National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants, 62389-62427 [2015-25137]
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Vol. 80
Thursday,
No. 199
October 15, 2015
Part IV
Environmental Protection Agency
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40 CFR Part 63
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Primary
Aluminum Reduction Plants; Final Rule
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 199 / Thursday, October 15, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 63
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–0797; FRL–9934–16–
OAR]
RIN 2060–AQ92
National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants for Primary
Aluminum Reduction Plants
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
This action finalizes the
residual risk and technology review
(RTR) conducted for the Primary
Aluminum Production source category
regulated under national emission
standards for hazardous air pollutants
(NESHAP). In addition, we are taking
final action regarding new and revised
emission standards for various
hazardous air pollutants (HAP) emitted
by this source category based on the
RTR, newly obtained emissions test
data, and comments we received in
response to the 2011 proposal and 2014
supplemental proposal.
These final amendments include
technology-based standards and work
practice standards reflecting
performance of maximum achievable
control technology (MACT), and related
monitoring, reporting, and testing
requirements, for several previously
unregulated HAP from various
emissions sources. Furthermore, based
on our risk review, we are finalizing
new and revised emission standards for
certain HAP emissions from potlines
using the Soderberg technology to
address risk. We are also adding a
requirement for electronic reporting of
compliance data, eliminating the
exemptions for periods of startup,
shutdown, and malfunctions (SSM), and
not adopting the affirmative defense
provisions proposed in 2011, consistent
with a recent court decision vacating the
affirmative defense provisions. This
action will provide improved
environmental protection regarding
potential emissions of HAP emissions
from primary aluminum reduction
facilities.
DATES: This final action is effective on
October 15, 2015. The incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed
in the rule is approved by the Director
of the Federal Register as of October 15,
2015.
ADDRESSES: The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has established
a docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–0797. All
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SUMMARY:
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documents in the docket are listed on
the www.regulations.gov Web site.
Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available,
e.g., confidential business information
(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 form.
Publicly available docket materials are
available either electronically through
https://www.regulations.gov, or in hard
copy at the EPA Docket Center, EPA
WJC West Building, Room Number
3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC. The Public Reading
Room hours of operation are 8:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
(EST), Monday through Friday. 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
questions about this final action, contact
Mr. David Putney, 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 number: (919) 541–
2016; fax number: (919) 541–3207; and
email address: putney.david@epa.gov.
For specific information regarding the
risk modeling methodology, contact Mr.
Jim Hirtz, Health and Environmental
Impacts Division (C539–02), Office of
Air Quality Planning and Standards,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
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 Mr. Patrick Yellin, Office of
Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, EPA WJC South
Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone
number: (202) 564–2970; and email
address: yellin.patrick@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:
AERMET AERMOD Meteorological
Preprocessor
AERMOD American Meteorological Society
and EPA Regulatory Model
As arsenic
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BLDS bag leak detection systems
BLP Buoyant Line and Point source model
CAA Clean Air Act
CBI confidential business information
CDX Central Data Exchange
CEMS continuous emission monitoring
system
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CRA Congressional Review Act
CWPB1 center-worked prebake one
CWPB2 center-worked prebake two
CWPB3 center-worked prebake three
D/F dioxins and furans
dscm dry standard cubic meter
ERT Electronic Reporting Tool
FR Federal Register
HAP hazardous air pollutant(s)
HEM3 Human Exposure Model version 3
Hg mercury
HQ hazard quotient
IBR incorporation by reference
ICR information collection request
lb pound(s)
lb/ton pound(s) per ton
lb/yr pound(s) per year
MACT maximum achievable control
technology
MIR maximum individual risk
NESHAP National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants
Ni nickel
NTTAA National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
PCB polychlorinated biphenyls
PM particulate matter
PM2.5 p.m. with diameter of 2.5 microns
and less
POM polycyclic organic matter
PRA Paperwork Reduction Act
RDL representative detection limit
REL reference exposure level
RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act
RIA Regulatory Impact Analysis
RIN Regulatory Information Number
RTR Residual Risk and Technology Review
SSM startup, shutdown, and malfunction
SWPB side-worked prebake
TEQ toxicity equivalence
TOSHI target organ-specific hazard index
TTN Technology Transfer Network
mg microgram(s)
mg/dscm microgram(s) per dry standard
cubic meter
UMRA Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
UPL upper prediction limit
VE visible emissions
VSS2 vertical stud Soderberg two
Background Information. On
December 6, 2011, and December 8,
2014, the EPA proposed revisions to the
Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants
NESHAP based on our RTR and MACT
review. After considering public
comments, in this action, we are
finalizing decisions and revisions for
the rule. We summarize some of the
more significant comments we timely
received regarding the 2011 and 2014
proposed rules and provide our
responses in this preamble. A summary
of all other public comments on the
proposals and the EPA’s responses to
those comments is available in the
National Emission Standards for
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Hazardous Air Pollutants: Primary
Aluminum Reduction Plants Summary
of Public Comments and Responses
document, which is available in the
docket for this action (Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–0797). A ‘‘track
changes’’ version of the regulatory
language that incorporates the changes
in this action is also available in the
docket for this action.
Organization of this Document. The
information in this preamble is
organized as follows:
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. Judicial Review and Administrative
Reconsideration
II. Background
A. What is the statutory authority for this
action?
B. What is the Primary Aluminum
Production source category and how
does the NESHAP regulate HAP
emissions from the source category?
C. What changes did we propose for the
Primary Aluminum Production source
category in our December 6, 2011,
proposal and December 8, 2014,
proposal?
III. What is included in this final rule?
A. What are the final rule amendments
based on the risk review for the Primary
Aluminum Production source category?
B. What are the final rule amendments
based on the technology review for the
Primary Aluminum Production source
category?
C. What are the final rule amendments
pursuant to Clean Air Act sections
112(d)(2) and (3) for the Primary
Aluminum Production source category?
D. What are the final rule amendments
addressing emissions during periods of
SSM?
E. What other changes have been made to
the Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants
NESHAP?
F. What are the effective and compliance
dates of the standards?
G. What are the requirements for
submission of performance test data to
the EPA?
H. What materials are being incorporated
by reference?
IV. What is the rationale for our final
decisions and amendments for the
Primary Aluminum Production source
category?
A. Residual Risk Review for the Primary
Aluminum Production Source Category
B. CAA Sections 112(d)(2) and (3)
Revisions for the Primary Aluminum
Production Source Category
C. Revisions to the Work Practice
Standards for the Primary Aluminum
Production Source Category
D. What changes did we make to the
control device monitoring requirements
for the Primary Aluminum Production
source category?
E. What changes did we make to
compliance dates for the Primary
Aluminum Production source category?
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V. Summary of Cost, Environmental, and
Economic Impacts and Additional
Analyses Conducted
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?
F. What analysis of environmental justice
did we conduct?
G. What analysis of children’s
environmental health did we conduct?
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Orders 12866: Regulatory
Planning and Review and Executive
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and
Regulatory Review
B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
(UMRA)
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 (NTTAA) and 1 CFR
Part 51
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions
To Address Environmental Justice in
Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations
K. Congressional Review Act (CRA)
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
Regulated Entities. Categories and
entities potentially regulated by this
action are shown in Table 1 of this
preamble.
TABLE 1—NESHAP AND INDUSTRIAL
SOURCE CATEGORIES AFFECTED BY
THIS FINAL ACTION
NAICS a
code
NESHAP and source category
Primary
Aluminum
Reduction
Plants ........................................
a North
American
Industry
331312
Classification
System.
Table 1 of this preamble is not
intended to be exhaustive, but rather to
provide a guide for readers regarding
entities likely to be affected by the final
action for the source category listed. To
determine whether your facility is
affected, you should examine the
applicability criteria in the appropriate
NESHAP. If you have any questions
regarding the applicability of any aspect
of this NESHAP, please contact the
appropriate person listed in the
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preceding FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
section of this preamble.
CONTACT
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 final
action will also be available on the
Internet through the 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 final action at
https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/alum/
alumpg.html. Following publication in
the Federal Register, the EPA will post
the Federal Register version and key
technical documents at this same Web
site.
Additional information is available on
the RTR Web site at https://
www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/rrisk/rtrpg.html.
This information includes an overview
of the RTR program, links to project
Web sites for the RTR source categories
and detailed emissions and other data
we used as inputs to the risk
assessments.
C. Judicial Review and Administrative
Reconsideration
Under Clean Air Act (CAA) section
307(b)(1), judicial review of this final
action is available only by filing a
petition for review in the United States
Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit by December 14, 2015.
Under CAA section 307(b)(2), the
requirements established by this final
rule may not be challenged separately in
any civil or criminal proceedings
brought by the EPA to enforce the
requirements.
Section 307(d)(7)(B) of the CAA
further provides that ‘‘[o]nly an
objection to a rule or procedure which
was raised with reasonable specificity
during the period for public comment
(including any public hearing) may be
raised during judicial review.’’ This
section also provides a mechanism for
the EPA to reconsider the rule ‘‘[i]f the
person raising an objection can
demonstrate to the Administrator that it
was impracticable to raise such
objection within [the period for public
comment] or if the grounds for such
objection arose after the period for
public comment (but within the time
specified for judicial review) and if such
objection is of central relevance to the
outcome of the rule.’’ Any person
seeking to make such a demonstration
should submit a Petition for
Reconsideration to the Office of the
Administrator, U.S. EPA, Room 3000,
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EPA WJC North Building, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington,
DC 20460, with a copy to both the
person(s) listed in the preceding FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section,
and the Associate General Counsel for
the Air and Radiation Law Office, Office
of General Counsel (Mail Code 2344A),
U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20460.
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II. Background
A. What is the statutory authority for
this action?
Section 112 of the CAA establishes a
two-stage regulatory process to address
emissions of HAP from stationary
sources. In the first stage, we must
identify categories of sources emitting
one or more of the HAP listed in CAA
section 112(b) and then promulgate
technology-based NESHAP for those
sources. ‘‘Major sources’’ are those that
emit, or have the potential to emit, any
single HAP at a rate of 10 tons per year
(tpy) or more, or 25 tpy or more of any
combination of HAP. For major sources,
these standards are commonly referred
to as MACT standards and must reflect
the maximum degree of emission
reductions of HAP achievable (after
considering cost, energy requirements,
and non-air quality health and
environmental impacts). In developing
MACT standards, CAA section 112(d)(2)
directs the EPA to consider the
application of measures, processes,
methods, systems, or techniques,
including, but not limited to, those that
reduce the volume of or eliminate HAP
emissions through process changes,
substitution of materials, or other
modifications; enclose systems or
processes to eliminate emissions;
collect, capture, or treat HAP when
released from a process, stack, storage,
or fugitive emissions point; are design,
equipment, work practice, or
operational standards; or any
combination of the above.
For these MACT standards, the statute
specifies certain minimum stringency
requirements, which are referred to as
MACT floor requirements and which
may not be based on cost
considerations. See CAA section
112(d)(3). For new sources, the MACT
floor cannot be less stringent than the
emission control achieved in practice by
the best-controlled similar source. The
MACT standards for existing sources
can be less stringent than floors for new
sources, but they cannot be less
stringent than the average emission
limitation achieved by the bestperforming 12 percent of existing
sources in the category or subcategory
(or the best-performing five sources for
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categories or subcategories with fewer
than 30 sources). In developing MACT
standards, we must also consider
control options that are more stringent
than the floor under CAA section
112(d)(2). We may establish standards
more stringent than the floor, based on
the consideration of the cost of
achieving the emissions reductions, any
non-air quality health and
environmental impacts, and energy
requirements.
In the second stage of the regulatory
process, the CAA requires the EPA to
undertake two different analyses, which
we refer to as the technology review and
the residual risk review. Under the
technology review, we must review the
technology-based standards and revise
them ‘‘as necessary (taking into account
developments in practices, processes,
and control technologies)’’ no less
frequently than every 8 years, pursuant
to CAA section 112(d)(6). Under the
residual risk review, we must evaluate
the risk to public health remaining after
application of the technology-based
standards and revise the standards, if
necessary, to provide an ample margin
of safety to protect public health or to
prevent, taking into consideration costs,
energy, safety, and other relevant
factors, an adverse environmental effect.
The residual risk review is required
within 8 years after promulgation of the
technology-based standards, pursuant to
CAA section 112(f). In conducting the
residual risk review, if the EPA
determines that the current standards
provide an ample margin of safety to
protect public health, it is not necessary
to revise the MACT standards pursuant
to CAA section 112(f).1 For more
information on the statutory authority
for this rule, see 76 FR 76259 and 79 FR
72914.
Today’s amendments involve rule
changes pursuant to these authorities.
Specifically, pursuant to CAA sections
112(d)(2) and (3), and 112(h), the EPA
is amending the NESHAP to add
standards for HAP not previously
addressed. In addition, pursuant to CAA
section 112(f), the EPA is amending
certain MACT standards already
promulgated to address risk. The EPA
also conducted a technology review and
determined that no further changes to
the rule are necessary (within the
meaning of CAA section 112(d)(6)) to
reflect developments in practices,
1 The U.S. Court of Appeals has affirmed this
approach of implementing CAA section
112(f)(2)(A). See 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.’’).
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processes, and control technologies
other than the work practices for anode
bake furnaces and paste plants during
startup periods, and work practices for
potlines during normal operations (to
help minimize POM, TF, and PM
emissions), described in the 2011 and
2014 proposals.
B. What is the Primary Aluminum
Production source category and how
does the NESHAP regulate HAP
emissions from the source category?
The EPA promulgated the Primary
Aluminum Reduction Plants NESHAP,
which apply to the Primary Aluminum
Production source category, on October
7, 1997 (62 FR 52407). The rule was
amended on November 2, 2005 (70 FR
66280). The associated standards are
codified at 40 CFR part 63, subpart LL.
The Primary Aluminum Production
source category consists of facilities that
produce aluminum from refined bauxite
ore (also known as alumina), using an
electrolytic reduction process in a series
of cells called a ‘‘potline.’’ The two
main potline types are prebake (a newer,
higher-efficiency, lower-emitting
technology) and Soderberg (an older,
lower-efficiency, higher-emitting
technology). The raw materials include
alumina, petroleum coke, pitch, and
fluoride salts. According to information
available on the Web site of The
Aluminum Association, Inc. (https://
www.aluminum.org), approximately 40
percent of the aluminum produced in
the U.S. comes from primary aluminum
facilities. The other 60 percent either
comes from Secondary Aluminum
Production facilities or is imported.
Primary aluminum reduction facilities
emit HAP from four basic processes:
Pitch storage tanks, paste production
plants, anode bake furnaces, and
potlines. Operators form anode paste in
the paste production plant from a
mixture of petroleum coke and pitch. In
a prebake facility, this anode paste is
then formed into anodes and baked in
an anode bake furnace. Operators
subsequently place these ‘‘prebaked’’
anodes into a prebake potline where
they are consumed via the electrolytic
reduction process. Soderberg facilities
do not have anode bake furnaces.
Instead, the anode paste is fed directly
into the Soderberg potlines and baked in
place to form anodes, which again are
consumed via the electrolytic reduction
process.
There are currently 11 facilities
located in the United States that are
subject to the requirements of this
NESHAP: 10 primary aluminum
reduction plants and one carbon-only
prebake anode production facility.
These 10 primary aluminum reduction
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plants have approximately 35 potlines
that produce aluminum. Each of the 10
primary aluminum reduction plants has
a paste production plant and at least one
anode bake furnace (for a total of about
22 existing anode bake furnaces).
However, not all existing paste
production plants and anode bake
furnaces are currently operating, as
some facilities obtain their prebaked
anodes from the carbon-only prebake
anode production facility. All currently
operating primary aluminum facilities
use prebake potlines.
At the time of the 2011 proposal,
there were two facilities in the U.S. that
used Soderberg potlines. One of those
facilities (Massena East) was operating
at that time, and the other (Columbia
Falls) was idle. However, in 2014,
before publication of the supplemental
proposal, the Massena East facility was
permanently shut down. Therefore, at
the time we published the supplemental
proposal, there was only one Soderberg
facility (Columbia Falls) in the U.S.,
which was idle. After publication of the
2014 supplemental proposal, we learned
that the one remaining idle Soderberg
facility located in Columbia Falls was
permanently shut down. We also
learned that one prebake facility (run by
Ormet Primary Aluminum Corporation)
was shut down. Therefore, currently
there are 10 existing facilities with
potlines (all prebake facilities) in the
source category plus the one facility
without potlines that only produces
anodes.
The major HAP emitted by these
facilities are carbonyl sulfide (COS),
hydrogen fluoride (HF), particulate HAP
metals and polycyclic organic matter
(POM), specifically polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAH).
The current Primary Aluminum
Reduction Plants NESHAP (as they
existed before today’s final action)
included MACT standards (promulgated
62393
in 1997 and 2005) for emissions of total
fluorides (TF) (as a surrogate for HF)
from anode bake furnaces and potlines
and for emissions of POM from paste
production plants, anode bake furnaces,
Soderberg potlines, and new pitch
storage tanks.
C. What changes did we propose for the
Primary Aluminum Production source
category in our December 6, 2011,
proposal and our December 8, 2014,
proposal?
On December 6, 2011, and December
8, 2014, the EPA published proposed
rules in the Federal Register for the
Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants
NESHAP, 40 CFR part 63, subpart LL,
that took into consideration the RTR
analyses and other reviews of the rule.
In the proposed rules, we proposed
several minor clarifications and
corrections, and the items summarized
in Table 2, below.
TABLE 2—SUMMARY OF CHANGES PROPOSED PURSUANT TO ANALYSES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACTION
Action
Proposal
2011 proposal (76 FR 76259) .........
COS emission limits for new and existing potlines ...............................
POM emission limits for new and existing prebake potlines and existing pitch storage tanks.
Work practices for anode bake furnaces during startup periods ..........
2014 proposal (79 FR 72914) .........
As a result of which analysis
Work practices for potlines during startup periods ................................
Revised POM emission limits for Soderberg potlines ...........................
Revised POM emission limits for new and existing prebake potlines ..
Emission limits for particulate matter (PM) for new and existing
potlines, anode bake furnaces and paste production plants.
Revised work practice standards for potlines.
Reduced testing frequencies for potlines ..............................................
Work practices for paste production plants during startup periods ......
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Nickel (Ni), arsenic (As) and revised POM emission limits for
Soderberg potlines.
III. What is included in this final rule?
This action finalizes the EPA’s
determinations pursuant to the RTR
provisions of CAA section 112 for the
Primary Aluminum Production source
category, finalizes our reviews of other
aspects of the rule, and amends the
Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants
NESHAP based on those determinations
and reviews. The changes being
finalized in this action include the
following: The promulgation of MACT
floor-based limits for previously
unregulated HAP (e.g., COS and PM);
emissions limits for POM, As, and Ni
from Soderberg potlines to address risk;
the addition of work practice standards
for paste production plants, potlines
and anode bake furnaces; and the
removal of SSM exemptions. This final
action includes several changes to the
proposed requirements in the December
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2011 and December 2014 proposals
based on consideration of comments
and information received during the
public comment periods as described in
section IV of this preamble.
A. What are the final rule amendments
based on the risk review for the Primary
Aluminum Production source category?
This section provides a summary of
the final amendments to the Primary
Aluminum Reduction Plants NESHAP
being promulgated in this action
pursuant to CAA section 112(f).
To address risk, we are promulgating
emission limits for POM, As, and Ni
from existing vertical stud Soderberg
two (VSS2) potlines at the following
levels: 1.9 pounds (lb) POM/ton of
aluminum produced, 0.006 lb As/ton of
aluminum produced, and 0.07 lb Ni/ton
of aluminum produced.
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CAA section 112(d)(2) and (3).
CAA section 112(d)(6) Technology
review.
CAA section 112(h).
CAA section 112(f) Risk Review.
CAA section 112(d)(2) and (3).
CAA section 112(d)(2) and (3).
CAA section 112(d)(6) Technology
Review.
CAA section 112(f) Risk Review.
To address risk, we are promulgating
As and Ni emission limits for new
Soderberg potlines at the following
levels: 0.006 lb As/ton of aluminum
produced and 0.07 lb Ni/ton of
aluminum produced. New or
reconstructed Soderberg potlines would
also be subject to the POM limit of 0.77
lb per ton of aluminum produced that
we are promulgating for all new
potlines. These emission limits for
POM, Ni, and As for new and existing
Soderberg plants being promulgated in
this rule are the same as the limits
proposed in the 2014 supplemental
proposal. Additional information
regarding the limits addressing risk is
available in the Development of
Emissions Standards to Address Risks
for the Primary Aluminum Production
Source Category Pursuant to Section
112(f) of the Clean Air Act, which is
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available in the docket for this
rulemaking (Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2011–0797). As noted earlier, the
last remaining Soderberg primary
aluminum facility in the U.S.
announced the permanent closure of
that facility after publication of the
supplemental proposal in 2014.
Notwithstanding our well-supported
expectation that this facility will not
reopen and that no new Soderberg
facilities will be constructed due to the
less efficient and higher emitting nature
of the Soderberg technology, we are
finalizing, as proposed, the standards
for POM, As, and Ni associated with
Soderberg facilities in the final rule to
address the risk from existing potlines at
the Columbia Falls facility that have not
yet been demolished and to ensure that
risks would be acceptable and to
provide an ample margin of safety in the
very unlikely event that a new
Soderberg facility is ever built.
B. What are the final rule amendments
based on the technology review for the
Primary Aluminum Production source
category?
Based on our analyses of the data and
information collected and our general
understanding of the industry and other
available information on potential
controls for this industry, we have
determined that there are no
developments in practices, processes,
and control technologies that warrant
revisions to the MACT standards for this
source category, other than the work
practices for anode bake furnaces during
startup periods (described in the
December 2011 proposal), the work
practices for paste plants during startup
(described in the 2014 proposal) and
work practices for potlines (to minimize
emissions of PM, TF and POM) during
normal operations (described in the
2014 supplemental proposal). We are
promulgating these work practices as
proposed for anode bake furnaces and
paste plants during startup periods, and
for potlines during normal operations,
under section 112(d)(6) of the CAA.
These standards apply to both new and
existing sources using either of the
production technologies.
In summary, we are not revising the
MACT standards under CAA section
112(d)(6) other than the startup work
practices for anode bake furnaces and
paste plants described in the 2011 and
2014 proposals, and the work practices
for potlines during normal operations
described in the 2014 supplemental
proposal. Additional information is
available in the Final Technology
Review for the Primary Aluminum
Production Source Category document,
which can be found in the docket for
this rulemaking (Docket ID No. EPA–
HQ–OAR–2011–0797).
C. What are the final rule amendments
pursuant to Clean Air Act sections
112(d)(2) and (3) for the Primary
Aluminum Production source category?
We are promulgating MACT emission
limits for COS, PM (as a surrogate for
HAP metals other than mercury (Hg)),
Hg, and polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCB),2 all of which were previously
unregulated HAP, pursuant to CAA
sections 112(d)(2) and (3). In addition,
we are promulgating MACT limits for
emissions of POM from new and
existing prebake potlines and existing
pitch storage tanks, which were
previously unregulated sources of POM.
A summary of the promulgated MACT
standards is provided in Table 3, below,
and additional information is available
in the Final MACT Floor Analysis for
the Primary Aluminum Production
Source Category document, which is
available in the docket for this action
(Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–
0797). For more information on the
MACT standards that the EPA
promulgated and how they are different
from those the EPA proposed, see
section VI.B of this preamble.
TABLE 3—SUMMARY OF PROMULGATED MACT STANDARDS
HAP
Source
COS ..................
PCB ..................
New potlines ..............................................................................
Existing potlines ........................................................................
New potlines ..............................................................................
Existing potlines:
CWPB1 ..............................................................................
CWPB2 ..............................................................................
CWPB3 ..............................................................................
SWPB .................................................................................
Existing pitch storage tanks ......................................................
New potlines ..............................................................................
Existing potlines:
CWPB1 ..............................................................................
CWPB2 ..............................................................................
CWPB3 ..............................................................................
SWPB .................................................................................
VSS2 ..................................................................................
New anode bake furnace ..........................................................
Existing anode bake furnace ....................................................
New paste production plant ......................................................
Existing paste production plant .................................................
New and existing Soderberg potlines .......................................
Hg .....................
New and existing anode bake furnaces ...................................
POM .................
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PM ....................
Promulgated MACT standard
3.1 lb/ton aluminum produced.
3.9 lb/ton aluminum produced.
0.77 lb/ton aluminum produced.
1.1 lb/ton aluminum produced.
12 lb/ton aluminum produced.
2.7 lb/ton aluminum produced.
17 lb/ton aluminum produced.
Minimum 95-percent reduction of inlet POM emissions.
4.9 lb/ton aluminum produced.
7.4 lb/ton aluminum produced.
11 lb/ton aluminum produced.
20 lb/ton aluminum produced.
4.9 lb/ton aluminum produced.
26 lb/ton aluminum produced.
0.07 lb/ton of green anode produced.
0.20 lb/ton of green anode produced.
0.0056 lb/ton of paste produced.
0.082 lb/ton of paste produced.
2.0 micrograms (μg) toxicity equivalence (TEQ) per ton of
aluminum produced.
1.7 μg per dry standard cubic meter (dscm).
CWPB1 = Center-worked prebake one.
CWPB2 = Center-worked prebake two.
CWPB3 = Center-worked prebake three.
SWPB = Side-worked prebake.
VSS2 = Vertical stud Soderberg two.
2 From
Soderberg potlines only.
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D. What are the final rule amendments
addressing emissions during periods of
SSM?
We are finalizing, as proposed in the
2014 proposal, changes to the Primary
Aluminum Reduction Plants NESHAP
to eliminate the exemption in the
present rules for emissions occurring
during SSM operations. Consistent with
Sierra Club v. EPA, 551 F. 3d 1019 (D.C.
Cir. 2008), the EPA is establishing
standards in this rule that apply at all
times. Appendix A to subpart LL of 40
CFR part 63 (General Provisions
applicability table) is being revised to
change several references related to
requirements that apply during periods
of SSM. We are also eliminating or
revising certain recordkeeping and
reporting requirements related to the
eliminated SSM exemption. The EPA
also made changes to the rule to remove
or modify inappropriate, unnecessary,
or redundant language in the absence of
the SSM exemption. We are also not
adopting the affirmative defense
provisions proposed in 2011, consistent
with a recent court decision vacating the
affirmative defense provisions in one of
the EPA’s CAA section 112(d)
regulations. NRDC v. EPA, 749 F. 3d
1055 (D.C. Cir. 2014).
In addition, we are finalizing work
practices for potlines, paste production
plants, and anode bake furnaces during
startup periods that will ensure
improved capture and control of
emissions from those sources.
E. What other changes have been made
to the Primary Aluminum Reduction
Plants NESHAP?
This rule also finalizes revisions to
several other Primary Aluminum
Reduction Plants NESHAP requirements
as proposed, or in some cases with some
modification, which are summarized in
this section.
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1. Electronic Reporting Tool
To increase the ease and efficiency of
data submittal and data accessibility, we
are finalizing, as proposed, a
requirement that owners and operators
of sources subject to the Primary
Aluminum Reduction Plants NESHAP
submit electronic copies of certain
required performance test reports
through an electronic performance test
report tool called the Electronic
Reporting Tool (ERT). This requirement
to submit performance test data
electronically to the EPA does not
require any additional performance
testing and applies only to those
performance tests conducted using test
methods that are supported by the ERT.
A listing of the pollutants and test
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methods supported by the ERT is
available at the ERT Web site.
2. Work Practice Standards
We are finalizing work practice
standards for all potlines (i.e. both
prebake and Soderberg) and for anode
bake furnaces that will ensure improved
capture and control of TF, POM, and
PM emissions from those sources. These
work practice standards also address Hg
emissions from all potlines, PCB
emissions from prebake potlines and
anode bake furnaces, and dioxins and
furan (D/F) emissions from Soderberg
potlines (see section IV.C of this
preamble for additional discussion of
these work practice standards).
3. Control Device and Emissions
Monitoring
We are finalizing new twice-daily
visible emissions (VE) monitoring
requirements as an alternative to bag
leak detection systems (BLDS) or PM
continuous emissions monitoring
systems (CEMS) for control devices
installed on existing sources (see section
IV.D of this preamble for additional
discussion of these monitoring changes).
We are finalizing the inclusion of PM
for the potline similarity option found
in the current subpart LL at 40 CFR
63.848(d). This section allows an owner
or operator to use the monitoring of
secondary TF and/or POM emissions
from one potline to represent the
performance of other ‘‘similar’’ potlines.
Potlines are similar ‘‘if the owner or
operator demonstrates that their
structure, operability, type of emissions,
volume of emissions and concentration
of emissions are substantially
equivalent.’’ Based on consideration of
comments and information received in
responses to the 2014 proposal, the EPA
is amending the existing rule to allow
potline owners or operators this same
option for PM. That is, potline owners
and operators now will have the option
to establish ‘‘similarity of potlines’’ with
respect to PM emissions. ‘‘Similarity’’
would be established based on the
criteria already applicable with respect
to TF and POM. See subpart LL at 40
CFR 63.848(d). As with TF and POM, an
owner or operator would have to make
this demonstration to the applicable
regulatory authority and obtain approval
from that authority.
4. Emission Averaging
We are modifying 40 CFR 63.846 to
allow emission averaging in the case of
PM from potlines and anode bake
furnaces. That section currently allows
emission averaging in the cases of POM
and TF from these process units with
certain prohibitions (e.g., averaging
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62395
between different pollutants or process
units is not allowed). We are only
adding PM to these existing provisions,
and not reopening the core concept of
allowing emission averaging.
5. Alternative Emissions Limits for CoControlled New and Existing Anode
Bake Furnaces
We are also finalizing the alternative
emissions limits for co-controlled new
and existing anode bake furances as
proposed in the 2014 supplemental
proposal (79 FR 72949).
6. Minor Technical and Editorial
Revisions
We are also finalizing other minor
technical and editorial changes to the
NESHAP in response to comments
received during the public comment
period for the proposal and
supplemental proposal, as described in
this preamble.
F. What are the effective and
compliance dates of the standards?
The revisions to the MACT standards
being promulgated in this action are
effective on October 15, 2015.
The compliance dates for existing
sources are:
October 15, 2015 for the malfunction
provisions and the electronic reporting
provisions;
October 17, 2016 for potline work
practice standards and COS emission
limits, for Soderberg potline PM and
PCB emission limits, and for anode bake
furnace and paste production plant
work practices and PM emission limits;
and
October 16, 2017 for prebake potline
POM and PM emission limits; for
Soderberg potline revised POM
emission limits and emission limits for
Ni and As; for anode bake furnace Hg
emission limits; and for pitch storage
tank POM equipment standards.
For more information on how we
selected compliance dates for existing
sources, refer to section IV.E of this
preamble and the Final Rationale for
Selection of Compliance Dates for the
Primary Aluminum Production Source
Category document, which can be found
in the docket for this rulemaking
(Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–
0797).
New sources must typically comply
with all of the standards immediately
upon the effective date of the standard,
or upon startup, whichever is later. CAA
section 112(i)(1).3 CAA section 112(a)(4)
3 If a new source standard is more stringent than
the standard proposed, a new source may have
three years to comply, provided it complies with
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indicates that a new source is one which
commenced construction (or
reconstruction) after the Administrator
first proposes regulations under CAA
section 112 for the source category. We
have interpreted this date to be the date
of the December 2014 proposal given
the substantially new record set forth in
that proposal. Consequently, for the
purposes of compliance with the
emission standards for PM, a new
affected potline, anode bake furnace, or
paste production plant is one for which
construction or reconstruction
commenced after December 8, 2014, the
date on which the EPA first proposed
the amendments finalized here. For the
purposes of compliance with the
emission standards for POM and COS,
a new affected potline is one for which
construction or reconstruction
commenced after December 8, 2014. For
the purposes of compliance with the
emission standards for Hg or PCB, a new
affected anode bake furnace or
Soderberg potline is one for which
construction or reconstruction
commenced after December 8, 2014,
although the compliance dates for these
standards are October 16, 2017 for
anode bake furnaces and October 17,
2016 for Soderberg potlines, since these
standards differ from the proposal (see
CAA section 112(i)(2)).
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G. What are the requirements for
submission of performance test data to
the EPA?
The EPA is requiring owners and
operators of sources subject to the
Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants
NESHAP facilities to submit electronic
copies of certain required performance
test reports [and any other reports, e.g.
performance evaluation reports] through
the EPA’s Central Data Exchange (CDX)
using the Compliance and Emissions
Data Reporting Interface (CEDRI). As
stated in the 2011 proposal preamble,
the EPA believes that the electronic
submittal of the reports addressed in
this rulemaking will increase the
usefulness of the data contained in
those reports, is in keeping with current
trends in data availability, will further
assist in the protection of public health
and the environment and will
ultimately result in less burden on the
regulated community. Electronic
reporting can also eliminate paperbased, manual processes, thereby saving
time and resources, simplifying data
entry, eliminating redundancies,
minimizing data reporting errors and
providing data quickly and accurately to
the proposed standard during that 3-year period.
CAA section 112(i)(2).
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the affected facilities, air agencies, the
EPA and the public.
As mentioned in the preamble of the
2011 proposal, the EPA Web site that
stores the submitted electronic data,
WebFIRE, will be easily accessible to
everyone and will provide a userfriendly interface that any stakeholder
could access. By making the records,
data and reports addressed in this
rulemaking readily available, the EPA,
the regulated community and the public
will benefit when the EPA conducts its
CAA-required technology and riskbased reviews. As a result of having
reports readily accessible, our ability to
carry out comprehensive reviews will be
increased and achieved within a shorter
period of time.
We anticipate fewer or less substantial
information collection requests (ICRs) in
conjunction with prospective CAArequired technology and risk-based
reviews may be needed. We expect this
to result in a decrease in time spent by
industry to respond to data collection
requests. We also expect the ICRs to
contain less extensive stack testing
provisions, as we will already have
stack test data electronically. Reduced
testing requirements would be a cost
savings to industry. The EPA should
also be able to conduct these required
reviews more quickly. While the
regulated community may benefit from
a reduced burden of ICRs, the general
public benefits from the agency’s ability
to provide these required reviews more
quickly, resulting in increased public
health and environmental protection.
Air agencies could benefit from more
streamlined and automated review of
the electronically submitted data.
Having reports and associated data in
electronic format will facilitate review
through the use of software ‘‘search’’
options, as well as the downloading and
analyzing of data in spreadsheet format.
The ability to access and review air
emission report information
electronically will assist air agencies to
more quickly and accurately determine
compliance with the applicable
regulations, potentially allowing a faster
response to violations which could
minimize harmful air emissions. This
benefits both air agencies and the
general public.
For a more thorough discussion of
electronic reporting required by this
rule, see the discussion in the preamble
of the 2011 proposal (see 76 FR 76280).
In summary, in addition to supporting
regulation development, control strategy
development, and other air pollution
control activities, having an electronic
database populated with performance
test data will save industry, air agencies,
and the EPA significant time, money,
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and effort while improving the quality
of emission inventories, air quality
regulations, and enhancing the public’s
access to this important information.
H. What materials are being
incorporated by reference?
In this final rule, the EPA is including
regulatory text that includes
incorporation by reference (IBR). In
accordance with requirements of 1 CFR
51.5, the EPA is incorporating by
reference the following documents
described in the amendments to 40 CFR
63.14:
• ASTM D4239–14e1, ‘‘Standard Test
Method for Sulfur in the Analysis
Sample of Coal and Coke Using HighTemperature Tube Furnace
Combustion,’’ approved March 1, 2014;
• ASTM D6376–10, ‘‘Standard Test
Method for Determination of Trace
Metals in Petroleum Coke by
Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray
Fluorescence Spectroscopy,’’ approved
July 1, 2010; and
• Method 428, ‘‘Determination Of
Polychlorinated Dibenzo-P-Dioxin
(PCDD), Polychlorinated Dibenzofuran
(PCDF), and Polychlorinated Biphenyle
Emissions from Stationary Sources,’’
amended September 12, 1990.
The following material will be
referenced in 40 CFR 63.14 and as noted
below. This material has already
received IBR approval for subpart LL of
40 CFR part 63. We are moving it from
an IBR section established earlier within
subpart LL to the centralized IBR
section in § 63.14.
• Industrial Ventilation: A Manual of
Recommended Practice, 22nd Edition,
1995, Chapter 3, ‘‘Local Exhaust Hoods’’
and Chapter 5, ‘‘Exhaust System Design
Procedure.’’ IBR approved for
§§ 63.843(b) and 63.844(b).
• ASTM D2986–95A, ‘‘Standard
Practice for Evaluation of Air Assay
Media by the Monodisperse DOP
(Dioctyl Phthalate) Smoke Test,’’
approved September 10, 1995, IBR
approved for section 7.1.1 of Method
315 in appendix A to 40 CFR part 63.
The EPA has made, and will continue
to make, these documents generally
available electronically through
www.regulations.gov and/or in hard
copy at the appropriate EPA office (see
the ADDRESSES section of this preamble
for more information).
IV. What is the rationale for our final
decisions and amendments for the
Primary Aluminum Production source
category?
This section provides a description of
what we proposed and what we are
finalizing for several issues, the EPA’s
rationale for the final decisions and
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amendments, and a summary of key
comments and responses. For all
comments not discussed in this
preamble, comment summaries and the
EPA’s responses can be found in the
National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants: Primary
Aluminum Reduction Plants Summary
of Public Comments and Responses
document, which is available in the
docket for this action (Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–0797).
A. Residual Risk Review for the Primary
Aluminum Production Source Category
1. What did we propose pursuant to
CAA section 112(f) for the Primary
Aluminum Production source category?
Pursuant to CAA section 112(f), we
conducted a residual risk review and
presented the results of this review,
along with our proposed decisions
regarding risk acceptability and ample
margin of safety, in the December 2014
supplemental proposal for the Primary
Aluminum Reduction Plants NESHAP.
The EPA views the residual risk review
associated with the 2011 proposal as
62397
superseded by the residual risk review
associated with the 2014 supplemental
proposal, and so is referring only to that
later risk assessment. The results of the
risk assessment for the 2014
supplemental proposal are summarized
in the preamble for that proposal and
presented in more detail in the residual
risk document, Residual Risk
Assessment for the Primary Aluminum
Production Source Category in Support
of the 2014 Supplemental Proposal,
which is available in the docket for this
rulemaking. Table 4 below provides the
estimated inhalation health risks from
the supplemental proposal.
TABLE 4—PRIMARY ALUMINUM PRODUCTION SOURCE CATEGORY INHALATION RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS FROM
SUPPLEMENTAL PROPOSAL
Maximum
individual
cancer risk
(-in-1 million) a
Estimated population at increased
risk levels of cancer
Estimated
annual
cancer
incidence
(cases per
year)
Refined maximum acute
non-cancer HQ c
Maximum chronic non-cancer
TOSHI b
Actual Emissions
70 ..................
≥1-in-1 million: 881,000 ...................
≥10-in-1 million: 65,000
≥100-in-1 million: 0 ..........................
0.06
1 Cadmium and Nickel Compounds
HQREL = 10 (Arsenic Compounds).
....................
..........................................................
Residential.
Allowable Emissions d
300 ................
≥1-in-1 million: 950,000 ...................
≥10-in-1 million: 76,000
≥100-in-1 million: 200.
0.06
2 Nickel and Arsenic Compounds.
a Estimated
maximum individual excess lifetime cancer risk due to HAP emissions from the source category.
TOSHI. The target organ with the highest TOSHI for the Primary Aluminum Production source category for actual emissions is the
kidney and respiratory system and for allowable emissions is the respiratory, immunological, and developmental systems.
c The maximum off-site HQ acute value of 10 at a residential location for actuals is driven by emissions of As from the potline roof vents. See
section III.A.3 of the December 8, 2014 supplemental proposal for explanation of acute dose-response values. Acute assessments are not performed on allowable emissions.
d The development of allowable emission estimates can be found in the memorandum titled Development of the RTR Revised Risk Modeling
Dataset for the Primary Aluminum Production Source Category (Docket item number EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–0797–0346).
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b Maximum
Based on actual emissions estimates
for the Primary Aluminum Production
source category supplemental proposal,
the maximum individual risk (MIR) for
cancer was estimated to be up to 70-in1 million driven by emissions of As and
Ni compounds. The maximum chronic
non-cancer target organ-specific hazard
index (TOSHI) value was estimated to
be up to 1 driven by Ni emissions. The
maximum off-site acute hazard quotient
(HQ) value was estimated to be 10 for
As compounds and 2 for HF. The total
estimated national cancer incidence
from this source category, based on
actual emission levels, was 0.06 excess
cancer cases per year, or one case in
every 17 years.
Based on MACT-allowable emissions,
in the supplemental proposal, the MIR
was estimated by the EPA to be up to
300-in-1 million, driven by potential
emissions of As, Ni, and POM from the
one idle Soderberg facility (Columbia
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Falls), which is now permanently
closed. The maximum chronic noncancer TOSHI value was estimated to be
up to 2, driven by Ni. The MIR due to
allowable emissions from prebake
facilities was estimated by the EPA to be
up to 70-in-1 million, driven by As and
Ni.
The EPA also assessed the risks due
to multipathway exposures to HAP
emissions from the primary aluminum
reduction plants. The assessment
included tier 1 and tier 2 screening
analyses and a refined analysis for the
one Soderberg facility which was
operational at the time recent emissions
data for this source category were
collected and this analysis was
commenced, but which subsequently
announced its permanent shut down in
March 2014.
The multipathway screens rely on
health-protective assumptions about
consumption of local fish and locally
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grown or raised foods (adult female
angler at 99th percentile consumption of
fish 4 for the subsistence fisherman
scenario and 90th percentile for
consumption of locally grown or raised
foods 5 for the farmer scenario) which
may not occur for this source category.
The tier 2 assessment is less
conservative than the tier 1 analysis.
However, it is important to note that,
even with the inclusion of some sitespecific information in the tier 2
analysis, the multipathway screening
analysis is still a very conservative
health-protective assessment, and, in all
likelihood, will yield results that serve
4 Burger, J. 2002. Daily consumption of wild fish
and game: Exposures of high end recreationists.
International Journal of Environmental Health
Research 12:343–354.
5 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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as an upper-bound multipathway risk
associated with any facility in the
Primary Aluminum Production source
category.
The highest cancer exceedance in the
tier 2 analyses for dioxins was 40 times
and 7 times for PAH for the subsistence
fisherman scenario (total cancer screen
value of 50 for the MIR site). Thus, these
results indicate that the maximum
cancer risks due to multipathway
exposures to D/F and PAH emissions for
the subsistence fisher scenario are less
than 50-in-1 million under these highly
conservative screening assumptions.6
The multipathway analysis for chronic
non-cancer effects did not identify any
persistent and bioaccumulative
hazardous air pollutants (PB–HAP) that
exceeded an HQ value of 1. For more
information on the risk results, please
refer to the residual risk document,
Residual Risk Assessment for the
Primary Aluminum Production Source
Category in Support of the 2014
Supplemental Proposal, which is
available in the docket for this
rulemaking.
For the supplemental proposal, we
weighed all health risk factors in our
risk acceptability determination, and we
proposed that the risks due to potential
HAP emissions at baseline from the
Soderberg subcategory were
unacceptable due mainly to the
estimated cancer risks of 300-in-1
million based on potential emissions
from the one idle Soderberg facility
were it to operate.
Regarding the prebake subcategories,
as explained in the supplemental
proposal, the EPA had concerns
regarding the potential acute risks due
to As emissions (with a maximum acute
HQ of 10). See 79 FR 72947. However,
given the conservative nature of the
EPA’s analysis of acute effects, and the
facts that: (a) The inhalation cancer MIR
was well below 100-in-1 million (MIR =
70-in-1 million); (b) the chronic noncancer risks were low (e.g., hazard index
(HI) = 1); and (c) given further that the
multipathway assessment indicated the
maximum cancer risk due to
multipathway exposures to HAP
emissions from prebake facilities was no
higher than 50-in-1 million, we
proposed that the risks due to emissions
from the prebake subcategories are
acceptable. See 79 FR 72947.
2. How did the risk review change for
the Primary Aluminum Production
source category?
The EPA carefully considered public
comments regarding the supplemental
proposal (and original proposal), but did
not find any comments that resulted in
a change in analysis. Thus, the EPA did
not change the risk assessment due to
actual emissions for the source category
and made no changes in the overall
results for prebake facilities from the
December 2014 supplemental proposal.
However, the estimated risks due to
allowable emissions for the source
category decreased significantly due to
the permanent closure of the one idle
Soderberg facility. For the supplemental
proposal, we included the one idle
Soderberg facility in our assessment of
allowable risks because, at that time, the
facility still had a permit to operate, had
not formally announced plans to close,
and, therefore, could have reopened.
However, that facility is now
permanently closed, and the EPA is no
longer including it in the risk
assessment. Therefore, the final rule
considers only risks from prebake
facilities. Nevertheless, as discussed in
section III.A. of this preamble, we are
promulgating the As, Ni and POM
standards proposed in the supplemental
proposal to address risk from Soderberg
facilities in the very unlikely event that
either this idle Soderberg facility is
reopened or a new Soderberg facility is
constructed. A summary of the risk
assessment results for the final rule is
provided in Table 5 below. The
documentation and details for the final
rule risk assessment can be found in the
document titled, Residual Risk
Assessment for the Primary Aluminum
Production Source Category in Support
of the September 2015 Risk and
Technology Review Final Rule, which is
available in the docket for this action
(Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–
0797).
TABLE 5—PRIMARY ALUMINUM PRODUCTION SOURCE CATEGORY INHALATION RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS FOR THE FINAL
RULE
[Prebake]
Maximum
individual
cancer risk
(-in-1 million) a
Estimated
annual
cancer
incidence
(cases per
year)
Estimated population at increased
risk levels of cancer
Maximum chronic non-cancer
TOSHI b
Refined maximum acute non-cancer
HQ c
Actual Emissions
70 ..................
≥1-in-1 million: 881,000 .....................
≥10-in-1 million: 65,000 .....................
0.06
....................
1 Nickel Compounds ...................
......................................................
HQREL = 10 (Arsenic Compounds)
Residential
Allowable Emissions d
70 ..................
≥1-in-1 million: 950,000 .....................
≥10-in-1 million: 76,000.
0.06
1 Nickel Compounds.
a Estimated
maximum individual excess lifetime cancer risk due to HAP emissions from the source category.
TOSHI. The target organ with the highest TOSHI for the Primary Aluminum Production source category for actual emissions is the
kidney and respiratory system and for allowable emissions is the respiratory, immunological, and developmental systems.
c The maximum off-site HQ acute value of 10 at a residential location for actuals is driven by emissions of As from the potline roof vents. See
section III.A.3 of the December 8, 2014, supplemental proposal for explanation of acute dose-response values. Acute assessments are not performed on allowable emissions.
d The development of allowable emission estimates can be found in the memorandum titled, Development of the RTR Revised Risk Modeling
Dataset for the Primary Aluminum Production Source Category (Docket item number EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–0797–0346).
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b Maximum
6 D/F emissions used in this analysis are likely to
be overstated because the EPA imputed values for
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D/F congeners even from facilities and process
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units where those D/F congeners were not detected
in the emissions tests.
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For the final rule, we again weighed
all health risk factors in our risk
acceptability determination. The EPA
had concerns regarding the potential
acute risks due to As emissions (with a
maximum acute HQ of 10). See 79 FR
72947. However, given the conservative
nature of the EPA’s analysis of acute
effects, and the facts that: (a) The
inhalation cancer MIR was well below
100-in-1 million (MIR = 70-in-1
million); (b) the chronic non-cancer
risks were low (e.g., HI = 1); and (c)
given further that the multipathway
assessment indicated the maximum
cancer risk due to multipathway
exposures to HAP emissions from
prebake facilities was no higher than 50in-1 million, we have determined that
the risks due to emissions from the
source category are acceptable. See 79
FR 72947.
We also conducted an ample margin
of safety analysis. As we described in
the supplemental proposal, for prebake
facilities we considered what further
reductions might be obtained from
technically feasible controls, further
considering the cost of such controls
and their cost-effectiveness. We
identified no cost-effective controls
under the ample margin of safety
analysis to further reduce risks or
environmental effects due to HAP
emissions from prebake facilities. 79 FR
72947–48. Therefore, we indicated in
the supplemental proposal, and
conclude again in this final rule, that
the NESHAP for prebake facilities
provides an ample margin of safety to
protect public health and prevent an
adverse environmental effect.
With regard to Soderberg facilities, as
mentioned in section III above, we
proposed more stringent emission limits
for Ni, As, and POM under CAA section
112(f) to ensure that the cancer MIR
would remain below 100-in-1 million,
the level of risk we defined as
acceptable for purposes of this rule. We
did not propose more stringent
standards under the ample margin of
safety analysis since we identified no
feasible controls that would yield risk
reductions at reasonable cost. Id at
72948. In this final action, we are
promulgating these standards as
proposed. Although these standards
may not apply to any facilities, we are
still promulgating the As, Ni and POM
emissions limits for Soderberg facilities
under CAA section 112(f) to address the
shut down, but not yet demolished,
existing Soderberg potlines, and the
very unlikely scenario of construction of
new Soderberg potlines.
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3. What key comments did we receive
on the risk review, and what are our
responses?
The EPA received several comments
regarding the revised risk assessment for
the Primary Aluminum Production
source category. The following is a
summary of some key comments and
our responses to those comments. Other
comments received and our responses to
those comments can be found in the
document titled, National Emission
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants:
Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants
Summary of Public Comments and
Responses, which is available in the
docket for this action (Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–0797).
Comment: One commenter stated that
the EPA’s determination of the
emissions reduction required to reduce
health risks to an acceptable level
violates CAA section 112(f)(2) and is
arbitrary. The commenter believed that
the EPA’s acceptability determination
for prebake facilities is flawed for the
following reasons:
• The EPA’s acceptability
determination is unlawful and arbitrary
because its risk assessment is
incomplete and fails to follow the up-todate science to assess health risk;
• The EPA’s acceptability
determination fails to consider or
prevent unacceptable levels of
cumulative impacts;
• Socioeconomic disparity in health
risk from this source category makes the
risk the EPA has found unacceptable,
and the EPA must finalize a rule that is
consistent with the principle of
environmental justice (EJ);
• The EPA has failed to provide a
reasoned explanation for why the
lifetime cancer risk of 1-in-1 million or
more based on inhalation alone from
this sector is acceptable;
• After finding a level of acute risk
that is 10 times the EPA’s safety
threshold, the agency has failed to
justify not requiring the reduction of
acute health risk below 1; and
• The EPA has failed to justify
finding chronic non-cancer health risk
to be acceptable.
Response: We disagree with the
commenter that the assessment is
incomplete and fails to use up-to-date
science. The dose-response values used
in the risk assessment are based on the
current peer reviewed Integrated Risk
Information System (IRIS) values, as
well as other similarly peer-reviewed
values. Our approach, which uses
conservative tools and assumptions,
ensures that our decisions are
appropriately health protective and
environmentally protective. The
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62399
approach for selecting appropriate
health benchmark values, in general,
places greater weight on the EPA
derived health benchmarks than those
from other agencies (see https://
www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/nata1999/99pdfs/
healtheffectsinfo.pdf). This approach
has been endorsed by the Science
Advisory Board (SAB).7 The SAB
further recommended that the EPA
scrutinize values that emerge as drivers
of risk assessment results, and the
Agency has incorporated this
recommendation into the risk
assessment process. This may result in
the EPA determining that it is more
appropriate to use a peer-reviewed doseresponse value from another agency
even if an IRIS value exists.
With regard to the comment that the
EPA failed to consider cumulative
impacts, we note that while the
incorporation of additional background
concentrations from the environment in
our risk assessments (including those
from mobile sources and other
industrial and area sources) could be
technically challenging, they are neither
mandated nor barred from our analysis.
In developing the decision framework in
the Benzene NESHAP used for making
residual risk decisions, and now
codified in CAA section 112(f)(2)(B), the
EPA rejected approaches that would
have mandated consideration of
background levels of pollution in
assessing the acceptability of risk,
concluding that comparison of
acceptable risk should not be associated
with levels in polluted urban air (54 FR
38044, 38061, September 14, 1989).
Background levels (including natural
background) are not barred from the
EPA’s ample margin of safety analysis,
and the EPA may consider them, as
appropriate and as available, along with
other factors, such as cost and technical
feasibility, in the second step of its CAA
section 112(f) analysis. As discussed in
the 2014 supplemental proposal, the
risk assessment for this source category
did not include background
contributions (that may reflect
emissions that are from outside the
source category and from other than colocated sources) because the available
data are of insufficient quality upon
which to base a meaningful analysis.8
7 Refer to the May 2010, SAB response to the EPA
Administrator (EPA–SAB–10–007); https://
www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-HQOAR-2011-0797-0075.
8 Note that this question is distinct from the issue
of consideration of emissions from co-located
facilities, which emissions are fully reflected in the
EPA’s analysis. See discussion in section IV.A.3 of
this preamble, below, and 79 FR 72929/1 (emissions
estimated for all emitting sources in a contiguous
area under common control).
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This rule has been finalized
consistent with agency EJ principles and
analyses. To examine the potential for
any EJ issues that might be associated
with the Primary Aluminum Production
source category, we performed a
demographic analysis, which is an
assessment of risks to individual
demographic groups, of the population
close to the facilities. In this analysis,
we evaluated the distribution of HAPrelated cancer risks and non-cancer
hazards from this source category across
different social, demographic, and
economic groups within the populations
living near facilities identified as having
the highest risks. The results of the
demographic analysis are summarized
in Table 6 below and indicate that there
are no significant disproportionate risks
to any particular minority, low income,
or indigenous population. The
methodology and the results of the
demographic analyses are included in a
technical report, Analysis of SocioEconomic Factors for Populations Living
Near Primary Aluminum Facilities,
which is available in the docket for this
rulemaking (Docket item number EPA–
HQ–OAR–2011–0797–0360).
TABLE 6—PRIMARY ALUMINUM PRODUCTION SOURCE CATEGORY DEMOGRAPHIC RISK ANALYSIS RESULTS
Nationwide
Total Population ...........................................................................................................................
Population
with cancer
risk at or
above 1-in-1
million
Population
with chronic
hazard index
above 1
312,861,265
881,307
0
72
28
80
20
0
0
71.9
13
1.1
14
80.1
13
0.9
6
0
0
0
0
17
83
5
95
0
0
14
86
14
86
0
0
15
85
14
86
0
0
Race by Percent
White ............................................................................................................................................
All Other Races ...........................................................................................................................
Race by Percent
White ............................................................................................................................................
African American .........................................................................................................................
Native American ..........................................................................................................................
Other and Multiracial ...................................................................................................................
Ethnicity by Percent
Hispanic .......................................................................................................................................
Non-Hispanic ...............................................................................................................................
Income by Percent
Below Poverty Level ....................................................................................................................
Above Poverty Level ....................................................................................................................
Education by Percent
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Over 25 and without High School Diploma .................................................................................
Over 25 and with a High School Diploma ...................................................................................
With regard to the comments that the
EPA did not justify the determination
that risks are acceptable, we generally
draw no bright lines of acceptability
regarding cancer or non-cancer risks
from source category HAP emissions.
This is a core feature of the Benzene
NESHAP approach, now codified in
CAA section 112(f)(2)(B). See 54 FR at
38046, 38057; see also 79 FR 72933–34.
It is always important to consider the
specific uncertainties of the emissions
and health effects information regarding
the source category or subcategory in
question when deciding exactly what
level of cancer and non-cancer risk
should be considered acceptable. In
addition, the source category-specific or
subcategory-specific decision of what
constitutes an acceptable level of risk
should be a holistic one; that is, it
should simultaneously consider all
potential health impacts—chronic and
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acute, cancer and non-cancer, and
multipathway—along with their
uncertainties, when determining the
acceptable level of source category risk.
Today, such flexibility is even more
imperative, because new information
relevant to the question of risk
acceptability is being developed all the
time, and the accuracy and uncertainty
of each piece of information must be
considered in a weight-of-evidence
approach for each decision. This
relevant body of information is growing
fast (and will likely continue to grow
even faster), necessitating a flexible
weight-of-evidence approach that
acknowledges both complexity and
uncertainty in the simplest and most
transparent way possible. While this
challenge is formidable, it is
nonetheless the goal of the EPA’s RTR
decision-making, and it is the goal of the
risk assessment to provide the
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information to support the decisionmaking process.
Our acceptability decisions for the
prebake subcategory presented in the
supplemental proposal, and again in
this final rule, are appropriate. The
rationale for our acceptability decision
for the prebake subcategory was clearly
explained in the supplemental proposal
and was based on full consideration of
the health risk information and
associated uncertainties, and we
summarize it here:
Regarding the prebake subcategories,
as explained in the supplemental
proposal, the EPA had concerns
regarding the potential acute risks due
to As emissions (with a maximum acute
HQ of 10). See 79 FR 72947. However,
given the conservative nature of the
EPA’s analysis of acute effects—among
them, an assumption of the unlikely
confluence of peak emissions, worst-
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case-meteorology, and an exposed
individual present at the precise point
this occurs (see 79 FR 72943/1), and the
facts that: (a) The inhalation cancer MIR
was well below 100-in-1 million (MIR =
70-in-1 million); (b) the chronic noncancer risks were low (e.g., HI = 1); and
(c) given further that the multipathway
assessment indicated the maximum
cancer risk due to multipathway
exposures to HAP emissions from
prebake facilities was no higher than 50in-1 million, we have determined that
the risks due to emissions from the
prebake subcategories are acceptable.
Comment: A commenter stated
support for the EPA’s risk assessment
conclusion that the risk due to actual
emissions from the prebake aluminum
smelting subcategory is acceptable. The
commenter stated that the modeled
ambient concentrations that were used
in the risk assessment likely overpredict
actual concentrations since the Human
Exposure Model version 3 (HEM3) uses
the American Meteorological Society
and EPA Regulatory Model (AERMOD)
for air dispersion modeling to determine
ambient concentrations. The commenter
stated that the use of AERMOD is
inappropriate for modeling stationary
line sources like the potroom roof
monitors of the facilities and
overpredicts ambient concentrations
from roof monitor emissions by a factor
of about 30 times. The commenter
recommended that the EPA use the
Buoyant Line and Point source (BLP)
dispersion model to correctly model the
potline roof monitors.
Response: The EPA disagrees that the
BLP model needs to be used to correctly
model potline roof monitors. An
analysis performed by the EPA to
compare the modeled estimates from
AERMOD and the BLP model for a
typical primary aluminum facility
indicated that the maximum modeled
concentrations from the BLP model
were only 20 percent higher than those
from AERMOD. Considering the
uncertainties in release characteristics
and emission rates—both inputs into the
models—the results estimated by both
HEM3 and BLP are the same within that
range of uncertainty.9 The EPA
concluded that this difference was not
significant enough to warrant changing
the RTR modeling methodology it uses
for all source categories, which includes
the use of AERMOD and meteorological
data generated by the AERMOD
Meteorological Preprocessor (AERMET).
9 September 27, 2010, Memo to the EPA from
EC/R Incorporated; ‘‘Draft Modeling Comparison of
BLP and AERMOD for Primary Aluminum’’
available in the docket at https://
www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-HQOAR-2011-0797-0175.
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In addition, the 20 percent increase in
maximum modeled concentrations
would translate into an increase in the
risk from 70-in-1 million to 80-in-1
million. This level would still be within
the range of acceptability and, if the
EPA had determined that it was
necessary to use the BLP, the Agency
would have reaffirmed that risks are
acceptable.
Comment: One commenter stated that
the EPA must strengthen the risk
assessment and proposed risk action in
order to meet its responsibilities under
CAA section 112(f)(2) to provide the
requisite ‘‘ample margin of safety to
protect public health.’’ The EPA also
should find risk from the prebake
subcategories to be unacceptable,
instead of acceptable. The commenter
stated that the combined health risks for
these sources are substantial and stated
that the EPA found that the allowable
emissions-based cancer risk from
inhalation exposure is 70-in-1 million,
plus another 70-in-1 million from
multipathway exposure (50-in-1 million
for the ‘‘fisher’’ scenario, or fish-based
exposure; and 20-in-1 million for the
‘‘farmer’’ scenario, or farm-based
exposure). The commenter stated that
the 70-in-1 million inhalation risk,
combined with the high acute and
chronic risks the EPA found, is enough
alone to find risk unacceptable.
The commenter stated that in view of
the EPA’s scientific policy of summing
cancer risks, it should recognize that the
most-exposed person’s combined
multipathway and inhalation cancer
risk is 70 + 70 or 140-in-1 million. The
commenter stated that this is well above
the EPA’s presumptive acceptability
benchmark (which itself is insufficiently
stringent, as explained in their 2012
comments, incorporated by reference).
The commenter also stated that the EPA
should find the current cancer risk from
inhalation and multipathway exposure,
due to a combination of As, Ni, PAH,
and dioxins, is unacceptable. The
commenter stated that if viewed
together with the high acute and chronic
non-cancer risks the EPA found, as a
result of As and Ni in particular, the
data the EPA has compiled on risk show
that the current health risks are
unacceptable.
The commenter stated that the EPA
has not assessed the additional
multipathway risk from risk-driver
pollutants, such as As and Ni. The
commenter stated that, as discussed in
their 2012 comments (to EPA’s original
proposal), this is inconsistent with the
scientific evidence showing these are
persistent bioaccumulative toxics
[PBTs], and it is, thus, unlawful and
arbitrary and capricious for the EPA not
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62401
to assess and address the multipathway
risks they create.
Response: We disagree with the
commenter’s arguments for finding risks
to be unacceptable. The thrust of the
comment is that the risk analysis failed
to combine risks from various scenarios
and pathways, and that, added together,
these risks are unacceptable. In fact, the
analysis combines risk estimates to the
extent that it is scientifically
appropriate to do so. We consider the
effect of mixtures of carcinogens
consistent with the EPA guidelines and
use a TOSHI approach for our chronic
non-cancer assessments. We do not use
a TOSHI approach for acute analyses,
nor do we combine the results of our
inhalation and multipathway
assessments. (See the Residual Risk
Assessment for the Primary Aluminum
Production Source Category in Support
of the September 2015 Risk and
Technology Review Final Rule, which is
available in the docket for this action
(Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–
0797)).
In the multipathway screening
assessment, we did not sum the risk
results of the fisher and farmer
scenarios. The modeling approach used
for this analysis constructs two different
exposure scenarios, which serves as a
conservative estimate of potential risks
to the most-exposed receptor in each
scenario. Given that it is highly unlikely
that the most-exposed farmer is the
same person as the most-exposed fisher,
it is not reasonable to add risk results
from these two exposure scenarios (see
Appendix 5 and Section 2.5 of the
Residual Risk Assessment for the
Primary Aluminum Production Source
Category in Support of the September
2015 Risk and Technology Review Final
Rule).
We do not find it reasonable to
combine the results of our inhalation
and multipathway assessments for this
source category. The multipathway risk
assessment for prebake facilities was a
screening-level assessment. The
screening assessment used highly
conservative assumptions designed to
ensure that sources with results below
the screening threshold values did not
have the potential for multipathway
impacts of concern. The screening
scenario is a hypothetical scenario, and,
due to the theoretical construct of the
screening model, exceedances of the
thresholds are not directly translatable
into estimates of risk or HQs for these
facilities. Rather, it represents a highend estimate of what the risk or hazard
may be. For example, an exceedance of
2 for a non-carcinogen can be
interpreted to mean that we have high
confidence that the HQ or HI would be
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less than 2. Similarly, an exceedance of
30 for a carcinogen means that we have
high confidence that the risk is lower
than 30-in-1 million. Our confidence
comes from the health-protective
assumptions that are in the screens: We
choose inputs from the upper end of the
range of possible values for the
influential parameters used in the
screens, and we assume that the
exposed individual exhibits ingestion
behavior that would lead to a high total
multipathway exposure. It would be
inappropriate to sum the risk results
from the chronic inhalation assessment
and the screening multipathway
assessment. In addition to the
constraints in the screening-level
multipathway assessment described
above, it is highly unlikely that the same
receptor has the maximum results in
both assessments. In other words, it is
unlikely that the person with the
highest chronic inhalation cancer risk is
also the same person with the highest
individual multipathway cancer risk.
We agree with the commenter that we
‘‘should look at the whole picture of
cancer risk,’’ but we do so by assessing
cancer and chronic non-cancer
inhalation risk, acute risk,
multipathway risk, and combining risk
results where it is scientifically
appropriate to do so, not by arbitrarily
and indiscriminately summing risk
measures in the absence of a valid
technical basis.
We currently do not have screening
values for some PB–HAP, but we
disagree that the multipathway
assessment is inadequate because it did
not include ‘‘all HAP metals emitted
(such as arsenic and nickel).’’ We
developed the current PB–HAP list
considering all available information on
persistence and bioaccumulation (see
https://www2.epa.gov/fera/air-toxicsrisk-assessment-reference-libraryvolumes-1-3, specifically Volume 1,
Appendix D). (The Air Toxics Risk
Assessment Reference Library presents
the decision process by which the PB–
HAP were selected and provides
information on the fundamental
principles of risk-based assessment for
air toxics and how to apply those
principles.) In developing the list, we
considered HAP identified as PB–HAP
by other EPA program offices (e.g., the
Great Waters Program), as well as
information from the PBT profiler (see
https://www.pbtprofiler.net/).
Considering this list was peer-reviewed
by the SAB and found to be
acceptable,10 we believe it to be
reasonable for use in risk assessments
for the RTR program.
Regarding the commenter’s assertion
that we did not base the multipathway
risk assessment on allowable emissions,
we believe it is reasonable for the
multipathway risk assessment to be
based on actual emissions for this
source category, and not the allowable
level of emissions—i.e. the level that
facilities are permitted to emit. The
potline fugitive emissions, which drive
the risks associated with this source
category, vary in magnitude and
location along the roofline due to
normal operations, including, among
others, replacement of anodes. We
exacerbate the uncertainty associated
with these variations in fugitive
emissions when we scale up actual
emissions to estimate allowable
emissions. Also, there is considerable
uncertainty associated with estimated
allowable emissions from batch
operations, such as pitch storage tank
and pitch production, due to the nature
of batch operations (e.g., estimating the
number of batch operations possible or
necessary during a period of time).
Further uncertainty results when we
consider that, in order to comply with
the emission limits at all times, a
source’s allowable emissions would
need to be below the associated
standard by an indeterminate amount
during normal operations. Therefore, we
conclude that the uncertainties
associated with the multipathway
screen along with uncertainties in the
allowable emissions estimates would
make a multipathway risk assessment
based on allowable emissions highly
uncertain and, thereby, not appropriate
for use in making this regulatory
decision.
The commenter also argued for
summing acute HQs from different HAP
to assess acute non-cancer risk. We do
not sum results of the acute non-cancer
inhalation assessment to create a
combined acute risk number that would
represent the total acute risk for all
pollutants that act in a similar way on
the same organ system or systems
(similar to the chronic TOSHI). The
worst-case acute screen is already a
conservative scenario. That is, the acute
screening scenario assumes worst-case
meteorology, peak emissions for all
emission points occurring concurrently
and an individual being located at the
site of maximum concentration for an
hour. Thus, as noted in the Residual
Risk Assessment for the Primary
Aluminum Production Source Category
in Support of the September 2015 Risk
10 10 Refer to the May 2010, SAB response to the
EPA Administrator (EPA–SAB–10–007); https://
www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-HQOAR-2011-0797-0075
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and Technology Review Final Rule, page
31, which is available in the docket for
this action (Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2011–0797), ‘‘because of the
conservative nature of the acute
inhalation screening and the variable
nature of emissions and potential
exposures, acute impacts were screened
on an individual pollutant basis, not
using the TOSHI approach.’’ The EPA
may conduct a reasoned screening
assessment without having to adopt the
most conceivably conservative
assumption for each and every part of
the analysis.
Comment: One commenter stated that,
as the EPA recognized in the secondary
aluminum proposal, at least nine
secondary aluminum facilities have colocated primary aluminum operations.
The commenter stated that for both
source categories, the EPA found that
the facility-wide MIR is 70-in-1 million,
driven by As, Ni, and hexavalent
chromium, and that the TOSHI (chronic
non-cancer risk) is 1, driven by
cadmium. The commenter stated that
the TOSHI number appears to consider
only inhalation risk and stated that the
TOSHI number must be viewed in
context, as the EPA is aware that
scientists have directed the EPA to do
(and as previously explained and cited
to the EPA in comments). The
commenter stated that if considered in
combination with the high secondary
aluminum multipathway risk, and with
the high inhalation and multipathway
risks for primary aluminum, the facilitywide cancer risk provides additional
evidence that risks from both source
categories are unacceptable. The
commenter asserts this is the case
because the most-exposed person’s full
amount of risk is the combined amount
from the co-located primary and
secondary aluminum, not just each
source category separately. The
commenter stated that it would be
unlawful and arbitrary to consider each
type of risk separately, when people
near both sources are exposed to both
kinds of risk at the same time and, thus,
face a higher overall amount of risk.
The commenter stated that the EPA
has not offered and can not offer a valid
justification for not finding risk from
both source categories (including
primary aluminum prebake and
secondary aluminum) to be
unacceptable based on the co-located
and combined risks. The commenter
stated that the EPA has collected data
from both source categories and is
evaluating that data in rulemakings for
both source categories. The commenter
stated that the EPA may not lawfully
ignore the full picture of risk that its
combined rulemakings show is present
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for people exposed simultaneously to
both source categories at the same
facility.
The commenter stated that the EPA
only assessed facility-wide risks based
on so-called ‘‘actual’’ emissions, so the
facility-wide risk number could be at
least 1.5 to 3 times higher, based on the
EPA’s recognition that allowable
emissions from primary aluminum
facilities are about 1.5 to 1.9 times
higher and the fact that allowable
emissions from secondary aluminum are
at least 3 times higher.
The commenter stated that it is
important that the EPA is evaluating
facility-wide risk from sources in
multiple categories that are co-located.
The commenter stated that the EPA
may not reasonably or lawfully then
decide not to use the results of that
assessment to set stronger standards for
these sources. The commenter stated
that this rulemaking is an important
opportunity for the EPA to recognize the
need to act based on data showing
significant combined and cumulative
risks and impacts at the facility-wide
level. The commenter stated that the
EPA is also required to do so to meet its
CAA section 112(f)(2) duties, as
explained in the 2012 comments and
reincorporated by reference here.
Response: We agree with the
commenter that facility-wide risk
assessment is appropriately considered
in putting the source category risks in
context. However, we disagree with the
comment that we failed to appropriately
consider or account for cumulative risk.
We conducted facility-wide risk
assessments for all major sources in the
source category that were operating in
2014, including the nine secondary
aluminum production facilities colocated with primary aluminum
reduction plants. See 79 FR 72929
(emissions estimated for all emitting
sources in a contiguous area under
common control).
The commenter stated that the EPA
must find the risks unacceptable based
on the whole-facility risks from colocated primary and secondary
aluminum operations. The EPA does not
typically include whole-facility
assessments in the CAA section 112(f)
acceptability determination for a source
category. Reasons for this include the
fact that emissions and source
characterization data are usually not of
the same vintage and quality for all
source categories that are on the same
site, and, thus, the results of the wholefacility assessment are generally not
appropriate to include in the regulatory
decisions regarding acceptability.
However, in this case, we are
developing the risk assessments for
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primary and secondary aluminum
production at the same time. The data
are generally of the same vintage and we
have actual emissions data and source
characterization data for both source
categories. In response to the comment,
we refer to the facility-wide risk
assessment, which included the nine
facilities with co-located primary and
secondary aluminum operations. As
discussed above and shown in Table 6,
for the facility with the highest risk from
inhalation, the facility-wide MIR for
cancer from actual emissions is 70-in-1
million. The facility-wide non-cancer
hazard is 1. The highest facility-wide
exceedance of the multipathway screen
is 70. There was no facility-wide
exceedance of a noncancer threshold in
the multipathway screen. Considering
these facility-wide results as part of the
acceptability determination is thus
corroborative of our determination that
the risks are acceptable for the
Secondary Aluminum Production
source category.
The commenter is correct that we
based our facility-wide risk assessment
on actual emissions rather than on
estimated allowable emissions. Because
the facility-wide allowable emissions
estimates have not been subjected to the
same level of scrutiny, quality
assurance, and technical evaluation as
the actual emissions estimates from the
source category, and because of the
larger inherent uncertainty associated
with allowable emissions discussed
above, facility-wide risk results based
on allowable emissions would be too
uncertain to support a regulatory
decision, but they could remain
important for providing context as long
as their uncertainty is taken into
consideration.
The distinct issue of whether
background emissions not associated
with co-located emitting sources at the
facility is discussed above. We reiterate
that while the incorporation of
additional background concentrations
from the environment in our risk
assessments (including those from
mobile sources and other industrial and
area sources) could be technically
challenging, they are neither mandated
nor barred from our analysis. In
developing the decision framework in
the Benzene NESHAP used for making
residual risk decisions, the EPA rejected
approaches that would have mandated
consideration of background levels of
pollution in assessing the acceptability
of risk, concluding that comparison of
acceptable risk should not be associated
with levels in polluted urban air (54 FR
38044, 38061, September 14, 1989).
Background levels (including natural
background) are not barred from the
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62403
EPA’s ample margin of safety analysis,
and the EPA may consider them, as
appropriate and as available, along with
other factors, such as cost and technical
feasibility, in the second step of its CAA
section 112(f) analysis. As discussed in
the 2014 supplemental proposal, the
risk assessment for this source category
did not include background
contributions (that may reflect
emissions that are from outside the
source category and from other than colocated sources) because the available
data are of insufficient quality upon
which to base a meaningful analysis.
Comment: Some commenters
recommended that the EPA should
proceed with the required full
multipathway risk assessment, as the
data showed that the persistent and
bioaccumulation screening emission
rates were exceeded for POM. The
commenters do not believe the risk
analysis for this source category is final
until this step is complete and disagree
with the EPA’s explanation that the
results are biased high and subject to
significant uncertainties, arguing that
the EPA cannot ignore the implications
of this screening assessment. The
commenter recommended that the EPA
perform a full multipathway assessment
to find a number it believes fully
represents this risk, or use the number
it has created as the best available
number, without discounting the impact
of that number.
One commenter recommended
conducting a full multipathway risk
assessment for this source category that
includes consideration of a child’s
multipathway exposure in urban and
rural residential scenarios. The
commenter further stated that the failure
of the EPA to assess an exposed child
scenario as part of the cumulative risk
assessment ignores the exposures that
may pose the most significant risk from
this source category. The commenter
highlighted the risk to children from
contaminated soils, noting that past risk
assessments have relied on outdated
estimates of incidental soil ingestion
exposures and stated that the EPA must
update these values. The commenter
cited two EPA exposures factors
handbooks and a journal article as
resources to use for assessing risks.
Response: We disagree with the
comment that our multipathway risk
assessment does not consider children.
The multipathway screening scenario is
intended to represent a high-end
exposure for children via incidental soil
ingestion. The 2011 Exposure Factors
Handbook recommended ‘‘upperpercentile’’ soil ingestion rate (numeric
percentile not specified) for children
aged 3 to 6 years is 200 milligrams per
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day (mg/d). The EPA also published the
Child-Specific Exposure Factors
Handbook (2008). No additional data or
recommendations for child soil
ingestion are presented in this source,
and, in fact, an ‘‘upper percentile’’ value
for this parameter is not provided.
Based on these sources, a value of 200
mg/d is used in the current RTR
multipathway screening scenario for the
child incidental soil ingestion rate.
The multipathway risk assessment
conducted for the proposal was a
screening-level assessment. The
screening assessment used highly
conservative assumptions designed to
ensure that facilities with results below
the screening threshold values did not
have the potential for multipathway
impacts of concern. The screening
scenario is a hypothetical scenario, and,
due to the theoretical construct of the
screening model, exceedances of the
thresholds are not directly translatable
into estimates of risk or HQs for these
facilities. The scope of the assessment
did not change across the tiers in the
multipathway screening assessment and
is described in the risk assessment
documents (and related appendices)
available in the docket for this
rulemaking (Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2011–0797).
4. What is the rationale for our final
approach and final decisions for the risk
review?
As discussed above and in the
preamble of the 2014 supplemental
proposal, after considering health risk
information and other factors, including
uncertainties, we have determined that
the risks from primary aluminum
production prebake facilities are
acceptable and that the current NESHAP
provides an ample margin of safety to
protect public health for prebake
facilities given that the inhalation
cancer MIR was well below 100-in-1
million, the chronic non-cancer risks
were low, and the multipathway
assessment indicated the maximum
cancer risk due to multipathway
exposures to HAP emissions from
prebake facilities was no higher than 50in-1 million. In summary, our revised
risk assessment indicates that cancer
risks due to actual and allowable
emissions from prebake facilities are
below the presumptive limit of
acceptability, and that non-cancer
results indicate minimal likelihood of
adverse health effects. We evaluated
potential risk reductions as well as the
cost of control options, but did not
identify any control technologies or
other measures that would be costeffective in further reducing risks (or
potential risks) for prebake facilities. In
particular, we did not identify any costeffective approaches to further reduce
As, Ni, and PAH emissions and risks
beyond what is already being achieved
by the current NESHAP.
Regarding the Soderberg facilities, as
discussed above, since all existing
Soderberg facilities are permanently
shut down, we necessarily conclude the
risks due to emissions from Soderberg
facilities are currently acceptable.
However, under our ample margin of
safety analysis, we have determined that
it is appropriate to promulgate
standards for Ni, As, and PAH under
CAA section 112(f) for the Soderberg
subcategory potlines to ensure that
excess cancer risk due to HAP emissions
from any possible future primary
aluminum reduction plant would
remain below 100-in-1 million. We
estimate the costs to comply with these
standards for Soderberg facilities would
be zero since there are no existing
operating Soderberg facilities in the U.S.
Furthermore, we expect any future new
primary aluminum reduction plant
would use prebake potlines since
prebake potlines are more energy
efficient (and lower-emitting) than
Soderberg potlines. Therefore, we also
estimate that these standards would
pose no cost for any future new primary
aluminum reduction plant.
B. CAA Sections 112(d)(2) and (3)
Revisions for the Primary Aluminum
Production Source Category
1. What did we propose pursuant to
CAA sections 112(d)(2) and (3) for the
Primary Aluminum Production source
category?
We proposed several MACT standards
in the December 2011 proposal pursuant
to CAA sections 112(d)(2) and (3),
which are summarized in Table 7,
below.
We received significant comments on
the 2011 proposal from industry
representatives, environmental
organizations, and state regulatory
agencies. After reviewing the comments,
and after consideration of additional
data and information received since the
2011 proposal, the EPA determined it
was appropriate to gather additional
data, revise some of the analyses
associated with that proposal, and to
publish a supplemental proposal.
In support of the supplemental
proposal, the EPA sent an information
request to owners of currently operating
primary aluminum reduction plants in
March of 2013. The EPA received
associated responses in May through
August 2013. As part of this data
collection effort, we received emissions
data for PM, HAP metals (including
antimony, As, beryllium, cobalt,
manganese, selenium, Ni, cadmium,
chromium, lead, and Hg), PCB, and
D/F from potlines, anode bake furnaces,
and/or paste production plants from
every primary aluminum reduction
plant that was operational at that time,
including nine prebake-type facilities
and one Soderberg-type facility.
Based on evaluation of all the data,
we proposed several revised and new
MACT standards in the December 2014
proposal pursuant to CAA sections
112(d)(2) and (3), which are
summarized in Table 7, below.
TABLE 7—SUMMARY OF PROPOSED MACT STANDARDS
Proposal
HAP
Source
2011 proposal (76 FR 76259) .................
COS ..................
New potlines ..........................................
Existing potlines .....................................
New potlines ..........................................
Existing potlines.
CWPB1 ..................................................
CWPB2 ..................................................
CWPB3 ..................................................
SWPB .....................................................
VSS2 ......................................................
HSS ........................................................
Existing pitch storage tanks ...................
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POM .................
2014 proposal (79 FR 72914) .................
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POM .................
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New potlines ..........................................
Existing potlines.
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Promulgated MACT standard
3.1 lb/ton aluminum produced.
3.9 lb/ton aluminum produced.
0.62 lb/ton aluminum produced.
0.62 lb/ton aluminum produced.
1.3 lb/ton aluminum produced.
1.26 lb/ton aluminum produced.
0.65 lb/ton aluminum produced.
3.8 lb/ton aluminum produced.
3.0 lb/ton aluminum produced.
Minimum 95-percent reduction of inlet
POM emissions.
0.77 lb/ton aluminum produced.
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62405
TABLE 7—SUMMARY OF PROPOSED MACT STANDARDS—Continued
Proposal
HAP
PM ....................
Source
Promulgated MACT standard
CWPB1 ..................................................
CWPB2 ..................................................
CWPB3 ..................................................
SWPB .....................................................
New potlines ..........................................
Existing potlines.
CWPB1 ..................................................
CWPB2 ..................................................
CWPB3 ..................................................
SWPB .....................................................
VSS2 ......................................................
New anode bake furnace .......................
Existing anode bake furnace .................
New paste production plant ...................
Existing paste production plant ..............
1.1 lb/ton aluminum produced.
12 lb/ton aluminum produced.
2.7 lb/ton aluminum produced.
19 lb/ton aluminum produced.
4.6 lb/ton aluminum produced.
7.2 lb/ton aluminum produced.
11 lb/ton aluminum produced.
20 lb/ton aluminum produced.
4.6 lb/ton aluminum produced.
26 lb/ton aluminum produced.
0.036 lb/ton of green anode produced.
0.068 lb/ton of green anode produced.
0.0056 lb/ton of paste produced.
0.082 lb/ton of paste produced.
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HSS = horizontal stud Soderberg.
2. How did the proposed CAA sections
112(d)(2) and (3) standards change for
the Primary Aluminum Production
source category?
Commenters provided additional
emissions data for POM from SWPB
potlines and for PM from CWPB1
potlines and anode bake furnaces, and
identified areas where we had
misinterpreted data used for the
proposed PM and POM standards.
Based on these comments and
additional PM and POM emissions data,
we re-evaluated the proposed PM and
POM MACT standards and revised the
following MACT limits:
• POM emission limit of 19 lb/ton
aluminum for existing SWPB potlines
changed to 17 lb/ton aluminum;
• PM emission limit of 7.2 lb/ton
aluminum for existing CWPB1 potlines
changed to 7.4 lb/ton aluminum;
• PM emission limit of 4.6 lb/ton
aluminum for existing SWPB potlines
changed to 4.9 lb/ton aluminum;
• PM emission limit of 4.6 lb/ton
aluminum for new potlines changed to
4.9 lb/ton aluminum;
• PM emission limit of 0.068 lb/ton
green anode for existing anode bake
furnaces changed to 0.2 lb/ton green
anode; and
• PM emission limit of 0.036 lb/ton
green anode for new anode bake
furnaces changed to 0.07 lb/ton green
anode.
The EPA discussed at proposal
whether to promulgate MACT standards
at this time for HAP where much, most,
or virtually all of the data showed levels
below detection limits. See 79 FR
72936. We received comments claiming
that, in addition to the standards listed
above, the EPA must promulgate
standards for these HAP: Hg, D/F, and
PCB. Based on these comments, and
considering further reply comments
from industry addressing this issue (see
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email, dated July 1, 2015, from Mr. Curt
Wells of The Aluminum Association,
which is available in the docket for this
rulemaking (Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2011–0797)), we re-evaluated the
data we had for PCB, D/F, and Hg to
determine whether it would be
appropriate to establish emissions limits
for these HAP. Based on that evaluation,
we determined that the emissions data
for PCB from VSS2 Soderberg potlines
are above detection limits and that
numerical limits reflecting MACT can
be set for these sources. Therefore, we
are finalizing a MACT limit for PCB of
2.0 mg TEQ/ton for existing Soderberg
VSS2 potlines and new Soderberg
potlines. These standards were
developed based on the 99-percent
upper prediction limit (UPL) for PCB
emissions from the available emissions
data and represent the MACT floor level
of control. We also considered beyondthe-floor options, but did not identify
any feasible or cost-effective beyondthe-floor options.
Furthermore, we determined that the
emissions data for Hg from anode bake
furnaces are above detection limits and
that MACT limits can be set for these
sources. Therefore, we are finalizing a
MACT limit for Hg of 1.7 mg/dscm for
new and existing anode bake furnaces.
These standards are equal to 3 times the
representative detection limit (RDL)
value for Hg. The RDL is the average
method detection level (MDL) achieved
in practice by laboratories whose data
support the best performing 12 percent
of a MACT category (or categories). We
use an average value for the RDL
because a decision for a new source
floor may be based upon a test report
where the laboratory chosen has better
equipment and/or practices than other
laboratories and, therefore, reported a
lower MDL. Using that data to set the
floor would result in requiring all new
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sources to choose that laboratory in
order to demonstrate compliance with
the new limit. We recognize the need to
allow sources to conduct business with
their local laboratories, or a laboratory
of their preference; however, we limit
the RDL to the best laboratory
performers because we do not want to
incentivize the use of the worst
performing laboratories. The EPA policy
is to set MACT standards for a pollutant
at a level of 3 times the RDL level for
that pollutant when the 99-percent UPL
value for the available emissions data
results in a value that is less than 3
times the RDL level for that pollutant,
which is the case for Hg emissions from
anode bake furnaces. See, e.g., docket
item number EPA–HQ–OAR–2009–
0559–0157.
We use the multiplication factor of 3
to approximately reduce the
imprecision of the analytical method
until the imprecision in the field
sampling reflects the relative method
precision as estimated by the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers
(ASME) study 11 that also indicates that
such relative imprecision, from 10 to 20
percent, remains constant over the range
of the methods. For comparing to the
floor, if 3 times the RDL were less than
the calculated floor or emissions limit
(e.g., calculated from the UPL), we
would conclude that measurement
variability was adequately addressed.
The calculated floor or emissions limit
would need no adjustment. If, on the
other hand, the value equal to 3 times
the RDL were greater than the UPL, we
would conclude that the calculated floor
or emissions limit does not account
entirely for measurement variability.
11 Reference Method Accuracy and Precision
(ReMAP): PHASE 1, Precision of Manual Stack
Emission Measurements; American Society of
Mechanical Engineers, Research Committee on
Industrial and Municipal Waste, February 2001.
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Therefore, we substituted the value
equal to 3 times the RDL for the
calculated floor or emissions limit
which results in a concentration where
the method would produce
measurement accuracy on the order of
10 to 20 percent similar to other EPA
test methods and the results found in
the ASME study.
Please refer to the Final MACT Floor
Analysis for the Primary Aluminum
Production Source Category, which is
available in the docket for this
rulemaking (Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2011–0797), for more information
regarding the new standards.
Regarding the Hg and PCB emissions
from the other process units (such as
potlines and paste production plants),
and D/F from all the process units, most
(or all) of the emissions tests were below
the detection limit. Therefore, we
conclude it is not feasible to prescribe
or enforce a numerical emission
standard for these HAP emissions,
within the meaning of CAA section
112(h)(1) and (2). Specifically, measured
values for these HAP would be neither
duplicable nor replicable and would not
give reliable indication of what (if
anything) the source was emitting.
Under CAA section 112(h)(2), the EPA
may adopt work practice standards
when ‘‘the application of measurement
methodology to a particular class of
sources is not practicable due to
technological and economic
limitations.’’ As discussed more fully in
section IV.C below, the EPA does not
regard measurements which are
unreliable, non-duplicable, and nonreplicable to be practicable. Simply put,
the CAA simply does not compel
promulgation of numerical emission
standards that are too unreliable to be
meaningful. Therefore, as discussed in
section IV.C of this preamble, we are
promulgating work practice standards
for these HAP under section 112(h) of
the CAA for various process units.
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3. What key comments did we receive
on the CAA sections 112(d)(2) and (3)
proposed revisions, and what are our
responses?
Comment: Commenters identified
POM and PM emissions data from
prebake potlines and PM emissions data
from anode bake furnaces that were
incorrectly represented in the data sets
used for MACT limit determinations.
Commenters also provided additional
PM data for prebake potlines and anode
bake furnaces. Commenters requested
the EPA to re-evaluate MACT floors and
recalculate MACT limits for PM and
POM based on the corrected and
additional data.
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Response: We agree with commenters
that the EPA misinterpreted certain data
in the supplemental proposal. For
example, we misinterpreted the PM and
POM emissions from a single exhaust
stack of a control device with multiple
exhaust stacks to be the total PM and
POM emissions from that source and
misinterpreted the primary POM
emissions from a potline to be total
POM emissions from that potline (see
pages 5 through 8 of the public
comments provided by The Aluminum
Association, which are available in the
docket for this rulemaking (Docket ID
No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–0797). The
final rule reflects appropriate data
corrections, and the additional data
provided have been incorporated in the
final limits promulgated for POM and
PM from prebake potlines and PM from
anode bake furnaces. Further
information regarding the development
of the final emission limits can be found
in the document titled, Final MACT
Floor Analysis for the Primary
Aluminum Production Source Category,
which is available in the docket for this
action.
Comment: One commenter stated that
the EPA must set standards for all HAP
emitted by primary aluminum reduction
plants. The commenter explained that
the EPA’s data collection found that
primary aluminum reduction plants
emit D/F, Hg, and PCB. Nevertheless,
the EPA proposed not to set standards
to limit these pollutants at all because
‘‘many of the emissions tests were
below detection limit’’ even though
there are emissions data in the record
above the detection limits for these
pollutants for some sources. The
commenter continued their argument by
stating that the CAA and D.C. Circuit
case law require the EPA to set limits for
all emitted pollutants. As the D.C.
Circuit has held, the EPA has a ‘‘clear
statutory obligation to set emissions
standards for each listed HAP [i.e.,
hazardous air pollutant]’’ under CAA
section 112.
Response: As explained above, based
on consideration of this comment,
industry comment, and re-evaluation of
the data, we are promulgating numerical
emissions limits for Hg from anode bake
furnaces and PCB for Soderberg potlines
because the data we have support the
development of such numerical limits.
Furthermore, regarding Hg, D/F, and
PCB from the other process units, as
described in section IV.C of this
preamble, we are promulgating work
practice standards under CAA section
112(h) because most of the emissions
data were below the detection limit for
these HAP and process units.
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4. What is the rationale for our final
approach for the CAA sections 112(d)(2)
and (3) revisions?
All numerical MACT standards
proposed and promulgated for the
Primary Aluminum Production source
category reflect the MACT floor and
were developed based on the 99-percent
UPL of the available emissions data for
this source category,12 except for the
limits set for Hg emissions from anode
bake furnaces which were set equal to
a value of 3 times the RDL due to data
limitations, as explained above. We
considered beyond-the-floor options.
However, we determined that no costeffective beyond-the-floor options were
available. For more information
regarding the development of the MACT
standards for this source category and
our analyses of beyond-the-floor
options, see the document, Final MACT
Floor Analysis for the Primary
Aluminum Production Source Category,
which is available in the docket for this
action (Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–
2011–0797).
C. Revisions to the Work Practice
Standards for the Primary Aluminum
Production Source Category
1. What work practice standards did we
propose pursuant to CAA sections
112(h) and/or 112(d)(6) for the Primary
Aluminum Production source category?
In 2011, we proposed work practice
standards for TF and POM emissions
from potlines during startup periods
under 112(h) of the CAA because we
determined that it is economically and
technically infeasible to measure
emissions of these HAP during these
startup periods. Subsequently, in 2014
we proposed to expand these standards
to also apply to PM.
In 2014, we also realized that these
work practices could also help
minimize emissions during periods of
normal operation. Therefore, as
mentioned above, under the technology
review pursuant to CAA section
112(d)(6), in 2014 we proposed that
these work practice standards for
potlines would also apply during
normal operations to ensure improved
capture and control of TF, POM, and
12 For determining performance over time, the
EPA used the UPL statistical methodology. That is,
the best performers, and their level of performance,
are determined after accounting for sources’ normal
operating variability. The UPL represents the value
which one can expect the mean of a specified
number of future observations (e.g., 3-run average)
to fall below for the specified level of confidence,
based upon the results of an independent sample
from the same population. See MACT Floor Memo
and Memorandum, Use of the Upper prediction
limit for Calculating MACT Floors (Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–0797).
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PM emissions from those sources. For
potlines, the work practices included:
(1) Ensuring the potline scrubbers and
exhaust fans are operational at all times;
(2) ensuring that the primary capture
and control system is operating at all
times; (3) keeping pots covered as much
as practicable to include, but not limited
to, minimizing the removal of covers or
panels of the pots on which work is
being performed; and (4) inspecting
potlines daily.
Regarding other emissions sources, in
2011 we also proposed work practices
for anode bake furnaces during startup
periods under CAA section 112(d)(6)
that will ensure improved capture and
control of HAP emissions from those
sources during startup periods. Then, in
the 2014 supplemental proposal, we
proposed work practices for paste
production plants during startup
periods under CAA section 112(d)(6)
that will ensure improved capture and
control of HAP emissions from those
sources during startup periods.
For anode bake furnaces and paste
production plants, the proposed work
practices included ensuring that the
associated emission control system is
operating within normal parametric
limits prior to startup of the emission
source and requiring that the anode
bake furnace or paste production plants
be shut down if the associated emission
control system is off line during startup.
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2. What changes were made to the work
practice standards developed for the
Primary Aluminum Production source
category pursuant to CAA sections
112(h) and/or 112(d)(6)?
In the final rule, the work practices
for potlines, anode bake furnaces, and
paste production plants remain
unchanged from the proposals. In the
final rule, we added additional, more
specific VE monitoring requirements,
which are applicable during all periods
of operation, for emission points that are
not equipped with BLDS or PM CEMS,
and thus, ensuring improved capture
and control of emissions at all times.
Furthermore, the work practice
standards for anode bake furnaces
address PCB emissions (under CAA
section 112(h)) for these process units,
and the work practice standards for
potlines address Hg from all potlines,
PCB emissions from prebake potlines,
and D/F emissions from Soderberg
potlines (under CAA section 112(h))
because in all these cases we
determined that it is economically and
technically infeasible to reliably
measure emissions of these HAP from
these process units.
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3. What key comments did we receive
regarding work practice standards and
what are our responses?
Comment: As mentioned above, one
commenter stated that the EPA’s data
collection found that primary aluminum
reduction plants emit D/F, Hg, and PCB.
The commenter stated that the EPA
states that it is not proposing standards
for these currently unregulated
pollutants because ‘‘many of the
emissions tests were below detection
limit.’’ The commenter stated that the
EPA has some emission data in the
record above the detection limits for
these pollutants for some sources. The
commenter stated that the CAA and D.C.
Circuit case law require the EPA to set
limits for all emitted pollutants.
The commenter stated that as the D.C.
Circuit has held, the EPA has a ‘‘clear
statutory obligation to set emissions
standards for each listed HAP [i.e.,
hazardous air pollutant]’’ under CAA
sections 112(d)(1)–(3). The commenter
stated that these pollutants are some of
the most potent and most harmful, even
at extremely low levels of human
exposure.
The commenter stated that it would
be internally inconsistent not to regulate
these HAP, because in this rulemaking,
the EPA has recognized the need to set
emission standards for unregulated
pollutants. The commenter stated that
the EPA states that it may, but is not
required to set emission standards for
these pollutants, citing the Portland
Cement decision (665 F.3d at 189). The
commenter stated that the Portland
Cement decision did not hold that the
EPA may avoid setting limits for CAA
section 112-listed pollutants emitted by
a source category. The commenter stated
that the Portland Cement decision
affirmed that the EPA may set revised
emission standards, including updated
MACT floors, whenever it determines
this is necessary, including as a result
of a CAA section 112(d)(6) review, or
more often.
The commenter stated that the revised
standards the EPA is proposing here
must satisfy CAA sections 112(d)(2)–(3).
The commenter stated that the EPA may
not ‘‘cherry-pick’’ the HAP when
initially setting and revising standards.
The commenter stated that if the EPA
missed HAP that it is legally required to
regulate in prior standards, then it has
an ongoing obligation to set such
standards, and it would be both
unlawful and arbitrary and capricious
for the EPA not to set such standards as
part of this review and revision
rulemaking under CAA section 112(d).
The commenter stated that the EPA
has recognized the need to assess health
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risks from these pollutants and has
created a method to do so by assuming
that the undetected emissions were
equal to one-half the detection limit,
which the EPA explains is ‘‘the
established approach for dealing with
non-detects in the EPA’s RTR program
when developing emissions estimates
for input to the risk assessments.’’ The
commenter stated that the EPA may not
ignore these pollutants under CAA
section 112(d) when it acknowledges
and has found a way to address them
under CAA section 112(f)—even though
some of the data in the record are below
the detection level.
The commenter stated that instead of
ignoring the emissions data it has, the
EPA must at least use the emission data
that are above the detection level to set
standards. Furthermore, the commenter
stated that for the non-detect values, the
EPA may not lawfully ignore these data.
The commenter stated that the EPA
must recognize that some sources have
achieved levels of emissions below the
detection level and use an appropriate
number at or below the detection level
as part of its floor analysis, to satisfy the
floor and beyond-the-floor requirements
of CAA sections 112(d)(2)–(3).
Response: As mentioned in section
IV.B above, based on consideration of
this comment, industry comment, and
re-evaluation of the data, we are
promulgating numerical emissions
limits for Hg from anode bake furnaces
and PCB from Soderberg potlines
because the data we have support the
development of such numerical limits.
Furthermore, regarding Hg from
potlines, PCB from prebake potlines and
anode bake furnaces, and D/F from
Soderberg potlines, as described in
section IV.C of this preamble, we are
promulgating work practice standards
under CAA section 112(h) because most
of the emissions data were below the
detection limits for these HAP and
process units. However, EPA is not
adopting either numerical standards or
work practice standards for these HAP
from other process units because all of
the associated emissions data were
below the detection limit or otherwise
unreliable (e.g., the test report indicated
quality assurance problems). There is
certainly no obligation under CAA
sections 112(d)(2) and (3) for the EPA to
promulgate standards for HAP that are
not emitted by a source category.
Given these determinations, the
commenter’s claims that the EPA is
obligated to establish MACT standards
for HAP at particular times, and that it
must do so if it is making assumptions
about emission levels as part of the CAA
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section 112(f) risk analysis, are no
longer presented.13
4. What is the rationale for our final
approach regarding work practice
standards under CAA sections 112(h)
and/or 112(d)(6)?
Based on comments received during
the 2014 supplemental proposal public
comment period, we determined that it
was appropriate to re-evaluate the data
we had for PCB, D/F, and Hg. For D/F
from potlines, anode bake furnaces, and
paste production plants; Hg from
potlines and paste production plants;
and PCB from prebake potlines, anode
bake furnaces, and paste production
plants, we found that more than half of
the test data were below the detection
limit. We maintain our December 2014
proposed position that it is not
appropriate to promulgate numerical
MACT limits for these HAP from these
process units. Instead, as explained
below, we are promulgating work
practice standards under CAA section
112(h), when appropriate.
Sections 112(h)(1) and (h)(2)(B) of the
CAA indicate that the EPA may adopt
a work practice standard rather than a
numeric standard when ‘‘the
application of measurement
methodology to a particular class of
sources is not practicable due to
technological and economic
limitations.’’ As explained above, the
majority of the data collected for Hg, D/
F, and PCB during the information
request test program for these emissions
points were below the detection limit.
Under these circumstances, the EPA
does not believe that it is
technologically and economically
practicable to reliably measure Hg, D/F,
and PCB emissions from these particular
sources. The ‘‘application of
measurement methodologies’’
(described in CAA section 112(h)(2)(B))
means more than taking a measurement.
It must also mean that a measurement
has some reasonable relation to what the
source is emitting, i.e., that the
measurement yields a meaningful value.
That is not the case here, and the EPA,
therefore, does not believe it reasonable
to establish a numerical standard for Hg,
D/F, and PCB from these particular
process units in this rule. Moreover, a
numerical limit established at some
level greater than the detection limit
(which would be a necessity since any
numeric standard would have to be
measurable) could actually authorize
13 We disagree with the commenter that standards
are compelled at this time, given the EPA’s
discretion regarding timing of revising MACT
standards. See 79 FR 72936 at n. 35. The EPA is
exercising its discretion in adopting these standards
in the final rule.
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and allow more emissions of these HAP
than would otherwise be the case. The
work practices for anode bake furnaces,
paste production plants, and potlines
discussed in section IV.C.1 of this
preamble are those practices utilized by
the best performing sources—the
sources with the work practices in place
that the EPA has evaluated as best
controlling emissions of these HAP.
In the cases of PCB from anode bake
furnaces and prebake potlines, D/F from
Soderberg potlines, and Hg from both
Soderberg and prebake potlines, we
determined that about 70 to 80 percent
of the emissions data were below the
detection limits. In previous cases (see,
e.g., 76 FR 25046, 78 FR 22387, and
docket item number EPA–HQ–OAR–
2013–0291–0120) where test results
were predominantly (e.g., more than 55
percent of the test run results) found to
be below detection limits, the EPA
established work practice standards for
the pollutants in question from the
subject sources, since we believe
emissions of the pollutants are too low
to reliably measure and quantify. We are
adopting that same approach here, for
the same reasons, and are, therefore,
finalizing work practice standards to
address emissions of Hg from potlines,
PCB from anode bake furnaces and
prebake potlines, and D/F from
Soderberg potlines. Specifically, we are
finalizing the work practice standards
presented in 40 CFR 63.847(l) and (m)
and 40 CFR 63.854 of the 2014
supplemental proposal to address
emissions of Hg from potlines, D/F from
Soderberg potlines, and PCB from
prebake potlines. Further, the
requirements of 40 CFR 63.847(h)(1) and
40 CFR 63.848(f)(1) of current subpart
LL; the work practice standards
proposed in sections 40 CFR 63.843(f)
and 40 CFR 63.844(f) of the 2011
proposal and 40 CFR 63.847(l) of the
2014 proposal; and the enhanced VE
monitoring of 40 CFR 63.848(g)(3) of the
final rule address the PCB emissions
from anode bake furnaces.
However, as noted above, all of the
emissions data for D/F from prebake
potlines, anode bake furnaces, and paste
production plants were either below the
detection limit or otherwise unreliable
(e.g., were flagged in the test report as
having quality assurance issues).
Therefore, we are not promulgating
numerical emissions limits or work
practices for these HAP since there is no
reliable evidence that these sources emit
them.
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D. What changes did we make to the
control device monitoring requirements
for the Primary Aluminum Production
source category?
1. What control device monitoring
requirements did we propose for the
Primary Aluminum Production source
category?
In the 2014 supplemental proposal,
we proposed that the owner or operator
of a primary aluminum reduction plant
would need to install either a BLDS or
a PM CEMS on the exhaust of each
control device used to control emissions
from a new or existing affected potline,
anode bake furnace, or paste production
plant.
2. What changes did the EPA make to
the proposed control device monitoring
requirements developed for the Primary
Aluminum Production source category?
In the final rule, the control device
monitoring requirements for new
potlines, new anode bake furnaces, and
new paste production plants remain
unchanged. However, for existing
potlines, existing anode bake furnaces
and existing paste production plants,
the owner or operators have the option
to conduct enhanced VE monitoring as
an alternative to the installation of
BLDS or PM CEMS. This enhanced VE
monitoring would include twice daily
monitoring of VE from the exhaust of
each control device, with those two VE
monitoring events at least 4 hours apart.
If VE are observed, then the owner or
operator would need to take corrective
action within 1 hour, including
isolating, shutting down, and
conducting internal inspections of any
baghouse compartment associated with
VE indicating abnormal operations and
fixing the compartment before it is put
back in service.
3. What key comments did we receive
regarding control device monitoring
requirements and what are our
responses?
Comment: Several commenters stated
that the proposed rule requires either
the installation of PM CEMS or the
installation of BLDS on stack emission
points associated with fabric filter
(baghouse) control systems for
demonstration of continuous
compliance with the PM limit. The
commenters stated that the EPA has not
considered the large number of stacks
involved and the complexity, time, and
cost for installing BLDS or PM CEMS
monitoring systems on the baghouses of
potline primary control systems.
The commenters stated that there are
significant and substantial issues with
this requirement that merit rethinking.
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The commenters stated that there is
already a requirement in the 40 CFR
part 63, subpart LL rule for a daily
visual check for opacity on all stacks
associated with baghouse control
systems. The commenters stated that
this serves the same function and
purpose as the installation of BLDSs and
has been working well in that manner
since the time the original rules were
finalized in 1997.
The commenters stated that the EPA
concluded ‘‘. . . that all existing
prebake potlines will be able to meet
these MACT floor limits for PM without
the need to install additional controls
because the performance of all sources
in the category is similar, all of the
potlines within each of the
subcategories utilize very similar
emission control technology, the
average emissions from each source are
well below the MACT floor limit and
emissions data from every facility that
performed emissions testing were
included in the dataset used to develop
the MACT floor.’’ The commenters
stated that it is clear that the daily VE
inspection, corrective action, and
baghouse maintenance practices that
facilities have already implemented in
response to the enhanced monitoring
requirements of current 40 CFR part 63,
subpart LL are resulting in a level of
baghouse performance that ensures
ongoing continuous compliance with
the proposed PM emission limits.
The commenters stated that the EPA
notes in the proposed rule that potline
secondary PM emissions comprise by
far the largest share of primary
aluminum reduction plant PM
emissions, and these would not be
addressed with BLDS. The commenters
cited test data to highlight this issue and
stated that the EPA’s own analysis of
control options on secondary PM
emissions from potlines found them to
not be economically feasible yet the
resulting risks are still within acceptable
risk limits.
The commenters stated that the most
common potline primary PM control
system, the A–398 scrubber system, has
multiple stacks associated with each
control device, and there are multiple
control devices for each potline. The
commenters stated that a survey of U.S.
primary aluminum facilities indicated
that at present there are 388 potline
stack emission points across seven
operating plants that would need to
install BLDS in response to this
proposed new requirement. The
commenters stated that there are 50 to
100 individual stacks per potline at
some of their facilities and provided a
table of the affected sources. The
commenters stated that the costs,
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complexity, and time required for
installing BLDS or PM CEMS at a
facility with over 100 potline control
device stacks are formidable.
The commenters provided a cost
analysis of installation and operating
cost for BLDS and estimated that
industry-wide, this would result in
cumulative $5.24 million of initial costs
and $1.2 million of annual costs to
comply with this requirement for
potlines, not including the additional
costs relative to compliance for anode
bake furnaces and paste production
plants. The commenters stated that none
of these very significant costs are
included in either the December 2014
supplemental proposal preamble
discussion of the costs/benefit
calculation or the Revised Draft Cost
Impacts for the Primary Aluminum
Source Category document dated
November 13, 2014. The commenters
stated that inclusion of these bag leak
detector costs alters the cost/benefit
dynamic substantially such that it
changes the calculation from a slight net
benefit to a significant net cost. The
commenters stated that the bag leak
detector option is the most cost-effective
of the two compliance options
presented in the proposed rule (BLDS
versus PM CEMS). The commenters
urged the EPA to recalculate the revised
cost estimate to address the installation
of BLDS or PM CEMS on existing
sources and to provide for the
opportunity to comment on the changes.
The commenters stated that the
proposed requirements of 40 CFR
63.848(o)(3)(i) require initiation of
procedures to determine the cause of a
BLDS alarm with 30 minutes. The
commenters stated that the subpart LL
requirements of 40 CFR 63.848(h) all
require the initiation of corrective action
within 1 hour. The commenters stated
that the EPA should set the time frame
for initiating a response to BLD events
at 1 hour so as to be consistent with the
other corrective action requirements.
The commenters stated that the
proposed timelines for compliance do
not consider the time required to design,
procure, and install and operate a BLDS
or PM CEMS on each baghouse stack.
The commenters stated that since the
proposed requirement to install BLDS or
PM CEMS on potline control devices is
unnecessary and cost-prohibitive for
existing potlines, they strongly
recommend that BLDS and PM CEMS
provisions be deleted from the final rule
requirements in their entirety.
The commenters stated that the EPA’s
proposed requirements of 40 CFR
63.848(o)(1) pertain to baghouse
preventative maintenance requirements.
The commenters stated that facilities
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62409
already have to comply with similar
requirements for proper operation and
maintenance of emission control
equipment under state or federal
requirements as included in their title V
air operating permits. The commenters
stated that the EPA should tailor the
proposed requirements to specifically
address the development and
implementation of procedures
pertaining to the BLDS.
The commenters recommended (in
the event that BLDS is in the final rule)
revisions to 40 CFR 63.848(o)(1) and
(3)(i).
Response: The EPA agrees that
installation of BLDS or PM CEMS for
certain existing emission control
configurations would be both
technically challenging and cost
prohibitive for some facilities due to the
large number of individual stacks
supporting these control devices. We
also agree with the commenters that PM
emissions from potlines are dominated
by secondary roof vent emissions. This
is a result of effective emissions control
on the primary stacks and the difficulty
(technical and economic) associated
with installation and operation of
secondary roof vent emission controls.
Moreover, we further find that under
these circumstances, enhanced VE
monitoring provides sufficiently reliable
and timely information for determining
compliance with the PM standards—in
particular, the twice daily VE
monitoring with requirement for
initiation of corrective actions (if
applicable), including isolation and
internal inspection of a scrubber
compartment, within 1 hour.14
Therefore, we are providing owners or
operators of existing affected sources the
options to monitor these sources with
either BLDS, PM CEMS, or enhanced VE
observations, as described above.
Further, for those sources that do have
BLDS, we agree that 1 hour is the
appropriate length of time for initiation
of root cause analysis for alarms and,
therefore, are promulgating this
requirement.
4. What is the rationale for our final
approach regarding control device
monitoring requirements?
The final rule will require annual PM
testing of the primary control device
and continuous or frequent monitoring
14 See Sierra Club v. EPA, 353 F. 3d 976, 991 (D.C.
Cir. 2004) (per Roberts, J.) (enhanced monitoring
requirement in CAA section 114(a)(3) does not
mandate continuous monitoring or create a
presumption for such monitoring. Consistent with
that reading, CAA section 504 (b) provides that
‘‘continuous emissions monitoring need not be
required if alternative methods are available that
provide sufficiently reliable and timely information
for determining compliance’’).
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with BLDS, PM CEMS, or VE
observations. The EPA believes it is
necessary that facilities conduct at least
one of these monitoring measures to
ensure that the primary control device
is maintained in good working order
throughout the year. As mentioned
above, as an alternative to BLDS or PM
CEMS, we are finalizing a third option
of twice daily visual inspections of each
exhaust stack(s) of each control device
using Method 22 (at least 4 hours apart)
for existing sources. Existing sources
will have the option to perform Method
22 inspections, install BLDS, or install
PM CEMS. We believe that the twice
daily visual inspection alternative will
provide adequate assurance that the
control devices are properly operated
and maintained.
We believe that future potline air
pollution control systems will be
constructed/installed with a newer
technology (dry injection type), rather
than the currently installed (older)
technology A–398 type. The newer
technologies have significantly fewer
stack emission points than the many
stacks of the A–398 systems.
Consequently, the number of BLDS
needed would be substantially less with
those systems than for the A–398
systems. For this reason, we are
maintaining the requirement to install
BLDS or PM CEMS on new sources.
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E. What changes did we make to
compliance dates for the Primary
Aluminum Production source category?
1. What existing source compliance
dates did we propose for the Primary
Aluminum Production source category?
The proposed compliance dates for
existing sources in the December 2014
supplemental proposal were as follows:
• Date of publication of final rule for
the malfunction provisions and the
electronic reporting provisions;
• One year after date of publication of
final rule for potlines subject to the COS
and PM emission limits; prebake
potlines subject to POM emission limits;
the potline, paste production plant, and
anode bake furnace work practices;
anode bake furnaces and paste
production plants subject to PM
emission limits; and pitch storage tanks
subject to POM standards; and
• Two years after date of publication
of final rule for Soderberg potlines
subject to the POM, Ni, and As emission
limits.
2. What changes is EPA making to the
proposed existing source compliance
dates for the Primary Aluminum
Production source category?
The EPA has revised the compliance
dates for existing sources in the Primary
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Aluminum Production source category
from those proposed in 2014 as follows:
• The compliance date was changed
from 1 year after date of publication of
final rule to 2 years after date of
publication of final rule for prebake
potlines subject to POM and PM
emission limits and for pitch storage
tanks subject to POM equipment
standards;
• The compliance date of 1 year after
date of publication of final rule was
added for Soderberg potlines subject to
PCB emission limits; and
• The compliance date of 2 years after
date of publication of final rule was
added for anode bake furnaces subject to
Hg emission limits.
For more discussion of the
promulgated compliance dates, refer to
the document, Final Rationale for
Selection of Compliance Dates for the
Primary Aluminum Production Source
Category, which is available in the
docket for this action (Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–0797).
3. What key comments did we receive
regarding compliance dates and what
are our responses?
Comment: Several commenters stated
concern with the compliance dates
outlined in the supplemental proposal.
The commenters stated that the
compliance dates in the December 2014
proposal are in marked contrast to the
2011 proposal that included a 3-year
compliance window for all changes. The
commenters stated that they are
concerned that the rationale used to
dramatically shorten the compliance
timelines is not reflective of actual onsite conditions and decision-making/
approval processes for the changes
required for compliance. The
commenters stated that new emission
limits imposed on the affected facilities
will require installation of additional
emission controls and/or monitoring
devices.
The commenters stated that at least
one facility will be required to install a
Method 14 manifold or Method 14A
cassette system in a currently operating
potline for collecting roof monitor
samples to determine emissions of PM
and POM. The commenters stated that
a number of facilities currently do not
have an emission control system on
their existing pitch storage tanks. The
commenters stated that these facilities
will be required to install and test (or
certify) an emission control system to
meet the 95-percent POM reduction
requirement.
The commenters stated that the effort
involved in the determination of the
exact changes that will be needed; the
selection, installation, and startup of
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new controls and their associated
equipment; and consideration of the
business planning cycle for making
significant new capital and operating
expense monetary outlays all indicate
that more than 1 year is needed to have
the emissions control and monitoring
devices installed and properly
operational.
The commenters requested an
increased amount of time for
compliance dates for malfunction and
ERT provisions, work practices, and
emission limits.
Response: The EPA has received
information from Alcoa that their
Wenatchee facility currently has two
potlines (potlines 2 and 3) that are not
equipped with a Method 14 manifold or
Method 14A cassette system. Either a
manifold or cassette system is required
to monitor secondary potline emissions
and to demonstrate compliance with the
potline PM and POM emission limits.
Alcoa provided cost estimates for the
installation of a Method 14 manifold
and a Method 14A cassette system.
These costs were estimated at $500,000
(or approximately $55,000 per year
annualized) for either system (see
Installation of Method 14 or 14A
Sampling Equipment at Alcoa
Wenatchee, Docket item number EPA–
HQ–OAR–2011–0797–0385). After
considering this comment and after
further evaluation, we agree that a
compliance date of 2 years after
publication of the final rule is
appropriate for the demonstration of
compliance with the potline emissions
limits because some facilities may need
to install Method 14 manifolds or
Method 14A cassette systems to
demonstrate compliance, and we
believe that up to 2 years may be needed
to plan, design, construct, and install
such systems and complete the required
testing and analyses.
After further evaluation, the EPA
determined that the appropriate
compliance date for the 95-percent POM
reduction requirement for pitch storage
tanks is 2 years from the publication
date of the final rule. The EPA agrees
with the commenters that this
additional time may be needed to
install, test, and certify emission control
systems.
We are finalizing the proposed
compliance dates for existing sources
for the malfunction provisions and the
electronic reporting provisions.
We are finalizing a compliance date of
1 year after date of publication of the
final rule for potlines subject to the
work practice standards and the COS
emission limits, and for anode bake
furnaces and paste production plants
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subject to work practices and PM
emission limits.
We are finalizing a compliance date of
2 years after date of publication of the
final rule for prebake potlines subject to
POM emission limits; for Soderberg
potlines subject to revised POM
emission limits and emission limits for
Ni, As, and PCB; for potlines subject to
PM emissions limits; and for existing
pitch storage tank POM equipment
standards.
We are finalizing a compliance date of
2 years after date of publication of final
rule for anode bake furnaces subject to
Hg emission limits.
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4. What is the rationale for our final
approach regarding compliance dates?
The EPA extended the compliance
dates for prebake potlines subject to
POM and PM emissions limits from 1 to
2 years after date of publication of the
final rule to give owners or operators an
appropriate amount of time to install the
manifolds or cassette systems necessary
to sample the potline fugitive emissions.
Monitoring of potline fugitive emissions
will be required in order to demonstrate
compliance with the promulgated POM
and PM emissions limits unless the
owner or operator can demonstrate
potline similarity for purposes of these
HAP pursuant to 40 CFR 63.848(d) of
subpart LL, and the EPA finds that the
2 year compliance time allows adequate
time for owners or operators to apply for
similarity determinations.
Similarly, the compliance date for
existing pitch storage tanks subject to
POM equipment standards was
extended by EPA from 1 to 2 years after
date of publication of the final rule to
give owners or operators an appropriate
amount of time to install, test, and
certify the emission control systems.
The compliance date of 1 year after
date of publication of the final rule was
added for Soderberg potlines subject to
a PCB emission limit or D/F work
practice standards. We believe that 1
year will be sufficient to demonstrate
compliance with these requirements for
existing Soderberg potlines, in the
unlikely event that the existing
Soderberg potlines are restarted, since
the available data suggests that no
modifications or additional controls are
necessary to meet that limit.
The EPA added a compliance date of
2 years after date of publication of the
final rule for anode bake furnaces
subject to the Hg emission limit. We
believe 2 years is justified in this case
to provide industry sufficient time to
schedule and perform testing and take
appropriate subsequent steps to ensure
compliance.
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V. Summary of Cost, Environmental,
and Economic Impacts and Additional
Analyses Conducted
A. What are the affected sources?
The affected sources are new and
existing potlines, new and existing pitch
storage tanks, new and existing anode
bake furnaces (except for one that is
located at a facility that only produces
anodes for use off-site and is subject to
the state MACT determination
established by the regulatory authority),
and new and existing paste production
plants.
B. What are the air quality impacts?
We estimate that the promulgated
lower VSS2 potline POM emissions
limit would reduce POM emissions
from the one Soderberg facility by
approximately 53 tpy if the facility were
to resume operation. Furthermore, we
estimate that these standards would also
result in about 1 tpy reduction of HAP
metals and 40 tpy reduction of PM with
diameter of 2.5 microns and less (PM2.5)
if the one Soderberg facility reopened.
We consider this very unlikely as the
owner of that facility, Columbia Falls
Aluminum Company, has publicly
announced its permanent closure.
However, we include this analysis
because the potlines have not been
demolished yet.
Finally, we estimate that the addition
of controls to the eight existing
uncontrolled pitch storage tanks located
at prebake facilities would reduce POM
emissions by 1.55 tpy.
C. What are the cost impacts?
Under the final amendments, facilities
are subject to additional testing,
monitoring, and equipment costs.
Owners and operators are required to
conduct semiannual tests for PM and
POM emissions from potline roof vents,
annual tests for PM and POM from
potline primary emissions, annual tests
of PM and Hg from anode bake furnace
exhausts, and annual tests of PM from
paste production plant exhausts. These
testing costs are offset by reduced
frequency of secondary potline TF
emissions testing (from monthly to
semiannual). In addition, all emission
stacks not equipped with either BLDS or
PM CEMS are subject to increased
frequency (from daily to twice daily) VE
testing. Additional monitoring to
demonstrate continuous compliance
with PM standards for anode bake
furnaces and paste production plants is
required by the rule. Eight owners or
operators of facilities operating
uncontrolled pitch storage tanks are
required to install and operate controls
on these tanks, and the owner or
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operator of one facility with two
potlines (one idle and one in operation)
not currently equipped with either a
manifold or a cassette system may be
required to install this equipment.
These amendments result in a net
estimated reduction in testing costs of
$1.05 million, a net estimated increase
in monitoring costs of $625,000, and a
net increase in estimated annualized
capital equipment costs of $260,000.
Nationwide annual costs to industry are
expected to decrease by an estimated
$165,000 per year under these
amendments.
The memorandum, Final Cost Impacts
for the Primary Aluminum Production
Source Category, includes a description
of the details and assumptions used for
this analysis and is available in the
docket for this action (Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–0797).
D. What are the economic impacts?
We performed an economic impact
analysis for the modifications in this
action. That analysis estimates a net
savings for each primary aluminum
reduction facility based on the belief
that the Columbia Falls Soderberg
facility will not reopen. In March of
2015, the Columbia Falls Aluminum
Company announced the permanent
closure of their Soderberg facility. For
more information, please refer to the
Economic Impact Analysis for National
Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants: Primary Aluminum
Reduction Plants and Final Economic
Impact Analysis for the Primary
Aluminum Production Source Category
documents, which are available in the
docket for this rulemaking.
E. What are the benefits?
If the Columbia Falls Soderberg
facility were to resume operations, there
would be an estimated reduction in its
annual HAP emissions (i.e., about 53
tons) that would provide significant
benefits to public health. In addition to
the HAP reductions, which would
ensure an ample margin of safety, we
also estimate that this final rule would
achieve about 230 tons of reductions in
PM (including 40 tons of PM2.5)
emissions as a co-benefit of the HAP
reductions annually (again assuming
resumption of plant operation).
Further, we estimate that the addition
of controls to the eight existing
uncontrolled pitch storage tanks at
prebake facilities would reduce POM
emissions by 1.55 tpy.
This rulemaking is not an
‘‘economically significant regulatory
action’’ under Executive Order 12866
because it is not likely to have an
annual effect on the economy of $100
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million or more. Therefore, we have not
conducted a Regulatory Impact Analysis
(RIA) for this rulemaking or a benefits
analysis. While we expect that these
avoided emissions will improve air
quality and reduce health effects
associated with exposure to air
pollution associated with these
emissions, we have not quantified or
monetized the benefits of reducing these
emissions for this rulemaking. This does
not imply that there are no benefits
associated with these emission
reductions. We provide a qualitative
description of benefits associated with
reducing these pollutants below. When
determining whether the benefits of an
action exceed its costs, Executive Orders
12866 and 13563 direct the Agency to
consider qualitative benefits that are
difficult to quantify, but nevertheless
essential to consider.
Directly emitted particles are
precursors to secondary formation of
PM2.5. Controls installed to reduce HAP
would also reduce ambient
concentrations of PM2.5 as a co-benefit.
Reducing exposure to PM2.5 is
associated with significant human
health benefits, including avoiding
mortality and morbidity from
cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.
Researchers have associated PM2.5
exposure with adverse health effects in
numerous toxicological, clinical, and
epidemiological studies (U.S. EPA,
2009).15 When adequate data and
resources are available and an RIA is
required, the EPA generally quantifies
several health effects associated with
exposure to PM2.5 (e.g., U.S. EPA,
2012).16 These health effects include
premature mortality for adults and
infants, cardiovascular morbidities such
as heart attacks, hospital admissions,
and respiratory morbidities such as
asthma attacks, acute bronchitis,
hospital and emergency department
visits, work loss days, restricted activity
days, and respiratory symptoms. The
scientific literature also suggests that
exposure to PM2.5 is associated with
adverse effects on birth weight, pre-term
births, pulmonary function, and other
cardiovascular and respiratory effects
15 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.
EPA). 2009. Integrated Science Assessment for
Particulate Matter (Final Report). EPA–600–R–08–
139F. National Center for Environmental
Assessment—RTP Division. Available on the
Internet at https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/
recordisplay.cfm?deid=216546.
16 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.
EPA). 2012. Regulatory Impact Analysis for the
Final Revisions to the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards for Particulate Matter. Office of Air and
Radiation, Research Triangle Park, NC. Available on
the Internet at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/ecas/
regdata/RIAs/finalria.pdf.https://www.epa.gov/
ttnecas1/regdata/RIAs/PMRIACombinedFile_
Bookmarked.pdf.
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(U.S. EPA, 2009), but the EPA has not
quantified these impacts in its benefits
analyses. PM2.5 also increases light
extinction, which is an important aspect
of visibility.
The rulemaking may prevent
increases in emissions of other HAP,
including HAP metals (As, cadmium,
chromium (both total and hexavalent),
lead, manganese, Hg, and Ni) and PAH.
Some of these HAP are carcinogenic
(e.g., As, PAH), and some have effects
other than cancer (e.g., kidney disease
from cadmium, respiratory and
immunological effects from Ni). While
we cannot quantitatively estimate the
benefits achieved by reducing emissions
of these HAP, we expect benefits by
reducing exposures to these HAP. More
information about the health effects of
these HAP can be found on the IRIS,17
U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry (ATSDR),18 and
California EPA 19 Web sites.
F. What analysis of environmental
justice did we conduct?
To examine the potential for any EJ
issues that might be associated with the
Primary Aluminum Production source
category, we performed a demographic
analysis, which is an assessment of risks
to individual demographic groups, of
the population close to the facilities. In
this analysis, we evaluated the
distribution of HAP-related cancer risks
and non-cancer hazards from this source
category across different social,
demographic, and economic groups
within the populations living near
facilities identified as having the highest
risks. The results of the demographic
analysis are summarized in Table 6 in
section IV.A.3 of this preamble and
indicate that there are no significant
disproportionate risks to any particular
minority, low income, or indigenous
population (see the discussion in
section IV.A.3 of this preamble). The
methodology and the results of the
demographic analyses are included in a
technical report, Analysis of SocioEconomic Factors for Populations Living
Near Primary Aluminum Facilities,
which is available in the docket for this
rulemaking (docket item No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2011–0797–0360).
17 U.S. EPA, 2006. Integrated Risk Information
System. https://www.epa.gov/iris/.
18 ATSDR, 2013. Minimum Risk Levels (MRLs)
for Hazardous Substances. https://
www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls/.
19 California Office of Environmental Health
Hazard Assessment. Chronic Reference Exposure
Levels Adopted by OEHHA as of December 2008.
https://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels.
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G. What analysis of children’s
environmental health did we conduct?
This action is not subject to Executive
Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23,
1997) because the Agency does not
believe the environmental health risks
or safety risks addressed by this action
present a disproportionate risk to
children. The report, Analysis of SocioEconomic Factors for Populations Living
Near Primary Aluminum Facilities,
which is available in the docket for this
rulemaking, indicates that the
percentages for all demographic groups
exposed to various risk levels, including
children, are similar to their respective
nationwide percentages. That report
further shows that, prior to the
implementation of the provisions
included in this final rule, on a
nationwide basis, there are
approximately 900,000 people exposed
to a cancer risk at or above 1-in-1
million and no people exposed to a
chronic non-cancer TOSHI greater than
1 due to emissions from the source
category.
VI. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
Additional information about these
statutes and Executive Orders can be
found at https://www2.epa.gov/lawsregulations/laws-and-executive-orders.
A. Executive Orders 12866: Regulatory
Planning and Review and Executive
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and
Regulatory Review
This action is not a significant
regulatory action and was, therefore, not
submitted to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for review.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
The information collection activities
in this rule have been submitted for
approval to the OMB under the PRA.
The ICR document prepared by the EPA
has been assigned EPA ICR number
2447.01. You can find a copy of the ICR
in the docket for this rule (Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–0797) and it is
briefly summarized below. The
information collection requirements are
not enforceable until OMB approves
them.
We are finalizing changes to the
paperwork requirements for the Primary
Aluminum Production source category
facilities subject to 40 CFR part 63,
subpart LL. In this final rule, we are
promulgating less frequent testing of TF
emissions from potlines. In addition, we
are removing the burden associated with
the affirmative defense provisions
included in the December 2011
proposal.
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We estimate 11 regulated entities are
currently subject to CFR part 63, subpart
LL and will be subject to this action.
The annual monitoring, reporting, and
recordkeeping burden for this collection
(averaged over the first 3 years after the
effective date of the standards) as a
result of the final amendments to 40
CFR part 63, subpart LL (NESHAP for
Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants) is
estimated to be ¥$931,000 per year.
This includes 361 labor hours per
year at a total labor cost of $27,400 per
year, and total non-labor capital, and
operation and maintenance costs of
¥$958,000 per year. This estimate
includes performance tests,
notifications, reporting, and
recordkeeping associated with the new
requirements for primary aluminum
reduction plant operations. The total
burden for the federal government
(averaged over the first 3 years after the
effective date of the standard) is
estimated to be 181 hours per year at a
total labor cost of $8,250 per year.
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. When
OMB approves this ICR, the Agency will
announce that approval in the Federal
Register and publish a technical
amendment to 40 CFR part 9 to display
the OMB control number for the
approved information collection
activities contained in this final rule.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
I certify that this action will not have
a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities
under the RFA. This action will not
impose any requirements on small
entities. There are no small entities in
this regulated industry. For this source
category, which has the NAICS code
331312, the Small Business
Administration (SBA) small business
size standard is 1,000 employees
according to the SBA small business
standards definitions.
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D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
(UMRA)
This action does not contain an
unfunded mandate of $100 million or
more as described in UMRA, 2 U.S.C.
1531–1538, and does not significantly or
uniquely affect small governments. This
action imposes no enforceable duty on
any state, local, or tribal governments or
the private sector.
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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.
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
This action does not have tribal
implications as specified in Executive
Order 13175. This action does not have
substantial direct effects on one or more
Indian tribes, on the relationship
between the Federal Government and
Indian tribes, or on the distribution of
power and responsibilities between the
Federal Government and Indian tribes.
Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not
apply to this action.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks
This action is not subject to Executive
Order 13045 because it is not
economically significant as defined in
Executive Order 12866, and because the
EPA 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 the
Residual Risk Assessment for the
Primary Aluminum Production Source
Category in Support of the September
2015 Risk and Technology Review Final
Rule, which is available in the docket
for this action (Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2011–0797).
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution or Use
This action is not subject to Executive
Order 13211 because it is not a
significant regulatory action under
Executive Order 12866.
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act (NTTAA) and 1 CFR
Part 51
This final action involves technical
standards. The rule requires the use of
either ASTM D4239–14e1, ‘‘Standard
Test Method for Sulfur in the Analysis
Sample of Coal and Coke Using HighTemperature Tube Furnace
Combustion,’’ approved March 1, 2014,
or ASTM D6376–10, ‘‘Test Method for
Determination of Trace Metals in
Petroleum Coke by Wavelength
Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence
Spectroscopy,’’ approved July 1, 2010.
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ASTM D4239–14e1, approved March 1,
2014, covers the determination of sulfur
in samples of coal or coke by high
temperature tube furnace combustion.
ASTM D6376–10, approved July 1,
2010, covers the x-ray fluorescence
spectrometric determination of total
sulfur and trace metals in samples of
raw or calcined petroleum coke. These
are voluntary consensus methods. These
methods can be obtained from the
American Society for Testing and
Materials, 100 Bar Harbor Drive, West
Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428
(telephone number (610) 832–9500).
These methods were promulgated in the
final rule because they are commonly
used by primary aluminum reduction
plants to demonstrate compliance with
sulfur dioxide emission limitations
imposed in their current title V permits.
This final rule also requires use of
Method 428, ‘‘Determination of
Polychlorinated Dibenzo-P-Dioxin
(PCDD), Polychlorinated Dibenzofuran
(PCDF), and Polychlorinated Biphenyle
Emissions (PCB) from Stationary
Sources,’’ amended September 12, 1990.
Method 428, amended September 12,
1990, covers the determination of PCDD,
PCDF, or PCB from stationary sources.
The standard is available from the
California Air Resources Board, 1001
‘‘I’’ Street, Sacramento, CA 95812
(telephone number (800) 242–4450) or
at their Web site, https://www.arb.ca.gov/
testmeth/vol3/m_428.pdf.
The EPA has decided to use EPA
Method 29 for the determination of the
concentration of Hg. While the EPA
identified ASTM D6784–02 (2008),
‘‘Standard Test Method for Elemental,
Oxidized, Particle-Bound and Total
Mercury in Flue Gas Generated from
Coal-Fired Stationary Sources (Ontario
Hydro Method),’’ ASTM International,
West Conshohocken, PA, 2008, as being
potentially applicable, the Agency
decided not to use it. The use of this
voluntary consensus standard would be
more expensive and is inconsistent with
the final Hg standard that was
determined using EPA Method 29 data.
Under 40 CFR 63.7(f) and 40 CFR
63.8(f) of Subpart A of the General
Provisions, a source may apply to the
EPA for permission to use alternative
test methods or alternative monitoring
requirements in place of any required
testing methods, performance
specifications, or procedures in this
final rule.
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal
Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and
Low-Income Populations
The EPA believes the human health or
environmental risk addressed by this
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action will not have potential
disproportionately high and adverse
human health or environmental effects
on minority, low-income, or indigenous
populations because it increases the
level of environmental protection for all
affected populations without having any
disproportionately high and adverse
human health or environmental effects
on any population, including any
minority, low-income or indigenous
populations. For the Primary Aluminum
Production source category, the EPA
determined that the current health risks
posed to anyone by actual emissions
from this source category are within the
acceptable range, and that this action
will not appreciably reduce these risks
further.
These final standards will improve
public health and welfare, now and in
the future, by reducing HAP emissions
contributing to environmental and
human health impacts. These
reductions in HAP associated with the
rule will benefit all populations.
To examine the potential for any EJ
issues that might be associated with this
source category, we evaluated the
distributions of HAP-related cancer and
non-cancer risks across different social,
demographic, and economic groups
within the populations living near the
facilities where this source category is
located. The methods used to conduct
demographic analyses for this final rule,
and the results of these analyses, are
described in the document, Analysis of
Socio-Economic Factors for Populations
Living Near Primary Aluminum
Facilities, which can be found in the
docket for this rulemaking (Docket item
number EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–0797–
0360).
In the demographics analysis, we
focused on populations within 50
kilometers of the facilities in this source
category with emissions sources subject
to 40 CFR part 63, subpart LL. More
specifically, for these populations we
evaluated exposures to HAP that could
result in cancer risks of 1-in-one million
or greater. We compared the percentages
of particular demographic groups within
the focused populations to the total
percentages of those demographic
groups nationwide.
K. Congressional Review Act (CRA)
This action is subject to the CRA, and
the EPA will submit a rule report to
each House of the Congress and to the
Comptroller General of the United
States. This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 63
Environmental protection,
Administrative practice and procedures,
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Air pollution control, Hazardous
substances, Incorporation by reference,
Intergovernmental relations, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: September 10, 2015.
Gina McCarthy,
Administrator.
For the reasons stated in the
preamble, Title 40, chapter I, of the
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is
amended as follows:
PART 63—NATIONAL EMISSION
STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR
POLLUTANTS FOR SOURCE
CATEGORIES
1. The authority citation for part 63
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401, et seq.
Subpart A—General Provisions
2. Section 63.14 is amended:
a. By redesignating paragraphs (b)(1)
and (2) as paragraphs (b)(2) and (3),
respectively, and adding new paragraph
(b)(1);
■ b. By redesignating paragraphs (h)(77)
through (95) as paragraphs (h)(80)
through (98), respectively;
■ c. By redesignating paragraphs (h)(53)
through (76) as paragraphs (h)(55)
through (78), respectively;
■ d. By redesignating paragraphs (h)(33)
through (52) as paragraphs (h)(34)
through (53), respectively;
■ e. By adding new paragraphs (h)(33),
(54) and (79); and
■ f. By redesignating paragraphs (k)(1)
through (4) as paragraphs (k)(2) through
(5), respectively, and adding new
paragraph (k)(1).
The additions read as follows:
■
■
§ 63.14
Incorporations by reference.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(1) Industrial Ventilation: A Manual
of Recommended Practice, 22nd
Edition, 1995, Chapter 3, ‘‘Local
Exhaust Hoods’’ and Chapter 5,
‘‘Exhaust System Design Procedure.’’
IBR approved for §§ 63.843(b) and
63.844(b).
*
*
*
*
*
(h) * * *
(33) ASTM D2986–95A, ‘‘Standard
Practice for Evaluation of Air Assay
Media by the Monodisperse DOP
(Dioctyl Phthalate) Smoke Test,’’
approved September 10, 1995, IBR
approved for section 7.1.1 of Method
315 in appendix A to this part.
*
*
*
*
*
(54) ASTM D4239–14e1, ‘‘Standard
Test Method for Sulfur in the Analysis
Sample of Coal and Coke Using High-
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Temperature Tube Furnace
Combustion,’’ approved March 1, 2014,
IBR approved for § 63.849(f).
*
*
*
*
*
(79) ASTM D6376–10, ‘‘Standard Test
Method for Determination of Trace
Metals in Petroleum Coke by
Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray
Fluorescence Spectroscopy,’’ Approved
July 1, 2010, IBR approved for
§ 63.849(f).
*
*
*
*
*
(k) * * *
(1) Method 428, ‘‘Determination Of
Polychlorinated Dibenzo-P-Dioxin
(PCDD), Polychlorinated Dibenzofuran
(PCDF), and Polychlorinated Biphenyle
Emissions from Stationary Sources,’’
amended September 12, 1990, IBR
approved for § 63.849(a)(13) and (14).
*
*
*
*
*
Subpart LL—National Emission
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
for Primary Aluminum Reduction
Plants
3. Section 63.840 is amended by
revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:
■
§ 63.840
Applicability.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph
(b) of this section, the requirements of
this subpart apply to the owner or
operator of each new or existing pitch
storage tank, potline, paste production
plant and anode bake furnace associated
with primary aluminum production and
located at a major source as defined in
§ 63.2.
*
*
*
*
*
§ 63.841
[Removed and reserved]
4. Section 63.841 is removed and
reserved.
■ 5. Section 63.842 is amended by:
■ a. Adding, in alphabetical order, a
definition of ‘‘High purity aluminum’’;
■ b. Removing the definition for
‘‘Horizontal stud Soderberg (HSS)
process’’;
■ c. Adding, in alphabetical order,
definitions of ‘‘Operating day’’ and
‘‘Particulate matter (PM)’’;
■ d. Revising the definition for ‘‘Paste
production plant’’;
■ e. Adding, in alphabetical order
definitions of ‘‘Polychlorinated
biphenyl (PCB)’’, ‘‘Startup of an anode
bake furnace’’, and ‘‘Toxicity
equivalence (TEQ)’’; and
■ f. Removing the definition for
‘‘Vertical stud Soderberg one
(VSS1)’’.The revisions and additions
read as follows:
■
§ 63.842
*
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Definitions.
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High purity aluminum means
aluminum produced with an average
purity level of at least 99.9 percent.
*
*
*
*
*
Operating day means a 24-hour
period between 12 midnight and the
following midnight during which an
affected source operates at any time. It
is not necessary for operations to occur
for the entire 24-hour period.
Particulate matter (PM) means, for the
purposes of this subpart, emissions of
particulate matter that serve as a
measure of total particulate emissions
and as a surrogate for metal hazardous
air pollutants contained in the
particulates, including but not limited
to: Antimony, arsenic, beryllium,
cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead,
manganese, nickel and selenium.
Paste production plant means the
processes whereby calcined petroleum
coke, coal tar pitch (hard or liquid) and/
or other materials are mixed, transferred
and formed into briquettes or paste for
vertical stud Soderberg (VSS) processes
or into green anodes for a prebake
process. This definition includes all
operations from initial mixing to final
forming (i.e., briquettes, paste, green
anodes) within the paste production
plant, including conveyors and units
managing heated liquid pitch.
*
*
*
*
*
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
means any or all of the 209 possible
chlorinated biphenyl isomers.
*
*
*
*
*
Startup of an anode bake furnace
means the process of initiating heating
to the anode bake furnace. The startup
or re-start of the furnace begins when
the heating begins. The startup or restart concludes at the start of the second
anode bake cycle if the furnace was at
ambient temperature upon startup or
when the anode bake cycle resumes if
the furnace was not at ambient
temperature.
*
*
*
*
*
Toxicity equivalence (TEQ) means an
international method of expressing
toxicity equivalents for PCBs as defined
in U.S. EPA, Recommended Toxicity
Equivalence Factors (TEFs) for Human
Health Risk Assessments of 2,3,7,8Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and
Dioxin-Like Compounds, EPA/100/R–
10/005 December 2010.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 6. Section 63.843 is amended by:
■ a. Revising paragraph (a) introductory
text, and paragraphs (a)(1)(iv), (a)(1)(vi),
and (a)(2)(iii);
■ b. Removing paragraph (a)(1)(vii);
■ c. Removing and reserving paragraphs
(a)(1)(v), (a)(2)(i) and (a)(2)(ii);
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d. Adding paragraphs (a)(2)(iv)
through (vii);
■ e. Redesignating paragraph (a)(3) as
(a)(7) and adding new paragraphs (a)(3)
through (6);
■ f. Revising paragraph (b) introductory
text, and paragraph (b)(1);
■ g. Adding paragraph (b)(4);
■ h. Revising paragraph (c); and
■ i. Adding paragraphs (d), (e) and (f).
The revisions and additions read as
follows:
■
§ 63.843 Emission limits for existing
sources.
(a) Potlines. The owner or operator
shall not discharge or cause to be
discharged into the atmosphere any
emissions of TF, POM, PM, nickel,
arsenic or PCB in excess of the
applicable limits in paragraphs (a)(1)
through (6) of this section.
(1) * * *
(iv) 0.8 kg/Mg (1.6 lb/ton) of
aluminum produced for each SWPB
potline; and
(v) [Reserved]
(vi) 1.35 kg/Mg (2.7 lb/ton) of
aluminum produced for each VSS2
potline.
(2) * * *
(i) [Reserved]
(ii) [Reserved]
(iii) 0.85 kg/Mg (1.9 lb/ton) of
aluminum produced for each VSS2
potline;
(iv) 0.55 kg/Mg (1.1 lb/ton) of
aluminum produced for each CWPB1
prebake potline;
(v) 6.0 kg/Mg (12 lb/ton) of aluminum
produced for each CWPB2 prebake
potline;
(vi) 1.4 kg/Mg (2.7 lb/ton) of
aluminum produced for each CWPB3
prebake potline; and
(vii) 8.5 kg/Mg (17 lb/ton) of
aluminum produced for each SWPB
prebake potline.
(3) PM limits. Emissions of PM shall
not exceed:
(i) 3.7 kg/Mg (7.4 lb/ton) of aluminum
produced for each CWPB1 potline;
(ii) 5.5 kg/Mg (11 lb/ton) of aluminum
produced for each CWPB2 potline;
(iii) 10 kg/Mg (20 lb/ton) of aluminum
produced for each CWPB3 potline;
(iv) 2.45 kg/Mg (4.9 lb/ton) of
aluminum produced for each SWPB
potline; and
(v) 13 kg/Mg (26 lb/ton) of aluminum
produced for each VSS2 potline.
(4) Nickel limit. Emissions of nickel
shall not exceed 0.07 lb/ton of
aluminum produced from each VSS2
potline at a primary aluminum
reduction plant.
(5) Arsenic limit. Emissions of arsenic
shall not exceed 0.006 lb/ton of
aluminum produced from each VSS2
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potline at a primary aluminum
reduction plant.
(6) PCB limit. Emissions of PCB shall
not exceed 2.0 mg toxicity equivalence
(TEQ) per ton of aluminum produced
from each VSS2 potline at a primary
aluminum reduction plant.
(7) * * *
(b) Paste production plants. The
owner or operator shall install, operate
and maintain equipment to capture and
control POM and PM emissions from
each paste production plant.
(1) The emission capture system shall
be installed and operated to meet the
generally accepted engineering
standards for minimum exhaust rates as
published by the American Conference
of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
in Chapters 3 and 5 of ‘‘Industrial
Ventilation: A Handbook of
Recommended Practice’’ (incorporated
by reference; see § 63.14); and
*
*
*
*
*
(4) PM limit. Emissions of PM shall
not exceed 0.041 kg/Mg (0.082 lb/ton) of
paste.
(c) Anode bake furnaces. The owner
or operator shall not discharge or cause
to be discharged into the atmosphere
any emissions of TF, POM, PM or
mercury in excess of the limits in
paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this
section.
(1) TF limit. Emissions of TF shall not
exceed 0.10 kg/Mg (0.20 lb/ton) of green
anode;
(2) POM limit. Emissions of POM
shall not exceed 0.09 kg/Mg (0.18 lb/
ton) of green anode;
(3) PM limit. Emissions of PM shall
not exceed 0.10 kg/Mg (0.20 lb/ton) of
green anode; and
(4) Mercury limit. Emissions of
mercury shall not exceed 1.7 mg/dscm.
(d) Pitch storage tanks. Each pitch
storage tank shall be equipped with an
emission control system designed and
operated to reduce inlet emissions of
POM by 95 percent or greater.
(e) COS limit. Emissions of COS must
not exceed 1.95 kg/Mg (3.9 lb/ton) of
aluminum produced for each potline.
(f) At all times, the owner or operator
must operate and maintain any affected
source, including associated air
pollution control equipment and
monitoring equipment, in a manner
consistent with safety and good air
pollution control practices for
minimizing emissions. Determination of
whether such operation and
maintenance procedures are being used
will be based on information available
to the Administrator which may
include, but is not limited to,
monitoring results, review of operation
and maintenance procedures, review of
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operation and maintenance records and
inspection of the source.
■ 7. Section 63.844 is amended by:
■ a. Revising paragraph (a) introductory
text, and paragraph (a)(2);
■ b. Adding paragraphs (a)(3) through
(6);
■ c. Revising paragraph (b);
■ d. Revising paragraph (c); and
■ e. Adding paragraphs (e) and (f).
The revisions and additions read as
follows:
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§ 63.844 Emission limits for new or
reconstructed sources.
(a) Potlines. The owner or operator
shall not discharge or cause to be
discharged into the atmosphere any
emissions of TF, POM, PM, nickel,
arsenic or PCB in excess of the
applicable limits in paragraphs (a)(1)
through (6) of this section.
*
*
*
*
*
(2) POM limit. Emissions of POM from
potlines must not exceed 0.39 kg/Mg
(0.77 lb/ton) of aluminum produced.
(3) PM limit. Emissions of PM from
potlines must not exceed 2.45 kg/Mg
(4.9 lb/ton) of aluminum produced.
(4) Nickel limit. Emissions of nickel
shall not exceed 0.035 kg/Mg (0.07 lb/
ton) of aluminum produced from each
Soderberg potline at a primary
aluminum reduction plant.
(5) Arsenic limit. Emissions of arsenic
shall not exceed 0.003 kg/Mg (0.006 lb/
ton) of aluminum produced from each
Soderberg potline at a primary
aluminum reduction plant.
(6) PCB limit. Emissions of PCB shall
not exceed 2.0 mg TEQ/ton of aluminum
produced from each Soderberg potline
at a primary aluminum reduction plant.
(b) Paste production plants. (1) The
owner or operator shall meet the
requirements in § 63.843(b)(1) through
(3) for existing paste production plants
and shall not discharge or cause to be
discharged into the atmosphere any
emissions of PM in excess of the limit
in paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
(2) Emissions of PM shall not exceed
0.0028 kg/Mg (0.0056 lb/ton) of green
anode.
(c) Anode bake furnaces. The owner
or operator shall not discharge or cause
to be discharged into the atmosphere
any emissions of TF, PM, POM or
mercury in excess of the limits in
paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this
section.
(1) TF limit. Emissions of TF shall not
exceed 0.01 kg/Mg (0.02 lb/ton) of green
anode;
(2) POM limit. Emissions of POM
shall not exceed 0.025 kg/Mg (0.05 lb/
ton) of green anode;
(3) PM limit. Emissions of PM shall
not exceed 0.035 kg/Mg (0.07 lb/ton) of
green anode; and
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(4) Mercury limit. Emissions of
mercury shall not exceed 1.7 mg/dscm.
*
*
*
*
*
(e) COS limit. Emissions of COS must
not exceed 1.55 kg/Mg (3.1 lb/ton) of
aluminum produced for each potline.
(f) At all times, the owner or operator
must operate and maintain any affected
source, including associated air
pollution control equipment and
monitoring equipment, in a manner
consistent with safety and good air
pollution control practices for
minimizing emissions. Determination of
whether such operation and
maintenance procedures are being used
will be based on information available
to the Administrator which may
include, but is not limited to,
monitoring results, review of operation
and maintenance procedures, review of
operation and maintenance records and
inspection of the source.
■ 8. Section 63.846 is amended by:
■ a. Revising paragraph (b);
■ b. Revising paragraph (c);
■ c. Revising paragraphs (d)(2)(ii)
through (iv) and (d)(4)(i) through (iii);
and
■ d. Removing paragraph (d)(4)(iv).
The revisions read as follows:
§ 63.846
Emission averaging.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) Potlines. The owner or operator
may average emissions from potlines
and demonstrate compliance with the
limits in Tables 1 through 3 of this
subpart using the procedures in
paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) of this
section.
(1) Semiannual average emissions of
TF shall not exceed the applicable
emission limit in Table 1 of this subpart.
The emission rate shall be calculated
based on the total primary and
secondary emissions from all potlines
comprising the averaging group over the
period divided by the quantity of
aluminum produced during the period,
from all potlines comprising the
averaging group. To determine
compliance with the applicable
emission limit in Table 1 of this subpart
for TF emissions, the owner or operator
shall determine the average emissions
(in lb/ton) from each potline from at
least three runs per potline
semiannually for TF secondary
emissions and at least three runs per
potline primary control system each
year using the procedures and methods
in §§ 63.847 and 63.849. The owner or
operator shall combine the results of
secondary TF average emissions with
the TF results for the primary control
system and divide total emissions by
total aluminum production.
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(2) Semiannual average emissions of
POM shall not exceed the applicable
emission limit in Table 2 of this subpart.
The emission rate shall be calculated
based on the total primary and
secondary emissions from all potlines
comprising the averaging group over the
period divided by the quantity of
aluminum produced during the period,
from all potlines comprising the
averaging group. To determine
compliance with the applicable
emission limit in Table 2 of this subpart
for POM emissions, the owner or
operator shall determine the average
emissions (in lb/ton) from each potline
from at least three runs per potline
semiannually for POM secondary
emissions and at least three runs per
potline primary control system each
year for POM primary emissions using
the procedures and methods in
§§ 63.847 and 63.849. The owner or
operator shall combine the results of
secondary POM average emissions with
the POM results for the primary control
system and divide total emissions by
total aluminum production.
(3) Semiannual average emissions of
PM shall not exceed the applicable
emission limit in Table 3 of this subpart.
The emission rate shall be calculated
based on the total primary and
secondary emissions from all potlines
comprising the potline group over the
period divided by the quantity of
aluminum produced during the period,
from all potlines comprising the
averaging group. To determine
compliance with the applicable
emission limit in Table 3 of this subpart
for PM emissions, the owner or operator
shall determine the average emissions
(in lb/ton) from each potline from at
least three runs per potline
semiannually for PM secondary
emissions and at least three runs per
potline primary control system each
year for PM primary emissions using the
procedures and methods in §§ 63.847
and 63.849. The owner or operator shall
combine the results of secondary PM
average emissions with the PM results
for the primary control system and
divide total emissions by total
aluminum production.
(c) Anode bake furnaces. The owner
or operator may average TF emissions
from anode bake furnaces and
demonstrate compliance with the limits
in Table 4 of this subpart using the
procedures in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2)
of this section. The owner or operator
also may average POM emissions from
anode bake furnaces and demonstrate
compliance with the limits in Table 4 of
this subpart using the procedures in
paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this section.
The owner or operator also may average
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PM emissions from anode bake furnaces
and demonstrate compliance with the
limits in Table 4 of this subpart using
the procedures in paragraphs (c)(1) and
(2) of this section.
(1) Annual emissions of TF, POM
and/or PM from a given number of
anode bake furnaces making up each
averaging group shall not exceed the
applicable emission limit in Table 4 of
this subpart in any one year; and
(2) To determine compliance with the
applicable emission limit in Table 4 of
this subpart for anode bake furnaces, the
owner or operator shall determine TF,
POM and/or PM emissions from the
control device for each anode bake
furnace at least once each year using the
procedures and methods in §§ 63.847
and 63.849.
(d) * * *
(2) * * *
(ii) The assigned TF, POM and/or PM
emission limit for each averaging group
of potlines and/or anode bake furnaces;
(iii) The specific control technologies
or pollution prevention measures to be
used for each emission source in the
averaging group and the date of its
installation or application. If the
pollution prevention measures reduce
or eliminate emissions from multiple
sources, the owner or operator must
identify each source;
(iv) The test plan for the measurement
of TF, POM and/or PM emissions in
accordance with the requirements in
§ 63.847(b);
*
*
*
*
*
(4) * * *
(i) Any averaging between emissions
of differing pollutants or between
differing sources. Emission averaging
shall not be allowed between TF, POM
and/or PM, and emission averaging
shall not be allowed between potlines
and anode bake furnaces;
(ii) The inclusion of any emission
source other than an existing potline or
existing anode bake furnace or the
inclusion of any potline or anode bake
furnace not subject to the same
operating permit; or
(iii) The inclusion of any potline or
anode bake furnace while it is shut
down, in the emission calculations.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 9. Section 63.847 is amended by:
■ a. Revising paragraph (a) introductory
text, and paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2);
■ b. Removing and reserving paragraph
(a)(3);
■ c. Adding paragraphs (a)(5) through
(9);
■ d. Removing and reserving paragraph
(b)(6);
■ e. Revising paragraph (c) introductory
text, paragraph (c)(1), and paragraph
(c)(2) introductory text;
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f. Adding paragraph (c)(2)(iv);
g. Revising paragraph (c)(3)
introductory text;
■ h. Adding paragraphs (c)(3)(iii) and
(iv);
■ i. Revising paragraph (d) introductory
text and paragraph (d)(1);
■ j. Removing and reserving paragraph
(d)(2);
■ k. Revising paragraph (d)(4);
■ l. Adding paragraphs (d)(5) through
(7);
■ m. Revising paragraph (e)
introductory text, and paragraph (e)(1);
■ n. Removing and reserving paragraph
(e)(2);
■ o. Revising paragraphs (e)(3) and
(e)(4);
■ p. Adding paragraph (e)(8);
■ q. Revising paragraph (f);
■ r. Revising paragraph (g) introductory
text, and paragraphs (g)(2)(ii) and (iv);
■ s. Adding and reserving paragraph (i);
and
■ t. Adding paragraphs (j), (k), (l) and
(m).
The revisions and additions read as
follows:
■
■
§ 63.847
Compliance provisions.
(a) Compliance dates. The owner
operator of a primary aluminum
reduction plant must comply with the
requirements of this subpart by the
applicable compliance date in
paragraph (a)(1), (a)(2) or (a)(4) of this
section:
(1) Except as noted in paragraph (a)(2)
of this section, the compliance date for
an owner or operator of an existing
plant or source subject to the provisions
of this subpart is October 7, 1999.
(2) The compliance dates for existing
plants and sources are:
(i) October 15, 2015 for the
malfunction provisions of § 63.850(d)(2)
and (e)(4)(xvi) and (xvii) and the
electronic reporting provisions of
§ 63.850(b), (c) and (f) which became
effective October 15, 2015.
(ii) October 17, 2016 for potline work
practice standards in § 63.854 and COS
emission limit provisions of § 63.843(e);
for anode bake furnace startup practices
in § 63.847(l) and PM emission limits in
§ 63.843(c)(3); for Soderberg potline PM
and PCB emission limits in
§ 63.843(a)(3)(v) and (a)(6); and for paste
production plant startup practices in
§ 63.847(m) and PM emission limits in
§ 63.843(b)(4) which became effective
October 15, 2015.
(iii) October 16, 2017 for prebake
potline POM emission limits in
§ 63.843(a)(2)(iv) through (vii); for
Soderberg potline POM, As and Ni
emission limits in §§ 63.843(a)(2)(iii),
(a)(4) and (5); for prebake potline PM
emission limits in § 63.843(a)(3); for
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anode bake furnace Hg emission limits
in § 63.843(c)(4); and for the pitch
storage tank POM limit provisions of
§ 63.843(d) which became effective
October 15, 2015.
(3) [Reserved]
*
*
*
*
*
(5) Except as provided in paragraphs
(a)(6) and (7) of this section, a new
affected source is one for which
construction or reconstruction
commenced after September 26, 1996.
(6) For the purposes of compliance
with the emission standards for PM, a
new affected potline, anode bake
furnace or paste production plant is one
for which construction or reconstruction
commenced after December 8, 2014.
(7) For the purposes of compliance
with the emission standards for POM
and COS, a new affected prebake potline
is one for which construction or
reconstruction commenced after
December 8, 2014.
(8) For the purposes of compliance
with the emission standards for As, Ni
and POM, a new affected Soderberg
potline is one for which construction or
reconstruction commenced after
December 8, 2014.
(9) For the purposes of compliance
with the emission standards for Hg, a
new affected anode bake furnace is one
for which construction or reconstruction
commenced after December 8, 2014.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(6) [Reserved]
*
*
*
*
*
(c) Following approval of the sitespecific test plan, the owner or operator
must conduct a performance test to
demonstrate initial compliance
according to the procedures in
paragraph (d) of this section. If a
performance test has been conducted on
the primary control system for potlines,
the anode bake furnace, the paste
production plant, or (if applicable) the
pitch storage tank control device within
the 12 months prior to the compliance
date, the results of that performance test
may be used to demonstrate initial
compliance. The owner or operator
must conduct the performance test:
(1) During the first month following
the compliance date for an existing
potline (or potroom group), anode bake
furnace, paste production plant or pitch
storage tank.
(2) By the date determined according
to the requirements in paragraph
(c)(2)(i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this section
for a new or reconstructed potline,
anode bake furnace, or pitch storage
tank (for which the owner or operator
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this section, the owner or operator shall
compute and record the average of at
least three runs semiannually for
secondary emissions and at least three
runs each year for the primary control
system to determine compliance with
the applicable emission limit.
Compliance is demonstrated when the
emission rates of TF, POM, and PM are
equal to or less than the applicable
emission limits in § 63.843, § 63.844, or
§ 63.846.
(2) [Reserved]
*
*
*
*
*
(4) TF, POM, PM and Hg emissions
from anode bake furnaces. For each
anode bake furnace, the owner or
operator shall measure and record the
emission rate of TF, POM, PM and Hg
exiting the exhaust stacks(s) of the
primary emission control system. In
accordance with paragraphs (e)(3) and
(4) of this section, the owner or operator
shall compute and record the average of
at least three runs each year to
determine compliance with the
applicable emission limits for TF, POM,
PM and Hg. Compliance is
demonstrated when the emission rates
of TF, POM, PM and Hg are equal to or
less than the applicable TF, POM, PM
and Hg emission limits in § 63.843,
§ 63.844 or § 63.846.
(5) Nickel emissions from VSS2
Potlines and new Soderberg potlines. (i)
For each VSS2 potline, and for each
new Soderberg potline, the owner or
operator must measure and record the
emission rate of nickel exiting the
primary emission control system and
the rate of secondary emissions of nickel
exiting through each roof monitor, or for
a plant with roof scrubbers, exiting
through the scrubbers. Using the
equation in paragraph (e)(1) of this
section, the owner or operator must
compute and record the average of at
least three runs each year for secondary
emissions and at least three runs each
year for primary emissions.
(ii) Compliance is demonstrated when
the emissions of nickel are equal to or
less than the applicable emission limit
in § 63.843(a)(4) or § 63.844(a)(4).
(6) Arsenic emissions from VSS2
Potlines and from new Soderberg
potlines. (i) For each VSS2 potline, and
for each new Soderberg potline, the
owner or operator must measure and
record the emission rate of arsenic
exiting the primary emission control
system and the rate of secondary
emissions of arsenic exiting through
each roof monitor, or for a plant with
roof scrubbers, exiting through the
scrubbers. Using the equation in
paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the
owner or operator must compute and
record the average of at least three runs
each year for secondary emissions and
at least three runs each year for primary
emissions.
(ii) Compliance is demonstrated when
the emissions of arsenic are equal to or
less than the applicable emission limit
in § 63.843(a)(5) or § 63.844(a)(5).
(7) PCB emissions from VSS2 Potlines
and from new Soderberg potlines. (i) For
each VSS2 potline, and for each new
Soderberg potline, the owner or operator
must measure and record the emission
rate of PCB exiting the primary emission
control system and the rate of secondary
emissions of PCB exiting through each
roof monitor, or for a plant with roof
scrubbers, exiting through the scrubbers.
Using the equation in paragraph (e)(1) of
this section, the owner or operator must
compute and record the average of at
least three runs each year for secondary
emissions and at least three runs each
year for primary emissions.
(ii) Compliance is demonstrated when
the emissions of PCB are equal to or less
than the applicable emission limit in
§ 63.843(a)(6) or § 63.844(a)(6).
(e) The owner or operator shall
determine compliance with the
applicable TF, POM, PM, nickel, arsenic
or PCB emission limits using the
following equations and procedures:
(1) Compute the emission rate (Ep) of
TF, POM, PM, nickel, arsenic or PCB
from each potline using Equation 1:
Where:
Ep = emission rate of TF, POM, PM, nickel
or arsenic from a potline, kg/Mg (lb/ton)
(or mg TEQ/ton for PCB);
Cs1 = concentration of TF, POM, PM, nickel
or arsenic from the primary control
system, mg/dscm (mg/dscf) (or mg TEQ/
dscf for PCB);
Qsd = volumetric flow rate of effluent gas
corresponding to the appropriate
subscript location, dscm/hr (dscf/hr);
Cs2 = concentration of TF, POM, PM, nickel
or arsenic as measured for roof monitor
emissions, mg/dscm (mg/dscf) (or mg
TEQ/dscf for PCB);
P = aluminum production rate, Mg/hr
(ton/hr);
K = conversion factor, 106 mg/kg (453,600
mg/lb) for TF, POM, PM, nickel or
arsenic (= 1 for PCB);
1 = subscript for primary control system
effluent gas; and
2 = subscript for secondary control system or
roof monitor effluent gas.
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(2) [Reserved]
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elects to conduct an initial performance
test):
*
*
*
*
*
(iv) By the 30th day following startup
of a paste production plant. The 30-day
period starts when the paste production
plant produces green anodes.
(3) By the date determined according
to the requirements in paragraph
(c)(3)(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this section
for an existing potline, anode bake
furnace, paste production plant, or pitch
storage tank that was shut down at the
time compliance would have otherwise
been required and is subsequently
restarted:
*
*
*
*
*
(iii) By the 30th day following startup
of a paste production plant. The 30-day
period starts when the paste production
plant produces green anodes.
(iv) By the 30th day following startup
for a pitch storage tank. The 30-day
period starts when the tank is first used
to store pitch.
(d) Performance test requirements.
The initial performance test and all
subsequent performance tests must be
conducted in accordance with the
applicable requirements of the general
provisions in subpart A of this part, the
approved test plan and the procedures
in this section. Performance tests must
be conducted under such conditions as
the Administrator specifies to the owner
or operator based on representative
performance of the affected source for
the period being tested. Upon request,
the owner or operator must make
available to the Administrator such
records as may be necessary to
determine the conditions of
performance tests.
(1) TF, POM and PM emissions from
potlines. For each potline, the owner or
operator shall measure and record the
emission rates of TF, POM and PM
exiting the outlet of the primary control
system and the rate of secondary
emissions exiting through each roof
monitor, or for a plant with roof
scrubbers, exiting through the scrubbers.
Using the equation in paragraph (e)(1) of
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 199 / Thursday, October 15, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
62419
(3) Compute the emission rate (Eb) of
TF, POM or PM from each anode bake
furnace using Equation 2,
(4) Compliance with the anode bake
furnace Hg emission standard is
demonstrated if the Hg concentration of
the exhaust from the anode bake furnace
control device is equal to or less than
the applicable concentration standard in
§ 63.843(c)(4) or § 63.844(c)(4).
*
*
*
*
*
(8) Compute the emission rate (EPMpp)
of PM from each paste production plant
using Equation 3,
Where:
EPMpp = emission rate of PM, kg/mg (lb/ton)
of green anode material exiting the paste
production plant;
Cs = concentration of PM, mg/dscm
(mg/dscf);
Qsd = volumetric flow rate of effluent gas,
dscm/hr (dscf/hr);
Pb = quantity of green anode material exiting
the paste production plant, mg/hr (ton/
hr); and
K = conversion factor, 106 mg/kg (453,600
mg/lb).
least three runs each year to determine
compliance with the applicable
emission limits for PM. Compliance
with the PM standards for existing and
new paste production plants is
demonstrated when the PM emission
rates are less than or equal to the
applicable PM emission limits in
§§ 63.843(b)(4) and 63.844(b)(2).
(g) Pitch storage tanks. The owner or
operator must demonstrate initial
compliance with the standard for pitch
storage tanks in §§ 63.843(d) and
63.844(d) by preparing a design
evaluation or by conducting a
performance test. The owner or operator
must submit for approval by the
regulatory authority the information
specified in paragraph (g)(1) of this
section, along with the information
specified in paragraph (g)(2) of this
section where a design evaluation is
performed or the information specified
in paragraph (g)(3) of this section where
a performance test is conducted.
*
*
*
*
*
(2) * * *
(ii) If an enclosed combustion device
with a minimum residence time of 0.5
seconds and a minimum temperature of
760 degrees C (1,400 degrees F) is used
to meet the emission reduction
requirement specified in § 63.843(d) and
§ 63.844(d), documentation that those
conditions exist is sufficient to meet the
requirements of § 63.843(d) and
§ 63.844(d);
*
*
*
*
*
(iv) If the pitch storage tank is vented
to the emission control system installed
for control of emissions from the paste
production plant pursuant to § 63.843(b)
or § 63.844(b)(1), documentation of
compliance with the requirements of
§ 63.843(b) is sufficient to meet the
requirements of § 63.843(d) or
§ 63.844(d);
*
*
*
*
*
(i) [Reserved]
(j) Carbonyl sulfide (COS) emissions.
The owner operator must calculate, for
each potline, the emission rate of COS
for each calendar month of operation
using Equation 4:
Z = the mass of aluminum produced by the
potline during the calendar month, tons;
and
S = the weighted average fraction of sulfur in
the anode coke consumed in the
production of aluminum during the
calendar month (e.g., if the weighted
average sulfur content of the anode coke
consumed during the calendar month
was 2.5 percent, then S = 0.025). The
weight of anode coke used during the
calendar month of each different
concentration of sulfur is used to
calculate the overall weighted average
fraction of sulfur.
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(f) Paste production plants. (1) Initial
compliance with the POM standards for
existing and new paste production
plants in §§ 63.843(b) and 63.844(b) will
be demonstrated through site
inspection(s) and review of site records
by the applicable regulatory authority.
(2) For each paste production plant,
the owner or operator shall measure and
record the emission rate of PM exiting
the exhaust stacks(s) of the primary
emission control system. Using the
equation in paragraph (e)(8) of this
section, the owner or operator shall
compute and record the average of at
Where:
ECOS = the emission rate of COS during the
calendar month, pounds per ton of
aluminum produced;
K = factor accounting for molecular weights
and conversion of sulfur to carbonyl
sulfide = 234;
Y = the mass of anode consumed in the
potline during the calendar month, tons;
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Compliance is demonstrated if the
calculated value of ECOS is less than the
applicable standard for COS emissions
in §§ 63.843(e) and 63.844(e).
(k) Startup of potlines. The owner or
operator must develop a written startup
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Pb = quantity of green anode material placed
in the furnace, mg/hr (ton/hr); and
K = conversion factor, 106 mg/kg (453,600
mg/lb).
ER15OC15.001
Where:
Eb = emission rate of TF, POM or PM,
kg/mg (lb/ton) of green anodes;
Cs = concentration of TF, POM or PM,
mg/dscm (mg/dscf);
Qsd = volumetric flow rate of effluent gas,
dscm/hr (dscf/hr);
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62420
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 199 / Thursday, October 15, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
plan as described in § 63.854(b) that
contains specific procedures to be
followed during startup periods of
potline(s). Compliance with the
applicable standards in § 63.854(b) will
be demonstrated through site
inspection(s) and review of site records
by the regulatory authority.
(l) Startup of anode bake furnaces.
The owner or operator must develop a
written startup plan as described in
paragraphs (l)(1) through (4) of this
section, to be followed during startup
periods of bake furnaces. Compliance
with the startup plan will be
demonstrated through site inspection(s)
and review of site records by the
regulatory authority. The written startup
plan must contain specific procedures
to be followed during startup periods of
anode bake furnaces, including the
following:
(1) A requirement to develop an
anode bake furnace startup schedule.
(2) Records of time, date, duration of
anode bake furnace startup and any
nonroutine actions taken during startup
of the furnaces.
(3) A requirement that the associated
emission control system be operating
within normal parametric limits prior to
startup of the anode bake furnace.
(4) A requirement to take immediate
actions to stop the startup process as
soon as practicable and continue to
comply with § 63.843(f) or § 63.844(f) if
the associated emission control system
is off line at any time during startup.
The anode bake furnace restart may
resume once the associated emission
control system is back on line and
operating within normal parametric
limits.
(m) Startup of paste production
plants. The owner or operator must
develop a written startup plan as
described in paragraphs (m)(1) through
(3) of this section, to be followed during
startup periods for paste production
plants. Compliance with the startup
plan will be demonstrated through site
inspection(s) and review of site records
by the regulatory authority. The written
startup plan must contain specific
procedures to be followed during
startup periods of paste production
plants, including the following:
(1) Records of time, date, duration of
paste production plant startup and any
nonroutine actions taken during startup
of the paste production plants.
(2) A requirement that the associated
emission control system be operating
within normal parametric limits prior to
startup of the paste production plant.
(3) A requirement to take immediate
actions to stop the startup process as
soon as practicable and continue to
comply with § 63.843(f) or § 63.844(f) if
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the associated emission control system
is off line at any time during startup.
The paste production plant restart may
resume once the associated emission
control system is back on line and
operating within normal parametric
limits.
■ 10. Section 63.848 is amended by:
■ a. Revising paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d)
introductory text, (d)(1)(ii), and (d)(7);
■ b. Removing and reserving paragraph
(e);
■ c. Adding paragraphs (f)(6) and (7);
■ d. Revising paragraph (g); and
■ e. Adding paragraphs (n), (o) and (p).
The revisions and additions read as
follows:
§ 63.848 Emission monitoring
requirements.
(a) TF and PM emissions from
potlines. Using the procedures in
§ 63.847 and in the approved test plan,
the owner or operator shall monitor
emissions of TF and PM from each
potline by conducting annual
performance tests on the primary
control system and semiannual
performance tests on the secondary
emissions. The owner or operator shall
compute and record the average
semiannually from at least three runs for
secondary emissions and the average
from at least three runs for the primary
control system to determine compliance
with the applicable emission limit. The
owner or operator must include all valid
runs in the semiannual average. The
duration of each run for secondary
emissions must represent a complete
operating cycle. Potline emissions shall
be recorded as the sum of the average
of at least three runs from the primary
control system and the average of at
least three runs from the roof monitor or
secondary emissions control device.
(b) POM emissions from potlines.
Using the procedures in § 63.847 and in
the approved test plan, the owner or
operator must monitor emissions of
POM from each potline stack annually
and secondary potline POM emissions
semiannually. The owner or operator
must compute and record the
semiannual average from at least three
runs for secondary emissions and at
least three runs for the primary control
systems to determine compliance with
the applicable emission limit. The
owner or operator must include all valid
runs in the semiannual average. The
duration of each run for secondary
emissions must represent a complete
operating cycle. The primary control
system must be sampled over an 8-hour
period, unless site-specific factors
dictate an alternative sampling time
subject to the approval of the regulatory
authority. Potline emissions shall be
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recorded as the sum of the average of at
least three runs from the primary
control system and the average of at
least three runs from the roof monitor or
secondary emissions control device.
(c) TF, PM, Hg and POM emissions
from anode bake furnaces. Using the
procedures in § 63.847 and in the
approved test plan, the owner or
operator shall determine TF, PM, Hg
and POM emissions from each anode
bake furnace on an annual basis. The
owner or operator shall compute and
record the annual average of TF, PM, Hg
and POM emissions from at least three
runs to determine compliance with the
applicable emission limits. A minimum
of four dscm per run must be collected
for monitoring of Hg emissions. The
owner or operator must include all valid
runs in the annual average.
(d) Similar potlines. As an alternative
to semiannual monitoring of TF, POM
or PM secondary emissions from each
potline using the methods in § 63.849,
the owner or operator may perform
semiannual monitoring of TF, POM or
PM secondary emissions from one
potline using the test methods in
§ 63.849(a) or (b) to represent the
performance of similar potline(s). The
similar potline(s) must be monitored
using an alternative method that meets
the requirements of paragraphs (d)(1)
through (7) of this section. Two or more
potlines are similar if the owner or
operator demonstrates that their
structure, operability, type of emissions,
volume of emissions and concentration
of emissions are substantially
equivalent.
(1) * * *
(ii) For TF, POM and PM emissions,
must meet or exceed Method 14 criteria.
*
*
*
*
*
(7) If the alternative method is
approved by the applicable regulatory
authority, the owner or operator must
perform semiannual emission
monitoring using the approved
alternative monitoring procedure to
demonstrate compliance with the
alternative emission limit for each
similar potline.
(e) [Reserved]
(f) * * *
(6) For emission sources control
device exhaust streams for which the
owner or operator chooses to
demonstrate continuous compliance
through bag leak detection systems you
must install and operate a bag leak
detection system according to the
requirements in paragraph (o) of this
section, and you must set your operating
limit such that the sum of the durations
of bag leak detection system alarms does
not exceed 5 percent of the process
operating time during a 6-month period.
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 199 / Thursday, October 15, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
(7) For emission sources control
device exhaust streams for which the
owner or operator chooses to
demonstrate continuous compliance
through a PM CEMS, you must install
and operate a PM CEMS according to
the requirements in paragraph (p) of this
section. You must determine continuous
compliance averaged on a rolling 30
operating day basis, updated at the end
of each new operating day. All valid
hours of data from 30 successive
operating days shall be included in the
arithmetic average. Compliance is
demonstrated when the 30 operating
day PM emissions are equal to or less
than the applicable emission limits in
§ 63.843, § 63.844, or § 63.846.
(g) The owner or operator of a new or
reconstructed affected source that is
subject to a PM limit shall comply with
the requirements of either paragraph
(f)(6) or (7) of this section. The owner
or operator of an existing affected source
that is equipped with a control device
and is subject to a PM limit shall:
(1) Install and operate a bag leak
detection system in accordance with
paragraph (f)(6) of this section; or
(2) Install and operate a PM CEMS in
accordance with paragraph (f)(7) of this
section; or
(3) Visually inspect the exhaust
stack(s) of each fabric filter using
Method 22 on a twice daily basis (at
least 4 hours apart) for evidence of any
visible emissions indicating abnormal
operations and, must initiate corrective
actions within 1 hour of a visible
emissions inspection that indicates
abnormal operation. Corrective actions
shall include, at a minimum, isolating,
shutting down and conducting an
internal inspection of the baghouse
compartment that is the source of the
visible emissions that indicate abnormal
operations.
*
*
*
*
*
(n) PM emissions from paste
production plants. Using the procedures
in § 63.847 and in the approved test
plan, the owner or operator shall
monitor PM emissions from each paste
production plant on an annual basis.
The owner or operator shall compute
and record the annual average of PM
emissions from at least three runs to
determine compliance with the
applicable emission limits. The owner
or operator must include all valid runs
in the annual average.
(o) Bag leak detection system. For
each new affected source subject to a
PM emissions limit, you must install,
operate and maintain a bag leak
detection system according to
paragraphs (o)(1) through (3) of this
section, unless a system meeting the
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requirements of paragraph (p) of this
section, for a CEMS, is installed for
monitoring the concentration of PM.
(1) You must develop and implement
written procedures for control device
maintenance that include, at a
minimum, a preventative maintenance
schedule that is consistent with the
control device manufacturer’s
instructions for routine and long-term
maintenance.
(2) Each bag leak detection system
must meet the specifications and
requirements in paragraphs (o)(2)(i)
through (viii) of this section.
(i) The bag leak detection system must
be certified by the manufacturer to be
capable of detecting PM emissions at
concentrations of 1.0 milligram per dry
standard cubic meter (0.00044 grains
per actual cubic foot) or less.
(ii) The bag leak detection system
sensor must provide output of relative
PM loadings.
(iii) The bag leak detection system
must be equipped with an alarm system
that will alarm when an increase in
relative particulate loadings is detected
over a preset level.
(iv) You must install, calibrate,
operate and maintain the bag leak
detection system according to the
manufacturer’s written specifications
and recommendations.
(v) The initial adjustment of the
system must, at a minimum, consist of
establishing the baseline output by
adjusting the sensitivity (range) and the
averaging period of the device and
establishing the alarm set points and the
alarm delay time.
(vi) Following initial adjustment, you
must not adjust the sensitivity or range,
averaging period, alarm set points, or
alarm delay time, except in accordance
with the procedures developed under
paragraph (o)(1) of this section. You
cannot increase the sensitivity by more
than 100 percent or decrease the
sensitivity by more than 50 percent over
a 365-day period unless such
adjustment follows a complete PM
control device inspection that
demonstrates that the PM control device
is in good operating condition.
(vii) You must install the bag leak
detector downstream of the PM control
device.
(viii) Where multiple detectors are
required, the system’s instrumentation
and alarm may be shared among
detectors.
(3) You must include in the written
procedures required by paragraph (o)(1)
of this section a corrective action plan
that specifies the procedures to be
followed in the case of a bag leak
detection system alarm. The corrective
action plan must include, at a
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62421
minimum, the procedures that you will
use to determine and record the time
and cause of the alarm as well as the
corrective actions taken to minimize
emissions as specified in paragraphs
(o)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section.
(i) The procedures used to determine
the cause of the alarm must be initiated
within 1 hour of the alarm.
(ii) The cause of the alarm must be
alleviated by taking the necessary
corrective action(s) that may include,
but not be limited to, those listed in
paragraphs (o)(3)(ii)(A) through (F) of
this section.
(A) Inspecting the PM control device
for air leaks, torn or broken filter
elements, or any other malfunction that
may cause an increase in emissions.
(B) Sealing off defective bags or filter
media.
(C) Replacing defective bags or filter
media, or otherwise repairing the
control device.
(D) Sealing off a defective baghouse
compartment.
(E) Cleaning the bag leak detection
system probe, or otherwise repairing the
bag leak detection system.
(F) Shutting down the process
producing the particulate emissions.
(p) Particulate Matter CEMS. If you
are using a CEMS to measure particulate
matter emissions to meet requirements
of this subpart, you must install, certify,
operate and maintain the particulate
matter CEMS as specified in paragraphs
(p)(1) through (4) of this section.
(1) You must conduct a performance
evaluation of the PM CEMS according to
the applicable requirements of § 60.13,
and Performance Specification 11 at 40
CFR part 60, Appendix B of this
chapter.
(2) During each PM correlation testing
run of the CEMS required by
Performance Specification 11 at 40 CFR
part 60, Appendix B of this chapter,
collect data concurrently by both the
CEMS and by conducting performance
tests using Method 5, 5D or 5I at 40 CFR
part 60, Appendix A–3.
(3) Operate and maintain the CEMS in
accordance with Procedure 2 at 40 CFR
part 60, Appendix F of this chapter.
Relative Response Audits must be
performed annually and Response
Correlation Audits must be performed
every three years.
■ 11. Section 63.849 is amended by:
■ a. Revising paragraph (a) introductory
text, and paragraphs (a)(6) and (a)(7);
and
■ b. Adding paragraphs (a)(8) through
(14), and (f).
The revisions and additions read as
follows:
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§ 63.849
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 199 / Thursday, October 15, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
Test methods and procedures.
(a) The owner or operator shall use
the following reference methods to
determine compliance with the
applicable emission limits for TF, POM,
PM, Ni, As, Hg, PCB and conduct visible
emissions observations:
*
*
*
*
*
(6) Method 315 in appendix A to this
part or an approved alternative method
for the concentration of POM where
stack or duct emissions are sampled;
(7) Method 315 in appendix A to this
part and Method 14 or 14A in appendix
A to part 60 of this chapter or an
approved alternative method for the
concentration of POM where emissions
are sampled from roof monitors not
employing wet roof scrubbers. Method
315 need not be set up as required in the
method. Instead, when using Method
14A, replace the Method 14A monitor
cassette filter with the filter specified by
Method 315. Recover and analyze the
filter according to Method 315. When
using Method 14, test at ambient
conditions, do not heat the filter and
probe, and do not analyze the back half
of the sampling train;
(8) Method 5 in appendix A to part 60
of this chapter or an approved
alternative method for the concentration
of PM where stack or duct emissions are
sampled;
(9) Method 17 and Method 14 or
Method 14A in appendix A to part 60
of this chapter or an approved
alternative method for the concentration
of PM where emissions are sampled
from roof monitors not employing wet
roof scrubbers. Method 17 need not be
set up as required in the method.
Instead, when using Method 14A,
replace the Method 14A monitor
cassette filter with the filter specified by
Method 17. Recover and analyze the
filter according to Method 17. When
using Method 14, test at ambient
conditions, do not heat the filter and
probe, and do not analyze the back half
of the sampling train;
(10) Method 29 in appendix A to part
60 of this chapter or an approved
alternative method for the concentration
of mercury, nickel and arsenic where
stack or duct emissions are sampled;
(11) Method 29 and Method 14 or
Method 14A in appendix A to part 60
of this chapter or an approved
alternative method for the concentration
of nickel and arsenic where emissions
are sampled from roof monitors not
employing wet roof scrubbers. Method
29 need not be set up as required in the
method. Instead, replace the Method
14A monitor cassette filter with the
filter specified by Method 29. Recover
and analyze the filter according to
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Method 29. When using Method 14, test
at ambient conditions, do not heat the
filter and probe, and do not analyze the
back half of the sampling train;
(12) Method 22 in Appendix A to part
60 of this chapter or an approved
alternative method for determination of
visual emissions;
(13) Method 428 of the California Air
Resources Board (incorporated by
reference; see § 63.14) for the
measurement of PCB where stack or
duct emissions are sampled; and
(14) Method 428 of the California Air
Resources Board (incorporated by
reference; see § 63.14) and Method 14 or
Method 14A in appendix A to part 60
of this chapter or an approved
alternative method for the concentration
of PCB where emissions are sampled
from roof monitors not employing wet
roof scrubbers.
*
*
*
*
*
(f) The owner or operator must use
either ASTM D4239–14e1 or ASTM
D6376–10 (incorporated by reference;
see § 63.14) for determination of the
sulfur content in anode coke shipments
to determine compliance with the
applicable emission limit for COS
emissions.
■ 12. Section 63.850 is amended by:
■ a. Revising paragraphs (b), (c), and (d);
■ b. Removing and reserving paragraph
(e)(4)(iii);
■ c. Revising paragraphs (e)(4)(xiv) and
(e)(4)(xv); and
■ d. Adding paragraphs (e)(4)(xvi),
(e)(4)(xvii) and (f).
The revisions and additions read as
follows:
§ 63.850 Notification, reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) Performance test reports. Within
60 days after the date of completing
each performance test (as defined in
§ 63.2) required by this subpart, you
must submit the results of the
performance tests following the
procedure specified in either paragraph
(b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section.
(1) For data collected using test
methods supported by the EPA’s
Electronic Reporting Tool (ERT) as
listed on the EPA’s ERT Web site
(https://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/ert/
index.html) at the time of the test, you
must submit the results of the
performance test to the EPA via the
Compliance and Emissions Data
Reporting Interface (CEDRI). CEDRI can
be accessed through the EPA’s Central
Data Exchange (CDX) (https://
cdx.epa.gov/epa_home.asp).
Performance test data must be submitted
in a file format generated through the
use of the EPA’s ERT. Alternatively, you
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may submit performance test data in an
electronic file format consistent with the
extensible markup language (XML)
schema listed on the EPA’s ERT Web
site once the XML schema is available.
If you claim that some of the
performance test information being
submitted is confidential business
information (CBI), you must submit a
complete file generated through the use
of the EPA’s ERT or an alternate
electronic file consistent with the XML
schema listed on the EPA’s ERT Web
site, including information claimed to
be CBI, on a compact disc, flash drive,
or other commonly used electronic
storage media to the EPA. The electronic
media must be clearly marked as CBI
and mailed to U.S. EPA/OAQPS/CORE
CBI Office, Attention: Group Leader,
Measurement Policy Group, MD C404–
02, 4930 Old Page Rd., Durham, NC
27703. The same ERT or alternate file
with the CBI omitted must be submitted
to the EPA via the EPA’s CDX as
described earlier in this paragraph.
(2) For data collected using test
methods that are not supported by the
EPA’s ERT as listed on the EPA’s ERT
Web site at the time of the test, you must
submit the results of the performance
test to the Administrator at the
appropriate address listed in § 63.13.
(3) For data collected which requires
summation of results from both ERT and
non-ERT supported test methods in
order to demonstrate compliance with
an emission limit, you must submit the
results of the performance test(s) used to
demonstrate compliance with that
emission limit to the Administrator at
the appropriate address listed in § 63.13.
(c) Performance evaluation reports.
Within 60 days after the date of
completing each continuous emissions
monitoring system performance
evaluation (as defined in § 63.2), you
must submit the results of the
performance evaluation following the
procedure specified in either paragraph
(c)(1) or (2) of this section.
(1) For performance evaluations of
continuous monitoring systems
measuring relative accuracy test audit
(RATA) pollutants that are supported by
the EPA’s ERT as listed on the EPA’s
ERT Web site at the time of the test, you
must submit the results of the
performance evaluation to the EPA via
the CEDRI. (CEDRI can be accessed
through the EPA’s CDX.) Performance
evaluation data must be submitted in a
file format generated through the use of
the EPA’s ERT. Alternatively, you may
submit performance evaluation data in
an electronic file format consistent with
the XML schema listed on the EPA’s
ERT Web site once the XML schema is
available. If you claim that some of the
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performance evaluation information
being transmitted is CBI, you must
submit a complete file generated
through the use of the EPA’s ERT or an
alternate electronic file consistent with
the XML schema listed on the EPA’s
ERT Web site, including information
claimed to be CBI, on a compact disc,
flash drive, or other commonly used
electronic storage media to the EPA. The
electronic storage media must be clearly
marked as CBI and mailed to U.S. EPA/
OAQPS/CORE CBI Office, Attention:
Group Leader, Measurement Policy
Group, MD C404–02, 4930 Old Page Rd.,
Durham, NC 27703. The same ERT or
alternate file with the CBI omitted must
be submitted to the EPA via the EPA’s
CDX as described earlier in this
paragraph.
(2) For any performance evaluations
of continuous monitoring systems
measuring RATA pollutants that are not
supported by the EPA’s ERT as listed on
the EPA’s ERT Web site at the time of
the test, you must submit the results of
the performance evaluation to the
Administrator at the appropriate
address listed in § 63.13.
(d) Reporting. In addition to the
information required under § 63.10 of
the General Provisions, the owner or
operator must provide semiannual
reports containing the information
specified in paragraphs (d)(1) and (2) of
this section to the Administrator or
designated authority.
(1) Excess emissions report. As
required by § 63.10(e)(3), the owner or
operator must submit a report (or a
summary report) if measured emissions
are in excess of the applicable standard.
The report must contain the information
specified in § 63.10(e)(3)(v) and be
submitted semiannually unless
quarterly reports are required as a result
of excess emissions.
(2) If there was a malfunction during
the reporting period, the owner or
operator must submit a report that
includes the number, duration and a
brief description for each type of
malfunction which occurred during the
reporting period and which caused or
may have caused any applicable
emission limitation to be exceeded. The
report must also include a description of
actions taken by an owner or operator
during a malfunction of an affected
source to minimize emissions in
accordance with §§ 63.843(f) and
63.844(f), including actions taken to
correct a malfunction.
(e) * * *
(4) * * *
(iii) [Reserved]
*
*
*
*
*
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(xiv) Records documenting any POM
data that are invalidated due to the
installation and startup of a cathode;
(xv) Records documenting the portion
of TF that is measured as particulate
matter and the portion that is measured
as gaseous when the particulate and
gaseous fractions are quantified
separately using an approved test
method;
(xvi) Records of the occurrence and
duration of each malfunction of
operation (i.e. process equipment) or the
air pollution control equipment and
monitoring equipment; and
(xvii) Records of actions taken during
periods of malfunction to minimize
emissions in accordance with
§§ 63.843(f) and 63.844(f), including
corrective actions to restore
malfunctioning process and air
pollution control and monitoring
equipment to its normal or usual
manner of operation.
(f) All reports required by this subpart
not subject to the requirements in
paragraph (b) or (c) of this section must
be sent to the Administrator at the
appropriate address listed in § 63.13. If
acceptable to both the Administrator
and the owner or operator of a source,
these reports may be submitted on
electronic media. The Administrator
retains the right to require submittal of
reports subject to paragraph (b) of this
section in paper format.
■ 13. Section 63.854 is added to read as
follows:
§ 63.854 Work practice standards for
potlines.
(a) Periods of operation other than
startup. If you own or operate a new or
existing primary aluminum reduction
affected source, you must comply with
the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1)
through (8) of this section during
periods of operation other than startup.
(1) Ensure the potline scrubbers and
exhaust fans are operational at all times.
(2) Ensure that the primary capture
and control system is operating at all
times.
(3) Hood covers should be replaced as
soon as possible after each potroom
operation.
(4) Inspect potlines daily and perform
the work practices specified in
paragraphs (a)(4)(i) through (iii) of this
section.
(i) Identify unstable pots as soon as
practicable but in no case more than 12
hours from the time the pot became
unstable;
(ii) Reduce cell temperatures to as low
as practicable, and follow the written
operating plan described in paragraph
(b)(4) of this section if the cell
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temperature exceeds the specified high
temperature limit; and
(iii) Reseal pot crusts that have been
broken as often and as soon as
practicable.
(5) Ensure that hood covers fit
properly and are in good condition.
(6) If the exhaust system is equipped
with an adjustable damper system, the
hood exhaust rate for individual pots
must be increased whenever hood
covers are removed from a pot, provided
that the exhaust system will not be
overloaded by placing too many pots on
high exhaust.
(7) Dust entrainment must be
minimized during material handling
operations and sweeping of the working
aisles.
(8) Only tapping crucibles with
functional aspirator air return systems
(for returning gases under the collection
hooding) can be used, unless the
regulatory authority approves an
alternative tapping crucible.
(b) Periods of startup. If you own or
operate a new or existing primary
aluminum reduction affected source,
you must comply with the requirements
of paragraphs (a)(1) through (8) and
(b)(1) through (4) of this section during
periods of startup for each affected
potline.
(1) Develop a potline startup schedule
before starting up the potline.
(2) Keep records of the number of pots
started each day.
(3) Inspect potlines daily and adjust
pot parameters to their optimum levels,
as specified in the operating plan
described in paragraph (b)(4) of this
section, including, but not limited to:
alumina addition rate, exhaust air flow
rate, cell voltage, feeding level, anode
current and liquid and solid bath levels.
(4) Prepare a written operating plan to
minimize emissions during startup to
include, but not limited to, the
requirements in (b)(1) through (3) of this
section. The operating plan must
include a specified high temperature
limit for pots that will trigger corrective
action.
■ 14. Section 63.855 is added to read as
follows:
§ 63.855 Alternative emissions limits for
co-controlled new and existing anode bake
furnaces.
(a) Applicability. The owner or
operator of a new anode bake furnace
meeting the criteria of paragraphs (a)(1)
and (2) of this section may demonstrate
compliance with alternative TF and
POM emission limits according to the
procedures of this section.
(1) The new anode bake furnace must
have been permitted to operate prior to
May 1, 1998; and
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(2) The new anode bake furnace must
share a common control device with one
or more existing anode bake furnaces.
(b) TF emission limit. (1) Prior to the
date on which each TF emission test is
required to be conducted, the owner or
operator must determine the applicable
TF emission limit using Equation 6–A,
Where:
LTFC = Combined emission limit for TF, lb/
ton green anode material placed in the
bake furnace;
LTFE = TF limit for emission averaging for the
total number of new and existing anode
bake furnaces from Table 4 to this
subpart;
PE = Mass of green anode placed in existing
anode bake furnaces in the twelve
months preceding the compliance test,
ton/year; and
PN = Mass of green anode placed in new
anode bake furnaces in the twelve
months preceding the compliance test,
ton/year.
discharge, or cause to be discharged into
the atmosphere, any emissions of TF in
excess of the emission limits established
in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(c) POM emission limits. (1) Prior to
the date on which each POM emission
test is required to be conducted, the
owner or operator must determine the
applicable POM emission limit using
Equation 6–B,
Where:
LPOMC = Combined emission limit for
POM, lb/ton green anode material placed in
the bake furnace.
(2) The owner or operator of a new
anode bake furnace that is controlled by
a control device that also controls
emissions of TF from one or more
existing anode bake furnaces must not
(2) The owner or operator of a new
anode bake furnace that is controlled by
a control device that also controls
emissions of POM from one or more
existing anode bake furnaces must not
discharge, or cause to be discharged into
the atmosphere, any emissions of TF in
excess of the emission limits established
in paragraph (c)(1) of this section.
15. Table 1 to Subpart LL of Part 63
is revised to read as follows:
■
TABLE 1 TO SUBPART LL OF PART 63—POTLINE TF LIMITS FOR EMISSION AVERAGING
Semiannual TF limit (lb/ton) [for given number of potlines]
Type
2 lines
CWPB1 ........................
CWPB2 ........................
CWPB3 ........................
SWPB ...........................
VSS2 ............................
3 lines
1.7
2.9
2.3
1.4
2.6
4 lines
1.6
2.8
2.2
1.3
2.5
5 lines
1.5
2.7
2.2
1.3
2.5
6 lines
1.5
2.7
2.1
1.2
2.4
7 lines
1.4
2.6
2.1
1.2
2.4
8 lines
1.4
2.6
2.1
1.2
2.4
1.4
2.6
2.1
1.2
2.4
16. Table 2 to Subpart LL of Part 63
is revised to read as follows:
■
TABLE 2 TO SUBPART LL OF PART 63—POTLINE POM LIMITS FOR EMISSION AVERAGING
Semiannual POM limit (lb/ton) [for given number of potlines]
Type
2 lines
CWPB1 ........................
CWPB2 ........................
CWPB3 ........................
SWPB ...........................
VSS2 ............................
3 lines
1
11.6
2.5
14.8
1.7
0.9
11.2
2.4
13.8
1.6
4 lines
5 lines
0.9
10.8
2.4
13.8
1.5
6 lines
0.9
10.8
2.3
13.8
1.5
7 lines
0.8
10.4
2.3
13.8
1.4
8 lines
0.8
10.4
2.3
13.8
1.4
0.8
10.4
2.3
13.8
1.4
17. Table 3 to Subpart LL of Part 63
is redesignated as Table 4 to Subpart LL
of Part 63 and revised to read as follows:
ER15OC15.005
TABLE 4 TO SUBPART LL OF PART 63—ANODE BAKE FURNACE LIMITS FOR EMISSION AVERAGING
Emission limit (lb/ton of anode)
Number of furnaces
TF
2 ...................................................................................................................................................
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0.17
0.11
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■
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TABLE 4 TO SUBPART LL OF PART 63—ANODE BAKE FURNACE LIMITS FOR EMISSION AVERAGING—Continued
Emission limit (lb/ton of anode)
Number of furnaces
TF
3 ...................................................................................................................................................
4 ...................................................................................................................................................
5 ...................................................................................................................................................
POM
0.09
0.077
0.07
PM
0.17
0.17
0.17
0.091
0.076
0.071
18. New Table 3 to Subpart LL of Part
63 is added to read as follows:
■
TABLE 3 TO SUBPART LL OF PART 63—POTLINE PM LIMITS FOR EMISSION AVERAGING
Semiannual PM limit (lb/ton) [for given number of potlines]
Type
2 lines
CWPB1 ........................
CWPB2 ........................
CWPB3 ........................
SWPB ...........................
VSS2 ............................
3 lines
6.1
10.6
18.4
4.3
25
6.1
10.3
17.6
3.9
24.1
4 lines
5 lines
5.3
9.9
17.6
3.9
24.1
6 lines
5.3
9.9
16.8
3.7
23.1
7 lines
5.0
9.5
16.8
3.7
23.1
8 lines
5.0
9.5
16.8
3.7
23.1
5.0
9.5
16.8
3.7
23.1
19. Appendix A to Subpart LL of Part
63 is revised to read as follows:
■
APPENDIX A TO SUBPART LL OF PART 63—APPLICABILITY OF GENERAL PROVISIONS (40 CFR PART 63, SUBPART A)
Reference section(s)
Requirement
Applies to subpart LL
63.1(a)(1) through (4) ...............
63.1(a)(5) ..................................
63.1(a)(6) ..................................
63.1(a)(7) through (9) ...............
63.1(a)(10) through (12) ...........
63.1(b)(1) through (3) ...............
63.1(c)(1) ...................................
63.1(c)(2) ...................................
General Applicability ..................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
Initial Applicability Determination ...............
Applicability after standard Established ....
....................................................................
Yes.
No ............................
Yes.
No ............................
Yes.
Yes ..........................
Yes.
Yes ..........................
63.1(c)(3) and (4) ......................
63.1(c)(5) ...................................
63.1(d) .......................................
63.1(e) .......................................
63.2 ...........................................
63.3 ...........................................
63.4(a)(1) and (2) ......................
63.4(a)(3) through (5) ...............
63.4(b) and (c) ..........................
63.5(a) .......................................
63.5(b)(1) ..................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
Applicability of Permit Program .................
Definitions ..................................................
Units and Abbreviations ............................
Prohibited activities ....................................
....................................................................
Circumvention/Severability ........................
Construction/Reconstruction Applicability
Existing, New, Reconstructed Sources
Requirements.
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
Application for Approval of Construction/
Reconstruction.
Approval of Construction/Reconstruction ..
Approval of Construction/Reconstruction
Based on State Review.
Compliance with Standards and Maintenance Applicability.
New and Reconstructed Source Dates .....
....................................................................
....................................................................
Existing Source Dates ...............................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
No ............................
Yes.
No ............................
Yes.
Yes ..........................
Yes.
Yes.
No ............................
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
63.5(b)(2) ..................................
63.5(b)(3) and (4) ......................
63.5(b)(5) ..................................
63.5(b)(6) ..................................
63.5(c) .......................................
63.5(d) .......................................
63.5(e) .......................................
63.5(f) ........................................
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63.6(a) .......................................
63.6(b)(1) through (5) ...............
63.6(b)(6) ..................................
63.6(b)(7) ..................................
63.6(c)(1) ...................................
63.6(c)(2) ...................................
63.6(c)(3) and (4) ......................
63.6(c)(5) ...................................
63.6(d) .......................................
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No ............................
Yes.
No ............................
Yes.
No ............................
Yes.
Comment
[Reserved].
[Reserved].
(b)(2) Reserved.
Area sources are not subject to this subpart.
[Reserved].
[Reserved].
Reconstruction defined in § 63.842.
[Reserved].
[Reserved].
[Reserved].
[Reserved].
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes ..........................
No ............................
Yes.
No ............................
Yes.
No ............................
Yes.
No ............................
Sfmt 4700
See § 847(a)(6) and (7).
[Reserved].
See § 847(a).
[Reserved].
[Reserved].
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APPENDIX A TO SUBPART LL OF PART 63—APPLICABILITY OF GENERAL PROVISIONS (40 CFR PART 63, SUBPART A)—
Continued
Requirement
Applies to subpart LL
Comment
63.6(e)(1)(i) ...............................
....................................................................
No ............................
See §§ 63.843(f) and 63.844(f) for general
duty requirement.
63.6(e)(1)(ii) ..............................
63.6(e)(1)(iii) ..............................
63.6(e)(2) ..................................
63.6(e)(3) ..................................
63.6(f)(1) ...................................
63.6(f)(2) ...................................
63.6(g) .......................................
63.6(h) .......................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
Startup, Shutdown and Malfunction Plan ..
Compliance with Emissions Standards .....
Methods/Finding of Compliance ................
Alternative Standard ..................................
Compliance with Opacity/VE Standards ...
No.
Yes.
No ............................
No.
No.
Yes.
Yes.
Only in § 63.845 ......
63.6(i)(1) through (14) ...............
63.6(i)(15) ..................................
63.6(i)(16) ..................................
63.6(j) ........................................
63.7(a) .......................................
Extension of Compliance ...........................
....................................................................
....................................................................
Exemption from Compliance .....................
Performance Test Requirements Applicability.
Notification .................................................
Quality Assurance/Test Plan .....................
Testing facilities .........................................
Conduct of Tests .......................................
....................................................................
Alternative Test Method ............................
Monitoring Requirements Applicability ......
....................................................................
Conduct of Monitoring ...............................
....................................................................
Yes.
No ............................
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
63.7(b) .......................................
63.7(c) .......................................
63.7(d) .......................................
63.7(e)(1) ..................................
63.7(e)(2) through (4) ...............
63.7(f), (g), (h) ...........................
63.8(a)(1) and (2) ......................
63.8(a)(3) ..................................
63.8(b) .......................................
63.8(c)(1)(i) ...............................
63.8(c)(1)(ii) ...............................
63.8(c)(1)(iii) ..............................
63.8(c)(2) through (d)(2) ...........
63.8(d)(3) ..................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
63.8(e) through (g) ....................
63.9(a) .......................................
63.9(b) .......................................
....................................................................
Notification Requirements Applicability .....
Initial Notifications ......................................
63.9(c) .......................................
63.9(d) .......................................
63.9(e) .......................................
63.9(f) ........................................
63.9(g) .......................................
63.9(h)(1) through (3) ...............
63.9(h)(4) ..................................
63.9(h)(5) and (6) ......................
63.9(i) ........................................
63.9(j) ........................................
63.10(a) .....................................
63.10(b)(1) ................................
63.10(b)(2)(i) .............................
63.10(b)(2)(ii) ............................
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Reference section(s)
Request for Compliance Extension ...........
New Source Notification for Special Compliance Requirements.
Notification of Performance Test ...............
Notification of VE/Opacity Test .................
Additional CMS Notifications .....................
Notification of Compliance Status .............
....................................................................
....................................................................
Adjustment of Deadlines ...........................
Change in Previous Information ................
Recordkeeping/Reporting Applicability ......
General Recordkeeping Requirements .....
....................................................................
....................................................................
No.
No.
No.
Yes.
No ............................
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
No.
No ............................
63.10(b)(2)(iii) ............................
63.10(b)(2)(iv) and (v) ...............
63.10(b)(2)(vi) through (xiv) ......
63.(10)(b)(3) ..............................
63.10(c)(1) through (9) ..............
63.10(c)(10) and (11) ................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
Yes.
No.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
No ............................
63.10(c)(12) through (14) ..........
63.10(c)(15) ...............................
63.10(d)(1) ................................
63.10(d)(2) ................................
63.10(d)(3) and (4) ....................
63.10(d)(5) ................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
General Reporting Requirements ..............
....................................................................
....................................................................
Startup-Shutdown and Malfunction Reports.
Yes.
No.
Yes.
No ............................
Yes.
No ............................
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Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
No ............................
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
No ............................
Yes.
No ............................
Yes.
No.
Yes.
Yes, except for last
sentence.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes ..........................
[Reserved].
Opacity standards applicable only when
incorporating the NSPS requirements
under § 63.845.
[Reserved].
See § 63.847(d).
[Reserved].
See §§ 63.843(f) and 63.844(f) for general
duty requirement.
Notification of re-start
§ 63.850(a)(9).
specified
in
Yes.
Yes.
Sfmt 4700
[Reserved].
See §§ 63.850(e)(4)(xvi) and (xvii) for recordkeeping of occurrence and duration
of malfunctions and recordkeeping of
actions taken during malfunction.
See §§ 63.850(e)(4)(xvi) and (xvii) for recordkeeping of malfunctions.
See § 63.850(b).
See § 63.850(d)(2) for reporting of malfunctions.
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62427
APPENDIX A TO SUBPART LL OF PART 63—APPLICABILITY OF GENERAL PROVISIONS (40 CFR PART 63, SUBPART A)—
Continued
Reference section(s)
Requirement
63.10(e) and (f) .........................
Additional CMS Reports and Recordkeeping/Reporting Waiver.
Control Device/work practices requirements Applicability.
State Authority and Delegations ................
Addresses ..................................................
Incorporation by Reference .......................
Information Availability/Confidentiality .......
Performance Track Provisions ..................
63.11 .........................................
63.12
63.13
63.14
63.15
63.16
.........................................
.........................................
.........................................
.........................................
.........................................
Applies to subpart LL
Comment
Yes.
No.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
No.
[FR Doc. 2015–25137 Filed 10–14–15; 8:45 am]
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 199 (Thursday, October 15, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62389-62427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25137]
[[Page 62389]]
Vol. 80
Thursday,
No. 199
October 15, 2015
Part IV
Environmental Protection Agency
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40 CFR Part 63
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Primary
Aluminum Reduction Plants; Final Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 80 , No. 199 / Thursday, October 15, 2015 /
Rules and Regulations
[[Page 62390]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 63
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797; FRL-9934-16-OAR]
RIN 2060-AQ92
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for
Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action finalizes the residual risk and technology review
(RTR) conducted for the Primary Aluminum Production source category
regulated under national emission standards for hazardous air
pollutants (NESHAP). In addition, we are taking final action regarding
new and revised emission standards for various hazardous air pollutants
(HAP) emitted by this source category based on the RTR, newly obtained
emissions test data, and comments we received in response to the 2011
proposal and 2014 supplemental proposal.
These final amendments include technology-based standards and work
practice standards reflecting performance of maximum achievable control
technology (MACT), and related monitoring, reporting, and testing
requirements, for several previously unregulated HAP from various
emissions sources. Furthermore, based on our risk review, we are
finalizing new and revised emission standards for certain HAP emissions
from potlines using the Soderberg technology to address risk. We are
also adding a requirement for electronic reporting of compliance data,
eliminating the exemptions for periods of startup, shutdown, and
malfunctions (SSM), and not adopting the affirmative defense provisions
proposed in 2011, consistent with a recent court decision vacating the
affirmative defense provisions. This action will provide improved
environmental protection regarding potential emissions of HAP emissions
from primary aluminum reduction facilities.
DATES: This final action is effective on October 15, 2015. The
incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the rule
is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of October 15,
2015.
ADDRESSES: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a
docket for this action under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797. All
documents in the docket are listed on the www.regulations.gov Web site.
Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly
available, e.g., confidential business information (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 form. Publicly
available docket materials are available either electronically through
https://www.regulations.gov, or in hard copy at the EPA Docket Center,
EPA WJC West Building, Room Number 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room hours of operation are 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), Monday through Friday.
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this final action,
contact Mr. David Putney, 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 number: (919) 541-2016; fax number: (919) 541-3207; and email
address: putney.david@epa.gov. For specific information regarding the
risk modeling methodology, contact Mr. Jim Hirtz, Health and
Environmental Impacts Division (C539-02), Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina 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 Mr. Patrick Yellin, Office of Enforcement and
Compliance Assurance, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA WJC
South Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: (202) 564-2970; and email address:
yellin.patrick@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:
AERMET AERMOD Meteorological Preprocessor
AERMOD American Meteorological Society and EPA Regulatory Model
As arsenic
BLDS bag leak detection systems
BLP Buoyant Line and Point source model
CAA Clean Air Act
CBI confidential business information
CDX Central Data Exchange
CEMS continuous emission monitoring system
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CRA Congressional Review Act
CWPB1 center-worked prebake one
CWPB2 center-worked prebake two
CWPB3 center-worked prebake three
D/F dioxins and furans
dscm dry standard cubic meter
ERT Electronic Reporting Tool
FR Federal Register
HAP hazardous air pollutant(s)
HEM3 Human Exposure Model version 3
Hg mercury
HQ hazard quotient
IBR incorporation by reference
ICR information collection request
lb pound(s)
lb/ton pound(s) per ton
lb/yr pound(s) per year
MACT maximum achievable control technology
MIR maximum individual risk
NESHAP National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
Ni nickel
NTTAA National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
PCB polychlorinated biphenyls
PM particulate matter
PM2.5 p.m. with diameter of 2.5 microns and less
POM polycyclic organic matter
PRA Paperwork Reduction Act
RDL representative detection limit
REL reference exposure level
RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act
RIA Regulatory Impact Analysis
RIN Regulatory Information Number
RTR Residual Risk and Technology Review
SSM startup, shutdown, and malfunction
SWPB side-worked prebake
TEQ toxicity equivalence
TOSHI target organ-specific hazard index
TTN Technology Transfer Network
[micro]g microgram(s)
[micro]g/dscm microgram(s) per dry standard cubic meter
UMRA Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
UPL upper prediction limit
VE visible emissions
VSS2 vertical stud Soderberg two
Background Information. On December 6, 2011, and December 8, 2014,
the EPA proposed revisions to the Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants
NESHAP based on our RTR and MACT review. After considering public
comments, in this action, we are finalizing decisions and revisions for
the rule. We summarize some of the more significant comments we timely
received regarding the 2011 and 2014 proposed rules and provide our
responses in this preamble. A summary of all other public comments on
the proposals and the EPA's responses to those comments is available in
the National Emission Standards for
[[Page 62391]]
Hazardous Air Pollutants: Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants Summary of
Public Comments and Responses document, which is available in the
docket for this action (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797). A ``track
changes'' version of the regulatory language that incorporates the
changes in this action is also available in the docket for this action.
Organization of this Document. The information in this preamble is
organized as follows:
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. Judicial Review and Administrative Reconsideration
II. Background
A. What is the statutory authority for this action?
B. What is the Primary Aluminum Production source category and
how does the NESHAP regulate HAP emissions from the source category?
C. What changes did we propose for the Primary Aluminum
Production source category in our December 6, 2011, proposal and
December 8, 2014, proposal?
III. What is included in this final rule?
A. What are the final rule amendments based on the risk review
for the Primary Aluminum Production source category?
B. What are the final rule amendments based on the technology
review for the Primary Aluminum Production source category?
C. What are the final rule amendments pursuant to Clean Air Act
sections 112(d)(2) and (3) for the Primary Aluminum Production
source category?
D. What are the final rule amendments addressing emissions
during periods of SSM?
E. What other changes have been made to the Primary Aluminum
Reduction Plants NESHAP?
F. What are the effective and compliance dates of the standards?
G. What are the requirements for submission of performance test
data to the EPA?
H. What materials are being incorporated by reference?
IV. What is the rationale for our final decisions and amendments for
the Primary Aluminum Production source category?
A. Residual Risk Review for the Primary Aluminum Production
Source Category
B. CAA Sections 112(d)(2) and (3) Revisions for the Primary
Aluminum Production Source Category
C. Revisions to the Work Practice Standards for the Primary
Aluminum Production Source Category
D. What changes did we make to the control device monitoring
requirements for the Primary Aluminum Production source category?
E. What changes did we make to compliance dates for the Primary
Aluminum Production source category?
V. Summary of Cost, Environmental, and Economic Impacts and
Additional Analyses Conducted
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?
F. What analysis of environmental justice did we conduct?
G. What analysis of children's environmental health did we
conduct?
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Orders 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and
Executive Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review
B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
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 (NTTAA) and
1 CFR Part 51
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations
K. Congressional Review Act (CRA)
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
Regulated Entities. Categories and entities potentially regulated
by this action are shown in Table 1 of this preamble.
Table 1--NESHAP and Industrial Source Categories Affected by This Final
Action
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAICS a
NESHAP and source category code
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants............................ 331312
------------------------------------------------------------------------
a North American Industry Classification System.
Table 1 of this preamble is not intended to be exhaustive, but
rather to provide a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be
affected by the final action for the source category listed. To
determine whether your facility is affected, you should examine the
applicability criteria in the appropriate NESHAP. If you have any
questions regarding the applicability of any aspect of this NESHAP,
please contact the appropriate person listed in the preceding FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this preamble.
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 final action will also be available on the Internet through the
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 final action at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/alum/alumpg.html.
Following publication in the Federal Register, the EPA will post the
Federal Register version and key technical documents at this same Web
site.
Additional information is available on the RTR Web site at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/rrisk/rtrpg.html. This information includes an
overview of the RTR program, links to project Web sites for the RTR
source categories and detailed emissions and other data we used as
inputs to the risk assessments.
C. Judicial Review and Administrative Reconsideration
Under Clean Air Act (CAA) section 307(b)(1), judicial review of
this final action is available only by filing a petition for review in
the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
by December 14, 2015. Under CAA section 307(b)(2), the requirements
established by this final rule may not be challenged separately in any
civil or criminal proceedings brought by the EPA to enforce the
requirements.
Section 307(d)(7)(B) of the CAA further provides that ``[o]nly an
objection to a rule or procedure which was raised with reasonable
specificity during the period for public comment (including any public
hearing) may be raised during judicial review.'' This section also
provides a mechanism for the EPA to reconsider the rule ``[i]f the
person raising an objection can demonstrate to the Administrator that
it was impracticable to raise such objection within [the period for
public comment] or if the grounds for such objection arose after the
period for public comment (but within the time specified for judicial
review) and if such objection is of central relevance to the outcome of
the rule.'' Any person seeking to make such a demonstration should
submit a Petition for Reconsideration to the Office of the
Administrator, U.S. EPA, Room 3000,
[[Page 62392]]
EPA WJC North Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC
20460, with a copy to both the person(s) listed in the preceding FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section, and the Associate General Counsel
for the Air and Radiation Law Office, Office of General Counsel (Mail
Code 2344A), U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC
20460.
II. Background
A. What is the statutory authority for this action?
Section 112 of the CAA establishes a two-stage regulatory process
to address emissions of HAP from stationary sources. In the first
stage, we must identify categories of sources emitting one or more of
the HAP listed in CAA section 112(b) and then promulgate technology-
based NESHAP for those sources. ``Major sources'' are those that emit,
or have the potential to emit, any single HAP at a rate of 10 tons per
year (tpy) or more, or 25 tpy or more of any combination of HAP. For
major sources, these standards are commonly referred to as MACT
standards and must reflect the maximum degree of emission reductions of
HAP achievable (after considering cost, energy requirements, and non-
air quality health and environmental impacts). In developing MACT
standards, CAA section 112(d)(2) directs the EPA to consider the
application of measures, processes, methods, systems, or techniques,
including, but not limited to, those that reduce the volume of or
eliminate HAP emissions through process changes, substitution of
materials, or other modifications; enclose systems or processes to
eliminate emissions; collect, capture, or treat HAP when released from
a process, stack, storage, or fugitive emissions point; are design,
equipment, work practice, or operational standards; or any combination
of the above.
For these MACT standards, the statute specifies certain minimum
stringency requirements, which are referred to as MACT floor
requirements and which may not be based on cost considerations. See CAA
section 112(d)(3). For new sources, the MACT floor cannot be less
stringent than the emission control achieved in practice by the best-
controlled similar source. The MACT standards for existing sources can
be less stringent than floors for new sources, but they cannot be less
stringent than the average emission limitation achieved by the best-
performing 12 percent of existing sources in the category or
subcategory (or the best-performing five sources for categories or
subcategories with fewer than 30 sources). In developing MACT
standards, we must also consider control options that are more
stringent than the floor under CAA section 112(d)(2). We may establish
standards more stringent than the floor, based on the consideration of
the cost of achieving the emissions reductions, any non-air quality
health and environmental impacts, and energy requirements.
In the second stage of the regulatory process, the CAA requires the
EPA to undertake two different analyses, which we refer to as the
technology review and the residual risk review. Under the technology
review, we must review the technology-based standards and revise them
``as necessary (taking into account developments in practices,
processes, and control technologies)'' no less frequently than every 8
years, pursuant to CAA section 112(d)(6). Under the residual risk
review, we must evaluate the risk to public health remaining after
application of the technology-based standards and revise the standards,
if necessary, to provide an ample margin of safety to protect public
health or to prevent, taking into consideration costs, energy, safety,
and other relevant factors, an adverse environmental effect. The
residual risk review is required within 8 years after promulgation of
the technology-based standards, pursuant to CAA section 112(f). In
conducting the residual risk review, if the EPA determines that the
current standards provide an ample margin of safety to protect public
health, it is not necessary to revise the MACT standards pursuant to
CAA section 112(f).\1\ For more information on the statutory authority
for this rule, see 76 FR 76259 and 79 FR 72914.
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\1\ The U.S. Court of Appeals has affirmed this approach of
implementing CAA section 112(f)(2)(A). See 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.'').
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Today's amendments involve rule changes pursuant to these
authorities. Specifically, pursuant to CAA sections 112(d)(2) and (3),
and 112(h), the EPA is amending the NESHAP to add standards for HAP not
previously addressed. In addition, pursuant to CAA section 112(f), the
EPA is amending certain MACT standards already promulgated to address
risk. The EPA also conducted a technology review and determined that no
further changes to the rule are necessary (within the meaning of CAA
section 112(d)(6)) to reflect developments in practices, processes, and
control technologies other than the work practices for anode bake
furnaces and paste plants during startup periods, and work practices
for potlines during normal operations (to help minimize POM, TF, and PM
emissions), described in the 2011 and 2014 proposals.
B. What is the Primary Aluminum Production source category and how does
the NESHAP regulate HAP emissions from the source category?
The EPA promulgated the Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants NESHAP,
which apply to the Primary Aluminum Production source category, on
October 7, 1997 (62 FR 52407). The rule was amended on November 2, 2005
(70 FR 66280). The associated standards are codified at 40 CFR part 63,
subpart LL.
The Primary Aluminum Production source category consists of
facilities that produce aluminum from refined bauxite ore (also known
as alumina), using an electrolytic reduction process in a series of
cells called a ``potline.'' The two main potline types are prebake (a
newer, higher-efficiency, lower-emitting technology) and Soderberg (an
older, lower-efficiency, higher-emitting technology). The raw materials
include alumina, petroleum coke, pitch, and fluoride salts. According
to information available on the Web site of The Aluminum Association,
Inc. (https://www.aluminum.org), approximately 40 percent of the
aluminum produced in the U.S. comes from primary aluminum facilities.
The other 60 percent either comes from Secondary Aluminum Production
facilities or is imported.
Primary aluminum reduction facilities emit HAP from four basic
processes: Pitch storage tanks, paste production plants, anode bake
furnaces, and potlines. Operators form anode paste in the paste
production plant from a mixture of petroleum coke and pitch. In a
prebake facility, this anode paste is then formed into anodes and baked
in an anode bake furnace. Operators subsequently place these
``prebaked'' anodes into a prebake potline where they are consumed via
the electrolytic reduction process. Soderberg facilities do not have
anode bake furnaces. Instead, the anode paste is fed directly into the
Soderberg potlines and baked in place to form anodes, which again are
consumed via the electrolytic reduction process.
There are currently 11 facilities located in the United States that
are subject to the requirements of this NESHAP: 10 primary aluminum
reduction plants and one carbon-only prebake anode production facility.
These 10 primary aluminum reduction
[[Page 62393]]
plants have approximately 35 potlines that produce aluminum. Each of
the 10 primary aluminum reduction plants has a paste production plant
and at least one anode bake furnace (for a total of about 22 existing
anode bake furnaces). However, not all existing paste production plants
and anode bake furnaces are currently operating, as some facilities
obtain their prebaked anodes from the carbon-only prebake anode
production facility. All currently operating primary aluminum
facilities use prebake potlines.
At the time of the 2011 proposal, there were two facilities in the
U.S. that used Soderberg potlines. One of those facilities (Massena
East) was operating at that time, and the other (Columbia Falls) was
idle. However, in 2014, before publication of the supplemental
proposal, the Massena East facility was permanently shut down.
Therefore, at the time we published the supplemental proposal, there
was only one Soderberg facility (Columbia Falls) in the U.S., which was
idle. After publication of the 2014 supplemental proposal, we learned
that the one remaining idle Soderberg facility located in Columbia
Falls was permanently shut down. We also learned that one prebake
facility (run by Ormet Primary Aluminum Corporation) was shut down.
Therefore, currently there are 10 existing facilities with potlines
(all prebake facilities) in the source category plus the one facility
without potlines that only produces anodes.
The major HAP emitted by these facilities are carbonyl sulfide
(COS), hydrogen fluoride (HF), particulate HAP metals and polycyclic
organic matter (POM), specifically polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAH).
The current Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants NESHAP (as they
existed before today's final action) included MACT standards
(promulgated in 1997 and 2005) for emissions of total fluorides (TF)
(as a surrogate for HF) from anode bake furnaces and potlines and for
emissions of POM from paste production plants, anode bake furnaces,
Soderberg potlines, and new pitch storage tanks.
C. What changes did we propose for the Primary Aluminum Production
source category in our December 6, 2011, proposal and our December 8,
2014, proposal?
On December 6, 2011, and December 8, 2014, the EPA published
proposed rules in the Federal Register for the Primary Aluminum
Reduction Plants NESHAP, 40 CFR part 63, subpart LL, that took into
consideration the RTR analyses and other reviews of the rule. In the
proposed rules, we proposed several minor clarifications and
corrections, and the items summarized in Table 2, below.
Table 2--Summary of Changes Proposed Pursuant to Analyses Associated
With This Action
------------------------------------------------------------------------
As a result of
Action Proposal which analysis
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 proposal (76 FR 76259)... COS emission limits CAA section
for new and existing 112(d)(2) and
potlines. (3).
POM emission limits
for new and existing
prebake potlines and
existing pitch
storage tanks.
Work practices for CAA section
anode bake furnaces 112(d)(6)
during startup Technology
periods. review.
Work practices for CAA section
potlines during 112(h).
startup periods.
Revised POM emission CAA section
limits for Soderberg 112(f) Risk
potlines. Review.
2014 proposal (79 FR 72914)... Revised POM emission CAA section
limits for new and 112(d)(2) and
existing prebake (3).
potlines.
Emission limits for
particulate matter
(PM) for new and
existing potlines,
anode bake furnaces
and paste production
plants.
Revised work practice
standards for
potlines.
Reduced testing CAA section
frequencies for 112(d)(2) and
potlines. (3).
Work practices for CAA section
paste production 112(d)(6)
plants during startup Technology
periods. Review.
Nickel (Ni), arsenic CAA section
(As) and revised POM 112(f) Risk
emission limits for Review.
Soderberg potlines.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
III. What is included in this final rule?
This action finalizes the EPA's determinations pursuant to the RTR
provisions of CAA section 112 for the Primary Aluminum Production
source category, finalizes our reviews of other aspects of the rule,
and amends the Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants NESHAP based on those
determinations and reviews. The changes being finalized in this action
include the following: The promulgation of MACT floor-based limits for
previously unregulated HAP (e.g., COS and PM); emissions limits for
POM, As, and Ni from Soderberg potlines to address risk; the addition
of work practice standards for paste production plants, potlines and
anode bake furnaces; and the removal of SSM exemptions. This final
action includes several changes to the proposed requirements in the
December 2011 and December 2014 proposals based on consideration of
comments and information received during the public comment periods as
described in section IV of this preamble.
A. What are the final rule amendments based on the risk review for the
Primary Aluminum Production source category?
This section provides a summary of the final amendments to the
Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants NESHAP being promulgated in this
action pursuant to CAA section 112(f).
To address risk, we are promulgating emission limits for POM, As,
and Ni from existing vertical stud Soderberg two (VSS2) potlines at the
following levels: 1.9 pounds (lb) POM/ton of aluminum produced, 0.006
lb As/ton of aluminum produced, and 0.07 lb Ni/ton of aluminum
produced.
To address risk, we are promulgating As and Ni emission limits for
new Soderberg potlines at the following levels: 0.006 lb As/ton of
aluminum produced and 0.07 lb Ni/ton of aluminum produced. New or
reconstructed Soderberg potlines would also be subject to the POM limit
of 0.77 lb per ton of aluminum produced that we are promulgating for
all new potlines. These emission limits for POM, Ni, and As for new and
existing Soderberg plants being promulgated in this rule are the same
as the limits proposed in the 2014 supplemental proposal. Additional
information regarding the limits addressing risk is available in the
Development of Emissions Standards to Address Risks for the Primary
Aluminum Production Source Category Pursuant to Section 112(f) of the
Clean Air Act, which is
[[Page 62394]]
available in the docket for this rulemaking (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2011-0797). As noted earlier, the last remaining Soderberg primary
aluminum facility in the U.S. announced the permanent closure of that
facility after publication of the supplemental proposal in 2014.
Notwithstanding our well-supported expectation that this facility will
not reopen and that no new Soderberg facilities will be constructed due
to the less efficient and higher emitting nature of the Soderberg
technology, we are finalizing, as proposed, the standards for POM, As,
and Ni associated with Soderberg facilities in the final rule to
address the risk from existing potlines at the Columbia Falls facility
that have not yet been demolished and to ensure that risks would be
acceptable and to provide an ample margin of safety in the very
unlikely event that a new Soderberg facility is ever built.
B. What are the final rule amendments based on the technology review
for the Primary Aluminum Production source category?
Based on our analyses of the data and information collected and our
general understanding of the industry and other available information
on potential controls for this industry, we have determined that there
are no developments in practices, processes, and control technologies
that warrant revisions to the MACT standards for this source category,
other than the work practices for anode bake furnaces during startup
periods (described in the December 2011 proposal), the work practices
for paste plants during startup (described in the 2014 proposal) and
work practices for potlines (to minimize emissions of PM, TF and POM)
during normal operations (described in the 2014 supplemental proposal).
We are promulgating these work practices as proposed for anode bake
furnaces and paste plants during startup periods, and for potlines
during normal operations, under section 112(d)(6) of the CAA. These
standards apply to both new and existing sources using either of the
production technologies.
In summary, we are not revising the MACT standards under CAA
section 112(d)(6) other than the startup work practices for anode bake
furnaces and paste plants described in the 2011 and 2014 proposals, and
the work practices for potlines during normal operations described in
the 2014 supplemental proposal. Additional information is available in
the Final Technology Review for the Primary Aluminum Production Source
Category document, which can be found in the docket for this rulemaking
(Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797).
C. What are the final rule amendments pursuant to Clean Air Act
sections 112(d)(2) and (3) for the Primary Aluminum Production source
category?
We are promulgating MACT emission limits for COS, PM (as a
surrogate for HAP metals other than mercury (Hg)), Hg, and
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB),\2\ all of which were previously
unregulated HAP, pursuant to CAA sections 112(d)(2) and (3). In
addition, we are promulgating MACT limits for emissions of POM from new
and existing prebake potlines and existing pitch storage tanks, which
were previously unregulated sources of POM. A summary of the
promulgated MACT standards is provided in Table 3, below, and
additional information is available in the Final MACT Floor Analysis
for the Primary Aluminum Production Source Category document, which is
available in the docket for this action (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-
0797). For more information on the MACT standards that the EPA
promulgated and how they are different from those the EPA proposed, see
section VI.B of this preamble.
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\2\ From Soderberg potlines only.
Table 3--Summary of Promulgated MACT Standards
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Promulgated MACT
HAP Source standard
------------------------------------------------------------------------
COS......................... New potlines........ 3.1 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
Existing potlines... 3.9 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
POM......................... New potlines........ 0.77 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
Existing potlines:
CWPB1............ 1.1 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
CWPB2............ 12 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
CWPB3............ 2.7 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
SWPB............. 17 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
Existing pitch Minimum 95-percent
storage tanks. reduction of inlet
POM emissions.
PM.......................... New potlines........ 4.9 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
Existing potlines:
CWPB1............ 7.4 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
CWPB2............ 11 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
CWPB3............ 20 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
SWPB............. 4.9 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
VSS2............. 26 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
New anode bake 0.07 lb/ton of green
furnace. anode produced.
Existing anode bake 0.20 lb/ton of green
furnace. anode produced.
New paste production 0.0056 lb/ton of
plant. paste produced.
Existing paste 0.082 lb/ton of
production plant. paste produced.
PCB......................... New and existing 2.0 micrograms
Soderberg potlines. ([micro]g) toxicity
equivalence (TEQ)
per ton of aluminum
produced.
Hg.......................... New and existing 1.7 [mu]g per dry
anode bake furnaces. standard cubic
meter (dscm).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CWPB1 = Center-worked prebake one.
CWPB2 = Center-worked prebake two.
CWPB3 = Center-worked prebake three.
SWPB = Side-worked prebake.
VSS2 = Vertical stud Soderberg two.
[[Page 62395]]
D. What are the final rule amendments addressing emissions during
periods of SSM?
We are finalizing, as proposed in the 2014 proposal, changes to the
Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants NESHAP to eliminate the exemption in
the present rules for emissions occurring during SSM operations.
Consistent with Sierra Club v. EPA, 551 F. 3d 1019 (D.C. Cir. 2008),
the EPA is establishing standards in this rule that apply at all times.
Appendix A to subpart LL of 40 CFR part 63 (General Provisions
applicability table) is being revised to change several references
related to requirements that apply during periods of SSM. We are also
eliminating or revising certain recordkeeping and reporting
requirements related to the eliminated SSM exemption. The EPA also made
changes to the rule to remove or modify inappropriate, unnecessary, or
redundant language in the absence of the SSM exemption. We are also not
adopting the affirmative defense provisions proposed in 2011,
consistent with a recent court decision vacating the affirmative
defense provisions in one of the EPA's CAA section 112(d) regulations.
NRDC v. EPA, 749 F. 3d 1055 (D.C. Cir. 2014).
In addition, we are finalizing work practices for potlines, paste
production plants, and anode bake furnaces during startup periods that
will ensure improved capture and control of emissions from those
sources.
E. What other changes have been made to the Primary Aluminum Reduction
Plants NESHAP?
This rule also finalizes revisions to several other Primary
Aluminum Reduction Plants NESHAP requirements as proposed, or in some
cases with some modification, which are summarized in this section.
1. Electronic Reporting Tool
To increase the ease and efficiency of data submittal and data
accessibility, we are finalizing, as proposed, a requirement that
owners and operators of sources subject to the Primary Aluminum
Reduction Plants NESHAP submit electronic copies of certain required
performance test reports through an electronic performance test report
tool called the Electronic Reporting Tool (ERT). This requirement to
submit performance test data electronically to the EPA does not require
any additional performance testing and applies only to those
performance tests conducted using test methods that are supported by
the ERT. A listing of the pollutants and test methods supported by the
ERT is available at the ERT Web site.
2. Work Practice Standards
We are finalizing work practice standards for all potlines (i.e.
both prebake and Soderberg) and for anode bake furnaces that will
ensure improved capture and control of TF, POM, and PM emissions from
those sources. These work practice standards also address Hg emissions
from all potlines, PCB emissions from prebake potlines and anode bake
furnaces, and dioxins and furan (D/F) emissions from Soderberg potlines
(see section IV.C of this preamble for additional discussion of these
work practice standards).
3. Control Device and Emissions Monitoring
We are finalizing new twice-daily visible emissions (VE) monitoring
requirements as an alternative to bag leak detection systems (BLDS) or
PM continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS) for control devices
installed on existing sources (see section IV.D of this preamble for
additional discussion of these monitoring changes).
We are finalizing the inclusion of PM for the potline similarity
option found in the current subpart LL at 40 CFR 63.848(d). This
section allows an owner or operator to use the monitoring of secondary
TF and/or POM emissions from one potline to represent the performance
of other ``similar'' potlines. Potlines are similar ``if the owner or
operator demonstrates that their structure, operability, type of
emissions, volume of emissions and concentration of emissions are
substantially equivalent.'' Based on consideration of comments and
information received in responses to the 2014 proposal, the EPA is
amending the existing rule to allow potline owners or operators this
same option for PM. That is, potline owners and operators now will have
the option to establish ``similarity of potlines'' with respect to PM
emissions. ``Similarity'' would be established based on the criteria
already applicable with respect to TF and POM. See subpart LL at 40 CFR
63.848(d). As with TF and POM, an owner or operator would have to make
this demonstration to the applicable regulatory authority and obtain
approval from that authority.
4. Emission Averaging
We are modifying 40 CFR 63.846 to allow emission averaging in the
case of PM from potlines and anode bake furnaces. That section
currently allows emission averaging in the cases of POM and TF from
these process units with certain prohibitions (e.g., averaging between
different pollutants or process units is not allowed). We are only
adding PM to these existing provisions, and not reopening the core
concept of allowing emission averaging.
5. Alternative Emissions Limits for Co-Controlled New and Existing
Anode Bake Furnaces
We are also finalizing the alternative emissions limits for co-
controlled new and existing anode bake furances as proposed in the 2014
supplemental proposal (79 FR 72949).
6. Minor Technical and Editorial Revisions
We are also finalizing other minor technical and editorial changes
to the NESHAP in response to comments received during the public
comment period for the proposal and supplemental proposal, as described
in this preamble.
F. What are the effective and compliance dates of the standards?
The revisions to the MACT standards being promulgated in this
action are effective on October 15, 2015.
The compliance dates for existing sources are:
October 15, 2015 for the malfunction provisions and the electronic
reporting provisions;
October 17, 2016 for potline work practice standards and COS
emission limits, for Soderberg potline PM and PCB emission limits, and
for anode bake furnace and paste production plant work practices and PM
emission limits; and
October 16, 2017 for prebake potline POM and PM emission limits;
for Soderberg potline revised POM emission limits and emission limits
for Ni and As; for anode bake furnace Hg emission limits; and for pitch
storage tank POM equipment standards.
For more information on how we selected compliance dates for
existing sources, refer to section IV.E of this preamble and the Final
Rationale for Selection of Compliance Dates for the Primary Aluminum
Production Source Category document, which can be found in the docket
for this rulemaking (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797).
New sources must typically comply with all of the standards
immediately upon the effective date of the standard, or upon startup,
whichever is later. CAA section 112(i)(1).\3\ CAA section 112(a)(4)
[[Page 62396]]
indicates that a new source is one which commenced construction (or
reconstruction) after the Administrator first proposes regulations
under CAA section 112 for the source category. We have interpreted this
date to be the date of the December 2014 proposal given the
substantially new record set forth in that proposal. Consequently, for
the purposes of compliance with the emission standards for PM, a new
affected potline, anode bake furnace, or paste production plant is one
for which construction or reconstruction commenced after December 8,
2014, the date on which the EPA first proposed the amendments finalized
here. For the purposes of compliance with the emission standards for
POM and COS, a new affected potline is one for which construction or
reconstruction commenced after December 8, 2014. For the purposes of
compliance with the emission standards for Hg or PCB, a new affected
anode bake furnace or Soderberg potline is one for which construction
or reconstruction commenced after December 8, 2014, although the
compliance dates for these standards are October 16, 2017 for anode
bake furnaces and October 17, 2016 for Soderberg potlines, since these
standards differ from the proposal (see CAA section 112(i)(2)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ If a new source standard is more stringent than the standard
proposed, a new source may have three years to comply, provided it
complies with the proposed standard during that 3-year period. CAA
section 112(i)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
G. What are the requirements for submission of performance test data to
the EPA?
The EPA is requiring owners and operators of sources subject to the
Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants NESHAP facilities to submit
electronic copies of certain required performance test reports [and any
other reports, e.g. performance evaluation reports] through the EPA's
Central Data Exchange (CDX) using the Compliance and Emissions Data
Reporting Interface (CEDRI). As stated in the 2011 proposal preamble,
the EPA believes that the electronic submittal of the reports addressed
in this rulemaking will increase the usefulness of the data contained
in those reports, is in keeping with current trends in data
availability, will further assist in the protection of public health
and the environment and will ultimately result in less burden on the
regulated community. Electronic reporting can also eliminate paper-
based, manual processes, thereby saving time and resources, simplifying
data entry, eliminating redundancies, minimizing data reporting errors
and providing data quickly and accurately to the affected facilities,
air agencies, the EPA and the public.
As mentioned in the preamble of the 2011 proposal, the EPA Web site
that stores the submitted electronic data, WebFIRE, will be easily
accessible to everyone and will provide a user-friendly interface that
any stakeholder could access. By making the records, data and reports
addressed in this rulemaking readily available, the EPA, the regulated
community and the public will benefit when the EPA conducts its CAA-
required technology and risk-based reviews. As a result of having
reports readily accessible, our ability to carry out comprehensive
reviews will be increased and achieved within a shorter period of time.
We anticipate fewer or less substantial information collection
requests (ICRs) in conjunction with prospective CAA-required technology
and risk-based reviews may be needed. We expect this to result in a
decrease in time spent by industry to respond to data collection
requests. We also expect the ICRs to contain less extensive stack
testing provisions, as we will already have stack test data
electronically. Reduced testing requirements would be a cost savings to
industry. The EPA should also be able to conduct these required reviews
more quickly. While the regulated community may benefit from a reduced
burden of ICRs, the general public benefits from the agency's ability
to provide these required reviews more quickly, resulting in increased
public health and environmental protection.
Air agencies could benefit from more streamlined and automated
review of the electronically submitted data. Having reports and
associated data in electronic format will facilitate review through the
use of software ``search'' options, as well as the downloading and
analyzing of data in spreadsheet format. The ability to access and
review air emission report information electronically will assist air
agencies to more quickly and accurately determine compliance with the
applicable regulations, potentially allowing a faster response to
violations which could minimize harmful air emissions. This benefits
both air agencies and the general public.
For a more thorough discussion of electronic reporting required by
this rule, see the discussion in the preamble of the 2011 proposal (see
76 FR 76280). In summary, in addition to supporting regulation
development, control strategy development, and other air pollution
control activities, having an electronic database populated with
performance test data will save industry, air agencies, and the EPA
significant time, money, and effort while improving the quality of
emission inventories, air quality regulations, and enhancing the
public's access to this important information.
H. What materials are being incorporated by reference?
In this final rule, the EPA is including regulatory text that
includes incorporation by reference (IBR). In accordance with
requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, the EPA is incorporating by reference the
following documents described in the amendments to 40 CFR 63.14:
ASTM D4239-14e1, ``Standard Test Method for Sulfur in the
Analysis Sample of Coal and Coke Using High-Temperature Tube Furnace
Combustion,'' approved March 1, 2014;
ASTM D6376-10, ``Standard Test Method for Determination of
Trace Metals in Petroleum Coke by Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray
Fluorescence Spectroscopy,'' approved July 1, 2010; and
Method 428, ``Determination Of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-P-
Dioxin (PCDD), Polychlorinated Dibenzofuran (PCDF), and Polychlorinated
Biphenyle Emissions from Stationary Sources,'' amended September 12,
1990.
The following material will be referenced in 40 CFR 63.14 and as
noted below. This material has already received IBR approval for
subpart LL of 40 CFR part 63. We are moving it from an IBR section
established earlier within subpart LL to the centralized IBR section in
Sec. 63.14.
Industrial Ventilation: A Manual of Recommended Practice,
22nd Edition, 1995, Chapter 3, ``Local Exhaust Hoods'' and Chapter 5,
``Exhaust System Design Procedure.'' IBR approved for Sec. Sec.
63.843(b) and 63.844(b).
ASTM D2986-95A, ``Standard Practice for Evaluation of Air
Assay Media by the Monodisperse DOP (Dioctyl Phthalate) Smoke Test,''
approved September 10, 1995, IBR approved for section 7.1.1 of Method
315 in appendix A to 40 CFR part 63.
The EPA has made, and will continue to make, these documents
generally available electronically through www.regulations.gov and/or
in hard copy at the appropriate EPA office (see the ADDRESSES section
of this preamble for more information).
IV. What is the rationale for our final decisions and amendments for
the Primary Aluminum Production source category?
This section provides a description of what we proposed and what we
are finalizing for several issues, the EPA's rationale for the final
decisions and
[[Page 62397]]
amendments, and a summary of key comments and responses. For all
comments not discussed in this preamble, comment summaries and the
EPA's responses can be found in the National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants: Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants Summary of
Public Comments and Responses document, which is available in the
docket for this action (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797).
A. Residual Risk Review for the Primary Aluminum Production Source
Category
1. What did we propose pursuant to CAA section 112(f) for the Primary
Aluminum Production source category?
Pursuant to CAA section 112(f), we conducted a residual risk review
and presented the results of this review, along with our proposed
decisions regarding risk acceptability and ample margin of safety, in
the December 2014 supplemental proposal for the Primary Aluminum
Reduction Plants NESHAP. The EPA views the residual risk review
associated with the 2011 proposal as superseded by the residual risk
review associated with the 2014 supplemental proposal, and so is
referring only to that later risk assessment. The results of the risk
assessment for the 2014 supplemental proposal are summarized in the
preamble for that proposal and presented in more detail in the residual
risk document, Residual Risk Assessment for the Primary Aluminum
Production Source Category in Support of the 2014 Supplemental
Proposal, which is available in the docket for this rulemaking. Table 4
below provides the estimated inhalation health risks from the
supplemental proposal.
Table 4--Primary Aluminum Production Source Category Inhalation Risk Assessment Results From Supplemental
Proposal
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
annual
Maximum individual cancer Estimated population cancer Maximum chronic non- Refined maximum acute
risk (-in-1 million) \a\ at increased risk incidence cancer TOSHI \b\ non-cancer HQ \c\
levels of cancer (cases per
year)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actual Emissions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
70............................ >=1-in-1 million: 0.06 1 Cadmium and Nickel HQREL = 10 (Arsenic
881,000. Compounds. Compounds).
>=10-in-1 million:
65,000.
>=100-in-1 million: 0 ........... ..................... Residential.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allowable Emissions \d\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
300........................... >=1-in-1 million: 0.06 2 Nickel and Arsenic
950,000. Compounds.
>=10-in-1 million:
76,000.
>=100-in-1 million:
200.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Estimated maximum individual excess lifetime cancer risk due to HAP emissions from the source category.
\b\ Maximum TOSHI. The target organ with the highest TOSHI for the Primary Aluminum Production source category
for actual emissions is the kidney and respiratory system and for allowable emissions is the respiratory,
immunological, and developmental systems.
\c\ The maximum off-site HQ acute value of 10 at a residential location for actuals is driven by emissions of As
from the potline roof vents. See section III.A.3 of the December 8, 2014 supplemental proposal for explanation
of acute dose-response values. Acute assessments are not performed on allowable emissions.
\d\ The development of allowable emission estimates can be found in the memorandum titled Development of the RTR
Revised Risk Modeling Dataset for the Primary Aluminum Production Source Category (Docket item number EPA-HQ-
OAR-2011-0797-0346).
Based on actual emissions estimates for the Primary Aluminum
Production source category supplemental proposal, the maximum
individual risk (MIR) for cancer was estimated to be up to 70-in-1
million driven by emissions of As and Ni compounds. The maximum chronic
non-cancer target organ-specific hazard index (TOSHI) value was
estimated to be up to 1 driven by Ni emissions. The maximum off-site
acute hazard quotient (HQ) value was estimated to be 10 for As
compounds and 2 for HF. The total estimated national cancer incidence
from this source category, based on actual emission levels, was 0.06
excess cancer cases per year, or one case in every 17 years.
Based on MACT-allowable emissions, in the supplemental proposal,
the MIR was estimated by the EPA to be up to 300-in-1 million, driven
by potential emissions of As, Ni, and POM from the one idle Soderberg
facility (Columbia Falls), which is now permanently closed. The maximum
chronic non-cancer TOSHI value was estimated to be up to 2, driven by
Ni. The MIR due to allowable emissions from prebake facilities was
estimated by the EPA to be up to 70-in-1 million, driven by As and Ni.
The EPA also assessed the risks due to multipathway exposures to
HAP emissions from the primary aluminum reduction plants. The
assessment included tier 1 and tier 2 screening analyses and a refined
analysis for the one Soderberg facility which was operational at the
time recent emissions data for this source category were collected and
this analysis was commenced, but which subsequently announced its
permanent shut down in March 2014.
The multipathway screens rely on health-protective assumptions
about consumption of local fish and locally grown or raised foods
(adult female angler at 99th percentile consumption of fish \4\ for the
subsistence fisherman scenario and 90th percentile for consumption of
locally grown or raised foods \5\ for the farmer scenario) which may
not occur for this source category. The tier 2 assessment is less
conservative than the tier 1 analysis. However, 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, and, in all likelihood, will
yield results that serve
[[Page 62398]]
as an upper-bound multipathway risk associated with any facility in the
Primary Aluminum Production source category.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Burger, J. 2002. Daily consumption of wild fish and game:
Exposures of high end recreationists. International Journal of
Environmental Health Research 12:343-354.
\5\ U.S. EPA. Exposure Factors Handbook 2011 Edition (Final).
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-09/
052F, 2011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The highest cancer exceedance in the tier 2 analyses for dioxins
was 40 times and 7 times for PAH for the subsistence fisherman scenario
(total cancer screen value of 50 for the MIR site). Thus, these results
indicate that the maximum cancer risks due to multipathway exposures to
D/F and PAH emissions for the subsistence fisher scenario are less than
50-in-1 million under these highly conservative screening
assumptions.\6\ The multipathway analysis for chronic non-cancer
effects did not identify any persistent and bioaccumulative hazardous
air pollutants (PB-HAP) that exceeded an HQ value of 1. For more
information on the risk results, please refer to the residual risk
document, Residual Risk Assessment for the Primary Aluminum Production
Source Category in Support of the 2014 Supplemental Proposal, which is
available in the docket for this rulemaking.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ D/F emissions used in this analysis are likely to be
overstated because the EPA imputed values for D/F congeners even
from facilities and process units where those D/F congeners were not
detected in the emissions tests.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the supplemental proposal, we weighed all health risk factors
in our risk acceptability determination, and we proposed that the risks
due to potential HAP emissions at baseline from the Soderberg
subcategory were unacceptable due mainly to the estimated cancer risks
of 300-in-1 million based on potential emissions from the one idle
Soderberg facility were it to operate.
Regarding the prebake subcategories, as explained in the
supplemental proposal, the EPA had concerns regarding the potential
acute risks due to As emissions (with a maximum acute HQ of 10). See 79
FR 72947. However, given the conservative nature of the EPA's analysis
of acute effects, and the facts that: (a) The inhalation cancer MIR was
well below 100-in-1 million (MIR = 70-in-1 million); (b) the chronic
non-cancer risks were low (e.g., hazard index (HI) = 1); and (c) given
further that the multipathway assessment indicated the maximum cancer
risk due to multipathway exposures to HAP emissions from prebake
facilities was no higher than 50-in-1 million, we proposed that the
risks due to emissions from the prebake subcategories are acceptable.
See 79 FR 72947.
2. How did the risk review change for the Primary Aluminum Production
source category?
The EPA carefully considered public comments regarding the
supplemental proposal (and original proposal), but did not find any
comments that resulted in a change in analysis. Thus, the EPA did not
change the risk assessment due to actual emissions for the source
category and made no changes in the overall results for prebake
facilities from the December 2014 supplemental proposal. However, the
estimated risks due to allowable emissions for the source category
decreased significantly due to the permanent closure of the one idle
Soderberg facility. For the supplemental proposal, we included the one
idle Soderberg facility in our assessment of allowable risks because,
at that time, the facility still had a permit to operate, had not
formally announced plans to close, and, therefore, could have reopened.
However, that facility is now permanently closed, and the EPA is no
longer including it in the risk assessment. Therefore, the final rule
considers only risks from prebake facilities. Nevertheless, as
discussed in section III.A. of this preamble, we are promulgating the
As, Ni and POM standards proposed in the supplemental proposal to
address risk from Soderberg facilities in the very unlikely event that
either this idle Soderberg facility is reopened or a new Soderberg
facility is constructed. A summary of the risk assessment results for
the final rule is provided in Table 5 below. The documentation and
details for the final rule risk assessment can be found in the document
titled, Residual Risk Assessment for the Primary Aluminum Production
Source Category in Support of the September 2015 Risk and Technology
Review Final Rule, which is available in the docket for this action
(Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797).
Table 5--Primary Aluminum Production Source Category Inhalation Risk Assessment Results for the Final Rule
[Prebake]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
annual
Maximum individual cancer Estimated population cancer Maximum chronic non- Refined maximum acute
risk (-in-1 million) \a\ at increased risk incidence cancer TOSHI \b\ non-cancer HQ \c\
levels of cancer (cases per
year)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actual Emissions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
70............................ >=1-in-1 million: 0.06 1 Nickel Compounds.. HQREL = 10 (Arsenic
881,000. Compounds)
>=10-in-1 million: ........... .................... Residential
65,000.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allowable Emissions \d\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
70............................ >=1-in-1 million: 0.06 1 Nickel Compounds..
950,000.
>=10-in-1 million:
76,000.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Estimated maximum individual excess lifetime cancer risk due to HAP emissions from the source category.
\b\ Maximum TOSHI. The target organ with the highest TOSHI for the Primary Aluminum Production source category
for actual emissions is the kidney and respiratory system and for allowable emissions is the respiratory,
immunological, and developmental systems.
\c\ The maximum off-site HQ acute value of 10 at a residential location for actuals is driven by emissions of As
from the potline roof vents. See section III.A.3 of the December 8, 2014, supplemental proposal for
explanation of acute dose-response values. Acute assessments are not performed on allowable emissions.
\d\ The development of allowable emission estimates can be found in the memorandum titled, Development of the
RTR Revised Risk Modeling Dataset for the Primary Aluminum Production Source Category (Docket item number EPA-
HQ-OAR-2011-0797-0346).
[[Page 62399]]
For the final rule, we again weighed all health risk factors in our
risk acceptability determination. The EPA had concerns regarding the
potential acute risks due to As emissions (with a maximum acute HQ of
10). See 79 FR 72947. However, given the conservative nature of the
EPA's analysis of acute effects, and the facts that: (a) The inhalation
cancer MIR was well below 100-in-1 million (MIR = 70-in-1 million); (b)
the chronic non-cancer risks were low (e.g., HI = 1); and (c) given
further that the multipathway assessment indicated the maximum cancer
risk due to multipathway exposures to HAP emissions from prebake
facilities was no higher than 50-in-1 million, we have determined that
the risks due to emissions from the source category are acceptable. See
79 FR 72947.
We also conducted an ample margin of safety analysis. As we
described in the supplemental proposal, for prebake facilities we
considered what further reductions might be obtained from technically
feasible controls, further considering the cost of such controls and
their cost-effectiveness. We identified no cost-effective controls
under the ample margin of safety analysis to further reduce risks or
environmental effects due to HAP emissions from prebake facilities. 79
FR 72947-48. Therefore, we indicated in the supplemental proposal, and
conclude again in this final rule, that the NESHAP for prebake
facilities provides an ample margin of safety to protect public health
and prevent an adverse environmental effect.
With regard to Soderberg facilities, as mentioned in section III
above, we proposed more stringent emission limits for Ni, As, and POM
under CAA section 112(f) to ensure that the cancer MIR would remain
below 100-in-1 million, the level of risk we defined as acceptable for
purposes of this rule. We did not propose more stringent standards
under the ample margin of safety analysis since we identified no
feasible controls that would yield risk reductions at reasonable cost.
Id at 72948. In this final action, we are promulgating these standards
as proposed. Although these standards may not apply to any facilities,
we are still promulgating the As, Ni and POM emissions limits for
Soderberg facilities under CAA section 112(f) to address the shut down,
but not yet demolished, existing Soderberg potlines, and the very
unlikely scenario of construction of new Soderberg potlines.
3. What key comments did we receive on the risk review, and what are
our responses?
The EPA received several comments regarding the revised risk
assessment for the Primary Aluminum Production source category. The
following is a summary of some key comments and our responses to those
comments. Other comments received and our responses to those comments
can be found in the document titled, National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants: Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants Summary of
Public Comments and Responses, which is available in the docket for
this action (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797).
Comment: One commenter stated that the EPA's determination of the
emissions reduction required to reduce health risks to an acceptable
level violates CAA section 112(f)(2) and is arbitrary. The commenter
believed that the EPA's acceptability determination for prebake
facilities is flawed for the following reasons:
The EPA's acceptability determination is unlawful and
arbitrary because its risk assessment is incomplete and fails to follow
the up-to-date science to assess health risk;
The EPA's acceptability determination fails to consider or
prevent unacceptable levels of cumulative impacts;
Socioeconomic disparity in health risk from this source
category makes the risk the EPA has found unacceptable, and the EPA
must finalize a rule that is consistent with the principle of
environmental justice (EJ);
The EPA has failed to provide a reasoned explanation for
why the lifetime cancer risk of 1-in-1 million or more based on
inhalation alone from this sector is acceptable;
After finding a level of acute risk that is 10 times the
EPA's safety threshold, the agency has failed to justify not requiring
the reduction of acute health risk below 1; and
The EPA has failed to justify finding chronic non-cancer
health risk to be acceptable.
Response: We disagree with the commenter that the assessment is
incomplete and fails to use up-to-date science. The dose-response
values used in the risk assessment are based on the current peer
reviewed Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) values, as well as
other similarly peer-reviewed values. Our approach, which uses
conservative tools and assumptions, ensures that our decisions are
appropriately health protective and environmentally protective. The
approach for selecting appropriate health benchmark values, in general,
places greater weight on the EPA derived health benchmarks than those
from other agencies (see https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/nata1999/99pdfs/healtheffectsinfo.pdf). This approach has been endorsed by the Science
Advisory Board (SAB).\7\ The SAB further recommended that the EPA
scrutinize values that emerge as drivers of risk assessment results,
and the Agency has incorporated this recommendation into the risk
assessment process. This may result in the EPA determining that it is
more appropriate to use a peer-reviewed dose-response value from
another agency even if an IRIS value exists.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ Refer to the May 2010, SAB response to the EPA Administrator
(EPA-SAB-10-007); https://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-
HQ-OAR-2011-0797-0075.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
With regard to the comment that the EPA failed to consider
cumulative impacts, we note that while the incorporation of additional
background concentrations from the environment in our risk assessments
(including those from mobile sources and other industrial and area
sources) could be technically challenging, they are neither mandated
nor barred from our analysis. In developing the decision framework in
the Benzene NESHAP used for making residual risk decisions, and now
codified in CAA section 112(f)(2)(B), the EPA rejected approaches that
would have mandated consideration of background levels of pollution in
assessing the acceptability of risk, concluding that comparison of
acceptable risk should not be associated with levels in polluted urban
air (54 FR 38044, 38061, September 14, 1989). Background levels
(including natural background) are not barred from the EPA's ample
margin of safety analysis, and the EPA may consider them, as
appropriate and as available, along with other factors, such as cost
and technical feasibility, in the second step of its CAA section 112(f)
analysis. As discussed in the 2014 supplemental proposal, the risk
assessment for this source category did not include background
contributions (that may reflect emissions that are from outside the
source category and from other than co-located sources) because the
available data are of insufficient quality upon which to base a
meaningful analysis.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ Note that this question is distinct from the issue of
consideration of emissions from co-located facilities, which
emissions are fully reflected in the EPA's analysis. See discussion
in section IV.A.3 of this preamble, below, and 79 FR 72929/1
(emissions estimated for all emitting sources in a contiguous area
under common control).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 62400]]
This rule has been finalized consistent with agency EJ principles
and analyses. To examine the potential for any EJ issues that might be
associated with the Primary Aluminum Production source category, we
performed a demographic analysis, which is an assessment of risks to
individual demographic groups, of the population close to the
facilities. In this analysis, we evaluated the distribution of HAP-
related cancer risks and non-cancer hazards from this source category
across different social, demographic, and economic groups within the
populations living near facilities identified as having the highest
risks. The results of the demographic analysis are summarized in Table
6 below and indicate that there are no significant disproportionate
risks to any particular minority, low income, or indigenous population.
The methodology and the results of the demographic analyses are
included in a technical report, Analysis of Socio-Economic Factors for
Populations Living Near Primary Aluminum Facilities, which is available
in the docket for this rulemaking (Docket item number EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-
0797-0360).
Table 6--Primary Aluminum Production Source Category Demographic Risk Analysis Results
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Population
with cancer Population
Nationwide risk at or with chronic
above 1-in-1 hazard index
million above 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Population................................................ 312,861,265 881,307 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Race by Percent
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
White........................................................... 72 80 0
All Other Races................................................. 28 20 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Race by Percent
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
White........................................................... 71.9 80.1 0
African American................................................ 13 13 0
Native American................................................. 1.1 0.9 0
Other and Multiracial........................................... 14 6 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethnicity by Percent
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hispanic........................................................ 17 5 0
Non-Hispanic.................................................... 83 95 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income by Percent
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below Poverty Level............................................. 14 14 0
Above Poverty Level............................................. 86 86 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Education by Percent
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over 25 and without High School Diploma......................... 15 14 0
Over 25 and with a High School Diploma.......................... 85 86 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With regard to the comments that the EPA did not justify the
determination that risks are acceptable, we generally draw no bright
lines of acceptability regarding cancer or non-cancer risks from source
category HAP emissions. This is a core feature of the Benzene NESHAP
approach, now codified in CAA section 112(f)(2)(B). See 54 FR at 38046,
38057; see also 79 FR 72933-34. It is always important to consider the
specific uncertainties of the emissions and health effects information
regarding the source category or subcategory in question when deciding
exactly what level of cancer and non-cancer risk should be considered
acceptable. In addition, the source category-specific or subcategory-
specific decision of what constitutes an acceptable level of risk
should be a holistic one; that is, it should simultaneously consider
all potential health impacts--chronic and acute, cancer and non-cancer,
and multipathway--along with their uncertainties, when determining the
acceptable level of source category risk. Today, such flexibility is
even more imperative, because new information relevant to the question
of risk acceptability is being developed all the time, and the accuracy
and uncertainty of each piece of information must be considered in a
weight-of-evidence approach for each decision. This relevant body of
information is growing fast (and will likely continue to grow even
faster), necessitating a flexible weight-of-evidence approach that
acknowledges both complexity and uncertainty in the simplest and most
transparent way possible. While this challenge is formidable, it is
nonetheless the goal of the EPA's RTR decision-making, and it is the
goal of the risk assessment to provide the information to support the
decision-making process.
Our acceptability decisions for the prebake subcategory presented
in the supplemental proposal, and again in this final rule, are
appropriate. The rationale for our acceptability decision for the
prebake subcategory was clearly explained in the supplemental proposal
and was based on full consideration of the health risk information and
associated uncertainties, and we summarize it here:
Regarding the prebake subcategories, as explained in the
supplemental proposal, the EPA had concerns regarding the potential
acute risks due to As emissions (with a maximum acute HQ of 10). See 79
FR 72947. However, given the conservative nature of the EPA's analysis
of acute effects--among them, an assumption of the unlikely confluence
of peak emissions, worst-
[[Page 62401]]
case-meteorology, and an exposed individual present at the precise
point this occurs (see 79 FR 72943/1), and the facts that: (a) The
inhalation cancer MIR was well below 100-in-1 million (MIR = 70-in-1
million); (b) the chronic non-cancer risks were low (e.g., HI = 1); and
(c) given further that the multipathway assessment indicated the
maximum cancer risk due to multipathway exposures to HAP emissions from
prebake facilities was no higher than 50-in-1 million, we have
determined that the risks due to emissions from the prebake
subcategories are acceptable.
Comment: A commenter stated support for the EPA's risk assessment
conclusion that the risk due to actual emissions from the prebake
aluminum smelting subcategory is acceptable. The commenter stated that
the modeled ambient concentrations that were used in the risk
assessment likely overpredict actual concentrations since the Human
Exposure Model version 3 (HEM3) uses the American Meteorological
Society and EPA Regulatory Model (AERMOD) for air dispersion modeling
to determine ambient concentrations. The commenter stated that the use
of AERMOD is inappropriate for modeling stationary line sources like
the potroom roof monitors of the facilities and overpredicts ambient
concentrations from roof monitor emissions by a factor of about 30
times. The commenter recommended that the EPA use the Buoyant Line and
Point source (BLP) dispersion model to correctly model the potline roof
monitors.
Response: The EPA disagrees that the BLP model needs to be used to
correctly model potline roof monitors. An analysis performed by the EPA
to compare the modeled estimates from AERMOD and the BLP model for a
typical primary aluminum facility indicated that the maximum modeled
concentrations from the BLP model were only 20 percent higher than
those from AERMOD. Considering the uncertainties in release
characteristics and emission rates--both inputs into the models--the
results estimated by both HEM3 and BLP are the same within that range
of uncertainty.\9\ The EPA concluded that this difference was not
significant enough to warrant changing the RTR modeling methodology it
uses for all source categories, which includes the use of AERMOD and
meteorological data generated by the AERMOD Meteorological Preprocessor
(AERMET). In addition, the 20 percent increase in maximum modeled
concentrations would translate into an increase in the risk from 70-in-
1 million to 80-in-1 million. This level would still be within the
range of acceptability and, if the EPA had determined that it was
necessary to use the BLP, the Agency would have reaffirmed that risks
are acceptable.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ September 27, 2010, Memo to the EPA from EC/R Incorporated;
``Draft Modeling Comparison of BLP and AERMOD for Primary Aluminum''
available in the docket at https://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797-0175.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comment: One commenter stated that the EPA must strengthen the risk
assessment and proposed risk action in order to meet its
responsibilities under CAA section 112(f)(2) to provide the requisite
``ample margin of safety to protect public health.'' The EPA also
should find risk from the prebake subcategories to be unacceptable,
instead of acceptable. The commenter stated that the combined health
risks for these sources are substantial and stated that the EPA found
that the allowable emissions-based cancer risk from inhalation exposure
is 70-in-1 million, plus another 70-in-1 million from multipathway
exposure (50-in-1 million for the ``fisher'' scenario, or fish-based
exposure; and 20-in-1 million for the ``farmer'' scenario, or farm-
based exposure). The commenter stated that the 70-in-1 million
inhalation risk, combined with the high acute and chronic risks the EPA
found, is enough alone to find risk unacceptable.
The commenter stated that in view of the EPA's scientific policy of
summing cancer risks, it should recognize that the most-exposed
person's combined multipathway and inhalation cancer risk is 70 + 70 or
140-in-1 million. The commenter stated that this is well above the
EPA's presumptive acceptability benchmark (which itself is
insufficiently stringent, as explained in their 2012 comments,
incorporated by reference). The commenter also stated that the EPA
should find the current cancer risk from inhalation and multipathway
exposure, due to a combination of As, Ni, PAH, and dioxins, is
unacceptable. The commenter stated that if viewed together with the
high acute and chronic non-cancer risks the EPA found, as a result of
As and Ni in particular, the data the EPA has compiled on risk show
that the current health risks are unacceptable.
The commenter stated that the EPA has not assessed the additional
multipathway risk from risk-driver pollutants, such as As and Ni. The
commenter stated that, as discussed in their 2012 comments (to EPA's
original proposal), this is inconsistent with the scientific evidence
showing these are persistent bioaccumulative toxics [PBTs], and it is,
thus, unlawful and arbitrary and capricious for the EPA not to assess
and address the multipathway risks they create.
Response: We disagree with the commenter's arguments for finding
risks to be unacceptable. The thrust of the comment is that the risk
analysis failed to combine risks from various scenarios and pathways,
and that, added together, these risks are unacceptable. In fact, the
analysis combines risk estimates to the extent that it is
scientifically appropriate to do so. We consider the effect of mixtures
of carcinogens consistent with the EPA guidelines and use a TOSHI
approach for our chronic non-cancer assessments. We do not use a TOSHI
approach for acute analyses, nor do we combine the results of our
inhalation and multipathway assessments. (See the Residual Risk
Assessment for the Primary Aluminum Production Source Category in
Support of the September 2015 Risk and Technology Review Final Rule,
which is available in the docket for this action (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2011-0797)).
In the multipathway screening assessment, we did not sum the risk
results of the fisher and farmer scenarios. The modeling approach used
for this analysis constructs two different exposure scenarios, which
serves as a conservative estimate of potential risks to the most-
exposed receptor in each scenario. Given that it is highly unlikely
that the most-exposed farmer is the same person as the most-exposed
fisher, it is not reasonable to add risk results from these two
exposure scenarios (see Appendix 5 and Section 2.5 of the Residual Risk
Assessment for the Primary Aluminum Production Source Category in
Support of the September 2015 Risk and Technology Review Final Rule).
We do not find it reasonable to combine the results of our
inhalation and multipathway assessments for this source category. The
multipathway risk assessment for prebake facilities was a screening-
level assessment. The screening assessment used highly conservative
assumptions designed to ensure that sources with results below the
screening threshold values did not have the potential for multipathway
impacts of concern. The screening scenario is a hypothetical scenario,
and, due to the theoretical construct of the screening model,
exceedances of the thresholds are not directly translatable into
estimates of risk or HQs for these facilities. Rather, it represents a
high-end estimate of what the risk or hazard may be. For example, an
exceedance of 2 for a non-carcinogen can be interpreted to mean that we
have high confidence that the HQ or HI would be
[[Page 62402]]
less than 2. Similarly, an exceedance of 30 for a carcinogen means that
we have high confidence that the risk is lower than 30-in-1 million.
Our confidence comes from the health-protective assumptions that are in
the screens: We choose inputs from the upper end of the range of
possible values for the influential parameters used in the screens, and
we assume that the exposed individual exhibits ingestion behavior that
would lead to a high total multipathway exposure. It would be
inappropriate to sum the risk results from the chronic inhalation
assessment and the screening multipathway assessment. In addition to
the constraints in the screening-level multipathway assessment
described above, it is highly unlikely that the same receptor has the
maximum results in both assessments. In other words, it is unlikely
that the person with the highest chronic inhalation cancer risk is also
the same person with the highest individual multipathway cancer risk.
We agree with the commenter that we ``should look at the whole picture
of cancer risk,'' but we do so by assessing cancer and chronic non-
cancer inhalation risk, acute risk, multipathway risk, and combining
risk results where it is scientifically appropriate to do so, not by
arbitrarily and indiscriminately summing risk measures in the absence
of a valid technical basis.
We currently do not have screening values for some PB-HAP, but we
disagree that the multipathway assessment is inadequate because it did
not include ``all HAP metals emitted (such as arsenic and nickel).'' We
developed the current PB-HAP list considering all available information
on persistence and bioaccumulation (see https://www2.epa.gov/fera/air-toxics-risk-assessment-reference-library-volumes-1-3, specifically
Volume 1, Appendix D). (The Air Toxics Risk Assessment Reference
Library presents the decision process by which the PB-HAP were selected
and provides information on the fundamental principles of risk-based
assessment for air toxics and how to apply those principles.) In
developing the list, we considered HAP identified as PB-HAP by other
EPA program offices (e.g., the Great Waters Program), as well as
information from the PBT profiler (see https://www.pbtprofiler.net/).
Considering this list was peer-reviewed by the SAB and found to be
acceptable,\10\ we believe it to be reasonable for use in risk
assessments for the RTR program.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ 10 Refer to the May 2010, SAB response to the EPA
Administrator (EPA-SAB-10-007); https://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797-0075
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regarding the commenter's assertion that we did not base the
multipathway risk assessment on allowable emissions, we believe it is
reasonable for the multipathway risk assessment to be based on actual
emissions for this source category, and not the allowable level of
emissions--i.e. the level that facilities are permitted to emit. The
potline fugitive emissions, which drive the risks associated with this
source category, vary in magnitude and location along the roofline due
to normal operations, including, among others, replacement of anodes.
We exacerbate the uncertainty associated with these variations in
fugitive emissions when we scale up actual emissions to estimate
allowable emissions. Also, there is considerable uncertainty associated
with estimated allowable emissions from batch operations, such as pitch
storage tank and pitch production, due to the nature of batch
operations (e.g., estimating the number of batch operations possible or
necessary during a period of time). Further uncertainty results when we
consider that, in order to comply with the emission limits at all
times, a source's allowable emissions would need to be below the
associated standard by an indeterminate amount during normal
operations. Therefore, we conclude that the uncertainties associated
with the multipathway screen along with uncertainties in the allowable
emissions estimates would make a multipathway risk assessment based on
allowable emissions highly uncertain and, thereby, not appropriate for
use in making this regulatory decision.
The commenter also argued for summing acute HQs from different HAP
to assess acute non-cancer risk. We do not sum results of the acute
non-cancer inhalation assessment to create a combined acute risk number
that would represent the total acute risk for all pollutants that act
in a similar way on the same organ system or systems (similar to the
chronic TOSHI). The worst-case acute screen is already a conservative
scenario. That is, the acute screening scenario assumes worst-case
meteorology, peak emissions for all emission points occurring
concurrently and an individual being located at the site of maximum
concentration for an hour. Thus, as noted in the Residual Risk
Assessment for the Primary Aluminum Production Source Category in
Support of the September 2015 Risk and Technology Review Final Rule,
page 31, which is available in the docket for this action (Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797), ``because of the conservative nature of the
acute inhalation screening and the variable nature of emissions and
potential exposures, acute impacts were screened on an individual
pollutant basis, not using the TOSHI approach.'' The EPA may conduct a
reasoned screening assessment without having to adopt the most
conceivably conservative assumption for each and every part of the
analysis.
Comment: One commenter stated that, as the EPA recognized in the
secondary aluminum proposal, at least nine secondary aluminum
facilities have co-located primary aluminum operations. The commenter
stated that for both source categories, the EPA found that the
facility-wide MIR is 70-in-1 million, driven by As, Ni, and hexavalent
chromium, and that the TOSHI (chronic non-cancer risk) is 1, driven by
cadmium. The commenter stated that the TOSHI number appears to consider
only inhalation risk and stated that the TOSHI number must be viewed in
context, as the EPA is aware that scientists have directed the EPA to
do (and as previously explained and cited to the EPA in comments). The
commenter stated that if considered in combination with the high
secondary aluminum multipathway risk, and with the high inhalation and
multipathway risks for primary aluminum, the facility-wide cancer risk
provides additional evidence that risks from both source categories are
unacceptable. The commenter asserts this is the case because the most-
exposed person's full amount of risk is the combined amount from the
co-located primary and secondary aluminum, not just each source
category separately. The commenter stated that it would be unlawful and
arbitrary to consider each type of risk separately, when people near
both sources are exposed to both kinds of risk at the same time and,
thus, face a higher overall amount of risk.
The commenter stated that the EPA has not offered and can not offer
a valid justification for not finding risk from both source categories
(including primary aluminum prebake and secondary aluminum) to be
unacceptable based on the co-located and combined risks. The commenter
stated that the EPA has collected data from both source categories and
is evaluating that data in rulemakings for both source categories. The
commenter stated that the EPA may not lawfully ignore the full picture
of risk that its combined rulemakings show is present
[[Page 62403]]
for people exposed simultaneously to both source categories at the same
facility.
The commenter stated that the EPA only assessed facility-wide risks
based on so-called ``actual'' emissions, so the facility-wide risk
number could be at least 1.5 to 3 times higher, based on the EPA's
recognition that allowable emissions from primary aluminum facilities
are about 1.5 to 1.9 times higher and the fact that allowable emissions
from secondary aluminum are at least 3 times higher.
The commenter stated that it is important that the EPA is
evaluating facility-wide risk from sources in multiple categories that
are co-located.
The commenter stated that the EPA may not reasonably or lawfully
then decide not to use the results of that assessment to set stronger
standards for these sources. The commenter stated that this rulemaking
is an important opportunity for the EPA to recognize the need to act
based on data showing significant combined and cumulative risks and
impacts at the facility-wide level. The commenter stated that the EPA
is also required to do so to meet its CAA section 112(f)(2) duties, as
explained in the 2012 comments and reincorporated by reference here.
Response: We agree with the commenter that facility-wide risk
assessment is appropriately considered in putting the source category
risks in context. However, we disagree with the comment that we failed
to appropriately consider or account for cumulative risk.
We conducted facility-wide risk assessments for all major sources
in the source category that were operating in 2014, including the nine
secondary aluminum production facilities co-located with primary
aluminum reduction plants. See 79 FR 72929 (emissions estimated for all
emitting sources in a contiguous area under common control).
The commenter stated that the EPA must find the risks unacceptable
based on the whole-facility risks from co-located primary and secondary
aluminum operations. The EPA does not typically include whole-facility
assessments in the CAA section 112(f) acceptability determination for a
source category. Reasons for this include the fact that emissions and
source characterization data are usually not of the same vintage and
quality for all source categories that are on the same site, and, thus,
the results of the whole-facility assessment are generally not
appropriate to include in the regulatory decisions regarding
acceptability. However, in this case, we are developing the risk
assessments for primary and secondary aluminum production at the same
time. The data are generally of the same vintage and we have actual
emissions data and source characterization data for both source
categories. In response to the comment, we refer to the facility-wide
risk assessment, which included the nine facilities with co-located
primary and secondary aluminum operations. As discussed above and shown
in Table 6, for the facility with the highest risk from inhalation, the
facility-wide MIR for cancer from actual emissions is 70-in-1 million.
The facility-wide non-cancer hazard is 1. The highest facility-wide
exceedance of the multipathway screen is 70. There was no facility-wide
exceedance of a noncancer threshold in the multipathway screen.
Considering these facility-wide results as part of the acceptability
determination is thus corroborative of our determination that the risks
are acceptable for the Secondary Aluminum Production source category.
The commenter is correct that we based our facility-wide risk
assessment on actual emissions rather than on estimated allowable
emissions. Because the facility-wide allowable emissions estimates have
not been subjected to the same level of scrutiny, quality assurance,
and technical evaluation as the actual emissions estimates from the
source category, and because of the larger inherent uncertainty
associated with allowable emissions discussed above, facility-wide risk
results based on allowable emissions would be too uncertain to support
a regulatory decision, but they could remain important for providing
context as long as their uncertainty is taken into consideration.
The distinct issue of whether background emissions not associated
with co-located emitting sources at the facility is discussed above. We
reiterate that while the incorporation of additional background
concentrations from the environment in our risk assessments (including
those from mobile sources and other industrial and area sources) could
be technically challenging, they are neither mandated nor barred from
our analysis. In developing the decision framework in the Benzene
NESHAP used for making residual risk decisions, the EPA rejected
approaches that would have mandated consideration of background levels
of pollution in assessing the acceptability of risk, concluding that
comparison of acceptable risk should not be associated with levels in
polluted urban air (54 FR 38044, 38061, September 14, 1989).
Background levels (including natural background) are not barred
from the EPA's ample margin of safety analysis, and the EPA may
consider them, as appropriate and as available, along with other
factors, such as cost and technical feasibility, in the second step of
its CAA section 112(f) analysis. As discussed in the 2014 supplemental
proposal, the risk assessment for this source category did not include
background contributions (that may reflect emissions that are from
outside the source category and from other than co-located sources)
because the available data are of insufficient quality upon which to
base a meaningful analysis.
Comment: Some commenters recommended that the EPA should proceed
with the required full multipathway risk assessment, as the data showed
that the persistent and bioaccumulation screening emission rates were
exceeded for POM. The commenters do not believe the risk analysis for
this source category is final until this step is complete and disagree
with the EPA's explanation that the results are biased high and subject
to significant uncertainties, arguing that the EPA cannot ignore the
implications of this screening assessment. The commenter recommended
that the EPA perform a full multipathway assessment to find a number it
believes fully represents this risk, or use the number it has created
as the best available number, without discounting the impact of that
number.
One commenter recommended conducting a full multipathway risk
assessment for this source category that includes consideration of a
child's multipathway exposure in urban and rural residential scenarios.
The commenter further stated that the failure of the EPA to assess an
exposed child scenario as part of the cumulative risk assessment
ignores the exposures that may pose the most significant risk from this
source category. The commenter highlighted the risk to children from
contaminated soils, noting that past risk assessments have relied on
outdated estimates of incidental soil ingestion exposures and stated
that the EPA must update these values. The commenter cited two EPA
exposures factors handbooks and a journal article as resources to use
for assessing risks.
Response: We disagree with the comment that our multipathway risk
assessment does not consider children. The multipathway screening
scenario is intended to represent a high-end exposure for children via
incidental soil ingestion. The 2011 Exposure Factors Handbook
recommended ``upper-percentile'' soil ingestion rate (numeric
percentile not specified) for children aged 3 to 6 years is 200
milligrams per
[[Page 62404]]
day (mg/d). The EPA also published the Child-Specific Exposure Factors
Handbook (2008). No additional data or recommendations for child soil
ingestion are presented in this source, and, in fact, an ``upper
percentile'' value for this parameter is not provided. Based on these
sources, a value of 200 mg/d is used in the current RTR multipathway
screening scenario for the child incidental soil ingestion rate.
The multipathway risk assessment conducted for the proposal was a
screening-level assessment. The screening assessment used highly
conservative assumptions designed to ensure that facilities with
results below the screening threshold values did not have the potential
for multipathway impacts of concern. The screening scenario is a
hypothetical scenario, and, due to the theoretical construct of the
screening model, exceedances of the thresholds are not directly
translatable into estimates of risk or HQs for these facilities. The
scope of the assessment did not change across the tiers in the
multipathway screening assessment and is described in the risk
assessment documents (and related appendices) available in the docket
for this rulemaking (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797).
4. What is the rationale for our final approach and final decisions for
the risk review?
As discussed above and in the preamble of the 2014 supplemental
proposal, after considering health risk information and other factors,
including uncertainties, we have determined that the risks from primary
aluminum production prebake facilities are acceptable and that the
current NESHAP provides an ample margin of safety to protect public
health for prebake facilities given that the inhalation cancer MIR was
well below 100-in-1 million, the chronic non-cancer risks were low, and
the multipathway assessment indicated the maximum cancer risk due to
multipathway exposures to HAP emissions from prebake facilities was no
higher than 50-in-1 million. In summary, our revised risk assessment
indicates that cancer risks due to actual and allowable emissions from
prebake facilities are below the presumptive limit of acceptability,
and that non-cancer results indicate minimal likelihood of adverse
health effects. We evaluated potential risk reductions as well as the
cost of control options, but did not identify any control technologies
or other measures that would be cost-effective in further reducing
risks (or potential risks) for prebake facilities. In particular, we
did not identify any cost-effective approaches to further reduce As,
Ni, and PAH emissions and risks beyond what is already being achieved
by the current NESHAP.
Regarding the Soderberg facilities, as discussed above, since all
existing Soderberg facilities are permanently shut down, we necessarily
conclude the risks due to emissions from Soderberg facilities are
currently acceptable. However, under our ample margin of safety
analysis, we have determined that it is appropriate to promulgate
standards for Ni, As, and PAH under CAA section 112(f) for the
Soderberg subcategory potlines to ensure that excess cancer risk due to
HAP emissions from any possible future primary aluminum reduction plant
would remain below 100-in-1 million. We estimate the costs to comply
with these standards for Soderberg facilities would be zero since there
are no existing operating Soderberg facilities in the U.S. Furthermore,
we expect any future new primary aluminum reduction plant would use
prebake potlines since prebake potlines are more energy efficient (and
lower-emitting) than Soderberg potlines. Therefore, we also estimate
that these standards would pose no cost for any future new primary
aluminum reduction plant.
B. CAA Sections 112(d)(2) and (3) Revisions for the Primary Aluminum
Production Source Category
1. What did we propose pursuant to CAA sections 112(d)(2) and (3) for
the Primary Aluminum Production source category?
We proposed several MACT standards in the December 2011 proposal
pursuant to CAA sections 112(d)(2) and (3), which are summarized in
Table 7, below.
We received significant comments on the 2011 proposal from industry
representatives, environmental organizations, and state regulatory
agencies. After reviewing the comments, and after consideration of
additional data and information received since the 2011 proposal, the
EPA determined it was appropriate to gather additional data, revise
some of the analyses associated with that proposal, and to publish a
supplemental proposal.
In support of the supplemental proposal, the EPA sent an
information request to owners of currently operating primary aluminum
reduction plants in March of 2013. The EPA received associated
responses in May through August 2013. As part of this data collection
effort, we received emissions data for PM, HAP metals (including
antimony, As, beryllium, cobalt, manganese, selenium, Ni, cadmium,
chromium, lead, and Hg), PCB, and D/F from potlines, anode bake
furnaces, and/or paste production plants from every primary aluminum
reduction plant that was operational at that time, including nine
prebake-type facilities and one Soderberg-type facility.
Based on evaluation of all the data, we proposed several revised
and new MACT standards in the December 2014 proposal pursuant to CAA
sections 112(d)(2) and (3), which are summarized in Table 7, below.
Table 7--Summary of Proposed MACT Standards
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Promulgated MACT
Proposal HAP Source standard
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 proposal (76 FR 76259)........ COS........................ New potlines.......... 3.1 lb/ton aluminum
Existing potlines..... produced.
3.9 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
POM........................ New potlines.......... 0.62 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
Existing potlines.....
CWPB1................. 0.62 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
CWPB2................. 1.3 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
CWPB3................. 1.26 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
SWPB.................. 0.65 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
VSS2.................. 3.8 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
HSS................... 3.0 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
Existing pitch storage Minimum 95-percent
tanks. reduction of inlet
POM emissions.
2014 proposal (79 FR 72914)........ POM........................ New potlines.......... 0.77 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
Existing potlines.
[[Page 62405]]
CWPB1................. 1.1 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
CWPB2................. 12 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
CWPB3................. 2.7 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
SWPB.................. 19 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
PM......................... New potlines.......... 4.6 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
Existing potlines.
CWPB1................. 7.2 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
CWPB2................. 11 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
CWPB3................. 20 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
SWPB.................. 4.6 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
VSS2.................. 26 lb/ton aluminum
produced.
New anode bake furnace 0.036 lb/ton of green
anode produced.
Existing anode bake 0.068 lb/ton of green
furnace. anode produced.
New paste production 0.0056 lb/ton of paste
plant. produced.
Existing paste 0.082 lb/ton of paste
production plant. produced.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HSS = horizontal stud Soderberg.
2. How did the proposed CAA sections 112(d)(2) and (3) standards change
for the Primary Aluminum Production source category?
Commenters provided additional emissions data for POM from SWPB
potlines and for PM from CWPB1 potlines and anode bake furnaces, and
identified areas where we had misinterpreted data used for the proposed
PM and POM standards.
Based on these comments and additional PM and POM emissions data,
we re-evaluated the proposed PM and POM MACT standards and revised the
following MACT limits:
POM emission limit of 19 lb/ton aluminum for existing SWPB
potlines changed to 17 lb/ton aluminum;
PM emission limit of 7.2 lb/ton aluminum for existing
CWPB1 potlines changed to 7.4 lb/ton aluminum;
PM emission limit of 4.6 lb/ton aluminum for existing SWPB
potlines changed to 4.9 lb/ton aluminum;
PM emission limit of 4.6 lb/ton aluminum for new potlines
changed to 4.9 lb/ton aluminum;
PM emission limit of 0.068 lb/ton green anode for existing
anode bake furnaces changed to 0.2 lb/ton green anode; and
PM emission limit of 0.036 lb/ton green anode for new
anode bake furnaces changed to 0.07 lb/ton green anode.
The EPA discussed at proposal whether to promulgate MACT standards
at this time for HAP where much, most, or virtually all of the data
showed levels below detection limits. See 79 FR 72936. We received
comments claiming that, in addition to the standards listed above, the
EPA must promulgate standards for these HAP: Hg, D/F, and PCB. Based on
these comments, and considering further reply comments from industry
addressing this issue (see email, dated July 1, 2015, from Mr. Curt
Wells of The Aluminum Association, which is available in the docket for
this rulemaking (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797)), we re-evaluated
the data we had for PCB, D/F, and Hg to determine whether it would be
appropriate to establish emissions limits for these HAP. Based on that
evaluation, we determined that the emissions data for PCB from VSS2
Soderberg potlines are above detection limits and that numerical limits
reflecting MACT can be set for these sources. Therefore, we are
finalizing a MACT limit for PCB of 2.0 [micro]g TEQ/ton for existing
Soderberg VSS2 potlines and new Soderberg potlines. These standards
were developed based on the 99-percent upper prediction limit (UPL) for
PCB emissions from the available emissions data and represent the MACT
floor level of control. We also considered beyond-the-floor options,
but did not identify any feasible or cost-effective beyond-the-floor
options.
Furthermore, we determined that the emissions data for Hg from
anode bake furnaces are above detection limits and that MACT limits can
be set for these sources. Therefore, we are finalizing a MACT limit for
Hg of 1.7 [mu]g/dscm for new and existing anode bake furnaces. These
standards are equal to 3 times the representative detection limit (RDL)
value for Hg. The RDL is the average method detection level (MDL)
achieved in practice by laboratories whose data support the best
performing 12 percent of a MACT category (or categories). We use an
average value for the RDL because a decision for a new source floor may
be based upon a test report where the laboratory chosen has better
equipment and/or practices than other laboratories and, therefore,
reported a lower MDL. Using that data to set the floor would result in
requiring all new sources to choose that laboratory in order to
demonstrate compliance with the new limit. We recognize the need to
allow sources to conduct business with their local laboratories, or a
laboratory of their preference; however, we limit the RDL to the best
laboratory performers because we do not want to incentivize the use of
the worst performing laboratories. The EPA policy is to set MACT
standards for a pollutant at a level of 3 times the RDL level for that
pollutant when the 99-percent UPL value for the available emissions
data results in a value that is less than 3 times the RDL level for
that pollutant, which is the case for Hg emissions from anode bake
furnaces. See, e.g., docket item number EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0559-0157.
We use the multiplication factor of 3 to approximately reduce the
imprecision of the analytical method until the imprecision in the field
sampling reflects the relative method precision as estimated by the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) study \11\ that also
indicates that such relative imprecision, from 10 to 20 percent,
remains constant over the range of the methods. For comparing to the
floor, if 3 times the RDL were less than the calculated floor or
emissions limit (e.g., calculated from the UPL), we would conclude that
measurement variability was adequately addressed. The calculated floor
or emissions limit would need no adjustment. If, on the other hand, the
value equal to 3 times the RDL were greater than the UPL, we would
conclude that the calculated floor or emissions limit does not account
entirely for measurement variability.
[[Page 62406]]
Therefore, we substituted the value equal to 3 times the RDL for the
calculated floor or emissions limit which results in a concentration
where the method would produce measurement accuracy on the order of 10
to 20 percent similar to other EPA test methods and the results found
in the ASME study.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ Reference Method Accuracy and Precision (ReMAP): PHASE 1,
Precision of Manual Stack Emission Measurements; American Society of
Mechanical Engineers, Research Committee on Industrial and Municipal
Waste, February 2001.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please refer to the Final MACT Floor Analysis for the Primary
Aluminum Production Source Category, which is available in the docket
for this rulemaking (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797), for more
information regarding the new standards.
Regarding the Hg and PCB emissions from the other process units
(such as potlines and paste production plants), and D/F from all the
process units, most (or all) of the emissions tests were below the
detection limit. Therefore, we conclude it is not feasible to prescribe
or enforce a numerical emission standard for these HAP emissions,
within the meaning of CAA section 112(h)(1) and (2). Specifically,
measured values for these HAP would be neither duplicable nor
replicable and would not give reliable indication of what (if anything)
the source was emitting. Under CAA section 112(h)(2), the EPA may adopt
work practice standards when ``the application of measurement
methodology to a particular class of sources is not practicable due to
technological and economic limitations.'' As discussed more fully in
section IV.C below, the EPA does not regard measurements which are
unreliable, non-duplicable, and non-replicable to be practicable.
Simply put, the CAA simply does not compel promulgation of numerical
emission standards that are too unreliable to be meaningful. Therefore,
as discussed in section IV.C of this preamble, we are promulgating work
practice standards for these HAP under section 112(h) of the CAA for
various process units.
3. What key comments did we receive on the CAA sections 112(d)(2) and
(3) proposed revisions, and what are our responses?
Comment: Commenters identified POM and PM emissions data from
prebake potlines and PM emissions data from anode bake furnaces that
were incorrectly represented in the data sets used for MACT limit
determinations. Commenters also provided additional PM data for prebake
potlines and anode bake furnaces. Commenters requested the EPA to re-
evaluate MACT floors and recalculate MACT limits for PM and POM based
on the corrected and additional data.
Response: We agree with commenters that the EPA misinterpreted
certain data in the supplemental proposal. For example, we
misinterpreted the PM and POM emissions from a single exhaust stack of
a control device with multiple exhaust stacks to be the total PM and
POM emissions from that source and misinterpreted the primary POM
emissions from a potline to be total POM emissions from that potline
(see pages 5 through 8 of the public comments provided by The Aluminum
Association, which are available in the docket for this rulemaking
(Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797). The final rule reflects
appropriate data corrections, and the additional data provided have
been incorporated in the final limits promulgated for POM and PM from
prebake potlines and PM from anode bake furnaces. Further information
regarding the development of the final emission limits can be found in
the document titled, Final MACT Floor Analysis for the Primary Aluminum
Production Source Category, which is available in the docket for this
action.
Comment: One commenter stated that the EPA must set standards for
all HAP emitted by primary aluminum reduction plants. The commenter
explained that the EPA's data collection found that primary aluminum
reduction plants emit D/F, Hg, and PCB. Nevertheless, the EPA proposed
not to set standards to limit these pollutants at all because ``many of
the emissions tests were below detection limit'' even though there are
emissions data in the record above the detection limits for these
pollutants for some sources. The commenter continued their argument by
stating that the CAA and D.C. Circuit case law require the EPA to set
limits for all emitted pollutants. As the D.C. Circuit has held, the
EPA has a ``clear statutory obligation to set emissions standards for
each listed HAP [i.e., hazardous air pollutant]'' under CAA section
112.
Response: As explained above, based on consideration of this
comment, industry comment, and re-evaluation of the data, we are
promulgating numerical emissions limits for Hg from anode bake furnaces
and PCB for Soderberg potlines because the data we have support the
development of such numerical limits. Furthermore, regarding Hg, D/F,
and PCB from the other process units, as described in section IV.C of
this preamble, we are promulgating work practice standards under CAA
section 112(h) because most of the emissions data were below the
detection limit for these HAP and process units.
4. What is the rationale for our final approach for the CAA sections
112(d)(2) and (3) revisions?
All numerical MACT standards proposed and promulgated for the
Primary Aluminum Production source category reflect the MACT floor and
were developed based on the 99-percent UPL of the available emissions
data for this source category,\12\ except for the limits set for Hg
emissions from anode bake furnaces which were set equal to a value of 3
times the RDL due to data limitations, as explained above. We
considered beyond-the-floor options. However, we determined that no
cost-effective beyond-the-floor options were available. For more
information regarding the development of the MACT standards for this
source category and our analyses of beyond-the-floor options, see the
document, Final MACT Floor Analysis for the Primary Aluminum Production
Source Category, which is available in the docket for this action
(Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ For determining performance over time, the EPA used the UPL
statistical methodology. That is, the best performers, and their
level of performance, are determined after accounting for sources'
normal operating variability. The UPL represents the value which one
can expect the mean of a specified number of future observations
(e.g., 3-run average) to fall below for the specified level of
confidence, based upon the results of an independent sample from the
same population. See MACT Floor Memo and Memorandum, Use of the
Upper prediction limit for Calculating MACT Floors (Docket ID No.
EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Revisions to the Work Practice Standards for the Primary Aluminum
Production Source Category
1. What work practice standards did we propose pursuant to CAA sections
112(h) and/or 112(d)(6) for the Primary Aluminum Production source
category?
In 2011, we proposed work practice standards for TF and POM
emissions from potlines during startup periods under 112(h) of the CAA
because we determined that it is economically and technically
infeasible to measure emissions of these HAP during these startup
periods. Subsequently, in 2014 we proposed to expand these standards to
also apply to PM.
In 2014, we also realized that these work practices could also help
minimize emissions during periods of normal operation. Therefore, as
mentioned above, under the technology review pursuant to CAA section
112(d)(6), in 2014 we proposed that these work practice standards for
potlines would also apply during normal operations to ensure improved
capture and control of TF, POM, and
[[Page 62407]]
PM emissions from those sources. For potlines, the work practices
included: (1) Ensuring the potline scrubbers and exhaust fans are
operational at all times; (2) ensuring that the primary capture and
control system is operating at all times; (3) keeping pots covered as
much as practicable to include, but not limited to, minimizing the
removal of covers or panels of the pots on which work is being
performed; and (4) inspecting potlines daily.
Regarding other emissions sources, in 2011 we also proposed work
practices for anode bake furnaces during startup periods under CAA
section 112(d)(6) that will ensure improved capture and control of HAP
emissions from those sources during startup periods. Then, in the 2014
supplemental proposal, we proposed work practices for paste production
plants during startup periods under CAA section 112(d)(6) that will
ensure improved capture and control of HAP emissions from those sources
during startup periods.
For anode bake furnaces and paste production plants, the proposed
work practices included ensuring that the associated emission control
system is operating within normal parametric limits prior to startup of
the emission source and requiring that the anode bake furnace or paste
production plants be shut down if the associated emission control
system is off line during startup.
2. What changes were made to the work practice standards developed for
the Primary Aluminum Production source category pursuant to CAA
sections 112(h) and/or 112(d)(6)?
In the final rule, the work practices for potlines, anode bake
furnaces, and paste production plants remain unchanged from the
proposals. In the final rule, we added additional, more specific VE
monitoring requirements, which are applicable during all periods of
operation, for emission points that are not equipped with BLDS or PM
CEMS, and thus, ensuring improved capture and control of emissions at
all times. Furthermore, the work practice standards for anode bake
furnaces address PCB emissions (under CAA section 112(h)) for these
process units, and the work practice standards for potlines address Hg
from all potlines, PCB emissions from prebake potlines, and D/F
emissions from Soderberg potlines (under CAA section 112(h)) because in
all these cases we determined that it is economically and technically
infeasible to reliably measure emissions of these HAP from these
process units.
3. What key comments did we receive regarding work practice standards
and what are our responses?
Comment: As mentioned above, one commenter stated that the EPA's
data collection found that primary aluminum reduction plants emit D/F,
Hg, and PCB. The commenter stated that the EPA states that it is not
proposing standards for these currently unregulated pollutants because
``many of the emissions tests were below detection limit.'' The
commenter stated that the EPA has some emission data in the record
above the detection limits for these pollutants for some sources. The
commenter stated that the CAA and D.C. Circuit case law require the EPA
to set limits for all emitted pollutants.
The commenter stated that as the D.C. Circuit has held, the EPA has
a ``clear statutory obligation to set emissions standards for each
listed HAP [i.e., hazardous air pollutant]'' under CAA sections
112(d)(1)-(3). The commenter stated that these pollutants are some of
the most potent and most harmful, even at extremely low levels of human
exposure.
The commenter stated that it would be internally inconsistent not
to regulate these HAP, because in this rulemaking, the EPA has
recognized the need to set emission standards for unregulated
pollutants. The commenter stated that the EPA states that it may, but
is not required to set emission standards for these pollutants, citing
the Portland Cement decision (665 F.3d at 189). The commenter stated
that the Portland Cement decision did not hold that the EPA may avoid
setting limits for CAA section 112-listed pollutants emitted by a
source category. The commenter stated that the Portland Cement decision
affirmed that the EPA may set revised emission standards, including
updated MACT floors, whenever it determines this is necessary,
including as a result of a CAA section 112(d)(6) review, or more often.
The commenter stated that the revised standards the EPA is
proposing here must satisfy CAA sections 112(d)(2)-(3). The commenter
stated that the EPA may not ``cherry-pick'' the HAP when initially
setting and revising standards. The commenter stated that if the EPA
missed HAP that it is legally required to regulate in prior standards,
then it has an ongoing obligation to set such standards, and it would
be both unlawful and arbitrary and capricious for the EPA not to set
such standards as part of this review and revision rulemaking under CAA
section 112(d).
The commenter stated that the EPA has recognized the need to assess
health risks from these pollutants and has created a method to do so by
assuming that the undetected emissions were equal to one-half the
detection limit, which the EPA explains is ``the established approach
for dealing with non-detects in the EPA's RTR program when developing
emissions estimates for input to the risk assessments.'' The commenter
stated that the EPA may not ignore these pollutants under CAA section
112(d) when it acknowledges and has found a way to address them under
CAA section 112(f)--even though some of the data in the record are
below the detection level.
The commenter stated that instead of ignoring the emissions data it
has, the EPA must at least use the emission data that are above the
detection level to set standards. Furthermore, the commenter stated
that for the non-detect values, the EPA may not lawfully ignore these
data. The commenter stated that the EPA must recognize that some
sources have achieved levels of emissions below the detection level and
use an appropriate number at or below the detection level as part of
its floor analysis, to satisfy the floor and beyond-the-floor
requirements of CAA sections 112(d)(2)-(3).
Response: As mentioned in section IV.B above, based on
consideration of this comment, industry comment, and re-evaluation of
the data, we are promulgating numerical emissions limits for Hg from
anode bake furnaces and PCB from Soderberg potlines because the data we
have support the development of such numerical limits. Furthermore,
regarding Hg from potlines, PCB from prebake potlines and anode bake
furnaces, and D/F from Soderberg potlines, as described in section IV.C
of this preamble, we are promulgating work practice standards under CAA
section 112(h) because most of the emissions data were below the
detection limits for these HAP and process units. However, EPA is not
adopting either numerical standards or work practice standards for
these HAP from other process units because all of the associated
emissions data were below the detection limit or otherwise unreliable
(e.g., the test report indicated quality assurance problems). There is
certainly no obligation under CAA sections 112(d)(2) and (3) for the
EPA to promulgate standards for HAP that are not emitted by a source
category.
Given these determinations, the commenter's claims that the EPA is
obligated to establish MACT standards for HAP at particular times, and
that it must do so if it is making assumptions about emission levels as
part of the CAA
[[Page 62408]]
section 112(f) risk analysis, are no longer presented.\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ We disagree with the commenter that standards are compelled
at this time, given the EPA's discretion regarding timing of
revising MACT standards. See 79 FR 72936 at n. 35. The EPA is
exercising its discretion in adopting these standards in the final
rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. What is the rationale for our final approach regarding work practice
standards under CAA sections 112(h) and/or 112(d)(6)?
Based on comments received during the 2014 supplemental proposal
public comment period, we determined that it was appropriate to re-
evaluate the data we had for PCB, D/F, and Hg. For D/F from potlines,
anode bake furnaces, and paste production plants; Hg from potlines and
paste production plants; and PCB from prebake potlines, anode bake
furnaces, and paste production plants, we found that more than half of
the test data were below the detection limit. We maintain our December
2014 proposed position that it is not appropriate to promulgate
numerical MACT limits for these HAP from these process units. Instead,
as explained below, we are promulgating work practice standards under
CAA section 112(h), when appropriate.
Sections 112(h)(1) and (h)(2)(B) of the CAA indicate that the EPA
may adopt a work practice standard rather than a numeric standard when
``the application of measurement methodology to a particular class of
sources is not practicable due to technological and economic
limitations.'' As explained above, the majority of the data collected
for Hg, D/F, and PCB during the information request test program for
these emissions points were below the detection limit. Under these
circumstances, the EPA does not believe that it is technologically and
economically practicable to reliably measure Hg, D/F, and PCB emissions
from these particular sources. The ``application of measurement
methodologies'' (described in CAA section 112(h)(2)(B)) means more than
taking a measurement. It must also mean that a measurement has some
reasonable relation to what the source is emitting, i.e., that the
measurement yields a meaningful value. That is not the case here, and
the EPA, therefore, does not believe it reasonable to establish a
numerical standard for Hg, D/F, and PCB from these particular process
units in this rule. Moreover, a numerical limit established at some
level greater than the detection limit (which would be a necessity
since any numeric standard would have to be measurable) could actually
authorize and allow more emissions of these HAP than would otherwise be
the case. The work practices for anode bake furnaces, paste production
plants, and potlines discussed in section IV.C.1 of this preamble are
those practices utilized by the best performing sources--the sources
with the work practices in place that the EPA has evaluated as best
controlling emissions of these HAP.
In the cases of PCB from anode bake furnaces and prebake potlines,
D/F from Soderberg potlines, and Hg from both Soderberg and prebake
potlines, we determined that about 70 to 80 percent of the emissions
data were below the detection limits. In previous cases (see, e.g., 76
FR 25046, 78 FR 22387, and docket item number EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0291-
0120) where test results were predominantly (e.g., more than 55 percent
of the test run results) found to be below detection limits, the EPA
established work practice standards for the pollutants in question from
the subject sources, since we believe emissions of the pollutants are
too low to reliably measure and quantify. We are adopting that same
approach here, for the same reasons, and are, therefore, finalizing
work practice standards to address emissions of Hg from potlines, PCB
from anode bake furnaces and prebake potlines, and D/F from Soderberg
potlines. Specifically, we are finalizing the work practice standards
presented in 40 CFR 63.847(l) and (m) and 40 CFR 63.854 of the 2014
supplemental proposal to address emissions of Hg from potlines, D/F
from Soderberg potlines, and PCB from prebake potlines. Further, the
requirements of 40 CFR 63.847(h)(1) and 40 CFR 63.848(f)(1) of current
subpart LL; the work practice standards proposed in sections 40 CFR
63.843(f) and 40 CFR 63.844(f) of the 2011 proposal and 40 CFR
63.847(l) of the 2014 proposal; and the enhanced VE monitoring of 40
CFR 63.848(g)(3) of the final rule address the PCB emissions from anode
bake furnaces.
However, as noted above, all of the emissions data for D/F from
prebake potlines, anode bake furnaces, and paste production plants were
either below the detection limit or otherwise unreliable (e.g., were
flagged in the test report as having quality assurance issues).
Therefore, we are not promulgating numerical emissions limits or work
practices for these HAP since there is no reliable evidence that these
sources emit them.
D. What changes did we make to the control device monitoring
requirements for the Primary Aluminum Production source category?
1. What control device monitoring requirements did we propose for the
Primary Aluminum Production source category?
In the 2014 supplemental proposal, we proposed that the owner or
operator of a primary aluminum reduction plant would need to install
either a BLDS or a PM CEMS on the exhaust of each control device used
to control emissions from a new or existing affected potline, anode
bake furnace, or paste production plant.
2. What changes did the EPA make to the proposed control device
monitoring requirements developed for the Primary Aluminum Production
source category?
In the final rule, the control device monitoring requirements for
new potlines, new anode bake furnaces, and new paste production plants
remain unchanged. However, for existing potlines, existing anode bake
furnaces and existing paste production plants, the owner or operators
have the option to conduct enhanced VE monitoring as an alternative to
the installation of BLDS or PM CEMS. This enhanced VE monitoring would
include twice daily monitoring of VE from the exhaust of each control
device, with those two VE monitoring events at least 4 hours apart. If
VE are observed, then the owner or operator would need to take
corrective action within 1 hour, including isolating, shutting down,
and conducting internal inspections of any baghouse compartment
associated with VE indicating abnormal operations and fixing the
compartment before it is put back in service.
3. What key comments did we receive regarding control device monitoring
requirements and what are our responses?
Comment: Several commenters stated that the proposed rule requires
either the installation of PM CEMS or the installation of BLDS on stack
emission points associated with fabric filter (baghouse) control
systems for demonstration of continuous compliance with the PM limit.
The commenters stated that the EPA has not considered the large number
of stacks involved and the complexity, time, and cost for installing
BLDS or PM CEMS monitoring systems on the baghouses of potline primary
control systems.
The commenters stated that there are significant and substantial
issues with this requirement that merit rethinking.
[[Page 62409]]
The commenters stated that there is already a requirement in the 40 CFR
part 63, subpart LL rule for a daily visual check for opacity on all
stacks associated with baghouse control systems. The commenters stated
that this serves the same function and purpose as the installation of
BLDSs and has been working well in that manner since the time the
original rules were finalized in 1997.
The commenters stated that the EPA concluded ``. . . that all
existing prebake potlines will be able to meet these MACT floor limits
for PM without the need to install additional controls because the
performance of all sources in the category is similar, all of the
potlines within each of the subcategories utilize very similar emission
control technology, the average emissions from each source are well
below the MACT floor limit and emissions data from every facility that
performed emissions testing were included in the dataset used to
develop the MACT floor.'' The commenters stated that it is clear that
the daily VE inspection, corrective action, and baghouse maintenance
practices that facilities have already implemented in response to the
enhanced monitoring requirements of current 40 CFR part 63, subpart LL
are resulting in a level of baghouse performance that ensures ongoing
continuous compliance with the proposed PM emission limits.
The commenters stated that the EPA notes in the proposed rule that
potline secondary PM emissions comprise by far the largest share of
primary aluminum reduction plant PM emissions, and these would not be
addressed with BLDS. The commenters cited test data to highlight this
issue and stated that the EPA's own analysis of control options on
secondary PM emissions from potlines found them to not be economically
feasible yet the resulting risks are still within acceptable risk
limits.
The commenters stated that the most common potline primary PM
control system, the A-398 scrubber system, has multiple stacks
associated with each control device, and there are multiple control
devices for each potline. The commenters stated that a survey of U.S.
primary aluminum facilities indicated that at present there are 388
potline stack emission points across seven operating plants that would
need to install BLDS in response to this proposed new requirement. The
commenters stated that there are 50 to 100 individual stacks per
potline at some of their facilities and provided a table of the
affected sources. The commenters stated that the costs, complexity, and
time required for installing BLDS or PM CEMS at a facility with over
100 potline control device stacks are formidable.
The commenters provided a cost analysis of installation and
operating cost for BLDS and estimated that industry-wide, this would
result in cumulative $5.24 million of initial costs and $1.2 million of
annual costs to comply with this requirement for potlines, not
including the additional costs relative to compliance for anode bake
furnaces and paste production plants. The commenters stated that none
of these very significant costs are included in either the December
2014 supplemental proposal preamble discussion of the costs/benefit
calculation or the Revised Draft Cost Impacts for the Primary Aluminum
Source Category document dated November 13, 2014. The commenters stated
that inclusion of these bag leak detector costs alters the cost/benefit
dynamic substantially such that it changes the calculation from a
slight net benefit to a significant net cost. The commenters stated
that the bag leak detector option is the most cost-effective of the two
compliance options presented in the proposed rule (BLDS versus PM
CEMS). The commenters urged the EPA to recalculate the revised cost
estimate to address the installation of BLDS or PM CEMS on existing
sources and to provide for the opportunity to comment on the changes.
The commenters stated that the proposed requirements of 40 CFR
63.848(o)(3)(i) require initiation of procedures to determine the cause
of a BLDS alarm with 30 minutes. The commenters stated that the subpart
LL requirements of 40 CFR 63.848(h) all require the initiation of
corrective action within 1 hour. The commenters stated that the EPA
should set the time frame for initiating a response to BLD events at 1
hour so as to be consistent with the other corrective action
requirements.
The commenters stated that the proposed timelines for compliance do
not consider the time required to design, procure, and install and
operate a BLDS or PM CEMS on each baghouse stack. The commenters stated
that since the proposed requirement to install BLDS or PM CEMS on
potline control devices is unnecessary and cost-prohibitive for
existing potlines, they strongly recommend that BLDS and PM CEMS
provisions be deleted from the final rule requirements in their
entirety.
The commenters stated that the EPA's proposed requirements of 40
CFR 63.848(o)(1) pertain to baghouse preventative maintenance
requirements. The commenters stated that facilities already have to
comply with similar requirements for proper operation and maintenance
of emission control equipment under state or federal requirements as
included in their title V air operating permits. The commenters stated
that the EPA should tailor the proposed requirements to specifically
address the development and implementation of procedures pertaining to
the BLDS.
The commenters recommended (in the event that BLDS is in the final
rule) revisions to 40 CFR 63.848(o)(1) and (3)(i).
Response: The EPA agrees that installation of BLDS or PM CEMS for
certain existing emission control configurations would be both
technically challenging and cost prohibitive for some facilities due to
the large number of individual stacks supporting these control devices.
We also agree with the commenters that PM emissions from potlines are
dominated by secondary roof vent emissions. This is a result of
effective emissions control on the primary stacks and the difficulty
(technical and economic) associated with installation and operation of
secondary roof vent emission controls. Moreover, we further find that
under these circumstances, enhanced VE monitoring provides sufficiently
reliable and timely information for determining compliance with the PM
standards--in particular, the twice daily VE monitoring with
requirement for initiation of corrective actions (if applicable),
including isolation and internal inspection of a scrubber compartment,
within 1 hour.\14\ Therefore, we are providing owners or operators of
existing affected sources the options to monitor these sources with
either BLDS, PM CEMS, or enhanced VE observations, as described above.
Further, for those sources that do have BLDS, we agree that 1 hour is
the appropriate length of time for initiation of root cause analysis
for alarms and, therefore, are promulgating this requirement.
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\14\ See Sierra Club v. EPA, 353 F. 3d 976, 991 (D.C. Cir. 2004)
(per Roberts, J.) (enhanced monitoring requirement in CAA section
114(a)(3) does not mandate continuous monitoring or create a
presumption for such monitoring. Consistent with that reading, CAA
section 504 (b) provides that ``continuous emissions monitoring need
not be required if alternative methods are available that provide
sufficiently reliable and timely information for determining
compliance'').
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4. What is the rationale for our final approach regarding control
device monitoring requirements?
The final rule will require annual PM testing of the primary
control device and continuous or frequent monitoring
[[Page 62410]]
with BLDS, PM CEMS, or VE observations. The EPA believes it is
necessary that facilities conduct at least one of these monitoring
measures to ensure that the primary control device is maintained in
good working order throughout the year. As mentioned above, as an
alternative to BLDS or PM CEMS, we are finalizing a third option of
twice daily visual inspections of each exhaust stack(s) of each control
device using Method 22 (at least 4 hours apart) for existing sources.
Existing sources will have the option to perform Method 22 inspections,
install BLDS, or install PM CEMS. We believe that the twice daily
visual inspection alternative will provide adequate assurance that the
control devices are properly operated and maintained.
We believe that future potline air pollution control systems will
be constructed/installed with a newer technology (dry injection type),
rather than the currently installed (older) technology A-398 type. The
newer technologies have significantly fewer stack emission points than
the many stacks of the A-398 systems. Consequently, the number of BLDS
needed would be substantially less with those systems than for the A-
398 systems. For this reason, we are maintaining the requirement to
install BLDS or PM CEMS on new sources.
E. What changes did we make to compliance dates for the Primary
Aluminum Production source category?
1. What existing source compliance dates did we propose for the Primary
Aluminum Production source category?
The proposed compliance dates for existing sources in the December
2014 supplemental proposal were as follows:
Date of publication of final rule for the malfunction
provisions and the electronic reporting provisions;
One year after date of publication of final rule for
potlines subject to the COS and PM emission limits; prebake potlines
subject to POM emission limits; the potline, paste production plant,
and anode bake furnace work practices; anode bake furnaces and paste
production plants subject to PM emission limits; and pitch storage
tanks subject to POM standards; and
Two years after date of publication of final rule for
Soderberg potlines subject to the POM, Ni, and As emission limits.
2. What changes is EPA making to the proposed existing source
compliance dates for the Primary Aluminum Production source category?
The EPA has revised the compliance dates for existing sources in
the Primary Aluminum Production source category from those proposed in
2014 as follows:
The compliance date was changed from 1 year after date of
publication of final rule to 2 years after date of publication of final
rule for prebake potlines subject to POM and PM emission limits and for
pitch storage tanks subject to POM equipment standards;
The compliance date of 1 year after date of publication of
final rule was added for Soderberg potlines subject to PCB emission
limits; and
The compliance date of 2 years after date of publication
of final rule was added for anode bake furnaces subject to Hg emission
limits.
For more discussion of the promulgated compliance dates, refer to
the document, Final Rationale for Selection of Compliance Dates for the
Primary Aluminum Production Source Category, which is available in the
docket for this action (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797).
3. What key comments did we receive regarding compliance dates and what
are our responses?
Comment: Several commenters stated concern with the compliance
dates outlined in the supplemental proposal. The commenters stated that
the compliance dates in the December 2014 proposal are in marked
contrast to the 2011 proposal that included a 3-year compliance window
for all changes. The commenters stated that they are concerned that the
rationale used to dramatically shorten the compliance timelines is not
reflective of actual on-site conditions and decision-making/approval
processes for the changes required for compliance. The commenters
stated that new emission limits imposed on the affected facilities will
require installation of additional emission controls and/or monitoring
devices.
The commenters stated that at least one facility will be required
to install a Method 14 manifold or Method 14A cassette system in a
currently operating potline for collecting roof monitor samples to
determine emissions of PM and POM. The commenters stated that a number
of facilities currently do not have an emission control system on their
existing pitch storage tanks. The commenters stated that these
facilities will be required to install and test (or certify) an
emission control system to meet the 95-percent POM reduction
requirement.
The commenters stated that the effort involved in the determination
of the exact changes that will be needed; the selection, installation,
and startup of new controls and their associated equipment; and
consideration of the business planning cycle for making significant new
capital and operating expense monetary outlays all indicate that more
than 1 year is needed to have the emissions control and monitoring
devices installed and properly operational.
The commenters requested an increased amount of time for compliance
dates for malfunction and ERT provisions, work practices, and emission
limits.
Response: The EPA has received information from Alcoa that their
Wenatchee facility currently has two potlines (potlines 2 and 3) that
are not equipped with a Method 14 manifold or Method 14A cassette
system. Either a manifold or cassette system is required to monitor
secondary potline emissions and to demonstrate compliance with the
potline PM and POM emission limits. Alcoa provided cost estimates for
the installation of a Method 14 manifold and a Method 14A cassette
system. These costs were estimated at $500,000 (or approximately
$55,000 per year annualized) for either system (see Installation of
Method 14 or 14A Sampling Equipment at Alcoa Wenatchee, Docket item
number EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797-0385). After considering this comment and
after further evaluation, we agree that a compliance date of 2 years
after publication of the final rule is appropriate for the
demonstration of compliance with the potline emissions limits because
some facilities may need to install Method 14 manifolds or Method 14A
cassette systems to demonstrate compliance, and we believe that up to 2
years may be needed to plan, design, construct, and install such
systems and complete the required testing and analyses.
After further evaluation, the EPA determined that the appropriate
compliance date for the 95-percent POM reduction requirement for pitch
storage tanks is 2 years from the publication date of the final rule.
The EPA agrees with the commenters that this additional time may be
needed to install, test, and certify emission control systems.
We are finalizing the proposed compliance dates for existing
sources for the malfunction provisions and the electronic reporting
provisions.
We are finalizing a compliance date of 1 year after date of
publication of the final rule for potlines subject to the work practice
standards and the COS emission limits, and for anode bake furnaces and
paste production plants
[[Page 62411]]
subject to work practices and PM emission limits.
We are finalizing a compliance date of 2 years after date of
publication of the final rule for prebake potlines subject to POM
emission limits; for Soderberg potlines subject to revised POM emission
limits and emission limits for Ni, As, and PCB; for potlines subject to
PM emissions limits; and for existing pitch storage tank POM equipment
standards.
We are finalizing a compliance date of 2 years after date of
publication of final rule for anode bake furnaces subject to Hg
emission limits.
4. What is the rationale for our final approach regarding compliance
dates?
The EPA extended the compliance dates for prebake potlines subject
to POM and PM emissions limits from 1 to 2 years after date of
publication of the final rule to give owners or operators an
appropriate amount of time to install the manifolds or cassette systems
necessary to sample the potline fugitive emissions. Monitoring of
potline fugitive emissions will be required in order to demonstrate
compliance with the promulgated POM and PM emissions limits unless the
owner or operator can demonstrate potline similarity for purposes of
these HAP pursuant to 40 CFR 63.848(d) of subpart LL, and the EPA finds
that the 2 year compliance time allows adequate time for owners or
operators to apply for similarity determinations.
Similarly, the compliance date for existing pitch storage tanks
subject to POM equipment standards was extended by EPA from 1 to 2
years after date of publication of the final rule to give owners or
operators an appropriate amount of time to install, test, and certify
the emission control systems.
The compliance date of 1 year after date of publication of the
final rule was added for Soderberg potlines subject to a PCB emission
limit or D/F work practice standards. We believe that 1 year will be
sufficient to demonstrate compliance with these requirements for
existing Soderberg potlines, in the unlikely event that the existing
Soderberg potlines are restarted, since the available data suggests
that no modifications or additional controls are necessary to meet that
limit.
The EPA added a compliance date of 2 years after date of
publication of the final rule for anode bake furnaces subject to the Hg
emission limit. We believe 2 years is justified in this case to provide
industry sufficient time to schedule and perform testing and take
appropriate subsequent steps to ensure compliance.
V. Summary of Cost, Environmental, and Economic Impacts and Additional
Analyses Conducted
A. What are the affected sources?
The affected sources are new and existing potlines, new and
existing pitch storage tanks, new and existing anode bake furnaces
(except for one that is located at a facility that only produces anodes
for use off-site and is subject to the state MACT determination
established by the regulatory authority), and new and existing paste
production plants.
B. What are the air quality impacts?
We estimate that the promulgated lower VSS2 potline POM emissions
limit would reduce POM emissions from the one Soderberg facility by
approximately 53 tpy if the facility were to resume operation.
Furthermore, we estimate that these standards would also result in
about 1 tpy reduction of HAP metals and 40 tpy reduction of PM with
diameter of 2.5 microns and less (PM2.5) if the one
Soderberg facility reopened. We consider this very unlikely as the
owner of that facility, Columbia Falls Aluminum Company, has publicly
announced its permanent closure. However, we include this analysis
because the potlines have not been demolished yet.
Finally, we estimate that the addition of controls to the eight
existing uncontrolled pitch storage tanks located at prebake facilities
would reduce POM emissions by 1.55 tpy.
C. What are the cost impacts?
Under the final amendments, facilities are subject to additional
testing, monitoring, and equipment costs. Owners and operators are
required to conduct semiannual tests for PM and POM emissions from
potline roof vents, annual tests for PM and POM from potline primary
emissions, annual tests of PM and Hg from anode bake furnace exhausts,
and annual tests of PM from paste production plant exhausts. These
testing costs are offset by reduced frequency of secondary potline TF
emissions testing (from monthly to semiannual). In addition, all
emission stacks not equipped with either BLDS or PM CEMS are subject to
increased frequency (from daily to twice daily) VE testing. Additional
monitoring to demonstrate continuous compliance with PM standards for
anode bake furnaces and paste production plants is required by the
rule. Eight owners or operators of facilities operating uncontrolled
pitch storage tanks are required to install and operate controls on
these tanks, and the owner or operator of one facility with two
potlines (one idle and one in operation) not currently equipped with
either a manifold or a cassette system may be required to install this
equipment. These amendments result in a net estimated reduction in
testing costs of $1.05 million, a net estimated increase in monitoring
costs of $625,000, and a net increase in estimated annualized capital
equipment costs of $260,000. Nationwide annual costs to industry are
expected to decrease by an estimated $165,000 per year under these
amendments.
The memorandum, Final Cost Impacts for the Primary Aluminum
Production Source Category, includes a description of the details and
assumptions used for this analysis and is available in the docket for
this action (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797).
D. What are the economic impacts?
We performed an economic impact analysis for the modifications in
this action. That analysis estimates a net savings for each primary
aluminum reduction facility based on the belief that the Columbia Falls
Soderberg facility will not reopen. In March of 2015, the Columbia
Falls Aluminum Company announced the permanent closure of their
Soderberg facility. For more information, please refer to the Economic
Impact Analysis for National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants: Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants and Final Economic Impact
Analysis for the Primary Aluminum Production Source Category documents,
which are available in the docket for this rulemaking.
E. What are the benefits?
If the Columbia Falls Soderberg facility were to resume operations,
there would be an estimated reduction in its annual HAP emissions
(i.e., about 53 tons) that would provide significant benefits to public
health. In addition to the HAP reductions, which would ensure an ample
margin of safety, we also estimate that this final rule would achieve
about 230 tons of reductions in PM (including 40 tons of
PM2.5) emissions as a co-benefit of the HAP reductions
annually (again assuming resumption of plant operation).
Further, we estimate that the addition of controls to the eight
existing uncontrolled pitch storage tanks at prebake facilities would
reduce POM emissions by 1.55 tpy.
This rulemaking is not an ``economically significant regulatory
action'' under Executive Order 12866 because it is not likely to have
an annual effect on the economy of $100
[[Page 62412]]
million or more. Therefore, we have not conducted a Regulatory Impact
Analysis (RIA) for this rulemaking or a benefits analysis. While we
expect that these avoided emissions will improve air quality and reduce
health effects associated with exposure to air pollution associated
with these emissions, we have not quantified or monetized the benefits
of reducing these emissions for this rulemaking. This does not imply
that there are no benefits associated with these emission reductions.
We provide a qualitative description of benefits associated with
reducing these pollutants below. When determining whether the benefits
of an action exceed its costs, Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct
the Agency to consider qualitative benefits that are difficult to
quantify, but nevertheless essential to consider.
Directly emitted particles are precursors to secondary formation of
PM2.5. Controls installed to reduce HAP would also reduce
ambient concentrations of PM2.5 as a co-benefit. Reducing
exposure to PM2.5 is associated with significant human
health benefits, including avoiding mortality and morbidity from
cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. Researchers have associated
PM2.5 exposure with adverse health effects in numerous
toxicological, clinical, and epidemiological studies (U.S. EPA,
2009).\15\ When adequate data and resources are available and an RIA is
required, the EPA generally quantifies several health effects
associated with exposure to PM2.5 (e.g., U.S. EPA,
2012).\16\ These health effects include premature mortality for adults
and infants, cardiovascular morbidities such as heart attacks, hospital
admissions, and respiratory morbidities such as asthma attacks, acute
bronchitis, hospital and emergency department visits, work loss days,
restricted activity days, and respiratory symptoms. The scientific
literature also suggests that exposure to PM2.5 is
associated with adverse effects on birth weight, pre-term births,
pulmonary function, and other cardiovascular and respiratory effects
(U.S. EPA, 2009), but the EPA has not quantified these impacts in its
benefits analyses. PM2.5 also increases light extinction,
which is an important aspect of visibility.
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\15\ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). 2009.
Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (Final Report).
EPA-600-R-08-139F. National Center for Environmental Assessment--RTP
Division. Available on the Internet at https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=216546.
\16\ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). 2012.
Regulatory Impact Analysis for the Final Revisions to the National
Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter. Office of Air
and Radiation, Research Triangle Park, NC. Available on the Internet
at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/ecas/regdata/RIAs/finalria.pdf.https://www.epa.gov/ttnecas1/regdata/RIAs/PMRIACombinedFile_Bookmarked.pdf.
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The rulemaking may prevent increases in emissions of other HAP,
including HAP metals (As, cadmium, chromium (both total and
hexavalent), lead, manganese, Hg, and Ni) and PAH. Some of these HAP
are carcinogenic (e.g., As, PAH), and some have effects other than
cancer (e.g., kidney disease from cadmium, respiratory and
immunological effects from Ni). While we cannot quantitatively estimate
the benefits achieved by reducing emissions of these HAP, we expect
benefits by reducing exposures to these HAP. More information about the
health effects of these HAP can be found on the IRIS,\17\ U.S. Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR),\18\ and California
EPA \19\ Web sites.
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\17\ U.S. EPA, 2006. Integrated Risk Information System. https://www.epa.gov/iris/.
\18\ ATSDR, 2013. Minimum Risk Levels (MRLs) for Hazardous
Substances. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls/.
\19\ California Office of Environmental Health Hazard
Assessment. Chronic Reference Exposure Levels Adopted by OEHHA as of
December 2008. https://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels.
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F. What analysis of environmental justice did we conduct?
To examine the potential for any EJ issues that might be associated
with the Primary Aluminum Production source category, we performed a
demographic analysis, which is an assessment of risks to individual
demographic groups, of the population close to the facilities. In this
analysis, we evaluated the distribution of HAP-related cancer risks and
non-cancer hazards from this source category across different social,
demographic, and economic groups within the populations living near
facilities identified as having the highest risks. The results of the
demographic analysis are summarized in Table 6 in section IV.A.3 of
this preamble and indicate that there are no significant
disproportionate risks to any particular minority, low income, or
indigenous population (see the discussion in section IV.A.3 of this
preamble). The methodology and the results of the demographic analyses
are included in a technical report, Analysis of Socio-Economic Factors
for Populations Living Near Primary Aluminum Facilities, which is
available in the docket for this rulemaking (docket item No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2011-0797-0360).
G. What analysis of children's environmental health did we conduct?
This action is not subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885,
April 23, 1997) because the Agency does not believe the environmental
health risks or safety risks addressed by this action present a
disproportionate risk to children. The report, Analysis of Socio-
Economic Factors for Populations Living Near Primary Aluminum
Facilities, which is available in the docket for this rulemaking,
indicates that the percentages for all demographic groups exposed to
various risk levels, including children, are similar to their
respective nationwide percentages. That report further shows that,
prior to the implementation of the provisions included in this final
rule, on a nationwide basis, there are approximately 900,000 people
exposed to a cancer risk at or above 1-in-1 million and no people
exposed to a chronic non-cancer TOSHI greater than 1 due to emissions
from the source category.
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Additional information about these statutes and Executive Orders
can be found at https://www2.epa.gov/laws-regulations/laws-and-executive-orders.
A. Executive Orders 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review
This action is not a significant regulatory action and was,
therefore, not submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
for review.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
The information collection activities in this rule have been
submitted for approval to the OMB under the PRA. The ICR document
prepared by the EPA has been assigned EPA ICR number 2447.01. You can
find a copy of the ICR in the docket for this rule (Docket ID No. EPA-
HQ-OAR-2011-0797) and it is briefly summarized below. The information
collection requirements are not enforceable until OMB approves them.
We are finalizing changes to the paperwork requirements for the
Primary Aluminum Production source category facilities subject to 40
CFR part 63, subpart LL. In this final rule, we are promulgating less
frequent testing of TF emissions from potlines. In addition, we are
removing the burden associated with the affirmative defense provisions
included in the December 2011 proposal.
[[Page 62413]]
We estimate 11 regulated entities are currently subject to CFR part
63, subpart LL and will be subject to this action. The annual
monitoring, reporting, and recordkeeping burden for this collection
(averaged over the first 3 years after the effective date of the
standards) as a result of the final amendments to 40 CFR part 63,
subpart LL (NESHAP for Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants) is estimated
to be -$931,000 per year.
This includes 361 labor hours per year at a total labor cost of
$27,400 per year, and total non-labor capital, and operation and
maintenance costs of -$958,000 per year. This estimate includes
performance tests, notifications, reporting, and recordkeeping
associated with the new requirements for primary aluminum reduction
plant operations. The total burden for the federal government (averaged
over the first 3 years after the effective date of the standard) is
estimated to be 181 hours per year at a total labor cost of $8,250 per
year. 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. When OMB
approves this ICR, the Agency will announce that approval in the
Federal Register and publish a technical amendment to 40 CFR part 9 to
display the OMB control number for the approved information collection
activities contained in this final rule.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
I certify that this action will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the RFA. This
action will not impose any requirements on small entities. There are no
small entities in this regulated industry. For this source category,
which has the NAICS code 331312, the Small Business Administration
(SBA) small business size standard is 1,000 employees according to the
SBA small business standards definitions.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
This action does not contain an unfunded mandate of $100 million or
more as described in UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, and does not
significantly or uniquely affect small governments. This action imposes
no enforceable duty on any state, local, or tribal governments or the
private sector.
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.
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian
Tribal Governments
This action does not have tribal implications as specified in
Executive Order 13175. This action does not have substantial direct
effects on one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the
Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power
and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.
Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this action.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental
Health Risks and Safety Risks
This action is not subject to Executive Order 13045 because it is
not economically significant as defined in Executive Order 12866, and
because the EPA 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
the Residual Risk Assessment for the Primary Aluminum Production Source
Category in Support of the September 2015 Risk and Technology Review
Final Rule, which is available in the docket for this action (Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797).
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution or Use
This action is not subject to Executive Order 13211 because it is
not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) and 1 CFR
Part 51
This final action involves technical standards. The rule requires
the use of either ASTM D4239-14e1, ``Standard Test Method for Sulfur in
the Analysis Sample of Coal and Coke Using High-Temperature Tube
Furnace Combustion,'' approved March 1, 2014, or ASTM D6376-10, ``Test
Method for Determination of Trace Metals in Petroleum Coke by
Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy,'' approved July
1, 2010. ASTM D4239-14e1, approved March 1, 2014, covers the
determination of sulfur in samples of coal or coke by high temperature
tube furnace combustion. ASTM D6376-10, approved July 1, 2010, covers
the x-ray fluorescence spectrometric determination of total sulfur and
trace metals in samples of raw or calcined petroleum coke. These are
voluntary consensus methods. These methods can be obtained from the
American Society for Testing and Materials, 100 Bar Harbor Drive, West
Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428 (telephone number (610) 832-9500).
These methods were promulgated in the final rule because they are
commonly used by primary aluminum reduction plants to demonstrate
compliance with sulfur dioxide emission limitations imposed in their
current title V permits.
This final rule also requires use of Method 428, ``Determination of
Polychlorinated Dibenzo-P-Dioxin (PCDD), Polychlorinated Dibenzofuran
(PCDF), and Polychlorinated Biphenyle Emissions (PCB) from Stationary
Sources,'' amended September 12, 1990. Method 428, amended September
12, 1990, covers the determination of PCDD, PCDF, or PCB from
stationary sources. The standard is available from the California Air
Resources Board, 1001 ``I'' Street, Sacramento, CA 95812 (telephone
number (800) 242-4450) or at their Web site, https://www.arb.ca.gov/testmeth/vol3/m_428.pdf.
The EPA has decided to use EPA Method 29 for the determination of
the concentration of Hg. While the EPA identified ASTM D6784-02 (2008),
``Standard Test Method for Elemental, Oxidized, Particle-Bound and
Total Mercury in Flue Gas Generated from Coal-Fired Stationary Sources
(Ontario Hydro Method),'' ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA,
2008, as being potentially applicable, the Agency decided not to use
it. The use of this voluntary consensus standard would be more
expensive and is inconsistent with the final Hg standard that was
determined using EPA Method 29 data.
Under 40 CFR 63.7(f) and 40 CFR 63.8(f) of Subpart A of the General
Provisions, a source may apply to the EPA for permission to use
alternative test methods or alternative monitoring requirements in
place of any required testing methods, performance specifications, or
procedures in this final rule.
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations
The EPA believes the human health or environmental risk addressed
by this
[[Page 62414]]
action will not have potential disproportionately high and adverse
human health or environmental effects on minority, low-income, or
indigenous populations because it increases the level of environmental
protection for all affected populations without having any
disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental
effects on any population, including any minority, low-income or
indigenous populations. For the Primary Aluminum Production source
category, the EPA determined that the current health risks posed to
anyone by actual emissions from this source category are within the
acceptable range, and that this action will not appreciably reduce
these risks further.
These final standards will improve public health and welfare, now
and in the future, by reducing HAP emissions contributing to
environmental and human health impacts. These reductions in HAP
associated with the rule will benefit all populations.
To examine the potential for any EJ issues that might be associated
with this source category, we evaluated the distributions of HAP-
related cancer and non-cancer risks across different social,
demographic, and economic groups within the populations living near the
facilities where this source category is located. The methods used to
conduct demographic analyses for this final rule, and the results of
these analyses, are described in the document, Analysis of Socio-
Economic Factors for Populations Living Near Primary Aluminum
Facilities, which can be found in the docket for this rulemaking
(Docket item number EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0797-0360).
In the demographics analysis, we focused on populations within 50
kilometers of the facilities in this source category with emissions
sources subject to 40 CFR part 63, subpart LL. More specifically, for
these populations we evaluated exposures to HAP that could result in
cancer risks of 1-in-one million or greater. We compared the
percentages of particular demographic groups within the focused
populations to the total percentages of those demographic groups
nationwide.
K. Congressional Review Act (CRA)
This action is subject to the CRA, and the EPA will submit a rule
report to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of
the United States. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5
U.S.C. 804(2).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 63
Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedures,
Air pollution control, Hazardous substances, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Dated: September 10, 2015.
Gina McCarthy,
Administrator.
For the reasons stated in the preamble, Title 40, chapter I, of the
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is amended as follows:
PART 63--NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS
FOR SOURCE CATEGORIES
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1. The authority citation for part 63 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401, et seq.
Subpart A--General Provisions
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2. Section 63.14 is amended:
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a. By redesignating paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) as paragraphs (b)(2) and
(3), respectively, and adding new paragraph (b)(1);
0
b. By redesignating paragraphs (h)(77) through (95) as paragraphs
(h)(80) through (98), respectively;
0
c. By redesignating paragraphs (h)(53) through (76) as paragraphs
(h)(55) through (78), respectively;
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d. By redesignating paragraphs (h)(33) through (52) as paragraphs
(h)(34) through (53), respectively;
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e. By adding new paragraphs (h)(33), (54) and (79); and
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f. By redesignating paragraphs (k)(1) through (4) as paragraphs (k)(2)
through (5), respectively, and adding new paragraph (k)(1).
The additions read as follows:
Sec. 63.14 Incorporations by reference.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(1) Industrial Ventilation: A Manual of Recommended Practice, 22nd
Edition, 1995, Chapter 3, ``Local Exhaust Hoods'' and Chapter 5,
``Exhaust System Design Procedure.'' IBR approved for Sec. Sec.
63.843(b) and 63.844(b).
* * * * *
(h) * * *
(33) ASTM D2986-95A, ``Standard Practice for Evaluation of Air
Assay Media by the Monodisperse DOP (Dioctyl Phthalate) Smoke Test,''
approved September 10, 1995, IBR approved for section 7.1.1 of Method
315 in appendix A to this part.
* * * * *
(54) ASTM D4239-14e1, ``Standard Test Method for Sulfur in the
Analysis Sample of Coal and Coke Using High-Temperature Tube Furnace
Combustion,'' approved March 1, 2014, IBR approved for Sec. 63.849(f).
* * * * *
(79) ASTM D6376-10, ``Standard Test Method for Determination of
Trace Metals in Petroleum Coke by Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray
Fluorescence Spectroscopy,'' Approved July 1, 2010, IBR approved for
Sec. 63.849(f).
* * * * *
(k) * * *
(1) Method 428, ``Determination Of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-P-Dioxin
(PCDD), Polychlorinated Dibenzofuran (PCDF), and Polychlorinated
Biphenyle Emissions from Stationary Sources,'' amended September 12,
1990, IBR approved for Sec. 63.849(a)(13) and (14).
* * * * *
Subpart LL--National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants for Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants
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3. Section 63.840 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as
follows:
Sec. 63.840 Applicability.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, the
requirements of this subpart apply to the owner or operator of each new
or existing pitch storage tank, potline, paste production plant and
anode bake furnace associated with primary aluminum production and
located at a major source as defined in Sec. 63.2.
* * * * *
Sec. 63.841 [Removed and reserved]
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4. Section 63.841 is removed and reserved.
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5. Section 63.842 is amended by:
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a. Adding, in alphabetical order, a definition of ``High purity
aluminum'';
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b. Removing the definition for ``Horizontal stud Soderberg (HSS)
process'';
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c. Adding, in alphabetical order, definitions of ``Operating day'' and
``Particulate matter (PM)'';
0
d. Revising the definition for ``Paste production plant'';
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e. Adding, in alphabetical order definitions of ``Polychlorinated
biphenyl (PCB)'', ``Startup of an anode bake furnace'', and ``Toxicity
equivalence (TEQ)''; and
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f. Removing the definition for ``Vertical stud Soderberg one
(VSS1)''.The revisions and additions read as follows:
Sec. 63.842 Definitions.
* * * * *
[[Page 62415]]
High purity aluminum means aluminum produced with an average purity
level of at least 99.9 percent.
* * * * *
Operating day means a 24-hour period between 12 midnight and the
following midnight during which an affected source operates at any
time. It is not necessary for operations to occur for the entire 24-
hour period.
Particulate matter (PM) means, for the purposes of this subpart,
emissions of particulate matter that serve as a measure of total
particulate emissions and as a surrogate for metal hazardous air
pollutants contained in the particulates, including but not limited to:
Antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead,
manganese, nickel and selenium.
Paste production plant means the processes whereby calcined
petroleum coke, coal tar pitch (hard or liquid) and/or other materials
are mixed, transferred and formed into briquettes or paste for vertical
stud Soderberg (VSS) processes or into green anodes for a prebake
process. This definition includes all operations from initial mixing to
final forming (i.e., briquettes, paste, green anodes) within the paste
production plant, including conveyors and units managing heated liquid
pitch.
* * * * *
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) means any or all of the 209 possible
chlorinated biphenyl isomers.
* * * * *
Startup of an anode bake furnace means the process of initiating
heating to the anode bake furnace. The startup or re-start of the
furnace begins when the heating begins. The startup or re-start
concludes at the start of the second anode bake cycle if the furnace
was at ambient temperature upon startup or when the anode bake cycle
resumes if the furnace was not at ambient temperature.
* * * * *
Toxicity equivalence (TEQ) means an international method of
expressing toxicity equivalents for PCBs as defined in U.S. EPA,
Recommended Toxicity Equivalence Factors (TEFs) for Human Health Risk
Assessments of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and Dioxin-Like
Compounds, EPA/100/R-10/005 December 2010.
* * * * *
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6. Section 63.843 is amended by:
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a. Revising paragraph (a) introductory text, and paragraphs (a)(1)(iv),
(a)(1)(vi), and (a)(2)(iii);
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b. Removing paragraph (a)(1)(vii);
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c. Removing and reserving paragraphs (a)(1)(v), (a)(2)(i) and
(a)(2)(ii);
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d. Adding paragraphs (a)(2)(iv) through (vii);
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e. Redesignating paragraph (a)(3) as (a)(7) and adding new paragraphs
(a)(3) through (6);
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f. Revising paragraph (b) introductory text, and paragraph (b)(1);
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g. Adding paragraph (b)(4);
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h. Revising paragraph (c); and
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i. Adding paragraphs (d), (e) and (f).
The revisions and additions read as follows:
Sec. 63.843 Emission limits for existing sources.
(a) Potlines. The owner or operator shall not discharge or cause to
be discharged into the atmosphere any emissions of TF, POM, PM, nickel,
arsenic or PCB in excess of the applicable limits in paragraphs (a)(1)
through (6) of this section.
(1) * * *
(iv) 0.8 kg/Mg (1.6 lb/ton) of aluminum produced for each SWPB
potline; and
(v) [Reserved]
(vi) 1.35 kg/Mg (2.7 lb/ton) of aluminum produced for each VSS2
potline.
(2) * * *
(i) [Reserved]
(ii) [Reserved]
(iii) 0.85 kg/Mg (1.9 lb/ton) of aluminum produced for each VSS2
potline;
(iv) 0.55 kg/Mg (1.1 lb/ton) of aluminum produced for each CWPB1
prebake potline;
(v) 6.0 kg/Mg (12 lb/ton) of aluminum produced for each CWPB2
prebake potline;
(vi) 1.4 kg/Mg (2.7 lb/ton) of aluminum produced for each CWPB3
prebake potline; and
(vii) 8.5 kg/Mg (17 lb/ton) of aluminum produced for each SWPB
prebake potline.
(3) PM limits. Emissions of PM shall not exceed:
(i) 3.7 kg/Mg (7.4 lb/ton) of aluminum produced for each CWPB1
potline;
(ii) 5.5 kg/Mg (11 lb/ton) of aluminum produced for each CWPB2
potline;
(iii) 10 kg/Mg (20 lb/ton) of aluminum produced for each CWPB3
potline;
(iv) 2.45 kg/Mg (4.9 lb/ton) of aluminum produced for each SWPB
potline; and
(v) 13 kg/Mg (26 lb/ton) of aluminum produced for each VSS2
potline.
(4) Nickel limit. Emissions of nickel shall not exceed 0.07 lb/ton
of aluminum produced from each VSS2 potline at a primary aluminum
reduction plant.
(5) Arsenic limit. Emissions of arsenic shall not exceed 0.006 lb/
ton of aluminum produced from each VSS2 potline at a primary aluminum
reduction plant.
(6) PCB limit. Emissions of PCB shall not exceed 2.0 [mu]g toxicity
equivalence (TEQ) per ton of aluminum produced from each VSS2 potline
at a primary aluminum reduction plant.
(7) * * *
(b) Paste production plants. The owner or operator shall install,
operate and maintain equipment to capture and control POM and PM
emissions from each paste production plant.
(1) The emission capture system shall be installed and operated to
meet the generally accepted engineering standards for minimum exhaust
rates as published by the American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists in Chapters 3 and 5 of ``Industrial Ventilation:
A Handbook of Recommended Practice'' (incorporated by reference; see
Sec. 63.14); and
* * * * *
(4) PM limit. Emissions of PM shall not exceed 0.041 kg/Mg (0.082
lb/ton) of paste.
(c) Anode bake furnaces. The owner or operator shall not discharge
or cause to be discharged into the atmosphere any emissions of TF, POM,
PM or mercury in excess of the limits in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4)
of this section.
(1) TF limit. Emissions of TF shall not exceed 0.10 kg/Mg (0.20 lb/
ton) of green anode;
(2) POM limit. Emissions of POM shall not exceed 0.09 kg/Mg (0.18
lb/ton) of green anode;
(3) PM limit. Emissions of PM shall not exceed 0.10 kg/Mg (0.20 lb/
ton) of green anode; and
(4) Mercury limit. Emissions of mercury shall not exceed 1.7 [mu]g/
dscm.
(d) Pitch storage tanks. Each pitch storage tank shall be equipped
with an emission control system designed and operated to reduce inlet
emissions of POM by 95 percent or greater.
(e) COS limit. Emissions of COS must not exceed 1.95 kg/Mg (3.9 lb/
ton) of aluminum produced for each potline.
(f) At all times, the owner or operator must operate and maintain
any affected source, including associated air pollution control
equipment and monitoring equipment, in a manner consistent with safety
and good air pollution control practices for minimizing emissions.
Determination of whether such operation and maintenance procedures are
being used will be based on information available to the Administrator
which may include, but is not limited to, monitoring results, review of
operation and maintenance procedures, review of
[[Page 62416]]
operation and maintenance records and inspection of the source.
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7. Section 63.844 is amended by:
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a. Revising paragraph (a) introductory text, and paragraph (a)(2);
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b. Adding paragraphs (a)(3) through (6);
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c. Revising paragraph (b);
0
d. Revising paragraph (c); and
0
e. Adding paragraphs (e) and (f).
The revisions and additions read as follows:
Sec. 63.844 Emission limits for new or reconstructed sources.
(a) Potlines. The owner or operator shall not discharge or cause to
be discharged into the atmosphere any emissions of TF, POM, PM, nickel,
arsenic or PCB in excess of the applicable limits in paragraphs (a)(1)
through (6) of this section.
* * * * *
(2) POM limit. Emissions of POM from potlines must not exceed 0.39
kg/Mg (0.77 lb/ton) of aluminum produced.
(3) PM limit. Emissions of PM from potlines must not exceed 2.45
kg/Mg (4.9 lb/ton) of aluminum produced.
(4) Nickel limit. Emissions of nickel shall not exceed 0.035 kg/Mg
(0.07 lb/ton) of aluminum produced from each Soderberg potline at a
primary aluminum reduction plant.
(5) Arsenic limit. Emissions of arsenic shall not exceed 0.003 kg/
Mg (0.006 lb/ton) of aluminum produced from each Soderberg potline at a
primary aluminum reduction plant.
(6) PCB limit. Emissions of PCB shall not exceed 2.0 [micro]g TEQ/
ton of aluminum produced from each Soderberg potline at a primary
aluminum reduction plant.
(b) Paste production plants. (1) The owner or operator shall meet
the requirements in Sec. 63.843(b)(1) through (3) for existing paste
production plants and shall not discharge or cause to be discharged
into the atmosphere any emissions of PM in excess of the limit in
paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
(2) Emissions of PM shall not exceed 0.0028 kg/Mg (0.0056 lb/ton)
of green anode.
(c) Anode bake furnaces. The owner or operator shall not discharge
or cause to be discharged into the atmosphere any emissions of TF, PM,
POM or mercury in excess of the limits in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4)
of this section.
(1) TF limit. Emissions of TF shall not exceed 0.01 kg/Mg (0.02 lb/
ton) of green anode;
(2) POM limit. Emissions of POM shall not exceed 0.025 kg/Mg (0.05
lb/ton) of green anode;
(3) PM limit. Emissions of PM shall not exceed 0.035 kg/Mg (0.07
lb/ton) of green anode; and
(4) Mercury limit. Emissions of mercury shall not exceed 1.7 [mu]g/
dscm.
* * * * *
(e) COS limit. Emissions of COS must not exceed 1.55 kg/Mg (3.1 lb/
ton) of aluminum produced for each potline.
(f) At all times, the owner or operator must operate and maintain
any affected source, including associated air pollution control
equipment and monitoring equipment, in a manner consistent with safety
and good air pollution control practices for minimizing emissions.
Determination of whether such operation and maintenance procedures are
being used will be based on information available to the Administrator
which may include, but is not limited to, monitoring results, review of
operation and maintenance procedures, review of operation and
maintenance records and inspection of the source.
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8. Section 63.846 is amended by:
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a. Revising paragraph (b);
0
b. Revising paragraph (c);
0
c. Revising paragraphs (d)(2)(ii) through (iv) and (d)(4)(i) through
(iii); and
0
d. Removing paragraph (d)(4)(iv).
The revisions read as follows:
Sec. 63.846 Emission averaging.
* * * * *
(b) Potlines. The owner or operator may average emissions from
potlines and demonstrate compliance with the limits in Tables 1 through
3 of this subpart using the procedures in paragraphs (b)(1) through (3)
of this section.
(1) Semiannual average emissions of TF shall not exceed the
applicable emission limit in Table 1 of this subpart. The emission rate
shall be calculated based on the total primary and secondary emissions
from all potlines comprising the averaging group over the period
divided by the quantity of aluminum produced during the period, from
all potlines comprising the averaging group. To determine compliance
with the applicable emission limit in Table 1 of this subpart for TF
emissions, the owner or operator shall determine the average emissions
(in lb/ton) from each potline from at least three runs per potline
semiannually for TF secondary emissions and at least three runs per
potline primary control system each year using the procedures and
methods in Sec. Sec. 63.847 and 63.849. The owner or operator shall
combine the results of secondary TF average emissions with the TF
results for the primary control system and divide total emissions by
total aluminum production.
(2) Semiannual average emissions of POM shall not exceed the
applicable emission limit in Table 2 of this subpart. The emission rate
shall be calculated based on the total primary and secondary emissions
from all potlines comprising the averaging group over the period
divided by the quantity of aluminum produced during the period, from
all potlines comprising the averaging group. To determine compliance
with the applicable emission limit in Table 2 of this subpart for POM
emissions, the owner or operator shall determine the average emissions
(in lb/ton) from each potline from at least three runs per potline
semiannually for POM secondary emissions and at least three runs per
potline primary control system each year for POM primary emissions
using the procedures and methods in Sec. Sec. 63.847 and 63.849. The
owner or operator shall combine the results of secondary POM average
emissions with the POM results for the primary control system and
divide total emissions by total aluminum production.
(3) Semiannual average emissions of PM shall not exceed the
applicable emission limit in Table 3 of this subpart. The emission rate
shall be calculated based on the total primary and secondary emissions
from all potlines comprising the potline group over the period divided
by the quantity of aluminum produced during the period, from all
potlines comprising the averaging group. To determine compliance with
the applicable emission limit in Table 3 of this subpart for PM
emissions, the owner or operator shall determine the average emissions
(in lb/ton) from each potline from at least three runs per potline
semiannually for PM secondary emissions and at least three runs per
potline primary control system each year for PM primary emissions using
the procedures and methods in Sec. Sec. 63.847 and 63.849. The owner
or operator shall combine the results of secondary PM average emissions
with the PM results for the primary control system and divide total
emissions by total aluminum production.
(c) Anode bake furnaces. The owner or operator may average TF
emissions from anode bake furnaces and demonstrate compliance with the
limits in Table 4 of this subpart using the procedures in paragraphs
(c)(1) and (2) of this section. The owner or operator also may average
POM emissions from anode bake furnaces and demonstrate compliance with
the limits in Table 4 of this subpart using the procedures in
paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this section. The owner or operator also
may average
[[Page 62417]]
PM emissions from anode bake furnaces and demonstrate compliance with
the limits in Table 4 of this subpart using the procedures in
paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this section.
(1) Annual emissions of TF, POM and/or PM from a given number of
anode bake furnaces making up each averaging group shall not exceed the
applicable emission limit in Table 4 of this subpart in any one year;
and
(2) To determine compliance with the applicable emission limit in
Table 4 of this subpart for anode bake furnaces, the owner or operator
shall determine TF, POM and/or PM emissions from the control device for
each anode bake furnace at least once each year using the procedures
and methods in Sec. Sec. 63.847 and 63.849.
(d) * * *
(2) * * *
(ii) The assigned TF, POM and/or PM emission limit for each
averaging group of potlines and/or anode bake furnaces;
(iii) The specific control technologies or pollution prevention
measures to be used for each emission source in the averaging group and
the date of its installation or application. If the pollution
prevention measures reduce or eliminate emissions from multiple
sources, the owner or operator must identify each source;
(iv) The test plan for the measurement of TF, POM and/or PM
emissions in accordance with the requirements in Sec. 63.847(b);
* * * * *
(4) * * *
(i) Any averaging between emissions of differing pollutants or
between differing sources. Emission averaging shall not be allowed
between TF, POM and/or PM, and emission averaging shall not be allowed
between potlines and anode bake furnaces;
(ii) The inclusion of any emission source other than an existing
potline or existing anode bake furnace or the inclusion of any potline
or anode bake furnace not subject to the same operating permit; or
(iii) The inclusion of any potline or anode bake furnace while it
is shut down, in the emission calculations.
* * * * *
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9. Section 63.847 is amended by:
0
a. Revising paragraph (a) introductory text, and paragraphs (a)(1) and
(a)(2);
0
b. Removing and reserving paragraph (a)(3);
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c. Adding paragraphs (a)(5) through (9);
0
d. Removing and reserving paragraph (b)(6);
0
e. Revising paragraph (c) introductory text, paragraph (c)(1), and
paragraph (c)(2) introductory text;
0
f. Adding paragraph (c)(2)(iv);
0
g. Revising paragraph (c)(3) introductory text;
0
h. Adding paragraphs (c)(3)(iii) and (iv);
0
i. Revising paragraph (d) introductory text and paragraph (d)(1);
0
j. Removing and reserving paragraph (d)(2);
0
k. Revising paragraph (d)(4);
0
l. Adding paragraphs (d)(5) through (7);
0
m. Revising paragraph (e) introductory text, and paragraph (e)(1);
0
n. Removing and reserving paragraph (e)(2);
0
o. Revising paragraphs (e)(3) and (e)(4);
0
p. Adding paragraph (e)(8);
0
q. Revising paragraph (f);
0
r. Revising paragraph (g) introductory text, and paragraphs (g)(2)(ii)
and (iv);
0
s. Adding and reserving paragraph (i); and
0
t. Adding paragraphs (j), (k), (l) and (m).
The revisions and additions read as follows:
Sec. 63.847 Compliance provisions.
(a) Compliance dates. The owner operator of a primary aluminum
reduction plant must comply with the requirements of this subpart by
the applicable compliance date in paragraph (a)(1), (a)(2) or (a)(4) of
this section:
(1) Except as noted in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the
compliance date for an owner or operator of an existing plant or source
subject to the provisions of this subpart is October 7, 1999.
(2) The compliance dates for existing plants and sources are:
(i) October 15, 2015 for the malfunction provisions of Sec.
63.850(d)(2) and (e)(4)(xvi) and (xvii) and the electronic reporting
provisions of Sec. 63.850(b), (c) and (f) which became effective
October 15, 2015.
(ii) October 17, 2016 for potline work practice standards in Sec.
63.854 and COS emission limit provisions of Sec. 63.843(e); for anode
bake furnace startup practices in Sec. 63.847(l) and PM emission
limits in Sec. 63.843(c)(3); for Soderberg potline PM and PCB emission
limits in Sec. 63.843(a)(3)(v) and (a)(6); and for paste production
plant startup practices in Sec. 63.847(m) and PM emission limits in
Sec. 63.843(b)(4) which became effective October 15, 2015.
(iii) October 16, 2017 for prebake potline POM emission limits in
Sec. 63.843(a)(2)(iv) through (vii); for Soderberg potline POM, As and
Ni emission limits in Sec. Sec. 63.843(a)(2)(iii), (a)(4) and (5); for
prebake potline PM emission limits in Sec. 63.843(a)(3); for anode
bake furnace Hg emission limits in Sec. 63.843(c)(4); and for the
pitch storage tank POM limit provisions of Sec. 63.843(d) which became
effective October 15, 2015.
(3) [Reserved]
* * * * *
(5) Except as provided in paragraphs (a)(6) and (7) of this
section, a new affected source is one for which construction or
reconstruction commenced after September 26, 1996.
(6) For the purposes of compliance with the emission standards for
PM, a new affected potline, anode bake furnace or paste production
plant is one for which construction or reconstruction commenced after
December 8, 2014.
(7) For the purposes of compliance with the emission standards for
POM and COS, a new affected prebake potline is one for which
construction or reconstruction commenced after December 8, 2014.
(8) For the purposes of compliance with the emission standards for
As, Ni and POM, a new affected Soderberg potline is one for which
construction or reconstruction commenced after December 8, 2014.
(9) For the purposes of compliance with the emission standards for
Hg, a new affected anode bake furnace is one for which construction or
reconstruction commenced after December 8, 2014.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(6) [Reserved]
* * * * *
(c) Following approval of the site-specific test plan, the owner or
operator must conduct a performance test to demonstrate initial
compliance according to the procedures in paragraph (d) of this
section. If a performance test has been conducted on the primary
control system for potlines, the anode bake furnace, the paste
production plant, or (if applicable) the pitch storage tank control
device within the 12 months prior to the compliance date, the results
of that performance test may be used to demonstrate initial compliance.
The owner or operator must conduct the performance test:
(1) During the first month following the compliance date for an
existing potline (or potroom group), anode bake furnace, paste
production plant or pitch storage tank.
(2) By the date determined according to the requirements in
paragraph (c)(2)(i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this section for a new or
reconstructed potline, anode bake furnace, or pitch storage tank (for
which the owner or operator
[[Page 62418]]
elects to conduct an initial performance test):
* * * * *
(iv) By the 30th day following startup of a paste production plant.
The 30-day period starts when the paste production plant produces green
anodes.
(3) By the date determined according to the requirements in
paragraph (c)(3)(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this section for an
existing potline, anode bake furnace, paste production plant, or pitch
storage tank that was shut down at the time compliance would have
otherwise been required and is subsequently restarted:
* * * * *
(iii) By the 30th day following startup of a paste production
plant. The 30-day period starts when the paste production plant
produces green anodes.
(iv) By the 30th day following startup for a pitch storage tank.
The 30-day period starts when the tank is first used to store pitch.
(d) Performance test requirements. The initial performance test and
all subsequent performance tests must be conducted in accordance with
the applicable requirements of the general provisions in subpart A of
this part, the approved test plan and the procedures in this section.
Performance tests must be conducted under such conditions as the
Administrator specifies to the owner or operator based on
representative performance of the affected source for the period being
tested. Upon request, the owner or operator must make available to the
Administrator such records as may be necessary to determine the
conditions of performance tests.
(1) TF, POM and PM emissions from potlines. For each potline, the
owner or operator shall measure and record the emission rates of TF,
POM and PM exiting the outlet of the primary control system and the
rate of secondary emissions exiting through each roof monitor, or for a
plant with roof scrubbers, exiting through the scrubbers. Using the
equation in paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the owner or operator
shall compute and record the average of at least three runs
semiannually for secondary emissions and at least three runs each year
for the primary control system to determine compliance with the
applicable emission limit. Compliance is demonstrated when the emission
rates of TF, POM, and PM are equal to or less than the applicable
emission limits in Sec. 63.843, Sec. 63.844, or Sec. 63.846.
(2) [Reserved]
* * * * *
(4) TF, POM, PM and Hg emissions from anode bake furnaces. For each
anode bake furnace, the owner or operator shall measure and record the
emission rate of TF, POM, PM and Hg exiting the exhaust stacks(s) of
the primary emission control system. In accordance with paragraphs
(e)(3) and (4) of this section, the owner or operator shall compute and
record the average of at least three runs each year to determine
compliance with the applicable emission limits for TF, POM, PM and Hg.
Compliance is demonstrated when the emission rates of TF, POM, PM and
Hg are equal to or less than the applicable TF, POM, PM and Hg emission
limits in Sec. 63.843, Sec. 63.844 or Sec. 63.846.
(5) Nickel emissions from VSS2 Potlines and new Soderberg potlines.
(i) For each VSS2 potline, and for each new Soderberg potline, the
owner or operator must measure and record the emission rate of nickel
exiting the primary emission control system and the rate of secondary
emissions of nickel exiting through each roof monitor, or for a plant
with roof scrubbers, exiting through the scrubbers. Using the equation
in paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the owner or operator must compute
and record the average of at least three runs each year for secondary
emissions and at least three runs each year for primary emissions.
(ii) Compliance is demonstrated when the emissions of nickel are
equal to or less than the applicable emission limit in Sec.
63.843(a)(4) or Sec. 63.844(a)(4).
(6) Arsenic emissions from VSS2 Potlines and from new Soderberg
potlines. (i) For each VSS2 potline, and for each new Soderberg
potline, the owner or operator must measure and record the emission
rate of arsenic exiting the primary emission control system and the
rate of secondary emissions of arsenic exiting through each roof
monitor, or for a plant with roof scrubbers, exiting through the
scrubbers. Using the equation in paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the
owner or operator must compute and record the average of at least three
runs each year for secondary emissions and at least three runs each
year for primary emissions.
(ii) Compliance is demonstrated when the emissions of arsenic are
equal to or less than the applicable emission limit in Sec.
63.843(a)(5) or Sec. 63.844(a)(5).
(7) PCB emissions from VSS2 Potlines and from new Soderberg
potlines. (i) For each VSS2 potline, and for each new Soderberg
potline, the owner or operator must measure and record the emission
rate of PCB exiting the primary emission control system and the rate of
secondary emissions of PCB exiting through each roof monitor, or for a
plant with roof scrubbers, exiting through the scrubbers. Using the
equation in paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the owner or operator
must compute and record the average of at least three runs each year
for secondary emissions and at least three runs each year for primary
emissions.
(ii) Compliance is demonstrated when the emissions of PCB are equal
to or less than the applicable emission limit in Sec. 63.843(a)(6) or
Sec. 63.844(a)(6).
(e) The owner or operator shall determine compliance with the
applicable TF, POM, PM, nickel, arsenic or PCB emission limits using
the following equations and procedures:
(1) Compute the emission rate (Ep) of TF, POM, PM,
nickel, arsenic or PCB from each potline using Equation 1:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15OC15.000
Where:
Ep = emission rate of TF, POM, PM, nickel or arsenic from
a potline, kg/Mg (lb/ton) (or [mu]g TEQ/ton for PCB);
Cs1 = concentration of TF, POM, PM, nickel or arsenic
from the primary control system, mg/dscm (mg/dscf) (or [mu]g TEQ/
dscf for PCB);
Qsd = volumetric flow rate of effluent gas corresponding
to the appropriate subscript location, dscm/hr (dscf/hr);
Cs2 = concentration of TF, POM, PM, nickel or arsenic as
measured for roof monitor emissions, mg/dscm (mg/dscf) (or [mu]g
TEQ/dscf for PCB);
P = aluminum production rate, Mg/hr (ton/hr);
K = conversion factor, 106 mg/kg (453,600 mg/lb) for TF,
POM, PM, nickel or arsenic (= 1 for PCB);
1 = subscript for primary control system effluent gas;
and
2 = subscript for secondary control system or roof
monitor effluent gas.
(2) [Reserved]
[[Page 62419]]
(3) Compute the emission rate (Eb) of TF, POM or PM from
each anode bake furnace using Equation 2,
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15OC15.001
Where:
Eb = emission rate of TF, POM or PM, kg/mg (lb/ton) of
green anodes;
Cs = concentration of TF, POM or PM, mg/dscm (mg/dscf);
Qsd = volumetric flow rate of effluent gas, dscm/hr
(dscf/hr);
Pb = quantity of green anode material placed in the
furnace, mg/hr (ton/hr); and
K = conversion factor, 10\6\ mg/kg (453,600 mg/lb).
(4) Compliance with the anode bake furnace Hg emission standard is
demonstrated if the Hg concentration of the exhaust from the anode bake
furnace control device is equal to or less than the applicable
concentration standard in Sec. 63.843(c)(4) or Sec. 63.844(c)(4).
* * * * *
(8) Compute the emission rate (EPMpp) of PM from each
paste production plant using Equation 3,
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15OC15.002
Where:
EPMpp = emission rate of PM, kg/mg (lb/ton) of green
anode material exiting the paste production plant;
Cs = concentration of PM, mg/dscm (mg/dscf);
Qsd = volumetric flow rate of effluent gas, dscm/hr
(dscf/hr);
Pb = quantity of green anode material exiting the paste
production plant, mg/hr (ton/hr); and
K = conversion factor, 106 mg/kg (453,600 mg/lb).
(f) Paste production plants. (1) Initial compliance with the POM
standards for existing and new paste production plants in Sec. Sec.
63.843(b) and 63.844(b) will be demonstrated through site inspection(s)
and review of site records by the applicable regulatory authority.
(2) For each paste production plant, the owner or operator shall
measure and record the emission rate of PM exiting the exhaust
stacks(s) of the primary emission control system. Using the equation in
paragraph (e)(8) of this section, the owner or operator shall compute
and record the average of at least three runs each year to determine
compliance with the applicable emission limits for PM. Compliance with
the PM standards for existing and new paste production plants is
demonstrated when the PM emission rates are less than or equal to the
applicable PM emission limits in Sec. Sec. 63.843(b)(4) and
63.844(b)(2).
(g) Pitch storage tanks. The owner or operator must demonstrate
initial compliance with the standard for pitch storage tanks in
Sec. Sec. 63.843(d) and 63.844(d) by preparing a design evaluation or
by conducting a performance test. The owner or operator must submit for
approval by the regulatory authority the information specified in
paragraph (g)(1) of this section, along with the information specified
in paragraph (g)(2) of this section where a design evaluation is
performed or the information specified in paragraph (g)(3) of this
section where a performance test is conducted.
* * * * *
(2) * * *
(ii) If an enclosed combustion device with a minimum residence time
of 0.5 seconds and a minimum temperature of 760 degrees C (1,400
degrees F) is used to meet the emission reduction requirement specified
in Sec. 63.843(d) and Sec. 63.844(d), documentation that those
conditions exist is sufficient to meet the requirements of Sec.
63.843(d) and Sec. 63.844(d);
* * * * *
(iv) If the pitch storage tank is vented to the emission control
system installed for control of emissions from the paste production
plant pursuant to Sec. 63.843(b) or Sec. 63.844(b)(1), documentation
of compliance with the requirements of Sec. 63.843(b) is sufficient to
meet the requirements of Sec. 63.843(d) or Sec. 63.844(d);
* * * * *
(i) [Reserved]
(j) Carbonyl sulfide (COS) emissions. The owner operator must
calculate, for each potline, the emission rate of COS for each calendar
month of operation using Equation 4:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15OC15.003
Where:
ECOS = the emission rate of COS during the calendar
month, pounds per ton of aluminum produced;
K = factor accounting for molecular weights and conversion of sulfur
to carbonyl sulfide = 234;
Y = the mass of anode consumed in the potline during the calendar
month, tons;
Z = the mass of aluminum produced by the potline during the calendar
month, tons; and
S = the weighted average fraction of sulfur in the anode coke
consumed in the production of aluminum during the calendar month
(e.g., if the weighted average sulfur content of the anode coke
consumed during the calendar month was 2.5 percent, then S = 0.025).
The weight of anode coke used during the calendar month of each
different concentration of sulfur is used to calculate the overall
weighted average fraction of sulfur.
Compliance is demonstrated if the calculated value of
ECOS is less than the applicable standard for COS emissions
in Sec. Sec. 63.843(e) and 63.844(e).
(k) Startup of potlines. The owner or operator must develop a
written startup
[[Page 62420]]
plan as described in Sec. 63.854(b) that contains specific procedures
to be followed during startup periods of potline(s). Compliance with
the applicable standards in Sec. 63.854(b) will be demonstrated
through site inspection(s) and review of site records by the regulatory
authority.
(l) Startup of anode bake furnaces. The owner or operator must
develop a written startup plan as described in paragraphs (l)(1)
through (4) of this section, to be followed during startup periods of
bake furnaces. Compliance with the startup plan will be demonstrated
through site inspection(s) and review of site records by the regulatory
authority. The written startup plan must contain specific procedures to
be followed during startup periods of anode bake furnaces, including
the following:
(1) A requirement to develop an anode bake furnace startup
schedule.
(2) Records of time, date, duration of anode bake furnace startup
and any nonroutine actions taken during startup of the furnaces.
(3) A requirement that the associated emission control system be
operating within normal parametric limits prior to startup of the anode
bake furnace.
(4) A requirement to take immediate actions to stop the startup
process as soon as practicable and continue to comply with Sec.
63.843(f) or Sec. 63.844(f) if the associated emission control system
is off line at any time during startup. The anode bake furnace restart
may resume once the associated emission control system is back on line
and operating within normal parametric limits.
(m) Startup of paste production plants. The owner or operator must
develop a written startup plan as described in paragraphs (m)(1)
through (3) of this section, to be followed during startup periods for
paste production plants. Compliance with the startup plan will be
demonstrated through site inspection(s) and review of site records by
the regulatory authority. The written startup plan must contain
specific procedures to be followed during startup periods of paste
production plants, including the following:
(1) Records of time, date, duration of paste production plant
startup and any nonroutine actions taken during startup of the paste
production plants.
(2) A requirement that the associated emission control system be
operating within normal parametric limits prior to startup of the paste
production plant.
(3) A requirement to take immediate actions to stop the startup
process as soon as practicable and continue to comply with Sec.
63.843(f) or Sec. 63.844(f) if the associated emission control system
is off line at any time during startup. The paste production plant
restart may resume once the associated emission control system is back
on line and operating within normal parametric limits.
0
10. Section 63.848 is amended by:
0
a. Revising paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) introductory text,
(d)(1)(ii), and (d)(7);
0
b. Removing and reserving paragraph (e);
0
c. Adding paragraphs (f)(6) and (7);
0
d. Revising paragraph (g); and
0
e. Adding paragraphs (n), (o) and (p).
The revisions and additions read as follows:
Sec. 63.848 Emission monitoring requirements.
(a) TF and PM emissions from potlines. Using the procedures in
Sec. 63.847 and in the approved test plan, the owner or operator shall
monitor emissions of TF and PM from each potline by conducting annual
performance tests on the primary control system and semiannual
performance tests on the secondary emissions. The owner or operator
shall compute and record the average semiannually from at least three
runs for secondary emissions and the average from at least three runs
for the primary control system to determine compliance with the
applicable emission limit. The owner or operator must include all valid
runs in the semiannual average. The duration of each run for secondary
emissions must represent a complete operating cycle. Potline emissions
shall be recorded as the sum of the average of at least three runs from
the primary control system and the average of at least three runs from
the roof monitor or secondary emissions control device.
(b) POM emissions from potlines. Using the procedures in Sec.
63.847 and in the approved test plan, the owner or operator must
monitor emissions of POM from each potline stack annually and secondary
potline POM emissions semiannually. The owner or operator must compute
and record the semiannual average from at least three runs for
secondary emissions and at least three runs for the primary control
systems to determine compliance with the applicable emission limit. The
owner or operator must include all valid runs in the semiannual
average. The duration of each run for secondary emissions must
represent a complete operating cycle. The primary control system must
be sampled over an 8-hour period, unless site-specific factors dictate
an alternative sampling time subject to the approval of the regulatory
authority. Potline emissions shall be recorded as the sum of the
average of at least three runs from the primary control system and the
average of at least three runs from the roof monitor or secondary
emissions control device.
(c) TF, PM, Hg and POM emissions from anode bake furnaces. Using
the procedures in Sec. 63.847 and in the approved test plan, the owner
or operator shall determine TF, PM, Hg and POM emissions from each
anode bake furnace on an annual basis. The owner or operator shall
compute and record the annual average of TF, PM, Hg and POM emissions
from at least three runs to determine compliance with the applicable
emission limits. A minimum of four dscm per run must be collected for
monitoring of Hg emissions. The owner or operator must include all
valid runs in the annual average.
(d) Similar potlines. As an alternative to semiannual monitoring of
TF, POM or PM secondary emissions from each potline using the methods
in Sec. 63.849, the owner or operator may perform semiannual
monitoring of TF, POM or PM secondary emissions from one potline using
the test methods in Sec. 63.849(a) or (b) to represent the performance
of similar potline(s). The similar potline(s) must be monitored using
an alternative method that meets the requirements of paragraphs (d)(1)
through (7) of this section. Two or more potlines are similar if the
owner or operator demonstrates that their structure, operability, type
of emissions, volume of emissions and concentration of emissions are
substantially equivalent.
(1) * * *
(ii) For TF, POM and PM emissions, must meet or exceed Method 14
criteria.
* * * * *
(7) If the alternative method is approved by the applicable
regulatory authority, the owner or operator must perform semiannual
emission monitoring using the approved alternative monitoring procedure
to demonstrate compliance with the alternative emission limit for each
similar potline.
(e) [Reserved]
(f) * * *
(6) For emission sources control device exhaust streams for which
the owner or operator chooses to demonstrate continuous compliance
through bag leak detection systems you must install and operate a bag
leak detection system according to the requirements in paragraph (o) of
this section, and you must set your operating limit such that the sum
of the durations of bag leak detection system alarms does not exceed 5
percent of the process operating time during a 6-month period.
[[Page 62421]]
(7) For emission sources control device exhaust streams for which
the owner or operator chooses to demonstrate continuous compliance
through a PM CEMS, you must install and operate a PM CEMS according to
the requirements in paragraph (p) of this section. You must determine
continuous compliance averaged on a rolling 30 operating day basis,
updated at the end of each new operating day. All valid hours of data
from 30 successive operating days shall be included in the arithmetic
average. Compliance is demonstrated when the 30 operating day PM
emissions are equal to or less than the applicable emission limits in
Sec. 63.843, Sec. 63.844, or Sec. 63.846.
(g) The owner or operator of a new or reconstructed affected source
that is subject to a PM limit shall comply with the requirements of
either paragraph (f)(6) or (7) of this section. The owner or operator
of an existing affected source that is equipped with a control device
and is subject to a PM limit shall:
(1) Install and operate a bag leak detection system in accordance
with paragraph (f)(6) of this section; or
(2) Install and operate a PM CEMS in accordance with paragraph
(f)(7) of this section; or
(3) Visually inspect the exhaust stack(s) of each fabric filter
using Method 22 on a twice daily basis (at least 4 hours apart) for
evidence of any visible emissions indicating abnormal operations and,
must initiate corrective actions within 1 hour of a visible emissions
inspection that indicates abnormal operation. Corrective actions shall
include, at a minimum, isolating, shutting down and conducting an
internal inspection of the baghouse compartment that is the source of
the visible emissions that indicate abnormal operations.
* * * * *
(n) PM emissions from paste production plants. Using the procedures
in Sec. 63.847 and in the approved test plan, the owner or operator
shall monitor PM emissions from each paste production plant on an
annual basis. The owner or operator shall compute and record the annual
average of PM emissions from at least three runs to determine
compliance with the applicable emission limits. The owner or operator
must include all valid runs in the annual average.
(o) Bag leak detection system. For each new affected source subject
to a PM emissions limit, you must install, operate and maintain a bag
leak detection system according to paragraphs (o)(1) through (3) of
this section, unless a system meeting the requirements of paragraph (p)
of this section, for a CEMS, is installed for monitoring the
concentration of PM.
(1) You must develop and implement written procedures for control
device maintenance that include, at a minimum, a preventative
maintenance schedule that is consistent with the control device
manufacturer's instructions for routine and long-term maintenance.
(2) Each bag leak detection system must meet the specifications and
requirements in paragraphs (o)(2)(i) through (viii) of this section.
(i) The bag leak detection system must be certified by the
manufacturer to be capable of detecting PM emissions at concentrations
of 1.0 milligram per dry standard cubic meter (0.00044 grains per
actual cubic foot) or less.
(ii) The bag leak detection system sensor must provide output of
relative PM loadings.
(iii) The bag leak detection system must be equipped with an alarm
system that will alarm when an increase in relative particulate
loadings is detected over a preset level.
(iv) You must install, calibrate, operate and maintain the bag leak
detection system according to the manufacturer's written specifications
and recommendations.
(v) The initial adjustment of the system must, at a minimum,
consist of establishing the baseline output by adjusting the
sensitivity (range) and the averaging period of the device and
establishing the alarm set points and the alarm delay time.
(vi) Following initial adjustment, you must not adjust the
sensitivity or range, averaging period, alarm set points, or alarm
delay time, except in accordance with the procedures developed under
paragraph (o)(1) of this section. You cannot increase the sensitivity
by more than 100 percent or decrease the sensitivity by more than 50
percent over a 365-day period unless such adjustment follows a complete
PM control device inspection that demonstrates that the PM control
device is in good operating condition.
(vii) You must install the bag leak detector downstream of the PM
control device.
(viii) Where multiple detectors are required, the system's
instrumentation and alarm may be shared among detectors.
(3) You must include in the written procedures required by
paragraph (o)(1) of this section a corrective action plan that
specifies the procedures to be followed in the case of a bag leak
detection system alarm. The corrective action plan must include, at a
minimum, the procedures that you will use to determine and record the
time and cause of the alarm as well as the corrective actions taken to
minimize emissions as specified in paragraphs (o)(3)(i) and (ii) of
this section.
(i) The procedures used to determine the cause of the alarm must be
initiated within 1 hour of the alarm.
(ii) The cause of the alarm must be alleviated by taking the
necessary corrective action(s) that may include, but not be limited to,
those listed in paragraphs (o)(3)(ii)(A) through (F) of this section.
(A) Inspecting the PM control device for air leaks, torn or broken
filter elements, or any other malfunction that may cause an increase in
emissions.
(B) Sealing off defective bags or filter media.
(C) Replacing defective bags or filter media, or otherwise
repairing the control device.
(D) Sealing off a defective baghouse compartment.
(E) Cleaning the bag leak detection system probe, or otherwise
repairing the bag leak detection system.
(F) Shutting down the process producing the particulate emissions.
(p) Particulate Matter CEMS. If you are using a CEMS to measure
particulate matter emissions to meet requirements of this subpart, you
must install, certify, operate and maintain the particulate matter CEMS
as specified in paragraphs (p)(1) through (4) of this section.
(1) You must conduct a performance evaluation of the PM CEMS
according to the applicable requirements of Sec. 60.13, and
Performance Specification 11 at 40 CFR part 60, Appendix B of this
chapter.
(2) During each PM correlation testing run of the CEMS required by
Performance Specification 11 at 40 CFR part 60, Appendix B of this
chapter, collect data concurrently by both the CEMS and by conducting
performance tests using Method 5, 5D or 5I at 40 CFR part 60, Appendix
A-3.
(3) Operate and maintain the CEMS in accordance with Procedure 2 at
40 CFR part 60, Appendix F of this chapter. Relative Response Audits
must be performed annually and Response Correlation Audits must be
performed every three years.
0
11. Section 63.849 is amended by:
0
a. Revising paragraph (a) introductory text, and paragraphs (a)(6) and
(a)(7); and
0
b. Adding paragraphs (a)(8) through (14), and (f).
The revisions and additions read as follows:
[[Page 62422]]
Sec. 63.849 Test methods and procedures.
(a) The owner or operator shall use the following reference methods
to determine compliance with the applicable emission limits for TF,
POM, PM, Ni, As, Hg, PCB and conduct visible emissions observations:
* * * * *
(6) Method 315 in appendix A to this part or an approved
alternative method for the concentration of POM where stack or duct
emissions are sampled;
(7) Method 315 in appendix A to this part and Method 14 or 14A in
appendix A to part 60 of this chapter or an approved alternative method
for the concentration of POM where emissions are sampled from roof
monitors not employing wet roof scrubbers. Method 315 need not be set
up as required in the method. Instead, when using Method 14A, replace
the Method 14A monitor cassette filter with the filter specified by
Method 315. Recover and analyze the filter according to Method 315.
When using Method 14, test at ambient conditions, do not heat the
filter and probe, and do not analyze the back half of the sampling
train;
(8) Method 5 in appendix A to part 60 of this chapter or an
approved alternative method for the concentration of PM where stack or
duct emissions are sampled;
(9) Method 17 and Method 14 or Method 14A in appendix A to part 60
of this chapter or an approved alternative method for the concentration
of PM where emissions are sampled from roof monitors not employing wet
roof scrubbers. Method 17 need not be set up as required in the method.
Instead, when using Method 14A, replace the Method 14A monitor cassette
filter with the filter specified by Method 17. Recover and analyze the
filter according to Method 17. When using Method 14, test at ambient
conditions, do not heat the filter and probe, and do not analyze the
back half of the sampling train;
(10) Method 29 in appendix A to part 60 of this chapter or an
approved alternative method for the concentration of mercury, nickel
and arsenic where stack or duct emissions are sampled;
(11) Method 29 and Method 14 or Method 14A in appendix A to part 60
of this chapter or an approved alternative method for the concentration
of nickel and arsenic where emissions are sampled from roof monitors
not employing wet roof scrubbers. Method 29 need not be set up as
required in the method. Instead, replace the Method 14A monitor
cassette filter with the filter specified by Method 29. Recover and
analyze the filter according to Method 29. When using Method 14, test
at ambient conditions, do not heat the filter and probe, and do not
analyze the back half of the sampling train;
(12) Method 22 in Appendix A to part 60 of this chapter or an
approved alternative method for determination of visual emissions;
(13) Method 428 of the California Air Resources Board (incorporated
by reference; see Sec. 63.14) for the measurement of PCB where stack
or duct emissions are sampled; and
(14) Method 428 of the California Air Resources Board (incorporated
by reference; see Sec. 63.14) and Method 14 or Method 14A in appendix
A to part 60 of this chapter or an approved alternative method for the
concentration of PCB where emissions are sampled from roof monitors not
employing wet roof scrubbers.
* * * * *
(f) The owner or operator must use either ASTM D4239-14e1 or ASTM
D6376-10 (incorporated by reference; see Sec. 63.14) for determination
of the sulfur content in anode coke shipments to determine compliance
with the applicable emission limit for COS emissions.
0
12. Section 63.850 is amended by:
0
a. Revising paragraphs (b), (c), and (d);
0
b. Removing and reserving paragraph (e)(4)(iii);
0
c. Revising paragraphs (e)(4)(xiv) and (e)(4)(xv); and
0
d. Adding paragraphs (e)(4)(xvi), (e)(4)(xvii) and (f).
The revisions and additions read as follows:
Sec. 63.850 Notification, reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
* * * * *
(b) Performance test reports. Within 60 days after the date of
completing each performance test (as defined in Sec. 63.2) required by
this subpart, you must submit the results of the performance tests
following the procedure specified in either paragraph (b)(1) or (b)(2)
of this section.
(1) For data collected using test methods supported by the EPA's
Electronic Reporting Tool (ERT) as listed on the EPA's ERT Web site
(https://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/ert/) at the time of the test,
you must submit the results of the performance test to the EPA via the
Compliance and Emissions Data Reporting Interface (CEDRI). CEDRI can be
accessed through the EPA's Central Data Exchange (CDX) (https://cdx.epa.gov/epa_home.asp). Performance test data must be submitted in a
file format generated through the use of the EPA's ERT. Alternatively,
you may submit performance test data in an electronic file format
consistent with the extensible markup language (XML) schema listed on
the EPA's ERT Web site once the XML schema is available. If you claim
that some of the performance test information being submitted is
confidential business information (CBI), you must submit a complete
file generated through the use of the EPA's ERT or an alternate
electronic file consistent with the XML schema listed on the EPA's ERT
Web site, including information claimed to be CBI, on a compact disc,
flash drive, or other commonly used electronic storage media to the
EPA. The electronic media must be clearly marked as CBI and mailed to
U.S. EPA/OAQPS/CORE CBI Office, Attention: Group Leader, Measurement
Policy Group, MD C404-02, 4930 Old Page Rd., Durham, NC 27703. The same
ERT or alternate file with the CBI omitted must be submitted to the EPA
via the EPA's CDX as described earlier in this paragraph.
(2) For data collected using test methods that are not supported by
the EPA's ERT as listed on the EPA's ERT Web site at the time of the
test, you must submit the results of the performance test to the
Administrator at the appropriate address listed in Sec. 63.13.
(3) For data collected which requires summation of results from
both ERT and non-ERT supported test methods in order to demonstrate
compliance with an emission limit, you must submit the results of the
performance test(s) used to demonstrate compliance with that emission
limit to the Administrator at the appropriate address listed in Sec.
63.13.
(c) Performance evaluation reports. Within 60 days after the date
of completing each continuous emissions monitoring system performance
evaluation (as defined in Sec. 63.2), you must submit the results of
the performance evaluation following the procedure specified in either
paragraph (c)(1) or (2) of this section.
(1) For performance evaluations of continuous monitoring systems
measuring relative accuracy test audit (RATA) pollutants that are
supported by the EPA's ERT as listed on the EPA's ERT Web site at the
time of the test, you must submit the results of the performance
evaluation to the EPA via the CEDRI. (CEDRI can be accessed through the
EPA's CDX.) Performance evaluation data must be submitted in a file
format generated through the use of the EPA's ERT. Alternatively, you
may submit performance evaluation data in an electronic file format
consistent with the XML schema listed on the EPA's ERT Web site once
the XML schema is available. If you claim that some of the
[[Page 62423]]
performance evaluation information being transmitted is CBI, you must
submit a complete file generated through the use of the EPA's ERT or an
alternate electronic file consistent with the XML schema listed on the
EPA's ERT Web site, including information claimed to be CBI, on a
compact disc, flash drive, or other commonly used electronic storage
media to the EPA. The electronic storage media must be clearly marked
as CBI and mailed to U.S. EPA/OAQPS/CORE CBI Office, Attention: Group
Leader, Measurement Policy Group, MD C404-02, 4930 Old Page Rd.,
Durham, NC 27703. The same ERT or alternate file with the CBI omitted
must be submitted to the EPA via the EPA's CDX as described earlier in
this paragraph.
(2) For any performance evaluations of continuous monitoring
systems measuring RATA pollutants that are not supported by the EPA's
ERT as listed on the EPA's ERT Web site at the time of the test, you
must submit the results of the performance evaluation to the
Administrator at the appropriate address listed in Sec. 63.13.
(d) Reporting. In addition to the information required under Sec.
63.10 of the General Provisions, the owner or operator must provide
semiannual reports containing the information specified in paragraphs
(d)(1) and (2) of this section to the Administrator or designated
authority.
(1) Excess emissions report. As required by Sec. 63.10(e)(3), the
owner or operator must submit a report (or a summary report) if
measured emissions are in excess of the applicable standard. The report
must contain the information specified in Sec. 63.10(e)(3)(v) and be
submitted semiannually unless quarterly reports are required as a
result of excess emissions.
(2) If there was a malfunction during the reporting period, the
owner or operator must submit a report that includes the number,
duration and a brief description for each type of malfunction which
occurred during the reporting period and which caused or may have
caused any applicable emission limitation to be exceeded. The report
must also include a description of actions taken by an owner or
operator during a malfunction of an affected source to minimize
emissions in accordance with Sec. Sec. 63.843(f) and 63.844(f),
including actions taken to correct a malfunction.
(e) * * *
(4) * * *
(iii) [Reserved]
* * * * *
(xiv) Records documenting any POM data that are invalidated due to
the installation and startup of a cathode;
(xv) Records documenting the portion of TF that is measured as
particulate matter and the portion that is measured as gaseous when the
particulate and gaseous fractions are quantified separately using an
approved test method;
(xvi) Records of the occurrence and duration of each malfunction of
operation (i.e. process equipment) or the air pollution control
equipment and monitoring equipment; and
(xvii) Records of actions taken during periods of malfunction to
minimize emissions in accordance with Sec. Sec. 63.843(f) and
63.844(f), including corrective actions to restore malfunctioning
process and air pollution control and monitoring equipment to its
normal or usual manner of operation.
(f) All reports required by this subpart not subject to the
requirements in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section must be sent to
the Administrator at the appropriate address listed in Sec. 63.13. If
acceptable to both the Administrator and the owner or operator of a
source, these reports may be submitted on electronic media. The
Administrator retains the right to require submittal of reports subject
to paragraph (b) of this section in paper format.
0
13. Section 63.854 is added to read as follows:
Sec. 63.854 Work practice standards for potlines.
(a) Periods of operation other than startup. If you own or operate
a new or existing primary aluminum reduction affected source, you must
comply with the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1) through (8) of this
section during periods of operation other than startup.
(1) Ensure the potline scrubbers and exhaust fans are operational
at all times.
(2) Ensure that the primary capture and control system is operating
at all times.
(3) Hood covers should be replaced as soon as possible after each
potroom operation.
(4) Inspect potlines daily and perform the work practices specified
in paragraphs (a)(4)(i) through (iii) of this section.
(i) Identify unstable pots as soon as practicable but in no case
more than 12 hours from the time the pot became unstable;
(ii) Reduce cell temperatures to as low as practicable, and follow
the written operating plan described in paragraph (b)(4) of this
section if the cell temperature exceeds the specified high temperature
limit; and
(iii) Reseal pot crusts that have been broken as often and as soon
as practicable.
(5) Ensure that hood covers fit properly and are in good condition.
(6) If the exhaust system is equipped with an adjustable damper
system, the hood exhaust rate for individual pots must be increased
whenever hood covers are removed from a pot, provided that the exhaust
system will not be overloaded by placing too many pots on high exhaust.
(7) Dust entrainment must be minimized during material handling
operations and sweeping of the working aisles.
(8) Only tapping crucibles with functional aspirator air return
systems (for returning gases under the collection hooding) can be used,
unless the regulatory authority approves an alternative tapping
crucible.
(b) Periods of startup. If you own or operate a new or existing
primary aluminum reduction affected source, you must comply with the
requirements of paragraphs (a)(1) through (8) and (b)(1) through (4) of
this section during periods of startup for each affected potline.
(1) Develop a potline startup schedule before starting up the
potline.
(2) Keep records of the number of pots started each day.
(3) Inspect potlines daily and adjust pot parameters to their
optimum levels, as specified in the operating plan described in
paragraph (b)(4) of this section, including, but not limited to:
alumina addition rate, exhaust air flow rate, cell voltage, feeding
level, anode current and liquid and solid bath levels.
(4) Prepare a written operating plan to minimize emissions during
startup to include, but not limited to, the requirements in (b)(1)
through (3) of this section. The operating plan must include a
specified high temperature limit for pots that will trigger corrective
action.
0
14. Section 63.855 is added to read as follows:
Sec. 63.855 Alternative emissions limits for co-controlled new and
existing anode bake furnaces.
(a) Applicability. The owner or operator of a new anode bake
furnace meeting the criteria of paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this
section may demonstrate compliance with alternative TF and POM emission
limits according to the procedures of this section.
(1) The new anode bake furnace must have been permitted to operate
prior to May 1, 1998; and
[[Page 62424]]
(2) The new anode bake furnace must share a common control device
with one or more existing anode bake furnaces.
(b) TF emission limit. (1) Prior to the date on which each TF
emission test is required to be conducted, the owner or operator must
determine the applicable TF emission limit using Equation 6-A,
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15OC15.004
Where:
LTFC = Combined emission limit for TF, lb/ton green anode
material placed in the bake furnace;
LTFE = TF limit for emission averaging for the total
number of new and existing anode bake furnaces from Table 4 to this
subpart;
PE = Mass of green anode placed in existing anode bake
furnaces in the twelve months preceding the compliance test, ton/
year; and
PN = Mass of green anode placed in new anode bake
furnaces in the twelve months preceding the compliance test, ton/
year.
(2) The owner or operator of a new anode bake furnace that is
controlled by a control device that also controls emissions of TF from
one or more existing anode bake furnaces must not discharge, or cause
to be discharged into the atmosphere, any emissions of TF in excess of
the emission limits established in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(c) POM emission limits. (1) Prior to the date on which each POM
emission test is required to be conducted, the owner or operator must
determine the applicable POM emission limit using Equation 6-B,
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15OC15.005
Where:
LPOMC = Combined emission limit for POM, lb/ton green
anode material placed in the bake furnace.
(2) The owner or operator of a new anode bake furnace that is
controlled by a control device that also controls emissions of POM from
one or more existing anode bake furnaces must not discharge, or cause
to be discharged into the atmosphere, any emissions of TF in excess of
the emission limits established in paragraph (c)(1) of this section.
0
15. Table 1 to Subpart LL of Part 63 is revised to read as follows:
Table 1 to Subpart LL of Part 63--Potline TF Limits for Emission Averaging
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Semiannual TF limit (lb/ton) [for given number of potlines]
Type ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 lines 3 lines 4 lines 5 lines 6 lines 7 lines 8 lines
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CWPB1................................... 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.4
CWPB2................................... 2.9 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.6
CWPB3................................... 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1
SWPB.................................... 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2
VSS2.................................... 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0
16. Table 2 to Subpart LL of Part 63 is revised to read as follows:
Table 2 to Subpart LL of Part 63--Potline POM Limits for Emission Averaging
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Semiannual POM limit (lb/ton) [for given number of potlines]
Type ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 lines 3 lines 4 lines 5 lines 6 lines 7 lines 8 lines
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CWPB1................................... 1 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.8
CWPB2................................... 11.6 11.2 10.8 10.8 10.4 10.4 10.4
CWPB3................................... 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3
SWPB.................................... 14.8 13.8 13.8 13.8 13.8 13.8 13.8
VSS2.................................... 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0
17. Table 3 to Subpart LL of Part 63 is redesignated as Table 4 to
Subpart LL of Part 63 and revised to read as follows:
Table 4 to Subpart LL of Part 63--Anode Bake Furnace Limits for Emission Averaging
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emission limit (lb/ton of anode)
Number of furnaces -----------------------------------------------
TF POM PM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2............................................................... 0.11 0.17 0.11
[[Page 62425]]
3............................................................... 0.09 0.17 0.091
4............................................................... 0.077 0.17 0.076
5............................................................... 0.07 0.17 0.071
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0
18. New Table 3 to Subpart LL of Part 63 is added to read as follows:
Table 3 to Subpart LL of Part 63--Potline PM Limits for Emission Averaging
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Semiannual PM limit (lb/ton) [for given number of potlines]
Type ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 lines 3 lines 4 lines 5 lines 6 lines 7 lines 8 lines
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CWPB1................................... 6.1 6.1 5.3 5.3 5.0 5.0 5.0
CWPB2................................... 10.6 10.3 9.9 9.9 9.5 9.5 9.5
CWPB3................................... 18.4 17.6 17.6 16.8 16.8 16.8 16.8
SWPB.................................... 4.3 3.9 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7
VSS2.................................... 25 24.1 24.1 23.1 23.1 23.1 23.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0
19. Appendix A to Subpart LL of Part 63 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix A to Subpart LL of Part 63--Applicability of General Provisions (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart A)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reference section(s) Requirement Applies to subpart LL Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
63.1(a)(1) through (4)............ General Applicability..... Yes..................
63.1(a)(5)........................ .......................... No................... [Reserved].
63.1(a)(6)........................ .......................... Yes..................
63.1(a)(7) through (9)............ .......................... No................... [Reserved].
63.1(a)(10) through (12).......... .......................... Yes..................
63.1(b)(1) through (3)............ Initial Applicability Yes.................. (b)(2) Reserved.
Determination.
63.1(c)(1)........................ Applicability after Yes..................
standard Established.
63.1(c)(2)........................ .......................... Yes.................. Area sources are not
subject to this subpart.
63.1(c)(3) and (4)................ .......................... No................... [Reserved].
63.1(c)(5)........................ .......................... Yes..................
63.1(d)........................... .......................... No................... [Reserved].
63.1(e)........................... Applicability of Permit Yes..................
Program.
63.2.............................. Definitions............... Yes.................. Reconstruction defined in
Sec. 63.842.
63.3.............................. Units and Abbreviations... Yes..................
63.4(a)(1) and (2)................ Prohibited activities..... Yes..................
63.4(a)(3) through (5)............ .......................... No................... [Reserved].
63.4(b) and (c)................... Circumvention/Severability Yes..................
63.5(a)........................... Construction/ Yes..................
Reconstruction
Applicability.
63.5(b)(1)........................ Existing, New, Yes..................
Reconstructed Sources
Requirements.
63.5(b)(2)........................ .......................... No................... [Reserved].
63.5(b)(3) and (4)................ .......................... Yes..................
63.5(b)(5)........................ .......................... No................... [Reserved].
63.5(b)(6)........................ .......................... Yes..................
63.5(c)........................... .......................... No................... [Reserved].
63.5(d)........................... Application for Approval Yes..................
of Construction/
Reconstruction.
63.5(e)........................... Approval of Construction/ Yes..................
Reconstruction.
63.5(f)........................... Approval of Construction/ Yes..................
Reconstruction Based on
State Review.
63.6(a)........................... Compliance with Standards Yes..................
and Maintenance
Applicability.
63.6(b)(1) through (5)............ New and Reconstructed Yes.................. See Sec. 847(a)(6) and
Source Dates. (7).
63.6(b)(6)........................ .......................... No................... [Reserved].
63.6(b)(7)........................ .......................... Yes..................
63.6(c)(1)........................ Existing Source Dates..... No................... See Sec. 847(a).
63.6(c)(2)........................ .......................... Yes..................
63.6(c)(3) and (4)................ .......................... No................... [Reserved].
63.6(c)(5)........................ .......................... Yes..................
63.6(d)........................... .......................... No................... [Reserved].
[[Page 62426]]
63.6(e)(1)(i)..................... .......................... No................... See Sec. Sec.
63.843(f) and 63.844(f)
for general duty
requirement.
63.6(e)(1)(ii).................... .......................... No...................
63.6(e)(1)(iii)................... .......................... Yes..................
63.6(e)(2)........................ .......................... No................... [Reserved].
63.6(e)(3)........................ Startup, Shutdown and No...................
Malfunction Plan.
63.6(f)(1)........................ Compliance with Emissions No...................
Standards.
63.6(f)(2)........................ Methods/Finding of Yes..................
Compliance.
63.6(g)........................... Alternative Standard...... Yes..................
63.6(h)........................... Compliance with Opacity/VE Only in Sec. 63.845 Opacity standards
Standards. applicable only when
incorporating the NSPS
requirements under Sec.
63.845.
63.6(i)(1) through (14)........... Extension of Compliance... Yes..................
63.6(i)(15)....................... .......................... No................... [Reserved].
63.6(i)(16)....................... .......................... Yes..................
63.6(j)........................... Exemption from Compliance. Yes..................
63.7(a)........................... Performance Test Yes..................
Requirements
Applicability.
63.7(b)........................... Notification.............. Yes..................
63.7(c)........................... Quality Assurance/Test Yes..................
Plan.
63.7(d)........................... Testing facilities........ Yes..................
63.7(e)(1)........................ Conduct of Tests.......... No................... See Sec. 63.847(d).
63.7(e)(2) through (4)............ .......................... Yes..................
63.7(f), (g), (h)................. Alternative Test Method... Yes..................
63.8(a)(1) and (2)................ Monitoring Requirements Yes..................
Applicability.
63.8(a)(3)........................ .......................... No................... [Reserved].
63.8(b)........................... Conduct of Monitoring..... Yes..................
63.8(c)(1)(i)..................... .......................... No................... See Sec. Sec.
63.843(f) and 63.844(f)
for general duty
requirement.
63.8(c)(1)(ii).................... .......................... Yes..................
63.8(c)(1)(iii)................... .......................... No...................
63.8(c)(2) through (d)(2)......... .......................... Yes..................
63.8(d)(3)........................ .......................... Yes, except for last
sentence.
63.8(e) through (g)............... .......................... Yes..................
63.9(a)........................... Notification Requirements Yes..................
Applicability.
63.9(b)........................... Initial Notifications..... Yes.................. Notification of re-start
specified in Sec.
63.850(a)(9).
63.9(c)........................... Request for Compliance Yes..................
Extension.
63.9(d)........................... New Source Notification Yes..................
for Special Compliance
Requirements.
63.9(e)........................... Notification of No...................
Performance Test.
63.9(f)........................... Notification of VE/Opacity No...................
Test.
63.9(g)........................... Additional CMS No...................
Notifications.
63.9(h)(1) through (3)............ Notification of Compliance Yes..................
Status.
63.9(h)(4)........................ .......................... No................... [Reserved].
63.9(h)(5) and (6)................ .......................... Yes..................
63.9(i)........................... Adjustment of Deadlines... Yes..................
63.9(j)........................... Change in Previous Yes..................
Information.
63.10(a).......................... Recordkeeping/Reporting Yes..................
Applicability.
63.10(b)(1)....................... General Recordkeeping Yes..................
Requirements.
63.10(b)(2)(i).................... .......................... No...................
63.10(b)(2)(ii)................... .......................... No................... See Sec. Sec.
63.850(e)(4)(xvi) and
(xvii) for recordkeeping
of occurrence and
duration of malfunctions
and recordkeeping of
actions taken during
malfunction.
63.10(b)(2)(iii).................. .......................... Yes..................
63.10(b)(2)(iv) and (v)........... .......................... No...................
63.10(b)(2)(vi) through (xiv)..... .......................... Yes..................
63.(10)(b)(3)..................... .......................... Yes..................
63.10(c)(1) through (9)........... .......................... Yes..................
63.10(c)(10) and (11)............. .......................... No................... See Sec. Sec.
63.850(e)(4)(xvi) and
(xvii) for recordkeeping
of malfunctions.
63.10(c)(12) through (14)......... .......................... Yes..................
63.10(c)(15)...................... .......................... No...................
63.10(d)(1)....................... General Reporting Yes..................
Requirements.
63.10(d)(2)....................... .......................... No................... See Sec. 63.850(b).
63.10(d)(3) and (4)............... .......................... Yes..................
63.10(d)(5)....................... Startup-Shutdown and No................... See Sec. 63.850(d)(2)
Malfunction Reports. for reporting of
malfunctions.
[[Page 62427]]
63.10(e) and (f).................. Additional CMS Reports and Yes..................
Recordkeeping/Reporting
Waiver.
63.11............................. Control Device/work No...................
practices requirements
Applicability.
63.12............................. State Authority and Yes..................
Delegations.
63.13............................. Addresses................. Yes..................
63.14............................. Incorporation by Reference Yes..................
63.15............................. Information Availability/ Yes..................
Confidentiality.
63.16............................. Performance Track No...................
Provisions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[FR Doc. 2015-25137 Filed 10-14-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P