testing uncontrolled furnaces for
example, would require revisions to operation, maintenance and
monitoring (OM&M) plans as well as to permits to include newly
established operating parameters in cases where changes to furnace
classifications are made. Commenters stated that compliance with HF
emission standards that may affect choice of flux materials, daily
calculation of HF emissions and compliance with SAPU limit that will
require reprogramming of data systems to include HF and/or fluoride
containing flux composition data would also require time to be
researched, selected, purchased, financed and installed. Commenters
suggested compliance deadlines ranging from 2 to 3 years.
The EPA agrees with commenters that the proposed 90-day compliance
deadline is insufficient for sources to comply with certain provisions
of the final rule and is proposing extended compliance periods. The EPA
is proposing a 180-day compliance period for the revisions listed in
section 63.1501(d). For the amendments to include HF emissions (in
section 63.1505(i)(4) and (k)(2)), the testing of existing uncontrolled
furnaces (sections 63.1512(e)(4), (e)(5), (e)(6) and (e)(7)), and
changing furnace classification (section 63.1514), the EPA agrees that
a longer compliance period is required and is proposing a compliance
date of 2 years after promulgation.
V. Summary of the Revised Cost, Environmental and Economic Impacts
A. What are the affected sources?
We estimate that there are 161 secondary aluminum production
facilities that will be affected by this proposed rule. We performed
risk modeling for 155 of these sources (52 of the 53 major sources and
103 of the 108 area sources). There were six facilities that are
subject to the Secondary Aluminum NESHAP that were not included in the
risk assessment input modeling files. The facilities that were not
included in the risk assessment input files included one major HAP
source and five area HAP sources. The major HAP source was not included
because the secondary aluminum equipment at the source consists of
group 2 furnaces, for which the EPA did not have HAP emissions
estimates. The five area sources were not included because they had no
equipment subject to D/F emission standards, which are the only
standards in the NESHAP applicable to area sources. We estimate that
nine secondary aluminum facilities have co-located primary aluminum
operations. The affected sources at secondary aluminum production
facilities include new and existing scrap shredders, thermal chip
dryers, scrap dryer/delacquering kiln/decoating kilns, group 2
furnaces, sweat furnaces, dross-only furnaces, rotary dross cooler and
secondary aluminum processing units containing group 1 furnaces and in-
line fluxers.
B. What are the air quality impacts?
No changes are being proposed to numerical emissions limits. This
supplemental proposal affects the number of times that a furnace can
switch operating modes, clarifies how uncontrolled furnaces are to
conduct emissions testing, extends the compliance deadline, revises the
monitoring requirements for annual inspection of capture/collection
systems, clarifies the requirements for conducting performance testing
under worst case conditions and provides monitoring alternatives for
sweat furnaces. These proposed amendments would not have any
appreciable effect on emissions or result in emission reductions,
although the proposed requirements for testing uncontrolled furnaces
could result in some unquantifiable emission reduction. Therefore, no
quantifiable air quality impacts are expected. However, these
[[Page 72907]]
proposed amendments will help to improve compliance, monitoring and
implementation of the rule.
C. What are the cost impacts?
We conservatively estimate the total cost of the proposed
amendments to be $1,711,000 per year (in 2011 dollars). However,
depending on assumptions used for the costs for installing temporary
hooding for uncontrolled furnaces, the estimate of total annualized
costs could range from $611,000 to $2,871,000 per year.
Our estimate for the source category includes an annualized cost of
$1,200,000 to $3,460,000 for installing hooding that meets ACGIH
guidelines for testing uncontrolled furnaces, assuming that 107
furnaces choose that option (rather than assuming a 67-percent capture
efficiency for their existing furnace exhaust system). We believe that
a number of these 107 furnaces will choose to apply the 67-percent
assumption rather than install hooding. Therefore, these total cost
estimates are considered conservative (more likely to be overestimates
rather than underestimates) of the total costs to the industry. Our
estimates of total costs also include an annualized cost of $11,000 for
testing for HF on uncontrolled furnaces that are already testing for
HCl. Finally, we estimate cost savings of $600,000 per year for
furnaces that change furnace operating modes and turn off their control
devices. Our estimate of savings is based on 50 furnaces turning off
their controls for approximately 6 months every year. This savings
reflects the cost of testing (to demonstrate these furnaces remain in
compliance with emission limits) minus the savings realized from
operating with the control devices turned off.
We estimate that 57 facilities will be affected and that the cost
per facility ranges from negative $36,000 (a cost savings) per year for
a facility changing furnace operating modes to $216,500 per year for a
facility installing hooding for testing.
The estimated costs are explained further in the document titled
Updated Cost Estimates for the Proposed Rule Changes to Secondary
Aluminum NESHAP, which is available in the docket for this action.
D. What are the economic impacts?
We performed an economic impact analysis for the proposed revisions
and amendments in this supplemental proposed rulemaking. This analysis
estimates impacts based on using annualized cost-to-sales ratios for
affected firms. For the 28 parent firms affected by this proposed rule,
the cost-to-sales estimate for each parent firm is less than 0.1
percent. For more information, please refer to the document titled
Economic Impact Analysis for the Secondary Aluminum Supplemental
Proposal, which is available in the docket.
E. What are the benefits?
We do not anticipate any significant reductions in HAP emissions as
a result of these proposed amendments. However, we think that the
proposed amendments will help to improve the clarity of the rule, which
can improve compliance and minimize emissions. Certain provisions also
provide operational flexibility with no increase in HAP emissions.
VI. Request for Comments
As discussed in detail above, we solicit comments on the revised
risk assessment and proposed changes presented in this supplemental
proposal. We are not re-opening comment on any other elements of the
2012 proposal (77 FR 8576, February 14, 2012). Comments previously
received on the 2012 proposal, along with comments received on and
within the scope of this supplemental proposal, will be addressed in
the final rulemaking action.
We are also interested in any additional data that may help to
reduce the uncertainties inherent in the risk assessments and other
analyses. We are specifically interested in receiving corrections to
the site-specific emissions profiles used for risk modeling. Such data
should include supporting documentation in sufficient detail to allow
characterization of the quality and representativeness of the data or
information. Section VII of this preamble provides more information on
submitting data.
VII. Submitting Data Corrections
The site-specific emissions profiles used in the source category
risk and demographic analyses and instructions are available on the RTR
Web page at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/rrisk/rtrpg.html. The data files
include detailed information for each HAP emissions release point for
the facilities in the source category.
If you believe that the data are not representative or are
inaccurate, please identify the data in question, provide your reason
for concern and provide any ``improved'' data that you have, if
available. When you submit data, we request that you provide
documentation of the basis for the revised values to support your
suggested changes. To submit comments on the data downloaded from the
RTR page, complete the following steps:
1. Within this downloaded file, enter suggested revisions to the
data fields appropriate for that information.
2. Fill in the commenter information fields for each suggested
revision (i.e., commenter name, commenter organization, commenter email
address, commenter phone number and revision comments).
3. Gather documentation for any suggested emissions revisions
(e.g., performance test reports, material balance calculations, etc.).
4. Send the entire downloaded file with suggested revisions in
Microsoft[supreg] Access format and all accompanying documentation to
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0544 (through one of the methods
described in the ADDRESSES section of this preamble).
5. If you are providing comments on a single facility or multiple
facilities, you need only submit one file for all facilities. The file
should contain all suggested changes for all sources at that facility.
We request that all data revision comments be submitted in the form of
updated Microsoft[supreg] Excel files that are generated by the
Microsoft[supreg] Access file. These files are provided on the RTR Web
page at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/rrisk/rtrpg.html.
VIII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review
This action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under the
terms of Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and is,
therefore, not subject to review under Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
(76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011).
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
The information collection requirements in this proposed action
have been submitted for approval to OMB under the Paperwork Reduction
Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. The ICR document prepared by the EPA has
been assigned the EPA ICR number 2453.01.
We are proposing changes to the paperwork requirements to the
Secondary Aluminum Production source category that were proposed in
2012.
In addition, in the 2012 proposal, we included an estimate of the
burden associated with the affirmative defense in the ICR. However, as
explained above, we are withdrawing our proposal
[[Page 72908]]
to include affirmative defense provisions, and the burden estimate has
been revised accordingly.
We estimate 161 regulated entities are currently subject to subpart
RRR. The annual monitoring, reporting and recordkeeping burden for this
collection (averaged over the first 3 years after the effective date of
the standards) for these amendments to subpart RRR is estimated to be
$2,990,000 per year. This includes 1,694 labor hours per year at a
total labor cost of $162,000 per year, and total non-labor capital and
operation and maintenance (O&M) costs of $2,828,000 per year. The total
burden for the federal government (averaged over the first 3 years
after the effective date of the standard) is estimated to be 271 labor
hours per year at an annual cost of $12,231. Burden is defined at 5 CFR
1320.3(b).
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 the
EPA's regulations in 40 CFR 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, the EPA has established a public docket
for this rule, which includes this ICR, under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2010-0544. Submit any comments related to the ICR to the EPA and OMB.
See the ADDRESSES section at the beginning of this document for where
to submit comments to the 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
the EPA. Since OMB is required to make a decision concerning the ICR
between 30 and 60 days after December 8, 2014, a comment to OMB is best
assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it by January 7,
2015. The final rule will respond to any OMB or public comments on the
information collection requirements contained in this proposal.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) 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 will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. Small entities include small businesses,
small organizations and small governmental jurisdictions.
For purposes of assessing the impacts of this action on small
entities, small entity is defined as: (1) A small business as defined
by the Small Business Administration's (SBA) regulations at 13 CFR
121.201; (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 that is independently owned and operated
and is not dominant in its field. For this source category, which has
the NAICS code 331314 (i.e., Secondary Smelting and Alloying of
Aluminum), the SBA small business size standard is 750 employees
according to the SBA small business standards definitions.
After considering the economic impacts of these proposed changes on
small entities, I certify that this action will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. We
determined in the economic and small business analysis that, using the
results from the cost memorandum, 28 entities will incur costs
associated with the proposed rule. Of these 28 entities, nine of them
are small. Of these nine, all of them are estimated to experience a
negative cost (i.e., a cost savings) as a result of the proposed action
according to our analysis. For more information, please refer to the
Economic Impact Analysis for the Secondary Aluminum Supplemental
Proposal, which is available in the docket.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
This action 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 the private sector in any one year.
Thus, this action is not subject to the requirements of section 202 or
205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA).
This action is also not subject to the requirements of section 203
of UMRA because it contains no regulatory requirements that might
significantly or uniquely affect small governments as it contains no
requirements that apply to such governments nor does it impose
obligations upon them.
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
This action does not have federalism implications. It will 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. None of the facilities subject to
this proposed action are owned or operated by state governments. Thus,
Executive Order 13132 does not apply to this proposed action.
In the spirit of Executive Order 13132, and consistent with the EPA
policy to promote communications between the EPA and State and local
governments, the EPA specifically solicits comment on this proposed
rule from state and local officials.
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian
Tribal Governments
This action does not have tribal implications, as specified in
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). There are no
secondary aluminum production facilities that are owned or operated by
tribal governments. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this
action. The EPA specifically solicits additional comments on this
proposed action from tribal officials.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental
Health Risks and Safety Risks
This action is not subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885,
April 23, 1997) because it is not economically significant as defined
in Executive Order 12866 and because the agency does not believe the
environmental health or safety risks addressed by this action present a
disproportionate risk to children. This action's health and risk
assessments are contained in sections III and IV of this document. The
public is invited to submit comments or identify peer-reviewed studies
and data that assess effects of early life exposures to the pollutants
emitted by this source category.
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
This action is not subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355,
May 22, 2001) because it is not a significant regulatory action under
Executive Order 12866.
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (``NTTAA''), Public Law 104-113 (15 U.S.C. 272 note),
directs the EPA to use voluntary consensus standards (VCS) in its
regulatory
[[Page 72909]]
activities unless to do so would be inconsistent with applicable law or
otherwise impractical. VCS are technical standards (e.g., materials
specifications, test methods, sampling procedures and business
practices) that are developed or adopted by VCS bodies. NTTAA directs
the EPA to provide Congress, through OMB, explanations when the agency
decides not to use available and applicable VCS.
This proposed action involves technical standards. Therefore, the
agency conducted a search to identify potentially applicable VCS. The
VCS ASTM D7520-09, ``Standard Test Method for Determining the Opacity
of a Plume in the Outdoor Ambient Atmosphere'' was identified as an
acceptable alternative to EPA Method 9. The standard was developed and
is published by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
The standard can be obtained by contacting ASTM at 100 Barr Harbor
Drive, Post Office Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959 or at
their Web site, https://www.astm.org.
In addition, as a result of comments received on the 2012 proposal,
EPA Method 26 was identified as a reasonable alternative to EPA Method
26A and EPA Method 204 was identified as a reasonable alternative
method for EPA Methods 1 and 2. The EPA agrees that EPA Methods 26 and
204 are acceptable alternatives for use in this rule. Therefore, the
EPA has proposed adding ASTM D7520-09, ``Standard Test Method for
Determining the Opacity of a Plume in the Outdoor Ambient Atmosphere,''
as an alternative method for the currently required EPA Method 9; EPA
Method 26 as an alternative for the currently required EPA Method 26A;
and EPA Method 204 as an alternative to the currently required EPA
Methods 1 and 2.
The EPA welcomes comments on this aspect of the proposed rulemaking
and, specifically, invites the public to identify potentially-
applicable VCS and to explain why such standards should be used in this
regulation.
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.
The EPA has determined that this proposed rule will not have
disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental
effects on minority or low-income populations because it does not
affect the level of protection provided to human health or the
environment. This proposed rule will not relax the emission limits on
regulated sources and will not result in emissions increases.
Because our residual risk assessment determined that there was
minimal residual risk associated with the emissions from facilities in
this source category, a demographic risk analysis was not necessary for
this category. However, the EPA did conduct a proximity analysis for
both area and major sources. The results of these analyses are
summarized in section IV.A.6 of this notice and in more detail in the
EJ Screening Report for Area Sources and the EJ Screening Report for
Major Sources, which are available in the docket for this rulemaking.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 63
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: November 13, 2014.
Gina McCarthy,
Administrator.
For the reasons stated in the preamble, part 63 of title 40,
chapter I, of the Code of Federal Regulations is proposed to be amended
as follows:
PART 63--NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS
FOR SOURCES CATEGORIES
0
1. The authority citation for part 63 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart RRR--NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR
POLLUTANTS FOR SECONDARY ALUMINUM PRODUCTION
0
2. Section 63.1501 is amended by adding paragraphs (d), (e), and (f) to
read as follows:
Sec. 63.1501 Dates.
* * * * *
(d) The owner or operator of an existing affected source must
comply with the following requirements of this subpart by [DATE 180
DAYS FROM PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL RULE IN THE Federal Register]: Sec.
63.1505 (k) introductory text, (k)(1) through (k)(5), other than the
emission standards for HF in (k)(2); Sec. 63.1506 (a)(1), (c)(1),
(g)(5), (k)(3), (m)(4), (n)(1); Sec. 63.1510, (b)(5), (b)(9), (d)(2),
(d)(3), (f)(1)(ii), (i)(4), (j)(4), (n)(1), (o)(1), (o)(1)(ii),
(s)(2)(iv), (t) introductory text, (t)(2)(i), (t)(2)(ii), (t)(4),
(t)(5); Sec. 63.1511(a) introductory text, (b) introductory text,
(b)(1), (b)(6), (c)(9), (f)(6), (g)(5); Sec. 63.1512(e)(1), (e)(2),
(e)(3), (h)(2), (j), (j)(1)(i), (j)(2)(i), (o)(1), (p)(2); Sec.
63.1513(b) introductory text, (b)(1), (e)(1), (e)(2), (e)(3), (f);
Sec. 63.1516 (b) introductory text, (b)(2)(iii), (b)(3), (d); Sec.
63.1517(b)(16)(i), (b)(18), (b)(19), (c).
(e) The owner or operator of an existing affected source must
comply with the following requirements of this subpart by [DATE 2 YEARS
FROM PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL RULE IN THE Federal Register]: Sec.
63.1505(i)(4) and (k)(2) emission standards for HF; Sec. 63.1512(e)(4)
through (7) requirements for testing existing uncontrolled group 1
furnaces; and Sec. 63.1514 requirements for change of furnace
classification.
(f) The owner or operator of a new affected source that commences
construction or reconstruction after February 14, 2012 must comply with
all of the requirements listed in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this
section by [DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL RULE IN THE Federal
Register] or upon startup, whichever is later.
0
3. Section 63.1503 is amended by adding in alphabetical order
definitions for ``round top furnace,'' ``shutdown,'' and ``startup'' to
read as follows:
Sec. 63.1503 Definitions.
* * * * *
Round top furnace means a cylindrically-shaped reverberatory
furnace that has a top that is removed for charging and other furnace
operations.
* * * * *
Shutdown means the period of operation for thermal chip dryers,
scrap dryers/delacquering kilns, decoating kilns, dross-only furnaces,
group 1 furnaces, in-line fluxers, sweat furnaces and group 2 furnaces
that begins when the introduction of feed/charge is halted and all
product has been removed from the emission unit (e.g., by tapping a
furnace).
* * * * *
Startup means the period of operation for thermal chip dryers,
scrap dryers/delacquering kilns, decoating kilns, dross-only furnaces,
group 1 furnaces, in-line fluxers, sweat furnaces and group 2 furnaces
that begins with equipment warming from a cold start or
[[Page 72910]]
a complete shutdown. Startup ends at the point that feed/charge is
introduced.
* * * * *
0
4. Section 63.1506 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(4) to read as
follows:
Sec. 63.1506 Operating requirements.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(4) In lieu of paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the owner or
operator of a sweat furnace may design, install and operate each sweat
furnace in accordance with paragraphs (c)(4)(i) through (iii) of this
section.
(i) As demonstrated by an annual negative air flow test conducted
in accordance with Sec. 63.1510(d)(3), air flow must be into the sweat
furnace or towards the plane of the sweat furnace opening.
(ii) The owner or operator must maintain and operate the sweat
furnace in a manner consistent with the good practices requirements for
minimizing emissions, including fugitive emissions, in paragraph (a)(5)
of this section. Procedures that will minimize fugitive emissions may
include, but are not limited to the following:
(A) Increasing the exhaust rate from the furnace with draft fans,
so as to capture emissions that might otherwise escape from the sweat
furnace opening;
(B) Minimizing the time the sweat furnace doors are open;
(C) Keeping building doors and other openings closed to the
greatest extent possible to minimize drafts that would divert emissions
from being drawn into the sweat furnace;
(D) Maintaining burners on low-fire or pilot operation while the
doors are open;
(E) Conducting periodic inspections and maintenance of sweat
furnace components to ensure their proper operation and performance
including but not limited to, door assemblies, seals, combustion
chamber refractory material, afterburner and stack refractory, blowers,
fans, dampers, burner tubes, door raise cables, pilot light assemblies,
baffles, sweat furnace and afterburner shells and other internal
structures.
(iii) The owner or operator must document in their OM&M plan the
procedures to be used to minimize emissions, including fugitive
emissions, in addition to the procedures to ensure the proper operation
and maintenance of the sweat furnace.
* * * * *
0
5. Section 63.1510 is amended by revising paragraph (d)(2) and adding
paragraph (d)(3) to read as follows:
Sec. 63.1510 Monitoring requirements.
* * * * *
(d) * * *
(2) Inspect each capture/collection and closed vent system at least
once each calendar year to ensure that each system is operating in
accordance with the operating requirements in Sec. 63.1506(c) and
record the results of each inspection. This inspection shall include a
volumetric flow rate measurement taken at a location in the ductwork
downstream of the hoods that is representative of the actual volumetric
flow rate without interference due to leaks, ambient air added for
cooling or ducts from other hoods. The flow rate measurement must be
performed in accordance with paragraphs (d)(2)(i), (ii), or (iii) of
this section. As an alternative to the flow rate measurement specified
in this paragraph, the inspection may satisfy the requirements of this
paragraph, including the operating requirements in Sec. 63.1506(c), by
including permanent total enclosure verification in accordance with
(d)(2)(i) or (iv) of this section.
(i) Conduct annual flow rate measurements using EPA Methods 1 and 2
in Appendix A to 40 CFR part 60, or conduct annual verification of a
permanent total enclosure using EPA Method 204; or
(ii) As an alternative to annual flow rate measurements using EPA
Methods 1 and 2, measurement with EPA Methods 1 and 2 can be performed
once every 5 years, provided that:
(A) A flow rate indicator consisting of a pitot tube and
differential pressure gauge (Magnehelic[supreg], manometer or other
differential pressure gauge) is installed with the pitot tube tip
located at a representative point of the duct proximate to the location
of the Methods 1 and 2 measurement site; and
(B) The flow rate indicator is installed and operated in accordance
with the manufacturer's specifications; and
(C) The differential pressure is recorded during the Method 2
performance test series; and
(D) Differential pressure readings are recorded daily, and
maintained at or above 90 percent of the pressure differential
indicated by the flow rate indicator during the most recent Method 2
performance test series; and
(E) An inspection of the pitot tube and associated lines for
damage, plugging, leakage and operational integrity is conducted at
least once per year; or
(iii) As an alternative to annual flow rate measurements using EPA
Methods 1 and 2, measurement with EPA Methods 1 and 2 can be performed
once every 5 years, provided that:
(A) Daily measurements of the capture and collection system's fan
revolutions per minute (RPM) are made by taking three measurements with
at least 5 minutes between each measurement, and averaging the three
measurements; and
(B) Readings are recorded daily and maintained at or above 90
percent of the RPM measured during the most recent Method 2 performance
test series.
(iv) As an alternative to the annual verification of a permanent
total enclosure using EPA Method 204, verification can be performed
once every 5 years, provided that:
(A) Negative pressure in the enclosure is directly monitored by a
pressure indicator installed at a representative location;
(B) Pressure readings are recorded daily or the system is
interlocked to halt material feed should the system not operate under
negative pressure;
(C) When there are readings outside the range specified in the OM&M
plan, the facility investigates and takes steps to restore normal
operation, which may include initial inspection and evaluation,
recording that operations returned to normal without operator action or
other applicable actions; and
(D) An inspection of the pressure indicator for damage and
operational integrity is conducted at least once per calendar year.
(3) In lieu of paragraph (d)(2) of this section, the owner or
operator of a sweat furnace may inspect each sweat furnace at least
once each calendar year to ensure that they are being operated in
accordance with the negative air flow requirements in Sec.
63.1506(c)(4). The owner or operator of a sweat furnace must
demonstrate negative air flow into the sweat furnace in accordance with
paragraphs (d)(3)(i) through (iii) of this section.
(i) Perform an annual visual smoke test to demonstrate airflow into
the sweat furnace or towards the plane of the sweat furnace opening;
(ii) Perform the smoke test using a smoke source, such as a smoke
tube, smoke stick, smoke cartridge, smoke candle or other smoke source
that produces a persistent and neutral buoyancy aerosol; and
(iii) Perform the visual smoke test at a safe distance from and
near the center of the sweat furnace opening.
* * * * *
0
6. Section 63.1511 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(1) to read as
follows:
Sec. 63.1511 Performance test/compliance demonstration general
requirements.
* * * * *
[[Page 72911]]
(b) * * *
(1) The performance tests must be conducted under representative
(normal) conditions expected to produce the highest level of HAP
emissions expressed in the units of the emission standards for the HAP
(considering the extent of scrap contamination, reactive flux addition
rate and feed/charge rate). If a single test condition is not expected
to produce the highest level of emissions for all HAP, testing under
two or more sets of conditions (for example high contamination at low
feed/charge rate, and low contamination at high feed/charge rate) may
be required. Any subsequent performance tests for the purposes of
establishing new or revised parametric limits shall be allowed upon
pre-approval from the permitting authority for major sources, or the
Administrator for area sources. These new parametric settings shall be
used to demonstrate compliance for the period being tested.
* * * * *
0
7. Section 63.1512 is amended by adding paragraphs (e)(4) through (7)
to read as follows:
Sec. 63.1512 Performance test/compliance demonstration requirements
and procedures.
* * * * *
(e) * * *
(4) When testing an existing uncontrolled furnace, the owner or
operator must comply with the requirements of either paragraphs
(e)(4)(i) or (ii) of this section at the next required performance
test.
(i) Install hooding that meets ACGIH Guidelines, or
(ii) Assume a 67-percent capture efficiency for the furnace exhaust
(i.e., multiply emissions measured at the furnace exhaust outlet by
1.5). If the source fails to demonstrate compliance using the 67-
percent capture efficiency assumption, the owner or operator must re-
test with a hood that meets the ACGIH Guidelines within 180 days, or
petition the permitting authority for major sources, or the
Administrator for area sources, within 180 days that such hoods are
impractical under the provisions of paragraph (e)(6) of this section
and propose testing procedures that will minimize fugitive emissions
during the performance test according to paragraph (e)(7) of this
section.
(iii) Existing round top furnaces are exempt from the requirements
of paragraphs (e)(4)(i) and (ii) of this section. Round top furnaces
must be operated to minimize fugitive emissions according to paragraph
(e)(7) of this section.
(5) When testing a new uncontrolled furnace the owner or operator
must:
(i) Install hooding that meets ACGIH Guidelines or petition the
permitting authority for major sources, or the Administrator for area
sources, that such hoods are impracticable under the provisions of
paragraph (e)(6) of this section and propose testing procedures that
will minimize fugitive emissions during the performance test according
to the provisions of paragraph (e)(7); and
(ii) Subsequent testing must be conducted in accordance with
paragraphs (e)(4)(i) and (ii) of this section.
(6) The installation of hooding that meets ACGIH Guidelines is
considered impractical if any of the following conditions exist:
(i) Building or equipment obstructions (for example, wall, ceiling,
roof, structural beams, utilities, overhead crane or other
obstructions) are present such that the temporary hood cannot be
located consistent with acceptable hood design and installation
practices;
(ii) Space limitations or work area constraints exist such that the
temporary hood cannot be supported or located to prevent interference
with normal furnace operations or avoid unsafe working conditions for
the furnace operator; or
(iii) Other obstructions and limitations subject to agreement of
the permitting authority for major sources, or the Administrator for
area sources.
(7) Testing procedures that will minimize fugitive emissions may
include, but are not limited to the following:
(i) Installing a hood that does not entirely meet ACGIH guidelines;
(ii) Using the building as an enclosure, and measuring emissions
exhausted from the building if there are no other furnaces or other
significant sources in the building of the pollutants to be measured;
(iii) Installing temporary baffles on those sides or top of furnace
opening if it is practical to do so where they will not interfere with
material handling or with the furnace door opening and closing;
(iv) Increasing the exhaust rate from the furnace with draft fans,
so as to capture emissions that might otherwise escape into the
building if it can be done without increasing furnace emissions in a
way that make the test non-representative;
(v) Minimizing the time the furnace doors are open or the top is
off;
(vi) Delaying gaseous reactive fluxing until charging doors are
closed and, for round top furnaces, until the top is on;
(vii) Agitating or stirring molten metal as soon as practicable
after salt flux addition and closing doors as soon as possible after
solid fluxing operations, including mixing and dross removal;
(viii) Keeping building doors and other openings closed to the
greatest extent possible to minimize drafts that would divert emissions
from being drawn into the furnace; or
(ix) Maintaining burners on low-fire or pilot operation while the
doors are open or the top is off.
* * * * *
0
8. Section 63.1513 is amended by adding paragraph (f) to read as
follows:
Sec. 63.1513 Equations for determining compliance.
* * * * *
(f) Periods of startup and shutdown. For a new or existing affected
source, or a new or existing emission unit subject to an emissions
limit in paragraphs Sec. 63.1505(b) through (j) expressed in units of
pounds per ton of feed/charge, or [mu]g TEQ or ng TEQ per Mg of feed/
charge, demonstrate compliance during periods of startup and shutdown
in accordance with paragraph (f)(1) of this section or determine your
emissions per unit of feed/charge during periods of startup and
shutdown in accordance with paragraph (f)(2) of this section. Startup
and shutdown emissions for group 1 furnaces and in-line fluxers must be
calculated individually, and not on the basis of a SAPU. Periods of
startup and shutdown are excluded from the calculation of SAPU emission
limits in Sec. 63.1505(k), the SAPU monitoring requirements in Sec.
63.1510(t) and the SAPU emissions calculations in Sec. 63.1513(e).
(1) For periods of startup and shutdown, records establishing a
feed/charge rate of zero, a flux rate of zero, and that the affected
source or emission unit was either heated with electricity, propane or
natural gas as the sole sources of heat or was not heated, may be used
to demonstrate compliance with the emission limit, or
(2) For periods of startup and shutdown, divide your measured
emissions in lb/hr or [mu]g/hr or ng/hr by the feed/charge rate in
tons/hr or Mg/hr from your most recent performance test associated with
a production rate greater than zero, or the rated capacity of the
affected source if no prior performance test data is available.
0
9. Amend section 63.1514, as proposed to be added at 77 FR 8576
(February 14, 2012), by revising paragraph (e) to read as follows:
Sec. 63.1514 Change of furnace classification.
* * * * *
[[Page 72912]]
(e) Limit on Frequency of changing furnace operating mode.
(1) Changing furnace operating mode including reversion to the
previous mode, as provided in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this
section, may not be done more frequently than 4 times in any 6-month
period.
(2) If additional changes are needed, the owner or operator must
apply in advance to the permitting authority, for major sources, or the
Administrator, for area sources, for approval.
0
10. Section 63.1517 is amended by adding paragraphs (b)(18) and (19) to
read as follows:
Sec. 63.1517 Records.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(18) For each period of startup or shutdown for which the owner or
operator chooses to demonstrate compliance for an affected source based
on a feed/charge rate of zero, a flux rate of zero and the use of
electricity, propane or natural gas as the sole sources of heating or
the lack of heating, the owner or operator must maintain the following
records:
(i) The date and time of each startup and shutdown,
(ii) The quantities of feed/charge and flux introduced during each
startup and shutdown, and
(iii) The types of fuel used to heat the unit, or that no fuel was
used, during startup and shutdown.
(19) For owners or operators that choose to change furnace
operating modes, the following records must be maintained:
(i) The date and time of each change in furnace operating mode, and
(ii) The nature of the change in operating mode (for example, group
1 controlled furnace processing other than clean charge to group 2).
0
11. Table 2 to subpart RRR of part 63 is amended by revising the entry
for ``All affected sources and emission units with an add-on air
pollution control device'' to read as follows:
Table 2 to Subpart RRR of Part 63--Summary of Operating Requirements for
New and Existing Affected Sources and Emission Units
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monitor type/ Operating
Affected source/emission unit operation/process requirements
------------------------------------------------------------------------
All affected sources and Emission capture Design and install
emission units with an add-on and collection in accordance
air pollution control device. system. with ACGIH
Guidelines;
operate in
accordance with
OM&M plan (sweat
furnaces may be
operated
according to
63.1506(c)(4)).\b
\
* * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
\b\ OM&M plan_Operation, maintenance, and monitoring plan.
* * * * *
0
12. Table 3 to subpart RRR of part 63 is amended by revising the entry
for ``All affected sources and emission units with an add-on air
pollution control device'' and revising footnote d to Table 3 to read
as follows:
Table 3 to Subpart RRR of Part 63--Summary of Monitoring Requirements
for New and Existing Affected Sources and Emission Units
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monitor type/ Monitoring
Affected source/emission unit operation/process requirements
------------------------------------------------------------------------
All affected sources and Emission capture Annual inspection
emission units with an add-on and collection of all emission
air pollution control device. system. capture,
collection, and
transport systems
to ensure that
systems continue
to operate in
accordance with
ACGIH Guidelines.
Inspection
includes
volumetric flow
rate measurements
or verification
of a permanent
total enclosure
using EPA Method
204.\d\
* * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\d\ The frequency of volumetric flow rate measurements may be decreased
to once every 5 years if daily differential pressure measures or daily
fan RPM measurements are made in accordance with Sec. 63.1510(d)(ii)
and (iii). The frequency of annual verification of a permanent total
enclosure may be decreased to once every 5 years if negative pressure
measurements in the enclosure are made daily in accordance with Sec.
63.1510(d)(iv). In lieu of volumetric flow rate measurements or
verification of permanent total enclosure, sweat furnaces may
demonstrate annually negative air flow into the sweat furnace opening
in accordance with Sec. 63.1510(d)(3).
[FR Doc. 2014-27497 Filed 12-5-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P