National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Primary Copper Smelting, 47415-47437 [2023-15303]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
OAR–2023–0031 at https://
www.regulations.gov or via email to
blakley.pamela@epa.gov. For comments
submitted at Regulations.gov, follow the
online instructions for submitting
comments. Once submitted, comments
cannot be edited or removed from
Regulations.gov. For either manner of
submission, EPA may publish any
comment received to its public docket.
Do not submit electronically any
information you consider to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI)
or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Multimedia
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
accompanied by a written comment.
The written comment is considered the
official comment and should include
discussion of all points you wish to
make. EPA will generally not consider
comments or comment contents located
outside of the primary submission (i.e.,
on the web, cloud, or other file sharing
system). For additional submission
methods, please contact the person
identified in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section. For the
full EPA public comment policy,
information about CBI or multimedia
submissions, and general guidance on
making effective comments, please visit
https://www2.epa.gov/dockets/
commenting-epa-dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Charles Hatten, Environmental
Engineer, Control Strategies Section, Air
Programs Branch (AR–18J),
Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard,
Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 886–6031,
hatten.charles@epa.gov. The EPA
Region 5 office is open from 8:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding Federal holidays and facility
closures due to COVID–19.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the
Final Rules section of this Federal
Register, EPA is approving the state’s
SIP submittal as a direct final rule
without prior proposal because the
Agency views this as a noncontroversial
submittal and anticipates no adverse
comments. A detailed rationale for the
approval is set forth in the direct final
rule. If no adverse comments are
received in response to this rule, no
further activity is contemplated. If EPA
receives adverse comments, the direct
final rule will be withdrawn and all
public comments received will be
addressed in a subsequent final rule
based on this proposed rule. EPA will
not institute a second comment period.
Any parties interested in commenting
on this action should do so at this time.
Please note that if EPA receives adverse
comment on an amendment, paragraph,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
or section of this rule and if that
provision may be severed from the
remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt
as final those provisions of the rule that
are not the subject of an adverse
comment. For additional information,
see the direct final rule which is located
in the Rules section of this Federal
Register.
Dated: July 13, 2023.
Debra Shore,
Regional Administrator, Region 5.
[FR Doc. 2023–15403 Filed 7–21–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 63
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430; FRL–7522–04–
OAR]
RIN 2060–AU63
National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants: Primary
Copper Smelting
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Supplemental notice of
proposed rulemaking.
AGENCY:
This action supplements our
proposed amendments to the national
emission standards for hazardous air
pollutants (NESHAP) for the Primary
Copper Smelting source category
published in the Federal Register on
January 11, 2022. In that action, the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
proposed amendments based on the
residual risk and technology review
(RTR) for the major source category and
the technology review for the area
source category. Although the proposal
included the technology review for the
area source category, this supplemental
proposal does not include any changes
for the area source category. In order to
complete the required technology
review for the major source category, the
EPA is proposing additional hazardous
air pollutant (HAP) standards for the
following pollutants: benzene, toluene,
hydrogen chloride (HCl), chlorine,
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAH), naphthalene and dioxin/furans
(D/F). The EPA also evaluated the
potential for changes to the previously
proposed residual risk assessment and
the decisions related to risk.
Furthermore, in this action the EPA is
also proposing revised standards for
certain provisions initially proposed in
the January 11, 2022, RTR proposal
based on additional information
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
47415
gathered since the publication of the
2022 proposed rule.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before September 7, 2023. Under the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA),
comments on the information collection
provisions are best assured of
consideration if the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB)
receives a copy of your comments on or
before August 23, 2023.
Public hearing: If anyone contacts us
requesting a public hearing on or before
July 31, 2023, we will hold a virtual
public hearing. See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION for information on
requesting and registering for a public
hearing.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2020–0430, by any of the
following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov/ (our
preferred method). Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
• Email: a-and-r-docket@epa.gov.
Include Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–
2020–0430 in the subject line of the
message.
• Fax: (202) 566–9744. Attention
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–
0430.
• Mail: U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center,
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–
0430, Mail Code 28221T, 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20460.
• Hand/Courier Delivery: EPA Docket
Center, WJC West Building, Room 3334,
1301 Constitution Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20004. The Docket
Center’s hours of operation are 8:30
a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday (except
Federal holidays).
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the Docket ID No. for this
rulemaking. Comments received may be
posted without change to https://
www.regulations.gov/, including any
personal information provided. For
detailed instructions on sending
comments and additional information
on the rulemaking process, see the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
questions about this proposed action,
contact Tonisha Dawson, 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) 541–1454; and email
address: dawson.tonisha@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
47416
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
Participation in virtual public
hearing. To request a virtual public
hearing, contact the public hearing team
at (888) 372–8699 or by email at
SPPDpublichearing@epa.gov. If
requested, the hearing will be held via
virtual platform on August 8, 2023. The
hearing will convene at 11 a.m. Eastern
Time (ET) and will conclude at 3 p.m.
ET. The EPA may close a session 15
minutes after the last pre-registered
speaker has testified if there are no
additional speakers. The EPA will
announce further details at https://
www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-airpollution/primary-copper-smeltingnational-emissions-standardshazardous-air.
If a public hearing is requested, the
EPA will begin pre-registering speakers
for the hearing no later than 1 business
day after a request has been received. To
register to speak at the virtual hearing,
please use the online registration form
available at https://www.epa.gov/
stationary-sources-air-pollution/
primary-copper-smelting-nationalemissions-standards-hazardous-air or
contact the public hearing team at (888)
372–8699 or by email at
SPPDpublichearing@epa.gov. The last
day to pre-register to speak at the
hearing will be August 7, 2023. Prior to
the hearing, the EPA will post a general
agenda that will list pre-registered
speakers in approximate order at:
https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sourcesair-pollution/primary-copper-smeltingnational-emissions-standardshazardous-air.
The EPA will make every effort to
follow the schedule as closely as
possible on the day of the hearing;
however, please plan for the hearings to
run either ahead of schedule or behind
schedule.
Each commenter will have 4 minutes
to provide oral testimony. The EPA
encourages commenters to provide the
EPA with a copy of their oral testimony
electronically (via email) by emailing it
to dawson.tonisha@epa.gov. The EPA
also recommends submitting the text of
your oral testimony as written
comments to the rulemaking docket.
The EPA may ask clarifying questions
during the oral presentations but will
not respond to the presentations at that
time. Written statements and supporting
information submitted during the
comment period will be considered
with the same weight as oral testimony
and supporting information presented at
the public hearing.
Please note that any updates made to
any aspect of the hearing will be posted
online at https://www.epa.gov/
stationary-sources-air-pollution/
primary-copper-smelting-national-
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
emissions-standards-hazardous-air.
While the EPA expects the hearing to go
forward as set forth above, please
monitor our website or contact the
public hearing team at (888) 372–8699
or by email at SPPDpublichearing@
epa.gov to determine if there are any
updates. The EPA does not intend to
publish a document in the Federal
Register announcing updates.
If you require the services of a
translator or special accommodation
such as audio description, please preregister for the hearing with the public
hearing team and describe your needs
by July 31, 2023. The EPA may not be
able to arrange accommodations without
advanced notice.
Docket. The EPA has established a
docket for this rulemaking under Docket
ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430. All
documents in the docket are listed in
https://www.regulations.gov/. Although
listed, 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. With the
exception of such material, publicly
available docket materials are available
electronically in Regulations.gov.
Instructions. Direct your comments to
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–
0430. The EPA’s policy is that all
comments received will be included in
the public docket without change and
may be made available online at https://
www.regulations.gov/, including any
personal information provided, unless
the comment includes information
claimed to be CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Do not submit electronically to https://
www.regulations.gov/ any information
that you consider to be CBI or other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. This type of
information should be submitted as
discussed below.
The EPA may publish any comment
received to its public docket.
Multimedia submissions (audio, video,
etc.) must be accompanied by a written
comment. The written comment is
considered the official comment and
should include discussion of all points
you wish to make. The EPA will
generally not consider comments or
comment contents located outside of the
primary submission (i.e., on the Web,
cloud, or other file sharing system). For
additional submission methods, the full
EPA public comment policy,
information about CBI or multimedia
submissions, and general guidance on
making effective comments, please visit
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
https://www.epa.gov/dockets/
commenting-epa-dockets.
The https://www.regulations.gov/
website allows you to submit your
comment anonymously, which means
the EPA will not know your identity or
contact information unless you provide
it in the body of your comment. If you
send an email comment directly to the
EPA without going through https://
www.regulations.gov/, your email
address will be automatically captured
and included as part of the comment
that is placed in the public docket and
made available on the internet. If you
submit an electronic comment, the EPA
recommends that you include your
name and other contact information in
the body of your comment and with any
digital storage media you submit. If the
EPA cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact
you for clarification, the EPA may not
be able to consider your comment.
Electronic files should not include
special characters or any form of
encryption and be free of any defects or
viruses. For additional information
about the EPA’s public docket, visit the
EPA Docket Center homepage at https://
www.epa.gov/dockets.
Submitting CBI. Do not submit
information containing CBI to the EPA
through https://www.regulations.gov/.
Clearly mark the part or all of the
information that you claim to be CBI.
For CBI information on any digital
storage media that you mail to the EPA,
note the docket ID, mark the outside of
the digital storage media as CBI, and
identify electronically within the digital
storage media the specific information
that is claimed as CBI. In addition to
one complete version of the comments
that includes information claimed as
CBI, you must submit a copy of the
comments that does not contain the
information claimed as CBI directly to
the public docket through the
procedures outlined in Instructions
above. If you submit any digital storage
media that does not contain CBI, mark
the outside of the digital storage media
clearly that it does not contain CBI and
note the docket ID. Information not
marked as CBI will be included in the
public docket and the EPA’s electronic
public docket without prior notice.
Information marked as CBI will not be
disclosed except in accordance with
procedures set forth in 40 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) part 2.
Our preferred method to receive CBI
is for it to be transmitted electronically
using email attachments, File Transfer
Protocol (FTP), or other online file
sharing services (e.g., Dropbox,
OneDrive, Google Drive). Electronic
submissions must be transmitted
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
directly to the OAQPS CBI Office at the
email address oaqpscbi@epa.gov, and as
described above, should include clear
CBI markings and note the docket ID. If
assistance is needed with submitting
large electronic files that exceed the file
size limit for email attachments, and if
you do not have your own file sharing
service, please email oaqpscbi@epa.gov
to request a file transfer link. If sending
CBI information through the postal
service, please send it to the following
address: OAQPS Document Control
Officer (C404–02), OAQPS, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
27711, Attention Docket ID No. EPA–
HQ–OAR–2020–0430. The mailed CBI
material should be double wrapped and
clearly marked. Any CBI markings
should not show through the outer
envelope.
Preamble acronyms and
abbreviations. Throughout this
preamble the use of ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ or
‘‘our’’ is intended to refer to the EPA.
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:
ACI activated carbon injection
ADEQ Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality
ADL above detection limit
ANSI American National Standards
Institute
BDL below detection limit
BTF beyond-the-floor
CAA Clean Air Act
CBI Confidential Business Information
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
D/F dioxins and furans
DLL detection level limited
DSI dry sorbent injection
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
GACT generally available control
technology
HAP hazardous air pollutant(s)
HCl hydrogen chloride
ICR Information Collection Request
km kilometers
lbs pounds
lbs/hr pounds per hour
lb/ton pounds per ton
LEAN Louisiana Environmental Action
Network
MACT maximum achievable control
technology
MIR maximum individual risk
mg/dscm milligram per dry standard cubic
meter
NAICS North American Industry
Classification System
NESHAP national emission standards for
hazardous air pollutants
ng TEQ/Mg nanograms Toxic Equivalent
per megagrams
NTTAA National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
OAQPS Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
OMB Office of Management and Budget
PAH polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
PM particulate matter
PRA Paperwork Reduction Act
RDL representative detection level
RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act
RTR risk and technology review
SO2 sulfur dioxide
SO3 sulfur trioxide
SSM startup, shutdown, and malfunction
TEF toxicity equivalence factors
TEQ toxic equivalency
THC Total hydrocarbons
tpy tons per year
ug/m3 micrograms per cubic meter
UMRA Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
UOM unit of measure
UPL upper predictive level
VCS voluntary consensus standards
WESP wet electrostatic precipitator
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?
II. Background
A. What is the statutory authority for this
action?
B. What is this source category and how
does the current NESHAP regulate its
HAP emissions?
C. What is the history of the Primary
Copper Smelting Risk and Technology
Review?
D. What was included in the 2022
proposed RTR affecting major sources in
the primary copper smelting source
category?
E. What data collection activities were
conducted to support this action?
III. Analytical Results and Proposed
Decisions
A. What are the results of our analyses of
unregulated pollutants and how did we
establish the proposed MACT standards?
B. What performance testing, monitoring,
and recordkeeping and reporting are we
proposing relative to the unregulated
HAP emission limits?
C. What revisions are we proposing
specific to the emission limit for process
fugitive emissions from roof vents at the
anode refining operations from the 2022
proposed RTR?
D. What revisions are we proposing
specific to the emission limit for mercury
from the 2022 proposed RTR?
E. What emissions standards are we
proposing for the Aisle Scrubber in this
supplemental proposed rule that are
different than decisions proposed in the
2022 proposed RTR?
F. What are the results of risk analyses
completed for this action?
G. What other actions are we proposing,
and what is the rationale for those
actions?
H. What compliance dates are we
proposing and what is the rationale for
the proposed compliance dates?
IV. Summary of Cost, Environmental, and
Economic Impacts
A. What are the affected sources?
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
47417
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?
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
Planning and Review and Executive
Order 14094: Modernizing 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
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
The source category that is the subject
of this proposal is primary copper
smelting major sources regulated under
40 CFR part 63, subpart QQQ. The
North American Industry Classification
System (NAICS) code for the primary
copper smelting industry is 331410.
This list of categories and NAICS codes
is not intended to be exhaustive, but
rather provides a guide for readers
regarding the entities that this proposed
action is likely to affect. The proposed
standards, once promulgated, will be
directly applicable to the affected
sources. Federal, state, local, and tribal
government entities would not be
affected by this proposed action. As
defined in the Initial List of Categories
of Sources Under Section 112(c)(1) of
the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990
(see 57 FR 31576; July 16, 1992) and
Documentation for Developing the
Initial Source Category List, Final
Report (see EPA–450/3–91–030, July
1992), the primary copper smelting
source category is any major source
facility engaged in the pyrometallurgical
process used for the extraction of copper
from sulfur oxides, native ore
concentrates, or other copper bearing
minerals. As originally defined, the
category includes, but is not limited to,
the following smelting process units:
roasters, smelting furnaces, and
converters. Affected sources under the
current major source NESHAP are
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
47418
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
concentrate dryers, smelting furnaces,
slag cleaning vessels, converters, and
fugitive emission sources.
B. Where can I get a copy of this
document and other related
information?
In addition to being available in the
docket, an electronic copy of this action
is available on the internet. Following
signature by the EPA Administrator, the
EPA will post a copy of this proposed
action at https://www.epa.gov/
stationary-sources-air-pollution/
primary-copper-smelting-nationalemissions-standards-hazardous-air.
Following publication in the Federal
Register, the EPA will post the Federal
Register version of the proposal and key
technical documents at this same
website.
A memorandum showing the rule
edits that would be necessary to
incorporate the changes to 40 CFR part
63, subpart QQQ proposed in this action
is available in the docket (Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430). The EPA
also will post a copy of this document
to https://www.epa.gov/stationarysources-air-pollution/primary-coppersmelting-national-emissions-standardshazardous-air.
II. Background
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
A. What is the statutory authority for
this action?
The statutory authority for this action
is provided by sections 112 and 301 of
the Clean Air Act (CAA), as amended
(42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.). Section 112 of
the CAA establishes a two-stage
regulatory process to develop standards
for emissions of HAP from stationary
sources. Generally, the first stage
involves establishing technology-based
standards and the second stage involves
evaluating those standards that are
based on maximum achievable control
technology (MACT) to determine
whether additional standards are
needed to address any remaining risk
associated with HAP emissions. This
second stage is commonly referred to as
the ‘‘residual risk review.’’ In addition
to the residual risk review, the CAA also
requires the EPA to review standards set
under CAA section 112 every 8 years
and revise the standards as necessary
taking into account any ‘‘developments
in practices, processes, or control
technologies.’’ This review is commonly
referred to as the ‘‘technology review.’’
The discussion that follows identifies
the most relevant statutory sections and
briefly explains the contours of the
methodology used to implement these
statutory requirements. A more
comprehensive discussion appears in
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
the document titled CAA Section 112
Risk and Technology Reviews: Statutory
Authority and Methodology, in the
docket for this rulemaking.
In the first stage of the CAA section
112 standard setting process, the EPA
promulgates technology-based standards
under CAA section 112(d) for categories
of sources identified as emitting one or
more of the HAP listed in CAA section
112(b). Sources of HAP emissions are
either major sources or area sources, and
CAA section 112 establishes different
requirements for major source standards
and area source standards. ‘‘Major
sources’’ are those that emit or have the
potential to emit 10 tons per year (tpy)
or more of a single HAP or 25 tpy or
more of any combination of HAP. All
other sources are ‘‘area sources.’’ For
major sources, CAA section 112(d)(2)
provides that the technology-based
NESHAP must reflect the maximum
degree of emission reductions of HAP
achievable (after considering cost,
energy requirements, and non-air
quality health and environmental
impacts). These standards are
commonly referred to as MACT
standards. CAA section 112(d)(3) also
establishes a minimum control level for
MACT standards, known as the MACT
‘‘floor.’’ In certain instances, as
provided in CAA section 112(h), the
EPA may set work practice standards in
lieu of numerical emission standards.
The EPA must also consider control
options that are more stringent than the
floor. Standards more stringent than the
floor are commonly referred to as
beyond-the-floor (BTF) standards. For
area sources, CAA section 112(d)(5)
allows the EPA to set standards based
on generally available control
technologies or management practices
(GACT standards) in lieu of MACT
standards.
The second stage in standard-setting
focuses on identifying and addressing
any remaining (i.e., ‘‘residual’’) risk
pursuant to CAA section 112(f). For
source categories subject to MACT
standards, section 112(f)(2) of the CAA
requires the EPA to determine whether
promulgation of additional standards is
needed to provide an ample margin of
safety to protect public health or to
prevent an adverse environmental
effect. Section 112(d)(5) of the CAA
provides that this residual risk review is
not required for categories of area
sources subject to GACT standards.
Section 112(f)(2)(B) of the CAA further
expressly preserves the EPA’s use of the
two-step approach for developing
standards to address any residual risk
and the Agency’s interpretation of
‘‘ample margin of safety’’ developed in
the National Emissions Standards for
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Hazardous Air Pollutants: Benzene
Emissions from Maleic Anhydride
Plants, Ethylbenzene/Styrene Plants,
Benzene Storage Vessels, Benzene
Equipment Leaks, and Coke By-Product
Recovery Plants (Benzene NESHAP) (54
FR 38044; September 14, 1989). The
EPA notified Congress in the Residual
Risk Report that the Agency intended to
use the Benzene NESHAP approach in
making CAA section 112(f) residual risk
determinations (EPA–453/R–99–001, p.
ES–11). The EPA subsequently adopted
this approach in its residual risk
determinations, and the United States
Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit upheld the EPA’s
interpretation that CAA section 112(f)(2)
incorporates the approach established in
the Benzene NESHAP. See NRDC v.
EPA, 529 F.3d 1077, 1083 (D.C. Cir.
2008).
The approach incorporated into the
CAA and used by the EPA to evaluate
residual risk and to develop standards
under CAA section 112(f)(2) is a twostep approach. In the first step, the EPA
determines whether risks are acceptable.
This determination ‘‘considers all health
information, including risk estimation
uncertainty, and includes a presumptive
limit on maximum individual lifetime
[cancer] risk (MIR) 1 of approximately 1in-10 thousand.’’ (54 FR at 38045). If
risk is unacceptable, the EPA must
determine the emissions standards
necessary to reduce risks to an
acceptable level without considering
costs. In the second step of the
approach, the EPA considers whether
the emissions standards provide an
ample margin of safety to protect public
health ‘‘in consideration of all health
information, including the number of
persons at risk levels higher than
approximately 1-in-1 million, as well as
other relevant factors, including costs
and economic impacts, technological
feasibility, and other factors relevant to
each particular decision.’’ Id. The EPA
must promulgate emission standards
necessary to provide an ample margin of
safety to protect public health or
determine that the standards being
reviewed provide an ample margin of
safety without any revisions. After
conducting the ample margin of safety
analysis, the Agency considers whether
a more stringent standard is necessary to
prevent, taking into consideration costs,
energy, safety, and other relevant
factors, an adverse environmental effect.
CAA section 112(d)(6) separately
requires the EPA to review standards
1 Although defined as ‘‘maximum individual
risk,’’ MIR refers only to cancer risk. MIR, one
metric for assessing cancer risk, is the estimated
risk if an individual were exposed to the maximum
level of a pollutant for a lifetime.
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
promulgated under CAA section 112
and revise them ‘‘as necessary (taking
into account developments in practices,
processes, and control technologies)’’ no
less often than every 8 years. While
conducting this review, which we call
the ‘‘technology review,’’ the EPA is not
required to recalculate the MACT floor.
Natural Resources Defense Council
(NRDC) v. EPA, 529 F.3d 1077, 1084
(D.C. Cir. 2008). Association of Battery
Recyclers, Inc. v. EPA, 716 F.3d 667
(D.C. Cir. 2013). The EPA may consider
cost in deciding whether to revise the
standards pursuant to CAA section
112(d)(6). The EPA is also required to
address regulatory gaps, such as missing
standards for listed air toxics known to
be emitted from the source category, and
any new MACT standards must be
established under CAA sections
112(d)(2) and (3), or, in specific
circumstances, CAA sections 112(d)(4)
or (h). Louisiana Environmental Action
Network (LEAN) v. EPA, 955 F.3d 1088
(D.C. Cir. 2020).
As described in detail in section III of
this preamble, pursuant to the
authorities described above in this
section, this supplemental proposed
rule addresses additional currently
unregulated emissions of HAP from the
primary copper smelting major source
category. In addition to the unregulated
HAP addressed in the 2022 RTR
proposed rule (87 FR 1616; January 11,
2022), available data indicate the
following unregulated pollutants are
emitted from the source category:
benzene, dioxins and furans, HCl,
chlorine, PAH including naphthalene,
and toluene. These pollutants are
mainly emitted due to the combustion
of natural gas and coke. Therefore, the
EPA is proposing amendments
establishing standards that reflect
MACT for these pollutants emitted by
the source category, pursuant to CAA
sections 112(d)(2) and (3).
B. What is this source category and how
does the current NESHAP regulate its
HAP emissions?
Consistent with the description in
section II.A. of this preamble, this
supplemental proposal is applicable to
major sources in the primary copper
smelting major source category. There is
one area source which is regulated by
the primary copper smelting area source
NESHAP (40 CFR part 63, subpart
EEEEEE), but the following description
is limited to the major source facilities
consistent with this supplemental
proposed rule. The primary copper
smelting major source category includes
any facility that is a major source of
HAP and uses a pyrometallurgical
process to produce anode copper from
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
copper ore concentrates. Primary copper
smelting begins with copper mines
supplying the ore concentrate (typically
30 percent copper). In most cases, the
moisture is reduced from the ore
concentrate in dryers, and the
concentrate is then fed through a
smelting furnace where it is melted and
reacts to produce copper matte. One
existing smelter is able to feed its
copper concentrate directly to the
smelting furnace without prior drying.
Copper matte is a molten solution of
copper sulfide mixed with iron sulfide
and is about 60 percent copper. The
solution is further refined using
converters to make blister copper,
which is approximately 98 percent
copper. Converters use oxidation to
remove sulfide as sulfur dioxide (SO2)
gas and the iron as a ferrous oxide slag.
The majority of the SO2 gases are sent
to a sulfuric acid plant. The slag is
removed, cooled, and often processed
again to remove any residual copper.
The blister copper is reduced in the
anode refining furnace to remove
impurities and oxygen, typically by
injecting natural gas and steam, to
produce a high purity copper. The
molten copper from the anode refining
furnace is poured into molds and cooled
to produce solid copper ingots called
anodes. This process is known as
casting. The anodes are sent to a copper
refinery, either on-site or at an off-site
location, for further purification using
an electrolytic process to obtain high
purity copper that is sold as a product.
The processing units of interest at
primary copper smelters, because of
their potential to generate HAP
emissions, are the following: dryers,
smelting furnaces, copper converters,
anode refining furnaces, and, if present,
copper holding vessels, slag cleaning
vessels, and matte drying and grinding
plants. The smelting furnaces,
converters and anode refining are
sources of HAP emissions from point
sources (i.e., stacks, control devices) and
process fugitive emissions from roof
vents. In addition, the transfers of matte,
converter slag, and blister copper are
sources of process fugitive emissions.
There are two facilities (Asarco and
Freeport—both located in Arizona)
which are major sources of HAP
emissions and are subject to 40 CFR part
63, subpart QQQ, the major source
NESHAP. The Asarco facility uses an
INCO brand flash smelting furnace.
Flash smelting furnaces consist of
blowing fine, dried copper sulfide
concentrate and silica flux with air,
oxygen-enriched air or oxygen into a hot
hearth-type furnace. The sulfide
minerals in the concentrate react with
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
47419
oxygen resulting in oxidation of the iron
and sulfur, which produces heat and
therefore melting of the solids. The
molten matte and slag are removed
separately from the furnace as they
accumulate, and the matte is transferred
via ladles to the copper converters. The
Freeport facility uses an ISASMELT
smelting furnace. The ISASMELT
process involves dropping wet feed
through a feed port, such that dryers are
not needed. A mixture of air, oxygen,
and natural gas is blown through a
vertical lance in the center of the
furnace, generating heat and melting the
feed. The molten metal is then tapped
from the bottom and sent to an electric
furnace to separate the matte from slag.
The slag is removed from the electric
furnace through tapholes and is
transferred to slag pots via ladles. The
matte is also removed from the electric
furnace through tapholes and
transferred to the converter via ladles.
Molten blister copper is transferred
from the converting vessel to an anode
furnace for refining to further remove
residual impurities and oxygen. The
blister copper is reduced in the anode
refining furnace to remove oxygen,
typically by injecting natural gas and
steam to produce a high purity copper.
The molten copper from the anode
refining furnace is poured into molds to
produce solid copper ingots called
anodes. The anode copper is sent to a
copper refinery, either on-site or at
another location, where it is further
purified using an electrolytic process to
obtain the high purity copper that is
sold as a product. The copper refinery
is not part of the primary copper
smelting source category. The current
NESHAP for major sources (40 CFR part
63, subpart QQQ) was proposed on
April 20, 1998 (63 FR 19582), with a
supplement to the proposed rulemaking
published on June 26, 2000 (65 FR
39326). The final rule, promulgated on
June 12, 2002 (67 FR 40478), established
particulate matter (PM) standards as a
surrogate for HAP metals for copper
concentrate dryers, smelting furnaces,
slag cleaning vessels, and existing
converters. The major source NESHAP
applies to major sources that use batch
copper converters. Regarding new
sources, the NESHAP prohibits batch
converters for new sources, which
indirectly means that any new source
would need to install continuous
converters or another technology. The
reason for this prohibition for new
sources is that continuous converters
have lower process fugitive emissions
than batch converters. Further
explanation is provided in the 2002
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
47420
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
NESHAP final rule preamble (67 FR
40478; June 12, 2002).
The converter building is subject to an
opacity limit in the NESHAP that only
applies during performance testing. A
fugitive dust plan is required to
minimize fugitive dust emissions.
Subpart QQQ also establishes
requirements to demonstrate initial and
continuous compliance with all
applicable emission limitations, work
practice standards, and operation and
maintenance requirements. Annual
performance testing is required to
demonstrate compliance with the PM
and opacity standards contained in the
current NESHAP.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
C. What is the history of the Primary
Copper Smelting Risk and Technology
Review?
On January 11, 2022, the EPA
proposed the risk and technology
review required by CAA sections
112(d)(6) and 112(f)(2) for the NESHAP
for Copper Smelting (hereafter referred
to as the ‘‘2022 proposed RTR’’).2 Since
the issuance of the 2022 proposed RTR,
the EPA has obtained additional
information that impacts the decisions
made for certain amendments in the
2022 proposed RTR and that indicates
there are additional unregulated HAP
for the source category. Therefore, based
on this new information, the EPA is
proposing supplemental amendments to
the NESHAP to ensure that all
emissions of HAP from sources in the
source category are regulated.
Additionally, based on this new
information and as described in more
detail in section III of this preamble, we
are proposing revised standards for
certain amendments that were initially
included in the 2022 proposed RTR for
the copper smelting major source
category.
D. What was included in the 2022
proposed RTR affecting major sources in
the primary copper smelting source
category?
Consistent with the statutory
requirements described in section II.A
of this preamble, the 2022 proposed
RTR included a risk review pursuant to
CAA section 112(f)(2) and a technology
review pursuant to CAA section
112(d)(6) for the major source category.
Additionally, the Agency reviewed
available data to determine whether
there were any unregulated emissions of
HAP within the source category and
evaluated the data for use in developing
new emission standards.
As described in the 2022 proposed
RTR, as part of the technology review
2 87
FR 1616; January 11, 2022.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
for the major source category, the EPA
identified previously unregulated
processes and pollutants and proposed
to regulate them under CAA section
112(d)(2) and (3) for the major source
NESHAP (40 CFR part 63, subpart
QQQ), as follows:
• PM limits, as a surrogate for metal
HAP, for anode refining point sources at
existing and new sources.
• PM limits, as a surrogate for metal
HAP, for process fugitive emissions
from roofline vents of smelting furnaces
at existing and new sources.
• PM limits, as a surrogate for metal
HAP, for process fugitive emissions
from converters at existing and new
sources.
• PM limits, as a surrogate for metal
HAP, for process fugitive emissions
from roof vents at anode refining
operations at existing and new sources.
• Mercury limits for any existing and
new combination of stacks or other
vents from the copper concentrate
dryers, converting department, the
anode refining department, and the
smelting vessels affected sources.
• PM limits, as a surrogate for metal
HAP, for new converters.
The Agency also completed a review
of residual risk for the source category
consistent with CAA section 112(f).
Based on the results of the risk review,
the EPA proposed that risks from
emissions of air toxics from the major
source category were unacceptable due
to HAP metal (primarily lead and
arsenic) emissions. The largest
contributor to risk was the process
fugitive emissions from roof vents at
anode refining operations (constituting
about 71 percent of the MIR) followed
by the aisle scrubber (constituting about
23 percent of the MIR) at the Freeport
facility. In the 2022 proposed RTR, the
EPA concluded that the emission limits
proposed under CAA section 112(d)(2)
and (3) for the process fugitive
emissions from roof vents at anode
refining operations will require
additional controls that are expected to
provide enough emissions reduction to
reduce risks to an acceptable level;
therefore, they were also proposed
pursuant to CAA section 112(f)(2). The
Agency also considered proposing
additional control requirements for the
aisle scrubber as part of the Agency’s
ample margin of safety analysis. The
EPA did not propose any control
requirements for the aisle scrubber in
the 2022 proposed RTR but did seek
comment on its analysis (including the
costs, costs effectiveness, and risk
reductions) and whether the EPA
should establish more stringent
standards to reduce HAP metal
emissions from the aisle scrubber. Also,
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
as part of the ample margin of safety
analysis, the EPA evaluated additional
work practices to reduce fugitive dust
emissions, consistent with Asarco’s
current consent decree. The Agency
found that the implementation of a more
robust fugitive dust plan would result in
an unquantified reduction of HAP, at
minimal cost for implementation, and
therefore proposed this requirement in
the 2022 proposed RTR. In the 2022
proposed RTR, the EPA proposed that
the combination of the standards for
anode refining roof vents, fugitive dust
plan and all other current standards in
the NESHAP would ensure the NESHAP
provides an ample margin of safety to
protect public health.
The EPA did not identify
developments in practices, processes, or
control technologies pursuant to CAA
section 112(d)(6) to achieve further
emissions reductions beyond the
controls and reductions proposed under
the risk review for major sources.
The EPA also proposed to remove
exemptions for periods of startup,
shutdown, and malfunction (SSM) and
specified that the emission standards
apply at all times and proposed a
requirement for electronic reporting of
performance test results and notification
of compliance reports.
Of central relevance to this
supplemental proposal are the proposed
emission limits for the process fugitive
emissions from roof vents at anode
refining operations at new and existing
sources; the mercury limits for any
existing and new combination of stacks
or other vents from the copper
concentrate dryers, converting
department, the anode refining
department, and the smelting vessels
affected sources; the potential control
options for metal HAP at the aisle
scrubber; and the proposed MACT
limits for additional unregulated HAP.
As detailed in the next section II.E of
this preamble, the EPA has obtained
additional information relative to these
processes and pollutants. As a result of
evaluating this new information, we are
proposing both revised and new
requirements in this supplemental
proposed rulemaking (compared to the
proposed requirements in the 2022
proposed RTR) for these processes and
pollutants. A detailed discussion is
provided in section III of this preamble,
which covers what was proposed for
these processes and pollutants in the
2022 proposed RTR, the evaluation of
new information, and what we are
proposing for these processes and
pollutants in this supplemental
proposed rulemaking.
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
E. What data collection activities were
conducted to support this action?
The 2022 proposed RTR was
published in the Federal Register on
January 11, 2022 (87 FR 1616). The
initial 45-day comment period was
extended by 60 days and ended on April
26, 2022. During the comment period,
the EPA received public comments from
industry, tribal nations, two
environmental groups, Arizona
Department of Environmental Quality
(ADEQ), and private citizens. Some of
the comments on the proposed
rulemaking claimed that there are
additional unregulated HAP from the
source category beyond those the EPA
addressed in the 2022 proposed RTR. In
response to these public comments, the
EPA issued a CAA section 114
information request to collect further
information. The section 114
information request was sent to the
Freeport facility only, as the Asarco
facility has been idled since October
2019. The section 114 information
request was delivered to the Freeport
facility on August 31, 2022. The key
components of the response to the
request included the following:
• Results of performance testing
which was required to be conducted in
two phases. Initially, performance tests
were conducted at the vent fume and
aisle scrubber stacks of the Freeport
facility for the following compounds:
benzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene,
formaldehyde, hexane, hydrogen
fluoride, hydrochloric acid, toluene,
total hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons including naphthalene,
and dioxins and furans. For compounds
that were detected at the vent fume and
aisle scrubber, additional performance
testing and reporting were required to
be conducted at the acid plant tail gas
stack. The Agency did not request
chlorine testing; however, chlorine test
results were included in respective test
reports.
• Data regarding the costs and
feasibility of installing additional
controls for the aisle scrubber. This
included the evaluation of two options:
(1) installing a wet electrostatic
precipitator (WESP) which would
operate in series with the aisle scrubber
to provide further emissions reductions,
and (2) installing a baghouse which
would control the secondary converter
emissions before they enter the aisle
scrubber.
• Detailed information regarding all
input materials.
In addition to the information
collected through the section 114
information request, the EPA also
received information during and after
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
the public comment period of the 2022
proposed RTR. This additional
information included cost estimates for
the control devices which would be
required by the emission limits
proposed in the 2022 proposed RTR
(e.g., for mercury, lead and arsenic). It
also included additional performance
testing results for the roofline vents,
vent fume, aisle scrubber, and acid
plant. Finally, Freeport also voluntarily
performed an additional performance
test for mercury in 2022 and submitted
those results to the EPA. The data
collected and used in this action are
provided in the docket for this action.
Regarding the anode roofline vents,
we received one additional stack test
that resulted in a small increase to the
annual emissions of lead, which we
now estimate to be 4.47 tons/yr, relative
to the estimate in the 2022 proposed
rule, which was 4.09 tons/yr. For
mercury, based on the additional
mercury test, we now estimate mercury
emissions from point and non-point
sources at the Freeport facility to be 139
lb/yr, while the Asarco mercury
emissions are unchanged from the 2022
Proposed RTR (10 lb/yr). Finally, we
received two new stack tests for the
aisle scrubber at the Freeport facility,
and based on these new test data, the
estimates of PM metals emissions from
the aisle scrubber are slightly lower
compared to the 2022 proposed RTR,
but only have a small effect on the
overall risk assessment results.
Nevertheless, we updated our risk
analysis based on the additional data
and concluded that the new data would
not change our proposed determination
that risk is unacceptable at baseline. We
did not revise or redo the demographic
analysis. The 2022 risk assessment and
demographics analyses conducted for
this action are available in the preamble
of the 2022 proposed rule (87 FR 1616;
January 11, 2022) and associated
technical documents cited in that 2022
preamble. These documents can also be
found in the docket of this
supplemental proposal. Aspects of the
updated risk review are summarized in
sections III.C. and II.E of this preamble,
and a more detailed discussion is
provided in section III.F of this
preamble.
III. Analytical Results and Proposed
Decisions
In this section, the EPA describes the
analytical results and proposed
decisions for addressing the additional
unregulated HAP for the major source
category. Additionally, this section
discusses analytical results and revised
decisions for certain provisions of the
2022 proposed RTR. For more
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
47421
information regarding the types of
analytical procedures used and the
types of information the EPA evaluates
for actions, see section III of the 2022
proposed rule (87 FR 1616; January 11,
2022). These revised decisions affect the
proposed emission limits for the process
fugitive emissions from roof vents at
anode refining operations at new and
existing sources; the mercury limits for
any existing and new combination of
stacks or other vents from the copper
concentrate dryers, converting
department, the anode refining
department, and the smelting vessels
affected sources; and the proposed
regulatory options for the particulate
metal HAP (e.g., lead, arsenic) for the
aisle scrubber at the Freeport facility.
Finally, the EPA is proposing
amendments to address the use of
bypass stacks for major sources within
the primary copper smelting category.
A. What are the results of our analyses
of unregulated pollutants and how did
we establish the proposed MACT
standards?
As mentioned in section II.E of this
preamble, the EPA received comments
on the 2022 proposed RTR concerning
unregulated HAP from the major
sources within the primary copper
smelting category. In response, the EPA
issued a CAA section 114 information
request to the Freeport facility on
August 31, 2022. The CAA section 114
information request required
performance testing in two phases.
Initially, performance testing was to be
conducted for the required HAP at the
vent fume and aisle scrubber. The acid
plant stack was required to be tested for
a required HAP only if the preliminary
test results from the vent fume stack
demonstrated that the pollutant is
emitted above detection levels (ADL) for
at least one sample run. Any pollutant
that was not ADL at the vent fume stack
was not required to be tested at the acid
plant stack because it was assumed that
the pollutant would not be detected at
the acid plant stack as well. A summary
of the HAP tested, the EPA test method,
and the results by stack by detection
classification (e.g., ADL; below
detection levels (BDL); detection level
limited (DLL)) are shown in Table 1. We
note that while not required, the test
report for the vent fume and aisle
scrubber included results for chlorine.
Complete copies of the stack test reports
for the vent fume and aisle scrubber as
well as the acid plant are available in
the docket for this supplemental rule.3
3 The vent fume and aisle scrubber test report was
initially submitted to the EPA on November 25,
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
Continued
24JYP1
47422
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF UNREGULATED HAP PERFORMANCE TESTING FOR THE MAJOR SOURCE COPPER SMELTING
SOURCE CATEGORY IN 2022–2023
HAP
Test method
Benzene .........................................
1,4-dichlorobenzene ......................
Hexane ...........................................
Toluene ..........................................
Formaldehyde ................................
THC ................................................
HCl .................................................
Chlorine ..........................................
Hydrogen Fluoride .........................
PAH (including Naphthalene) ........
Dioxins and Furans ........................
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
Vent fume/aisle scrubber
Method 18 ............................
Method 18 ............................
Method 18 ............................
Method 18 ............................
Method 320 ..........................
Method 25A ..........................
Method 26A ..........................
Method 26A ..........................
Method 26A ..........................
OTM 46 ................................
OTM 46 ................................
Acid plant
DLL ...............................................
BDL ...............................................
BDL ...............................................
DLL ...............................................
BDL ...............................................
N/A ................................................
ADL ...............................................
ADL ...............................................
BDL ...............................................
DLL ...............................................
DLL ...............................................
BDL.
Not tested.
Not tested.
BDL.
Not tested.
N/A.
ADL.
Not tested.
Not tested.
DLL.
DLL.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
* Revisions of Method 23 finalized March 20, 2023, is equivalent to OTM–46.
As described in more detail in the
following sections III.A.1 through III.A.5
of this preamble, the EPA is proposing
a source category MACT emission limit
pursuant to CAA section 112(d)(2) and
(3) for each unregulated HAP that was
found to be emitted through these
performance tests. The EPA
contemplated using the total
hydrocarbons (THC) results as a
surrogate for some of the organics (e.g.,
benzene, toluene) but has decided to not
propose THC as a surrogate, since the
THC test was not conducted in
accordance with all of the requirements
of the EPA test method.
The ‘‘MACT floor’’ for existing
sources is calculated based on the
average performance of the bestperforming units in each category or
subcategory and on a consideration of
the variability of HAP emissions from
these units. The MACT floor for new
sources is based on the single bestperforming source, with a similar
consideration of variability. The MACT
floor for new sources cannot be less
stringent than the emissions
performance that is achieved in practice
by the best-controlled similar source.
Also as described in section II.E of this
preamble, the section 114 request was
issued to the only currently operating
major source copper smelting facility,
Freeport. Therefore, the proposed
MACT floor for existing and new
sources will be determined using these
data (i.e., the proposed MACT emission
limits are the same for existing and new
sources). To account for variability in
the copper smelting operations and
resulting emissions, we calculated the
MACT floors using the 99 percent
Upper Predictive Limit (UPL) using all
available stack test data.4 We are
proposing MACT floor limits in units of
mass of emissions allowed per mass of
concentrate feed (for example, a
proposed emissions limit of 0.0017 lbs
of benzene per ton concentrated ore
fed).
The UPL approach addresses
variability of emissions data from the
best-performing source or sources in
setting MACT standards. The UPL also
accounts for uncertainty associated with
emission values in a dataset, which can
be influenced by components such as
the number of samples available for
developing MACT standards and the
number of samples that will be collected
to assess compliance with the emission
limit. The UPL approach has been used
in many environmental science
applications. As explained in more
detail in the UPL Memo cited above, the
EPA uses the UPL approach to
reasonably estimate the emissions
performance of the best-performing
source or sources to establish MACT
floor standards.
Additionally, we reviewed the
December 13, 2011, memorandum from
Peter Westlin and Ray Merrill titled
Data and procedure for handling below
detection level data in analyzing various
pollutant emissions databases for MACT
and RTR emissions limits (Docket ID
No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2017–0015), which
describes the procedure for handling
BDL data and developing representative
detection level (RDL) data when setting
MACT emission limits. In accordance
with these guidance documents, the
proposed new and existing UPL
emission standards for each applicable
compound (i.e., benzene, toluene, HCl,
chlorine, PAH (excluding naphthalene),
naphthalene, and D/F) were compared
to the emission limit value determined
to be equivalent to 3 times the RDL
(3xRDL) 5 of the test method. If the
3xRDL value was larger than the MACT
Floor 99 percent UPL value, then the
proposed MACT floor limit is proposed
as the 3xRDLvalue of the test method.
Further information on the
development of the 99 percent UPL and
3xRDL values for compounds for which
emission standards are being proposed
is included in a memorandum entitled,
Proposed Maximum Achievable Control
Technology (MACT) Floor Analysis for
Unregulated HAP for the Primary
Copper Smelting Major Source Category
which is available in the docket for this
rulemaking (Docket ID EPA–HQ–OAR–
2020–0430).
In addition, the EPA must examine
more stringent BTF regulatory options
to determine MACT. Unlike the floor
minimum stringency requirements, the
EPA must consider various impacts
(such as costs and cost effectiveness) of
the more stringent regulatory options in
determining whether MACT standards
should reflect beyond-the-floor
requirements. If the EPA concludes that
the more stringent regulatory options
have unreasonable impacts, the EPA
2022. The EPA sent Freeport several questions on
the test report and Freeport submitted a revised
version of the test report on February 10, 2023. All
versions of the test report and related EPA
correspondence are available in the docket EPA–
HQ–OAR–2020–0430.
4 For more information regarding the general use
of the UPL and why it is appropriate for calculating
MACT floors, see Use of Upper Prediction Limit for
Calculating MACT Floors (UPL Memo), which is
available in the docket for this action.
5 The factor of three used in the 3xRDL
calculation is based on a scientifically accepted
definition of level of quantitation—simply stated,
the level where a test method performs with
acceptable precision. The level of quantitation has
been defined as ten times the standard deviation of
seven replicate analyses of a sample at a
concentration level close to the MDL units of the
emission standard is then compared to the MACT
floor value to ensure that the resulting emission
limit is in a range that can be measured with
reasonable precision. In other words, if the 3xRDL
value were less than the calculated floor (e.g.,
calculated from the UPL), we would conclude that
measurement variability has been adequately
addressed; if it were greater than the calculated
floor, we would adjust the emissions limit to
comport with the 3xRDL value to address
measurement variability.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
selects the MACT floor as MACT.
However, if the EPA concludes that
impacts associated with beyond-thefloor levels of control are reasonable in
light of additional emissions reductions
achieved, the EPA selects those BTF
levels as MACT.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
1. Benzene
The performance testing conducted at
Freeport included the results of stack
testing for benzene using EPA Method
18. The proposed MACT floor emissions
limit was calculated by summing the
emission rates from the vent fume, aisle
scrubber and acid plant combined,
accounting for variability using the 99
percent UPL. Using this approach, we
calculated a source category MACT floor
emissions limit of 0.0017 lbs benzene/
ton concentrated ore fed for new and
existing sources. Based on the available
data, the Agency concludes that both
facilities in the major source copper
smelting source category would be able
to meet the MACT floor emissions limit
with no additional controls.
We then evaluated and considered a
BTF option to further reduce emissions
of benzene from new and existing
sources. Based on the available test data,
the Agency estimates that the aisle
scrubber is the largest source of benzene
emissions at Freeport, accounting for 87
percent of the total, with an estimated
414 lbs/yr of benzene emissions. The
BTF option for existing sources would
require Freeport to install and operate
an activated carbon injection (ACI)
system with the existing air pollution
control device (i.e., aisle scrubber). The
Agency estimates the ACI system would
achieve approximately 60 percent
reduction of benzene from the aisle
scrubber (i.e., 248 lbs/yr reduction of
benzene). The EPA estimates $0.6
million for capital costs, and annualized
costs are $2.7 million. This results in a
cost effectiveness of approximately $22
million per ton of benzene reduced. We
do not find costs associated with this
BTF option to be reasonable and are
therefore not proposing a BTF emission
limit for benzene. Instead, we are
proposing the source category MACT
floor emissions limit of 0.0017 lbs
benzene/ton concentrated ore fed for
new and existing sources. A detailed
description of the analysis of benzene
emissions, the controls necessary to
reduce benzene emissions, and the cost
of these controls is included in the
document, Estimated Cost for Beyondthe-floor Controls for HAP Emissions
from Primary Copper Smelting
Facilities, located in the docket (Docket
ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
2. Toluene
The performance testing conducted at
Freeport included the results of stack
testing for toluene using EPA Method
18. The proposed MACT floor emissions
limit was calculated by summing the
emission rates from the vent fume, aisle
scrubber and acid plant combined,
accounting for variability using the 99
percent UPL. Using this approach, we
calculated a source category MACT floor
emissions limit of 0.00084 lbs toluene/
ton concentrated ore fed for new and
existing sources. Based on the available
data, the Agency concludes that both
facilities in the major source copper
smelting source category would be able
to meet the MACT floor emissions limit
with no additional controls.
We then evaluated and considered a
BTF option to further reduce emissions
of toluene from new and existing
sources. Based on the available test data,
the Agency estimates that the aisle
scrubber is the largest source of toluene
emissions at Freeport, accounting for 66
percent of the total, with an estimated
187 lbs/yr of toluene emissions. The
BTF option for existing sources would
require Freeport to install and operate
an ACI system with the existing air
pollution control device (i.e., aisle
scrubber). The Agency estimates the ACI
system would achieve approximately 60
percent reduction of toluene from the
aisle scrubber (i.e., 112 lbs/yr reduction
of toluene). The EPA estimates $0.6
million for capital costs, and annualized
costs are $2.7 million. This results in a
cost effectiveness of approximately $48
million per ton of toluene reduced. We
do not find costs associated with this
BTF option to be reasonable and are
therefore not proposing a BTF emission
limit for toluene. Instead, we are
proposing the source category MACT
floor emissions limit of 0.00084 lbs
toluene/ton concentrated ore fed for
new and existing sources. A detailed
description of the analysis of toluene
emissions, the controls necessary to
reduce toluene emissions, and the cost
of these controls is included in the
document, Estimated Cost for Beyondthe-floor Controls for HAP Emissions
from Primary Copper Smelting
Facilities, located in the docket (Docket
ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430).
3. HCl
The performance testing conducted at
Freeport included the results of stack
testing for HCl using EPA Method 26A.
The proposed MACT floor emissions
limit was calculated by summing the
emission rates from the vent fume, aisle
scrubber and acid plant combined,
accounting for variability using the 99
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
47423
percent UPL. The 99 percent UPL value
HCl was 0.0013. The 3xRDL was found
to be slightly larger, 0.0015 pounds per
ton (lb/ton) concentrated ore fed, so
consistent with EPA guidelines, we
have determined that the 3xRDL value
(0.0015 lb/ton) represents the MACT
floor emissions limit for new and
existing sources. Based on the available
data, the Agency concludes that both
facilities in the major source copper
smelting source category would be able
to meet the emissions limit with no
additional controls.
We then evaluated and considered a
BTF option to further reduce emissions
of HCl from new and existing sources.
Based on the available test data, the
Agency estimates that the aisle scrubber
is the largest source of HCl emissions at
Freeport, accounting for 55 percent of
the total, with an estimated 682 lbs/yr
of HCl emissions. The BTF option for
existing sources would require Freeport
to install and operate a dry sorbent
injection (DSI) system with the existing
air pollution control device (i.e., aisle
scrubber). The Agency estimates the DSI
system would achieve approximately 98
percent reduction of HCl from the aisle
scrubber (i.e., 668 lbs/yr reduction of
HCl). The EPA estimates $0.6 million
for capital costs, and annualized costs
are $0.5 million. This results in a cost
effectiveness of approximately $1.5
million per ton of HCl reduced. We do
not find costs associated with this BTF
option to be reasonable and are
therefore not proposing a BTF emission
limit for HCl. Instead, we are proposing
the source category MACT floor
emissions limit of 0.0015 lb/ton
concentrated ore fed for HCl for new
and existing sources. A detailed
description of the analysis of HCl
emissions, the controls necessary to
reduce HCl emissions, and the cost of
these controls is included in the
document, Estimated Cost for Beyondthe-floor Controls for HAP Emissions
from Primary Copper Smelting
Facilities, located in the docket (Docket
ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430).
4. Chlorine
The EPA did not require facilities to
test for chlorine, however the
performance testing conducted at
Freeport included the results of stack
testing for chlorine using EPA Method
26A. Because the acid plant had no data
for chlorine, a percentage was
calculated from the ratio of HCl to
chlorine at the aisle scrubber and vent
fume stack. The highest average ratio
was used to estimate the chlorine
emissions for the acid plant. The
proposed MACT floor emissions limit
was calculated by summing the
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
47424
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
emission rates from the vent fume and
aisle scrubber and the estimated
emission rate from the acid plant,
accounting for variability using the 99
percent UPL. Using this approach, we
calculated a source category MACT floor
emissions limit of 0.0054 lbs chlorine/
ton concentrated ore fed for new and
existing sources. Based on the available
data, the Agency concludes that both
facilities in the major source copper
smelting source category would be able
to meet the emissions limit with no
additional controls.
We then evaluated and considered a
BTF option to further reduce emissions
of chlorine from new and existing
sources. Based on the available test data,
the Agency estimates that the aisle
scrubber is the largest source of chlorine
emissions at Freeport, accounting for 53
percent of the total, with an estimated
2,490 lbs/yr of chlorine emissions. The
BTF option for existing sources would
require Freeport to install and operate a
DSI system with the existing air
pollution control device (i.e., aisle
scrubber). The Agency estimates the DSI
system would achieve approximately 98
percent reduction of chlorine from the
aisle scrubber (i.e., 2,440 lbs/yr
reduction of chlorine). The EPA
estimates $0.6 million for capital costs,
and annualized costs are $0.5 million.
This results in a cost effectiveness of
approximately $0.4 million per ton of
chlorine reduced. We do not find costs
associated with BTF options to be
reasonable and are therefore not
proposing a BTF emission limit for
chlorine. Instead, we are proposing the
source category MACT floor emissions
limit of 0.0054 lbs chlorine/ton
concentrated ore fed for new and
existing sources. A detailed description
of the analysis of chlorine emissions,
the controls necessary to reduce
chlorine emissions, and the cost of these
controls is included in the document,
Estimated Cost for Beyond-the-floor
Controls for HAP Emissions from
Primary Copper Smelting Facilities,
located in the docket (Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430).
5. PAH
The performance testing conducted at
Freeport included the results of stack
testing for PAH using EPA OTM–46.
EPA OTM–46 is nearly identical to the
updated EPA Method 23, for which
revisions were promulgated on March
20, 2023 (88 FR 16732). In reviewing the
test results, we found that
approximately 70 percent of the PAH
measured was naphthalene; therefore,
we are proposing a PAH MACT floor
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
emissions limit excluding naphthalene
and a separate naphthalene MACT floor
emissions limit. These proposed MACT
floor emissions limits were calculated
by summing the emission rates from the
vent fume, aisle scrubber and acid plant
combined, accounting for variability
using the 99 percent UPL. We are
proposing a source category MACT floor
emissions limit for PAH excluding
naphthalene of 0.0001 lbs PAH
excluding naphthalene/ton concentrated
ore fed for new and existing sources. We
are proposing a source category MACT
floor emissions limit for naphthalene of
0.00028 lbs naphthalene/ton
concentrated ore fed for new and
existing sources. Based on the available
data, the Agency concludes that both
facilities in the major source copper
smelting source category would be able
to meet these MACT floor emissions
limits with no additional controls.
We also evaluated and considered a
BTF option to further reduce emissions
of PAH and naphthalene from new and
existing sources. Based on the available
test data, the Agency estimates that the
aisle scrubber is the largest source of
PAH and naphthalene emissions at
Freeport, accounting for 77 percent of
the total, with an estimated 97 lbs/yr of
PAH emissions. The BTF option for
existing sources would require Freeport
to install and operate an ACI system
with the existing air pollution control
device (i.e., aisle scrubber). The Agency
estimates the ACI system would achieve
approximately 60 percent reduction of
PAH from the aisle scrubber (i.e., 58 lbs/
yr reduction of PAH). The EPA
estimates $0.6 million for capital costs,
and annualized costs are $2.7 million.
This results in a cost effectiveness of
approximately $92 million per ton of
PAH reduced. We do not find costs
associated with BTF options to be
reasonable and are therefore not
proposing a BTF emission limit for
PAH. Because it was not cost effective
to propose further control of PAH, and
since naphthalene is one compound in
this group, we conclude it is also not
cost effective to require BTF controls for
naphthalene. Therefore, we are
proposing the MACT floor limits for
PAHs and naphthalene described
previously in this section. A detailed
description of the analysis of PAH
emissions, the controls necessary to
reduce PAH emissions, and the cost of
these controls is included in the
document, Estimated Cost for Beyondthe-floor Controls for HAP Emissions
from Primary Copper Smelting
Facilities, located in the docket (Docket
ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430).
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
6. D/F
The performance testing conducted at
Freeport included the results of stack
testing for congeners of D/F using EPA
OTM–46. The proposed MACT floor
emissions limit was calculated by
summing the emission rates from the
vent fume, aisle scrubber and acid plant
combined, accounting for variability
using the 99 percent UPL. We are
proposing a source category MACT floor
emissions limit of 60 nanograms D/F
Toxic Equivalent (TEQ)/Mg
concentrated ore fed for new and
existing sources. Based on the available
data, the Agency concludes that both
facilities in the major source copper
smelting source category would be able
to meet the MACT floor emissions limit
with no additional controls.
We also evaluated and considered a
BTF option to further reduce emissions
of D/F from new and existing sources.
Based on the available test data, the
Agency estimates that the aisle scrubber
is the largest source of D/F emissions at
Freeport, accounting for 83 percent of
the total, with an estimated 0.04 grams/
yr of D/F TEQ emissions. The BTF
option for existing sources would
require Freeport to install and operate
an ACI system with the existing air
pollution control device (i.e., aisle
scrubber). The Agency estimates the ACI
system would achieve approximately 85
percent reduction of D/F from the aisle
scrubber (i.e., 0.03 grams/yr reduction of
D/F TEQ). The EPA estimates $0.6
million for capital costs, and annualized
costs are $2.7 million. This results in a
cost effectiveness of approximately $83
million per gram of D/F TEQ reduced.
We do not find costs associated with the
BTF option to be reasonable and are
therefore not proposing a BTF emission
limit for D/F. Therefore, we are
proposing the MACT floor limit
described previously in this section. A
detailed description of the analysis of D/
F emissions, the controls necessary to
reduce D/F emissions, and the cost of
these controls is included in the
document, Estimated Cost for Beyondthe-floor Controls for HAP Emissions
from Primary Copper Smelting
Facilities, located in the docket (Docket
ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430).
7. Summary of Proposed New and
Existing Source Limits for Copper
Smelting
The proposed emission limits for new
and existing sources in the major source
copper smelting source category are
summarized in Table 2.
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
47425
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
TABLE 2—SUMMARY OF PROPOSED NEW AND EXISTING SOURCE MACT EMISSION LIMITS FOR THE MAJOR SOURCE
COPPER SMELTING SOURCE CATEGORY
Existing source
New source
HAP
Limit
Benzene ..........................................
Toluene ...........................................
HCl ..................................................
Chlorine ...........................................
PAH (excluding Naphthalene) ........
Naphthalene ....................................
Dioxins and Furans .........................
1.7E–03
8.4E–04
1.5E–03
5.4E–03
1.0E–04
2.8E–04
60
B. What performance testing,
monitoring, and recordkeeping and
reporting are we proposing relative to
the unregulated HAP emission limits?
We are proposing, based on the new
and existing source emissions limits for
copper smelting, that new sources
demonstrate initial compliance upon
start-up, and existing sources
demonstrate initial compliance within 1
year after the promulgation of the final
rule. We are proposing that the initial
performance tests to demonstrate
compliance with the MACT standards of
Table 2 of this preamble are conducted
using the methods identified in Table 3.
TABLE 3—SUMMARY OF PROPOSED
TEST METHODS
Pollutant
EPA method
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
Benzene ..........................
Toluene ...........................
HCl ..................................
Chlorine ..........................
PAH (excluding Naphthalene).
Naphthalene ...................
Dioxins and Furans ........
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
Method
Method
Method
Method
Method
18.
18.
26A.
26A.
23.
EPA Method 23.
EPA Method 23.
Additionally, we are proposing that
subsequent performance testing will be
required every five years, using the
methods identified in Table 3.
Under this proposal, and consistent
with existing requirements in the
Primary Copper Smelting NESHAP, a
source owner will be required to submit
semiannual compliance summary
reports which document both
compliance with the requirements of the
Primary Copper Smelting NESHAP and
any deviations from compliance with
any of those requirements.
Owners and operators would be
required to maintain the records
specified by 40 CFR 63.10 and, in
addition, would be required to maintain
records of all inspection and monitoring
data, in accordance with the Primary
Copper Smelting NESHAP (40 CFR
63.1456).
We considered the possibility of
proposing a fenceline monitoring
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Unit of Measure (UOM)
Jkt 259001
lb/ton concentrated ore fed ...........
lb/ton concentrated ore fed ...........
lb/ton concentrated ore fed ...........
lb/ton concentrated ore fed ...........
lb/ton concentrated ore fed ...........
lb/ton concentrated ore fed ...........
ng TEQ/Mg concentrated ore fed ..
requirement. However, we determined
that fenceline monitoring is not
appropriate for this source category
primarily because the main emissions of
interest for this source category are
process fugitive emissions that are
released from roofline vents that are at
about 100 feet elevation (i.e., not
‘‘ground level’’ like the source
categories where we have required or
proposed fenceline monitoring). Due to
the elevation of the fugitive release
points, the emissions would pass over
the fenceline monitors and would not be
effectively measured. In addition, EPA
has determined that there are effective
technologies for capturing these process
fugitive emissions and routing them to
control devices, and is proposing to
require the use of such approaches in
this rulemaking. Unlike many other
source categories, it is also feasible to
measure the process fugitive emissions
at these facilities. These characteristics
suggest that fenceline monitoring—
which is typically used to detect
emissions that can be difficult to control
or measure at the points where they are
emitted, and to identify the need for
follow-up investigation and corrective
action—would have relatively limited
value in the context of this source
category.
C. What revisions are we proposing
specific to the emission limit for process
fugitive emissions from roof vents at the
anode refining operations from the 2022
proposed RTR?
As described in the 2022 proposed
RTR, the current NESHAP does not
include standards for process fugitive
emissions from the rooflines of smelting
furnaces, converters, or anode refining
operations, except for an opacity limit
for converter roof vents that applies
during testing. During the development
of the 2022 proposed RTR, the EPA
determined that risk for the major
source category was unacceptable. One
of the main risk drivers was metal HAP
emissions (mainly lead and arsenic)
from the anode refining roofline at the
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Limit
UOM
1.7E–03
8.4E–04
1.5E–03
5.4E–03
1.0E–04
2.8E–04
60
lb/ton concentrated ore fed.
lb/ton concentrated ore fed.
lb/ton concentrated ore fed.
lb/ton concentrated ore fed.
lb/ton concentrated ore fed.
lb/ton concentrated ore fed.
ng TEQ/Mg concentrated ore fed.
Freeport facility, which comprised 71
percent of the MIR. Therefore, in the
2022 proposed RTR, pursuant to CAA
sections 112(d)(2) and (3) for new and
existing major sources, PM limits were
proposed for process fugitive emissions
from the rooflines of the converters and
smelting furnaces. Pursuant to CAA
sections 112(d)(2), (d)(3), and (f)(2) PM
limits were proposed for process
fugitive emissions for new and existing
major sources’ anode refining operations
roofline vents.
In the 2022 proposed RTR for
converter and smelting furnace
rooflines, we developed MACT floor
emissions limits for PM, as a surrogate
for particulate HAP metals, which
include antimony, arsenic, beryllium,
cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead,
manganese, nickel, and selenium
compounds, based on the available test
data. The use of PM as a surrogate for
particulate metal HAP is consistent with
the approach used to limit particulate
metal HAP emissions from other copper
smelting processes in the current
NESHAP and for many other source
categories (i.e., Ferroalloys Production,
Integrated Iron and Steel Manufacturing,
and Integrated Iron and Steel
Foundries). The data used in the MACT
floor emission limit development was
from the Freeport facility. The Agency
used the UPL methodology to develop
the emission limits. The development of
the MACT floor limits included in the
2022 proposed RTR is described in
detail in the memorandum entitled,
Draft MACT Floor Analyses for the
Primary Copper Smelting Source
Category (Docket Item No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2020–0430–0055), which is
available in the docket. Based on these
analyses, the proposed MACT floor
emission limits included in the 2022
proposed RTR were 1.7 pounds per hour
(lbs/hr) PM for process fugitive
emissions for existing and new
converter rooflines and 4.3 lbs/hr PM
for existing and new smelting furnace
rooflines. We also evaluated BTF PM
limits for smelting furnace and
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
47426
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
converter rooflines based on the
potential addition of capture and
control equipment designed to achieve
approximately 90 percent reduction in
process fugitive emissions. Based on the
results of these analyses, the Agency did
not propose BTF limits in the 2022
proposed RTR for converters or smelting
furnaces because of the high costs and
poor cost effectiveness and uncertainties
in the estimates of emissions, emissions
reductions and costs. Further details of
these BTF analyses included in the 2022
proposed RTR are provided in the
technical memo, Evaluation of Beyondthe-floor and Ample Margin of Safety
Control Options and Costs for Process
Fugitive Emissions from Smelting
Furnaces and Converters, and for Point
Source Emissions from Anode Refining
Furnaces and for the Combined
Emissions Stream Emitted from the
Freeport Aisle Scrubber (Docket Item
No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430–0060).
In the 2022 proposed RTR for the
roofline vents of anode refining
operations, we initially developed a
MACT floor emissions PM limit of 15.2
lbs/hr using the available test data and
application of the UPL methodology.
For this standard, PM also serves as a
surrogate for particulate metal HAP
similar to the other PM limits in the
NESHAP. Subsequently, we evaluated a
BTF emission limit for the anode
refining operation roofline vents. The
BTF emission limit was set at 90 percent
lower than the MACT floor, or 1.6 lb
PM/hr. As described in the 2022
proposed RTR, in order to comply with
the proposed anode refining operation
BTF limit, the EPA expected that
Freeport would need to install improved
capture systems, including hoods,
ductwork, and fans, and one additional
baghouse. These improved capture
systems would need to be applied to
four units including the two-anode
refining furnace pouring operations, the
anode casting wheel, and the holding
vessel. In the January 2022 proposed
RTR, we estimated a total capital cost of
$5,887,000 (2019 dollars), a total O&M
cost of $1,002,000 (2019 dollars) and
total annualized costs of $1,558,000
(2019 dollars). The expected emission
reductions were 4.25 tpy of lead and
arsenic. The resulting cost effectiveness
was $367,000/ton (2019 dollars). We
concluded that this option was cost
effective and proposed the BTF PM
emission limit for the anode refining
roofline vents. The same emission limit
proposed pursuant to CAA 112(d)(2)
and (3) for the anode refining operation
roofline vent was also proposed to
reduce risks to an acceptable level
pursuant to CAA section 112(f)(2).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
Further information on the development
of the proposed emission limit and the
related cost estimates for control
equipment are included in the record
for the 2022 proposed RTR in the
memorandums entitled, Draft MACT
Floor Analyses for the Primary Copper
Smelting Source Category (Docket Item
No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430–0055)
and Development of Estimated Costs for
Enhanced Capture and Control of
Process Fugitive Emissions form from
Anode Refining Operations at Freeport
(Docket Item No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–
0430–0061).
During the public comment period for
the 2022 proposed RTR, the EPA
received comments from industry
stakeholders that a combined limit
would be preferred over individual
limits. Commenters noted several
reasons for this:
• Increased flexibility with respect to
compliance options resulting in lower
costs to comply;
• Lack of physical separation between
departments and potential for emissions
transfer; and
• Variability of department-specific
emissions driven by the type of material
being processed rather than by lack of
emissions prevention measures.
The Freeport facility also provided
additional test data for the roofline
vents for all three process areas in
Appendices H1 and H2 of their public
comment letter (Docket Item No. EPA–
HQ–OAR–2020–0430–0134). In
reviewing these additional test data, we
note that for completeness they should
be included in the calculation of
emission limits for these emission
sources.
In their comment letter, Freeport
noted that the emission rates from the
test data underlying the MACT floor
emission limits from each smelter
(electric and ISASMELT) should be
added together rather than averaged
since they are two distinct emission
points. In reviewing the test data, we
agree that the emission rates for the
smelters should be added rather than
averaged. This change is incorporated in
our revised analyses included in this
supplemental proposal for these
emission sources.
In response to the comments the EPA
received on combining the three
proposed roofline emission limits (i.e.,
from the smelters, converters, and anode
refining rooflines) into a single
combined emission limit, we performed
an evaluation of the approach used in
the 2022 proposed RTR and an
evaluation of combining the emissions
data to develop the emissions limit. The
evaluations use all test data now
available and incorporate the change to
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
the processing of the smelter test data
(i.e., adding the emission rates from
each smelter rather than averaging
them). Our evaluation of separate
emission limits for filterable PM from
the converter, smelter, and anode
refining rooflines using the
methodology in the 2022 proposed RTR,
results in PM MACT floor emission
limits of 2.4 lbs/hr for the converter
roofline and 5.7 lbs/hr for the smelting
roofline, and a BTF emission limit
(assuming 90 percent control) of 1.6 lbs/
hr for the anode refining roofline.
We also evaluated the development of
a combined emission limit for all the
rooflines. This new emission limit is
also calculated using the 99 percent
UPL methodology. Specifically, for
calculating the combined emission
limit, we first determined the 99 percent
UPL of the combined emission rates
based on all test data now available for
filterable PM. We then determined the
average fraction of emissions which are
attributable to the anode refining roof
vent (72 percent). Then we adjusted the
anode refining roof vent’s portion of the
99 percent UPL by reducing that portion
of the value by 90 percent. This results
in a combined filterable PM emission
limit of 6.3 lbs/hr. We note that this
emission limit is still expected to
require 90 percent control of the anode
refining roofline vent at the Freeport
facility, and we expect the Freeport
facility will still have to apply controls
at this emission source. Therefore,
despite the emission limit changing in
format (i.e., becoming a single limit as
opposed to three separate limits), we
expect slightly higher emission
reductions (i.e., 4.59 tpy of lead and
arsenic). While we expect the Freeport
facility will need to apply some control
of the anode refining source, a
combined limit would provide the
facility with options to determine which
source or combination of sources to
control and to what level to achieve the
overall needed emission reductions to
comply with the combined emission
limit. Because the option is expected to
provide the same emission reductions as
separate emission limits while also
providing some flexibility for subject
facilities, we are proposing a single
combined emission limit for the
converter, smelting, and anode refining
roofline vents in this supplemental
proposed rulemaking. Further
information on our evaluation of
separate and combined emission limits
using all test data are available in the
memorandum entitled Revised MACT
Floor Analysis for the Fugitive Process
Emission Sources in the docket for this
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
rulemaking (Docket ID EPA–HQ–OAR–
2020–0430).
The EPA also received comments
from the Freeport facility concerning its
cost estimates for the anode refining
process fugitive roofline emissions
controls. In their public comment letter
on the 2022 proposed RTR, the Freeport
facility suggested that the EPA had
underestimated costs for controlling the
anode refining operations’ process
fugitive emissions. They provided their
own cost assessment data in Attachment
F of their comment letter (Docket Item
No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430–0134).
After evaluating the comment letter
and associated documents provided by
Freeport, we determined that it is
appropriate to update certain data input
parameters in the cost estimates to
reflect design requirements at the
Freeport facility primarily by increasing
the baghouse flowrate, lowering the air
to cloth ratio, and adding a lime
injection system to treat any acid gases
in the exhaust stream. Additionally, the
cost estimates have been updated to
reflect 2022 dollars and using an
updated bank prime interest rate. The
Agency now estimates that the BTF
standard for the process fugitive
emissions from the roofline at the
Freeport facility would have capital
costs of $10,239,666 and annualized
costs of $2,143,972 and achieve about
4.59 tpy reduction of lead and arsenic,
with cost effectiveness of $467,000/ton
lead and arsenic, which is a level that,
while higher than the cost effectiveness
in the 2022 proposed RTR, we consider
to be cost effective for these pollutants.
Further information on our revised cost
estimates can be found in the
memorandum entitled, Cost Estimates
for Enhanced Capture and Control of
Process Fugitive Emissions from the
Anode Refining Operations at Freeport
in the docket for this rulemaking
(Docket ID EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430).
As described above, we are maintaining
a proposed BTF emission limit for the
roof vents in this supplemental proposal
because it is cost effective and feasible
to achieve. We also note that this BTF
limit would ensure that risks are
acceptable. We estimate that this BTF
limit would reduce the cancer MIR near
Freeport from 70-in-1 million to 20-in1 million, ensure 3-month rolling
average ambient lead concentrations
remain well below the lead NAAQS
near Freeport, and reduce the maximum
noncancer acute HQ (for arsenic) from 7
to 2. Furthermore, this BTF limit would
reduce the number of people with an
estimated increased risk of cancer of
greater than or equal to 1-in-1 million
from 22,900 people (at baseline) to
17,400 (post-control) and decrease the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
estimated cancer incidence from 0.002
cases per year to 0.001 cases per year.
The cancer MIR for Asarco would
remain at 60-in-1 million.
Consistent with the analysis provided
in the 2022 proposed RTR, we expect
the costs for the other major source
copper smelting facility, Asarco, to be
limited to emissions compliance testing
and recordkeeping and reporting
requirements. Also, consistent with the
analysis provided in the 2022 proposed
RTR, the EPA estimates the costs for the
Asarco facility are $107,581 per year
(after adjusting to 2022 dollars) to
comply with the proposed testing and
recordkeeping and reporting
requirements for process fugitive lead
emissions from its three roofline vents
(i.e., for the anode, converter, and
smelting furnace rooflines). While we
are proposing a combined roofline
emissions limit in this supplemental
proposal, instead of separate limits for
each department, we expect the testing
costs to remain the same as those
estimated in the 2022 proposed RTR
since all three sources will have to be
tested to compare to the proposed
combined emission limit included in
this supplemental proposal. This
estimate is based on the EPA’s
experience and knowledge of typical
costs associated with these types of
testing requirements. We also note that
the Freeport facility already performs
the emissions testing that is required by
the emissions limit in this supplemental
proposal, thus this proposed rule does
not impose any additional costs related
to emissions testing and recordkeeping
and reporting on the Freeport facility
because these costs would be incurred
in the absence of the supplemental
proposed rule.
We are proposing that existing
facilities would need to comply within
two years after promulgation of the final
rule and that compliance would be
demonstrated through an initial
performance test followed by a
compliance test once per year.
Moreover, facilities would need to
monitor control parameters (e.g., fan
speed, amperage, pressure drops, and/or
damper positioning), as applicable, on a
continuous basis to ensure the control
systems are working properly. All new
or reconstructed facilities must comply
with all requirements in the final rule
upon startup.
D. What revisions are we proposing
specific to the emission limit for
mercury from the 2022 proposed RTR?
As described in the 2022 proposed
RTR, the current NESHAP does not
include standards for mercury. Using
the test data available during the
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
47427
development of the 2022 proposed RTR,
the source category was estimated to
emit 55 pounds per year of mercury
with 45 pounds per year emitted from
the Freeport facility. Because of the
temperatures of the exhaust gas streams
encountered at primary copper smelting
operations, much of the mercury
emitted is in vapor form, not in
particulate form. The vapor form of
mercury is not captured by the controls
used to reduce PM emission. Therefore,
the PM limits in the NESHAP do not
serve as a surrogate for mercury.
Therefore, in the 2022 proposed RTR,
pursuant to CAA sections 112(d)(2) and
(3) for new and existing major sources,
mercury limits were proposed. In the
2022 proposed RTR, the Agency used
the available test data from Asarco and
Freeport to develop the mercury
standards for new and existing sources
(details can be found in Draft MACT
Floor Analyses for the Primary Copper
Smelting Source Category (Docket Item
No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430–0055)).
In the 2022 proposed RTR, the new
source standard was based on the best
performer, Asarco. The Agency
evaluated proposing a BTF emission
standard for new sources based on
Asarco data in the 2022 proposed RTR
but rejected this option based on the
cost effectiveness, uncertainty in the
quantity of emission reductions, and the
fact that the new source MACT floor
standard is significantly lower than the
limit for existing sources. The proposed
emission standard for new sources in
the 2022 proposed RTR was 0.00097
lbs/hr. The Agency has not received any
new information relative to the new
source standard included in the 2022
proposed RTR and, therefore, maintains
this proposed MACT floor emission
limit for new sources.
In the 2022 proposed RTR, the MACT
floor emissions limit for existing sources
was calculated based on the average of
all the emissions tests from both
facilities, accounting for variability
using the 99 percent UPL. A MACT
floor based on the 99 percent UPL for
the combined facility-wide sources was
0.01 lbs/hr. The Agency also evaluated
a BTF emission standard for existing
sources, a value of 0.0043 lbs/hr. The
BTF standard was based on the addition
of controls at the Freeport facility’s acid
plant which was identified as the largest
source of mercury emissions at the
Freeport facility using data available at
the time. The additional controls were
expected to include the installation of a
polishing baghouse with activated
carbon injection. The expected emission
reductions were 26 lb/yr, based on 90
percent control of the emissions from
Freeport’s acid plant. The estimated
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
47428
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
capital costs for the polishing baghouse
with activated carbon injection were
$1.5 million (2019 dollars), and the
estimated annualized costs were
$714,000 (2019 dollars), for a cost
effectiveness of $27,500 (2019 dollars)
per pound of mercury reduced. In the
2022 proposed RTR, the Agency
proposed the BTF standard of 0.0043
lbs/hr for existing sources. The
development of this beyond-the-floor
limit is described in detail in the
memorandum entitled, Estimated Costs
for Beyond-the-floor Controls for
Mercury Emissions from Primary
Copper Smelting Facilities (Docket Item
No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430–0059).
Since the 2022 proposed RTR, the
EPA received comments on the
proposed existing source mercury
standard and new information from the
Freeport facility through the CAA
section 114 information request
described in II.E of this preamble.
Freeport provided additional mercury
performance test reports with results for
the vent fume, aisle scrubber and acid
plant covering calendar years 2019–
2021. The Freeport facility noted that
these test reports used a variation of
EPA Method 29 that may result in
mercury emissions measurements that
are biased low. These mercury tests
conducted in 2019–21 were not done
according to the EPA method. The
facility voluntarily completed an
additional mercury performance test at
the vent fume, aisle scrubber, and acid
plant in 2022 which fully followed EPA
Method 29. These test reports are
available in the docket for this
rulemaking (Docket ID EPA–HQ–OAR–
2020–0430).
In their public comment letter,
Freeport provided comments
specifically on controlling emissions
from the acid plant. The facility
questioned the technical feasibility of
these controls, stating that they are
unaware of a polishing baghouse with
ACI operating downstream of a wet
scrubber on an acid plant. They
explained that the conditions of the acid
plant exhaust streams are unsuited for
ACI since the stream has a high
moisture content, low mercury
concentrations, and high concentrations
of SO2/SO3 which inhibit mercury
removal.
Freeport argued that even if it was
technically feasible, the EPA had
underestimated costs and overstated
reductions. Freeport submitted their
own cost estimates for ACI plus a
polishing baghouse on the acid plant as
part of their comment letter on the 2022
proposed RTR (see Attachment I of
Docket Item No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–
0430–0134). The facility subsequently
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
revised and resubmitted their evaluation
of the baghouse with activated carbon
injection control option for the acid
plant to the EPA on March 12, 2023
(Docket ID EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430).
In this evaluation, the Freeport facility
estimated the emission reductions of
mercury to be between 50 and 75
percent using a polishing baghouse with
ACI, or about 15 to 22 lbs of mercury.
The cost estimate from Freeport
provided capital costs of $16.4M,
annualized costs of $4.4 million and a
cost effectiveness of about $169,000 per
pound.
The EPA has performed a review of
all available mercury test data from
Freeport and the cost estimate provided
by Freeport. In reviewing the test data,
we decided that only the test which was
fully compliant with EPA Method 29
should be used to calculate emission
limits and to estimate the quantity of
potential emissions reductions. Using
the data from this test report, the point
and non-point source emissions from
Freeport are estimated to be 139 lbs/yr
which, when combined with the test
report from Asarco which indicates that
10 lbs/yr are estimated to be emitted
from that facility, results in an estimated
total of 149 lbs/yr mercury emitted from
the source category. In Freeport’s 2022
mercury test which complied fully with
EPA Method 29, the emissions were
more evenly distributed between the
three stacks at the facility with an
estimated 45 lbs/yr from the vent fume
stack, an estimated 49.3 lbs/yr estimated
from the aisle scrubber and an estimated
38.5 lbs/yr from the acid plant.
Using the 2022 mercury test from
Freeport and the performance test from
Asarco, we calculated the MACT floor
limit for existing sources by averaging
all the test results from both facilities,
accounting for variability using the 99
percent UPL. A MACT floor based on
the 99 percent UPL for the combined
facility-wide limit for existing sources is
0.033 lbs/hr. Based on the available
data, we conclude that both facilities
would be able to meet the MACT floor
limit with no additional controls. For
new sources, we are maintaining the
MACT floor limit of 0.00097 lbs/hr
provided in the 2022 proposed RTR
which was based on data from the best
performer, Asarco. We have no new data
with which to update this value. A
detailed analysis and documentation of
the revised MACT floor calculations for
existing sources can be found in the
technical document, Revised MACT
Floor Analysis for Mercury, available in
the docket (Docket ID EPA–HQ–2020–
0430).
As discussed previously, the Freeport
facility submitted comments indicating
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
several technical reasons that control of
mercury from the acid plant would be
difficult. In reviewing the 2022 mercury
test from Freeport, we find that the
mercury emissions were distributed
more evenly among the facility’s three
stacks when compared to the other test
reports which included mercury from
2018–2021. We have evaluated the
technical aspects of Freeport’s comment
letter regarding mercury control from
the acid plant and agree characteristics
of the exhaust stream and equipment
configuration may inhibit mercury
control (e.g., moisture content, acid gas
content, mercury concentration).
Considering this, and the emissions
distribution from the 2022 mercury test,
we examined other control options to
determine whether there is a more
technically suitable and cost-effective
option for controlling mercury
emissions at Freeport. When reviewing
the stack characteristics, we find that
the aisle scrubber has a high flowrate,
typically in excess of one million cubic
feet per minute, and a very similar
quantity of mercury emissions
compared to the other two stacks based
on the 2022 test. The aisle scrubber also
combines streams which are currently
uncontrolled (i.e., secondary converter)
with streams that are controlled (i.e.,
primary anode refining baghouse
emissions). On the other hand, the vent
fume stack handles emissions from the
secondary capture system for the
furnaces and has a lower flowrate than
the aisle scrubber. Often, a higher
flowrate and the complexity of
combining multiple streams increase
control costs. When evaluating beyondthe-floor options for controlling
mercury, we estimated costs and
emissions reductions for controlling the
vent fume exhaust stream because we
expect the more simplistic exhaust
stream configuration, lower flowrate,
and similar quantity of expected
reductions to be more favorable for
controlling mercury than the aisle
scrubber. For the BTF option, we
estimated costs and emissions
reductions associated with a baghouse
with lime injection and activated carbon
injection with an expected control
efficiency of 90 percent for mercury
from the vent fume. The estimated
reduction would be 40.5 lbs of mercury
from the vent fume stack. The overall
reduction of mercury emissions that
would occur from the Freeport facility
with this BTF option is estimated to be
30 percent (i.e., the facility-wide total
emissions of 139 lbs mercury would be
reduced by 40.5 lbs mercury). The
capital costs of the baghouse with lime
injection and activated carbon injection
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
are estimated to be $6.04M, with
annualized costs of $1.91M and a cost
effectiveness of $47,000/lb mercury
reduced. We do not find costs
associated with the BTF option to be
reasonable and are therefore not
proposing a BTF emission limit for
existing sources for mercury. We also
considered other BTF options, but all
other options were less cost effective
than the option presented in this
section. The EPA is requesting comment
on the BTF options evaluated for
mercury and whether the EPA should
determine in this case that $47,000/lb
mercury is cost-effective for mercury
control and include a BTF limit in the
final rule. A detailed description of the
BTF analysis of mercury emissions, the
controls necessary to reduce mercury
emissions, and the cost of these BTF
controls are included in the document,
Estimated Cost for Beyond-the-floor
Controls for Mercury Emissions from
Primary Copper Smelting Facilities,
located in the docket (Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430). Since we
have not identified a cost-effective BTF
option, we are proposing the MACT
floor limit for the combined facilitywide limit for mercury of 0.033 lbs/hr
for existing sources.
The EPA is proposing that compliance
with the mercury emissions limits for
existing sources will be demonstrated
through an initial compliance test for
each of the affected sources (e.g.,
furnaces, converters, anode refining)
within 1 year of publication of the rule
followed by a compliance test at least
once every year. We estimate that
Freeport and Asarco will incur
performance testing costs for mercury of
$49,940 per facility per year. For newly
affected facilities, compliance is to be
achieved no later than the effective date
of the final rule or upon startup,
whichever is later.
E. What emissions standards are we
proposing for the Aisle Scrubber in this
supplemental proposed rule that are
different than decisions proposed in the
2022 proposed RTR?
As discussed in the preamble of the
2022 proposed RTR, we proposed that
the risks for the major source category
were unacceptable. The EPA identified
controls to reduce risk to an acceptable
level, which were proposed to be
achieved by controlling the anode
refining roofline vents (as described in
section III.C. of this preamble). Then,
the EPA considered whether additional
measures were required to provide an
ample margin of safety to protect public
health. An aisle scrubber located at one
of the two major source facilities
(Freeport) was estimated to emit 9.2 tpy
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
metal HAP (mostly lead and arsenic)
and was identified as an emission
source that contributed significantly to
risk at the Freeport facility (e.g., 23
percent of the cancer MIR). Therefore,
the EPA evaluated the cost, the
emissions reductions and risk
reductions that could be achieved by
additional controls for the aisle scrubber
as part of the ample margin of safety
analysis.
Specifically. In the 2022 proposed
RTR the EPA evaluated the cost and
emission reductions of adding a WESP
to the combined emissions stream from
the aisle scrubber. The evaluation is
described in the memorandum entitled
Evaluation of Beyond-the-floor and
Ample Margin of Safety Control Options
and Costs for Process Fugitive Emissions
from Smelting Furnaces and Converters,
and for Point Source Emissions from
Anode Refining Furnaces and for the
Combined Emissions Stream Emitted
from the Freeport Aisle Scrubber—
REVISED (Docket Item No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–0430–0108). Based on the analysis
included in the 2022 Proposed RTR, the
estimated capital costs were $67 million
(2019 dollars), and the estimated
annualized costs were $17 million (2019
dollars). The associated emissions
reduction achieved were estimated to be
8.7 tpy total metal HAP of which 7.6 tpy
were estimated to be lead and arsenic
resulting in a cost effectiveness of $2
million/ton (2019 dollars).
The aisle scrubber at the Freeport
facility is used to control the combined
secondary emissions from the converter
plus the emissions exiting the baghouse
used to control primary anode refining
point source emissions. Currently, there
are emission limits for secondary
capture systems from existing converter
departments in 40 CFR 63.1444(d)(6).
Furthermore, the EPA proposed
emissions limits for new and existing
anode refining departments in the 2022
proposed RTR (i.e., proposed limits for
40 CFR 63.1444(i)(1)). In this
supplemental proposal, the EPA is coproposing regulatory options for
additional control of either the
secondary capture system for the
converter department or additional
control of the combined emissions
stream of the secondary capture system
for the converter department and the
point source emissions from the anode
refining department. These control
options would result in more stringent
emissions standards for these emission
sources than what is currently required
by the Primary Copper Smelting
NESHAP as discussed more below.
These standards are being proposed as
technology developments pursuant to
CAA section 112(d)(6) and to provide an
PO 00000
Frm 00034
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
47429
ample margin of safety to protect public
health pursuant to CAA section
112(f)(2).
In order to best inform these options
for additional controls, after the January
2022 proposal the EPA issued a CAA
section 114 information request to the
Freeport facility as described in section
II.E of this preamble. The CAA section
114 information request requested that
Freeport perform a feasibility analysis of
whether Freeport could further reduce
the HAP metal emissions either from the
secondary capture system for the
converter department or from the
combined emissions stream entering the
aisle scrubber (i.e., the emissions stream
from the secondary capture system for
the converter department and the anode
refining department).
The Freeport facility subsequently
provided the EPA with an evaluation of
control options for the aisle scrubber,
including:
• Option 1—Addition of a WESP
downstream of the aisle scrubber to
provide additional control of the
combined emissions stream from the
secondary capture system for the
converter department and the anode
refining department (i.e., the same
option evaluated by the EPA in the
ample margin of safety analysis
included in the January 2022 proposal);
• Option 2—Addition of a baghouse
upstream of the aisle scrubber to
provide additional control of the
secondary capture system for the
converter department.
The Freeport facility regularly
conducts performance testing of its aisle
scrubber for filterable PM and metals.
The EPA has obtained copies of the
performance test results from 2018,
2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 for the aisle
scrubber, which are available in the
docket for this rulemaking (Docket ID
No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430). We
used these performance tests to estimate
the baseline emissions and subsequently
estimate the quantity of emissions
reductions for the options for
controlling the aisle scrubber at the
Freeport facility. Using these test data,
we now estimate the annual emissions
of metal HAP to be 6.63 tpy, of which
more than 90 percent is lead and
arsenic, on average. We also used the
test reports to inform the development
of potential emissions standards.
Initially we developed a limit that
represents current emissions from the
aisle scrubber, accounting for variability
using the 99 percent UPL. The resulting
limit based on the 99 percent UPL for
the combined emissions stream from the
secondary capture system for the
converter department and the anode
refining department is 7.48 milligram
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
47430
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
per dry cubic standard meter (mg/
dscm). This UPL served as the baseline
for the development of the two control
options described in this section. A
detailed discussion of the optionspecific control equipment, expected
emission reductions, associated
emissions standard, and control costs
are described in the following
paragraphs.
For Option 1, as described previously,
the WESP would be located downstream
of the aisle scrubber and therefore
further control the combined emissions
stream from the secondary capture
system for the converter department and
the anode refining department. The
expected control efficiency for the
WESP is 95 percent, thus expected
emission reductions from this option are
95 percent of the baseline emissions
(6.63 tpy metal HAP) or 6.3 tpy metal
HAP. The EPA updated the expected
flowrate for the WESP in its cost
estimates from the value used in the
cost estimate we provided in the 2022
proposed RTR based on comments from
Freeport. We also updated the cost
estimate to reflect 2022 dollars and
updated the bank prime interest rate.
Based on our analysis, the estimated
capital costs for the WESP are $98.5
million, the annualized costs are $25.2
million, and estimated reductions are
6.3 tpy reduction of metal HAP, with
cost effectiveness of $4.0 million/ton
metal HAP. The emission limit for this
option would be 0.374 mg/dscm, which
is based on applying the expected
control of 95 percent to the 99 percent
UPL for the combined emissions stream
from the secondary capture system for
the converter department and the anode
refining department.
As described in the previous section
III.C. of this preamble, we estimate the
reductions of process fugitive emissions
from the roof vents would reduce the
MIR at Freeport from 70-in-1 million to
20-in-1 million; reduce the number of
people with cancer risk greater than 1in-1 million from 22,900 to 17,400;
reduce ambient lead exposures below
the lead NAAQS; and reduce the
maximum HQ (due to arsenic
emissions) from 7 to 2. We estimate that
the proposed limit of 0.374 mg/dscm for
the aisle scrubber (option 1) would
reduce the incremental cancer risk of an
additional 1,900 people below 1-in-1
million (from 17,400 to 15,500).
Furthermore, the maximum acute HQ
due to arsenic emissions would be
reduced from 2 to 1. Option 1 would
result in a small additional reduction in
the MIR at Freeport, but after rounding
up (to 1 significant figure) the MIR
remains at 20-in-1 million. However, we
note that the estimated cancer MIR for
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
the source category would be 60-in-1
million, which is the maximum cancer
risk near the Asarco facility.
Option 2, as described previously,
would require a baghouse upstream of
the aisle scrubber which would be
designed to control the secondary
capture system for the converter
department. Currently, the uncontrolled
emissions from the secondary capture
system for the converter department
combine with the baghouse-controlled
primary anode refining point source
emissions and route to the aisle
scrubber. Unlike the aisle scrubber
which is routinely tested for particulate
matter and lead emissions, the
secondary converter duct is not sampled
at any regular frequency. However, in an
engineering evaluation submitted by
Freeport as part of the CAA section 114
information request in which the
converter duct was sampled, the facility
explained that approximately 75 percent
of the emissions from the aisle scrubber
are attributable to the secondary capture
system for the converter department.
Therefore, we estimate that average
annual metal HAP emissions from the
secondary capture system for the
converter department are 4.97 tpy (75
percent of the estimated total average
annual metal HAP emissions from the
aisle scrubber, which is 6.63 tpy). To
estimate the expected reductions from
this option, we applied the expected
control efficiency of the baghouse (90
percent) to the emissions which are
estimated to be from the secondary
capture system for the converter
department (4.97 tpy). This results in an
estimated emissions reduction of 4.5 tpy
metal HAP from the aisle scrubber,
which is about a 68 percent reduction
of emissions from the aisle scrubber. We
estimate these controls (i.e., baghouse)
will have capital costs of $37M,
annualized costs of $6.2 million and
achieve about a 4.5 tpy reduction in
metal HAP with cost effectiveness of
$1.38 million/ton metal HAP. The
emission standard for this option was
calculated by first determining the
fraction of the 99 percent UPL that is
estimated to be from the secondary
capture system for the converter
department, 5.61 mg/dscm, and then
applying the expected control efficiency
of the baghouse (i.e., 90 percent) to
determine the reduction in the emission
limit (5.09 mg/dscm). The resulting
emissions limit under option 2 would
be 2.43 mg/dscm for additional controls
on the secondary capture system for the
converter department.
As described in the previous section
III.C. of this preamble, we estimate the
reductions of process fugitive emissions
from the roof vents would reduce the
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
MIR at Freeport from 70-in-1 million to
20-in-1 million; reduce the number of
people with cancer risk greater than 1in-1 million from 22,900 to 17,400;
reduce ambient lead exposures below
the lead NAAQS; and reduce the
maximum HQ (due to arsenic
emissions) from 7 to 2. We estimate that
the proposed limit of 2.43 mg/dscm
(based on addition of a baghouse on the
secondary capture system for the
converter department—option 2) would
reduce the incremental cancer risk of an
additional 700 people to below 1-in-1
million (from 17,400 to 16,700).
Furthermore, the maximum acute HQ
due to arsenic emissions would be
reduced from 2 to 1. Option 2 would
also result in a small additional
reduction in the maximum cancer risk
at Freeport, but after rounding up (to 1
significant figure) the maximum risk
would remain at 20-in-1 million. The
estimated cancer MIR for the source
category would be 60-in-1 million,
which is the maximum cancer risk near
the Asarco facility.
As discussed below, based on
consideration and evaluation of both
options, the EPA is proposing both
options pursuant to CAA section
112(d)(6) and CAA section 112(f). We
propose that both options are feasible,
achieve significant reductions of the
HAP metals and risk reduction, and that
the cost impacts are reasonable.
Therefore, both options represent costeffective developments in control
technology pursuant to CAA section
112(d)(6) and ensure the NESHAP will
provide an ample margin of safety to
protect public health pursuant to CAA
section 112(f). We expect that the
Asarco facility can comply with either
option without the need to install
additional controls. We are proposing
that facilities would need to comply
within two years after promulgation of
the final rule and that compliance
would be demonstrated through an
initial performance test followed by a
compliance test once per year.
Moreover, facilities would need to
monitor control parameters (e.g., fan
speed, amperage, pressure drops, and/or
damper positioning), as applicable, on a
continuous basis to ensure the control
systems are working properly.
Further information regarding our
estimated control costs, associated
emission reductions, and estimated cost
effectiveness can be found in the
memorandum entitled, Cost Estimates
for Additional Controls of Freeport’s
Aisle Scrubber which is available in the
docket for this rulemaking (Docket ID
No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430). Further
information regarding the development
of the proposed emission standards for
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
each option can be found in the
memorandum entitled, Emission
Standard Development for the Options
to Provide Additional Controls for the
Secondary Capture System for the
Converter Department and Anode
Refining Department which is available
in the docket for this rulemaking
(Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–
0430).
The EPA is presenting both options
(described in this section) in this
supplemental proposal as potential
regulatory options that we may finalize
for this source category under CAA
section 112(d)(6) and/or CAA section
112(f) after consideration of public
comments. Under CAA section 112(d)(6)
we propose that both options represent
cost-effective developments in control
technology and that it is necessary to
revise the standards to reduce emissions
from the aisle scrubber. In addition to
the controls described above, we note
that in the 2022 RTR Proposed Rule we
also proposed a requirement that
facilities develop and operate according
to a fugitive dust minimization plan,
which would provide some additional
unquantified health protection. We are
not proposing any changes to that
proposed fugitive dust minimization
requirement in this action.
Noting that in setting standards to
provide ample margin of safety to
protect public health EPA strives to
provide protection to the greatest
number of persons possible to an
individual lifetime risk level no higher
than approximately 1-in-1 million (54
FR 38044; September 14, 1989), and
after considering the risk reduction
achieved under both options as well as
the cost and feasibility of controls, along
with the fugitive dust plan, we propose
that either option provides an ample
margin of safety to protect public health
under CAA section 112(f). We are
seeking comments on the technical
feasibility, costs, expected emission
reductions, and risk reductions
achieved and whether one option is
preferable over the other and why.
F. What are the results of risk analyses
completed for this action?
In the January 11, 2022, proposed
amendments to the Primary Copper
Smelting RTR rule (87 FR 1616; January
11, 2022), the EPA conducted a residual
risk assessment and determined that
risks from the primary copper smelting
source category were unacceptable due
to HAP metal (primarily lead and
arsenic) emissions and proposed
standards to reduce risk to an acceptable
level and provide an ample margin of
safety to protect public health. The risk
analysis supporting the proposed rule
indicated exceedances of the lead
NAAQS at the baseline (i.e., based on
current HAP emissions). That risk
analysis also indicated that the cancer
risk for the individual most exposed
could be up to 80-in-1 million based on
actual emissions and up to 90-in-1
million based on allowable emissions.
In addition to the noncancer risk from
lead, the analysis also indicated a
chronic HI of 1 due to arsenic and a
maximum acute HQ of 7 for arsenic (see
Docket No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430).
Since issuance of the proposal, the EPA
has received new facility operation and
47431
HAP emissions data from the Freeport
facility through the public comments
and issuance of a 2022 CAA section 114
information request. Detailed
information on the new data is provided
in the memorandum Updated Stack/
Emissions Data Collected for 2023
Primary Copper Smelting Risk Review,
which is available in the docket for this
action (Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–
2020–0430).
Based on the updated stack and
performance tests submitted by Freeport
as part of the section 114 request, we
updated the baseline risk assessment for
this supplemental proposal. The new
assessment reflects emissions changes to
the known risk drivers (arsenic and
lead) and a potential risk driver
(mercury) at Freeport. Since this
supplemental proposal only reflects
emissions changes for the Freeport
facility, we only updated the risk
assessment for this facility.
Also, this supplemental proposal
includes an updated control option 1
and a new control option 2 that affect
the Freeport facility only, as described
in Table 4. Because of these changes, we
conducted for this supplemental
proposal an updated assessment of postcontrol risk for both of these emission
control scenarios for Freeport. The risk
results for the Asarco facility have not
changed since the 2022 proposal. The
details of the risk assessment for Asarco
are described in the 2022 proposal
Federal Register publication (87 FR
1616; January 11, 2022) for details and
the 2022 risk report, which is available
in the docket for this proposed rule.
TABLE 4—COMPARISON OF THE PRIMARY COPPER SMELTING BASELINE INHALATION RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS FOR
FREEPORT WITH POST-CONTROL RISK ESTIMATES FOR TWO 2023 PROPOSED SUPPLEMENTAL CONTROL OPTIONS
[Estimated risks based on actual emissions]
Maximum
individual
cancer risk
(in-1 million)
Risk assessment scenario 1
Proposed Rule (original baseline) .................
Supplemental Proposal (revised baseline) ...
Supplemental Proposal Post-Control for
Anode Roofline ..........................................
Supplemental Proposal Post-Control Option
1 for Aisle Scrubber 6 ................................
Supplemental Proposal Post-Control Option
2 for Aisle Scrubber 7 ................................
Maximum
chronic noncancer
TOSHI 2
Maximum
residential
annual Pb
conc.
(ug/m3) 3
Annual cancer
incidence
(cases per
year)
80 (As)
70 (As)
24,400
22,900
0.002
0.002
1 (As)
1 (As)
0.12
0.12
0.17 (Pb)
0.17 (Pb)
7 (As)
7 (As)
20 (As)
17,400
0.001
0.3 (As)
0.041
0.06 (Pb)
2 (As)
20 (As)
15,500
0.0006
0.3 (As)
0.026
0.04 (Pb)
1 (As)
20 (As)
16,700
0.0006
0.3 (As)
0.028
0.04 (Pb)
1 (As)
1 All
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
Max predicted
3-month
modeled Pb
conc.
(ug/m3)4
Population at
increased risk
of cancer ≥
1-in-1 million
Acute HQ
(REL) 5
values provided in this table are based upon only arsenic and lead emissions from Freeport (Miami, AZ).
2 TOSHI value for developmental effects does not include contribution from lead.
3 The maximum annual concentration for lead is based upon the MIR location which is also the maximum off-site exposure location for Freeport.
4 The maximum predicted 3-month Pb (lead) conc based on actual emissions at the time of proposal was based on AERMOD modeling with LEAD_POST, while
the maximum predicted 3-month Pb conc for the supplemental proposal are based upon extrapolations of the HEM–4 annual Pb concentrations using the annual and
3-month modeled results from proposal.
5 The HQ values are based upon the lowest 1-hour acute health benchmark, the reference exposure level (REL) for arsenic. Arsenic also has an AEGL–2 value (irreversible or escape-impairing effects) which resulted in a maximum HQ value of 0.0006 based upon actual emissions estimated in this supplemental proposal.
6 Option 1 represents controls on anode roofline (described in section III.C of this preamble) +WESP on aisle scrubber (described in section III.E of this preamble).
7 Option 2 represents controls on anode roofline (described in section III.C of this preamble) + baghouse upstream of aisle scrubber (described in section III.E of
this preamble).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
47432
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
The methodologies used for the
updated baseline risk analysis are
described in section III.C. of the
preamble to the January 11, 2022,
proposed rule National Emission
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants:
Primary Copper Smelting Residual Risk
and Technology Review (87 FR 1616;
January 11, 2022). We present the
results of the updated baseline risk
analysis for Freeport and the analysis of
the proposed control options in Table 4
of this preamble (rows labeled
‘‘Supplemental Proposal Post-Control
Option 1’’ and ‘‘Supplemental Proposal
Post-Control Option 2’’) and in more
detail in the document: Revised
Residual Risk Assessment for the
Freeport Smelter (Miami, AZ) in
Support of the 2023 Supplemental
Proposal for the Primary Copper
Smelting Source Category, available in
the docket for this action (Docket No.
EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430). For more
detail on the proposed control options,
refer to sections III.C and III.E. of this
preamble.
The updated baseline risk assessment
did not result in a significant change to
the estimated cancer or non-cancer
impacts at the Freeport facility. The
updated cancer MIR for Freeport
changed from 80-in-1 million to 70-in1 million with cancer incidence
remaining the same at 0.002 excess
cancer cases per year, or one excess case
every 500 years. These results are
summarized in Table 4 of this preamble.
The maximum individual cancer risk at
Freeport is driven mostly by process
fugitive emissions of arsenic from the
anode refining roofline (about 70% of
the MIR), and to a lesser degree the
anode furnaces and secondary converter
point source emissions that are emitted
through the aisle scrubber (about 20% of
the MIR). The arsenic emissions
represent more than 97 percent of the
cancer risk at the MIR location for the
Freeport facility. The population
exposed to excess cancer risks greater
than or equal to 1-in-1 million are
approximately 23,000 people for the
baseline scenario. The chronic noncancer risk remained the same with an
HI equal to 1, driven by arsenic
exposure. The acute noncancer risks
from arsenic emissions remained the
same with an HQ (based on the
Reference Exposure Level) of 7. More
detail is provided in the revised risk
assessment document cited previously
in this section. When applying the acute
exposure guideline levels-2 (AEGL–2)
value for arsenic for the supplemental
proposal, the acute HQ results in a HQ
(AEGL–2) less than 1 (0.0006).
There was no change to the risk
results for lead. The emissions update
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
resulted in the same estimated ambient
annual concentration of 0.12 ug/m3.
This concentration results in a
maximum ambient concentration of lead
for 3-month intervals of 0.17 ug/m3
based on actual emissions, which is the
same result as in the 2022 proposal and
which still exceeds the lead NAAQS of
0.15 ug/m3.
Regarding multipathway risk, in the
Primary Copper Smelting RTR proposed
rule (87 FR 1616; January 11, 2022), we
concluded that there was ‘‘no significant
potential for multipathway health
effects.’’ This determination was based
on applying site-specific multipathway
assessments conducted for other source
categories with multipathway Tier 2 and
Tier 3 screening estimates for the
Freeport facility. The multipathway risk
screening results for arsenic are now
estimated to be lower than presented in
the 2022 proposal based upon the
reduced arsenic emissions in the revised
baseline (described previously in this
section). The new stack test data for
mercury provided by Freeport resulted
in an increase in emissions by a factor
of 3, with annual emissions increasing
to 139 pounds per year. This increase in
baseline emissions would still result in
an estimated mercury HQ less than 1
(0.2) for the fisher scenario.
Based on the results of the Updated
Stack/Emissions Data Collected for 2023
Primary Copper Smelting Risk Review,
the EPA proposes that the risks for this
source category under the current
MACT provisions remain unacceptable.
The updated risk analysis still indicates
exceedances of the lead NAAQS and a
HI of 1 based on exposure to arsenic.
The noncancer risk from lead is not
included in the cumulative noncancer
HI calculation. However, the health
benchmarks for lead and arsenic are
based on adverse neurocognitive effects,
and the two chemicals may have
combined effects on neurodevelopment.
In addition, the updated risk analysis
indicates a maximum acute HQ of 7 for
arsenic for the baseline scenario. The
risk analysis also indicates that the
estimated inhalation cancer risk to the
individual most exposed is 70-in-1
million based on actual emissions,
which is approaching the presumptive
level of unacceptability of 100-in-1
million.
The details of the risk assessment for
allowable emissions for the baseline
have not changed since the 2022
proposed rule. The estimated risks
based on allowable emissions are
described in the 2022 proposal Federal
Register publication (87 FR 1616;
January 11, 2022), and the 2022 risk
report, which is available in the docket
for this proposed rule.
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
With regard to the risk assessment we
conducted for the updated control
option 1 (i.e., the BTF limit for process
fugitive emissions from roof vents
discussed in section III.C of this
preamble, plus a WESP on the aisle
scrubber described in section III.E of
this preamble) and the new control
option 2 (i.e., the BTF limit for roof
vents discussed in section III.C of this
preamble, plus a baghouse upstream of
the aisle scrubber described in section
III.E of this preamble), we estimate the
controls from option 1 would reduce the
maximum risk at Freeport from 70-in-1
million to 20-in-1 million and would
also reduce the population with cancer
risks greater than or equal to 1-in-1
million from 22,900 to 15,500 people.
Cancer incidence would also decrease
from 0.002 to 0.0006, or from 1 excess
cancer case every 500 years to every
1,600 years with additional reductions
in potential noncancer developmental
risks from arsenic and lead emissions.
The maximum acute risk at public
locations from arsenic emissions would
also be reduced from an HQ of 7 to 1.
Both control options 1 and 2 (as
described in this section) would reduce
the estimated maximum 3-month lead
concentration from 0.17 ug/m3 to 0.04
ug/m3. The expected controls for option
2 (shown in Table 4 of this preamble)
provide almost the same level of risk
reduction as option 1, except the postcontrol population with cancer risks
greater than or equal to 1-in-1 million is
slightly higher at 16,700 people.
Refer to the document titled: Revised
Residual Risk Assessment for the
Freeport Smelter (Miami, AZ) in
Support of the 2023 Supplemental
Proposal for the Primary Copper
Smelting Source Category, in the docket
for this rulemaking for more details
regarding the updated risk assessment.
G. What other actions are we proposing,
and what is the rationale for those
actions?
In addition to the proposed actions
described above, we are proposing an
additional revision to the NESHAP. We
are proposing revisions to the startup,
shutdown, and malfunction (SSM)
provisions of the NESHAP in order to
ensure that they are consistent with the
decision in Sierra Club v. EPA, 551 F.
3d 1019 (D.C. Cir. 2008), in which the
court vacated two provisions that
exempted sources from the requirement
to comply with otherwise applicable
CAA section 112(d) emission standards
during periods of SSM. Specifically, we
are proposing to prohibit the use of a
bypass stack. We are proposing to define
the term ‘‘bypass stack’’ in 40 CFR
63.1459 and are also proposing that use
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
of a bypass stack will result in a
violation of the numerical emission
standards contained in the Primary
Copper Smelting NESHAP in 40 CFR
63.1448. We are also proposing that the
use of a bypass stack during a
performance test will invalidate the test.
These proposed conditions are
consistent with the EPA’s interpretation
of the application of the court’s decision
in Sierra Club v. EPA, 551 F. 3d 1019
(D.C. Cir. 2008) and consistent with the
treatment of bypass stacks other rules
(e.g., 40 CFR part 60 subpart Ec).
H. What compliance dates are we
proposing and what is the rationale for
the proposed compliance dates?
For the additional MACT floor
emission limits (mercury, HCl, chlorine,
D/F, benzene, toluene, PAHs excluding
naphthalene, and naphthalene), the EPA
proposes that existing facilities must
comply with MACT floor limits within
1 year after promulgation of the final
rule, because the EPA estimated that
both facilities can meet MACT floor
limits without having to install new
controls. For affected facilities that
commence construction or
reconstruction after July 24, 2023,
owners or operators must comply with
all requirements of the subpart,
including all the amendments being
proposed, no later than the effective
date of the final rule or upon startup,
whichever is later.
The EPA is proposing a single
combined PM roofline emissions limit
for converters, anode refining and
smelting furnace roof vents due to plant
configurations and comingling of
process fugitive emissions. The Agency
maintains the proposed requirement
that existing facilities must comply with
the limit within 2 years after
promulgation of the final rule.
The EPA is also proposing that
existing facilities must comply with the
applicable emissions limit that the EPA
promulgates for secondary converter
emissions and anode baghouse
emissions, which will apply to the
emissions from the aisle scrubber at
Freeport, as described in section III.E of
this preamble, within 2 years after
promulgation of the final rule.
The EPA is proposing that facilities
must comply with the PM roofline
emissions limit and the PM limit that
applies to the aisle scrubber within 2
years after promulgation of the final rule
because we expect the facility will need
up to 2 years to design, construct and
operate the necessary capture and
control equipment to meet these limits.
The reason the Agency is not proposing
to allow more than 2 years for
compliance is because the controls on
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
the roofline are required to achieve
acceptable risk pursuant to CAA section
112(f), the additional controls on the
aisle scrubber are required to provide an
ample margin of safety to protect public
health pursuant to CAA section 112(f),
and section 112(f) only allows up to 2
years to comply with standards
promulgated pursuant section 112(f).
For affected facilities that commence
construction or reconstruction after July
24, 2023, owners or operators must
comply with all requirements of the
subpart, including all the amendments
being proposed, no later than the
effective date of the final rule or upon
startup, whichever is later.
IV. Summary of Cost, Environmental,
and Economic Impacts
A. What are the affected sources?
The Primary Copper Smelting major
source category includes any major
source facility that uses a
pyrometallurgical process to extract
copper from copper sulfide ore
concentrates, native ore concentrates, or
other copper bearing minerals. There are
currently two major source copper
smelting facilities in the United States.
No new copper smelting facilities are
currently being constructed or are
planned in the near future.
The affected sources subject to 40 CFR
part 63, subpart QQQ, the major source
NESHAP, are copper concentrate dryers,
smelting furnaces, slag cleaning vessels,
copper converter departments, and
fugitive emission sources.
B. What are the air quality impacts?
The proposed amendments in this
action would achieve estimated
emissions reductions of 4.59 tpy of HAP
metals (primarily lead, arsenic and
cadmium) from the roof vents at the
anode refining operations. Additionally,
depending on the option chosen for
additional controls of either: the
secondary capture system for the
converter department; or the combined
emissions stream of the secondary
capture system for the converter
department and the point source
emissions from the anode refining
department, as described in section III.E
of this preamble, additional emission
reductions from the updated baseline of
4.5 or 6.3 tpy of metal HAP are
expected. Therefore, the total expected
estimated reductions from the updated
baseline are either 9.1 tpy or 11.1 tpy of
metal HAP (primarily lead and arsenic)
for the source category. The proposed
amendments also include removal of the
SSM exemptions relative to the use of
a bypass stack which will result in an
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
47433
unquantified reduction of episodic
emissions.
C. What are the cost impacts?
As described above, the proposed BTF
standard for the combined emissions
from roofline vents, which we expect
will mainly require reductions from the
anode refining process fugitive
emissions roof vents, would require
estimated capital costs of $10.2 million
and annualized costs of $2.1 million for
the Freeport facility (2022 dollars).
Additionally, depending on the option
chosen for additional controls of either:
(1) the secondary capture system for the
converter department; or (2) the
combined emissions stream of the
secondary capture system for the
converter department and the point
source emissions from the anode
refining department, as described in
section III.E. of this preamble, the
estimated capital costs are $37 million
or $98 million, respectively, and the
estimated annualized costs are $6.2
million or $25.2 million, respectively,
for the Freeport facility (2022 dollars).
The total estimated capital costs are
$47.2 million or $108.7 million. The
Asarco facility is not expected to require
controls for any standard in this
supplemental proposal, so no capital
costs or annualized costs related to
control options are included for Asarco.
This supplemental proposal also
includes performance testing
requirements for unregulated HAP
which are expected to be incurred by
both facilities, including testing
requirements for benzene, toluene,
chlorine, HCl, PAH excluding
naphthalene, naphthalene, D/F, and
mercury. The Freeport facility has three
units (vent fume, aisle scrubber, acid
plant) which will require testing, and
the Asarco facility has five units (vent
gas baghouse, secondary hood baghouse,
tertiary hoods, anode baghouse, and
acid plant). The estimated costs for
performance testing of these
unregulated HAP are $240,140 (2022
dollars) for the Freeport facility and
$366,940 (2022 dollars) for the Asarco
facility on each occurrence (once every
five years). The annualized testing costs
for unregulated HAP (assuming mercury
testing is performed annually, and all
other performance testing related to the
new standards occurs once every five
years) are $87,980 for Freeport and
$113,340 for Asarco. Additionally, the
Asarco facility will incur estimated
costs of about $107,581 (2022 dollars)
per year to complete compliance testing
for the process fugitive rooflines
emission standards. Freeport already
conducts annual testing of these roofline
vents pursuant to state ADEQ
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
47434
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
requirements; therefore, the Agency
does not expect Freeport to incur new
testing costs related to the BTF
standard.
The total annual costs of the
requirements in the supplemental
proposal (i.e., annualized capital,
annual operating and maintenance, and
annual emissions testing costs) are
estimated to be about $9 million if the
baghouse regulatory control option is
applied to the Freeport aisle scrubber
and about $28 million if the WESP
regulatory control option is applied to
the aisle scrubber.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
D. What are the economic impacts?
The net present value (NPV) of the
estimated cost impacts of this proposed
rule, discounted at a 7 percent rate over
an eight-year period from 2024 to 2031,
is $75 million in 2022 dollars for the
baghouse upstream of the aisle scrubber
option. The equivalent annualized value
(EAV) is $13 million at a 7 percent
discount rate. At a 3 percent discount
rate, the NPV and EAV of the cost
impacts (baghouse upstream of aisle
scrubber) are estimated to be $78
million and $11.8 million, respectively.
When applying the WESP controls for
the aisle scrubber, the NPV of the
estimated cost impacts of this proposed
rule, discounted at a 7 percent rate over
the 2024 to 2031 period, is $219 million
in 2022 dollars. The EAV is $37 million
at a 7 percent discount rate. At a 3
percent discount rate, the NPV and EAV
of the cost impacts (WESP for aisle
scrubber) are estimated to be $233
million and $33 million, respectively.
This proposed rule does not affect any
small businesses. Nonetheless, neither
of the ultimate owners of the two
affected facilities are expected to incur
annualized costs greater than one
percent of company-wide annual
revenues. This supplemental proposal is
not expected to have market impacts, so
the EPA does not expect effects on
primary copper smelter production or
prices.
E. What are the benefits?
As described above, the supplemental
proposed amendments would result in
reductions in emissions of HAP metals,
especially lead and arsenic, with
corresponding reductions in human
health risk. The proposed amendments
also revise the standards such that they
apply at all times and prohibit the use
of a bypass stack.
F. What analysis of environmental
justice did we conduct?
Executive Order 12898 directs the
EPA to identify the populations of
concern who are most likely to
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
experience unequal burdens from
environmental harms, which are
specifically minority populations
(people of color), low-income
populations, and Indigenous peoples
(59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
Additionally, Executive Order 13985 is
intended to advance racial equity and
support underserved communities
through Federal Government actions (86
FR 7009, January 20, 2021). The EPA
defines EJ as ‘‘the fair treatment and
meaningful involvement of all people
regardless of race, color, national origin,
or income, with respect to the
development, implementation, and
enforcement of environmental laws,
regulations, and policies.’’ 6 The EPA
further defines fair treatment to mean
that ‘‘no group of people should bear a
disproportionate burden of
environmental harms and risks,
including those resulting from the
negative environmental consequences of
industrial, governmental, and
commercial operations or programs and
policies.’’ In recognizing that people of
color and low-income populations often
bear an unequal burden of
environmental harms and risks, the EPA
continues to consider ways of protecting
them from adverse public health and
environmental effects of air pollution.
For purposes of analyzing regulatory
impacts, the EPA relies upon its June
2016 ‘‘Technical Guidance for Assessing
Environmental Justice in Regulatory
Analysis,’’ 7 which provides
recommendations that encourage
analysts to conduct the highest quality
analysis feasible, recognizing that data
limitations, time, resource constraints,
and analytical challenges will vary by
media and circumstance. The Technical
Guidance states that a regulatory action
may involve potential EJ concerns if it
could: (1) create new disproportionate
impacts on minority populations, lowincome populations, and/or Indigenous
peoples; (2) exacerbate existing
disproportionate impacts on minority
populations, low-income populations,
and/or Indigenous peoples; or (3)
present opportunities to address
existing disproportionate impacts on
minority populations, low-income
populations, and/or Indigenous peoples
through the promulgation of these
actions.
We did not conduct any additional
demographics analyses for this
supplemental proposed rule. EPA
performed a risk-based demographic
analysis for the 2022 proposed rule to
6 https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice.
7 See https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/
technical-guidance-assessing-environmentaljustice-regulatory-analysis.
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
identify the demographics of the
populations with cancer risks greater
than or equal to 1-in-1 million living
within 5 kilometers (km) and within 50
km of the two major source primary
copper facilities. The estimated baseline
population with cancer risks greater
than or equal to 1-in-1 million due to
emissions from primary copper major
sources has not changed significantly
since proposal.
In the 2022 proposal, the EPA
determined that elevated cancer risks
associated with emissions from the
major source facilities
disproportionately affect Native
Americans, Hispanics, those living
Below the Poverty Level and those Over
25 without High School Diploma living
near primary copper major sources. For
one facility, Asarco, the proposed
baseline demographic analysis indicated
that of the population with risks at or
above 1-in-1 million, 73 percent are
Hispanic, which is significantly greater
than the nationwide percentage, 19
percent,
As indicated in Section III.F. of this
preamble, this proposed action is
projected to reduce the number of
individuals with cancer risks equal to or
greater than 1-in-1 million associated
with emissions from the Freeport
facility. See Section III.F. of this
preamble for more details.
The methodology and the results of
the demographic analysis presented in
the 2022 proposal are presented in the
preamble of the 2022 proposed rule (87
FR 1616; January 11, 2022) and in the
technical report, Risk and Technology
Review—Analysis of Demographic
Factors for Populations Living Near
Primary Copper Smelting Source
Category Operations (Docket Item No.
EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430–0052).
V. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
Additional information about these
statutes and Executive Orders can be
found at https://www.epa.gov/lawsregulations/laws-and-executive-orders.
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
Planning and Review and Executive
Order 14094: Modernizing Regulatory
Review
This action is not a significant
regulatory action as defined in
Executive Order 12866, as amended by
Executive Order 14094, and was
therefore not subject to a requirement
for Executive Order 12866 review.
The EPA prepared an economic
analysis of the proposed action. This
analysis, Economic Impact Analysis for
the Supplemental Proposed Residual
Risk and Technology Review of the
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants for Primary
Copper Smelting Sources, Residual Risk
and Technology Review, is available in
the docket EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
The information collection activities
in this proposed rule have been
submitted for approval to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) under
the PRA. The Information Collection
Request (ICR) document that the EPA
prepared has been assigned EPA ICR
number 1850.10. You can find a copy of
the ICR in the docket for this rule, and
it is briefly summarized here.
The EPA is proposing amendments
that affect reporting and recordkeeping
requirements for primary copper
smelting facilities, such as requirements
to submit new performance test reports
and to maintain new operating
parameter records to demonstrate
compliance with new standards. This
information would be collected to
assure compliance with 40 CFR part 63,
subpart QQQ.
Respondents/affected entities:
Owners or operators of primary copper
smelting facilities.
Respondent’s obligation to respond:
Mandatory (40 CFR part 63, subpart
QQQ).
Estimated number of respondents:
Two (total).
Frequency of response: The frequency
of responses varies depending on the
burden item.
Total estimated burden: The annual
recordkeeping and reporting burden for
facilities from the proposed
recordkeeping and reporting
requirements is estimated to be 5,500
hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5
CFR 1320.3(b).
Total estimated cost: The annual
recordkeeping and reporting burden for
facilities to comply with all of the
requirements in the NESHAP is
estimated to be $1,020,000 (per year), of
which $331,000 is for this rule, and
$685,000 is for the other costs related to
continued compliance with the
NESHAP. There are no annualized
capital or operation & maintenance
costs.
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.
Submit your comments on the
Agency’s need for this information, the
accuracy of the provided burden
estimates and any suggested methods
for minimizing respondent burden to
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
the EPA using the docket identified at
the beginning of this rule. The EPA will
respond to any ICR-related comments in
the final rule. You may also send your
ICR-related comments to OMB’s Office
of Information and Regulatory Affairs
using the interface at www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain. Find this
particular information collection by
selecting ‘‘Currently under Review—
Open for Public Comments’’ or by using
the search function. OMB must receive
comments no later than August 23,
2023.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
We 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. Based on the Small Business
Administration size category for this
source category, no small entities are
subject to this action.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
(UMRA)
This action does not contain any
unfunded mandate as described in
UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531–1538, and does
not significantly or uniquely affect small
governments. The 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. Thus, Executive Order
13175 does not apply to this action.
However, consistent with the EPA
policy on coordination and consultation
with Indian tribes, the EPA will offer
government-to-government consultation
with tribes as requested.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks
Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885,
April 23, 1997) directs Federal agencies
to include an evaluation of the health
and safety effects of the planned
regulation on children in Federal health
and safety standards and explain why
the regulation is preferable to
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
47435
potentially effective and reasonably
feasible alternatives. This action is not
subject to Executive Order 13045
because the EPA does not believe the
environmental health or safety risks
addressed by this action present a
disproportionate risk to children. This
action proposes emission standards for
six previously unregulated pollutants
and emissions limits for the anode
refining process fugitive emissions and
the aisle scrubber, which will achieve
reductions of HAP metals (as described
previously in section III of this
preamble); therefore, the proposed rule
would provide health benefits to
children by reducing the level of HAP
emissions (e.g., lead and arsenic)
emitted from the copper smelting
process. This action’s health and risk
assessments are contained in sections III
and IV of the 2022 RTR proposed rule
(87 FR 1616; January 11, 2022), and in
section III.F of this preamble, and also
in the document titled Residual Risk
Assessment for the Primary Copper
Smelting Major Source Category in
Support of the 2021 Risk and
Technology Review Proposed Rule,
which is available in the docket for this
proposed rule (Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2020–0430–0051).
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 as defined
in Executive Order 12866 and as
amended by Executive Order 14094.
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act (NTTAA) and 1 CFR
Part 51
This action involves technical
standards. Therefore, the EPA
conducted searches for the Primary
Copper Smelting NESHAP through the
Enhanced National Standards Systems
Network (NSSN) Database managed by
the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI). We also conducted a
review of voluntary consensus
standards (VCS) organizations and
accessed and searched their databases.
Searches were conducted for EPA
Methods 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2F, 2G,
3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 5B, 5D, 9, 17, 18, 22, 23,
26A, 29, 30A, 30B of 40 CFR part 60,
appendix A. During the EPA’s VCS
search, if the title or abstract (if
provided) of the VCS described
technical sampling and analytical
procedures that are similar to the EPA’s
referenced method, the EPA ordered a
copy of the standard and reviewed it as
a potential equivalent method. We
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
47436
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
reviewed all potential standards to
determine the practicality of the VCS for
this rule. No applicable voluntary
consensus standards were identified for
EPA Methods 1A, 2A, 2D, 2F, 2G, 5B,
5D, 22, 30A and 30B.
Four voluntary consensus standards
were identified as an acceptable
alternative to EPA test methods for the
purposes of this rule.
The EPA proposes to incorporate by
reference the VCS ANSI/ASME PTC 19–
10–1981 Part 10 (2010), ‘‘Flue and
Exhaust Gas Analyses’’ as an acceptable
alternative to EPA Methods 3B, manual
portion only and not the instrumental
portion. This standard is acceptable as
an alternative to EPA Method 3B and is
available from ASME at https://
www.asme.org; by mail at Three Park
Avenue, New York, NY 10016–5990; or
by telephone at (800) 843–2763. This
method determines quantitatively the
gaseous constituents of exhausts
resulting from stationary combustion
sources. The gases covered in ANSI/
ASME PTC 19.10–1981 are oxygen,
carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide,
nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, sulfur trioxide,
nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen
sulfide, and hydrocarbons; however, the
use in this rule is only applicable to
oxygen and carbon dioxide.
The EPA proposes to incorporate by
reference the VCS ASTM D7520–16,
‘‘Standard Test Method for Determining
the Opacity of a Plume in the Outdoor
Ambient Atmosphere’’ as an acceptable
alternative to EPA Method 9 only if the
following conditions are followed:
• During the digital camera opacity
technique (DCOT) certification
procedure outlined in Section 9.2 of
ASTM D7520–16, you or the DCOT
vendor must present the plumes in front
of various backgrounds of color and
contrast representing conditions
anticipated during field use such as blue
sky, trees, and mixed backgrounds
(clouds and/or a sparse tree stand).
• You must also have standard
operating procedures in place including
daily or other frequency quality checks
to ensure the equipment is within
manufacturing specifications as
outlined in Section 8.1 of ASTM
D7520–16.
• You must follow the record keeping
procedures outlined in 40 CFR
63.10(b)(1) for the DCOT certification,
compliance report, data sheets, and all
raw unaltered JPEGs used for opacity
and certification determination.
• You or the DCOT vendor must have
a minimum of four (4) independent
technology users apply the software to
determine the visible opacity of the 300
certification plumes. For each set of 25
plumes, the user may not exceed 15
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
percent opacity of anyone reading and
the average error must not exceed 7.5
percent opacity.)
This approval does not provide or
imply a certification or validation of any
vendor’s hardware or software. The
onus to maintain and verify the
certification and/or training of the
DCOT camera, software and operator in
accordance with ASTM D7520–16 and
this letter is on the facility, DCOT
operator, and DCOT vendor. The EPA
proposes to incorporate by reference the
VCS ASTM D6420–99 (2010), ‘‘Test
Method for Determination of Gaseous
Organic Compounds by Direct Interface
Gas Chromatography/Mass
Spectrometry.’’ This ASTM procedure
has been approved by the EPA as an
alternative to EPA Method 18 only
when the target compounds are all
known and the target compounds are all
listed in ASTM D6420 as measurable.
This alternative should not be used for
methane and ethane because atomic
mass is less than 35. ASTM D6420
should never be specified as a total VOC
method.
The EPA proposes to incorporate by
reference the VCS ASTM D6784–16,
‘‘Standard Test Method for Elemental,
Oxidized, Particle-Bound and Total
Mercury Gas Generated from Coal-Fired
Stationary Sources (Ontario Hydro
Method)’’ (D6784–16 was reapproved in
2016 to include better quality control
than earlier 2008 version) as an
acceptable alternative to EPA Method 29
(portion for mercury only) as a method
for measuring mercury. [Note: Applies
to concentrations approximately 0.5–
100 mg/Nm3].
The ASTM D7520–16; D6420–99
(2010); and D6784–16 documents are
available from ASTM at https://
www.astm.org or 100 Barr Harbor Drive,
West Conshohocken, PA 19428–2959,
telephone number: (610) 832–9500, fax
number: (610) 8329555 at service@
astm.org.
The EPA proposes to incorporate by
reference ‘‘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), which is the
source of the toxicity equivalent factors
for dioxins and furans used in
calculating the toxic equivalence
quotient of the proposed dioxin and
furan standard. This document can be
found at https://www.epa.gov/risk/
documents-recommended-toxicityequivalency-factors-human-health-riskassessments-dioxin-and.
Detailed information on the VCS
search and determination can be found
in the memorandum, Voluntary
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Consensus Standard Results for
National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants: Copper
Smelting Supplemental Proposal, which
is available in the docket for this action
(Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–
0430).
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal
Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and
Low-Income Populations
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629,
February 16, 1994) directs Federal
agencies, to the greatest extent
practicable and permitted by law, to
make environmental justice part of their
mission by identifying and addressing,
as appropriate, disproportionately high
and adverse human health or
environmental effects of their programs,
policies, and activities on minority
populations (people of color and/or
Indigenous peoples) and low-income
populations.
The EPA believes that the human
health or environmental conditions that
exist prior to this action result in or
have the potential to result in
disproportionate and adverse human
health or environmental effects on
people of color, low-income populations
and/or Indigenous peoples. In In the
2022 proposal, the evaluated the
demographic characteristics of
communities located near the major
source facilities and determined that
elevated cancer risks associated with
emissions from these facilities
disproportionately affect Native
American, Hispanic, Below Poverty
Level and Over 25 without High School
Diploma individuals living nearby.
The EPA believes that this action is
likely to reduce existing
disproportionate and adverse effects on
people of color, low-income populations
and/or Indigenous peoples living near
the Freeport facility. To support the
2022 proposal, EPA determined that the
population living within 5 km of the
Freeport facility is 1.5 percent Native
American (versus 0.7 percent
nationwide); 45 percent Hispanic or
Latino (versus 19 percent nationwide);
23 percent Below Poverty Level (versus
13 percent nationwide); and 23 percent
Over 25 without a High School Diploma
(versus 12 percent nationwide). The
standards proposed in this
supplemental proposal are estimated to
reduce metal HAP emissions, primarily
lead and arsenic, from the Freeport
facility by either 9.1 tpy or 11.1 tpy and
are projected to reduce the number of
individuals with cancer risks equal to or
greater than 1-in-1 million associated
with emissions from the Freeport
facility. EPA does not anticipate that
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2023 / Proposed Rules
this action will reduce emissions from
the Asarco facility.
The methodology and the results of
the demographic analysis are presented
in the preamble of the 2022 proposed
rule (87 FR 1616; January 11, 2022) and
in the technical report, Risk and
Technology Review—Analysis of
Demographic Factors for Populations
Living Near Primary Copper Smelting
Source Category Operations (Docket
Item No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0430–
0052). The information supporting this
Executive Order review is contained in
section V.E. of the 2022 proposed RTR
preamble (87 FR 1616; January 11,
2022). We did not conduct any
additional demographics analyses for
this supplemental proposed rule.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 63
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Hazardous
substances, Incorporation by reference,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Michael S. Regan,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023–15303 Filed 7–21–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
49 CFR Part 385
[Docket No. FMCSA–2023–0122]
RIN 2126–AC61
Incorporation by Reference; North
American Standard Out-of-Service
Criteria; Hazardous Materials Safety
Permits
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA), Department
of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
AGENCY:
FMCSA proposes
amendments to its Hazardous Materials
Safety Permits (HMSPs) regulations to
incorporate by reference the updated
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
(CVSA) handbook containing inspection
procedures and Out-of-Service Criteria
(OOSC) for inspections of shipments of
transuranic waste and highway routecontrolled quantities (HRCQs) of
radioactive material (RAM). The OOSC
provide enforcement personnel
nationwide, including FMCSA’s State
partners, with uniform enforcement
tolerances for inspections. Currently,
the regulations reference the April 1,
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Jul 21, 2023
Jkt 259001
2022, edition of the handbook. Through
this notice, FMCSA proposes to
incorporate by reference the April 1,
2023, edition.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before August 23, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
identified by Docket Number FMCSA2023–0122 using any of the following
methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov/docket/
FMCSA-2023-0122/document. Follow
the online instructions for submitting
comments.
• Mail: Dockets Operations, U.S.
Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building,
Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590–
0001.
• Hand Delivery or Courier: Dockets
Operations, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, West Building, Ground
Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC
20590–0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. To be sure someone is there to
help you, please call (202) 366–9317 or
(202) 366–9826 before visiting Dockets
Operations.
• Fax: (202) 493–2251.
Viewing incorporation by reference
material: You may inspect the material
proposed for incorporation by reference
at U.S. Department of Transportation,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590–0001 between 8
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays. The
telephone number is (202) 366–1812.
Copies of the material are available as
indicated in the ‘‘Incorporation by
Reference’’ section of this preamble.
´
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jose
Cestero, Vehicle and Roadside
Operations Division, FMCSA, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC
20590–0001, (202) 366–5541,
jose.cestero@dot.gov. If you have
questions on viewing or submitting
material to the docket, contact Dockets
Operations, (202) 366–9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
FMCSA organizes this notice of
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) as
follows:
I. Public Participation and Request for
Comments
A. Submitting Comments
B. Viewing Comments and Documents
C. Privacy
II. Executive Summary
III. Abbreviations
IV. Legal Basis
V. Background
VI. Discussion of Proposed Rulemaking
VII. Severability
VIII. Section-by-Section Analysis
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
47437
IX. Regulatory Analyses
A. E.O. 12866 (Regulatory Planning and
Review), E.O. 13563 (Improving
Regulation and Regulatory Review), E.O.
14094 (Modernizing Regulatory Review),
and DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures
B. Congressional Review Act
C. Advance Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking
D. Regulatory Flexibility Act
E. Assistance for Small Entities
F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
G. Paperwork Reduction Act
H. E.O. 13132 (Federalism)
I. Privacy
J. E.O. 13175 (Indian Tribal Governments)
K. National Environmental Policy Act of
1969
I. Public Participation and Request for
Comments
A. Submitting Comments
If you submit a comment, please
include the docket number for this
NPRM (FMCSA–2023-0122), indicate
the specific section of this document to
which your comment applies, and
provide a reason for each suggestion or
recommendation. You may submit your
comments and material online or by fax,
mail, or hand delivery, but please use
only one of these means. FMCSA
recommends that you include your
name and a mailing address, an email
address, or a phone number in the body
of your document so FMCSA can
contact you if there are questions
regarding your submission.
To submit your comment online, go to
https://www.regulations.gov/docket/
FMCSA-2023-0122/document, click on
this NPRM, click ‘‘Comment,’’ and type
your comment into the text box on the
following screen.
If you submit your comments by mail
or hand delivery, submit them in an
unbound format, no larger than 81⁄2 by
11 inches, suitable for copying and
electronic filing.
FMCSA will consider all comments
and material received during the
comment period.
Confidential Business Information (CBI)
CBI is commercial or financial
information that is both customarily and
actually treated as private by its owner.
Under the Freedom of Information Act
(5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from
public disclosure. If your comments
responsive to the NPRM contain
commercial or financial information
that is customarily treated as private,
that you actually treat as private, and
that is relevant or responsive to the
NPRM, it is important that you clearly
designate the submitted comments as
CBI. Please mark each page of your
submission that constitutes CBI as
E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM
24JYP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 140 (Monday, July 24, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47415-47437]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15303]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 63
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430; FRL-7522-04-OAR]
RIN 2060-AU63
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Primary
Copper Smelting
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action supplements our proposed amendments to the
national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for
the Primary Copper Smelting source category published in the Federal
Register on January 11, 2022. In that action, the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) proposed amendments based on the residual risk
and technology review (RTR) for the major source category and the
technology review for the area source category. Although the proposal
included the technology review for the area source category, this
supplemental proposal does not include any changes for the area source
category. In order to complete the required technology review for the
major source category, the EPA is proposing additional hazardous air
pollutant (HAP) standards for the following pollutants: benzene,
toluene, hydrogen chloride (HCl), chlorine, polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAH), naphthalene and dioxin/furans (D/F). The EPA also
evaluated the potential for changes to the previously proposed residual
risk assessment and the decisions related to risk. Furthermore, in this
action the EPA is also proposing revised standards for certain
provisions initially proposed in the January 11, 2022, RTR proposal
based on additional information gathered since the publication of the
2022 proposed rule.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 7, 2023. Under
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), comments on the information
collection provisions are best assured of consideration if the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) receives a copy of your comments on or
before August 23, 2023.
Public hearing: If anyone contacts us requesting a public hearing
on or before July 31, 2023, we will hold a virtual public hearing. See
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for information on requesting and registering
for a public hearing.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2020-0430, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov/
(our preferred method). Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Email: [email protected]. Include Docket ID No. EPA-
HQ-OAR-2020-0430 in the subject line of the message.
Fax: (202) 566-9744. Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2020-0430.
Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket
Center, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430, Mail Code 28221T, 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460.
Hand/Courier Delivery: EPA Docket Center, WJC West
Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004.
The Docket Center's hours of operation are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-
Friday (except Federal holidays).
Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID
No. for this rulemaking. Comments received may be posted without change
to https://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal information
provided. For detailed instructions on sending comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this proposed
action, contact Tonisha Dawson, 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) 541-1454; and email address:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 47416]]
Participation in virtual public hearing. To request a virtual
public hearing, contact the public hearing team at (888) 372-8699 or by
email at [email protected]. If requested, the hearing will be
held via virtual platform on August 8, 2023. The hearing will convene
at 11 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) and will conclude at 3 p.m. ET. The EPA
may close a session 15 minutes after the last pre-registered speaker
has testified if there are no additional speakers. The EPA will
announce further details at https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/primary-copper-smelting-national-emissions-standards-hazardous-air.
If a public hearing is requested, the EPA will begin pre-
registering speakers for the hearing no later than 1 business day after
a request has been received. To register to speak at the virtual
hearing, please use the online registration form available at https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/primary-copper-smelting-national-emissions-standards-hazardous-air or contact the public
hearing team at (888) 372-8699 or by email at
[email protected]. The last day to pre-register to speak at the
hearing will be August 7, 2023. Prior to the hearing, the EPA will post
a general agenda that will list pre-registered speakers in approximate
order at: https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/primary-copper-smelting-national-emissions-standards-hazardous-air.
The EPA will make every effort to follow the schedule as closely as
possible on the day of the hearing; however, please plan for the
hearings to run either ahead of schedule or behind schedule.
Each commenter will have 4 minutes to provide oral testimony. The
EPA encourages commenters to provide the EPA with a copy of their oral
testimony electronically (via email) by emailing it to
[email protected]. The EPA also recommends submitting the text of
your oral testimony as written comments to the rulemaking docket.
The EPA may ask clarifying questions during the oral presentations
but will not respond to the presentations at that time. Written
statements and supporting information submitted during the comment
period will be considered with the same weight as oral testimony and
supporting information presented at the public hearing.
Please note that any updates made to any aspect of the hearing will
be posted online at https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/primary-copper-smelting-national-emissions-standards-hazardous-air. While the EPA expects the hearing to go forward as set
forth above, please monitor our website or contact the public hearing
team at (888) 372-8699 or by email at [email protected] to
determine if there are any updates. The EPA does not intend to publish
a document in the Federal Register announcing updates.
If you require the services of a translator or special
accommodation such as audio description, please pre-register for the
hearing with the public hearing team and describe your needs by July
31, 2023. The EPA may not be able to arrange accommodations without
advanced notice.
Docket. The EPA has established a docket for this rulemaking under
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430. All documents in the docket are
listed in https://www.regulations.gov/. Although listed, 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. With the exception of such material, publicly available docket
materials are available electronically in Regulations.gov.
Instructions. Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2020-0430. The EPA's policy is that all comments received will be
included in the public docket without change and may be made available
online at https://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal
information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed
to be CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by
statute. Do not submit electronically to https://www.regulations.gov/
any information that you consider to be CBI or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. This type of information should be
submitted as discussed below.
The EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket.
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA
will generally not consider comments or comment contents located
outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the Web, cloud, or other
file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA
public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions,
and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
The https://www.regulations.gov/ website allows you to submit your
comment anonymously, which means the EPA will not know your identity or
contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
If you send an email comment directly to the EPA without going through
https://www.regulations.gov/, your email address will be automatically
captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the
public docket and made available on the internet. If you submit an
electronic comment, the EPA recommends that you include your name and
other contact information in the body of your comment and with any
digital storage media you submit. If the EPA cannot read your comment
due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification,
the EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files
should not include special characters or any form of encryption and be
free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about the
EPA's public docket, visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
Submitting CBI. Do not submit information containing CBI to the EPA
through https://www.regulations.gov/. Clearly mark the part or all of
the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information on any
digital storage media that you mail to the EPA, note the docket ID,
mark the outside of the digital storage media as CBI, and identify
electronically within the digital storage media the specific
information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version
of the comments that includes information claimed as CBI, you must
submit a copy of the comments that does not contain the information
claimed as CBI directly to the public docket through the procedures
outlined in Instructions above. If you submit any digital storage media
that does not contain CBI, mark the outside of the digital storage
media clearly that it does not contain CBI and note the docket ID.
Information not marked as CBI will be included in the public docket and
the EPA's electronic public docket without prior notice. Information
marked as CBI will not be disclosed except in accordance with
procedures set forth in 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 2.
Our preferred method to receive CBI is for it to be transmitted
electronically using email attachments, File Transfer Protocol (FTP),
or other online file sharing services (e.g., Dropbox, OneDrive, Google
Drive). Electronic submissions must be transmitted
[[Page 47417]]
directly to the OAQPS CBI Office at the email address [email protected],
and as described above, should include clear CBI markings and note the
docket ID. If assistance is needed with submitting large electronic
files that exceed the file size limit for email attachments, and if you
do not have your own file sharing service, please email
[email protected] to request a file transfer link. If sending CBI
information through the postal service, please send it to the following
address: OAQPS Document Control Officer (C404-02), OAQPS, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
27711, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430. The mailed CBI
material should be double wrapped and clearly marked. Any CBI markings
should not show through the outer envelope.
Preamble acronyms and abbreviations. Throughout this preamble the
use of ``we,'' ``us,'' or ``our'' is intended to refer to the EPA. 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:
ACI activated carbon injection
ADEQ Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
ADL above detection limit
ANSI American National Standards Institute
BDL below detection limit
BTF beyond-the-floor
CAA Clean Air Act
CBI Confidential Business Information
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
D/F dioxins and furans
DLL detection level limited
DSI dry sorbent injection
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
GACT generally available control technology
HAP hazardous air pollutant(s)
HCl hydrogen chloride
ICR Information Collection Request
km kilometers
lbs pounds
lbs/hr pounds per hour
lb/ton pounds per ton
LEAN Louisiana Environmental Action Network
MACT maximum achievable control technology
MIR maximum individual risk
mg/dscm milligram per dry standard cubic meter
NAICS North American Industry Classification System
NESHAP national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants
ng TEQ/Mg nanograms Toxic Equivalent per megagrams
NTTAA National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
OAQPS Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
OMB Office of Management and Budget
PAH polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
PM particulate matter
PRA Paperwork Reduction Act
RDL representative detection level
RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act
RTR risk and technology review
SO2 sulfur dioxide
SO3 sulfur trioxide
SSM startup, shutdown, and malfunction
TEF toxicity equivalence factors
TEQ toxic equivalency
THC Total hydrocarbons
tpy tons per year
ug/m\3\ micrograms per cubic meter
UMRA Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
UOM unit of measure
UPL upper predictive level
VCS voluntary consensus standards
WESP wet electrostatic precipitator
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?
II. Background
A. What is the statutory authority for this action?
B. What is this source category and how does the current NESHAP
regulate its HAP emissions?
C. What is the history of the Primary Copper Smelting Risk and
Technology Review?
D. What was included in the 2022 proposed RTR affecting major
sources in the primary copper smelting source category?
E. What data collection activities were conducted to support
this action?
III. Analytical Results and Proposed Decisions
A. What are the results of our analyses of unregulated
pollutants and how did we establish the proposed MACT standards?
B. What performance testing, monitoring, and recordkeeping and
reporting are we proposing relative to the unregulated HAP emission
limits?
C. What revisions are we proposing specific to the emission
limit for process fugitive emissions from roof vents at the anode
refining operations from the 2022 proposed RTR?
D. What revisions are we proposing specific to the emission
limit for mercury from the 2022 proposed RTR?
E. What emissions standards are we proposing for the Aisle
Scrubber in this supplemental proposed rule that are different than
decisions proposed in the 2022 proposed RTR?
F. What are the results of risk analyses completed for this
action?
G. What other actions are we proposing, and what is the
rationale for those actions?
H. What compliance dates are we proposing and what is the
rationale for the proposed compliance dates?
IV. Summary of Cost, Environmental, and Economic Impacts
A. What are the affected sources?
B. What are the air quality impacts?
C. What are the cost impacts?
D. What are the economic impacts?
E. What are the benefits?
F. What analysis of environmental justice did we conduct?
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and
Executive Order 14094: Modernizing 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
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
The source category that is the subject of this proposal is primary
copper smelting major sources regulated under 40 CFR part 63, subpart
QQQ. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for
the primary copper smelting industry is 331410. This list of categories
and NAICS codes is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a
guide for readers regarding the entities that this proposed action is
likely to affect. The proposed standards, once promulgated, will be
directly applicable to the affected sources. Federal, state, local, and
tribal government entities would not be affected by this proposed
action. As defined in the Initial List of Categories of Sources Under
Section 112(c)(1) of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (see 57 FR
31576; July 16, 1992) and Documentation for Developing the Initial
Source Category List, Final Report (see EPA-450/3-91-030, July 1992),
the primary copper smelting source category is any major source
facility engaged in the pyrometallurgical process used for the
extraction of copper from sulfur oxides, native ore concentrates, or
other copper bearing minerals. As originally defined, the category
includes, but is not limited to, the following smelting process units:
roasters, smelting furnaces, and converters. Affected sources under the
current major source NESHAP are
[[Page 47418]]
concentrate dryers, smelting furnaces, slag cleaning vessels,
converters, and fugitive emission sources.
B. Where can I get a copy of this document and other related
information?
In addition to being available in the docket, an electronic copy of
this action is available on the internet. Following signature by the
EPA Administrator, the EPA will post a copy of this proposed action at
https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/primary-copper-smelting-national-emissions-standards-hazardous-air. Following
publication in the Federal Register, the EPA will post the Federal
Register version of the proposal and key technical documents at this
same website.
A memorandum showing the rule edits that would be necessary to
incorporate the changes to 40 CFR part 63, subpart QQQ proposed in this
action is available in the docket (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430).
The EPA also will post a copy of this document to https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/primary-copper-smelting-national-emissions-standards-hazardous-air.
II. Background
A. What is the statutory authority for this action?
The statutory authority for this action is provided by sections 112
and 301 of the Clean Air Act (CAA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 7401 et
seq.). Section 112 of the CAA establishes a two-stage regulatory
process to develop standards for emissions of HAP from stationary
sources. Generally, the first stage involves establishing technology-
based standards and the second stage involves evaluating those
standards that are based on maximum achievable control technology
(MACT) to determine whether additional standards are needed to address
any remaining risk associated with HAP emissions. This second stage is
commonly referred to as the ``residual risk review.'' In addition to
the residual risk review, the CAA also requires the EPA to review
standards set under CAA section 112 every 8 years and revise the
standards as necessary taking into account any ``developments in
practices, processes, or control technologies.'' This review is
commonly referred to as the ``technology review.'' The discussion that
follows identifies the most relevant statutory sections and briefly
explains the contours of the methodology used to implement these
statutory requirements. A more comprehensive discussion appears in the
document titled CAA Section 112 Risk and Technology Reviews: Statutory
Authority and Methodology, in the docket for this rulemaking.
In the first stage of the CAA section 112 standard setting process,
the EPA promulgates technology-based standards under CAA section 112(d)
for categories of sources identified as emitting one or more of the HAP
listed in CAA section 112(b). Sources of HAP emissions are either major
sources or area sources, and CAA section 112 establishes different
requirements for major source standards and area source standards.
``Major sources'' are those that emit or have the potential to emit 10
tons per year (tpy) or more of a single HAP or 25 tpy or more of any
combination of HAP. All other sources are ``area sources.'' For major
sources, CAA section 112(d)(2) provides that the technology-based
NESHAP must reflect the maximum degree of emission reductions of HAP
achievable (after considering cost, energy requirements, and non-air
quality health and environmental impacts). These standards are commonly
referred to as MACT standards. CAA section 112(d)(3) also establishes a
minimum control level for MACT standards, known as the MACT ``floor.''
In certain instances, as provided in CAA section 112(h), the EPA may
set work practice standards in lieu of numerical emission standards.
The EPA must also consider control options that are more stringent than
the floor. Standards more stringent than the floor are commonly
referred to as beyond-the-floor (BTF) standards. For area sources, CAA
section 112(d)(5) allows the EPA to set standards based on generally
available control technologies or management practices (GACT standards)
in lieu of MACT standards.
The second stage in standard-setting focuses on identifying and
addressing any remaining (i.e., ``residual'') risk pursuant to CAA
section 112(f). For source categories subject to MACT standards,
section 112(f)(2) of the CAA requires the EPA to determine whether
promulgation of additional standards is needed to provide an ample
margin of safety to protect public health or to prevent an adverse
environmental effect. Section 112(d)(5) of the CAA provides that this
residual risk review is not required for categories of area sources
subject to GACT standards. Section 112(f)(2)(B) of the CAA further
expressly preserves the EPA's use of the two-step approach for
developing standards to address any residual risk and the Agency's
interpretation of ``ample margin of safety'' developed in the National
Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Benzene Emissions
from Maleic Anhydride Plants, Ethylbenzene/Styrene Plants, Benzene
Storage Vessels, Benzene Equipment Leaks, and Coke By-Product Recovery
Plants (Benzene NESHAP) (54 FR 38044; September 14, 1989). The EPA
notified Congress in the Residual Risk Report that the Agency intended
to use the Benzene NESHAP approach in making CAA section 112(f)
residual risk determinations (EPA-453/R-99-001, p. ES-11). The EPA
subsequently adopted this approach in its residual risk determinations,
and the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Circuit upheld the EPA's interpretation that CAA section 112(f)(2)
incorporates the approach established in the Benzene NESHAP. See NRDC
v. EPA, 529 F.3d 1077, 1083 (D.C. Cir. 2008).
The approach incorporated into the CAA and used by the EPA to
evaluate residual risk and to develop standards under CAA section
112(f)(2) is a two-step approach. In the first step, the EPA determines
whether risks are acceptable. This determination ``considers all health
information, including risk estimation uncertainty, and includes a
presumptive limit on maximum individual lifetime [cancer] risk (MIR)
\1\ of approximately 1-in-10 thousand.'' (54 FR at 38045). If risk is
unacceptable, the EPA must determine the emissions standards necessary
to reduce risks to an acceptable level without considering costs. In
the second step of the approach, the EPA considers whether the
emissions standards provide an ample margin of safety to protect public
health ``in consideration of all health information, including the
number of persons at risk levels higher than approximately 1-in-1
million, as well as other relevant factors, including costs and
economic impacts, technological feasibility, and other factors relevant
to each particular decision.'' Id. The EPA must promulgate emission
standards necessary to provide an ample margin of safety to protect
public health or determine that the standards being reviewed provide an
ample margin of safety without any revisions. After conducting the
ample margin of safety analysis, the Agency considers whether a more
stringent standard is necessary to prevent, taking into consideration
costs, energy, safety, and other relevant factors, an adverse
environmental effect.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Although defined as ``maximum individual risk,'' MIR refers
only to cancer risk. MIR, one metric for assessing cancer risk, is
the estimated risk if an individual were exposed to the maximum
level of a pollutant for a lifetime.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAA section 112(d)(6) separately requires the EPA to review
standards
[[Page 47419]]
promulgated under CAA section 112 and revise them ``as necessary
(taking into account developments in practices, processes, and control
technologies)'' no less often than every 8 years. While conducting this
review, which we call the ``technology review,'' the EPA is not
required to recalculate the MACT floor. Natural Resources Defense
Council (NRDC) v. EPA, 529 F.3d 1077, 1084 (D.C. Cir. 2008).
Association of Battery Recyclers, Inc. v. EPA, 716 F.3d 667 (D.C. Cir.
2013). The EPA may consider cost in deciding whether to revise the
standards pursuant to CAA section 112(d)(6). The EPA is also required
to address regulatory gaps, such as missing standards for listed air
toxics known to be emitted from the source category, and any new MACT
standards must be established under CAA sections 112(d)(2) and (3), or,
in specific circumstances, CAA sections 112(d)(4) or (h). Louisiana
Environmental Action Network (LEAN) v. EPA, 955 F.3d 1088 (D.C. Cir.
2020).
As described in detail in section III of this preamble, pursuant to
the authorities described above in this section, this supplemental
proposed rule addresses additional currently unregulated emissions of
HAP from the primary copper smelting major source category. In addition
to the unregulated HAP addressed in the 2022 RTR proposed rule (87 FR
1616; January 11, 2022), available data indicate the following
unregulated pollutants are emitted from the source category: benzene,
dioxins and furans, HCl, chlorine, PAH including naphthalene, and
toluene. These pollutants are mainly emitted due to the combustion of
natural gas and coke. Therefore, the EPA is proposing amendments
establishing standards that reflect MACT for these pollutants emitted
by the source category, pursuant to CAA sections 112(d)(2) and (3).
B. What is this source category and how does the current NESHAP
regulate its HAP emissions?
Consistent with the description in section II.A. of this preamble,
this supplemental proposal is applicable to major sources in the
primary copper smelting major source category. There is one area source
which is regulated by the primary copper smelting area source NESHAP
(40 CFR part 63, subpart EEEEEE), but the following description is
limited to the major source facilities consistent with this
supplemental proposed rule. The primary copper smelting major source
category includes any facility that is a major source of HAP and uses a
pyrometallurgical process to produce anode copper from copper ore
concentrates. Primary copper smelting begins with copper mines
supplying the ore concentrate (typically 30 percent copper). In most
cases, the moisture is reduced from the ore concentrate in dryers, and
the concentrate is then fed through a smelting furnace where it is
melted and reacts to produce copper matte. One existing smelter is able
to feed its copper concentrate directly to the smelting furnace without
prior drying. Copper matte is a molten solution of copper sulfide mixed
with iron sulfide and is about 60 percent copper. The solution is
further refined using converters to make blister copper, which is
approximately 98 percent copper. Converters use oxidation to remove
sulfide as sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas and the iron as a
ferrous oxide slag. The majority of the SO2 gases are sent
to a sulfuric acid plant. The slag is removed, cooled, and often
processed again to remove any residual copper. The blister copper is
reduced in the anode refining furnace to remove impurities and oxygen,
typically by injecting natural gas and steam, to produce a high purity
copper. The molten copper from the anode refining furnace is poured
into molds and cooled to produce solid copper ingots called anodes.
This process is known as casting. The anodes are sent to a copper
refinery, either on-site or at an off-site location, for further
purification using an electrolytic process to obtain high purity copper
that is sold as a product. The processing units of interest at primary
copper smelters, because of their potential to generate HAP emissions,
are the following: dryers, smelting furnaces, copper converters, anode
refining furnaces, and, if present, copper holding vessels, slag
cleaning vessels, and matte drying and grinding plants. The smelting
furnaces, converters and anode refining are sources of HAP emissions
from point sources (i.e., stacks, control devices) and process fugitive
emissions from roof vents. In addition, the transfers of matte,
converter slag, and blister copper are sources of process fugitive
emissions.
There are two facilities (Asarco and Freeport--both located in
Arizona) which are major sources of HAP emissions and are subject to 40
CFR part 63, subpart QQQ, the major source NESHAP. The Asarco facility
uses an INCO brand flash smelting furnace. Flash smelting furnaces
consist of blowing fine, dried copper sulfide concentrate and silica
flux with air, oxygen-enriched air or oxygen into a hot hearth-type
furnace. The sulfide minerals in the concentrate react with oxygen
resulting in oxidation of the iron and sulfur, which produces heat and
therefore melting of the solids. The molten matte and slag are removed
separately from the furnace as they accumulate, and the matte is
transferred via ladles to the copper converters. The Freeport facility
uses an ISASMELT smelting furnace. The ISASMELT process involves
dropping wet feed through a feed port, such that dryers are not needed.
A mixture of air, oxygen, and natural gas is blown through a vertical
lance in the center of the furnace, generating heat and melting the
feed. The molten metal is then tapped from the bottom and sent to an
electric furnace to separate the matte from slag. The slag is removed
from the electric furnace through tapholes and is transferred to slag
pots via ladles. The matte is also removed from the electric furnace
through tapholes and transferred to the converter via ladles.
Molten blister copper is transferred from the converting vessel to
an anode furnace for refining to further remove residual impurities and
oxygen. The blister copper is reduced in the anode refining furnace to
remove oxygen, typically by injecting natural gas and steam to produce
a high purity copper. The molten copper from the anode refining furnace
is poured into molds to produce solid copper ingots called anodes. The
anode copper is sent to a copper refinery, either on-site or at another
location, where it is further purified using an electrolytic process to
obtain the high purity copper that is sold as a product. The copper
refinery is not part of the primary copper smelting source category.
The current NESHAP for major sources (40 CFR part 63, subpart QQQ) was
proposed on April 20, 1998 (63 FR 19582), with a supplement to the
proposed rulemaking published on June 26, 2000 (65 FR 39326). The final
rule, promulgated on June 12, 2002 (67 FR 40478), established
particulate matter (PM) standards as a surrogate for HAP metals for
copper concentrate dryers, smelting furnaces, slag cleaning vessels,
and existing converters. The major source NESHAP applies to major
sources that use batch copper converters. Regarding new sources, the
NESHAP prohibits batch converters for new sources, which indirectly
means that any new source would need to install continuous converters
or another technology. The reason for this prohibition for new sources
is that continuous converters have lower process fugitive emissions
than batch converters. Further explanation is provided in the 2002
[[Page 47420]]
NESHAP final rule preamble (67 FR 40478; June 12, 2002).
The converter building is subject to an opacity limit in the NESHAP
that only applies during performance testing. A fugitive dust plan is
required to minimize fugitive dust emissions. Subpart QQQ also
establishes requirements to demonstrate initial and continuous
compliance with all applicable emission limitations, work practice
standards, and operation and maintenance requirements. Annual
performance testing is required to demonstrate compliance with the PM
and opacity standards contained in the current NESHAP.
C. What is the history of the Primary Copper Smelting Risk and
Technology Review?
On January 11, 2022, the EPA proposed the risk and technology
review required by CAA sections 112(d)(6) and 112(f)(2) for the NESHAP
for Copper Smelting (hereafter referred to as the ``2022 proposed
RTR'').\2\ Since the issuance of the 2022 proposed RTR, the EPA has
obtained additional information that impacts the decisions made for
certain amendments in the 2022 proposed RTR and that indicates there
are additional unregulated HAP for the source category. Therefore,
based on this new information, the EPA is proposing supplemental
amendments to the NESHAP to ensure that all emissions of HAP from
sources in the source category are regulated. Additionally, based on
this new information and as described in more detail in section III of
this preamble, we are proposing revised standards for certain
amendments that were initially included in the 2022 proposed RTR for
the copper smelting major source category.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ 87 FR 1616; January 11, 2022.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D. What was included in the 2022 proposed RTR affecting major sources
in the primary copper smelting source category?
Consistent with the statutory requirements described in section
II.A of this preamble, the 2022 proposed RTR included a risk review
pursuant to CAA section 112(f)(2) and a technology review pursuant to
CAA section 112(d)(6) for the major source category. Additionally, the
Agency reviewed available data to determine whether there were any
unregulated emissions of HAP within the source category and evaluated
the data for use in developing new emission standards.
As described in the 2022 proposed RTR, as part of the technology
review for the major source category, the EPA identified previously
unregulated processes and pollutants and proposed to regulate them
under CAA section 112(d)(2) and (3) for the major source NESHAP (40 CFR
part 63, subpart QQQ), as follows:
PM limits, as a surrogate for metal HAP, for anode
refining point sources at existing and new sources.
PM limits, as a surrogate for metal HAP, for process
fugitive emissions from roofline vents of smelting furnaces at existing
and new sources.
PM limits, as a surrogate for metal HAP, for process
fugitive emissions from converters at existing and new sources.
PM limits, as a surrogate for metal HAP, for process
fugitive emissions from roof vents at anode refining operations at
existing and new sources.
Mercury limits for any existing and new combination of
stacks or other vents from the copper concentrate dryers, converting
department, the anode refining department, and the smelting vessels
affected sources.
PM limits, as a surrogate for metal HAP, for new
converters.
The Agency also completed a review of residual risk for the source
category consistent with CAA section 112(f). Based on the results of
the risk review, the EPA proposed that risks from emissions of air
toxics from the major source category were unacceptable due to HAP
metal (primarily lead and arsenic) emissions. The largest contributor
to risk was the process fugitive emissions from roof vents at anode
refining operations (constituting about 71 percent of the MIR) followed
by the aisle scrubber (constituting about 23 percent of the MIR) at the
Freeport facility. In the 2022 proposed RTR, the EPA concluded that the
emission limits proposed under CAA section 112(d)(2) and (3) for the
process fugitive emissions from roof vents at anode refining operations
will require additional controls that are expected to provide enough
emissions reduction to reduce risks to an acceptable level; therefore,
they were also proposed pursuant to CAA section 112(f)(2). The Agency
also considered proposing additional control requirements for the aisle
scrubber as part of the Agency's ample margin of safety analysis. The
EPA did not propose any control requirements for the aisle scrubber in
the 2022 proposed RTR but did seek comment on its analysis (including
the costs, costs effectiveness, and risk reductions) and whether the
EPA should establish more stringent standards to reduce HAP metal
emissions from the aisle scrubber. Also, as part of the ample margin of
safety analysis, the EPA evaluated additional work practices to reduce
fugitive dust emissions, consistent with Asarco's current consent
decree. The Agency found that the implementation of a more robust
fugitive dust plan would result in an unquantified reduction of HAP, at
minimal cost for implementation, and therefore proposed this
requirement in the 2022 proposed RTR. In the 2022 proposed RTR, the EPA
proposed that the combination of the standards for anode refining roof
vents, fugitive dust plan and all other current standards in the NESHAP
would ensure the NESHAP provides an ample margin of safety to protect
public health.
The EPA did not identify developments in practices, processes, or
control technologies pursuant to CAA section 112(d)(6) to achieve
further emissions reductions beyond the controls and reductions
proposed under the risk review for major sources.
The EPA also proposed to remove exemptions for periods of startup,
shutdown, and malfunction (SSM) and specified that the emission
standards apply at all times and proposed a requirement for electronic
reporting of performance test results and notification of compliance
reports.
Of central relevance to this supplemental proposal are the proposed
emission limits for the process fugitive emissions from roof vents at
anode refining operations at new and existing sources; the mercury
limits for any existing and new combination of stacks or other vents
from the copper concentrate dryers, converting department, the anode
refining department, and the smelting vessels affected sources; the
potential control options for metal HAP at the aisle scrubber; and the
proposed MACT limits for additional unregulated HAP. As detailed in the
next section II.E of this preamble, the EPA has obtained additional
information relative to these processes and pollutants. As a result of
evaluating this new information, we are proposing both revised and new
requirements in this supplemental proposed rulemaking (compared to the
proposed requirements in the 2022 proposed RTR) for these processes and
pollutants. A detailed discussion is provided in section III of this
preamble, which covers what was proposed for these processes and
pollutants in the 2022 proposed RTR, the evaluation of new information,
and what we are proposing for these processes and pollutants in this
supplemental proposed rulemaking.
[[Page 47421]]
E. What data collection activities were conducted to support this
action?
The 2022 proposed RTR was published in the Federal Register on
January 11, 2022 (87 FR 1616). The initial 45-day comment period was
extended by 60 days and ended on April 26, 2022. During the comment
period, the EPA received public comments from industry, tribal nations,
two environmental groups, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
(ADEQ), and private citizens. Some of the comments on the proposed
rulemaking claimed that there are additional unregulated HAP from the
source category beyond those the EPA addressed in the 2022 proposed
RTR. In response to these public comments, the EPA issued a CAA section
114 information request to collect further information. The section 114
information request was sent to the Freeport facility only, as the
Asarco facility has been idled since October 2019. The section 114
information request was delivered to the Freeport facility on August
31, 2022. The key components of the response to the request included
the following:
Results of performance testing which was required to be
conducted in two phases. Initially, performance tests were conducted at
the vent fume and aisle scrubber stacks of the Freeport facility for
the following compounds: benzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, formaldehyde,
hexane, hydrogen fluoride, hydrochloric acid, toluene, total
hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons including naphthalene,
and dioxins and furans. For compounds that were detected at the vent
fume and aisle scrubber, additional performance testing and reporting
were required to be conducted at the acid plant tail gas stack. The
Agency did not request chlorine testing; however, chlorine test results
were included in respective test reports.
Data regarding the costs and feasibility of installing
additional controls for the aisle scrubber. This included the
evaluation of two options: (1) installing a wet electrostatic
precipitator (WESP) which would operate in series with the aisle
scrubber to provide further emissions reductions, and (2) installing a
baghouse which would control the secondary converter emissions before
they enter the aisle scrubber.
Detailed information regarding all input materials.
In addition to the information collected through the section 114
information request, the EPA also received information during and after
the public comment period of the 2022 proposed RTR. This additional
information included cost estimates for the control devices which would
be required by the emission limits proposed in the 2022 proposed RTR
(e.g., for mercury, lead and arsenic). It also included additional
performance testing results for the roofline vents, vent fume, aisle
scrubber, and acid plant. Finally, Freeport also voluntarily performed
an additional performance test for mercury in 2022 and submitted those
results to the EPA. The data collected and used in this action are
provided in the docket for this action.
Regarding the anode roofline vents, we received one additional
stack test that resulted in a small increase to the annual emissions of
lead, which we now estimate to be 4.47 tons/yr, relative to the
estimate in the 2022 proposed rule, which was 4.09 tons/yr. For
mercury, based on the additional mercury test, we now estimate mercury
emissions from point and non-point sources at the Freeport facility to
be 139 lb/yr, while the Asarco mercury emissions are unchanged from the
2022 Proposed RTR (10 lb/yr). Finally, we received two new stack tests
for the aisle scrubber at the Freeport facility, and based on these new
test data, the estimates of PM metals emissions from the aisle scrubber
are slightly lower compared to the 2022 proposed RTR, but only have a
small effect on the overall risk assessment results. Nevertheless, we
updated our risk analysis based on the additional data and concluded
that the new data would not change our proposed determination that risk
is unacceptable at baseline. We did not revise or redo the demographic
analysis. The 2022 risk assessment and demographics analyses conducted
for this action are available in the preamble of the 2022 proposed rule
(87 FR 1616; January 11, 2022) and associated technical documents cited
in that 2022 preamble. These documents can also be found in the docket
of this supplemental proposal. Aspects of the updated risk review are
summarized in sections III.C. and II.E of this preamble, and a more
detailed discussion is provided in section III.F of this preamble.
III. Analytical Results and Proposed Decisions
In this section, the EPA describes the analytical results and
proposed decisions for addressing the additional unregulated HAP for
the major source category. Additionally, this section discusses
analytical results and revised decisions for certain provisions of the
2022 proposed RTR. For more information regarding the types of
analytical procedures used and the types of information the EPA
evaluates for actions, see section III of the 2022 proposed rule (87 FR
1616; January 11, 2022). These revised decisions affect the proposed
emission limits for the process fugitive emissions from roof vents at
anode refining operations at new and existing sources; the mercury
limits for any existing and new combination of stacks or other vents
from the copper concentrate dryers, converting department, the anode
refining department, and the smelting vessels affected sources; and the
proposed regulatory options for the particulate metal HAP (e.g., lead,
arsenic) for the aisle scrubber at the Freeport facility. Finally, the
EPA is proposing amendments to address the use of bypass stacks for
major sources within the primary copper smelting category.
A. What are the results of our analyses of unregulated pollutants and
how did we establish the proposed MACT standards?
As mentioned in section II.E of this preamble, the EPA received
comments on the 2022 proposed RTR concerning unregulated HAP from the
major sources within the primary copper smelting category. In response,
the EPA issued a CAA section 114 information request to the Freeport
facility on August 31, 2022. The CAA section 114 information request
required performance testing in two phases. Initially, performance
testing was to be conducted for the required HAP at the vent fume and
aisle scrubber. The acid plant stack was required to be tested for a
required HAP only if the preliminary test results from the vent fume
stack demonstrated that the pollutant is emitted above detection levels
(ADL) for at least one sample run. Any pollutant that was not ADL at
the vent fume stack was not required to be tested at the acid plant
stack because it was assumed that the pollutant would not be detected
at the acid plant stack as well. A summary of the HAP tested, the EPA
test method, and the results by stack by detection classification
(e.g., ADL; below detection levels (BDL); detection level limited
(DLL)) are shown in Table 1. We note that while not required, the test
report for the vent fume and aisle scrubber included results for
chlorine. Complete copies of the stack test reports for the vent fume
and aisle scrubber as well as the acid plant are available in the
docket for this supplemental rule.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The vent fume and aisle scrubber test report was initially
submitted to the EPA on November 25, 2022. The EPA sent Freeport
several questions on the test report and Freeport submitted a
revised version of the test report on February 10, 2023. All
versions of the test report and related EPA correspondence are
available in the docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430.
[[Page 47422]]
Table 1--Summary of Unregulated HAP Performance Testing for the Major Source Copper Smelting Source Category in
2022-2023
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vent fume/aisle
HAP Test method scrubber Acid plant
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benzene.............................. EPA Method 18.......... DLL.................... BDL.
1,4-dichlorobenzene.................. EPA Method 18.......... BDL.................... Not tested.
Hexane............................... EPA Method 18.......... BDL.................... Not tested.
Toluene.............................. EPA Method 18.......... DLL.................... BDL.
Formaldehyde......................... EPA Method 320......... BDL.................... Not tested.
THC.................................. EPA Method 25A......... N/A.................... N/A.
HCl.................................. EPA Method 26A......... ADL.................... ADL.
Chlorine............................. EPA Method 26A......... ADL.................... Not tested.
Hydrogen Fluoride.................... EPA Method 26A......... BDL.................... Not tested.
PAH (including Naphthalene).......... EPA OTM 46............. DLL.................... DLL.
Dioxins and Furans................... EPA OTM 46............. DLL.................... DLL.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Revisions of Method 23 finalized March 20, 2023, is equivalent to OTM-46.
As described in more detail in the following sections III.A.1
through III.A.5 of this preamble, the EPA is proposing a source
category MACT emission limit pursuant to CAA section 112(d)(2) and (3)
for each unregulated HAP that was found to be emitted through these
performance tests. The EPA contemplated using the total hydrocarbons
(THC) results as a surrogate for some of the organics (e.g., benzene,
toluene) but has decided to not propose THC as a surrogate, since the
THC test was not conducted in accordance with all of the requirements
of the EPA test method.
The ``MACT floor'' for existing sources is calculated based on the
average performance of the best-performing units in each category or
subcategory and on a consideration of the variability of HAP emissions
from these units. The MACT floor for new sources is based on the single
best-performing source, with a similar consideration of variability.
The MACT floor for new sources cannot be less stringent than the
emissions performance that is achieved in practice by the best-
controlled similar source. Also as described in section II.E of this
preamble, the section 114 request was issued to the only currently
operating major source copper smelting facility, Freeport. Therefore,
the proposed MACT floor for existing and new sources will be determined
using these data (i.e., the proposed MACT emission limits are the same
for existing and new sources). To account for variability in the copper
smelting operations and resulting emissions, we calculated the MACT
floors using the 99 percent Upper Predictive Limit (UPL) using all
available stack test data.\4\ We are proposing MACT floor limits in
units of mass of emissions allowed per mass of concentrate feed (for
example, a proposed emissions limit of 0.0017 lbs of benzene per ton
concentrated ore fed).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ For more information regarding the general use of the UPL
and why it is appropriate for calculating MACT floors, see Use of
Upper Prediction Limit for Calculating MACT Floors (UPL Memo), which
is available in the docket for this action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The UPL approach addresses variability of emissions data from the
best-performing source or sources in setting MACT standards. The UPL
also accounts for uncertainty associated with emission values in a
dataset, which can be influenced by components such as the number of
samples available for developing MACT standards and the number of
samples that will be collected to assess compliance with the emission
limit. The UPL approach has been used in many environmental science
applications. As explained in more detail in the UPL Memo cited above,
the EPA uses the UPL approach to reasonably estimate the emissions
performance of the best-performing source or sources to establish MACT
floor standards.
Additionally, we reviewed the December 13, 2011, memorandum from
Peter Westlin and Ray Merrill titled Data and procedure for handling
below detection level data in analyzing various pollutant emissions
databases for MACT and RTR emissions limits (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2017-0015), which describes the procedure for handling BDL data and
developing representative detection level (RDL) data when setting MACT
emission limits. In accordance with these guidance documents, the
proposed new and existing UPL emission standards for each applicable
compound (i.e., benzene, toluene, HCl, chlorine, PAH (excluding
naphthalene), naphthalene, and D/F) were compared to the emission limit
value determined to be equivalent to 3 times the RDL (3xRDL) \5\ of the
test method. If the 3xRDL value was larger than the MACT Floor 99
percent UPL value, then the proposed MACT floor limit is proposed as
the 3xRDLvalue of the test method.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ The factor of three used in the 3xRDL calculation is based
on a scientifically accepted definition of level of quantitation--
simply stated, the level where a test method performs with
acceptable precision. The level of quantitation has been defined as
ten times the standard deviation of seven replicate analyses of a
sample at a concentration level close to the MDL units of the
emission standard is then compared to the MACT floor value to ensure
that the resulting emission limit is in a range that can be measured
with reasonable precision. In other words, if the 3xRDL value were
less than the calculated floor (e.g., calculated from the UPL), we
would conclude that measurement variability has been adequately
addressed; if it were greater than the calculated floor, we would
adjust the emissions limit to comport with the 3xRDL value to
address measurement variability.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Further information on the development of the 99 percent UPL and
3xRDL values for compounds for which emission standards are being
proposed is included in a memorandum entitled, Proposed Maximum
Achievable Control Technology (MACT) Floor Analysis for Unregulated HAP
for the Primary Copper Smelting Major Source Category which is
available in the docket for this rulemaking (Docket ID EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-
0430).
In addition, the EPA must examine more stringent BTF regulatory
options to determine MACT. Unlike the floor minimum stringency
requirements, the EPA must consider various impacts (such as costs and
cost effectiveness) of the more stringent regulatory options in
determining whether MACT standards should reflect beyond-the-floor
requirements. If the EPA concludes that the more stringent regulatory
options have unreasonable impacts, the EPA
[[Page 47423]]
selects the MACT floor as MACT. However, if the EPA concludes that
impacts associated with beyond-the-floor levels of control are
reasonable in light of additional emissions reductions achieved, the
EPA selects those BTF levels as MACT.
1. Benzene
The performance testing conducted at Freeport included the results
of stack testing for benzene using EPA Method 18. The proposed MACT
floor emissions limit was calculated by summing the emission rates from
the vent fume, aisle scrubber and acid plant combined, accounting for
variability using the 99 percent UPL. Using this approach, we
calculated a source category MACT floor emissions limit of 0.0017 lbs
benzene/ton concentrated ore fed for new and existing sources. Based on
the available data, the Agency concludes that both facilities in the
major source copper smelting source category would be able to meet the
MACT floor emissions limit with no additional controls.
We then evaluated and considered a BTF option to further reduce
emissions of benzene from new and existing sources. Based on the
available test data, the Agency estimates that the aisle scrubber is
the largest source of benzene emissions at Freeport, accounting for 87
percent of the total, with an estimated 414 lbs/yr of benzene
emissions. The BTF option for existing sources would require Freeport
to install and operate an activated carbon injection (ACI) system with
the existing air pollution control device (i.e., aisle scrubber). The
Agency estimates the ACI system would achieve approximately 60 percent
reduction of benzene from the aisle scrubber (i.e., 248 lbs/yr
reduction of benzene). The EPA estimates $0.6 million for capital
costs, and annualized costs are $2.7 million. This results in a cost
effectiveness of approximately $22 million per ton of benzene reduced.
We do not find costs associated with this BTF option to be reasonable
and are therefore not proposing a BTF emission limit for benzene.
Instead, we are proposing the source category MACT floor emissions
limit of 0.0017 lbs benzene/ton concentrated ore fed for new and
existing sources. A detailed description of the analysis of benzene
emissions, the controls necessary to reduce benzene emissions, and the
cost of these controls is included in the document, Estimated Cost for
Beyond-the-floor Controls for HAP Emissions from Primary Copper
Smelting Facilities, located in the docket (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2020-0430).
2. Toluene
The performance testing conducted at Freeport included the results
of stack testing for toluene using EPA Method 18. The proposed MACT
floor emissions limit was calculated by summing the emission rates from
the vent fume, aisle scrubber and acid plant combined, accounting for
variability using the 99 percent UPL. Using this approach, we
calculated a source category MACT floor emissions limit of 0.00084 lbs
toluene/ton concentrated ore fed for new and existing sources. Based on
the available data, the Agency concludes that both facilities in the
major source copper smelting source category would be able to meet the
MACT floor emissions limit with no additional controls.
We then evaluated and considered a BTF option to further reduce
emissions of toluene from new and existing sources. Based on the
available test data, the Agency estimates that the aisle scrubber is
the largest source of toluene emissions at Freeport, accounting for 66
percent of the total, with an estimated 187 lbs/yr of toluene
emissions. The BTF option for existing sources would require Freeport
to install and operate an ACI system with the existing air pollution
control device (i.e., aisle scrubber). The Agency estimates the ACI
system would achieve approximately 60 percent reduction of toluene from
the aisle scrubber (i.e., 112 lbs/yr reduction of toluene). The EPA
estimates $0.6 million for capital costs, and annualized costs are $2.7
million. This results in a cost effectiveness of approximately $48
million per ton of toluene reduced. We do not find costs associated
with this BTF option to be reasonable and are therefore not proposing a
BTF emission limit for toluene. Instead, we are proposing the source
category MACT floor emissions limit of 0.00084 lbs toluene/ton
concentrated ore fed for new and existing sources. A detailed
description of the analysis of toluene emissions, the controls
necessary to reduce toluene emissions, and the cost of these controls
is included in the document, Estimated Cost for Beyond-the-floor
Controls for HAP Emissions from Primary Copper Smelting Facilities,
located in the docket (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430).
3. HCl
The performance testing conducted at Freeport included the results
of stack testing for HCl using EPA Method 26A. The proposed MACT floor
emissions limit was calculated by summing the emission rates from the
vent fume, aisle scrubber and acid plant combined, accounting for
variability using the 99 percent UPL. The 99 percent UPL value HCl was
0.0013. The 3xRDL was found to be slightly larger, 0.0015 pounds per
ton (lb/ton) concentrated ore fed, so consistent with EPA guidelines,
we have determined that the 3xRDL value (0.0015 lb/ton) represents the
MACT floor emissions limit for new and existing sources. Based on the
available data, the Agency concludes that both facilities in the major
source copper smelting source category would be able to meet the
emissions limit with no additional controls.
We then evaluated and considered a BTF option to further reduce
emissions of HCl from new and existing sources. Based on the available
test data, the Agency estimates that the aisle scrubber is the largest
source of HCl emissions at Freeport, accounting for 55 percent of the
total, with an estimated 682 lbs/yr of HCl emissions. The BTF option
for existing sources would require Freeport to install and operate a
dry sorbent injection (DSI) system with the existing air pollution
control device (i.e., aisle scrubber). The Agency estimates the DSI
system would achieve approximately 98 percent reduction of HCl from the
aisle scrubber (i.e., 668 lbs/yr reduction of HCl). The EPA estimates
$0.6 million for capital costs, and annualized costs are $0.5 million.
This results in a cost effectiveness of approximately $1.5 million per
ton of HCl reduced. We do not find costs associated with this BTF
option to be reasonable and are therefore not proposing a BTF emission
limit for HCl. Instead, we are proposing the source category MACT floor
emissions limit of 0.0015 lb/ton concentrated ore fed for HCl for new
and existing sources. A detailed description of the analysis of HCl
emissions, the controls necessary to reduce HCl emissions, and the cost
of these controls is included in the document, Estimated Cost for
Beyond-the-floor Controls for HAP Emissions from Primary Copper
Smelting Facilities, located in the docket (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2020-0430).
4. Chlorine
The EPA did not require facilities to test for chlorine, however
the performance testing conducted at Freeport included the results of
stack testing for chlorine using EPA Method 26A. Because the acid plant
had no data for chlorine, a percentage was calculated from the ratio of
HCl to chlorine at the aisle scrubber and vent fume stack. The highest
average ratio was used to estimate the chlorine emissions for the acid
plant. The proposed MACT floor emissions limit was calculated by
summing the
[[Page 47424]]
emission rates from the vent fume and aisle scrubber and the estimated
emission rate from the acid plant, accounting for variability using the
99 percent UPL. Using this approach, we calculated a source category
MACT floor emissions limit of 0.0054 lbs chlorine/ton concentrated ore
fed for new and existing sources. Based on the available data, the
Agency concludes that both facilities in the major source copper
smelting source category would be able to meet the emissions limit with
no additional controls.
We then evaluated and considered a BTF option to further reduce
emissions of chlorine from new and existing sources. Based on the
available test data, the Agency estimates that the aisle scrubber is
the largest source of chlorine emissions at Freeport, accounting for 53
percent of the total, with an estimated 2,490 lbs/yr of chlorine
emissions. The BTF option for existing sources would require Freeport
to install and operate a DSI system with the existing air pollution
control device (i.e., aisle scrubber). The Agency estimates the DSI
system would achieve approximately 98 percent reduction of chlorine
from the aisle scrubber (i.e., 2,440 lbs/yr reduction of chlorine). The
EPA estimates $0.6 million for capital costs, and annualized costs are
$0.5 million. This results in a cost effectiveness of approximately
$0.4 million per ton of chlorine reduced. We do not find costs
associated with BTF options to be reasonable and are therefore not
proposing a BTF emission limit for chlorine. Instead, we are proposing
the source category MACT floor emissions limit of 0.0054 lbs chlorine/
ton concentrated ore fed for new and existing sources. A detailed
description of the analysis of chlorine emissions, the controls
necessary to reduce chlorine emissions, and the cost of these controls
is included in the document, Estimated Cost for Beyond-the-floor
Controls for HAP Emissions from Primary Copper Smelting Facilities,
located in the docket (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430).
5. PAH
The performance testing conducted at Freeport included the results
of stack testing for PAH using EPA OTM-46. EPA OTM-46 is nearly
identical to the updated EPA Method 23, for which revisions were
promulgated on March 20, 2023 (88 FR 16732). In reviewing the test
results, we found that approximately 70 percent of the PAH measured was
naphthalene; therefore, we are proposing a PAH MACT floor emissions
limit excluding naphthalene and a separate naphthalene MACT floor
emissions limit. These proposed MACT floor emissions limits were
calculated by summing the emission rates from the vent fume, aisle
scrubber and acid plant combined, accounting for variability using the
99 percent UPL. We are proposing a source category MACT floor emissions
limit for PAH excluding naphthalene of 0.0001 lbs PAH excluding
naphthalene/ton concentrated ore fed for new and existing sources. We
are proposing a source category MACT floor emissions limit for
naphthalene of 0.00028 lbs naphthalene/ton concentrated ore fed for new
and existing sources. Based on the available data, the Agency concludes
that both facilities in the major source copper smelting source
category would be able to meet these MACT floor emissions limits with
no additional controls.
We also evaluated and considered a BTF option to further reduce
emissions of PAH and naphthalene from new and existing sources. Based
on the available test data, the Agency estimates that the aisle
scrubber is the largest source of PAH and naphthalene emissions at
Freeport, accounting for 77 percent of the total, with an estimated 97
lbs/yr of PAH emissions. The BTF option for existing sources would
require Freeport to install and operate an ACI system with the existing
air pollution control device (i.e., aisle scrubber). The Agency
estimates the ACI system would achieve approximately 60 percent
reduction of PAH from the aisle scrubber (i.e., 58 lbs/yr reduction of
PAH). The EPA estimates $0.6 million for capital costs, and annualized
costs are $2.7 million. This results in a cost effectiveness of
approximately $92 million per ton of PAH reduced. We do not find costs
associated with BTF options to be reasonable and are therefore not
proposing a BTF emission limit for PAH. Because it was not cost
effective to propose further control of PAH, and since naphthalene is
one compound in this group, we conclude it is also not cost effective
to require BTF controls for naphthalene. Therefore, we are proposing
the MACT floor limits for PAHs and naphthalene described previously in
this section. A detailed description of the analysis of PAH emissions,
the controls necessary to reduce PAH emissions, and the cost of these
controls is included in the document, Estimated Cost for Beyond-the-
floor Controls for HAP Emissions from Primary Copper Smelting
Facilities, located in the docket (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430).
6. D/F
The performance testing conducted at Freeport included the results
of stack testing for congeners of D/F using EPA OTM-46. The proposed
MACT floor emissions limit was calculated by summing the emission rates
from the vent fume, aisle scrubber and acid plant combined, accounting
for variability using the 99 percent UPL. We are proposing a source
category MACT floor emissions limit of 60 nanograms D/F Toxic
Equivalent (TEQ)/Mg concentrated ore fed for new and existing sources.
Based on the available data, the Agency concludes that both facilities
in the major source copper smelting source category would be able to
meet the MACT floor emissions limit with no additional controls.
We also evaluated and considered a BTF option to further reduce
emissions of D/F from new and existing sources. Based on the available
test data, the Agency estimates that the aisle scrubber is the largest
source of D/F emissions at Freeport, accounting for 83 percent of the
total, with an estimated 0.04 grams/yr of D/F TEQ emissions. The BTF
option for existing sources would require Freeport to install and
operate an ACI system with the existing air pollution control device
(i.e., aisle scrubber). The Agency estimates the ACI system would
achieve approximately 85 percent reduction of D/F from the aisle
scrubber (i.e., 0.03 grams/yr reduction of D/F TEQ). The EPA estimates
$0.6 million for capital costs, and annualized costs are $2.7 million.
This results in a cost effectiveness of approximately $83 million per
gram of D/F TEQ reduced. We do not find costs associated with the BTF
option to be reasonable and are therefore not proposing a BTF emission
limit for D/F. Therefore, we are proposing the MACT floor limit
described previously in this section. A detailed description of the
analysis of D/F emissions, the controls necessary to reduce D/F
emissions, and the cost of these controls is included in the document,
Estimated Cost for Beyond-the-floor Controls for HAP Emissions from
Primary Copper Smelting Facilities, located in the docket (Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430).
7. Summary of Proposed New and Existing Source Limits for Copper
Smelting
The proposed emission limits for new and existing sources in the
major source copper smelting source category are summarized in Table 2.
[[Page 47425]]
Table 2--Summary of Proposed New and Existing Source MACT Emission Limits for the Major Source Copper Smelting
Source Category
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Existing source New source
HAP -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Limit Unit of Measure (UOM) Limit UOM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benzene........................... 1.7E-03 lb/ton concentrated 1.7E-03 lb/ton concentrated
ore fed. ore fed.
Toluene........................... 8.4E-04 lb/ton concentrated 8.4E-04 lb/ton concentrated
ore fed. ore fed.
HCl............................... 1.5E-03 lb/ton concentrated 1.5E-03 lb/ton concentrated
ore fed. ore fed.
Chlorine.......................... 5.4E-03 lb/ton concentrated 5.4E-03 lb/ton concentrated
ore fed. ore fed.
PAH (excluding Naphthalene)....... 1.0E-04 lb/ton concentrated 1.0E-04 lb/ton concentrated
ore fed. ore fed.
Naphthalene....................... 2.8E-04 lb/ton concentrated 2.8E-04 lb/ton concentrated
ore fed. ore fed.
Dioxins and Furans................ 60 ng TEQ/Mg 60 ng TEQ/Mg
concentrated ore fed. concentrated ore
fed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. What performance testing, monitoring, and recordkeeping and
reporting are we proposing relative to the unregulated HAP emission
limits?
We are proposing, based on the new and existing source emissions
limits for copper smelting, that new sources demonstrate initial
compliance upon start-up, and existing sources demonstrate initial
compliance within 1 year after the promulgation of the final rule. We
are proposing that the initial performance tests to demonstrate
compliance with the MACT standards of Table 2 of this preamble are
conducted using the methods identified in Table 3.
Table 3--Summary of Proposed Test Methods
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollutant EPA method
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benzene................................... EPA Method 18.
Toluene................................... EPA Method 18.
HCl....................................... EPA Method 26A.
Chlorine.................................. EPA Method 26A.
PAH (excluding Naphthalene)............... EPA Method 23.
Naphthalene............................... EPA Method 23.
Dioxins and Furans........................ EPA Method 23.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additionally, we are proposing that subsequent performance testing
will be required every five years, using the methods identified in
Table 3.
Under this proposal, and consistent with existing requirements in
the Primary Copper Smelting NESHAP, a source owner will be required to
submit semiannual compliance summary reports which document both
compliance with the requirements of the Primary Copper Smelting NESHAP
and any deviations from compliance with any of those requirements.
Owners and operators would be required to maintain the records
specified by 40 CFR 63.10 and, in addition, would be required to
maintain records of all inspection and monitoring data, in accordance
with the Primary Copper Smelting NESHAP (40 CFR 63.1456).
We considered the possibility of proposing a fenceline monitoring
requirement. However, we determined that fenceline monitoring is not
appropriate for this source category primarily because the main
emissions of interest for this source category are process fugitive
emissions that are released from roofline vents that are at about 100
feet elevation (i.e., not ``ground level'' like the source categories
where we have required or proposed fenceline monitoring). Due to the
elevation of the fugitive release points, the emissions would pass over
the fenceline monitors and would not be effectively measured. In
addition, EPA has determined that there are effective technologies for
capturing these process fugitive emissions and routing them to control
devices, and is proposing to require the use of such approaches in this
rulemaking. Unlike many other source categories, it is also feasible to
measure the process fugitive emissions at these facilities. These
characteristics suggest that fenceline monitoring--which is typically
used to detect emissions that can be difficult to control or measure at
the points where they are emitted, and to identify the need for follow-
up investigation and corrective action--would have relatively limited
value in the context of this source category.
C. What revisions are we proposing specific to the emission limit for
process fugitive emissions from roof vents at the anode refining
operations from the 2022 proposed RTR?
As described in the 2022 proposed RTR, the current NESHAP does not
include standards for process fugitive emissions from the rooflines of
smelting furnaces, converters, or anode refining operations, except for
an opacity limit for converter roof vents that applies during testing.
During the development of the 2022 proposed RTR, the EPA determined
that risk for the major source category was unacceptable. One of the
main risk drivers was metal HAP emissions (mainly lead and arsenic)
from the anode refining roofline at the Freeport facility, which
comprised 71 percent of the MIR. Therefore, in the 2022 proposed RTR,
pursuant to CAA sections 112(d)(2) and (3) for new and existing major
sources, PM limits were proposed for process fugitive emissions from
the rooflines of the converters and smelting furnaces. Pursuant to CAA
sections 112(d)(2), (d)(3), and (f)(2) PM limits were proposed for
process fugitive emissions for new and existing major sources' anode
refining operations roofline vents.
In the 2022 proposed RTR for converter and smelting furnace
rooflines, we developed MACT floor emissions limits for PM, as a
surrogate for particulate HAP metals, which include antimony, arsenic,
beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, manganese, nickel, and
selenium compounds, based on the available test data. The use of PM as
a surrogate for particulate metal HAP is consistent with the approach
used to limit particulate metal HAP emissions from other copper
smelting processes in the current NESHAP and for many other source
categories (i.e., Ferroalloys Production, Integrated Iron and Steel
Manufacturing, and Integrated Iron and Steel Foundries). The data used
in the MACT floor emission limit development was from the Freeport
facility. The Agency used the UPL methodology to develop the emission
limits. The development of the MACT floor limits included in the 2022
proposed RTR is described in detail in the memorandum entitled, Draft
MACT Floor Analyses for the Primary Copper Smelting Source Category
(Docket Item No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430-0055), which is available in the
docket. Based on these analyses, the proposed MACT floor emission
limits included in the 2022 proposed RTR were 1.7 pounds per hour (lbs/
hr) PM for process fugitive emissions for existing and new converter
rooflines and 4.3 lbs/hr PM for existing and new smelting furnace
rooflines. We also evaluated BTF PM limits for smelting furnace and
[[Page 47426]]
converter rooflines based on the potential addition of capture and
control equipment designed to achieve approximately 90 percent
reduction in process fugitive emissions. Based on the results of these
analyses, the Agency did not propose BTF limits in the 2022 proposed
RTR for converters or smelting furnaces because of the high costs and
poor cost effectiveness and uncertainties in the estimates of
emissions, emissions reductions and costs. Further details of these BTF
analyses included in the 2022 proposed RTR are provided in the
technical memo, Evaluation of Beyond-the-floor and Ample Margin of
Safety Control Options and Costs for Process Fugitive Emissions from
Smelting Furnaces and Converters, and for Point Source Emissions from
Anode Refining Furnaces and for the Combined Emissions Stream Emitted
from the Freeport Aisle Scrubber (Docket Item No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430-
0060).
In the 2022 proposed RTR for the roofline vents of anode refining
operations, we initially developed a MACT floor emissions PM limit of
15.2 lbs/hr using the available test data and application of the UPL
methodology. For this standard, PM also serves as a surrogate for
particulate metal HAP similar to the other PM limits in the NESHAP.
Subsequently, we evaluated a BTF emission limit for the anode refining
operation roofline vents. The BTF emission limit was set at 90 percent
lower than the MACT floor, or 1.6 lb PM/hr. As described in the 2022
proposed RTR, in order to comply with the proposed anode refining
operation BTF limit, the EPA expected that Freeport would need to
install improved capture systems, including hoods, ductwork, and fans,
and one additional baghouse. These improved capture systems would need
to be applied to four units including the two-anode refining furnace
pouring operations, the anode casting wheel, and the holding vessel. In
the January 2022 proposed RTR, we estimated a total capital cost of
$5,887,000 (2019 dollars), a total O&M cost of $1,002,000 (2019
dollars) and total annualized costs of $1,558,000 (2019 dollars). The
expected emission reductions were 4.25 tpy of lead and arsenic. The
resulting cost effectiveness was $367,000/ton (2019 dollars). We
concluded that this option was cost effective and proposed the BTF PM
emission limit for the anode refining roofline vents. The same emission
limit proposed pursuant to CAA 112(d)(2) and (3) for the anode refining
operation roofline vent was also proposed to reduce risks to an
acceptable level pursuant to CAA section 112(f)(2). Further information
on the development of the proposed emission limit and the related cost
estimates for control equipment are included in the record for the 2022
proposed RTR in the memorandums entitled, Draft MACT Floor Analyses for
the Primary Copper Smelting Source Category (Docket Item No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2020-0430-0055) and Development of Estimated Costs for Enhanced
Capture and Control of Process Fugitive Emissions form from Anode
Refining Operations at Freeport (Docket Item No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430-
0061).
During the public comment period for the 2022 proposed RTR, the EPA
received comments from industry stakeholders that a combined limit
would be preferred over individual limits. Commenters noted several
reasons for this:
Increased flexibility with respect to compliance options
resulting in lower costs to comply;
Lack of physical separation between departments and
potential for emissions transfer; and
Variability of department-specific emissions driven by the
type of material being processed rather than by lack of emissions
prevention measures.
The Freeport facility also provided additional test data for the
roofline vents for all three process areas in Appendices H1 and H2 of
their public comment letter (Docket Item No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430-
0134). In reviewing these additional test data, we note that for
completeness they should be included in the calculation of emission
limits for these emission sources.
In their comment letter, Freeport noted that the emission rates
from the test data underlying the MACT floor emission limits from each
smelter (electric and ISASMELT) should be added together rather than
averaged since they are two distinct emission points. In reviewing the
test data, we agree that the emission rates for the smelters should be
added rather than averaged. This change is incorporated in our revised
analyses included in this supplemental proposal for these emission
sources.
In response to the comments the EPA received on combining the three
proposed roofline emission limits (i.e., from the smelters, converters,
and anode refining rooflines) into a single combined emission limit, we
performed an evaluation of the approach used in the 2022 proposed RTR
and an evaluation of combining the emissions data to develop the
emissions limit. The evaluations use all test data now available and
incorporate the change to the processing of the smelter test data
(i.e., adding the emission rates from each smelter rather than
averaging them). Our evaluation of separate emission limits for
filterable PM from the converter, smelter, and anode refining rooflines
using the methodology in the 2022 proposed RTR, results in PM MACT
floor emission limits of 2.4 lbs/hr for the converter roofline and 5.7
lbs/hr for the smelting roofline, and a BTF emission limit (assuming 90
percent control) of 1.6 lbs/hr for the anode refining roofline.
We also evaluated the development of a combined emission limit for
all the rooflines. This new emission limit is also calculated using the
99 percent UPL methodology. Specifically, for calculating the combined
emission limit, we first determined the 99 percent UPL of the combined
emission rates based on all test data now available for filterable PM.
We then determined the average fraction of emissions which are
attributable to the anode refining roof vent (72 percent). Then we
adjusted the anode refining roof vent's portion of the 99 percent UPL
by reducing that portion of the value by 90 percent. This results in a
combined filterable PM emission limit of 6.3 lbs/hr. We note that this
emission limit is still expected to require 90 percent control of the
anode refining roofline vent at the Freeport facility, and we expect
the Freeport facility will still have to apply controls at this
emission source. Therefore, despite the emission limit changing in
format (i.e., becoming a single limit as opposed to three separate
limits), we expect slightly higher emission reductions (i.e., 4.59 tpy
of lead and arsenic). While we expect the Freeport facility will need
to apply some control of the anode refining source, a combined limit
would provide the facility with options to determine which source or
combination of sources to control and to what level to achieve the
overall needed emission reductions to comply with the combined emission
limit. Because the option is expected to provide the same emission
reductions as separate emission limits while also providing some
flexibility for subject facilities, we are proposing a single combined
emission limit for the converter, smelting, and anode refining roofline
vents in this supplemental proposed rulemaking. Further information on
our evaluation of separate and combined emission limits using all test
data are available in the memorandum entitled Revised MACT Floor
Analysis for the Fugitive Process Emission Sources in the docket for
this
[[Page 47427]]
rulemaking (Docket ID EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430).
The EPA also received comments from the Freeport facility
concerning its cost estimates for the anode refining process fugitive
roofline emissions controls. In their public comment letter on the 2022
proposed RTR, the Freeport facility suggested that the EPA had
underestimated costs for controlling the anode refining operations'
process fugitive emissions. They provided their own cost assessment
data in Attachment F of their comment letter (Docket Item No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2020-0430-0134).
After evaluating the comment letter and associated documents
provided by Freeport, we determined that it is appropriate to update
certain data input parameters in the cost estimates to reflect design
requirements at the Freeport facility primarily by increasing the
baghouse flowrate, lowering the air to cloth ratio, and adding a lime
injection system to treat any acid gases in the exhaust stream.
Additionally, the cost estimates have been updated to reflect 2022
dollars and using an updated bank prime interest rate. The Agency now
estimates that the BTF standard for the process fugitive emissions from
the roofline at the Freeport facility would have capital costs of
$10,239,666 and annualized costs of $2,143,972 and achieve about 4.59
tpy reduction of lead and arsenic, with cost effectiveness of $467,000/
ton lead and arsenic, which is a level that, while higher than the cost
effectiveness in the 2022 proposed RTR, we consider to be cost
effective for these pollutants. Further information on our revised cost
estimates can be found in the memorandum entitled, Cost Estimates for
Enhanced Capture and Control of Process Fugitive Emissions from the
Anode Refining Operations at Freeport in the docket for this rulemaking
(Docket ID EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430). As described above, we are
maintaining a proposed BTF emission limit for the roof vents in this
supplemental proposal because it is cost effective and feasible to
achieve. We also note that this BTF limit would ensure that risks are
acceptable. We estimate that this BTF limit would reduce the cancer MIR
near Freeport from 70-in-1 million to 20-in-1 million, ensure 3-month
rolling average ambient lead concentrations remain well below the lead
NAAQS near Freeport, and reduce the maximum noncancer acute HQ (for
arsenic) from 7 to 2. Furthermore, this BTF limit would reduce the
number of people with an estimated increased risk of cancer of greater
than or equal to 1-in-1 million from 22,900 people (at baseline) to
17,400 (post-control) and decrease the estimated cancer incidence from
0.002 cases per year to 0.001 cases per year. The cancer MIR for Asarco
would remain at 60-in-1 million.
Consistent with the analysis provided in the 2022 proposed RTR, we
expect the costs for the other major source copper smelting facility,
Asarco, to be limited to emissions compliance testing and recordkeeping
and reporting requirements. Also, consistent with the analysis provided
in the 2022 proposed RTR, the EPA estimates the costs for the Asarco
facility are $107,581 per year (after adjusting to 2022 dollars) to
comply with the proposed testing and recordkeeping and reporting
requirements for process fugitive lead emissions from its three
roofline vents (i.e., for the anode, converter, and smelting furnace
rooflines). While we are proposing a combined roofline emissions limit
in this supplemental proposal, instead of separate limits for each
department, we expect the testing costs to remain the same as those
estimated in the 2022 proposed RTR since all three sources will have to
be tested to compare to the proposed combined emission limit included
in this supplemental proposal. This estimate is based on the EPA's
experience and knowledge of typical costs associated with these types
of testing requirements. We also note that the Freeport facility
already performs the emissions testing that is required by the
emissions limit in this supplemental proposal, thus this proposed rule
does not impose any additional costs related to emissions testing and
recordkeeping and reporting on the Freeport facility because these
costs would be incurred in the absence of the supplemental proposed
rule.
We are proposing that existing facilities would need to comply
within two years after promulgation of the final rule and that
compliance would be demonstrated through an initial performance test
followed by a compliance test once per year. Moreover, facilities would
need to monitor control parameters (e.g., fan speed, amperage, pressure
drops, and/or damper positioning), as applicable, on a continuous basis
to ensure the control systems are working properly. All new or
reconstructed facilities must comply with all requirements in the final
rule upon startup.
D. What revisions are we proposing specific to the emission limit for
mercury from the 2022 proposed RTR?
As described in the 2022 proposed RTR, the current NESHAP does not
include standards for mercury. Using the test data available during the
development of the 2022 proposed RTR, the source category was estimated
to emit 55 pounds per year of mercury with 45 pounds per year emitted
from the Freeport facility. Because of the temperatures of the exhaust
gas streams encountered at primary copper smelting operations, much of
the mercury emitted is in vapor form, not in particulate form. The
vapor form of mercury is not captured by the controls used to reduce PM
emission. Therefore, the PM limits in the NESHAP do not serve as a
surrogate for mercury. Therefore, in the 2022 proposed RTR, pursuant to
CAA sections 112(d)(2) and (3) for new and existing major sources,
mercury limits were proposed. In the 2022 proposed RTR, the Agency used
the available test data from Asarco and Freeport to develop the mercury
standards for new and existing sources (details can be found in Draft
MACT Floor Analyses for the Primary Copper Smelting Source Category
(Docket Item No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430-0055)).
In the 2022 proposed RTR, the new source standard was based on the
best performer, Asarco. The Agency evaluated proposing a BTF emission
standard for new sources based on Asarco data in the 2022 proposed RTR
but rejected this option based on the cost effectiveness, uncertainty
in the quantity of emission reductions, and the fact that the new
source MACT floor standard is significantly lower than the limit for
existing sources. The proposed emission standard for new sources in the
2022 proposed RTR was 0.00097 lbs/hr. The Agency has not received any
new information relative to the new source standard included in the
2022 proposed RTR and, therefore, maintains this proposed MACT floor
emission limit for new sources.
In the 2022 proposed RTR, the MACT floor emissions limit for
existing sources was calculated based on the average of all the
emissions tests from both facilities, accounting for variability using
the 99 percent UPL. A MACT floor based on the 99 percent UPL for the
combined facility-wide sources was 0.01 lbs/hr. The Agency also
evaluated a BTF emission standard for existing sources, a value of
0.0043 lbs/hr. The BTF standard was based on the addition of controls
at the Freeport facility's acid plant which was identified as the
largest source of mercury emissions at the Freeport facility using data
available at the time. The additional controls were expected to include
the installation of a polishing baghouse with activated carbon
injection. The expected emission reductions were 26 lb/yr, based on 90
percent control of the emissions from Freeport's acid plant. The
estimated
[[Page 47428]]
capital costs for the polishing baghouse with activated carbon
injection were $1.5 million (2019 dollars), and the estimated
annualized costs were $714,000 (2019 dollars), for a cost effectiveness
of $27,500 (2019 dollars) per pound of mercury reduced. In the 2022
proposed RTR, the Agency proposed the BTF standard of 0.0043 lbs/hr for
existing sources. The development of this beyond-the-floor limit is
described in detail in the memorandum entitled, Estimated Costs for
Beyond-the-floor Controls for Mercury Emissions from Primary Copper
Smelting Facilities (Docket Item No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430-0059).
Since the 2022 proposed RTR, the EPA received comments on the
proposed existing source mercury standard and new information from the
Freeport facility through the CAA section 114 information request
described in II.E of this preamble. Freeport provided additional
mercury performance test reports with results for the vent fume, aisle
scrubber and acid plant covering calendar years 2019-2021. The Freeport
facility noted that these test reports used a variation of EPA Method
29 that may result in mercury emissions measurements that are biased
low. These mercury tests conducted in 2019-21 were not done according
to the EPA method. The facility voluntarily completed an additional
mercury performance test at the vent fume, aisle scrubber, and acid
plant in 2022 which fully followed EPA Method 29. These test reports
are available in the docket for this rulemaking (Docket ID EPA-HQ-OAR-
2020-0430).
In their public comment letter, Freeport provided comments
specifically on controlling emissions from the acid plant. The facility
questioned the technical feasibility of these controls, stating that
they are unaware of a polishing baghouse with ACI operating downstream
of a wet scrubber on an acid plant. They explained that the conditions
of the acid plant exhaust streams are unsuited for ACI since the stream
has a high moisture content, low mercury concentrations, and high
concentrations of SO2/SO3 which inhibit mercury
removal.
Freeport argued that even if it was technically feasible, the EPA
had underestimated costs and overstated reductions. Freeport submitted
their own cost estimates for ACI plus a polishing baghouse on the acid
plant as part of their comment letter on the 2022 proposed RTR (see
Attachment I of Docket Item No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430-0134). The
facility subsequently revised and resubmitted their evaluation of the
baghouse with activated carbon injection control option for the acid
plant to the EPA on March 12, 2023 (Docket ID EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430). In
this evaluation, the Freeport facility estimated the emission
reductions of mercury to be between 50 and 75 percent using a polishing
baghouse with ACI, or about 15 to 22 lbs of mercury. The cost estimate
from Freeport provided capital costs of $16.4M, annualized costs of
$4.4 million and a cost effectiveness of about $169,000 per pound.
The EPA has performed a review of all available mercury test data
from Freeport and the cost estimate provided by Freeport. In reviewing
the test data, we decided that only the test which was fully compliant
with EPA Method 29 should be used to calculate emission limits and to
estimate the quantity of potential emissions reductions. Using the data
from this test report, the point and non-point source emissions from
Freeport are estimated to be 139 lbs/yr which, when combined with the
test report from Asarco which indicates that 10 lbs/yr are estimated to
be emitted from that facility, results in an estimated total of 149
lbs/yr mercury emitted from the source category. In Freeport's 2022
mercury test which complied fully with EPA Method 29, the emissions
were more evenly distributed between the three stacks at the facility
with an estimated 45 lbs/yr from the vent fume stack, an estimated 49.3
lbs/yr estimated from the aisle scrubber and an estimated 38.5 lbs/yr
from the acid plant.
Using the 2022 mercury test from Freeport and the performance test
from Asarco, we calculated the MACT floor limit for existing sources by
averaging all the test results from both facilities, accounting for
variability using the 99 percent UPL. A MACT floor based on the 99
percent UPL for the combined facility-wide limit for existing sources
is 0.033 lbs/hr. Based on the available data, we conclude that both
facilities would be able to meet the MACT floor limit with no
additional controls. For new sources, we are maintaining the MACT floor
limit of 0.00097 lbs/hr provided in the 2022 proposed RTR which was
based on data from the best performer, Asarco. We have no new data with
which to update this value. A detailed analysis and documentation of
the revised MACT floor calculations for existing sources can be found
in the technical document, Revised MACT Floor Analysis for Mercury,
available in the docket (Docket ID EPA-HQ-2020-0430).
As discussed previously, the Freeport facility submitted comments
indicating several technical reasons that control of mercury from the
acid plant would be difficult. In reviewing the 2022 mercury test from
Freeport, we find that the mercury emissions were distributed more
evenly among the facility's three stacks when compared to the other
test reports which included mercury from 2018-2021. We have evaluated
the technical aspects of Freeport's comment letter regarding mercury
control from the acid plant and agree characteristics of the exhaust
stream and equipment configuration may inhibit mercury control (e.g.,
moisture content, acid gas content, mercury concentration). Considering
this, and the emissions distribution from the 2022 mercury test, we
examined other control options to determine whether there is a more
technically suitable and cost-effective option for controlling mercury
emissions at Freeport. When reviewing the stack characteristics, we
find that the aisle scrubber has a high flowrate, typically in excess
of one million cubic feet per minute, and a very similar quantity of
mercury emissions compared to the other two stacks based on the 2022
test. The aisle scrubber also combines streams which are currently
uncontrolled (i.e., secondary converter) with streams that are
controlled (i.e., primary anode refining baghouse emissions). On the
other hand, the vent fume stack handles emissions from the secondary
capture system for the furnaces and has a lower flowrate than the aisle
scrubber. Often, a higher flowrate and the complexity of combining
multiple streams increase control costs. When evaluating beyond-the-
floor options for controlling mercury, we estimated costs and emissions
reductions for controlling the vent fume exhaust stream because we
expect the more simplistic exhaust stream configuration, lower
flowrate, and similar quantity of expected reductions to be more
favorable for controlling mercury than the aisle scrubber. For the BTF
option, we estimated costs and emissions reductions associated with a
baghouse with lime injection and activated carbon injection with an
expected control efficiency of 90 percent for mercury from the vent
fume. The estimated reduction would be 40.5 lbs of mercury from the
vent fume stack. The overall reduction of mercury emissions that would
occur from the Freeport facility with this BTF option is estimated to
be 30 percent (i.e., the facility-wide total emissions of 139 lbs
mercury would be reduced by 40.5 lbs mercury). The capital costs of the
baghouse with lime injection and activated carbon injection
[[Page 47429]]
are estimated to be $6.04M, with annualized costs of $1.91M and a cost
effectiveness of $47,000/lb mercury reduced. We do not find costs
associated with the BTF option to be reasonable and are therefore not
proposing a BTF emission limit for existing sources for mercury. We
also considered other BTF options, but all other options were less cost
effective than the option presented in this section. The EPA is
requesting comment on the BTF options evaluated for mercury and whether
the EPA should determine in this case that $47,000/lb mercury is cost-
effective for mercury control and include a BTF limit in the final
rule. A detailed description of the BTF analysis of mercury emissions,
the controls necessary to reduce mercury emissions, and the cost of
these BTF controls are included in the document, Estimated Cost for
Beyond-the-floor Controls for Mercury Emissions from Primary Copper
Smelting Facilities, located in the docket (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2020-0430). Since we have not identified a cost-effective BTF option,
we are proposing the MACT floor limit for the combined facility-wide
limit for mercury of 0.033 lbs/hr for existing sources.
The EPA is proposing that compliance with the mercury emissions
limits for existing sources will be demonstrated through an initial
compliance test for each of the affected sources (e.g., furnaces,
converters, anode refining) within 1 year of publication of the rule
followed by a compliance test at least once every year. We estimate
that Freeport and Asarco will incur performance testing costs for
mercury of $49,940 per facility per year. For newly affected
facilities, compliance is to be achieved no later than the effective
date of the final rule or upon startup, whichever is later.
E. What emissions standards are we proposing for the Aisle Scrubber in
this supplemental proposed rule that are different than decisions
proposed in the 2022 proposed RTR?
As discussed in the preamble of the 2022 proposed RTR, we proposed
that the risks for the major source category were unacceptable. The EPA
identified controls to reduce risk to an acceptable level, which were
proposed to be achieved by controlling the anode refining roofline
vents (as described in section III.C. of this preamble). Then, the EPA
considered whether additional measures were required to provide an
ample margin of safety to protect public health. An aisle scrubber
located at one of the two major source facilities (Freeport) was
estimated to emit 9.2 tpy metal HAP (mostly lead and arsenic) and was
identified as an emission source that contributed significantly to risk
at the Freeport facility (e.g., 23 percent of the cancer MIR).
Therefore, the EPA evaluated the cost, the emissions reductions and
risk reductions that could be achieved by additional controls for the
aisle scrubber as part of the ample margin of safety analysis.
Specifically. In the 2022 proposed RTR the EPA evaluated the cost
and emission reductions of adding a WESP to the combined emissions
stream from the aisle scrubber. The evaluation is described in the
memorandum entitled Evaluation of Beyond-the-floor and Ample Margin of
Safety Control Options and Costs for Process Fugitive Emissions from
Smelting Furnaces and Converters, and for Point Source Emissions from
Anode Refining Furnaces and for the Combined Emissions Stream Emitted
from the Freeport Aisle Scrubber--REVISED (Docket Item No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
0430-0108). Based on the analysis included in the 2022 Proposed RTR,
the estimated capital costs were $67 million (2019 dollars), and the
estimated annualized costs were $17 million (2019 dollars). The
associated emissions reduction achieved were estimated to be 8.7 tpy
total metal HAP of which 7.6 tpy were estimated to be lead and arsenic
resulting in a cost effectiveness of $2 million/ton (2019 dollars).
The aisle scrubber at the Freeport facility is used to control the
combined secondary emissions from the converter plus the emissions
exiting the baghouse used to control primary anode refining point
source emissions. Currently, there are emission limits for secondary
capture systems from existing converter departments in 40 CFR
63.1444(d)(6). Furthermore, the EPA proposed emissions limits for new
and existing anode refining departments in the 2022 proposed RTR (i.e.,
proposed limits for 40 CFR 63.1444(i)(1)). In this supplemental
proposal, the EPA is co-proposing regulatory options for additional
control of either the secondary capture system for the converter
department or additional control of the combined emissions stream of
the secondary capture system for the converter department and the point
source emissions from the anode refining department. These control
options would result in more stringent emissions standards for these
emission sources than what is currently required by the Primary Copper
Smelting NESHAP as discussed more below. These standards are being
proposed as technology developments pursuant to CAA section 112(d)(6)
and to provide an ample margin of safety to protect public health
pursuant to CAA section 112(f)(2).
In order to best inform these options for additional controls,
after the January 2022 proposal the EPA issued a CAA section 114
information request to the Freeport facility as described in section
II.E of this preamble. The CAA section 114 information request
requested that Freeport perform a feasibility analysis of whether
Freeport could further reduce the HAP metal emissions either from the
secondary capture system for the converter department or from the
combined emissions stream entering the aisle scrubber (i.e., the
emissions stream from the secondary capture system for the converter
department and the anode refining department).
The Freeport facility subsequently provided the EPA with an
evaluation of control options for the aisle scrubber, including:
Option 1--Addition of a WESP downstream of the aisle
scrubber to provide additional control of the combined emissions stream
from the secondary capture system for the converter department and the
anode refining department (i.e., the same option evaluated by the EPA
in the ample margin of safety analysis included in the January 2022
proposal);
Option 2--Addition of a baghouse upstream of the aisle
scrubber to provide additional control of the secondary capture system
for the converter department.
The Freeport facility regularly conducts performance testing of its
aisle scrubber for filterable PM and metals. The EPA has obtained
copies of the performance test results from 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and
2022 for the aisle scrubber, which are available in the docket for this
rulemaking (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430). We used these
performance tests to estimate the baseline emissions and subsequently
estimate the quantity of emissions reductions for the options for
controlling the aisle scrubber at the Freeport facility. Using these
test data, we now estimate the annual emissions of metal HAP to be 6.63
tpy, of which more than 90 percent is lead and arsenic, on average. We
also used the test reports to inform the development of potential
emissions standards. Initially we developed a limit that represents
current emissions from the aisle scrubber, accounting for variability
using the 99 percent UPL. The resulting limit based on the 99 percent
UPL for the combined emissions stream from the secondary capture system
for the converter department and the anode refining department is 7.48
milligram
[[Page 47430]]
per dry cubic standard meter (mg/dscm). This UPL served as the baseline
for the development of the two control options described in this
section. A detailed discussion of the option-specific control
equipment, expected emission reductions, associated emissions standard,
and control costs are described in the following paragraphs.
For Option 1, as described previously, the WESP would be located
downstream of the aisle scrubber and therefore further control the
combined emissions stream from the secondary capture system for the
converter department and the anode refining department. The expected
control efficiency for the WESP is 95 percent, thus expected emission
reductions from this option are 95 percent of the baseline emissions
(6.63 tpy metal HAP) or 6.3 tpy metal HAP. The EPA updated the expected
flowrate for the WESP in its cost estimates from the value used in the
cost estimate we provided in the 2022 proposed RTR based on comments
from Freeport. We also updated the cost estimate to reflect 2022
dollars and updated the bank prime interest rate. Based on our
analysis, the estimated capital costs for the WESP are $98.5 million,
the annualized costs are $25.2 million, and estimated reductions are
6.3 tpy reduction of metal HAP, with cost effectiveness of $4.0
million/ton metal HAP. The emission limit for this option would be
0.374 mg/dscm, which is based on applying the expected control of 95
percent to the 99 percent UPL for the combined emissions stream from
the secondary capture system for the converter department and the anode
refining department.
As described in the previous section III.C. of this preamble, we
estimate the reductions of process fugitive emissions from the roof
vents would reduce the MIR at Freeport from 70-in-1 million to 20-in-1
million; reduce the number of people with cancer risk greater than 1-
in-1 million from 22,900 to 17,400; reduce ambient lead exposures below
the lead NAAQS; and reduce the maximum HQ (due to arsenic emissions)
from 7 to 2. We estimate that the proposed limit of 0.374 mg/dscm for
the aisle scrubber (option 1) would reduce the incremental cancer risk
of an additional 1,900 people below 1-in-1 million (from 17,400 to
15,500). Furthermore, the maximum acute HQ due to arsenic emissions
would be reduced from 2 to 1. Option 1 would result in a small
additional reduction in the MIR at Freeport, but after rounding up (to
1 significant figure) the MIR remains at 20-in-1 million. However, we
note that the estimated cancer MIR for the source category would be 60-
in-1 million, which is the maximum cancer risk near the Asarco
facility.
Option 2, as described previously, would require a baghouse
upstream of the aisle scrubber which would be designed to control the
secondary capture system for the converter department. Currently, the
uncontrolled emissions from the secondary capture system for the
converter department combine with the baghouse-controlled primary anode
refining point source emissions and route to the aisle scrubber. Unlike
the aisle scrubber which is routinely tested for particulate matter and
lead emissions, the secondary converter duct is not sampled at any
regular frequency. However, in an engineering evaluation submitted by
Freeport as part of the CAA section 114 information request in which
the converter duct was sampled, the facility explained that
approximately 75 percent of the emissions from the aisle scrubber are
attributable to the secondary capture system for the converter
department. Therefore, we estimate that average annual metal HAP
emissions from the secondary capture system for the converter
department are 4.97 tpy (75 percent of the estimated total average
annual metal HAP emissions from the aisle scrubber, which is 6.63 tpy).
To estimate the expected reductions from this option, we applied the
expected control efficiency of the baghouse (90 percent) to the
emissions which are estimated to be from the secondary capture system
for the converter department (4.97 tpy). This results in an estimated
emissions reduction of 4.5 tpy metal HAP from the aisle scrubber, which
is about a 68 percent reduction of emissions from the aisle scrubber.
We estimate these controls (i.e., baghouse) will have capital costs of
$37M, annualized costs of $6.2 million and achieve about a 4.5 tpy
reduction in metal HAP with cost effectiveness of $1.38 million/ton
metal HAP. The emission standard for this option was calculated by
first determining the fraction of the 99 percent UPL that is estimated
to be from the secondary capture system for the converter department,
5.61 mg/dscm, and then applying the expected control efficiency of the
baghouse (i.e., 90 percent) to determine the reduction in the emission
limit (5.09 mg/dscm). The resulting emissions limit under option 2
would be 2.43 mg/dscm for additional controls on the secondary capture
system for the converter department.
As described in the previous section III.C. of this preamble, we
estimate the reductions of process fugitive emissions from the roof
vents would reduce the MIR at Freeport from 70-in-1 million to 20-in-1
million; reduce the number of people with cancer risk greater than 1-
in-1 million from 22,900 to 17,400; reduce ambient lead exposures below
the lead NAAQS; and reduce the maximum HQ (due to arsenic emissions)
from 7 to 2. We estimate that the proposed limit of 2.43 mg/dscm (based
on addition of a baghouse on the secondary capture system for the
converter department--option 2) would reduce the incremental cancer
risk of an additional 700 people to below 1-in-1 million (from 17,400
to 16,700). Furthermore, the maximum acute HQ due to arsenic emissions
would be reduced from 2 to 1. Option 2 would also result in a small
additional reduction in the maximum cancer risk at Freeport, but after
rounding up (to 1 significant figure) the maximum risk would remain at
20-in-1 million. The estimated cancer MIR for the source category would
be 60-in-1 million, which is the maximum cancer risk near the Asarco
facility.
As discussed below, based on consideration and evaluation of both
options, the EPA is proposing both options pursuant to CAA section
112(d)(6) and CAA section 112(f). We propose that both options are
feasible, achieve significant reductions of the HAP metals and risk
reduction, and that the cost impacts are reasonable. Therefore, both
options represent cost-effective developments in control technology
pursuant to CAA section 112(d)(6) and ensure the NESHAP will provide an
ample margin of safety to protect public health pursuant to CAA section
112(f). We expect that the Asarco facility can comply with either
option without the need to install additional controls. We are
proposing that facilities would need to comply within two years after
promulgation of the final rule and that compliance would be
demonstrated through an initial performance test followed by a
compliance test once per year. Moreover, facilities would need to
monitor control parameters (e.g., fan speed, amperage, pressure drops,
and/or damper positioning), as applicable, on a continuous basis to
ensure the control systems are working properly.
Further information regarding our estimated control costs,
associated emission reductions, and estimated cost effectiveness can be
found in the memorandum entitled, Cost Estimates for Additional
Controls of Freeport's Aisle Scrubber which is available in the docket
for this rulemaking (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430). Further
information regarding the development of the proposed emission
standards for
[[Page 47431]]
each option can be found in the memorandum entitled, Emission Standard
Development for the Options to Provide Additional Controls for the
Secondary Capture System for the Converter Department and Anode
Refining Department which is available in the docket for this
rulemaking (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430).
The EPA is presenting both options (described in this section) in
this supplemental proposal as potential regulatory options that we may
finalize for this source category under CAA section 112(d)(6) and/or
CAA section 112(f) after consideration of public comments. Under CAA
section 112(d)(6) we propose that both options represent cost-effective
developments in control technology and that it is necessary to revise
the standards to reduce emissions from the aisle scrubber. In addition
to the controls described above, we note that in the 2022 RTR Proposed
Rule we also proposed a requirement that facilities develop and operate
according to a fugitive dust minimization plan, which would provide
some additional unquantified health protection. We are not proposing
any changes to that proposed fugitive dust minimization requirement in
this action.
Noting that in setting standards to provide ample margin of safety
to protect public health EPA strives to provide protection to the
greatest number of persons possible to an individual lifetime risk
level no higher than approximately 1-in-1 million (54 FR 38044;
September 14, 1989), and after considering the risk reduction achieved
under both options as well as the cost and feasibility of controls,
along with the fugitive dust plan, we propose that either option
provides an ample margin of safety to protect public health under CAA
section 112(f). We are seeking comments on the technical feasibility,
costs, expected emission reductions, and risk reductions achieved and
whether one option is preferable over the other and why.
F. What are the results of risk analyses completed for this action?
In the January 11, 2022, proposed amendments to the Primary Copper
Smelting RTR rule (87 FR 1616; January 11, 2022), the EPA conducted a
residual risk assessment and determined that risks from the primary
copper smelting source category were unacceptable due to HAP metal
(primarily lead and arsenic) emissions and proposed standards to reduce
risk to an acceptable level and provide an ample margin of safety to
protect public health. The risk analysis supporting the proposed rule
indicated exceedances of the lead NAAQS at the baseline (i.e., based on
current HAP emissions). That risk analysis also indicated that the
cancer risk for the individual most exposed could be up to 80-in-1
million based on actual emissions and up to 90-in-1 million based on
allowable emissions. In addition to the noncancer risk from lead, the
analysis also indicated a chronic HI of 1 due to arsenic and a maximum
acute HQ of 7 for arsenic (see Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430). Since
issuance of the proposal, the EPA has received new facility operation
and HAP emissions data from the Freeport facility through the public
comments and issuance of a 2022 CAA section 114 information request.
Detailed information on the new data is provided in the memorandum
Updated Stack/Emissions Data Collected for 2023 Primary Copper Smelting
Risk Review, which is available in the docket for this action (Docket
ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430).
Based on the updated stack and performance tests submitted by
Freeport as part of the section 114 request, we updated the baseline
risk assessment for this supplemental proposal. The new assessment
reflects emissions changes to the known risk drivers (arsenic and lead)
and a potential risk driver (mercury) at Freeport. Since this
supplemental proposal only reflects emissions changes for the Freeport
facility, we only updated the risk assessment for this facility.
Also, this supplemental proposal includes an updated control option
1 and a new control option 2 that affect the Freeport facility only, as
described in Table 4. Because of these changes, we conducted for this
supplemental proposal an updated assessment of post-control risk for
both of these emission control scenarios for Freeport. The risk results
for the Asarco facility have not changed since the 2022 proposal. The
details of the risk assessment for Asarco are described in the 2022
proposal Federal Register publication (87 FR 1616; January 11, 2022)
for details and the 2022 risk report, which is available in the docket
for this proposed rule.
Table 4--Comparison of the Primary Copper Smelting Baseline Inhalation Risk Assessment Results for Freeport With Post-Control Risk Estimates for Two
2023 Proposed Supplemental Control Options
[Estimated risks based on actual emissions]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Population at Maximum Max predicted
Maximum increased risk Annual cancer Maximum residential 3-month
Risk assessment scenario \1\ individual of cancer incidence chronic annual Pb modeled Pb Acute HQ (REL)
cancer risk [gteqt] 1-in- (cases per noncancer conc. (ug/ conc. (ug/ \5\
(in-1 million) 1 million year) TOSHI \2\ m\3\) \3\ m\3\)\4\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed Rule (original baseline)....... 80 (As) 24,400 0.002 1 (As) 0.12 0.17 (Pb) 7 (As)
Supplemental Proposal (revised baseline) 70 (As) 22,900 0.002 1 (As) 0.12 0.17 (Pb) 7 (As)
Supplemental Proposal Post-Control for 20 (As) 17,400 0.001 0.3 (As) 0.041 0.06 (Pb) 2 (As)
Anode Roofline.........................
Supplemental Proposal Post-Control 20 (As) 15,500 0.0006 0.3 (As) 0.026 0.04 (Pb) 1 (As)
Option 1 for Aisle Scrubber \6\........
Supplemental Proposal Post-Control 20 (As) 16,700 0.0006 0.3 (As) 0.028 0.04 (Pb) 1 (As)
Option 2 for Aisle Scrubber \7\........
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ All values provided in this table are based upon only arsenic and lead emissions from Freeport (Miami, AZ).
\2\ TOSHI value for developmental effects does not include contribution from lead.
\3\ The maximum annual concentration for lead is based upon the MIR location which is also the maximum off-site exposure location for Freeport.
\4\ The maximum predicted 3-month Pb (lead) conc based on actual emissions at the time of proposal was based on AERMOD modeling with LEAD_POST, while
the maximum predicted 3-month Pb conc for the supplemental proposal are based upon extrapolations of the HEM-4 annual Pb concentrations using the
annual and 3-month modeled results from proposal.
\5\ The HQ values are based upon the lowest 1-hour acute health benchmark, the reference exposure level (REL) for arsenic. Arsenic also has an AEGL-2
value (irreversible or escape-impairing effects) which resulted in a maximum HQ value of 0.0006 based upon actual emissions estimated in this
supplemental proposal.
\6\ Option 1 represents controls on anode roofline (described in section III.C of this preamble) +WESP on aisle scrubber (described in section III.E of
this preamble).
\7\ Option 2 represents controls on anode roofline (described in section III.C of this preamble) + baghouse upstream of aisle scrubber (described in
section III.E of this preamble).
[[Page 47432]]
The methodologies used for the updated baseline risk analysis are
described in section III.C. of the preamble to the January 11, 2022,
proposed rule National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants:
Primary Copper Smelting Residual Risk and Technology Review (87 FR
1616; January 11, 2022). We present the results of the updated baseline
risk analysis for Freeport and the analysis of the proposed control
options in Table 4 of this preamble (rows labeled ``Supplemental
Proposal Post-Control Option 1'' and ``Supplemental Proposal Post-
Control Option 2'') and in more detail in the document: Revised
Residual Risk Assessment for the Freeport Smelter (Miami, AZ) in
Support of the 2023 Supplemental Proposal for the Primary Copper
Smelting Source Category, available in the docket for this action
(Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430). For more detail on the proposed
control options, refer to sections III.C and III.E. of this preamble.
The updated baseline risk assessment did not result in a
significant change to the estimated cancer or non-cancer impacts at the
Freeport facility. The updated cancer MIR for Freeport changed from 80-
in-1 million to 70-in-1 million with cancer incidence remaining the
same at 0.002 excess cancer cases per year, or one excess case every
500 years. These results are summarized in Table 4 of this preamble.
The maximum individual cancer risk at Freeport is driven mostly by
process fugitive emissions of arsenic from the anode refining roofline
(about 70% of the MIR), and to a lesser degree the anode furnaces and
secondary converter point source emissions that are emitted through the
aisle scrubber (about 20% of the MIR). The arsenic emissions represent
more than 97 percent of the cancer risk at the MIR location for the
Freeport facility. The population exposed to excess cancer risks
greater than or equal to 1-in-1 million are approximately 23,000 people
for the baseline scenario. The chronic non-cancer risk remained the
same with an HI equal to 1, driven by arsenic exposure. The acute
noncancer risks from arsenic emissions remained the same with an HQ
(based on the Reference Exposure Level) of 7. More detail is provided
in the revised risk assessment document cited previously in this
section. When applying the acute exposure guideline levels-2 (AEGL-2)
value for arsenic for the supplemental proposal, the acute HQ results
in a HQ (AEGL-2) less than 1 (0.0006).
There was no change to the risk results for lead. The emissions
update resulted in the same estimated ambient annual concentration of
0.12 ug/m\3\. This concentration results in a maximum ambient
concentration of lead for 3-month intervals of 0.17 ug/m\3\ based on
actual emissions, which is the same result as in the 2022 proposal and
which still exceeds the lead NAAQS of 0.15 ug/m\3\.
Regarding multipathway risk, in the Primary Copper Smelting RTR
proposed rule (87 FR 1616; January 11, 2022), we concluded that there
was ``no significant potential for multipathway health effects.'' This
determination was based on applying site-specific multipathway
assessments conducted for other source categories with multipathway
Tier 2 and Tier 3 screening estimates for the Freeport facility. The
multipathway risk screening results for arsenic are now estimated to be
lower than presented in the 2022 proposal based upon the reduced
arsenic emissions in the revised baseline (described previously in this
section). The new stack test data for mercury provided by Freeport
resulted in an increase in emissions by a factor of 3, with annual
emissions increasing to 139 pounds per year. This increase in baseline
emissions would still result in an estimated mercury HQ less than 1
(0.2) for the fisher scenario.
Based on the results of the Updated Stack/Emissions Data Collected
for 2023 Primary Copper Smelting Risk Review, the EPA proposes that the
risks for this source category under the current MACT provisions remain
unacceptable. The updated risk analysis still indicates exceedances of
the lead NAAQS and a HI of 1 based on exposure to arsenic. The
noncancer risk from lead is not included in the cumulative noncancer HI
calculation. However, the health benchmarks for lead and arsenic are
based on adverse neurocognitive effects, and the two chemicals may have
combined effects on neurodevelopment. In addition, the updated risk
analysis indicates a maximum acute HQ of 7 for arsenic for the baseline
scenario. The risk analysis also indicates that the estimated
inhalation cancer risk to the individual most exposed is 70-in-1
million based on actual emissions, which is approaching the presumptive
level of unacceptability of 100-in-1 million.
The details of the risk assessment for allowable emissions for the
baseline have not changed since the 2022 proposed rule. The estimated
risks based on allowable emissions are described in the 2022 proposal
Federal Register publication (87 FR 1616; January 11, 2022), and the
2022 risk report, which is available in the docket for this proposed
rule.
With regard to the risk assessment we conducted for the updated
control option 1 (i.e., the BTF limit for process fugitive emissions
from roof vents discussed in section III.C of this preamble, plus a
WESP on the aisle scrubber described in section III.E of this preamble)
and the new control option 2 (i.e., the BTF limit for roof vents
discussed in section III.C of this preamble, plus a baghouse upstream
of the aisle scrubber described in section III.E of this preamble), we
estimate the controls from option 1 would reduce the maximum risk at
Freeport from 70-in-1 million to 20-in-1 million and would also reduce
the population with cancer risks greater than or equal to 1-in-1
million from 22,900 to 15,500 people. Cancer incidence would also
decrease from 0.002 to 0.0006, or from 1 excess cancer case every 500
years to every 1,600 years with additional reductions in potential
noncancer developmental risks from arsenic and lead emissions. The
maximum acute risk at public locations from arsenic emissions would
also be reduced from an HQ of 7 to 1. Both control options 1 and 2 (as
described in this section) would reduce the estimated maximum 3-month
lead concentration from 0.17 ug/m\3\ to 0.04 ug/m\3\. The expected
controls for option 2 (shown in Table 4 of this preamble) provide
almost the same level of risk reduction as option 1, except the post-
control population with cancer risks greater than or equal to 1-in-1
million is slightly higher at 16,700 people.
Refer to the document titled: Revised Residual Risk Assessment for
the Freeport Smelter (Miami, AZ) in Support of the 2023 Supplemental
Proposal for the Primary Copper Smelting Source Category, in the docket
for this rulemaking for more details regarding the updated risk
assessment.
G. What other actions are we proposing, and what is the rationale for
those actions?
In addition to the proposed actions described above, we are
proposing an additional revision to the NESHAP. We are proposing
revisions to the startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM) provisions of
the NESHAP in order to ensure that they are consistent with the
decision in Sierra Club v. EPA, 551 F. 3d 1019 (D.C. Cir. 2008), in
which the court vacated two provisions that exempted sources from the
requirement to comply with otherwise applicable CAA section 112(d)
emission standards during periods of SSM. Specifically, we are
proposing to prohibit the use of a bypass stack. We are proposing to
define the term ``bypass stack'' in 40 CFR 63.1459 and are also
proposing that use
[[Page 47433]]
of a bypass stack will result in a violation of the numerical emission
standards contained in the Primary Copper Smelting NESHAP in 40 CFR
63.1448. We are also proposing that the use of a bypass stack during a
performance test will invalidate the test. These proposed conditions
are consistent with the EPA's interpretation of the application of the
court's decision in Sierra Club v. EPA, 551 F. 3d 1019 (D.C. Cir. 2008)
and consistent with the treatment of bypass stacks other rules (e.g.,
40 CFR part 60 subpart Ec).
H. What compliance dates are we proposing and what is the rationale for
the proposed compliance dates?
For the additional MACT floor emission limits (mercury, HCl,
chlorine, D/F, benzene, toluene, PAHs excluding naphthalene, and
naphthalene), the EPA proposes that existing facilities must comply
with MACT floor limits within 1 year after promulgation of the final
rule, because the EPA estimated that both facilities can meet MACT
floor limits without having to install new controls. For affected
facilities that commence construction or reconstruction after July 24,
2023, owners or operators must comply with all requirements of the
subpart, including all the amendments being proposed, no later than the
effective date of the final rule or upon startup, whichever is later.
The EPA is proposing a single combined PM roofline emissions limit
for converters, anode refining and smelting furnace roof vents due to
plant configurations and comingling of process fugitive emissions. The
Agency maintains the proposed requirement that existing facilities must
comply with the limit within 2 years after promulgation of the final
rule.
The EPA is also proposing that existing facilities must comply with
the applicable emissions limit that the EPA promulgates for secondary
converter emissions and anode baghouse emissions, which will apply to
the emissions from the aisle scrubber at Freeport, as described in
section III.E of this preamble, within 2 years after promulgation of
the final rule.
The EPA is proposing that facilities must comply with the PM
roofline emissions limit and the PM limit that applies to the aisle
scrubber within 2 years after promulgation of the final rule because we
expect the facility will need up to 2 years to design, construct and
operate the necessary capture and control equipment to meet these
limits. The reason the Agency is not proposing to allow more than 2
years for compliance is because the controls on the roofline are
required to achieve acceptable risk pursuant to CAA section 112(f), the
additional controls on the aisle scrubber are required to provide an
ample margin of safety to protect public health pursuant to CAA section
112(f), and section 112(f) only allows up to 2 years to comply with
standards promulgated pursuant section 112(f). For affected facilities
that commence construction or reconstruction after July 24, 2023,
owners or operators must comply with all requirements of the subpart,
including all the amendments being proposed, no later than the
effective date of the final rule or upon startup, whichever is later.
IV. Summary of Cost, Environmental, and Economic Impacts
A. What are the affected sources?
The Primary Copper Smelting major source category includes any
major source facility that uses a pyrometallurgical process to extract
copper from copper sulfide ore concentrates, native ore concentrates,
or other copper bearing minerals. There are currently two major source
copper smelting facilities in the United States. No new copper smelting
facilities are currently being constructed or are planned in the near
future.
The affected sources subject to 40 CFR part 63, subpart QQQ, the
major source NESHAP, are copper concentrate dryers, smelting furnaces,
slag cleaning vessels, copper converter departments, and fugitive
emission sources.
B. What are the air quality impacts?
The proposed amendments in this action would achieve estimated
emissions reductions of 4.59 tpy of HAP metals (primarily lead, arsenic
and cadmium) from the roof vents at the anode refining operations.
Additionally, depending on the option chosen for additional controls of
either: the secondary capture system for the converter department; or
the combined emissions stream of the secondary capture system for the
converter department and the point source emissions from the anode
refining department, as described in section III.E of this preamble,
additional emission reductions from the updated baseline of 4.5 or 6.3
tpy of metal HAP are expected. Therefore, the total expected estimated
reductions from the updated baseline are either 9.1 tpy or 11.1 tpy of
metal HAP (primarily lead and arsenic) for the source category. The
proposed amendments also include removal of the SSM exemptions relative
to the use of a bypass stack which will result in an unquantified
reduction of episodic emissions.
C. What are the cost impacts?
As described above, the proposed BTF standard for the combined
emissions from roofline vents, which we expect will mainly require
reductions from the anode refining process fugitive emissions roof
vents, would require estimated capital costs of $10.2 million and
annualized costs of $2.1 million for the Freeport facility (2022
dollars). Additionally, depending on the option chosen for additional
controls of either: (1) the secondary capture system for the converter
department; or (2) the combined emissions stream of the secondary
capture system for the converter department and the point source
emissions from the anode refining department, as described in section
III.E. of this preamble, the estimated capital costs are $37 million or
$98 million, respectively, and the estimated annualized costs are $6.2
million or $25.2 million, respectively, for the Freeport facility (2022
dollars). The total estimated capital costs are $47.2 million or $108.7
million. The Asarco facility is not expected to require controls for
any standard in this supplemental proposal, so no capital costs or
annualized costs related to control options are included for Asarco.
This supplemental proposal also includes performance testing
requirements for unregulated HAP which are expected to be incurred by
both facilities, including testing requirements for benzene, toluene,
chlorine, HCl, PAH excluding naphthalene, naphthalene, D/F, and
mercury. The Freeport facility has three units (vent fume, aisle
scrubber, acid plant) which will require testing, and the Asarco
facility has five units (vent gas baghouse, secondary hood baghouse,
tertiary hoods, anode baghouse, and acid plant). The estimated costs
for performance testing of these unregulated HAP are $240,140 (2022
dollars) for the Freeport facility and $366,940 (2022 dollars) for the
Asarco facility on each occurrence (once every five years). The
annualized testing costs for unregulated HAP (assuming mercury testing
is performed annually, and all other performance testing related to the
new standards occurs once every five years) are $87,980 for Freeport
and $113,340 for Asarco. Additionally, the Asarco facility will incur
estimated costs of about $107,581 (2022 dollars) per year to complete
compliance testing for the process fugitive rooflines emission
standards. Freeport already conducts annual testing of these roofline
vents pursuant to state ADEQ
[[Page 47434]]
requirements; therefore, the Agency does not expect Freeport to incur
new testing costs related to the BTF standard.
The total annual costs of the requirements in the supplemental
proposal (i.e., annualized capital, annual operating and maintenance,
and annual emissions testing costs) are estimated to be about $9
million if the baghouse regulatory control option is applied to the
Freeport aisle scrubber and about $28 million if the WESP regulatory
control option is applied to the aisle scrubber.
D. What are the economic impacts?
The net present value (NPV) of the estimated cost impacts of this
proposed rule, discounted at a 7 percent rate over an eight-year period
from 2024 to 2031, is $75 million in 2022 dollars for the baghouse
upstream of the aisle scrubber option. The equivalent annualized value
(EAV) is $13 million at a 7 percent discount rate. At a 3 percent
discount rate, the NPV and EAV of the cost impacts (baghouse upstream
of aisle scrubber) are estimated to be $78 million and $11.8 million,
respectively. When applying the WESP controls for the aisle scrubber,
the NPV of the estimated cost impacts of this proposed rule, discounted
at a 7 percent rate over the 2024 to 2031 period, is $219 million in
2022 dollars. The EAV is $37 million at a 7 percent discount rate. At a
3 percent discount rate, the NPV and EAV of the cost impacts (WESP for
aisle scrubber) are estimated to be $233 million and $33 million,
respectively.
This proposed rule does not affect any small businesses.
Nonetheless, neither of the ultimate owners of the two affected
facilities are expected to incur annualized costs greater than one
percent of company-wide annual revenues. This supplemental proposal is
not expected to have market impacts, so the EPA does not expect effects
on primary copper smelter production or prices.
E. What are the benefits?
As described above, the supplemental proposed amendments would
result in reductions in emissions of HAP metals, especially lead and
arsenic, with corresponding reductions in human health risk. The
proposed amendments also revise the standards such that they apply at
all times and prohibit the use of a bypass stack.
F. What analysis of environmental justice did we conduct?
Executive Order 12898 directs the EPA to identify the populations
of concern who are most likely to experience unequal burdens from
environmental harms, which are specifically minority populations
(people of color), low-income populations, and Indigenous peoples (59
FR 7629, February 16, 1994). Additionally, Executive Order 13985 is
intended to advance racial equity and support underserved communities
through Federal Government actions (86 FR 7009, January 20, 2021). The
EPA defines EJ as ``the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of
all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with
respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of
environmental laws, regulations, and policies.'' \6\ The EPA further
defines fair treatment to mean that ``no group of people should bear a
disproportionate burden of environmental harms and risks, including
those resulting from the negative environmental consequences of
industrial, governmental, and commercial operations or programs and
policies.'' In recognizing that people of color and low-income
populations often bear an unequal burden of environmental harms and
risks, the EPA continues to consider ways of protecting them from
adverse public health and environmental effects of air pollution. For
purposes of analyzing regulatory impacts, the EPA relies upon its June
2016 ``Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in
Regulatory Analysis,'' \7\ which provides recommendations that
encourage analysts to conduct the highest quality analysis feasible,
recognizing that data limitations, time, resource constraints, and
analytical challenges will vary by media and circumstance. The
Technical Guidance states that a regulatory action may involve
potential EJ concerns if it could: (1) create new disproportionate
impacts on minority populations, low-income populations, and/or
Indigenous peoples; (2) exacerbate existing disproportionate impacts on
minority populations, low-income populations, and/or Indigenous
peoples; or (3) present opportunities to address existing
disproportionate impacts on minority populations, low-income
populations, and/or Indigenous peoples through the promulgation of
these actions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice.
\7\ See https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/technical-guidance-assessing-environmental-justice-regulatory-analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
We did not conduct any additional demographics analyses for this
supplemental proposed rule. EPA performed a risk-based demographic
analysis for the 2022 proposed rule to identify the demographics of the
populations with cancer risks greater than or equal to 1-in-1 million
living within 5 kilometers (km) and within 50 km of the two major
source primary copper facilities. The estimated baseline population
with cancer risks greater than or equal to 1-in-1 million due to
emissions from primary copper major sources has not changed
significantly since proposal.
In the 2022 proposal, the EPA determined that elevated cancer risks
associated with emissions from the major source facilities
disproportionately affect Native Americans, Hispanics, those living
Below the Poverty Level and those Over 25 without High School Diploma
living near primary copper major sources. For one facility, Asarco, the
proposed baseline demographic analysis indicated that of the population
with risks at or above 1-in-1 million, 73 percent are Hispanic, which
is significantly greater than the nationwide percentage, 19 percent,
As indicated in Section III.F. of this preamble, this proposed
action is projected to reduce the number of individuals with cancer
risks equal to or greater than 1-in-1 million associated with emissions
from the Freeport facility. See Section III.F. of this preamble for
more details.
The methodology and the results of the demographic analysis
presented in the 2022 proposal are presented in the preamble of the
2022 proposed rule (87 FR 1616; January 11, 2022) and in the technical
report, Risk and Technology Review--Analysis of Demographic Factors for
Populations Living Near Primary Copper Smelting Source Category
Operations (Docket Item No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430-0052).
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Additional information about these statutes and Executive Orders
can be found at https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/laws-and-executive-orders.
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive
Order 14094: Modernizing Regulatory Review
This action is not a significant regulatory action as defined in
Executive Order 12866, as amended by Executive Order 14094, and was
therefore not subject to a requirement for Executive Order 12866
review.
The EPA prepared an economic analysis of the proposed action. This
analysis, Economic Impact Analysis for the Supplemental Proposed
Residual Risk and Technology Review of the
[[Page 47435]]
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Primary
Copper Smelting Sources, Residual Risk and Technology Review, is
available in the docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
The information collection activities in this proposed rule have
been submitted for approval to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) under the PRA. The Information Collection Request (ICR) document
that the EPA prepared has been assigned EPA ICR number 1850.10. You can
find a copy of the ICR in the docket for this rule, and it is briefly
summarized here.
The EPA is proposing amendments that affect reporting and
recordkeeping requirements for primary copper smelting facilities, such
as requirements to submit new performance test reports and to maintain
new operating parameter records to demonstrate compliance with new
standards. This information would be collected to assure compliance
with 40 CFR part 63, subpart QQQ.
Respondents/affected entities: Owners or operators of primary
copper smelting facilities.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory (40 CFR part 63,
subpart QQQ).
Estimated number of respondents: Two (total).
Frequency of response: The frequency of responses varies depending
on the burden item.
Total estimated burden: The annual recordkeeping and reporting
burden for facilities from the proposed recordkeeping and reporting
requirements is estimated to be 5,500 hours (per year). Burden is
defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
Total estimated cost: The annual recordkeeping and reporting burden
for facilities to comply with all of the requirements in the NESHAP is
estimated to be $1,020,000 (per year), of which $331,000 is for this
rule, and $685,000 is for the other costs related to continued
compliance with the NESHAP. There are no annualized capital or
operation & maintenance costs.
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.
Submit your comments on the Agency's need for this information, the
accuracy of the provided burden estimates and any suggested methods for
minimizing respondent burden to the EPA using the docket identified at
the beginning of this rule. The EPA will respond to any ICR-related
comments in the final rule. You may also send your ICR-related comments
to OMB's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs using the
interface at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular
information collection by selecting ``Currently under Review--Open for
Public Comments'' or by using the search function. OMB must receive
comments no later than August 23, 2023.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
We 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. Based on the
Small Business Administration size category for this source category,
no small entities are subject to this action.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
This action does not contain any unfunded mandate as described in
UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, and does not significantly or uniquely affect
small governments. The 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. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to
this action. However, consistent with the EPA policy on coordination
and consultation with Indian tribes, the EPA will offer government-to-
government consultation with tribes as requested.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental
Health Risks and Safety Risks
Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) directs Federal
agencies to include an evaluation of the health and safety effects of
the planned regulation on children in Federal health and safety
standards and explain why the regulation is preferable to potentially
effective and reasonably feasible alternatives. This action is not
subject to Executive Order 13045 because the EPA does not believe the
environmental health or safety risks addressed by this action present a
disproportionate risk to children. This action proposes emission
standards for six previously unregulated pollutants and emissions
limits for the anode refining process fugitive emissions and the aisle
scrubber, which will achieve reductions of HAP metals (as described
previously in section III of this preamble); therefore, the proposed
rule would provide health benefits to children by reducing the level of
HAP emissions (e.g., lead and arsenic) emitted from the copper smelting
process. This action's health and risk assessments are contained in
sections III and IV of the 2022 RTR proposed rule (87 FR 1616; January
11, 2022), and in section III.F of this preamble, and also in the
document titled Residual Risk Assessment for the Primary Copper
Smelting Major Source Category in Support of the 2021 Risk and
Technology Review Proposed Rule, which is available in the docket for
this proposed rule (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430-0051).
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 as defined in Executive Order 12866
and as amended by Executive Order 14094.
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) and 1 CFR
Part 51
This action involves technical standards. Therefore, the EPA
conducted searches for the Primary Copper Smelting NESHAP through the
Enhanced National Standards Systems Network (NSSN) Database managed by
the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). We also conducted a
review of voluntary consensus standards (VCS) organizations and
accessed and searched their databases. Searches were conducted for EPA
Methods 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2F, 2G, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 5B, 5D, 9, 17,
18, 22, 23, 26A, 29, 30A, 30B of 40 CFR part 60, appendix A. During the
EPA's VCS search, if the title or abstract (if provided) of the VCS
described technical sampling and analytical procedures that are similar
to the EPA's referenced method, the EPA ordered a copy of the standard
and reviewed it as a potential equivalent method. We
[[Page 47436]]
reviewed all potential standards to determine the practicality of the
VCS for this rule. No applicable voluntary consensus standards were
identified for EPA Methods 1A, 2A, 2D, 2F, 2G, 5B, 5D, 22, 30A and 30B.
Four voluntary consensus standards were identified as an acceptable
alternative to EPA test methods for the purposes of this rule.
The EPA proposes to incorporate by reference the VCS ANSI/ASME PTC
19-10-1981 Part 10 (2010), ``Flue and Exhaust Gas Analyses'' as an
acceptable alternative to EPA Methods 3B, manual portion only and not
the instrumental portion. This standard is acceptable as an alternative
to EPA Method 3B and is available from ASME at https://www.asme.org; by
mail at Three Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016-5990; or by telephone at
(800) 843-2763. This method determines quantitatively the gaseous
constituents of exhausts resulting from stationary combustion sources.
The gases covered in ANSI/ASME PTC 19.10-1981 are oxygen, carbon
dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, sulfur trioxide,
nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrocarbons;
however, the use in this rule is only applicable to oxygen and carbon
dioxide.
The EPA proposes to incorporate by reference the VCS ASTM D7520-16,
``Standard Test Method for Determining the Opacity of a Plume in the
Outdoor Ambient Atmosphere'' as an acceptable alternative to EPA Method
9 only if the following conditions are followed:
During the digital camera opacity technique (DCOT)
certification procedure outlined in Section 9.2 of ASTM D7520-16, you
or the DCOT vendor must present the plumes in front of various
backgrounds of color and contrast representing conditions anticipated
during field use such as blue sky, trees, and mixed backgrounds (clouds
and/or a sparse tree stand).
You must also have standard operating procedures in place
including daily or other frequency quality checks to ensure the
equipment is within manufacturing specifications as outlined in Section
8.1 of ASTM D7520-16.
You must follow the record keeping procedures outlined in
40 CFR 63.10(b)(1) for the DCOT certification, compliance report, data
sheets, and all raw unaltered JPEGs used for opacity and certification
determination.
You or the DCOT vendor must have a minimum of four (4)
independent technology users apply the software to determine the
visible opacity of the 300 certification plumes. For each set of 25
plumes, the user may not exceed 15 percent opacity of anyone reading
and the average error must not exceed 7.5 percent opacity.)
This approval does not provide or imply a certification or
validation of any vendor's hardware or software. The onus to maintain
and verify the certification and/or training of the DCOT camera,
software and operator in accordance with ASTM D7520-16 and this letter
is on the facility, DCOT operator, and DCOT vendor. The EPA proposes to
incorporate by reference the VCS ASTM D6420-99 (2010), ``Test Method
for Determination of Gaseous Organic Compounds by Direct Interface Gas
Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry.'' This ASTM procedure has been
approved by the EPA as an alternative to EPA Method 18 only when the
target compounds are all known and the target compounds are all listed
in ASTM D6420 as measurable. This alternative should not be used for
methane and ethane because atomic mass is less than 35. ASTM D6420
should never be specified as a total VOC method.
The EPA proposes to incorporate by reference the VCS ASTM D6784-16,
``Standard Test Method for Elemental, Oxidized, Particle-Bound and
Total Mercury Gas Generated from Coal-Fired Stationary Sources (Ontario
Hydro Method)'' (D6784-16 was reapproved in 2016 to include better
quality control than earlier 2008 version) as an acceptable alternative
to EPA Method 29 (portion for mercury only) as a method for measuring
mercury. [Note: Applies to concentrations approximately 0.5-100 [mu]g/
Nm\3\].
The ASTM D7520-16; D6420-99 (2010); and D6784-16 documents are
available from ASTM at https://www.astm.org or 100 Barr Harbor Drive,
West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, telephone number: (610) 832-9500, fax
number: (610) 8329555 at [email protected].
The EPA proposes to incorporate by reference ``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), which is the source of the toxicity equivalent
factors for dioxins and furans used in calculating the toxic
equivalence quotient of the proposed dioxin and furan standard. This
document can be found at https://www.epa.gov/risk/documents-recommended-toxicity-equivalency-factors-human-health-risk-assessments-dioxin-and.
Detailed information on the VCS search and determination can be
found in the memorandum, Voluntary Consensus Standard Results for
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Copper
Smelting Supplemental Proposal, which is available in the docket for
this action (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430).
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994) directs
Federal agencies, to the greatest extent practicable and permitted by
law, to make environmental justice part of their mission by identifying
and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse
human health or environmental effects of their programs, policies, and
activities on minority populations (people of color and/or Indigenous
peoples) and low-income populations.
The EPA believes that the human health or environmental conditions
that exist prior to this action result in or have the potential to
result in disproportionate and adverse human health or environmental
effects on people of color, low-income populations and/or Indigenous
peoples. In In the 2022 proposal, the evaluated the demographic
characteristics of communities located near the major source facilities
and determined that elevated cancer risks associated with emissions
from these facilities disproportionately affect Native American,
Hispanic, Below Poverty Level and Over 25 without High School Diploma
individuals living nearby.
The EPA believes that this action is likely to reduce existing
disproportionate and adverse effects on people of color, low-income
populations and/or Indigenous peoples living near the Freeport
facility. To support the 2022 proposal, EPA determined that the
population living within 5 km of the Freeport facility is 1.5 percent
Native American (versus 0.7 percent nationwide); 45 percent Hispanic or
Latino (versus 19 percent nationwide); 23 percent Below Poverty Level
(versus 13 percent nationwide); and 23 percent Over 25 without a High
School Diploma (versus 12 percent nationwide). The standards proposed
in this supplemental proposal are estimated to reduce metal HAP
emissions, primarily lead and arsenic, from the Freeport facility by
either 9.1 tpy or 11.1 tpy and are projected to reduce the number of
individuals with cancer risks equal to or greater than 1-in-1 million
associated with emissions from the Freeport facility. EPA does not
anticipate that
[[Page 47437]]
this action will reduce emissions from the Asarco facility.
The methodology and the results of the demographic analysis are
presented in the preamble of the 2022 proposed rule (87 FR 1616;
January 11, 2022) and in the technical report, Risk and Technology
Review--Analysis of Demographic Factors for Populations Living Near
Primary Copper Smelting Source Category Operations (Docket Item No.
EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430-0052). The information supporting this Executive
Order review is contained in section V.E. of the 2022 proposed RTR
preamble (87 FR 1616; January 11, 2022). We did not conduct any
additional demographics analyses for this supplemental proposed rule.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 63
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Hazardous
substances, Incorporation by reference, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Michael S. Regan,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-15303 Filed 7-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
