New Source Performance Standards Review for Secondary Lead Smelters, 80594-80617 [2023-25275]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 222 / Monday, November 20, 2023 / Rules and Regulations
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
standards (NSPS) for secondary lead
smelters pursuant to the periodic review
required by the Clean Air Act (CAA).
Specifically, the EPA is finalizing
revisions to the NSPS that applies to
affected secondary lead smelters
constructed, reconstructed, or modified
after December 1, 2022 (NSPS subpart
La). The EPA is also finalizing
amendments to the NSPS for secondary
lead smelters constructed,
reconstructed, or modified after June 11,
1973, and on or before December 1,
2022, (NSPS subpart L). In addition, we
are finalizing the use of EPA Method 22
(Visual Determination of Fugitive
Emissions from Material Sources and
Smoke Emissions from Flares) as an
alternative for demonstrating
compliance with the opacity limit.
DATES: This final rule is effective on
November 20, 2023. The incorporation
by reference (IBR) of certain
publications listed in the rule is
approved by the Director of the Federal
Register as of November 20, 2023.
ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2022–0481. All
documents in the docket are listed on
the https://www.regulations.gov
website. 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 form.
Publicly available docket materials are
available electronically through https://
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Amber Wright, Sector Policies and
Programs Division (D243–02), Office of
Air Quality Planning and Standards,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
109 T.W. Alexander Drive, P.O. Box
12055, Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina 27711; telephone number:
(919) 541–4680; email address:
wright.amber@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Preamble acronyms and
abbreviations. Throughout this
document 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:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is finalizing amendments
to the new source performance
ABR Association of Battery Recyclers
ASTM ASTM, International
BSER best system of emission reduction
CAA Clean Air Act
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Colleen Hibbert-Kapler,
Attorney, Ethics and Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023–25569 Filed 11–17–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 60
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2022–0481; FRL–9630–02–
OAR]
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RIN 2060–AV78
New Source Performance Standards
Review for Secondary Lead Smelters
AGENCY:
SUMMARY:
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CBI Confidential Business Information
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DCOT digital camera opacity technique
EJ environmental justice
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
ERT Electronic Reporting Tool
FR Federal Register
HEPA high efficiency particulate air
IBR incorporation by reference
ICR information collection request
km kilometers
mg/dscm milligram per dry standard cubic
meter
NAICS North American Industry
Classification System
NESHAP national emission standards for
hazardous air pollutants
NSPS new source performance standards
NTTAA National Technology Transfer and
Advancement
OAQPS Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards
OMB Office of Management and Budget
PDF portable document format
PM particulate matter
PRA Paperwork Reduction Act
RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act
RIN Regulatory Information Number
SOP standard operating procedures
SSM startup, shutdown, and malfunctions
UMRA Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
U.S.C. United States Code
VCS voluntary consensus standard
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?
C. Judicial Review and Administrative
Review
II. Background
A. What is the statutory authority for this
final action?
B. How does the EPA perform the NSPS
review?
C. What is the source category regulated in
this final action?
III. What changes did we propose for the
secondary lead smelting NSPS?
IV. What actions are we finalizing and what
is our rationale for such decisions?
A. Revised NSPS for Blast, Reverberatory,
and Pot Furnaces
B. NSPS Subpart La Without Startup,
Shutdown, and Malfunction Exemptions
C. Testing and Monitoring Requirements
D. Electronic Reporting
E. Notification, Recordkeeping, and
Reporting Requirements
F. Definitions
G. Effective Date and Compliance Dates
V. Summary of Cost, Environmental, and
Economic Impacts
A. What are the air quality impacts?
B. What are the secondary impacts?
C. What are the cost impacts for regulated
facilities?
D. What are the economic impacts?
E. What are the benefits?
F. What analysis of environmental justice
did we conduct?
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
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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
K. Congressional Review Act (CRA)
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I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
The source category that is the subject
of this final action is composed of
secondary lead smelters regulated under
CAA section 111, New Source
Performance Standards (NSPS). The
2022 North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS) code for
the source category is 331492. The
NAICS code serves as a guide for
readers outlining the type of entities
that this final action is likely to affect.
The NSPS codified in 40 CFR part 60,
subpart L are directly applicable to
secondary lead smelters constructed,
reconstructed, or modified after June 11,
1973, and on or before December 1,
2022. The NSPS codified in 40 CFR part
60, subpart La, are directly applicable to
affected facilities that begin
construction, reconstruction, or
modification after December 1, 2022.
Federal, state, local and tribal
government entities would not be
affected by this action. If you have any
questions regarding the applicability of
this action to a particular entity, you
should carefully examine the
applicability criteria found in 40 CFR
part 60, subparts L and La, and consult
the person listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
preamble, your state air pollution
control agency with delegated authority
for NSPS, or your EPA Regional Office.
B. Where can I get a copy of this
document and other related
information?
In addition to being available in the
docket, an electronic copy of this final
action is available on the internet at
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https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sourcesair-pollution/secondary-lead-smeltersnew-source-performance-standardsnsps. Following publication in the
Federal Register, the EPA will post the
Federal Register version of the final rule
and key technical documents at this
same website.
A redline/strikeout version of the
rules showing the final edits being made
to incorporate the changes to 40 CFR
part 60, subpart L and the new text for
40 CFR part 60, subpart La finalized in
this action is available in the docket
(Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2022–
0481). Following signature by the EPA
Administrator, the EPA also will post a
copy of these documents to https://
www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-airpollution/secondary-lead-smelters-newsource-performance-standards-nsps.
C. Judicial Review and Administrative
Review
Under CAA section 307(b)(1), judicial
review of this final action is available
only by filing a petition for review in
the United States Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia Circuit by
January 19, 2024. Under CAA section
307(b)(2), the requirements established
by this final rule may not be challenged
separately in any civil or criminal
proceedings brought by the EPA to
enforce the requirements.
Section 307(d)(7)(B) of the CAA
further provides that ‘‘[o]nly an
objection to a rule or procedure which
was raised with reasonable specificity
during the period for public comment
(including any public hearing) may be
raised during judicial review.’’ This
section also provides a mechanism for
the EPA to convene a proceeding for
reconsideration, ‘‘[i]f the person raising
an objection can demonstrate to the EPA
that it was impracticable to raise such
objection within [the period for public
comment] or if the grounds for such
objection arose after the period for
public comment, (but within the time
specified for judicial review) and if such
objection is of central relevance to the
outcome of the rule.’’ Any person
seeking to make such a demonstration to
us should submit a Petition for
Reconsideration to the Office of the
Administrator, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Room 3000, WJC
West Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.
NW, Washington, DC 20460, with a
copy to both the person(s) listed in the
preceding FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section, and the Associate
General Counsel for the Air and
Radiation Law Office, Office of General
Counsel (Mail Code 2344A), U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
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80595
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
20460.
II. Background
A. What is the statutory authority for
this final action?
The EPA’s authority for this final rule
is CAA section 111, which governs the
establishment of standards of
performance for stationary sources.
Section 111(b)(1)(A) of the CAA requires
the EPA Administrator to list categories
of stationary sources that in the
Administrator’s judgment cause or
contribute significantly to air pollution
that may reasonably be anticipated to
endanger public health or welfare. The
EPA must then issue performance
standards for new (and modified or
reconstructed) sources in each source
category pursuant to CAA section
111(b)(1)(B). These standards are
referred to as new source performance
standards, or NSPS. The EPA has the
authority to define the scope of the
source categories, determine the
pollutants for which standards should
be developed, set the emission level of
the standards, and distinguish among
classes, types, and sizes within
categories in establishing the standards.
CAA section 111(b)(1)(B) requires the
EPA to ‘‘at least every 8 years review
and, if appropriate, revise’’ the NSPS.
However, the Administrator need not
review any such standard if the
‘‘Administrator determines that such
review is not appropriate in light of
readily available information on the
efficacy’’ of the standard. When
conducting a review of an existing
performance standard, the EPA has the
discretion and authority to add emission
limits for pollutants or emission sources
not currently regulated for that source
category.
In setting or revising a performance
standard, CAA section 111(a)(1)
provides that performance standards are
to reflect ‘‘the degree of emission
limitation achievable through the
application of the BSER which (taking
into account the cost of achieving such
reduction and any nonair quality health
and environmental impact and energy
requirements) the Administrator
determines has been adequately
demonstrated.’’ The term ‘‘standard of
performance’’ in CAA section 111(a)(1)
makes clear that the EPA is to determine
both the BSER for the regulated sources
in the source category and the degree of
emission limitation achievable through
application of the BSER. The EPA must
then, under CAA section 111(b)(1)(B),
promulgate standards of performance
for new sources that reflect that level of
stringency. CAA section 111(b)(5)
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generally precludes the EPA from
prescribing a particular technological
system that must be used to comply
with a standard of performance. Rather,
sources can select any measure or
combination of measures that will
achieve the standard. CAA section
111(h)(1) authorizes the Administrator
to promulgate ‘‘a design, equipment,
work practice, or operational standard,
or combination thereof’’ if in his or her
judgment, ‘‘it is not feasible to prescribe
or enforce a standard of performance.’’
CAA section 111(h)(2) provides the
circumstances under which prescribing
or enforcing a standard of performance
is ‘‘not feasible,’’ such as, when the
pollutant cannot be emitted through a
conveyance designed to emit or capture
the pollutant, or when there is no
practicable measurement methodology
for the particular class of sources.
Pursuant to the definition of new
source in CAA section 111(a)(2),
standards of performance apply to
facilities that begin construction,
reconstruction, or modification after the
date of publication of the proposed
standards in the Federal Register.
Under CAA section 111(a)(4),
‘‘modification’’ means any physical
change in, or change in the method of
operation of, a stationary source which
increases the amount of any air
pollutant emitted by such source or
which results in the emission of any air
pollutant not previously emitted.
Changes to an existing facility that do
not result in an increase in emissions
are not considered modifications. Under
the provisions in 40 CFR 60.15,
reconstruction means the replacement
of components of an existing facility
such that: (1) the fixed capital cost of
the new components exceeds 50 percent
of the fixed capital cost that would be
required to construct a comparable
entirely new facility; and (2) it is
technologically and economically
feasible to meet the applicable
standards. Pursuant to CAA section
111(b)(1)(B), the standards of
performance or revisions thereof shall
become effective upon promulgation.
B. How does the EPA perform the NSPS
review?
As noted in section II.A. of this
preamble, CAA section 111 requires the
EPA to, at least every 8 years, review
and, if appropriate, revise the standards
of performance applicable to new,
modified, and reconstructed sources. If
the EPA revises the standards of
performance, they must reflect the
degree of emission limitation achievable
through the application of the BSER
considering the cost of achieving such
reduction and any nonair quality health
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and environmental impact and energy
requirements. CAA section 111(a)(1).
In reviewing an NSPS to determine
whether it is ‘‘appropriate’’ to revise the
standards of performance, the EPA
evaluates the statutory factors, which
may include consideration of the
following information:
• Expected growth for the source
category, including how many new
facilities, reconstructions, and
modifications may trigger NSPS in the
future.
• Pollution control measures,
including advances in control
technologies, process operations, design
or efficiency improvements, or other
systems of emission reduction, that are
‘‘adequately demonstrated’’ in the
regulated industry.
• Available information from the
implementation and enforcement of
current requirements indicating that
emission limitations and percent
reductions beyond those required by the
current standards are achieved in
practice.
• Costs (including capital and annual
costs) associated with implementation
of the available pollution control
measures.
• The amount of emission reductions
achievable through application of such
pollution control measures.
• Any non-air quality health and
environmental impact and energy
requirements associated with those
control measures.
In evaluating whether the cost of a
particular system of emission reduction
is reasonable, the EPA considers various
costs associated with the particular air
pollution control measure or a level of
control, including capital costs and
operating costs, and the emission
reductions that the control measure or
particular level of control can achieve.
The Agency considers these costs in the
context of the industry’s overall capital
expenditures and revenues. The Agency
also considers cost effectiveness
analysis as a useful metric and a means
of evaluating whether a given control
achieves emission reduction at a
reasonable cost. A cost effectiveness
analysis allows comparisons of relative
costs and outcomes (effects) of 2 or more
options. In general, cost effectiveness is
a measure of the outcomes produced by
resources spent. In the context of air
pollution control options, cost
effectiveness typically refers to the
annualized cost of implementing an air
pollution control option divided by the
amount of pollutant reductions realized
annually.
After the EPA evaluates the statutory
factors, the EPA compares the various
systems of emission reductions and
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determines which system is ‘‘best,’’ and
therefore represents the BSER. The EPA
then establishes a standard of
performance that reflects the degree of
emission limitation achievable through
the implementation of the BSER. In
doing this analysis, the EPA can
determine whether subcategorization is
appropriate based on classes, types, and
sizes of sources, and may identify a
different BSER and establish different
performance standards for each
subcategory. The result of the analysis
and BSER determination leads to
standards of performance that apply to
facilities that begin construction,
reconstruction, or modification after the
date of publication of the proposed
standards in the Federal Register.
Because the NSPS reflect the BSER
under conditions of proper operation
and maintenance, in doing its review,
the EPA also evaluates and determines
the proper testing, monitoring,
recordkeeping and reporting
requirements needed to ensure
compliance with the emission
standards.
C. What is the source category regulated
in this final action?
The EPA first promulgated NSPS for
the secondary lead smelting source
category on March 8, 1974 (39 FR 9308).
These standards of performance are
codified in 40 CFR part 60, subpart L,
and are applicable to sources that
commence construction, modification,
or reconstruction after June 11, 1973.
These standards of performance regulate
emissions of PM from blast and
reverberatory furnaces and specifies
limits for visible emissions (opacity) for
blast and reverberatory furnaces and for
pot (refining) furnaces. The EPA
amended NSPS subpart L on October 6,
1975 (40 FR 46250) to remove a
provision providing that the failure to
meet the NSPS emissions limits due to
the presence of uncombined water in
the stack gases was not considered a
violation. In March 1979, the EPA
reviewed the NSPS and analyzed
possible revisions to the NSPS;
however, the review did not result in
any revisions to the NSPS subpart L at
that time.1
The secondary lead smelting source
category consists of facilities that
produce lead and lead alloys from leadbearing scrap material. Lead is used to
make various construction, medical,
industrial, and consumer products such
as batteries, glass, x-ray protection gear,
and various fillers. The secondary lead
smelting process consists of: (1) pre1 See https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/
91010O7P.PDF?Dockey=91010O7P.PDF.
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processing of lead bearing materials, (2)
melting lead metal and reducing lead
compounds to lead metal in the
smelting furnace, and (3) refining and
alloying the lead to customer
specifications.
At secondary lead smelting facilities,
blast and reverberatory furnaces are
used in the smelting processes, and pot
furnaces are used in the refining
process. The process exhaust from blast
and reverberatory furnaces is a source of
PM emissions, and emissions of PM also
occur as process fugitives at various
points during the smelting process, such
as during charging and tapping of
furnaces and refining processes.
Entrainment of dry materials in ambient
air due to material processing, vehicle
traffic, wind erosion from storage piles,
and other activities can also be a source
of PM emissions.
Currently, there are 11 secondary lead
smelting facilities in the United States
and each facility operates furnaces that
are subject to NSPS subpart L, which
specifies that owners or operators of
affected facilities must limit PM
emissions from blast and reverberatory
furnaces to not more than 50 milligrams
per dry standard cubic meter (mg/dscm)
or 0.022 grains per dry standard cubic
feet (gr/dscf). Subpart L also specifies
that visible emissions must not exceed
20 percent opacity from blast or
reverberatory furnaces and 10 percent
opacity from pot furnaces. Secondary
lead smelting facilities use a variety of
control devices (e.g., baghouses, gas
scrubbers), often in combination, to
comply with the PM emissions and
opacity limits of the NSPS.
The EPA proposed the current review
and revisions of the secondary lead
smelting source category NSPS subpart
L on December 1, 2022 (87 FR 73708).
We received four comment letters,
including one from the industry trade
association (the Association of Battery
Recyclers, or ABR) and three from other
stakeholders, during the comment
period. Summaries of the more
significant comments we timely
received regarding the proposed rule
and our responses are provided in this
preamble. A summary of all other public
comments on the proposal and the
EPA’s responses to those comments is
available in Summary of Public
Comments and Responses on Proposed
Rule: New Source Performance
Standards for Secondary Lead Smelting
(40 CFR part 60, subparts L and La) Best
System of Emission Reduction Review,
Final Amendments, Docket ID No. EPA–
HQ–OAR–2022–0481. In this action, the
EPA is finalizing decisions and
revisions pursuant to CAA section
111(b)(1)(B) review for the secondary
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lead smelting NSPS subpart L after our
considerations of all the comments
received.
III. What changes did we propose for
the secondary lead smelting NSPS?
On December 1, 2022, the EPA
proposed revisions to the NSPS for
secondary lead smelters pursuant to
CAA section 111(b)(1)(B) review of
NSPS subpart L. In that action, the EPA
proposed to establish a new subpart (40
CFR part 60, subpart La) applicable to
affected sources that begin construction,
reconstruction, or modification after
December 1, 2022. The EPA proposed in
the NSPS subpart La, revised standards
for PM emissions and opacity for blast
furnaces, reverberatory furnaces, and
process fugitive emissions sources that
apply at all times, including periods of
SSM. The EPA proposed initial and
periodic PM and opacity performance
testing, recordkeeping, and reporting
requirements. The EPA also proposed to
revise the definitions for blast and
reverberatory furnaces and added a new
definition for pot furnaces.
The EPA also proposed to amend
NSPS subpart L to clarify that NSPS
subpart L applies to affected sources
that commenced construction,
reconstruction, or modification after
June 11, 1973, and on or before
December 1, 2022, and to update the
NSPS furnace definitions, performance
testing schedule, and monitoring,
recordkeeping, and reporting
requirements to be more consistent with
the NESHAP (40 CFR part 63, subpart
X). The EPA also proposed the IBR of
an alternative method for determining
opacity and the requirement for the
submission of electronic performance
test reports.
IV. What actions are we finalizing and
what is our rationale for such
decisions?
The EPA is finalizing revisions to the
NSPS for secondary lead smelters
pursuant to CAA section 111(b)(1)(B)
review. The EPA is promulgating the
NSPS revisions in a new subpart, 40
CFR part 60, subpart La. The revised
NSPS subpart is applicable to affected
sources constructed, modified, or
reconstructed after December 1, 2022.
This action also finalizes standards of
performance in NSPS subpart La for PM
emission and opacity that apply at all
times including during periods of SSM
and other proposed changes such as
electronic reporting. Additionally, this
action finalizes proposed revisions to
the testing, monitoring, notification,
recordkeeping, and reporting
requirements, which are the same for
both NSPS subparts L and La, and
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finalizes a definition for ‘‘process
fugitive emissions source’’ in NSPS
subpart La based on consideration of
public comments.
A. Revised NSPS for Blast,
Reverberatory, and Pot Furnaces
1. Proposed BSER for PM Emissions and
Opacity
Based on the EPA’s permit review and
assessment of control costs and other
CAA section 111 statutory
considerations, the EPA proposed to
identify for NSPS subpart La that the
BSER for PM emissions and opacity
from new, modified, or reconstructed
blast furnaces is an afterburner followed
by efficient particulate controls (e.g.,
fabric filter that may be installed in
series with a high efficiency particulate
air (HEPA) filter and/or a venturi
scrubber). For new, modified, or
reconstructed reverberatory and pot
furnaces, the EPA proposed that the
BSER for PM emissions and opacity is
efficient particulate controls (e.g., fabric
filter that may be installed in series with
a HEPA filter, venturi scrubber and/or a
wet electrostatic precipitator (WESP)).
Based on the available PM emissions
and opacity data, the EPA proposed in
NSPS subpart La that the standard of
performance for blast and reverberatory
furnaces that reflects the application of
BSER is an emission limit of 10 mg PM/
dscm. For pot furnaces, the EPA
proposed in NSPS subpart La that the
standard of performance that reflects the
application of BSER is a PM emissions
limit of 3 mg/dscm. The EPA also
proposed that the standard of
performance for opacity from blast,
reverberatory, and pot furnaces
emissions is 0 percent.
2. How the Final Revisions to BSER and
the PM Emissions and Opacity
Standards Differ From the Proposed
Revisions
After considering the comments
regarding the EPA’s proposed BSER
determinations for NSPS subpart La and
the proposed PM emissions and opacity
standards, the EPA is finalizing the
BSER determinations and the PM
standards for blast and reverberatory
furnaces for NSPS subpart La, as
proposed. However, after considering
the comments and additional opacity
data provided by one commenter, the
EPA is finalizing the opacity limits for
blast and reverberatory furnace in the
final NSPS subpart La at 5 percent,
rather than the proposed opacity
standard of 0 percent. Also, the EPA is
revising the PM limit for pot furnaces to
address comments associated with the
interaction of the proposed limit for pot
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furnaces with the NESHAP subpart X
requirements. In the final NSPS subpart
La (40 CFR 60.122a(a)), the EPA is
promulgating a definition for ‘‘process
fugitives emission source’’ (see the
discussion in section IV.F. of this
preamble) and finalizing an emissions
limit for PM of 4.9 mg/dscm and an
opacity limit of 5 percent from process
fugitive emissions sources that includes
emissions from pot furnaces, as well as
other combined process fugitive
emissions (e.g., emissions from furnace
charging and tapping and casting).
3. BSER and PM Emissions and Opacity
Standards Comments and Responses
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a. BSER Determination
Comment: One commenter disagreed
with the EPA’s determination in the
proposal preamble (87 FR 73715) that
the BSER for PM emissions and opacity
from new, modified, or reconstructed
blast furnaces is an afterburner followed
by efficient PM controls (e.g., fabric
filter installed in series with a highefficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter
and/or a venturi scrubber). The
commenter noted that secondary lead
smelting facilities use afterburners
primarily to reduce emissions of carbon
monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons
from certain types of furnaces and
configurations (e.g., blast furnaces,
collocated reverberatory furnaces) and
that afterburners have little if any role
in reducing emissions of PM.
Response: The EPA disagrees with the
commenter’s assertion that BSER for PM
emissions and opacity from new,
modified, or reconstructed blast
furnaces should not include an
afterburner. The afterburner helps to
prevent fouling of the fabric filter by
organics and moisture in the furnace
exhaust, which results in better PM
control. This determination is consistent
with the BSER discussed in previous
Secondary Lead Smelting NSPS review
documents. For example, Volume 1 of
the NSPS background document (June
1973, Air Pollution Technical Data
(APTD)-1352a) states that the blast
furnace afterburner is used upstream of
the baghouse to ‘‘incinerate oily and
sticky materials to avoid binding the
fabric.’’ Additionally, the March 1979
NSPS review document (EPA–450/3–
79–015) states that, ‘‘As previously
noted, with blast furnaces an afterburner
is employed to ensure complete
combustion of such material [sparks and
other burning material in furnace gas]
before it enters the baghouse.’’ The
commenter did not provide any
additional information to contradict this
long-standing analysis of the benefits of
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using in blast furnaces an afterburner to
further reduce PM emissions.
b. Opacity Emission Limits for NSPS
Subpart La
Comment: One commenter contended
that the EPA based the proposed
standard of 0 percent opacity limit for
blast, reverberatory, and pot furnaces on
insufficient information and limited
data. The commenter also said that the
EPA did not evaluate opacity
measurements across the affected
sources and under different operating
conditions (particularly SSM periods).
In response to the EPA’s request in
the proposal for comments regarding the
available opacity data for blast,
reverberatory, and pot furnaces, the
commenter provided a subset of opacity
data measured in a common stack
utilizing a continuous opacity monitor
system (COMS) at the outlet of the
baghouses before the scrubber (the
commenter asserted a claim of CBI over
the baghouse data). The commenter
stated that the baghouse data
demonstrate the presence of non-zero
opacities during normal operations and
contradict the EPA’s proposed opacity
limitation of 0 percent.
The commenter stated that the
inherent subjectivity in the
measurement of opacity precludes the
EPA from establishing an absolute 0
percent opacity emissions standard. The
commenter noted that the subjectivity of
opacity measurements is acknowledged
in the certification requirements for
both EPA Method 9 and ASTM D7520–
16 (i.e., >15 percent opacity at any
single plume reading or a >7.5 percent
opacity average error in each plume
category). The commenter added that
ASTM D7520–16 references a
repeatability (precision) study at 0
percent opacity of ±3 percent opacity
(i.e., at 0 percent opacity, ASTM D7520–
16 will read between 0 percent opacity
to 3 percent opacity 95 percent of the
time), which could result in an
exceedance of the 0 percent opacity
standard. The commenter also noted
that the proposed methodologies to
determine opacity or visible emissions
can be impacted by limitations in
contrasting backgrounds and by the
presence of wet plumes, which vary
from source to source.
To account for the subjectivity and
the margin of error associated with the
proposed compliance test methods
presented above, the commenter stated
that the EPA should revise the proposed
opacity limit to 5 percent.
Response: The EPA acknowledges
that, on occasion during process
operations and particularly during
startup and shutdown events, brief
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periods of visible emissions from these
sources are possible. However, since
these sources are located in negative
pressure locations, these periods of
visible emissions should not typically
occur. As such, to account for the
remote possibility of these periods of
visible emissions, limited data
availability, and the subjectivity and
margin of error of the visible emissions
test methods, we are finalizing a visible
emission standard of no greater than 5
percent over a single 6-minute averaging
period. The 5 percent value ‘‘threshold’’
is the lowest visible emission increment
reading achievable by EPA Method 9
that is greater than 0 percent, and the 6minute averaging period represents the
minimum number of visible emissions
observations prescribed by EPA Method
9 to calculate a valid visible emissions
average (i.e., a minimum of 24 visible
emissions observations shall be made at
15-second intervals). This opacity
standard and averaging period accounts
for brief periods of visible emissions
while still maintaining stringency with
the expected absence of emissions in a
negative pressure environment.
To verify this, a 6-minute EPA
Method 22 visible emissions check
should occur at a minimum of once per
calendar day during normal operations,
as well as during each SSM event. If any
visible emissions are observed for any
period of time (i.e., >0 seconds), a 30minute EPA Method 9 visible emissions
test must be conducted as soon as
practicable. As an alternative, a 30minute EPA Method 9 visible emissions
test can be performed at a minimum of
once per calendar day during normal
operations, as well as during each SSM
event without having to perform the
EPA Method 22 visible emissions check.
If any rolling 6-minute averaging period
from the 30-minute visible emissions
test is greater than 5 percent, corrective
action must be initiated within 1 hour
of detecting visible emissions above the
applicable limit. After the corrective
action is completed, an additional 30minute visible emissions test must be
performed. After the corrective action is
completed, if any rolling 6-minute
averaging period from the follow-up 30minute visible emissions test is greater
than 5 percent, the source is deemed out
of compliance with the prescribed
opacity standard.
Comment: One commenter noted an
apparent typographical error in the
proposed NSPS subpart La (40 CFR
60.122a) and suggested that the EPA
change the text from ‘‘Exhibit 0 percent
opacity or greater’’ to ‘‘Exhibit opacity
greater than’’ the limit.
Response: The EPA has revised the
text in NSPS subpart La 40 CFR
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60.122a(a)(2) and 60.122a(b)(2) to
address the typographical error.
c. PM Emissions Limit for Pot Furnaces
Comment: One commenter stated that
the proposed rule’s treatment of ‘‘pot
furnaces,’’ including the establishment
of PM standards for new pot furnaces,
is misaligned with the functioning of
pot furnaces at secondary lead smelters
and with their treatment under other
regulatory provisions, including
NESHAP subpart X. The commenter
said that NESHAP subpart X regulates
pot furnace emissions as process
fugitives, which are typically combined
with emissions from other sources for
ducting to controls, and that isolating
pot furnace emissions for the purpose of
performance testing may not be
practical. The commenter said that the
EPA should remove the proposed PM
standard for pot furnaces.
The commenter stated that NESHAP
subpart X (40 CFR 63.542) considers pot
furnaces to be a process fugitive
emissions source, rather than a process
emissions source. The commenter noted
that facilities may mix emissions from
pot furnaces with process emissions
from the smelting furnaces which makes
it more difficult to segregate pot furnace
emissions for compliance determination
purposes. If the EPA does establish
NSPS subpart La emission standards for
new pot furnaces at secondary lead
smelters, the commenter asserted that
the EPA should clarify that commingled
emissions from smelting furnaces and
pot furnaces are subject to the proposed
emission standards in 40 CFR
60.122a(a).
The commenter contended that the
data the EPA used to establish the
proposed PM emissions limit for pot
furnaces are insufficient because the
data include contributions from
emission sources other than pot
furnaces (e.g., casting emissions).
The commenter also stated that the
EPA should confirm that smaller
refining kettles used for research and
development (R&D) are excluded from
the proposed definition of pot furnaces.
For example, the EPA could exclude
such kettles by establishing a size limit
(e.g., smaller than 5 tons of molten
metal at maximum capacity) and a usage
limit (operated fewer than 4000 hours
per year). The commenter noted that the
R&D refining kettles are a fraction of the
size of normal production refining
kettles (e.g., 1 ton v. 100 tons) and are,
therefore, insignificant emission sources
at smelters.
Response: The EPA disagrees with
commenter’s statement that the final
rule should not include a PM standard
for pot furnaces. As noted in sections
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IV.A.1. and 2. of this preamble, the EPA
has determined that the final BSER for
PM emissions and opacity from new,
modified, or reconstructed pot furnaces
is efficient particulate controls, and the
commenter does not dispute that PM
emissions from pot furnaces can be
reduced by application of these
controls. Consequently, the EPA must
establish a PM emissions limit that
reflects BSER. However, the EPA
acknowledges that isolating pot furnace
emissions for NSPS compliance testing
may not be feasible for all secondary
lead smelting facilities. The EPA also
acknowledges that the limited data the
EPA used to establish the proposed PM
emissions limit for pot furnaces include
contributions from emission sources
other than pot furnaces (i.e., data from
5 of 6 test reports used to calculate the
proposed pot furnace limit included
contributions from casting fugitives).
To address the commenter’s concern
related to isolating emissions for
compliance testing and the limited data
set, the EPA conducted a further
evaluation of the available test data to
identify data values that included
contributions from pot furnaces
combined with other process fugitive
sources (e.g., emissions from furnace
charging and tapping and casting). The
EPA used this data set of comingled pot
furnace emissions, which consists of 45
test runs from 3 facilities (Clarios, South
Carolina; Gopher Resource, Florida; and
Gopher Resource, Minnesota), to derive
a PM emissions limit for pot furnace
emissions combined with emissions
from other process fugitives. Based on
this updated analysis, in the final NSPS
subpart La (40 CFR 60.122a(a)), the EPA
is promulgating a process fugitive
source emissions limit for PM of 4.9 mg/
dscm from the process emissions
control devices. This analysis can be
found in the Particulate Matter
Emissions Test Data Memorandum for
Process Fugitive Sources as Secondary
Lead Smelting Facilities located in the
docket for this rulemaking. This
approach of regulating pot furnace
emissions as a process fugitive source is
consistent with the approach used
under NESHAP subpart X, which
requires that new or reconstructed
sources must capture all process fugitive
emissions (including pot furnace
emissions) with hoods or negative
pressure enclosures and route those
emissions to a control device.
Regarding the commenter’s assertion
that the EPA should confirm that
smaller refining kettles used for R&D are
excluded from the proposed definition
of pot furnaces, the commentor did not
provide any data demonstrating that
R&D kettles cannot meet the proposed
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requirement. Additionally, the EPA is
not finalizing the proposed definition
for pot furnaces and is finalizing a
process fugitive emissions limit.
Therefore, the EPA has no basis to
provide an exception to the emissions
limits specified in NSPS subpart La at
this time. However, the EPA may revisit
this issue under the NESHAP subpart X
review.
B. NSPS Subpart La Without Startup,
Shutdown, and Malfunction Exemptions
Consistent with Sierra Club v. EPA,
551 F.3d 1019 (D.C. Cir. 2008), the EPA
has established standards in NSPS
subpart La that apply at all times. We
are finalizing in NSPS subpart La
specific requirements at 40 CFR
60.122a(c) that override the general
provisions for SSM requirements. In
finalizing the standards in NSPS subpart
La, the EPA has taken into account
startup and shutdown periods and, for
the reasons explained in this section of
the preamble, has not finalized alternate
standards for those periods.
Periods of startup, normal operations,
and shutdown are all predictable and
routine aspects of a source’s operations.
Malfunctions, in contrast, are neither
predictable nor routine. Instead, they
are, by definition, sudden, infrequent,
and not reasonably preventable failures
of emissions control, process, or
monitoring equipment (40 CFR 60.2).
The EPA interprets CAA section 111 as
not requiring emissions that occur
during periods of malfunction to be
factored into development of CAA
section 111 standards. Nothing in CAA
section 111 or in case law requires that
the EPA consider malfunctions when
determining what standards of
performance reflect the degree of
emission limitation achievable through
‘‘the application of the best system of
emission reduction’’ that the EPA
determines is adequately demonstrated.
While the EPA accounts for variability
in setting emissions standards, nothing
in CAA section 111 requires the Agency
to consider malfunctions as part of that
analysis. The EPA is not required to
treat a malfunction in the same manner
as the type of variation in performance
that occurs during routine operations of
a source. A malfunction is a failure of
the source to perform in a ‘‘normal or
usual manner’’ and no statutory
language compels the EPA to consider
such events in setting CAA section 111
standards of performance. The EPA’s
approach to malfunctions in the
analogous circumstances (setting
‘‘achievable’’ standards under CAA
section 112) has been upheld as
reasonable by the D.C. Circuit in U.S.
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Sugar Corp. v. EPA, 830 F.3d 579, 606–
610 (2016).
1. Proposed SSM Provisions
The EPA proposed in NSPS subpart
La that the PM emissions and opacity
limits for blast, reverberatory, and pot
furnaces apply at all times, including
periods of SSM. The proposed NSPS
subpart La included specific
requirements at 40 CFR 60.122a(c) that
would override the general provisions
for SSM requirements.
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2. How the Final Revisions to the SSM
Provisions Differ From the Proposed
Revisions
After considering the comment on the
proposed SSM provisions, the EPA is
finalizing in NSPS subpart La that the
PM emissions and opacity limits for
blast, reverberatory, and pot furnaces
apply at all times, including periods of
SSM, and is finalizing the SSM
provision in 40 CFR 60.122a(c), as
proposed.
3. SSM Provision Comment and
Response
Comment: One commenter asserted
that the EPA should not remove from
NSPS subpart La the exception in the
NSPS general provisions (40 CFR
60.8(c)) which states that emissions
during SSM periods that exceed the
applicable NSPS limit are not
considered to be a violation of the
applicable emission limit. The
commenter noted that multiple rulings
by the D.C. Circuit (e.g., Portland
Cement Ass’n v. Ruckelshaus, 486 F.2d
375, 398 (D.C. Cir. 1973); Essex Chem.
Corp. v. Ruckelshaus, 486 F.2d 427, 432
(D.C. Cir. 1973); and National Lime
Ass’n v. EPA, 627 F.2d 416, 431 n.46
(D.C. Cir. 1980)) have affirmed the
EPA’s historic approach of not requiring
affected sources to meet NSPS emission
limits during SSM events. The
commenter stated that it would be
arbitrary and capricious for the EPA to
interpret Sierra Club v. EPA, 551 F.3d
1019 (D.C. Cir. 2008), as preventing the
EPA from exercising discretion in
establishing an SSM exception in NSPS
subpart La or as making an SSM
exception inappropriate in NSPS
subpart La on the current record.
Response: As discussed in more detail
in the proposal, the EPA has determined
that the reasoning in the court’s
decision in Sierra Club v. EPA, 551 F.3d
1019 (D.C. Cir. 2008), which vacated the
SSM exemption in CAA section 112,
applies equally to CAA section 111.
Therefore, we disagree with the
commenter on the applicability of this
decision to CAA section 111. While the
EPA recognizes the differences between
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the NESHAP and NSPS programs, the
court in Sierra Club held that under
section 302(k) of the CAA, emissions
standards or limitations must be
continuous in nature, and the definition
of emission or standard in CAA section
302(k) and the requirement for
continuous standards applies to both
NESHAP and NSPS.
C. Testing and Monitoring Requirements
1. Proposed Testing and Monitoring
Provisions
The EPA proposed requiring that
facilities subject to 40 CFR part 60,
subparts L and La conduct periodic PM
testing of blast, reverberatory, and pot
furnace emissions. The EPA also
proposed under 40 CFR part 60, subpart
La periodic testing of opacity from blast,
reverberatory, and pot furnace
emissions. The proposed amendments
would allow facilities to request less
frequent periodic PM testing, reduced
from every 12 months to every 24
months, if the previous periodic
compliance test demonstrates that PM
emissions are 50 percent or less of the
final emissions limit (e.g., PM emissions
from blast and reverberatory furnaces of
25 mg/dscm or less for facilities subject
to 40 CFR part 60, subpart L).
To reduce the testing burden on
facilities, the EPA also proposed
allowing facilities to determine the PM
emissions by either EPA Method 12
(Determination of Inorganic Lead
Emissions from Stationary Sources) or
EPA Method 29 (Determination of
Metals Emissions from Stationary
Sources). For determining opacity under
NSPS subpart L, the EPA proposed
allowing the use of ASTM, International
(ASTM) D7520–16 (Standard Test
Method for Determining the Opacity of
a Plume in the Outdoor Ambient
Atmosphere) as an alternative to EPA
Method 9. For NSPS subpart La, the
EPA proposed allowing the use of EPA
Method 22 (Visual Determination of
Fugitive Emissions from Material
Sources and Smoke Emissions from
Flares) if there are zero visible
emissions as an alternative to EPA
Method 9 or the ASTM D7520–16
method.
The EPA also proposed adding 40
CFR 60.124 and 40 CFR 60.124a
(Monitoring requirements) to NSPS
subparts L and La, respectively, to
include some of the monitoring
requirements specified in 40 CFR
63.548(a) through (i) (Monitoring
requirements) of the NESHAP (40 CFR
part 63, subpart X), including
development of a standard operating
procedures (SOP) manual for control
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devices used to reduce PM and opacity
emissions.
2. How the Final Revisions to the
Testing and Monitoring Provisions
Differ From the Proposed Revisions
After considering the comments, the
EPA is finalizing the testing and
monitoring provisions, as proposed. In
response to public comment regarding
the appropriate level of the opacity
standard, the EPA revised the proposed
opacity standard from 0 percent to 5
percent (see the discussion in section
IV.A. of this preamble). Although EPA
Method 22 is used only to determine the
absence of visual emissions (i.e., zero
percent opacity), rather than to
determine non-zero readings (e.g., 5
percent opacity), the EPA is retaining
the use of EPA Method 22 as an
alternative method to potentially reduce
the testing burden on facilities. For
example, a facility could use EPA
Method 22 to demonstrate compliance
with the final opacity limit of 5 percent
by determining no visible emissions.
However, if visible emissions are
detected, the facility would need to
proceed to use EPA Method 9 to confirm
opacity is no more than 5 percent.
3. Testing and Monitoring Comments
and Responses
Comment: One commenter contended
that periodic PM testing is unnecessary
and inappropriate, and would not
discover any actionable information that
would not be discovered through the
regular performance testing for
particulate lead required by NESHAP
subpart X.
Response: The EPA disagrees with the
commenter. The target pollutant of the
periodic testing under NESHAP subpart
X is lead, while the target pollutant for
the NSPS is PM. The EPA concludes
that it is appropriate to require periodic
testing for PM to confirm affected
facilities continue to comply with the
PM limits. Codifying the testing
requirements in the NSPS provides for
periodic, direct assessments regarding
facility compliance status with the PM
limits in NSPS subparts L and La.
Comment: One commenter
acknowledged that allowing facilities to
conduct performance tests for NESHAP
subpart X and NSPS subparts L and La,
as applicable, through collection of a
single sample will appropriately
facilitate effective compliance. The
commenter stated that, to assist in the
clarity of implementing the proposed
rule, the EPA should revise proposed 40
CFR 60.123 and 60.123a to clarify that
smelters are to employ section 16.1 of
EPA Method 12 or the specifications in
EPA Method 29, as stated in section 1.2
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of EPA Method 29, and detailed
throughout EPA Method 29.
Response: The EPA added the test
method sections cited by the commenter
to the final rules.
Comment: One commenter noted that
proposed NSPS subparts L and La (at 40
CFR 60.123(b)(2) and 60.123a(b)(2))
allow for facilities to request from the
EPA Administrator an extension (up to
24 months) for conducting the periodic
performance tests for facilities where
the previous compliance tests measured
PM emissions are 50 percent or less of
the emissions limit (e.g., for NSPS
subpart L, 25 mg/dscm or less). The
commenter asserted that, in practice, it
is difficult for well-controlled smelters
to obtain a timely decision from the EPA
regarding the facility’s request, which is
essentially tantamount to an unjustified
denial of the extension request. The
commenter stated that the EPA should
provide the testing extension upon
receipt of the facility’s request by the
appropriate EPA regional office, rather
than the facility having to wait for
Administrator approval.
Response: The EPA disagrees with the
commenter. Providing the performance
testing extension based solely on the
receipt of the facility’s request would
not be appropriate because it would not
provide any opportunity for the EPA or
delegated authority to verify the
facility’s assertion by reviewing the
request and supporting documentation
(e.g., test report) before granting the
testing extension. However, the EPA
recognizes it is reasonable for a facility
to expect to get a response as to whether
the 24-month period is approved within
a reasonable timeframe before their next
compliance test. Therefore, the EPA has
determined that it is appropriate to
finalize a provision that would preserve
the opportunity to review incoming
requests, while encouraging the EPA or
delegated authority to act within a
reasonable timeframe so that facilities
have adequate notice as to when the
next compliance test will be required.
Accordingly, the EPA is finalizing a
provision that provides that the
extension request will be deemed
automatically approved under the
following specified circumstances: (1) a
facility completes a performance test
that is 50 percent or lower than the
applicable emissions limit, (2) the
facility submits a request for the
extension of 24 months well before their
next required compliance test (i.e., no
more than 4 months after the subject
compliance test that was 50 percent or
lower than the limit), and (3) the EPA
does not provide a response to such
request within 6 months of receipt of
such request. The EPA has determined
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that this provision will provide a
balanced approach to the competing
interests of all involved parties.
D. Electronic Reporting
The EPA is finalizing a requirement
that owners and operators of secondary
lead smelters subject to the NSPS
subparts L and La submit the results of
the initial and periodic performance
tests electronically through the EPA’s
Central Data Exchange (CDX) using the
Compliance and Emissions Data
Reporting Interface (CEDRI). The EPA
did not receive any public comments
regarding the proposed requirements for
electronic reporting.
E. Notification, Recordkeeping, and
Reporting Requirements
1. Proposed Notification,
Recordkeeping, and Reporting
Provisions
The EPA proposed to add the
notification, recordkeeping, and
reporting requirements specified in the
proposed 40 CFR 60.125 and 40 CFR
60.125a (Notification, recordkeeping,
and reporting requirements) to NSPS
subparts L and La, respectively. The
proposed requirements clarified that
facilities must comply with the
notification and recordkeeping
requirements specified in 40 CFR 60.7
and the reporting requirements
specified in 40 CFR 60.19. The proposed
requirements in NSPS subparts L and La
included the recordkeeping
requirements from NESHAP subpart X
specified in 40 CFR 63.550(b); (c)(1)
through (c)(4); (c)(11) through (c)(12);
(e)(4) through (e)(7); and (e)(13).
2. How the Final Revisions to the
Notification, Recordkeeping and
Reporting Provisions Differ From the
Proposed Revisions
After considering the comments, the
EPA is finalizing the notification,
recordkeeping and reporting provisions,
as proposed, with the exception of the
editorial changes made to the text of 40
CFR 60.125(a) and 60.125a(a); 40 CFR
60.124(c) and 60.124a(c); and 40 CFR
60.124(f)(4) and 60.124a(f)(4), as
discussed below in section IV.E.3. of
this preamble.
3. Notification, Recordkeeping, and
Reporting Comments and Responses
Comment: One commenter stated that
the EPA should clarify as to the
proposed revisions to NSPS subpart L
that certain aspects of the NSPS General
Provisions 40 CFR 60.7 and 60.19 will
not apply because they concern
regulatory provisions that are absent
from NSPS subpart L (e.g., 40 CFR
60.7(a)(7) concerns continuous opacity
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monitoring systems, which
appropriately are not required under
proposed NSPS subpart L).
Response: The EPA revised the text of
40 CFR 60.125(a) and 60.125a(a) as set
forth in the amendatory text portion of
this final rule to address the
clarification suggested by the
commenter.
Comment: One commenter stated that
the EPA should revise the proposed
NSPS subparts L and La (40 CFR
60.124(c) and 60.124a(c)) to replace the
phrase ‘‘PM and opacity emissions
control devices’’ with the phrase
‘‘baghouses (fabric filters or cartridge
collectors)’’ to improve the consistency
between the underlying requirement
proposed in 40 CFR 60.124(b) and
60.124a(b), and the submission
provisions proposed in 40 CFR
60.124(c) and 60.124a(c).
Response: The EPA agrees with the
editorial change suggested by the
commenter. Therefore, the final NSPS
subparts L and La (40 CFR 60.124(c) and
60.124a(c)) replace the phrase ‘‘PM and
opacity emissions control devices’’ with
the phrase ‘‘baghouses (fabric filters or
cartridge collectors).’’
Comment: One commenter requested
that the EPA provide a mechanism by
which a secondary lead smelting facility
could avoid submission of a redundant
SOP manual in response to the
proposed requirements in 40 CFR
60.124 and 60.124a, given the
similarities between those provisions
and the SOP required by NESHAP
subpart X (40 CFR 63.548).
Response: The EPA disagrees with the
commenter that an additional
mechanism is needed that would allow
secondary lead smelting facilities to
avoid submission of redundant SOP
manuals in response to the proposed
requirements in 40 CFR 60.124 and
60.124a. Proposed 40 CFR 60.124(l) and
60.124a(l) state: ‘‘If an affected source is
subject to the monitoring requirements
specified in 40 CFR part 63, subpart X
(National Emissions Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants from
Secondary Lead Smelting) and those
requirements are as stringent or more
stringent than the monitoring
requirements specified in paragraphs (a)
through (j) of this section, compliance
with the monitoring requirements
specified in 40 CFR part 63, subpart X
also demonstrates compliance with the
monitoring requirements specified in
paragraphs (a) through (k) of this
section.’’ The EPA believes that this
specification in NSPS subparts L and La
already addresses the concern raised by
the commenter.
Comment: One commenter noted that
proposed NSPS subparts L and La (40
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CFR 60.124(f)(4) and 60.124a(f)(4)) refer
to the document ‘‘Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards (OAQPS) Fabric
Filter Bag Leak Detection Guidance’’
(EPA–454/R–98–015; September 1997).
The commenter stated that the EPA
guidance document is 26 years old and
may be inconsistent with current
guidance provided by manufacturers of
bag leak detection systems. The
commenter requested that the EPA
revise proposed NSPS subparts L and La
(40 CFR 60.124(f)(4) and 60.124a(f)(4))
to clarify that a smelter may install and
operate the bag leak detection system in
a manner consistent with the
manufacturer’s written specifications
and recommendations if there is any
conflict between the manufacturer’s
instructions and the OAQPS guidance.
Response: The EPA agrees with the
clarification suggested by the
commenter. Therefore, the final text of
40 CFR 60.124(f)(4) and 60.124a(f)(4) as
set forth in the amendatory text portion
of this final rule.
Comment: One commenter contended
that the proposed requirements in NSPS
subparts L and La (40 CFR 60.124(k),
60.124a(k), 60.125(c)(10), and
60.125a(c)(10)) for facilities to establish
and record parametric monitoring
values for each control device used to
comply with the PM and opacity
emission standards are not consistent
with the requirements of NESHAP
subpart X (40 CFR 63.550(a)), which
only requires parametric monitoring and
recordkeeping for scrubbers. The
commenter stated that the proposed
requirements in NSPS subparts L and La
(40 CFR 60.124(k) and 60.124a(k)) for
secondary lead smelting facilities to
establish, during the initial or periodic
performance test, the value or range of
values of the monitoring parameter(s)
for each control device used to comply
with the PM and opacity emission
standards was overly vague and
potentially would require the
establishment of monitoring parameters
for pollution control devices (e.g.,
WESPs) that are employed, but are not
part of BSER, or afterburners that are
employed, but have little or no role in
PM control. The commenter added that
the proposed NSPS subparts L and La
include monitoring and recordkeeping
provisions that provide sufficient
criteria for the proper operation of
applicable control devices (the
commenter provided several citations to
the proposed rules). The commenter
stated that the EPA should revise the
proposed language to specify that a
secondary lead smelting facility is not
required to establish and record
parametric monitoring values for PM
control devices (other than scrubbers) if
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the facility demonstrates compliance
with NSPS subparts L and/or La (40
CFR 60.124 and/or 60.124a) by
complying with the monitoring
provisions of NESHAP subpart X.
Response: Although the EPA strives to
improve the consistency between NSPS
subparts L and La and NESHAP subpart
X, where possible, the EPA’s decisionmaking regarding the requirements for
the NSPS must be driven by the
requirements of CAA section 111 and
the regulatory provisions necessary to
implement standards of performance
promulgated pursuant to that authority.
We have determined that parametric
monitoring of control devices is
necessary for demonstrating ongoing
compliance with the PM and opacity
emission standards between the
demonstrations provided by the
periodic performance tests. We also
disagree with the commenter that the
text in proposed NSPS subparts L and
La (40 CFR 60.124(k) and 60.124a(k)) is
overly vague. The rules specify
establishment of monitoring parameter
values ‘‘for each control device used to
comply with the PM and opacity
emission standards’’ of the NSPS.
Regarding the commenter’s contention
that the proposed text could potentially
require the establishment of monitoring
parameters for control devices (e.g.,
WESP) and afterburners, this is
consistent with the EPA’s intent. The
EPA determined that BSER for PM
emissions and opacity from new,
modified, or reconstructed blast
furnaces is an afterburner followed by
efficient PM controls, which would
include controls such as a WESP.
Comment: One commenter said that
the phrase ‘‘and those requirements are
as stringent or more stringent than the
monitoring requirements specified in
paragraphs (a) through (j) of this
section’’ in proposed NSPS subparts L
and La (40 CFR 60.124(l) and 60.124a(l))
introduces regulatory confusion as to
whether compliance with the
monitoring provisions of NESHAP
subpart X also demonstrates compliance
with the proposed monitoring
requirements of NSPS subparts L and
La. The commenter asserted that the
EPA should either eliminate the phrase
from the regulatory text or, at a
minimum, state in the preamble to the
final NSPS rulemaking that the current
monitoring provisions of NESHAP
subpart X are as stringent or more
stringent than the monitoring
requirements specified in the proposed
NSPS.
Response: The EPA believes that the
current monitoring provisions of
NESHAP subpart X are at least as
stringent as the monitoring
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requirements specified in the final
NSPS subparts L and La. Nonetheless,
the EPA continues to find it appropriate
to finalize the proposed language at 40
CFR 60.124(l) and 60.124a(l) with
respect to the NESHAP subpart X
monitoring requirements. NESHAP
undergo periodic reviews pursuant to
CAA section 112, and, to the extent that
NESHAP subpart X were revised during
a future review, or otherwise modified,
such that the monitoring requirements
were no longer as stringent or more
stringent than those finalized in
subparts L and La, it would no longer
be appropriate to permit the use of the
monitoring requirements in NESHAP
subpart X in lieu of those required by
the NSPS.
Comment: One commenter said that
proposed NSPS subparts L and La (40
CFR 60.124 and 60.124a) require that
the monitoring systems comply with the
applicable requirements specified in the
NSPS General Provisions (40 CFR 60.13)
but noted that 40 CFR 60.13(a) states
that the section is only applicable
‘‘upon promulgation of performance
specifications for continuous
monitoring systems under appendix B
to this part.’’ The commenter contended
that, because proposed NSPS subparts L
and La do not require continuous
monitoring systems to demonstrate
compliance with emission limits, the
EPA should revise the proposed
language in 40 CFR 60.124 and 60.124a
to include the following text: ‘‘The
owner shall comply with the applicable
monitoring requirements specified in 40
CFR 60.13 upon promulgation of
performance specifications in 40 CFR
part 60—Appendix B for the continuous
monitoring systems required in this
section. The Procedures of 40 CFR part
60—Appendix F do not apply because
the continuous monitoring systems
required in this section are not used to
demonstrate compliance with emission
limits on a continuous basis.’’
Response: The EPA disagrees with the
commenter that additional text is
needed in 40 CFR 60.124 or 60.124a. As
the commenter noted, 40 CFR 60.124
and 60.124a state that the owner shall
comply with the applicable monitoring
requirements specified in 40 CFR 60.13.
Although the proposed NSPS subparts L
and La do not require facilities to use
continuous opacity monitoring systems
(COMS) or continuous emissions
monitoring systems (CEMS) to comply
with the standards, NSPS subparts L
and La do not preclude facilities from
using COMS or CEMS. The performance
standards are required if the continuous
monitoring system is used to
demonstrate compliance with emission
limits on a continuous basis.
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F. Definitions
1. Proposed Definitions
The EPA proposed to incorporate the
definitions shown in Table 1 of this
preamble into 40 CFR 60.121
(Definitions) of existing 40 CFR part 60,
subpart L and 40 CFR 60.121a
(Definitions) of the proposed 40 CFR
part 60, subpart La. These proposed
definitions were intended to improve
the clarity of the NSPS subparts and to
reduce potential confusion among
industry and regulatory agencies by
aligning the descriptions of the affected
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sources that would be regulated by 40
CFR part 60, subparts L and La to be
more consistent with the definitions
within the NESHAP at 40 CFR part 63,
subpart X, as shown in Table 1. These
proposed changes did not affect the
applicability of existing NSPS subpart L.
TABLE 1—PART 60 PROCESS EQUIPMENT DEFINITIONS PROPOSED FOR NSPS SUBPARTS L AND La
Equipment
Current definition in NSPS
subpart L
Blast furnace ........................
Any furnace used to recover
metal from slag.
Reverberatory furnace .........
Includes the following types
of reverberatory furnaces:
stationary, rotating, rocking, and tilting.
Pot furnace ...........................
Not defined ............................
2. How the Final Rule Definitions Differ
From the Proposed Definitions
After considering the comments on
the proposed definitions, the EPA is not
adopting the proposed changes to the
definitions for blast furnace,
NESHAP subpart X
Proposed for NSPS subparts L and La
A smelting furnace consisting of a
vertical cylinder atop a crucible, into
which lead-bearing charge materials
are introduced at the top of the furnace and combustion air is introduced through tuyeres at the bottom
of the cylinder, and that uses coke
as a fuel source and that is operated
at such a temperature in the combustion zone (greater than 980 Celsius) that lead compounds are
chemically reduced to elemental lead
metal.
A refractory-lined furnace that uses one
or more flames to heat the walls and
roof of the furnace and lead-bearing
scrap to such a temperature (greater
than 980 Celsius) that lead compounds are chemically reduced to
elemental lead metal.
A smelting furnace consisting of a
vertical cylinder atop a crucible, into
which lead-bearing charge materials
are introduced at the top of the furnace and combustion air is introduced through tuyeres at the bottom
of the cylinder, and that lead compounds are chemically reduced to
elemental lead metal.
Refining kettle means an open-top vessel that is constructed of cast iron or
steel and is indirectly heated from
below and contains molten lead for
the purpose of refining and alloying
the lead. Included are pot furnaces,
receiving kettles, and holding kettles.
reverberatory furnace, and pot furnace
in current NSPS subpart L. For NSPS
subpart La, the EPA is maintaining in 40
CFR 60.121a (Definitions) the
definitions of ‘‘blast furnace,’’ ‘‘lead,’’
‘‘reverberatory furnace,’’ and
‘‘secondary lead smelter’’ specified in
A refractory-lined furnace that uses one
or more flames to heat the walls and
roof of the furnace and lead-bearing
scrap such that lead compounds are
chemically reduced to elemental lead
metal. Reverberatory furnaces include the following types: stationary,
rotating, rocking, and tilting.
Pot furnace is a type of refining kettle,
which is an open-top vessel constructed of cast iron or steel and is
indirectly heated from below and
contains molten lead for the purpose
of refining and alloying the lead.
current NSPS subpart L (instead of
adopting the proposed definitions in
Table 1, above) and finalizing the
definition of ‘‘process fugitive emissions
source.’’ Table 2 of this preamble shows
the final process definitions for NSPS
subpart La.
TABLE 2—PART 60 FINAL DEFINITIONS FOR NSPS SUBPART LA
Equipment
Final NSPS subpart La
Blast furnace ...................................
Lead ................................................
Reverberatory furnace ....................
Blast furnace means any furnace used to recover metal from slag.
Lead means elemental lead or alloys in which the predominant component is lead.
Reverberatory furnace includes the following types of reverberatory furnaces: stationary, rotating, rocking,
and tilting.
A source of PM emissions at a secondary lead smelter that is associated with lead smelting or refining including, but not limited to, smelting furnace charging points; smelting furnace lead and slag taps; pot and
refining furnaces; and casting kettles.
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Process fugitive emissions source
3. Definition Comments and Responses
Comment: One commenter provided
several comments and
recommendations regarding the
proposed definitions in NSPS subparts
L and La. The commenter said that the
EPA should revise the proposed
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definition of ‘‘secondary lead smelter’’
to use the term ‘‘lead-bearing material’’
rather than ‘‘lead-bearing scrap
material’’ and either include or crossreference the definition of ‘‘lead bearing
material’’ from NESHAP subpart X (40
CFR 63.542). The commenter noted that
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the proposed definitions in NSPS
subparts L and La did not define either
‘‘lead-bearing material’’ or ‘‘lead-bearing
scrap material.’’ The commenter said
that the EPA should clarify that these
terms in the proposed definitions of
‘‘blast furnace’’ and ‘‘reverberatory
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furnace’’ (40 CFR 60.121(a) and
60.121a(a)), mean the same as ‘‘leadbearing material’’ as defined in NESHAP
subpart X (40 CFR 63.542).
The commenter stated that the EPA
should align the proposed definition of
‘‘blast furnace’’ in 40 CFR 60.121(d) and
60.121a(d) with the NESHAP definition
for ‘‘blast furnace’’ used in NESHAP
subpart X (40 CFR 63.542) by including
the phrases ‘‘uses coke as a fuel source’’
and ‘‘(greater than 980 Celsius)’’ to
eliminate potential confusion about
applicability and the possibility of any
gaps between the NESHAP and NSPS
definitions. The commenter said that
the EPA should align the proposed
definition of ‘‘reverberatory furnace’’ in
NSPS subparts L and La (40 CFR
60.121(a) and 60.121a(a)) with the
NESHAP subpart X definition by
excluding the last sentence of the
proposed definition to eliminate
potential confusion about applicability
and the possibility of any gaps between
the NESHAP and NSPS definitions:
‘‘Reverberatory furnaces include the
following types: stationary, rotating,
rocking, and tilting furnaces.’’
The commenter said that the
proposed definitions for ‘‘lead’’ in NSPS
subparts L and La (40 CFR 60.121(c) and
60.121a(c)) should include the term
‘‘lead alloy,’’ rather than ‘‘alloy,’’
because ‘‘alloy’’ arguably could refer to
certain unspecified non-lead alloys. The
commenter stated that the EPA should
change the term ‘‘alloy’’ to ‘‘lead alloy’’
and add the definition of ‘‘lead alloy’’
from NESHAP subpart X (40 CFR
63.542) to NSPS subparts L and La.
The commenter also noted that the
proposed NSPS subparts L and La did
not define the term ‘‘smelting’’ used in
the proposed secondary lead smelter
definition and said that the EPA should
either include or cross-reference the
definition of ‘‘smelting’’ from NESHAP
subpart X (40 CFR 63.542).
The commenter asserted that the EPA
should clarify that, for a refining kettle
that meets the pot furnace definition,
the new pot furnace includes all of the
typical refining kettle components
including (as applicable): footers,
structural steel, kettle or pot
(constructed of cast iron or steel),
indirect heating system (burners, piping,
monitors, combustion air system, and
flue), cover, fume collection system
(hood), agitator (mixer, motor, drive,
and mount), furnace shell, refractory
lining, lead pump, electrical
components (switches, controllers, etc.),
and process monitors. The commenter
noted that this clarification is important
because facilities regularly replace both
the kettle and the refractory lining
component of the pot furnace during the
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pot furnace’s useful life and replacing
the kettle or the refractory lining of a pot
furnace potentially could be
misinterpreted as reconstruction
without appropriate clarification on this
issue.
The commenter also stated that the
EPA should revise the definition of ‘‘pot
furnace’’ at proposed 40 CFR 60.121(e)
and 60.121a(e) as follows to clarify that
the definition does not apply to
receiving kettles, holding kettles, or
R&D kettles: ‘‘(e) Pot furnace means a
type of refining kettle, which is an opentop vessel constructed of cast iron or
steel and is indirectly heated from
below and contains molten lead for the
purpose of refining and alloying the
lead. For avoidance of doubt, the term
‘‘pot furnace’’ excludes the following
types of refining kettles: (i) receiving
kettles and holding kettles where
refining or alloying activities do not
occur; and (ii) pot furnaces with a
maximum capacity less than 5 tons
molten metal that are operated fewer
than 4000 hours per year.’’
The commenter noted that the
important distinction between pot
furnaces used for refining and alloying,
on the one hand, and refining kettles
used for receiving or holding molten
lead, on the other hand, is not present
in the proposed rule. Instead, the
commenter said that the EPA proposed
a definition of pot furnaces in 40 CFR
60.120(e) and 60.120a(e) as ‘‘a type of
refining kettle, which is an open-top
vessel constructed of cast iron or steel
and is indirectly heated from below and
contains molten lead for the purpose of
refining and alloying the lead.’’
Response: These proposed definitions
were intended to improve the clarity of
the NSPS subparts and to reduce
potential confusion among industry and
regulatory agencies by aligning the
descriptions of the affected sources that
would be regulated by NSPS subparts L
and La to be more consistent with the
definitions within the NESHAP subpart
X. However, after considering the
comments received regarding the
proposed process equipment definitions
and because of potential future changes
to the definitions in NESHAP subpart X
pursuant to the EPA’s upcoming review
of NESHAP subpart X, which applies to
new and existing sources, the EPA is not
finalizing the proposed process
equipment definition changes in subpart
L and La. The EPA had determined that
it is more appropriate to complete the
NESHAP review first before finalizing
any changes to the existing definitions
in NSPS subparts L and La for blast
furnace, lead, reverberatory furnace, and
secondary lead.
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As part of the NESHAP review
process, the EPA will acquire new
information regarding secondary lead
process equipment, which could result
in revisions to the existing NESHAP
definitions or development of new
definitions. Were the EPA to finalize the
proposed definitions in NSPS subparts
L and La at this time, such future
revisions to the definitions in NESHAP
subpart X may create new
inconsistencies. In this case, finalizing
the proposed definitions to NSPS
subparts L and La would not increase
clarity and consistency as intended.
Instead, any definition changes made in
NSPS subparts L and La at this time
with the intent of improving the
consistency between the NSPS and
NESHAP definitions would be
mistimed, and the EPA might need to
consider further revising the NSPS
definitions established in this action in
the future to reflect the equipment
definitions specified in the post-review
NESHAP. Because the EPA has decided
not to finalize the revised definitions,
the EPA does not need to provide
detailed responses to the comments
suggesting specific revisions to those
definitions.
In addition, after revisiting the
process definitions that have been in
NSPS subpart L since 1983, we find that
no changes are needed to improve
clarity as initially thought at proposal.
Therefore, we are not finalizing any
changes to the existing definitions in
NSPS subpart L or in NSPS subpart La.
Instead, we are maintaining the blast
furnace, lead, reverberatory furnace, and
secondary lead smelter definitions
currently specified in NSPS subpart L.
However, we are adding to NSPS
subpart La a definition for ‘‘process
fugitive emissions source’’ to
accommodate the final PM standard for
pot furnaces (see the discussion in
section IV.A.2. of this preamble). Also,
regarding the comments that the EPA
should include the term ‘‘lead alloy,’’
rather than ‘‘alloy,’’ the current subpart
L and new subpart La both state that
‘‘Lead means elemental lead or alloys in
which the predominant component is
lead.’’ This definition is clear that the
only alloys affected by the rule are
alloys in which the predominant
component is lead. The term ‘‘alloys in
which the predominant component is
lead’’ essentially means the same thing
as ‘‘lead alloys’’. Therefore, we did not
make any changes to the definition of
lead or add a new definition for lead
alloys to subparts L or La.
With regard to the comment that the
EPA should include a definition of
smelting or provide a cross reference,
because of potential future changes to
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the definitions in NESHAP subpart X
(including for ‘‘smelting’’) pursuant the
EPA’s upcoming review of NESHAP
subpart X (discussed above), which
applies to new and existing sources, the
EPA decided not to add a new
definition for smelting in subpart L or
La at this time because of potential
inconsistencies once the EPA completes
the next NESHAP review.
Regarding the comment that EPA
should revise the definition of ‘‘pot
furnace’’, this may have been an
important clarification for the NSPS
final rule if the EPA finalized the
proposed pot furnace specific emissions
limit of 3 mg/dscm. However, as
explained in a previous response,
instead of a pot furnace specific limit,
the EPA is promulgating a PM limit of
4.9 mg/dscm for process fugitive
emissions, which includes pot furnaces,
but also includes other process fugitive
emissions sources (such as refining
kettles, holding kettles, alloying units).
Therefore, we conclude that the specific
definition clarifications requested by the
commenter are no longer necessary for
implementation of the NSPS and can
wait until the EPA completes the next
NESHAP review.
G. Effective Date and Compliance Dates
Pursuant to CAA section 111(b)(1)(B),
the effective date of the final rule
requirements in NSPS subpart La and
amendments to NSPS subpart L will be
the promulgation date, which is the date
of publication of the final rule in the
Federal Register. Affected sources that
commence construction, reconstruction,
or modification after December 1, 2022,
must comply with all requirements of
NSPS subpart La no later than the
effective date of the final rule or upon
startup, whichever is later.
V. Summary of Cost, Environmental,
and Economic Impacts
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A. What are the air quality impacts?
The final amendments to 40 CFR part
60, subpart La:
• Reduce the PM emissions limit for
blast and reverberatory furnaces from 50
to 10 mg/dscm.
• Establish new PM emissions limits
for process fugitive emissions sources of
4.9 mg/dscm.
• Lower the opacity limit for blast
and reverberatory furnaces from 20
percent to 5 percent.
• Lower the opacity limit for pot
furnaces from 10 percent to 5 percent.
New or reconstructed blast,
reverberatory, and pot furnaces will also
be subject to the NESHAP (40 CFR part
63, subpart X) requirements for new
sources, while modified blast,
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reverberatory, and pot furnaces will also
be subject to the NESHAP requirements
for existing sources. NESHAP subpart X
regulates particulate lead emissions
from process vent, process fugitive, and
fugitive dust sources. The emissions
capture systems and control devices that
are already required by the NESHAP to
comply with the lead limits for blast
furnaces, reverberatory furnaces, and
process fugitive emissions sources will
also control PM emissions regulated by
the NSPS. Therefore, the final 40 CFR
part 60, subpart La will not result in
actual reductions of PM emissions.
However, codifying the lower PM and
opacity limits in the final 40 CFR part
60, subpart La will significantly reduce
the PM and opacity allowable emissions
of affected sources that commence
construction, reconstruction, or
modification after December 1, 2022.
B. What are the secondary impacts?
Indirect or secondary air emissions
impacts result from the increased energy
usage associated with the operation of
control devices (e.g., increased
secondary emissions of criteria
pollutants from electricity generating
power plants). The EPA does not expect
that facilities will need any additional
control devices or other equipment to
meet the final NSPS requirements
beyond those that would already be
needed to comply with the NESHAP.
Therefore, the EPA does not attribute
any secondary impacts to the final 40
CFR part 60, subpart La.
C. What are the cost impacts for
regulated facilities?
For 40 CFR part 60, subparts L and La,
the EPA requires that facilities conduct
periodic performance tests to measure
PM emissions using EPA Method 5
(Determination of Particulate Matter
Emissions from Stationary Sources). The
NESHAP (40 CFR part 63, subpart X)
also requires periodic tests for lead
using EPA Method 12 (Determination of
Inorganic Lead Emissions from
Stationary Sources) or EPA Method 29
(Metal Emissions from Stationary
Sources). Because both of the NESHAP
test methods analyze the PM captured
on the internal surfaces of the sampling
probe and on a sampling train filter to
determine the lead concentration,
facilities can conduct an additional
gravimetric analysis of the EPA Method
12 or EPA Method 29 probe rinse and
filter to determine PM emissions, rather
than performing separate tests using
EPA Method 5. The EPA estimates that
the additional gravimetric analysis of
the EPA Method 12 or EPA Method 29
particulate filter costs approximately
$300 per test per year. To estimate the
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total cost associated with the final
periodic PM performance tests under 40
CFR part 60, subparts L and La, the EPA
assumed that each respondent under the
respective subparts would conduct 3
p.m. tests per year (1 for each furnace
type). See section V.C. of this preamble
for more details on cost estimates.
For 40 CFR part 60, subpart La, the
EPA is also requiring that facilities
periodically determine the opacity of
blast furnace, reverberatory furnace, and
process fugitive source emissions. For
NSPS subpart La, the EPA is requiring
that facilities conduct initial and
periodic tests using EPA Method 9 or
ASTM D7520–16. Alternatively,
facilities can use EPA Method 22
(Visible Determination of Fugitive
Emissions) to determine no visible
emissions from blast furnace,
reverberatory furnace, and process
fugitive emissions sources. To estimate
the cost of the initial and periodic
opacity tests for NSPS subpart La, the
EPA assumed that new facilities would
be able to determine no visible
emissions using EPA Method 22, rather
than using EPA Method 9. The EPA
assumed that new facilities would train
facility personnel to implement EPA
Method 22 (at a one-time cost of $426
per facility), but not incur additional
capital costs associated with conducting
the EPA Method 9 observations.
We estimate that 2 of the 11 existing
facilities will be modified or
reconstructed over the next five years
such that these 2 facilities will be
subject to subpart La, and the other 9
facilities will be subject to subpart L.
Therefore, for 40 CFR part 60, subpart
L, the total incremental cost for the
periodic PM testing over the 3-year
period is $16,200 three tests per year at
$300 per test for 9 respondents for years
2 and 3 (facilities subject to subpart L
have already conducted initial
performance tests for PM emissions and
opacity). For 40 CFR part 60, subpart La,
the total incremental cost for PM testing
over the 3-year period is $8,100 (i.e.,
three tests per year at $300 per test for
the two existing facilities that the EPA
assumes will undergo reconstruction
and one new facility) and the total
incremental cost for opacity testing is
$426 for EPA Method 22 training (i.e.,
$426 one-time cost for the new facility).
Based on a review of facility operating
permits, the two existing facilities that
we determined could be reconstructed
over the 3-year period (thereby
triggering NSPS subpart La
applicability) already conduct periodic
opacity tests using EPA Method 9.
Therefore, the EPA did not estimate
opacity testing costs for the two
potential reconstructed facilities. The
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estimated total incremental cost for
emissions testing for two reconstructed
sources and one new source projected
over the 3-year period is $8,526.
The EPA did not estimate cost
impacts for the final monitoring
requirements in 40 CFR part 60,
subparts L and La because this action
will allow subject facilities to comply
with these subparts by complying with
the applicable monitoring requirements
for new sources specified in the
NESHAP (40 CFR part 63, subpart X).
Therefore, there is no additional
monitoring burden.
D. What are the economic impacts?
The EPA conducted an economic
impact analysis (EIA) and small
business screening assessment for this
final action, as discussed in the
proposal for this action and detailed in
the memorandum, Economic Impact
Analysis for Final Revisions and
Amendments to the New Source
Performance Standards for Secondary
Lead Smelters, which is available in the
docket for this action. The economic
impacts of this final action were
estimated by comparing total
annualized compliance costs to
revenues at the ultimate parent
company level. This is known as the
cost-to-revenue or cost-to-sales test. This
ratio provides a measure of the direct
economic impact to ultimate parent
company owners of facilities while
presuming no impact on consumers.
As discussed in the proposal for this
action, we estimate that the total cost for
emissions testing, reporting, and
recordkeeping projected over the 3-year
period for the 9 sources subject to NSPS
subpart L is $80,000. The average
annual cost per facility is approximately
$3,000. The 9 facilities subject to NSPS
subpart L are owned by seven different
parent companies with an annual
average revenue of $4.5 billion in 2021.
As discussed in section V.C. of this
preamble, we assume the other 2
existing facilities will be modified or
reconstructed and therefore will be
subject to subpart La. The economic
impact associated with this cost as an
annual cost per sales, for the average
parent company in the industry, is less
than 0.0001 percent and is not expected
to result in a significant market impact,
regardless of whether it is fully passed
on to the consumer or fully absorbed by
the affected firms.
In addition, the cost analysis assumed
that facilities subject to final 40 CFR
part 60, subpart La would conduct
initial and periodic tests for PM
emissions and opacity, but would not
need to install control devices to meet
the final PM and opacity emissions
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limits because the new, modified, or
reconstructed facility would install the
same types of controls already necessary
to comply with NESHAP subpart X. The
EPA also assumed that facilities subject
to the final NSPS subpart La would not
incur monitoring costs attributed to the
new NSPS.
The EPA views the testing costs to be
upper-bound estimates on the potential
compliance costs of the final 40 CFR
part 60, subparts L and La. Even under
the upper-bound cost assumptions
described above, the EPA expects the
potential economic impacts of this final
action will be small.
As required by the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (RFA), we performed an
analysis to determine if any small
entities might be disproportionately
impacted by the final requirements. The
EPA does not know with certainty
which existing facilities may be
reconstructed or modified in the future
and subject to NSPS subpart La, and
therefore cannot perform an accurate
cost-to-sales analysis. However, based
on an assessment of the projected
growth in the secondary lead smelting
industry, the EPA believes it is unlikely
that any future facilities will be
reconstructed or modified by a small
business.
E. What are the benefits?
The final revisions to 40 CFR part 60,
subparts L and La clarify both rules,
improve the practical enforceability of
the rules, and enhance compliance and
enforcement. The EPA expects that
implementing the final amendments to
40 CFR part 60, subparts L and La will
help ensure that control systems used to
reduce PM and opacity emissions from
affected sources are properly operated
and maintained over time.
Additionally, the final amendments to
require electronic reporting of emissions
test results in 40 CFR part 60, subparts
L and La will ultimately reduce the
burden on regulated facilities, delegated
air agencies, and the EPA, and also
improve access to data, minimize data
reporting errors, and eliminate paper
waste and redundancies.
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
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support underserved communities
through Federal government actions (86
FR 7009; January 20, 2021). The EPA
defines environmental justice (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.’’ 2 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,3 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 this action under development.
The Agency has conducted an
analysis of the demographics of the
populations living near existing
facilities in the Secondary Lead
Smelting source category. Because this
action finalizes standards of
performance for new, modified, and
reconstructed sources that commence
construction after December 1, 2022, the
locations of the construction of new
secondary lead smelters are not known.
As discussed above, we assumed two
existing facilities might be modified.
However, it is not known with any
2 See
https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice.
https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/
technical-guidance-assessing-environmentaljustice-regulatory-analysis.
3 See
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certainty which of the existing
secondary lead smelters might be
modified or reconstructed. Therefore,
the demographic analysis was
conducted for the 11 existing secondary
lead smelters as a proxy for the
characterization of the demographics in
areas where new, modified, or
reconstructed source might be located in
the future.
Section F. (‘‘What analysis of
environmental justice did we
conduct?’’) of the proposal preamble (87
FR 73708) presents the full results of the
demographic analysis. The analysis
included an assessment of individual
demographic groups of the populations
living within 5 kilometers (km) and
within 50 km of the existing facilities.
We then compared the data from the
analysis to the national average for each
of the demographic groups. The results
show that, for populations within 5 km
of the 11 secondary lead smelters, the
percent Hispanic or Latino population is
higher than the national average (38
percent versus 19 percent). The percent
of ‘‘other and multiracial population’’
and people living in linguistic isolation
within the same geographic area are
higher than the national average (12
percent versus 8 percent and 8 percent
versus 5 percent, respectively). The
percent of the population over 25
without a high school diploma is higher
than the national average (19 percent
versus 12 percent), while the percent of
the population living below the poverty
line is similar to the national average.
The results of the analysis of
populations within 50 km of the 11
secondary lead smelters are similar to
the 5 km analysis.
The technical report, Analysis of
Demographic Factors for Populations
Living Near Secondary Lead Smelting
Source Category Operations, which is
available in the docket for this action
(Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2022–
0481), presents the methodology and the
results of the demographic analysis.
As indicated above, the locations of
any new secondary lead smelting
facilities that would be subject to NSPS
subpart La are not known. Also, it is not
known with any certainty which
existing secondary lead smelters may be
modified or reconstructed and subject to
the NSPS subpart La. Thus, we are
limited in our ability to estimate the
potential EJ impacts of this rule.
However, we anticipate the changes to
the NSPS will generally minimize or
reduce future emissions in surrounding
communities of new, modified, or
reconstructed facilities, including those
communities with higher percentages of
people of color. Furthermore, the EPA
expects that the NSPS subpart La, will
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ensure compliance with the PM
emissions and opacity limits at all times
(including periods of SSM) via initial
and periodic emissions testing. NSPS
subpart La also codifies standards of
performance reflecting improvements in
PM control technologies that have
occurred in the industry since
promulgation of the current NSPS
subpart L. Therefore, effects of
emissions on populations in proximity
to any future affected sources, including
in communities potentially
overburdened by pollution, which are
often people of color, low-income, and
Indigenous communities, will be
minimized due to compliance with the
standards of performance being
finalized in this action.
VI. 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.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
The information collection activities
in this final rule have been submitted
for approval to OMB under the PRA.
The updated Information Collection
Request (ICR) document that the EPA
prepared for NSPS subpart L has been
assigned EPA ICR number 1128.13, and
the new ICR prepared for the final NSPS
subpart La has been assigned EPA ICR
number 2729.01. You can find copies of
the ICRs in the docket for this rule, and
they are briefly summarized here. The
information collection requirements are
not enforceable until OMB approves
them.
The EPA is finalizing amendments to
the existing NSPS (40 CFR part 60,
subpart L) that:
• Require periodic testing for PM
emissions.
• Incorporate monitoring,
recordkeeping, and reporting
requirements that are consistent with
NESHAP subpart X.
• Require electronic reporting of
performance test results.
A summary of the ICR for NSPS
subpart L follows:
Respondents/affected entities:
Secondary lead smelting facilities.
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80607
Respondent’s obligation to respond:
Mandatory (40 CFR part 60, subpart L).
Estimated number of respondents:
Nine existing facilities subject to 40 CFR
part 60, subpart L.
Frequency of response: Annually.
Total estimated burden: The annual
recordkeeping and reporting burden for
facilities to comply with all the
requirements in the NSPS is estimated
to be 228 hours (per year). Burden is
defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
Total estimated cost: The annual
recordkeeping and reporting costs for all
facilities to comply with all the
requirements in the NSPS is estimated
to be $27,000 (per year).
The EPA is also finalizing a new
subpart (40 CFR part 60, subpart La) for
new, modified, or reconstructed
facilities that commenced construction,
reconstruction, or modification after
December 1, 2022, that:
• Includes definitions for ‘‘blast
furnace,’’ ‘‘lead,’’ ‘‘reverberatory
furnace,’’ and ‘‘secondary lead smelter’’
that are the same as NSPS subpart L.
• Includes a definition for ‘‘process
fugitive emissions source’’ to be
consistent with the definition used in
NESHAP subpart X.
• Establishes a tighter PM limit (10
mg/dscm) for blast and reverberatory
furnaces.
• Establishes a new PM limit (4.9 mg/
dscm) for process fugitive emissions
sources.
• Establishes a tighter opacity limit (5
percent) for blast, reverberatory, and
process fugitive emissions sources.
• Removes the exemptions for
periods of SSM.
• Requires initial and periodic testing
for PM emissions and opacity.
• Incorporates monitoring,
recordkeeping, and reporting
requirements that are consistent with
the NESHAP (40 CFR part 63, subpart
X).
• Requires electronic reporting of
performance test results.
A summary of the ICR for NSPS
subpart La follows:
Respondents/affected entities:
Secondary lead smelting facilities.
Respondent’s obligation to respond:
Mandatory (40 CFR part 60, subpart La).
Estimated number of respondents:
Three facilities (two reconstructed and
one new source) in the next 3 years.
Frequency of response: Annually.
Total estimated burden: The annual
recordkeeping and reporting burden for
facilities to comply with all the
requirements in the NSPS is estimated
to be 127 hours (per year). Burden is
defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
Total estimated cost: The annual
recordkeeping and reporting costs for all
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facilities to comply with all the
requirements in the NSPS is estimated
to be $14,000 (per year).
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number. The OMB control
numbers for the EPA’s regulations in 40
CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9. When
OMB approves this ICR, the Agency will
announce that approval in the Federal
Register and publish a technical
amendment to 40 CFR part 9 to display
the OMB control number for the
approved information collection
activities contained in this final rule.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
I certify that this action will not have
a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities
(SISNOSE) under the RFA.
This action will not impose any
significant requirements on small
entities. Details of the analysis in
support of this determination are
presented in the memorandum titled,
Economic Impact Analysis and Small
Business Screening Assessment for
Final Revisions and Amendments to the
New Source Performance Standards for
Secondary Lead Smelters, which is
available in the docket for this action
(Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2022–
0481).
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
(UMRA)
This action does not contain an
unfunded mandate of $100 million or
more as described in UMRA, 2 U.S.C.
1531–1538, and does not significantly or
uniquely affect small governments. This
action imposes no enforceable duty on
any state, local, or tribal governments,
and there are no nationwide annualized
costs of this final rule for affected
industrial sources in the private sector.
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E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
This action does not have federalism
implications. It will not have substantial
direct effects on the states, on the
relationship between the national
government and the states, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government.
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
This action does not have tribal
implications, as specified in Executive
Order 13175 (65 FR 67249; November 9,
2000). It will not have substantial direct
effects on tribal governments, on the
relationship between the Federal
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government and Indian Tribes or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities between the Federal
government and Indian Tribes, as
specified in Executive Order 13175.
This final rule imposes requirements on
owners and operators of secondary lead
smelting facilities and not tribal
governments. The EPA does not know of
any secondary lead smelting facilities
owned or operated by Indian tribal
governments. Thus, Executive Order
13175 does not apply to this action.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks
Executive Order 13045 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 it is not a significant regulatory
action under section 3(f)(1) of Executive
Order 12866, and because the EPA does
not believe the environmental health or
safety risks addressed by this action
present a disproportionate risk to
children.
The EPA does not believe there are
disproportionate risks to children
because the new NSPS subpart La
lowers PM emissions and opacity from
new, modified, or reconstructed
secondary lead smelters compared to
the current NSPS, which will benefit
children’s health. Additionally, the
periodic PM emissions and opacity
testing requirements of NSPS subparts
La and L, and the updated monitoring,
recordkeeping, and reporting
requirements, improve compliance with
emission limits, which also benefits
children’s health.
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
This action is not subject to Executive
Order 13211, because it is not a
significant regulatory action under
Executive Order 12866.
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act (NTTAA) and 1 CFR
Part 51
This action involves technical
standards. The EPA is requiring use of
EPA Method 5 (Determination of
Particulate Matter emissions from
Stationary Sources) to measure filterable
PM and EPA Method 9 (Visual
Determination of the Opacity of
Emissions from Stationary Sources) to
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determine visible emissions from blast
and reverberatory process vents and
process fugitive emissions. Therefore,
the EPA conducted searches for the
Secondary Lead Smelting NSPS through
the Enhanced National Standards
Systems Network Database managed by
the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI). We also contacted
voluntary consensus standards (VCS)
organizations and accessed and
searched their databases.
We conducted searches for EPA
Methods 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2F,
2G, 2H, 3, 3A, 3C, 4, 5, 9, 12, 22, and
29 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 reference method, the EPA
reviewed it as a potential equivalent
method. We reviewed all potential
standards to determine the practicality
of the VCS for this rule. This review
requires significant method validation
data that meet the requirements of EPA
Method 301 for accepting alternative
methods or scientific, engineering, and
policy equivalence to procedures in the
EPA reference methods. The EPA may
reconsider determinations of
impracticality when additional
information is available for a particular
VCS. No applicable VCS were identified
for EPA Methods 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 2B, 2C,
2D, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3, 3A, 3C, 4, 5, 12, 22,
or 29.
In this final action, the EPA
incorporates by reference the VCS
ASTM D7520–16, ‘‘Standard Test
Method for Determining the Opacity of
a Plume in the Outdoor Ambient
Atmosphere approved April 1, 2016’’
which is an instrumental method to
determine plume opacity in the outdoor
ambient environment as an alternative
to visual measurements made by
certified smoke readers in accordance
with EPA Method 9. The concept of
ASTM D7520–16, also known as the
Digital Camera Opacity Technique or
DCOT, is a test protocol to determine
the opacity of visible emissions using a
digital camera. This method is based on
previous method development using
digital still cameras and field testing of
those methods. The purpose of ASTM
D7520–16 is to set a minimum level of
performance for products that use DCOT
to determine plume opacity in ambient
environments.
The DCOT method is an acceptable
alternative to EPA Method 9 with the
following caveats:
• During the digital camera opacity
technique (DCOT) certification
procedure outlined in section 9.2 of
ASTM D7520–16, you or the DCOT
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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 SOP 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 recordkeeping
procedures outlined in 40 CFR
63.10(b)(1) for the DCOT certification,
compliance report, data sheets, and all
raw unaltered JPEG files used for
opacity and certification determination.
• You or the DCOT vendor must have
a minimum of four 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 any one 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. This
method describes procedures to
determine the opacity of a plume, using
digital imagery and associated hardware
and software, where opacity is caused
by PM emitted from a stationary point
source in the outdoor ambient
environment. The opacity of emissions
is determined by the application of a
DCOT that consists of a digital still
camera, analysis software, and the
output function’s content to obtain and
interpret digital images to determine
and report plume opacity.
The ASTM D7520–16 document is
available from ASTM at https://
www.astm.org or 1100 Barr Harbor
Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428–
2959, telephone number: (610) 832–
9500, fax number: (610) 8329555;
service@astm.org.
The EPA is finalizing the use of the
guidance document, EPA–454/R–98–
015, Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards (OAQPS Fabric Filter Bag
Leak Detection Guidance, September
1997. This document provides guidance
on the use of triboelectric monitors as
fabric filter bag leak detectors. The
document includes fabric filter and
monitoring system descriptions;
guidance on monitor selection,
installation, setup, adjustment, and
operation; and quality assurance
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procedures. Several types of
instruments are available to monitor
changes in particulate emission rates for
the purpose of detecting fabric filter bag
leaks or similar failures. The principles
of operation of these instruments
include electrical charge transfer and
light scattering. The document is
available at https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/
ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=2000D5T6.PDF.
Additional information for the VCS
search and determinations can be found
in the docket for this final action
(Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2022–
0481).
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal
Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and
Low-Income Populations and Executive
Order 14096: Revitalizing Our Nation’s
Commitment to Environmental Justice
for All
Executive Order 14096 (88 FR 25251,
Apr. 26, 2023) directs federal agencies
to advance the goal of environmental
justice for all. This action builds upon
and supplements the efforts of
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629,
February 16, 1994) to address
environmental justice.
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
communities with environmental justice
concerns. The locations of future new,
modified, and reconstructed secondary
lead smelters are not known with any
certainty. Therefore, we evaluated the
populations living near existing
secondary lead smelters as a proxy for
the characteristics of the demographics
in areas where a new, modified, or
reconstructed source might locate in the
future. The result of the analysis shows
that the percent Hispanic or Latino
population, ‘‘other and multiracial
population’’ and people living in
linguistic isolation within the same
geographic area, over 25 without a high
school diploma are higher than the
national average.
The EPA believes that this action is
likely to reduce existing potential
disproportionate and adverse effects on
communities with environmental justice
concerns. We anticipate the changes to
the NSPS will generally minimize or
reduce future emissions in these
communities that are in proximity to
new, modified, or reconstructed
facilities. Specifically, the EPA expects
that the Standards of Performance for
Secondary Lead Smelters Constructed
after December 1, 2022, will ensure
compliance with the PM and opacity
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80609
limits at all times (including periods of
SSM) via initial and periodic emissions
testing and parametric monitoring of
control devices. Subpart La also codifies
improvements in PM control
technologies that have occurred in the
industry since promulgation of the
current NSPS subpart L. Therefore,
effects of emissions on populations in
proximity to any future affected sources,
including in communities with
environmental justice concerns, will be
minimized due to compliance with the
standards of performance being
finalized in this action.
The information supporting this
Executive Order review is contained in
a technical report, Analysis of
Demographic Factors for Populations
Living Near Secondary Lead Smelting
Source Category Operations, available
in the docket for this action (Docket ID
No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2022–0481), and in
section IV.F. of the proposed rule’s
preamble (87 FR 73708), as well as
summarized in section V.F. of this
preamble.
K. Congressional Review Act (CRA)
This action is subject to the CRA, and
the EPA will submit a rule report to
each House of the Congress and to the
Comptroller General of the United
States. This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 60
Environmental protection,
Administrative practice and procedures,
Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Michael S. Regan,
Administrator.
For the reasons set forth in the
preamble, the Environmental Protection
Agency amends title 40, chapter I of the
Code of Federal Regulations as follows:
PART 60—STANDARDS OF
PERFORMANCE FOR NEW
STATIONARY SOURCES
1. The authority citation for part 60
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart A—General Provisions
2. Amend § 60.17 by revising
paragraphs (h)(206) and (j)(2) to read as
follows:
■
§ 60.17
Incorporations by reference.
*
*
*
*
*
(h) * * *
(206) ASTM D7520–16, Standard Test
Method for Determining the Opacity of
a Plume in the Outdoor Ambient
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Atmosphere, approved April 1, 2016;
IBR approved for §§ 60.123(c)(6);
60.123(c)(6)(i); 60.123(c)(6)(ii);
60.123(c)(6)(v); 60.123a(c)(6)(ii);
60.123a(c)(6)(ii)(A); 60.123a(c)(6)(ii)(B);
60.123a(c)(6)(ii)(E); 60.271(k); 60.272(a)
and (b); 60.273(c) and (d); 60.274(h);
60.275(e); 60.276(c); 60.271a; 60.272a(a)
and (b); 60.273a(c) and (d); 60.274a(h);
60.275a(e); 60.276a(f); 60.271b;
60.272b(a) and (b); 60.273b(c) and (d);
60.274b(h); 60.275b(e); 60.276b(f);
60.374a(d).
*
*
*
*
*
(j) * * *
(2) EPA–454/R–98–015, Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards
(OAQPS), Fabric Filter Bag Leak
Detection Guidance, September 1997,
https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/
ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=2000D5T6.PDF; IBR
approved for §§ 60.124(f); 60.124a(f);
60.273(e); 60.273a(e); 60.273b(e);
60.373a(b); 60.2145(r); 60.2710(r);
60.4905(b); 60.5225(b).
*
*
*
*
*
Subpart L—Standards of Performance
for Secondary Lead Smelters for
Which Construction, Reconstruction,
or Modification Commenced After June
11, 1973, and On or Before December
1, 2022
3. Revise the heading for subpart L to
part 60 to read as set forth above.
■ 4. Amend § 60.120 by revising
paragraph (b) to read as follows:
■
§ 60.120 Applicability and designation of
affected facility.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) Any facility under paragraph (a) of
this section that commences
construction or modification after June
11, 1973, and on or before December 1,
2022, is subject to the requirements of
this subpart.
■ 5. Amend § 60.122 by revising
paragraph (a)(1) to read as follows:
§ 60.122
Standard for particulate matter.
(a) * * *
(1) Contain particulate matter (PM) in
excess of 50 milligrams per dry standard
cubic meter, mg/dscm (0.022 grains per
dry standard cubic feet, gr/dscf).
*
*
*
*
*
■ 6. Revise § 60.123 to read as follows:
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
§ 60.123
Test methods and procedures.
(a) Initial performance tests. The
owner or operator shall conduct
performance tests to demonstrate initial
compliance with the PM emission and
opacity standards specified in § 60.122.
(b) Periodic performance tests. After
November 20, 2023, the owner or
operator shall conduct periodic
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performance tests to demonstrate
compliance with the PM emissions
standards specified in § 60.122(a). The
owner or operator shall conduct the first
periodic test by no later than July 31,
2024. The owner or operator shall
conduct subsequent periodic tests
according to the schedule specified in
paragraph (b)(1) or (2) of this section.
(1) Conduct performance tests no later
than 12 months following the previous
compliance test.
(2) Conduct performance tests no later
than 24 months following the previous
compliance test if the previous
compliance test measured PM emissions
of 25 mg/dscm or less and the owner or
operator has obtained approval from the
Administrator for a written request to
extend the period of the periodic
performance test. The extension request
will be deemed automatically approved
if the owner or operator submits the
results of a PM performance test of 25
mg/dscm or less, the owner or operator
submits the request for the extension
within 4 months after the subject
compliance test, and the Administrator
does not provide a response to such
request within 6 months of submission.
(c) Test methods. In conducting the
performance tests required in § 60.8, the
owner or operator shall use the
following EPA reference test methods
and procedures in appendix A of this
part or other methods and procedures as
specified in this section, except as
provided in § 60.8(b).
(1) EPA Method 1 at appendix A–1 to
this part to select sampling port
locations and the number of traverse
points.
(2) EPA Method 2 at appendix A–1 to
this part or EPA Method 5D at appendix
A–3 to this part, section 8.3 for positive
fabric filters, to measure the volumetric
flow rate of the gas stream.
(3) EPA Method 3, 3A, or 3B at 40
CFR part 60, appendix A–2 to determine
the dry molecular weight of the stack
gas and concentrations of carbon
dioxide and oxygen in the sample gas.
(4) EPA Method 4 at appendix A–3 to
this part to determine the moisture
content of the gas stream.
(5) EPA Method 5 or 5D at appendix
A–3 to this part to measure PM
concentrations. The EPA Method 5 tests
shall be conducted during
representative periods of furnace
operation, including charging and
tapping, and the sampling time and
sample volume for each test run shall be
at least 60 minutes and 0.90 dscm (31.8
dscf), respectively. As an alternative to
using EPA Method 5, owners or
operators may measure PM emissions by
the following methods:
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(i) EPA Method 12 at appendix A–5
to this part (see section 16.1 of Method
12) to measure PM and inorganic lead
concentrations.
(ii) EPA Method 29 at appendix A–8
to this part to measure metal (lead)
concentrations and PM (see section 1.2
of Method 29).
(6) EPA Method 9 at appendix A–4 to
this part and the procedures specified in
§ 60.11 for determining opacity. ASTM
D7520–16 (incorporated by reference at
§ 60.17) is an acceptable alternative to
EPA Method 9 with the specified
conditions in paragraphs (c)(6)(i)
through (v) of this section.
(i) During the digital camera opacity
technique (DCOT) certification
procedure outlined in section 9.2 of
ASTM D7520–16 (incorporated by
reference at § 60.17), the owner or
operator or the DCOT vendor shall
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).
(ii) The owner or operator shall also
have standard operating procedures
(SOPs) 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 (incorporated by
reference at § 60.17). Records shall be
maintained in a form suitable and
readily available for expeditious review.
(iii) The owner or operator shall
follow the recordkeeping procedures
outlined in § 63.10(b)(1) for the DCOT
certification, compliance report, data
sheets, and all raw unaltered JPEGs used
for opacity and certification
determination.
(iv) The owner or operator or the
DCOT vendor shall 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 any one reading and the average error
shall not exceed 7.5 percent opacity.
(v) 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
(incorporated by reference at § 60.17)
and this section is on the owner or
operator, DCOT operator, and DCOT
vendor.
■ 7. Add §§ 60.124 and 60.125 to
subpart L to read as follows:
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§ 60.124
Monitoring requirements.
(a) The owner shall comply with the
applicable monitoring requirements
specified in the NSPS General provision
§ 60.13.
(b) The owner shall prepare, and at all
times operate according to, a SOP
manual that describes in detail
procedures for inspection, maintenance,
and bag leak detection and corrective
action plans for all baghouses (fabric
filters or cartridge filters) used to reduce
PM and opacity emissions from any
affected source subject to the emissions
standards in § 60.122.
(c) The owner shall submit the SOP
manual for the baghouses (fabric filters
or cartridge collectors) described in
paragraph (b) of this section to the
Administrator or delegated authority for
review and approval.
(d) The procedures specified in the
SOP manual for inspections and routine
maintenance shall, at a minimum,
include the requirements of paragraphs
(d)(1) through (9) of this section.
(1) Daily monitoring of the pressure
drop across each baghouse cell.
(2) Weekly confirmation that dust is
being removed from hoppers through
visual inspection, or equivalent means
of ensuring the proper functioning of
removal mechanisms.
(3) Daily check of compressed air
supply for pulse-jet baghouses.
(4) An appropriate methodology for
monitoring cleaning cycles to ensure
proper operation.
(5) Monthly check of bag cleaning
mechanisms for proper functioning
through visual inspection or equivalent
means.
(6) Monthly check of bag tension on
reverse air and shaker-type baghouses.
Such checks are not required for shakertype baghouses using self-tensioning
(spring loaded) devices.
(7) Quarterly confirmation of the
physical integrity of the baghouse
through visual inspection of the
baghouse interior for air leaks.
(8) Quarterly inspection of fans for
wear, material buildup, and corrosion
through visual inspection, vibration
detectors, or equivalent means.
(9) Continuous operation of a bag leak
detection system.
(e) The procedures specified in the
SOP manual for baghouse maintenance
shall include, at a minimum, a
preventative maintenance schedule that
is consistent with the baghouse
manufacturer’s instructions for routine
and long-term maintenance.
(f) The bag leak detection system
required by paragraph (d)(9) of this
section, shall meet the specification and
requirements of paragraphs (f)(1)
through (8) of this section.
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(1) The bag leak detection system
shall be certified by the manufacturer to
be capable of detecting PM emissions at
concentrations of 50.0 mg/dscm (0.022
gr/dscf) or less.
(2) The bag leak detection system
sensor shall provide output of relative
PM loadings.
(3) The bag leak detection system
shall be equipped with an alarm system
that will alarm when an increase in
relative particulate loadings is detected
over a preset level.
(4) The owner shall install and
operate the bag leak detection system in
a manner consistent with the guidance
provided in EPA–454/R–98–015, Office
of Air quality Planning and Standards
(OAQPS) Fabric Filter Bag Leak
Detection Guidance, (incorporated by
reference, see § 60.17) or the
manufacturer’s written specifications
and recommendations for installation,
operation, and adjustment of the system.
(5) The initial adjustment of the
system shall, at a minimum, consist of
establishing the baseline output by
adjusting the sensitivity (range) and the
averaging period of the device, and
establishing the alarm set points and the
alarm delay time.
(6) Following initial adjustment, the
owner shall not adjust the sensitivity or
range, averaging period, alarm set
points, or alarm delay time, except as
detailed in the approved SOP manual
required under paragraph (b) of this
section. The owner cannot increase the
sensitivity by more than 100 percent or
decrease the sensitivity by more than 50
percent over a 365-day period unless
such adjustment follows a complete
baghouse inspection that demonstrates
that the baghouse is in good operating
condition.
(7) For negative pressure, induced air
baghouses, and positive pressure
baghouses that are discharged to the
atmosphere through a stack, the owner
shall install the bag leak detector
downstream of the baghouse and
upstream of any wet acid gas scrubber.
(8) Where multiple detectors are
required, the system’s instrumentation
and alarm may be shared among
detectors.
(g) The owner shall include in the
SOP manual required by paragraph (b)
of this section a corrective action plan
that specifies the procedures to be
followed in the case of a bag leak
detection system alarm. The corrective
action plan shall include, at a
minimum, the procedures used to
determine and record the time and
cause of the alarm as well as the
corrective actions taken to minimize
emissions as specified in paragraphs
(g)(1) and (2) of this section.
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(1) The procedures used to determine
the cause of the alarm shall be initiated
within 30 minutes of the alarm.
(2) The cause of the alarm shall be
alleviated by taking the necessary
corrective action(s) that may include,
but not be limited to, those listed in
paragraphs (g)(2)(i) through (vi) of this
section.
(i) Inspecting the baghouse for air
leaks, torn or broken filter elements, or
any other malfunction that may cause
an increase in emissions.
(ii) Sealing off defective bags or filter
media.
(iii) Replacing defective bags or filter
media, or otherwise repairing the
control device.
(iv) Sealing off a defective baghouse
compartment.
(v) Cleaning the bag leak detection
system probe, or otherwise repairing the
bag leak detection system.
(vi) Shutting down the process
producing the PM emissions.
(h) Baghouses equipped with highefficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters
as a secondary filter used to control
emissions from any source subject to the
PM and opacity emission standards in
§ 60.122 are exempt from the
requirement to be equipped with a bag
leak detection system. The owner or
operator shall monitor and record the
pressure drop across each HEPA filter
system daily. If the pressure drop is
outside the limit(s) specified by the
filter manufacturer, the owner or
operator shall take appropriate
corrective measures, which may include
but not be limited to those given in
paragraphs (h)(1) through (4) of this
section.
(1) Inspecting the filter and filter
housing for air leaks and torn or broken
filters.
(2) Replacing defective filter media, or
otherwise repairing the control device.
(3) Sealing off a defective control
device by routing air to other control
devices
(4) Shutting down the process
producing the particulate emissions.
(i) Baghouses followed by a wet
electrostatic precipitator (WESP) used as
a secondary control device for any
source subject to the PM and opacity
emission standards in § 60.122 are
exempt from the requirement to be
equipped with a bag leak detection
system.
(j) If a wet scrubber is used to
demonstrate continuous compliance
with the PM emissions standards for
blast and reverberatory furnaces
specified in § 60.122(a), the owner or
operator shall monitor and record the
pressure drop and water flow rate of the
wet scrubber during the initial
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performance or periodic compliance test
conducted to demonstrate compliance
with the PM emissions limit under
§ 60.122(a). Thereafter, the owner or
operator shall monitor and record the
pressure drop and water flow rate
values at least once every hour and
maintain the pressure drop and water
flow rate at levels no lower than 30
percent below the pressure drop and
water flow rate measured during the
initial performance or compliance test.
(k) During the initial performance test
required by § 60.123(a), or any periodic
performance test required by
§ 60.123(b), the owner or operator shall
establish the value or range of values of
the monitoring parameter(s) for each
control device used to comply with the
PM and opacity emission standards
specified in § 60.122.
(l) If an affected source is subject to
the monitoring requirements specified
in 40 CFR part 63, subpart X (National
Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants from Secondary Lead
Smelting) and those requirements are as
stringent or more stringent than the
monitoring requirements specified in
paragraphs (a) through (j) of this section,
compliance with the monitoring
requirements specified in 40 CFR part
63, subpart X also demonstrates
compliance with the monitoring
requirements specified in paragraphs (a)
through (k) of this section.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
§ 60.125 Notification, recordkeeping, and
reporting requirements.
(a) The owner or operator shall
comply with the applicable notification
and recordkeeping requirements
specified in § 60.7 and the reporting
requirements specified in the NSPS
General Provisions § 60.19.
(1) Records shall be maintained in a
form suitable and readily available for
expeditious review, according to
§ 60.7(f). However, electronic
recordkeeping and reporting may be
used if suitable for the specific case
(e.g., by electronic media such as Excel
spreadsheet, on CD or hard copy), and
when required by this subpart.
(2) Records shall be kept on site for
at least 2 years after the date of
occurrence, measurement, maintenance,
corrective action, report, or record,
according to § 60.7(f).
(b) The SOP manual required in
§ 60.124(b) shall be submitted to the
Administrator in electronic format for
review and approval of the initial
submittal and whenever an update is
made to the procedure.
(c) The owner or operator shall
maintain for a period of 2 years, records
of the information listed in paragraphs
(c)(1) through (10) of this section.
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(1) Electronic records of the bag leak
detection system output.
(2) An identification of the date and
time of all bag leak detection system
alarms, the time that procedures to
determine the cause of the alarm were
initiated, the cause of the alarm, an
explanation of the corrective actions
taken, and the date and time the cause
of the alarm was corrected.
(3) All records of inspections and
maintenance activities required under
§ 60.124(d) as part of the practices
described in the SOP manual for
baghouses required under § 60.124(b).
(4) Electronic records of the pressure
drop and water flow rate values for wet
scrubbers used to control PM emissions
from blast or reverberatory furnaces as
required in § 60.124(j).
(5) Records of the occurrence and
duration of each malfunction of
operation (i.e., process equipment) or
the air pollution control equipment and
monitoring equipment.
(6) Records of actions taken during
periods of malfunction to minimize
emissions in accordance with § 60.11(d),
including corrective actions to restore
malfunctioning process and air
pollution control and monitoring
equipment to its normal or usual
manner of operation.
(7) Records of all alarms from the bag
leak detection system specified in
§ 60.124(d)(9).
(8) Records maintained as part of the
practices described in the SOP manual
for baghouses required under
§ 60.124(b), including an explanation of
the periods when the procedures were
not followed, and the corrective actions
taken.
(9) Record of the periods when the
pressure drop and water flow rate of wet
scrubbers used to control process
fugitive sources dropped below the
levels established in § 60.124(j), and an
explanation of the corrective actions
taken.
(10) Records of the rationale for the
control device monitoring parameter
value(s), established as specified in
§ 60.124(k), monitoring frequency, and
averaging time. Include all data and
calculations used to develop the value
and a description of why the value,
monitoring frequency, and averaging
time demonstrate continuous
compliance with the applicable
emission standard.
(d) In addition to the reporting
requirements specified in § 60.7 and
§ 60.19, the owner or operator shall
submit the results of the initial and
periodic performance tests within 60
days after the date of completing each
performance test required by this
subpart, following the procedures
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specified in paragraphs (d)(1) through
(3) of this section.
(1) Data collected using test methods
supported by the EPA’s Electronic
Reporting Tool (ERT) as listed on the
EPA’s ERT website (https://
www.epa.gov/electronic-reporting-airemissions/electronic-reporting-tool-ert)
at the time of the test. Submit the results
of the performance test to the EPA via
the Compliance and Emissions Data
Reporting Interface (CEDRI), which can
be accessed through the EPA’s Central
Data Exchange (CDX) (https://
cdx.epa.gov). The data shall be
submitted in a file format generated
using the EPA’s ERT. Alternatively, the
owner or operator may submit an
electronic file consistent with the
extensible markup language (XML)
schema listed on the EPA’s ERT
website.
(2) Data collected using test methods
that are not supported by the EPA’s ERT
as listed on the EPA’s ERT website at
the time of the test. The results of the
performance test shall be included as an
attachment in the ERT or an alternate
electronic file consistent with the XML
schema listed on the EPA’s ERT
website. Submit the ERT generated
package or alternative file to the EPA via
CEDRI.
(3) Confidential business information
(CBI).
(i) The EPA will make all the
information submitted through CEDRI
available to the public without further
notice to the owner or operator. Do not
use CEDRI to submit information that
the owner or operator claims as CBI.
Although we do not expect persons to
assert a claim of CBI, if the owner or
operator wishes to assert a CBI claim for
some of the information submitted
under paragraph (a)(1) or (2) of this
section, the owner or operator shall
submit a complete file, including
information claimed to be CBI, to the
EPA.
(ii) The file shall be generated using
the EPA’s ERT or an alternate electronic
file consistent with the XML schema
listed on the EPA’s ERT website.
(iii) Clearly mark the part or all of the
information that the owner or operator
claims to be CBI. Information not
marked as CBI may be authorized for
public release without prior notice.
Information marked as CBI will not be
disclosed except in accordance with
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
(iv) The preferred method to receive
CBI is for it to be transmitted
electronically using email attachments,
File Transfer Protocol, or other online
file sharing services. Electronic
submissions shall be transmitted
directly to the OAQPS CBI Office at the
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email address oaqpscbi@epa.gov, and as
described above, should include clear
CBI markings and be flagged to the
attention of the Group Leader,
Measurement Policy Group. If assistance
is needed with submitting large
electronic files that exceed the file size
limit for email attachments, and if the
owner or operator does not have a file
sharing service, please email oaqpscbi@
epa.gov to request a file transfer link.
(v) If the owner or operator cannot
transmit the file electronically, the
owner or operator may send CBI
information through the postal service
to the following address: OAQPS
Document Control Officer (C404–02),
OAQPS, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina 27711, Attention Group
Leader, Measurement Policy Group. The
mailed CBI material should be double
wrapped and clearly marked. Any CBI
markings should not show through the
outer envelope.
(vi) All CBI claims shall be asserted at
the time of submission. Anything
submitted using CEDRI cannot later be
claimed CBI. Furthermore, under CAA
section 114(c), emissions data is not
entitled to confidential treatment, and
the EPA is required to make emissions
data available to the public. Thus,
emissions data will not be protected as
CBI and will be made publicly available.
(vii) The owner or operator shall
submit the same file submitted to the
CBI office with the CBI omitted to the
EPA through CEDRI via the EPA’s CDX
as described in paragraphs (d)(1) and (2)
of this section.
(e) Claims of EPA system outage. If
the owner or operator is required to
electronically submit a report through
CEDRI in the EPA’s CDX, the owner or
operator may assert a claim of EPA
system outage for failure to timely
comply with that reporting requirement.
To assert a claim of EPA system outage,
the owner or operator shall meet the
requirements outlined in paragraphs
(e)(1) through (7) of this section.
(1) The owner or operator shall have
been or will be precluded from
accessing CEDRI and submitting a
required report within the time
prescribed due to an outage of either the
EPA’s CEDRI or CDX systems.
(2) The outage shall have occurred
within the period of time beginning five
business days prior to the date that the
submission is due.
(3) The outage may be planned or
unplanned.
(4) The owner or operator shall
submit notification to the Administrator
in writing as soon as possible following
the date the owner or operator first
knew, or through due diligence should
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have known, that the event may cause
or has caused a delay in reporting.
(5) The owner or operator shall
provide to the Administrator a written
description identifying:
(i) The date(s) and time(s) when CDX
or CEDRI was accessed and the system
was unavailable;
(ii) A rationale for attributing the
delay in reporting beyond the regulatory
deadline to EPA system outage;
(iii) A description of measures taken
or to be taken to minimize the delay in
reporting; and
(iv) The date by which the owner or
operator proposes to report, or if the
owner or operator has already met the
reporting requirement at the time of the
notification, the date the owner or
operator reported.
(6) The decision to accept the claim
of EPA system outage and allow an
extension to the reporting deadline is
solely within the discretion of the
Administrator.
(7) In any circumstance, the report
shall be submitted electronically as soon
as possible after the outage is resolved.
(f) Claims of force majeure. If the
owner or operator is required to
electronically submit a report through
CEDRI in the EPA’s CDX, the owner or
operator may assert a claim of force
majeure for failure to timely comply
with that reporting requirement. To
assert a claim of force majeure, the
owner or operator shall meet the
requirements outlined in paragraphs
(f)(1) through (5) of this section.
(1) The owner or operator may submit
a claim if a force majeure event is about
to occur, occurs, or has occurred or
there are lingering effects from such an
event within the period of time
beginning five business days prior to the
date the submission is due. For the
purposes of this section, a force majeure
event is defined as an event that will be
or has been caused by circumstances
beyond the control of the affected
facility, its contractors, or any entity
controlled by the affected facility that
prevents the owner or operator from
complying with the requirement to
submit a report electronically within the
time period prescribed. Examples of
such events are acts of nature (e.g.,
hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods), acts
of war or terrorism, or equipment failure
or safety hazard beyond the control of
the affected facility (e.g., large scale
power outage).
(2) The owner or operator shall
submit notification to the Administrator
in writing as soon as possible following
the date the owner or operator first
knew, or through due diligence should
have known, that the event may cause
or has caused a delay in reporting.
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(3) The owner or operator shall
provide to the Administrator:
(i) A written description of the force
majeure event;
(ii) A rationale for attributing the
delay in reporting beyond the regulatory
deadline to the force majeure event;
(iii) A description of measures taken
or to be taken to minimize the delay in
reporting; and
(iv) The date by which the owner or
operator proposes to report, or if the
owner or operator has already met the
reporting requirement at the time of the
notification, the date the owner or
operator reported.
(4) The decision to accept the claim
of force majeure and allow an extension
to the reporting deadline is solely
within the discretion of the
Administrator.
(5) In any circumstance, the reporting
shall occur as soon as possible after the
force majeure event occurs.
■ 8. Add subpart La consisting of
§§ 60.120a through 60.125a to part 60 to
read as follows:
Subpart La—Standards of Performance for
Secondary Lead Smelters for Which
Construction, Reconstruction, or
Modification Commenced After December 1,
2022
Sec.
60.120a Applicability and designation of
affected facility.
60.121a Definitions.
60.122a Standard for particulate matter.
60.123a Test methods and procedures.
60.124a Monitoring requirements.
60.125a Notification, recordkeeping, and
reporting requirements.
Subpart La—Standards of
Performance for Secondary Lead
Smelters for Which Construction,
Reconstruction, or Modification
Commenced After December 1, 2022
§ 60.120a Applicability and designation of
affected facility.
(a) The provisions of this subpart are
applicable to the following affected
facilities in secondary lead smelters:
Process fugitive emissions sources, blast
(cupola) furnaces, and reverberatory
furnaces.
(b) Any facility under paragraph (a) of
this section that commences
construction, reconstruction, or
modification after November 20, 2023,
is subject to the requirements of this
subpart.
§ 60.121a
Definitions.
As used in this subpart, all terms not
defined herein shall have the meaning
given them in the Act and in subpart A
of this part.
Blast furnace means any furnace used
to recover metal from slag.
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Lead means elemental lead or alloys
in which the predominant component is
lead.
Process fugitive emissions source
means a source of particulate matter
(PM) emissions at a secondary lead
smelter that is associated with lead
smelting or refining including, but not
limited to, smelting furnace charging
points; smelting furnace lead and slag
taps; pot and refining furnaces; and
casting kettles.
Reverberatory furnace includes the
following types of reverberatory
furnaces: stationary, rotating, rocking,
and tilting.
Secondary lead smelter means any
facility producing lead from a leadbearing scrap material by smelting to the
metallic form.
§ 60.122a
Standard for particulate matter.
(a) On and after the date on which the
performance test required to be
conducted by § 60.8 is completed, no
owner or operator subject to the
provisions of this subpart shall
discharge or cause the discharge into the
atmosphere from a blast (cupola) or
reverberatory furnace any gases which:
(1) Contain PM in excess of 10
milligrams per dry standard cubic
meter, mg/dscm (0.0044 grains per dry
standard cubic feet, gr/dscf).
(2) Exhibit opacity greater than 5
percent.
(b) On and after the date on which the
performance test required to be
conducted by § 60.8 is completed, no
owner or operator subject to the
provisions of this subpart shall
discharge or cause the discharge into the
atmosphere from any process fugitive
emissions source any gases which:
(1) Contain PM in excess of 4.9 mg/
dscm (0.0021 grains per dry standard
cubic feet, gr/dscf).
(2) Exhibit opacity greater than 5
percent.
(c) The PM and opacity emissions
standards specified in paragraphs (a)
and (b) of this section apply at all times,
including periods of startup, shutdown,
and malfunction.
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§ 60.123a
Test methods and procedures.
(a) Initial performance tests. The
owner or operator shall conduct
performance tests to demonstrate initial
compliance with the PM and opacity
emission standards specified in
§ 60.122a.
(b) Periodic performance tests.
Following the initial compliance
demonstration required by paragraph (a)
of this section, the owner or operator
shall conduct periodic performance
tests to demonstrate compliance with
the PM and opacity emissions standards
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specified in § 60.122a according to the
schedule specified in paragraph (b)(1) or
(2) of this section.
(1) Conduct performance tests no later
than 12 months following the previous
compliance test.
(2) Conduct performance tests up to
24 calendar months following the
previous compliance test if the previous
compliance test measured PM emissions
equal to or less than the concentrations
specified in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) and (ii)
of this section and the owner or operator
has obtained approval from the
Administrator for a written request to
extend the period of the periodic
performance test. The extension request
will be deemed automatically approved
if the owner or operator submits the
results of a PM performance test equal
to or less than the applicable
concentrations specified in paragraphs
(b)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section, the
owner or operator submits the request
for the extension within 4 months after
the subject compliance test, and the
Administrator does not provide a
response to such request within 6
months of submission.
(i) 5 mg/dscm for blast and
reverberatory furnaces.
(ii) 2.4 mg/dscm for process fugitive
emissions sources.
(c) Test methods. In conducting the
performance tests required in § 60.8, the
owner or operator shall use the
following EPA reference test methods
and procedures in appendix A of this
part or other methods and procedures as
specified in this section, except as
provided in § 60.8(b).
(1) EPA Method 1 at appendix A–1 to
this part for selecting sampling port
locations and the number of traverse
points.
(2) EPA Method 2 at appendix A–1 to
this part at appendix A–1 to this part or
EPA Method 5D at appendix A–3 to this
part, section 8.3 for positive fabric
filters, to measure the volumetric flow
rate of the gas stream.
(3) EPA Method 3, 3A, 3B, or 3C at
appendix A–1 to this part to determine
the dry molecular weight of the stack
gas and the concentrations of carbon
dioxide and oxygen in the sample gas.
(4) EPA Method 4 at appendix A–3 to
this part to determine the moisture
content of the gas stream.
(5) EPA Method 5 or 5D at appendix
A–3 to this part for measuring PM
concentrations. The EPA Method 5 or
5D tests shall be conducted during
representative periods of furnace
operation, including charging and
tapping, and the sampling time and
sample volume for each test run shall be
at least 60 minutes and 0.90 dscm (31.8
dscf), respectively. As an alternative to
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using EPA Method 5, owners or
operators may measure PM emissions by
the following methods:
(i) EPA Method 12 at appendix A–5
to this part (see section 16.1 of Method
12) to measure inorganic lead
concentrations and PM.
(ii) EPA Method 29 at appendix A–8
to this part to measure metal (lead)
concentrations and PM (see section 1.2
of Method 29).
(6) EPA Method 9 at appendix A–4 to
this part and the procedures specified in
§ 60.11 for determining opacity. Owners
or operators may use the following
methods as alternatives to EPA Method
9 as applicable and appropriate:
(i) EPA Method 22 (Visual
Determination of Fugitive Emissions) at
appendix A–7 to this part for
determining no visible emissions.
(ii) ASTM D7520–16 (incorporated by
reference at § 60.17) is an acceptable
alternative with the specified conditions
in paragraphs (c)(6)(ii)(A) through (E) of
this section.
(A) During the digital camera opacity
technique (DCOT) certification
procedure outlined in section 9.2 of
ASTM D7520–16 (incorporated by
reference at § 60.17), the owner or
operator or the DCOT vendor shall
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).
(B) The owner or operator shall also
have standard operating procedures
(SOPs) 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 (incorporated by
reference at § 60.17).
(C) The owner or operator shall follow
the recordkeeping procedures outlined
in § 63.10(b)(1) for the DCOT
certification, compliance report, data
sheets, and all raw unaltered JPEGs used
for opacity and certification
determination.
(D) The owner or operator or the
DCOT vendor shall 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 any one reading and the average error
shall not exceed 7.5 percent opacity.
(E) 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
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(incorporated by reference at § 60.17)
and this section is on the owner or
operator, DCOT operator, and DCOT
vendor.
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§ 60.124a
Monitoring requirements.
(a) The owner shall comply with the
applicable monitoring requirements
specified in § 60.13.
(b) The owner shall prepare, and at all
times operate according to, an SOP
manual that describes in detail
procedures for inspection, maintenance,
and bag leak detection and corrective
action plans for all baghouses (fabric
filters or cartridge filters) used to reduce
PM and opacity emissions from any
affected source subject to the emissions
standards in § 60.122a.
(c) The owner shall submit the SOP
manual for the baghouses (fabric filters
or cartridge collectors) described in
paragraph (b) of this section to the
Administrator or delegated authority for
review and approval.
(d) The procedures specified in the
SOP manual for inspections and routine
maintenance shall, at a minimum,
include the requirements of paragraphs
(d)(1) through (9) of this section.
(1) Daily monitoring of the pressure
drop across each baghouse cell.
(2) Weekly confirmation that dust is
being removed from hoppers through
visual inspection, or equivalent means
of ensuring the proper functioning of
removal mechanisms.
(3) Daily check of compressed air
supply for pulse-jet baghouses.
(4) An appropriate methodology for
monitoring cleaning cycles to ensure
proper operation.
(5) Monthly check of bag cleaning
mechanisms for proper functioning
through visual inspection or equivalent
means.
(6) Monthly check of bag tension on
reverse air and shaker-type baghouses.
Such checks are not required for shakertype baghouses using self-tensioning
(spring loaded) devices.
(7) Quarterly confirmation of the
physical integrity of the baghouse
through visual inspection of the
baghouse interior for air leaks.
(8) Quarterly inspection of fans for
wear, material buildup, and corrosion
through visual inspection, vibration
detectors, or equivalent means.
(9) Continuous operation of a bag leak
detection system.
(e) The procedures specified in the
SOP manual for baghouse maintenance
shall include, at a minimum, a
preventative maintenance schedule that
is consistent with the baghouse
manufacturer’s instructions for routine
and long-term maintenance.
(f) The bag leak detection system
required by paragraph (d)(9) of this
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section, shall meet the specification and
requirements of paragraphs (f)(1)
through (8) of this section.
(1) The bag leak detection system
shall be certified by the manufacturer to
be capable of detecting PM emissions at
concentrations of 50.0 mg/dscm (0.022
gr/dscf) or less.
(2) The bag leak detection system
sensor shall provide output of relative
PM loadings.
(3) The bag leak detection system
shall be equipped with an alarm system
that will alarm when an increase in
relative particulate loadings is detected
over a preset level.
(4) The owner shall install and
operate the bag leak detection system in
a manner consistent with the guidance
provided in EPA–454/R–98–015, Office
of Air quality Planning and Standards
(OAQPS) Fabric Filter Bag Leak
Detection Guidance (incorporated by
reference, see § 60.17) or the
manufacturer’s written specifications
and recommendations for installation,
operation, and adjustment of the system.
(5) The initial adjustment of the
system shall, at a minimum, consist of
establishing the baseline output by
adjusting the sensitivity (range) and the
averaging period of the device, and
establishing the alarm set points and the
alarm delay time.
(6) Following initial adjustment, the
owner shall not adjust the sensitivity or
range, averaging period, alarm set
points, or alarm delay time, except as
detailed in the approved SOP manual
required under paragraph (b) of this
section. The owner cannot increase the
sensitivity by more than 100 percent or
decrease the sensitivity by more than 50
percent over a 365-day period unless
such adjustment follows a complete
baghouse inspection that demonstrates
that the baghouse is in good operating
condition.
(7) For negative pressure, induced air
baghouses, and positive pressure
baghouses that are discharged to the
atmosphere through a stack, the owner
shall install the bag leak detector
downstream of the baghouse and
upstream of any wet acid gas scrubber.
(8) Where multiple detectors are
required, the system’s instrumentation
and alarm may be shared among
detectors.
(g) The owner shall include in the
SOP manual required by paragraph (b)
of this section a corrective action plan
that specifies the procedures to be
followed in the case of a bag leak
detection system alarm. The corrective
action plan shall include, at a
minimum, the procedures used to
determine and record the time and
cause of the alarm as well as the
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80615
corrective actions taken to minimize
emissions as specified in paragraphs
(g)(1) and (2) of this section.
(1) The procedures used to determine
the cause of the alarm shall be initiated
within 30 minutes of the alarm.
(2) The cause of the alarm shall be
alleviated by taking the necessary
corrective action(s) that may include,
but not be limited to, those listed in
paragraphs (g)(2)(i) through (vi) of this
section.
(i) Inspecting the baghouse for air
leaks, torn or broken filter elements, or
any other malfunction that may cause
an increase in emissions.
(ii) Sealing off defective bags or filter
media.
(iii) Replacing defective bags or filter
media, or otherwise repairing the
control device.
(iv) Sealing off a defective baghouse
compartment.
(v) Cleaning the bag leak detection
system probe, or otherwise repairing the
bag leak detection system.
(vi) Shutting down the process
producing the PM emissions.
(h) Baghouses equipped with highefficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters
as a secondary filter used to control
emissions from any source subject to the
PM and opacity emission standards in
§ 60.122a are exempt from the
requirement to be equipped with a bag
leak detection system. The owner or
operator shall monitor and record the
pressure drop across each HEPA filter
system daily. If the pressure drop is
outside the limit(s) specified by the
filter manufacturer, the owner or
operator shall take appropriate
corrective measures, which may include
but not be limited to those given in
paragraphs (h)(1) through (4) of this
section.
(1) Inspecting the filter and filter
housing for air leaks and torn or broken
filters.
(2) Replacing defective filter media, or
otherwise repairing the control device.
(3) Sealing off a defective control
device by routing air to other control
devices.
(4) Shutting down the process
producing the particulate emissions.
(i) Baghouses followed by a wet
electrostatic precipitator (WESP) used as
a secondary control device for any
source subject to the PM and opacity
emission standards in § 60.122a are
exempt from the requirement to be
equipped with a bag leak detection
system.
(j) If a wet scrubber is used to
demonstrate continuous compliance
with the PM emissions standards for
blast and reverberatory furnaces
specified in § 60.122a(a), the owner or
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operator shall monitor and record the
pressure drop and water flow rate of the
wet scrubber during the initial
performance or annual compliance test
conducted to demonstrate compliance
with the PM emissions limit under
§ 60.122a(a). Thereafter, the owner or
operator shall monitor and record the
pressure drop and water flow rate
values at least once every hour and
maintain the pressure drop and water
flow rate at levels no lower than 30
percent below the pressure drop and
water flow rate measured during the
initial performance or compliance test.
(k) During the initial performance test
required by § 60.123a(a), or any periodic
performance test required by
§ 60.123a(b), the owner or operator shall
establish the value or range of values of
the monitoring parameter(s) for each
control device used to comply with the
PM and opacity emission standards
specified in § 60.122a.
(l) If an affected source is subject to
the monitoring requirements specified
in 40 CFR part 63, subpart X (National
Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants from Secondary Lead
Smelting) and those requirements are as
stringent or more stringent than the
monitoring requirements specified in
paragraphs (a) through (j) of this section
compliance with 40 CFR part 63,
subpart X also demonstrates compliance
with the monitoring requirements
specified in paragraphs (a) through (k)
of this section.
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§ 60.125a Notification, recordkeeping, and
reporting requirements.
(a) The owner or operator shall
comply with the applicable notification
and recordkeeping requirements
specified in § 60.7 and the reporting
requirements specified in § 60.19.
(1) Records shall be maintained in a
form suitable and readily available for
expeditious review, according to
§ 60.7(f). However, electronic
recordkeeping and reporting may be
used if suitable for the specific case
(e.g., by electronic media such as Excel
spreadsheet, on CD or hard copy), and
when required by this subpart.
(2) Records shall be kept on site for
at least 2 years after the date of
occurrence, measurement, maintenance,
corrective action, report, or record,
according to § 60.7(f).
(b) The SOP manual required in
§ 60.124a(b) shall be submitted to the
Administrator in electronic format for
review and approval of the initial
submittal and whenever an update is
made to the procedure.
(c) The owner or operator shall
maintain for a period of 2 years, records
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of the information listed in paragraphs
(c)(1) through (10) of this section.
(1) Electronic records of the bag leak
detection system output.
(2) An identification of the date and
time of all bag leak detection system
alarms, the time that procedures to
determine the cause of the alarm were
initiated, the cause of the alarm, an
explanation of the corrective actions
taken, and the date and time the cause
of the alarm was corrected.
(3) All records of inspections and
maintenance activities required under
§ 60.124a(d) as part of the practices
described in the SOP manual for
baghouses required under § 60.124a(b).
(4) Electronic records of the pressure
drop and water flow rate values for wet
scrubbers used to control PM emissions
from blast or reverberatory furnaces as
required in § 60.124a(j).
(5) Records of the occurrence and
duration of each malfunction of
operation (i.e., process equipment) or
the air pollution control equipment and
monitoring equipment.
(6) Records of actions taken during
periods of malfunction to minimize
emissions in accordance with § 60.11(d),
including corrective actions to restore
malfunctioning process and air
pollution control and monitoring
equipment to its normal or usual
manner of operation.
(7) Records of all alarms and
corrective actions taken for the bag leak
detection system specified in
§ 60.124a(d)(9).
(8) Records maintained as part of the
practices described in the SOP manual
for baghouses required under
§ 60.124a(b), including an explanation
of the periods when the procedures
were not followed, and the corrective
actions taken.
(9) Record of the periods when the
pressure drop and water flow rate of wet
scrubbers used to control process
fugitive sources dropped below the
levels established in § 60.124a(j), and an
explanation of the corrective actions
taken.
(10) Records of the rationale for the
control device monitoring parameter
value(s), established as specified in
§ 60.124a(k), monitoring frequency, and
averaging time. Include all data and
calculations used to develop the value
and a description of why the value,
monitoring frequency, and averaging
time demonstrate continuous
compliance with the applicable
emission standard.
(d) In addition to the reporting
requirements specified in §§ 60.7 and
60.19, within 60 days after the date of
completing each performance test
required by this subpart, the owner or
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operator shall submit the results of the
initial and periodic performance tests
following the procedures as specified in
paragraphs (d)(1) through (3) of this
section.
(1) Data collected using test methods
supported by the EPA’s Electronic
Reporting Tool (ERT) as listed on the
EPA’s ERT website (https://
www.epa.gov/electronic-reporting-airemissions/electronic-reporting-tool-ert)
at the time of the test. Submit the results
of the performance test to the EPA via
the Compliance and Emissions Data
Reporting Interface (CEDRI), which can
be accessed through the EPA’s Central
Data Exchange (CDX) (https://
cdx.epa.gov). The data shall be
submitted in a file format generated
using the EPA’s ERT. Alternatively, the
owner or operator may submit an
electronic file consistent with the
extensible markup language (XML)
schema listed on the EPA’s ERT
website.
(2) Data collected using test methods
that are not supported by the EPA’s ERT
as listed on the EPA’s ERT website at
the time of the test. The results of the
performance test shall be included as an
attachment in the ERT or an alternate
electronic file consistent with the XML
schema listed on the EPA’s ERT
website. Submit the ERT generated
package or alternative file to the EPA via
CEDRI.
(3) Confidential business information
(CBI). (i) The EPA will make all the
information submitted through CEDRI
available to the public without further
notice to the owner or operator. Do not
use CEDRI to submit information the
owner or operator claims as CBI.
Although we do not expect persons to
assert a claim of CBI, if the owner or
operator wishes to assert a CBI claim for
some of the information submitted
under paragraph (a)(1) or (2) of this
section, the owner or operator shall
submit a complete file, including
information claimed to be CBI, to the
EPA.
(ii) The file shall be generated using
the EPA’s ERT or an alternate electronic
file consistent with the XML schema
listed on the EPA’s ERT website.
(iii) Clearly mark the part or all of the
information that the owner or operator
claims to be CBI. Information not
marked as CBI may be authorized for
public release without prior notice.
Information marked as CBI will not be
disclosed except in accordance with
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
(iv) The preferred method to receive
CBI is for it to be transmitted
electronically using email attachments,
File Transfer Protocol, or other online
file sharing services. Electronic
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submissions shall be transmitted
directly to the OAQPS CBI Office at the
email address oaqpscbi@epa.gov, and as
described above, should include clear
CBI markings and be flagged to the
attention of the Group Leader,
Measurement Policy Group. If assistance
is needed with submitting large
electronic files that exceed the file size
limit for email attachments, and if the
owner or operator does not have a file
sharing service, please email oaqpscbi@
epa.gov to request a file transfer link.
(v) If the owner or operator cannot
transmit the file electronically, the
owner or operator may send CBI
information through the postal service
to the following address: OAQPS
Document Control Officer (C404–02),
OAQPS, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina 27711, Attention Group
Leader, Measurement Policy Group. The
mailed CBI material should be double
wrapped and clearly marked. Any CBI
markings should not show through the
outer envelope.
(vi) All CBI claims shall be asserted at
the time of submission. Anything
submitted using CEDRI cannot later be
claimed CBI. Furthermore, under CAA
section 114(c), emissions data is not
entitled to confidential treatment, and
the EPA is required to make emissions
data available to the public. Thus,
emissions data will not be protected as
CBI and will be made publicly available.
(vii) The owner or operator shall
submit the same file submitted to the
CBI office with the CBI omitted to the
EPA through CEDRI via the EPA’s CDX
as described in paragraphs (d)(1) and (2)
of this section.
(e) If the owner or operator is required
to electronically submit a report through
CEDRI in the EPA’s CDX, the owner or
operator may assert a claim of EPA
system outage for failure to timely
comply with that reporting requirement.
To assert a claim of EPA system outage,
the owner or operator shall meet the
requirements outlined in paragraphs
(e)(1) through (7) of this section.
(1) The owner or operator shall have
been or will be precluded from
accessing CEDRI and submitting a
required report within the time
prescribed due to an outage of either the
EPA’s CEDRI or CDX systems.
(2) The outage shall have occurred
within the period of time beginning five
business days prior to the date that the
submission is due.
(3) The outage may be planned or
unplanned.
(4) The owner or operator shall
submit notification to the Administrator
in writing as soon as possible following
the date the owner or operator first
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knew, or through due diligence should
have known, that the event may cause
or has caused a delay in reporting.
(5) The owner or operator shall
provide to the Administrator a written
description identifying:
(i) The date(s) and time(s) when CDX
or CEDRI was accessed and the system
was unavailable;
(ii) A rationale for attributing the
delay in reporting beyond the regulatory
deadline to EPA system outage;
(iii) A description of measures taken
or to be taken to minimize the delay in
reporting; and
(iv) The date by which the owner or
operator propose to report, or if the
owner or operator has already met the
reporting requirement at the time of the
notification, the date the owner or
operator reported.
(6) The decision to accept the claim
of EPA system outage and allow an
extension to the reporting deadline is
solely within the discretion of the
Administrator.
(7) In any circumstance, the report
shall be submitted electronically as soon
as possible after the outage is resolved.
(f) If the owner or operator is required
to electronically submit a report through
CEDRI in the EPA’s CDX, the owner or
operator may assert a claim of force
majeure for failure to timely comply
with that reporting requirement. To
assert a claim of force majeure, the
owner or operator shall meet the
requirements outlined in paragraphs
(f)(1) through (5) of this section.
(1) The owner or operator may submit
a claim if a force majeure event is about
to occur, occurs, or has occurred or
there are lingering effects from such an
event within the period of time
beginning five business days prior to the
date the submission is due. For the
purposes of this section, a force majeure
event is defined as an event that will be
or has been caused by circumstances
beyond the control of the affected
facility, its contractors, or any entity
controlled by the affected facility that
prevents the owner or operator from
complying with the requirement to
submit a report electronically within the
time period prescribed. Examples of
such events are acts of nature (e.g.,
hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods), acts
of war or terrorism, or equipment failure
or safety hazard beyond the control of
the affected facility (e.g., large scale
power outage).
(2) The owner or operator shall
submit notification to the Administrator
in writing as soon as possible following
the date the owner or operator first
knew, or through due diligence should
have known, that the event may cause
or has caused a delay in reporting.
PO 00000
Frm 00065
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
80617
(3) The owner or operator shall
provide to the Administrator:
(i) A written description of the force
majeure event;
(ii) A rationale for attributing the
delay in reporting beyond the regulatory
deadline to the force majeure event;
(iii) A description of measures taken
or to be taken to minimize the delay in
reporting; and
(iv) The date by which the owner or
operator proposes to report, or if the
owner or operator has already met the
reporting requirement at the time of the
notification, the date the owner or
operator reported.
(4) The decision to accept the claim
of force majeure and allow an extension
to the reporting deadline is solely
within the discretion of the
Administrator.
(5) In any circumstance, the reporting
shall occur as soon as possible after the
force majeure event occurs.
[FR Doc. 2023–25275 Filed 11–17–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 52
[WC Docket Nos. 13–97, 07–243, 20–67; IB
Docket No. 16–155; FCC 23–75; FR ID
183540]
Numbering Policies for Modern
Communications
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
In this document, the Federal
Communications Commission
(Commission) adopts rules regarding
direct access to numbers by providers of
interconnected Voice over internet
Protocol (VoIP) services. The
Commission takes this action in
furtherance of Congress’ directive in the
Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall
Abuse Criminal Enforcement and
Deterrence (TRACED) Act to examine
ways to reduce access to telephone
numbers by potential perpetrators of
illegal robocalls. These actions
safeguard U.S. numbering resources and
consumers, protect national security
interests, promote public safety, and
reduce opportunities for regulatory
arbitrage.
SUMMARY:
Effective December 20, 2023,
except for the amendments to 47 CFR
52.15(g)(3)(ii)(B) through (F), (I), (K), (L),
and (N) and (g)(3)(x)(A) (amendatory
instruction 3), which are delayed
indefinitely. The amendments to 47 CFR
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\20NOR1.SGM
20NOR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 222 (Monday, November 20, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 80594-80617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25275]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 60
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0481; FRL-9630-02-OAR]
RIN 2060-AV78
New Source Performance Standards Review for Secondary Lead
Smelters
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing
amendments to the new source performance standards (NSPS) for secondary
lead smelters pursuant to the periodic review required by the Clean Air
Act (CAA). Specifically, the EPA is finalizing revisions to the NSPS
that applies to affected secondary lead smelters constructed,
reconstructed, or modified after December 1, 2022 (NSPS subpart La).
The EPA is also finalizing amendments to the NSPS for secondary lead
smelters constructed, reconstructed, or modified after June 11, 1973,
and on or before December 1, 2022, (NSPS subpart L). In addition, we
are finalizing the use of EPA Method 22 (Visual Determination of
Fugitive Emissions from Material Sources and Smoke Emissions from
Flares) as an alternative for demonstrating compliance with the opacity
limit.
DATES: This final rule is effective on November 20, 2023. The
incorporation by reference (IBR) of certain publications listed in the
rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of November
20, 2023.
ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a docket for this action under
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0481. All documents in the docket are
listed on the https://www.regulations.gov website. 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 form. Publicly available docket materials are available
electronically through https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amber Wright, Sector Policies and
Programs Division (D243-02), Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander
Drive, P.O. Box 12055, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711;
telephone number: (919) 541-4680; email address: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Preamble acronyms and abbreviations. Throughout this document 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:
ABR Association of Battery Recyclers
ASTM ASTM, International
BSER best system of emission reduction
CAA Clean Air Act
CBI Confidential Business Information
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DCOT digital camera opacity technique
EJ environmental justice
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
ERT Electronic Reporting Tool
FR Federal Register
HEPA high efficiency particulate air
IBR incorporation by reference
ICR information collection request
km kilometers
mg/dscm milligram per dry standard cubic meter
NAICS North American Industry Classification System
NESHAP national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants
NSPS new source performance standards
NTTAA National Technology Transfer and Advancement
OAQPS Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
OMB Office of Management and Budget
PDF portable document format
PM particulate matter
PRA Paperwork Reduction Act
RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act
RIN Regulatory Information Number
SOP standard operating procedures
SSM startup, shutdown, and malfunctions
UMRA Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
U.S.C. United States Code
VCS voluntary consensus standard
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?
C. Judicial Review and Administrative Review
II. Background
A. What is the statutory authority for this final action?
B. How does the EPA perform the NSPS review?
C. What is the source category regulated in this final action?
III. What changes did we propose for the secondary lead smelting
NSPS?
IV. What actions are we finalizing and what is our rationale for
such decisions?
A. Revised NSPS for Blast, Reverberatory, and Pot Furnaces
B. NSPS Subpart La Without Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction
Exemptions
C. Testing and Monitoring Requirements
D. Electronic Reporting
E. Notification, Recordkeeping, and Reporting Requirements
F. Definitions
G. Effective Date and Compliance Dates
V. Summary of Cost, Environmental, and Economic Impacts
A. What are the air quality impacts?
B. What are the secondary impacts?
C. What are the cost impacts for regulated facilities?
D. What are the economic impacts?
E. What are the benefits?
F. What analysis of environmental justice did we conduct?
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
[[Page 80595]]
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
K. Congressional Review Act (CRA)
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
The source category that is the subject of this final action is
composed of secondary lead smelters regulated under CAA section 111,
New Source Performance Standards (NSPS). The 2022 North American
Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the source category is
331492. The NAICS code serves as a guide for readers outlining the type
of entities that this final action is likely to affect. The NSPS
codified in 40 CFR part 60, subpart L are directly applicable to
secondary lead smelters constructed, reconstructed, or modified after
June 11, 1973, and on or before December 1, 2022. The NSPS codified in
40 CFR part 60, subpart La, are directly applicable to affected
facilities that begin construction, reconstruction, or modification
after December 1, 2022. Federal, state, local and tribal government
entities would not be affected by this action. If you have any
questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular
entity, you should carefully examine the applicability criteria found
in 40 CFR part 60, subparts L and La, and consult the person listed in
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this preamble, your
state air pollution control agency with delegated authority for NSPS,
or your EPA Regional Office.
B. Where can I get a copy of this document and other related
information?
In addition to being available in the docket, an electronic copy of
this final action is available on the internet at https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/secondary-lead-smelters-new-source-performance-standards-nsps. Following publication in the Federal
Register, the EPA will post the Federal Register version of the final
rule and key technical documents at this same website.
A redline/strikeout version of the rules showing the final edits
being made to incorporate the changes to 40 CFR part 60, subpart L and
the new text for 40 CFR part 60, subpart La finalized in this action is
available in the docket (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0481). Following
signature by the EPA Administrator, the EPA also will post a copy of
these documents to https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/secondary-lead-smelters-new-source-performance-standards-nsps.
C. Judicial Review and Administrative Review
Under CAA section 307(b)(1), judicial review of this final action
is available only by filing a petition for review in the United States
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by January 19,
2024. Under CAA section 307(b)(2), the requirements established by this
final rule may not be challenged separately in any civil or criminal
proceedings brought by the EPA to enforce the requirements.
Section 307(d)(7)(B) of the CAA further provides that ``[o]nly an
objection to a rule or procedure which was raised with reasonable
specificity during the period for public comment (including any public
hearing) may be raised during judicial review.'' This section also
provides a mechanism for the EPA to convene a proceeding for
reconsideration, ``[i]f the person raising an objection can demonstrate
to the EPA that it was impracticable to raise such objection within
[the period for public comment] or if the grounds for such objection
arose after the period for public comment, (but within the time
specified for judicial review) and if such objection is of central
relevance to the outcome of the rule.'' Any person seeking to make such
a demonstration to us should submit a Petition for Reconsideration to
the Office of the Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Room 3000, WJC West Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
20460, with a copy to both the person(s) listed in the preceding FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section, and the Associate General Counsel
for the Air and Radiation Law Office, Office of General Counsel (Mail
Code 2344A), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460.
II. Background
A. What is the statutory authority for this final action?
The EPA's authority for this final rule is CAA section 111, which
governs the establishment of standards of performance for stationary
sources. Section 111(b)(1)(A) of the CAA requires the EPA Administrator
to list categories of stationary sources that in the Administrator's
judgment cause or contribute significantly to air pollution that may
reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare. The EPA
must then issue performance standards for new (and modified or
reconstructed) sources in each source category pursuant to CAA section
111(b)(1)(B). These standards are referred to as new source performance
standards, or NSPS. The EPA has the authority to define the scope of
the source categories, determine the pollutants for which standards
should be developed, set the emission level of the standards, and
distinguish among classes, types, and sizes within categories in
establishing the standards.
CAA section 111(b)(1)(B) requires the EPA to ``at least every 8
years review and, if appropriate, revise'' the NSPS. However, the
Administrator need not review any such standard if the ``Administrator
determines that such review is not appropriate in light of readily
available information on the efficacy'' of the standard. When
conducting a review of an existing performance standard, the EPA has
the discretion and authority to add emission limits for pollutants or
emission sources not currently regulated for that source category.
In setting or revising a performance standard, CAA section
111(a)(1) provides that performance standards are to reflect ``the
degree of emission limitation achievable through the application of the
BSER which (taking into account the cost of achieving such reduction
and any nonair quality health and environmental impact and energy
requirements) the Administrator determines has been adequately
demonstrated.'' The term ``standard of performance'' in CAA section
111(a)(1) makes clear that the EPA is to determine both the BSER for
the regulated sources in the source category and the degree of emission
limitation achievable through application of the BSER. The EPA must
then, under CAA section 111(b)(1)(B), promulgate standards of
performance for new sources that reflect that level of stringency. CAA
section 111(b)(5)
[[Page 80596]]
generally precludes the EPA from prescribing a particular technological
system that must be used to comply with a standard of performance.
Rather, sources can select any measure or combination of measures that
will achieve the standard. CAA section 111(h)(1) authorizes the
Administrator to promulgate ``a design, equipment, work practice, or
operational standard, or combination thereof'' if in his or her
judgment, ``it is not feasible to prescribe or enforce a standard of
performance.'' CAA section 111(h)(2) provides the circumstances under
which prescribing or enforcing a standard of performance is ``not
feasible,'' such as, when the pollutant cannot be emitted through a
conveyance designed to emit or capture the pollutant, or when there is
no practicable measurement methodology for the particular class of
sources.
Pursuant to the definition of new source in CAA section 111(a)(2),
standards of performance apply to facilities that begin construction,
reconstruction, or modification after the date of publication of the
proposed standards in the Federal Register. Under CAA section
111(a)(4), ``modification'' means any physical change in, or change in
the method of operation of, a stationary source which increases the
amount of any air pollutant emitted by such source or which results in
the emission of any air pollutant not previously emitted. Changes to an
existing facility that do not result in an increase in emissions are
not considered modifications. Under the provisions in 40 CFR 60.15,
reconstruction means the replacement of components of an existing
facility such that: (1) the fixed capital cost of the new components
exceeds 50 percent of the fixed capital cost that would be required to
construct a comparable entirely new facility; and (2) it is
technologically and economically feasible to meet the applicable
standards. Pursuant to CAA section 111(b)(1)(B), the standards of
performance or revisions thereof shall become effective upon
promulgation.
B. How does the EPA perform the NSPS review?
As noted in section II.A. of this preamble, CAA section 111
requires the EPA to, at least every 8 years, review and, if
appropriate, revise the standards of performance applicable to new,
modified, and reconstructed sources. If the EPA revises the standards
of performance, they must reflect the degree of emission limitation
achievable through the application of the BSER considering the cost of
achieving such reduction and any nonair quality health and
environmental impact and energy requirements. CAA section 111(a)(1).
In reviewing an NSPS to determine whether it is ``appropriate'' to
revise the standards of performance, the EPA evaluates the statutory
factors, which may include consideration of the following information:
Expected growth for the source category, including how
many new facilities, reconstructions, and modifications may trigger
NSPS in the future.
Pollution control measures, including advances in control
technologies, process operations, design or efficiency improvements, or
other systems of emission reduction, that are ``adequately
demonstrated'' in the regulated industry.
Available information from the implementation and
enforcement of current requirements indicating that emission
limitations and percent reductions beyond those required by the current
standards are achieved in practice.
Costs (including capital and annual costs) associated with
implementation of the available pollution control measures.
The amount of emission reductions achievable through
application of such pollution control measures.
Any non-air quality health and environmental impact and
energy requirements associated with those control measures.
In evaluating whether the cost of a particular system of emission
reduction is reasonable, the EPA considers various costs associated
with the particular air pollution control measure or a level of
control, including capital costs and operating costs, and the emission
reductions that the control measure or particular level of control can
achieve. The Agency considers these costs in the context of the
industry's overall capital expenditures and revenues. The Agency also
considers cost effectiveness analysis as a useful metric and a means of
evaluating whether a given control achieves emission reduction at a
reasonable cost. A cost effectiveness analysis allows comparisons of
relative costs and outcomes (effects) of 2 or more options. In general,
cost effectiveness is a measure of the outcomes produced by resources
spent. In the context of air pollution control options, cost
effectiveness typically refers to the annualized cost of implementing
an air pollution control option divided by the amount of pollutant
reductions realized annually.
After the EPA evaluates the statutory factors, the EPA compares the
various systems of emission reductions and determines which system is
``best,'' and therefore represents the BSER. The EPA then establishes a
standard of performance that reflects the degree of emission limitation
achievable through the implementation of the BSER. In doing this
analysis, the EPA can determine whether subcategorization is
appropriate based on classes, types, and sizes of sources, and may
identify a different BSER and establish different performance standards
for each subcategory. The result of the analysis and BSER determination
leads to standards of performance that apply to facilities that begin
construction, reconstruction, or modification after the date of
publication of the proposed standards in the Federal Register. Because
the NSPS reflect the BSER under conditions of proper operation and
maintenance, in doing its review, the EPA also evaluates and determines
the proper testing, monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting
requirements needed to ensure compliance with the emission standards.
C. What is the source category regulated in this final action?
The EPA first promulgated NSPS for the secondary lead smelting
source category on March 8, 1974 (39 FR 9308). These standards of
performance are codified in 40 CFR part 60, subpart L, and are
applicable to sources that commence construction, modification, or
reconstruction after June 11, 1973. These standards of performance
regulate emissions of PM from blast and reverberatory furnaces and
specifies limits for visible emissions (opacity) for blast and
reverberatory furnaces and for pot (refining) furnaces. The EPA amended
NSPS subpart L on October 6, 1975 (40 FR 46250) to remove a provision
providing that the failure to meet the NSPS emissions limits due to the
presence of uncombined water in the stack gases was not considered a
violation. In March 1979, the EPA reviewed the NSPS and analyzed
possible revisions to the NSPS; however, the review did not result in
any revisions to the NSPS subpart L at that time.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/91010O7P.PDF?Dockey=91010O7P.PDF.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The secondary lead smelting source category consists of facilities
that produce lead and lead alloys from lead-bearing scrap material.
Lead is used to make various construction, medical, industrial, and
consumer products such as batteries, glass, x-ray protection gear, and
various fillers. The secondary lead smelting process consists of: (1)
pre-
[[Page 80597]]
processing of lead bearing materials, (2) melting lead metal and
reducing lead compounds to lead metal in the smelting furnace, and (3)
refining and alloying the lead to customer specifications.
At secondary lead smelting facilities, blast and reverberatory
furnaces are used in the smelting processes, and pot furnaces are used
in the refining process. The process exhaust from blast and
reverberatory furnaces is a source of PM emissions, and emissions of PM
also occur as process fugitives at various points during the smelting
process, such as during charging and tapping of furnaces and refining
processes. Entrainment of dry materials in ambient air due to material
processing, vehicle traffic, wind erosion from storage piles, and other
activities can also be a source of PM emissions.
Currently, there are 11 secondary lead smelting facilities in the
United States and each facility operates furnaces that are subject to
NSPS subpart L, which specifies that owners or operators of affected
facilities must limit PM emissions from blast and reverberatory
furnaces to not more than 50 milligrams per dry standard cubic meter
(mg/dscm) or 0.022 grains per dry standard cubic feet (gr/dscf).
Subpart L also specifies that visible emissions must not exceed 20
percent opacity from blast or reverberatory furnaces and 10 percent
opacity from pot furnaces. Secondary lead smelting facilities use a
variety of control devices (e.g., baghouses, gas scrubbers), often in
combination, to comply with the PM emissions and opacity limits of the
NSPS.
The EPA proposed the current review and revisions of the secondary
lead smelting source category NSPS subpart L on December 1, 2022 (87 FR
73708). We received four comment letters, including one from the
industry trade association (the Association of Battery Recyclers, or
ABR) and three from other stakeholders, during the comment period.
Summaries of the more significant comments we timely received regarding
the proposed rule and our responses are provided in this preamble. A
summary of all other public comments on the proposal and the EPA's
responses to those comments is available in Summary of Public Comments
and Responses on Proposed Rule: New Source Performance Standards for
Secondary Lead Smelting (40 CFR part 60, subparts L and La) Best System
of Emission Reduction Review, Final Amendments, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2022-0481. In this action, the EPA is finalizing decisions and
revisions pursuant to CAA section 111(b)(1)(B) review for the secondary
lead smelting NSPS subpart L after our considerations of all the
comments received.
III. What changes did we propose for the secondary lead smelting NSPS?
On December 1, 2022, the EPA proposed revisions to the NSPS for
secondary lead smelters pursuant to CAA section 111(b)(1)(B) review of
NSPS subpart L. In that action, the EPA proposed to establish a new
subpart (40 CFR part 60, subpart La) applicable to affected sources
that begin construction, reconstruction, or modification after December
1, 2022. The EPA proposed in the NSPS subpart La, revised standards for
PM emissions and opacity for blast furnaces, reverberatory furnaces,
and process fugitive emissions sources that apply at all times,
including periods of SSM. The EPA proposed initial and periodic PM and
opacity performance testing, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements.
The EPA also proposed to revise the definitions for blast and
reverberatory furnaces and added a new definition for pot furnaces.
The EPA also proposed to amend NSPS subpart L to clarify that NSPS
subpart L applies to affected sources that commenced construction,
reconstruction, or modification after June 11, 1973, and on or before
December 1, 2022, and to update the NSPS furnace definitions,
performance testing schedule, and monitoring, recordkeeping, and
reporting requirements to be more consistent with the NESHAP (40 CFR
part 63, subpart X). The EPA also proposed the IBR of an alternative
method for determining opacity and the requirement for the submission
of electronic performance test reports.
IV. What actions are we finalizing and what is our rationale for such
decisions?
The EPA is finalizing revisions to the NSPS for secondary lead
smelters pursuant to CAA section 111(b)(1)(B) review. The EPA is
promulgating the NSPS revisions in a new subpart, 40 CFR part 60,
subpart La. The revised NSPS subpart is applicable to affected sources
constructed, modified, or reconstructed after December 1, 2022. This
action also finalizes standards of performance in NSPS subpart La for
PM emission and opacity that apply at all times including during
periods of SSM and other proposed changes such as electronic reporting.
Additionally, this action finalizes proposed revisions to the testing,
monitoring, notification, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements,
which are the same for both NSPS subparts L and La, and finalizes a
definition for ``process fugitive emissions source'' in NSPS subpart La
based on consideration of public comments.
A. Revised NSPS for Blast, Reverberatory, and Pot Furnaces
1. Proposed BSER for PM Emissions and Opacity
Based on the EPA's permit review and assessment of control costs
and other CAA section 111 statutory considerations, the EPA proposed to
identify for NSPS subpart La that the BSER for PM emissions and opacity
from new, modified, or reconstructed blast furnaces is an afterburner
followed by efficient particulate controls (e.g., fabric filter that
may be installed in series with a high efficiency particulate air
(HEPA) filter and/or a venturi scrubber). For new, modified, or
reconstructed reverberatory and pot furnaces, the EPA proposed that the
BSER for PM emissions and opacity is efficient particulate controls
(e.g., fabric filter that may be installed in series with a HEPA
filter, venturi scrubber and/or a wet electrostatic precipitator
(WESP)).
Based on the available PM emissions and opacity data, the EPA
proposed in NSPS subpart La that the standard of performance for blast
and reverberatory furnaces that reflects the application of BSER is an
emission limit of 10 mg PM/dscm. For pot furnaces, the EPA proposed in
NSPS subpart La that the standard of performance that reflects the
application of BSER is a PM emissions limit of 3 mg/dscm. The EPA also
proposed that the standard of performance for opacity from blast,
reverberatory, and pot furnaces emissions is 0 percent.
2. How the Final Revisions to BSER and the PM Emissions and Opacity
Standards Differ From the Proposed Revisions
After considering the comments regarding the EPA's proposed BSER
determinations for NSPS subpart La and the proposed PM emissions and
opacity standards, the EPA is finalizing the BSER determinations and
the PM standards for blast and reverberatory furnaces for NSPS subpart
La, as proposed. However, after considering the comments and additional
opacity data provided by one commenter, the EPA is finalizing the
opacity limits for blast and reverberatory furnace in the final NSPS
subpart La at 5 percent, rather than the proposed opacity standard of 0
percent. Also, the EPA is revising the PM limit for pot furnaces to
address comments associated with the interaction of the proposed limit
for pot
[[Page 80598]]
furnaces with the NESHAP subpart X requirements. In the final NSPS
subpart La (40 CFR 60.122a(a)), the EPA is promulgating a definition
for ``process fugitives emission source'' (see the discussion in
section IV.F. of this preamble) and finalizing an emissions limit for
PM of 4.9 mg/dscm and an opacity limit of 5 percent from process
fugitive emissions sources that includes emissions from pot furnaces,
as well as other combined process fugitive emissions (e.g., emissions
from furnace charging and tapping and casting).
3. BSER and PM Emissions and Opacity Standards Comments and Responses
a. BSER Determination
Comment: One commenter disagreed with the EPA's determination in
the proposal preamble (87 FR 73715) that the BSER for PM emissions and
opacity from new, modified, or reconstructed blast furnaces is an
afterburner followed by efficient PM controls (e.g., fabric filter
installed in series with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)
filter and/or a venturi scrubber). The commenter noted that secondary
lead smelting facilities use afterburners primarily to reduce emissions
of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons from certain types of
furnaces and configurations (e.g., blast furnaces, collocated
reverberatory furnaces) and that afterburners have little if any role
in reducing emissions of PM.
Response: The EPA disagrees with the commenter's assertion that
BSER for PM emissions and opacity from new, modified, or reconstructed
blast furnaces should not include an afterburner. The afterburner helps
to prevent fouling of the fabric filter by organics and moisture in the
furnace exhaust, which results in better PM control. This determination
is consistent with the BSER discussed in previous Secondary Lead
Smelting NSPS review documents. For example, Volume 1 of the NSPS
background document (June 1973, Air Pollution Technical Data (APTD)-
1352a) states that the blast furnace afterburner is used upstream of
the baghouse to ``incinerate oily and sticky materials to avoid binding
the fabric.'' Additionally, the March 1979 NSPS review document (EPA-
450/3-79-015) states that, ``As previously noted, with blast furnaces
an afterburner is employed to ensure complete combustion of such
material [sparks and other burning material in furnace gas] before it
enters the baghouse.'' The commenter did not provide any additional
information to contradict this long-standing analysis of the benefits
of using in blast furnaces an afterburner to further reduce PM
emissions.
b. Opacity Emission Limits for NSPS Subpart La
Comment: One commenter contended that the EPA based the proposed
standard of 0 percent opacity limit for blast, reverberatory, and pot
furnaces on insufficient information and limited data. The commenter
also said that the EPA did not evaluate opacity measurements across the
affected sources and under different operating conditions (particularly
SSM periods).
In response to the EPA's request in the proposal for comments
regarding the available opacity data for blast, reverberatory, and pot
furnaces, the commenter provided a subset of opacity data measured in a
common stack utilizing a continuous opacity monitor system (COMS) at
the outlet of the baghouses before the scrubber (the commenter asserted
a claim of CBI over the baghouse data). The commenter stated that the
baghouse data demonstrate the presence of non-zero opacities during
normal operations and contradict the EPA's proposed opacity limitation
of 0 percent.
The commenter stated that the inherent subjectivity in the
measurement of opacity precludes the EPA from establishing an absolute
0 percent opacity emissions standard. The commenter noted that the
subjectivity of opacity measurements is acknowledged in the
certification requirements for both EPA Method 9 and ASTM D7520-16
(i.e., >15 percent opacity at any single plume reading or a >7.5
percent opacity average error in each plume category). The commenter
added that ASTM D7520-16 references a repeatability (precision) study
at 0 percent opacity of 3 percent opacity (i.e., at 0
percent opacity, ASTM D7520-16 will read between 0 percent opacity to 3
percent opacity 95 percent of the time), which could result in an
exceedance of the 0 percent opacity standard. The commenter also noted
that the proposed methodologies to determine opacity or visible
emissions can be impacted by limitations in contrasting backgrounds and
by the presence of wet plumes, which vary from source to source.
To account for the subjectivity and the margin of error associated
with the proposed compliance test methods presented above, the
commenter stated that the EPA should revise the proposed opacity limit
to 5 percent.
Response: The EPA acknowledges that, on occasion during process
operations and particularly during startup and shutdown events, brief
periods of visible emissions from these sources are possible. However,
since these sources are located in negative pressure locations, these
periods of visible emissions should not typically occur. As such, to
account for the remote possibility of these periods of visible
emissions, limited data availability, and the subjectivity and margin
of error of the visible emissions test methods, we are finalizing a
visible emission standard of no greater than 5 percent over a single 6-
minute averaging period. The 5 percent value ``threshold'' is the
lowest visible emission increment reading achievable by EPA Method 9
that is greater than 0 percent, and the 6-minute averaging period
represents the minimum number of visible emissions observations
prescribed by EPA Method 9 to calculate a valid visible emissions
average (i.e., a minimum of 24 visible emissions observations shall be
made at 15-second intervals). This opacity standard and averaging
period accounts for brief periods of visible emissions while still
maintaining stringency with the expected absence of emissions in a
negative pressure environment.
To verify this, a 6-minute EPA Method 22 visible emissions check
should occur at a minimum of once per calendar day during normal
operations, as well as during each SSM event. If any visible emissions
are observed for any period of time (i.e., >0 seconds), a 30-minute EPA
Method 9 visible emissions test must be conducted as soon as
practicable. As an alternative, a 30-minute EPA Method 9 visible
emissions test can be performed at a minimum of once per calendar day
during normal operations, as well as during each SSM event without
having to perform the EPA Method 22 visible emissions check. If any
rolling 6-minute averaging period from the 30-minute visible emissions
test is greater than 5 percent, corrective action must be initiated
within 1 hour of detecting visible emissions above the applicable
limit. After the corrective action is completed, an additional 30-
minute visible emissions test must be performed. After the corrective
action is completed, if any rolling 6-minute averaging period from the
follow-up 30-minute visible emissions test is greater than 5 percent,
the source is deemed out of compliance with the prescribed opacity
standard.
Comment: One commenter noted an apparent typographical error in the
proposed NSPS subpart La (40 CFR 60.122a) and suggested that the EPA
change the text from ``Exhibit 0 percent opacity or greater'' to
``Exhibit opacity greater than'' the limit.
Response: The EPA has revised the text in NSPS subpart La 40 CFR
[[Page 80599]]
60.122a(a)(2) and 60.122a(b)(2) to address the typographical error.
c. PM Emissions Limit for Pot Furnaces
Comment: One commenter stated that the proposed rule's treatment of
``pot furnaces,'' including the establishment of PM standards for new
pot furnaces, is misaligned with the functioning of pot furnaces at
secondary lead smelters and with their treatment under other regulatory
provisions, including NESHAP subpart X. The commenter said that NESHAP
subpart X regulates pot furnace emissions as process fugitives, which
are typically combined with emissions from other sources for ducting to
controls, and that isolating pot furnace emissions for the purpose of
performance testing may not be practical. The commenter said that the
EPA should remove the proposed PM standard for pot furnaces.
The commenter stated that NESHAP subpart X (40 CFR 63.542)
considers pot furnaces to be a process fugitive emissions source,
rather than a process emissions source. The commenter noted that
facilities may mix emissions from pot furnaces with process emissions
from the smelting furnaces which makes it more difficult to segregate
pot furnace emissions for compliance determination purposes. If the EPA
does establish NSPS subpart La emission standards for new pot furnaces
at secondary lead smelters, the commenter asserted that the EPA should
clarify that commingled emissions from smelting furnaces and pot
furnaces are subject to the proposed emission standards in 40 CFR
60.122a(a).
The commenter contended that the data the EPA used to establish the
proposed PM emissions limit for pot furnaces are insufficient because
the data include contributions from emission sources other than pot
furnaces (e.g., casting emissions).
The commenter also stated that the EPA should confirm that smaller
refining kettles used for research and development (R&D) are excluded
from the proposed definition of pot furnaces. For example, the EPA
could exclude such kettles by establishing a size limit (e.g., smaller
than 5 tons of molten metal at maximum capacity) and a usage limit
(operated fewer than 4000 hours per year). The commenter noted that the
R&D refining kettles are a fraction of the size of normal production
refining kettles (e.g., 1 ton v. 100 tons) and are, therefore,
insignificant emission sources at smelters.
Response: The EPA disagrees with commenter's statement that the
final rule should not include a PM standard for pot furnaces. As noted
in sections IV.A.1. and 2. of this preamble, the EPA has determined
that the final BSER for PM emissions and opacity from new, modified, or
reconstructed pot furnaces is efficient particulate controls, and the
commenter does not dispute that PM emissions from pot furnaces can be
reduced by application of these controls. Consequently, the EPA must
establish a PM emissions limit that reflects BSER. However, the EPA
acknowledges that isolating pot furnace emissions for NSPS compliance
testing may not be feasible for all secondary lead smelting facilities.
The EPA also acknowledges that the limited data the EPA used to
establish the proposed PM emissions limit for pot furnaces include
contributions from emission sources other than pot furnaces (i.e., data
from 5 of 6 test reports used to calculate the proposed pot furnace
limit included contributions from casting fugitives).
To address the commenter's concern related to isolating emissions
for compliance testing and the limited data set, the EPA conducted a
further evaluation of the available test data to identify data values
that included contributions from pot furnaces combined with other
process fugitive sources (e.g., emissions from furnace charging and
tapping and casting). The EPA used this data set of comingled pot
furnace emissions, which consists of 45 test runs from 3 facilities
(Clarios, South Carolina; Gopher Resource, Florida; and Gopher
Resource, Minnesota), to derive a PM emissions limit for pot furnace
emissions combined with emissions from other process fugitives. Based
on this updated analysis, in the final NSPS subpart La (40 CFR
60.122a(a)), the EPA is promulgating a process fugitive source
emissions limit for PM of 4.9 mg/dscm from the process emissions
control devices. This analysis can be found in the Particulate Matter
Emissions Test Data Memorandum for Process Fugitive Sources as
Secondary Lead Smelting Facilities located in the docket for this
rulemaking. This approach of regulating pot furnace emissions as a
process fugitive source is consistent with the approach used under
NESHAP subpart X, which requires that new or reconstructed sources must
capture all process fugitive emissions (including pot furnace
emissions) with hoods or negative pressure enclosures and route those
emissions to a control device.
Regarding the commenter's assertion that the EPA should confirm
that smaller refining kettles used for R&D are excluded from the
proposed definition of pot furnaces, the commentor did not provide any
data demonstrating that R&D kettles cannot meet the proposed
requirement. Additionally, the EPA is not finalizing the proposed
definition for pot furnaces and is finalizing a process fugitive
emissions limit. Therefore, the EPA has no basis to provide an
exception to the emissions limits specified in NSPS subpart La at this
time. However, the EPA may revisit this issue under the NESHAP subpart
X review.
B. NSPS Subpart La Without Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction
Exemptions
Consistent with Sierra Club v. EPA, 551 F.3d 1019 (D.C. Cir. 2008),
the EPA has established standards in NSPS subpart La that apply at all
times. We are finalizing in NSPS subpart La specific requirements at 40
CFR 60.122a(c) that override the general provisions for SSM
requirements. In finalizing the standards in NSPS subpart La, the EPA
has taken into account startup and shutdown periods and, for the
reasons explained in this section of the preamble, has not finalized
alternate standards for those periods.
Periods of startup, normal operations, and shutdown are all
predictable and routine aspects of a source's operations. Malfunctions,
in contrast, are neither predictable nor routine. Instead, they are, by
definition, sudden, infrequent, and not reasonably preventable failures
of emissions control, process, or monitoring equipment (40 CFR 60.2).
The EPA interprets CAA section 111 as not requiring emissions that
occur during periods of malfunction to be factored into development of
CAA section 111 standards. Nothing in CAA section 111 or in case law
requires that the EPA consider malfunctions when determining what
standards of performance reflect the degree of emission limitation
achievable through ``the application of the best system of emission
reduction'' that the EPA determines is adequately demonstrated. While
the EPA accounts for variability in setting emissions standards,
nothing in CAA section 111 requires the Agency to consider malfunctions
as part of that analysis. The EPA is not required to treat a
malfunction in the same manner as the type of variation in performance
that occurs during routine operations of a source. A malfunction is a
failure of the source to perform in a ``normal or usual manner'' and no
statutory language compels the EPA to consider such events in setting
CAA section 111 standards of performance. The EPA's approach to
malfunctions in the analogous circumstances (setting ``achievable''
standards under CAA section 112) has been upheld as reasonable by the
D.C. Circuit in U.S.
[[Page 80600]]
Sugar Corp. v. EPA, 830 F.3d 579, 606-610 (2016).
1. Proposed SSM Provisions
The EPA proposed in NSPS subpart La that the PM emissions and
opacity limits for blast, reverberatory, and pot furnaces apply at all
times, including periods of SSM. The proposed NSPS subpart La included
specific requirements at 40 CFR 60.122a(c) that would override the
general provisions for SSM requirements.
2. How the Final Revisions to the SSM Provisions Differ From the
Proposed Revisions
After considering the comment on the proposed SSM provisions, the
EPA is finalizing in NSPS subpart La that the PM emissions and opacity
limits for blast, reverberatory, and pot furnaces apply at all times,
including periods of SSM, and is finalizing the SSM provision in 40 CFR
60.122a(c), as proposed.
3. SSM Provision Comment and Response
Comment: One commenter asserted that the EPA should not remove from
NSPS subpart La the exception in the NSPS general provisions (40 CFR
60.8(c)) which states that emissions during SSM periods that exceed the
applicable NSPS limit are not considered to be a violation of the
applicable emission limit. The commenter noted that multiple rulings by
the D.C. Circuit (e.g., Portland Cement Ass'n v. Ruckelshaus, 486 F.2d
375, 398 (D.C. Cir. 1973); Essex Chem. Corp. v. Ruckelshaus, 486 F.2d
427, 432 (D.C. Cir. 1973); and National Lime Ass'n v. EPA, 627 F.2d
416, 431 n.46 (D.C. Cir. 1980)) have affirmed the EPA's historic
approach of not requiring affected sources to meet NSPS emission limits
during SSM events. The commenter stated that it would be arbitrary and
capricious for the EPA to interpret Sierra Club v. EPA, 551 F.3d 1019
(D.C. Cir. 2008), as preventing the EPA from exercising discretion in
establishing an SSM exception in NSPS subpart La or as making an SSM
exception inappropriate in NSPS subpart La on the current record.
Response: As discussed in more detail in the proposal, the EPA has
determined that the reasoning in the court's decision in Sierra Club v.
EPA, 551 F.3d 1019 (D.C. Cir. 2008), which vacated the SSM exemption in
CAA section 112, applies equally to CAA section 111. Therefore, we
disagree with the commenter on the applicability of this decision to
CAA section 111. While the EPA recognizes the differences between the
NESHAP and NSPS programs, the court in Sierra Club held that under
section 302(k) of the CAA, emissions standards or limitations must be
continuous in nature, and the definition of emission or standard in CAA
section 302(k) and the requirement for continuous standards applies to
both NESHAP and NSPS.
C. Testing and Monitoring Requirements
1. Proposed Testing and Monitoring Provisions
The EPA proposed requiring that facilities subject to 40 CFR part
60, subparts L and La conduct periodic PM testing of blast,
reverberatory, and pot furnace emissions. The EPA also proposed under
40 CFR part 60, subpart La periodic testing of opacity from blast,
reverberatory, and pot furnace emissions. The proposed amendments would
allow facilities to request less frequent periodic PM testing, reduced
from every 12 months to every 24 months, if the previous periodic
compliance test demonstrates that PM emissions are 50 percent or less
of the final emissions limit (e.g., PM emissions from blast and
reverberatory furnaces of 25 mg/dscm or less for facilities subject to
40 CFR part 60, subpart L).
To reduce the testing burden on facilities, the EPA also proposed
allowing facilities to determine the PM emissions by either EPA Method
12 (Determination of Inorganic Lead Emissions from Stationary Sources)
or EPA Method 29 (Determination of Metals Emissions from Stationary
Sources). For determining opacity under NSPS subpart L, the EPA
proposed allowing the use of ASTM, International (ASTM) D7520-16
(Standard Test Method for Determining the Opacity of a Plume in the
Outdoor Ambient Atmosphere) as an alternative to EPA Method 9. For NSPS
subpart La, the EPA proposed allowing the use of EPA Method 22 (Visual
Determination of Fugitive Emissions from Material Sources and Smoke
Emissions from Flares) if there are zero visible emissions as an
alternative to EPA Method 9 or the ASTM D7520-16 method.
The EPA also proposed adding 40 CFR 60.124 and 40 CFR 60.124a
(Monitoring requirements) to NSPS subparts L and La, respectively, to
include some of the monitoring requirements specified in 40 CFR
63.548(a) through (i) (Monitoring requirements) of the NESHAP (40 CFR
part 63, subpart X), including development of a standard operating
procedures (SOP) manual for control devices used to reduce PM and
opacity emissions.
2. How the Final Revisions to the Testing and Monitoring Provisions
Differ From the Proposed Revisions
After considering the comments, the EPA is finalizing the testing
and monitoring provisions, as proposed. In response to public comment
regarding the appropriate level of the opacity standard, the EPA
revised the proposed opacity standard from 0 percent to 5 percent (see
the discussion in section IV.A. of this preamble). Although EPA Method
22 is used only to determine the absence of visual emissions (i.e.,
zero percent opacity), rather than to determine non-zero readings
(e.g., 5 percent opacity), the EPA is retaining the use of EPA Method
22 as an alternative method to potentially reduce the testing burden on
facilities. For example, a facility could use EPA Method 22 to
demonstrate compliance with the final opacity limit of 5 percent by
determining no visible emissions. However, if visible emissions are
detected, the facility would need to proceed to use EPA Method 9 to
confirm opacity is no more than 5 percent.
3. Testing and Monitoring Comments and Responses
Comment: One commenter contended that periodic PM testing is
unnecessary and inappropriate, and would not discover any actionable
information that would not be discovered through the regular
performance testing for particulate lead required by NESHAP subpart X.
Response: The EPA disagrees with the commenter. The target
pollutant of the periodic testing under NESHAP subpart X is lead, while
the target pollutant for the NSPS is PM. The EPA concludes that it is
appropriate to require periodic testing for PM to confirm affected
facilities continue to comply with the PM limits. Codifying the testing
requirements in the NSPS provides for periodic, direct assessments
regarding facility compliance status with the PM limits in NSPS
subparts L and La.
Comment: One commenter acknowledged that allowing facilities to
conduct performance tests for NESHAP subpart X and NSPS subparts L and
La, as applicable, through collection of a single sample will
appropriately facilitate effective compliance. The commenter stated
that, to assist in the clarity of implementing the proposed rule, the
EPA should revise proposed 40 CFR 60.123 and 60.123a to clarify that
smelters are to employ section 16.1 of EPA Method 12 or the
specifications in EPA Method 29, as stated in section 1.2
[[Page 80601]]
of EPA Method 29, and detailed throughout EPA Method 29.
Response: The EPA added the test method sections cited by the
commenter to the final rules.
Comment: One commenter noted that proposed NSPS subparts L and La
(at 40 CFR 60.123(b)(2) and 60.123a(b)(2)) allow for facilities to
request from the EPA Administrator an extension (up to 24 months) for
conducting the periodic performance tests for facilities where the
previous compliance tests measured PM emissions are 50 percent or less
of the emissions limit (e.g., for NSPS subpart L, 25 mg/dscm or less).
The commenter asserted that, in practice, it is difficult for well-
controlled smelters to obtain a timely decision from the EPA regarding
the facility's request, which is essentially tantamount to an
unjustified denial of the extension request. The commenter stated that
the EPA should provide the testing extension upon receipt of the
facility's request by the appropriate EPA regional office, rather than
the facility having to wait for Administrator approval.
Response: The EPA disagrees with the commenter. Providing the
performance testing extension based solely on the receipt of the
facility's request would not be appropriate because it would not
provide any opportunity for the EPA or delegated authority to verify
the facility's assertion by reviewing the request and supporting
documentation (e.g., test report) before granting the testing
extension. However, the EPA recognizes it is reasonable for a facility
to expect to get a response as to whether the 24-month period is
approved within a reasonable timeframe before their next compliance
test. Therefore, the EPA has determined that it is appropriate to
finalize a provision that would preserve the opportunity to review
incoming requests, while encouraging the EPA or delegated authority to
act within a reasonable timeframe so that facilities have adequate
notice as to when the next compliance test will be required.
Accordingly, the EPA is finalizing a provision that provides that the
extension request will be deemed automatically approved under the
following specified circumstances: (1) a facility completes a
performance test that is 50 percent or lower than the applicable
emissions limit, (2) the facility submits a request for the extension
of 24 months well before their next required compliance test (i.e., no
more than 4 months after the subject compliance test that was 50
percent or lower than the limit), and (3) the EPA does not provide a
response to such request within 6 months of receipt of such request.
The EPA has determined that this provision will provide a balanced
approach to the competing interests of all involved parties.
D. Electronic Reporting
The EPA is finalizing a requirement that owners and operators of
secondary lead smelters subject to the NSPS subparts L and La submit
the results of the initial and periodic performance tests
electronically through the EPA's Central Data Exchange (CDX) using the
Compliance and Emissions Data Reporting Interface (CEDRI). The EPA did
not receive any public comments regarding the proposed requirements for
electronic reporting.
E. Notification, Recordkeeping, and Reporting Requirements
1. Proposed Notification, Recordkeeping, and Reporting Provisions
The EPA proposed to add the notification, recordkeeping, and
reporting requirements specified in the proposed 40 CFR 60.125 and 40
CFR 60.125a (Notification, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements)
to NSPS subparts L and La, respectively. The proposed requirements
clarified that facilities must comply with the notification and
recordkeeping requirements specified in 40 CFR 60.7 and the reporting
requirements specified in 40 CFR 60.19. The proposed requirements in
NSPS subparts L and La included the recordkeeping requirements from
NESHAP subpart X specified in 40 CFR 63.550(b); (c)(1) through (c)(4);
(c)(11) through (c)(12); (e)(4) through (e)(7); and (e)(13).
2. How the Final Revisions to the Notification, Recordkeeping and
Reporting Provisions Differ From the Proposed Revisions
After considering the comments, the EPA is finalizing the
notification, recordkeeping and reporting provisions, as proposed, with
the exception of the editorial changes made to the text of 40 CFR
60.125(a) and 60.125a(a); 40 CFR 60.124(c) and 60.124a(c); and 40 CFR
60.124(f)(4) and 60.124a(f)(4), as discussed below in section IV.E.3.
of this preamble.
3. Notification, Recordkeeping, and Reporting Comments and Responses
Comment: One commenter stated that the EPA should clarify as to the
proposed revisions to NSPS subpart L that certain aspects of the NSPS
General Provisions 40 CFR 60.7 and 60.19 will not apply because they
concern regulatory provisions that are absent from NSPS subpart L
(e.g., 40 CFR 60.7(a)(7) concerns continuous opacity monitoring
systems, which appropriately are not required under proposed NSPS
subpart L).
Response: The EPA revised the text of 40 CFR 60.125(a) and
60.125a(a) as set forth in the amendatory text portion of this final
rule to address the clarification suggested by the commenter.
Comment: One commenter stated that the EPA should revise the
proposed NSPS subparts L and La (40 CFR 60.124(c) and 60.124a(c)) to
replace the phrase ``PM and opacity emissions control devices'' with
the phrase ``baghouses (fabric filters or cartridge collectors)'' to
improve the consistency between the underlying requirement proposed in
40 CFR 60.124(b) and 60.124a(b), and the submission provisions proposed
in 40 CFR 60.124(c) and 60.124a(c).
Response: The EPA agrees with the editorial change suggested by the
commenter. Therefore, the final NSPS subparts L and La (40 CFR
60.124(c) and 60.124a(c)) replace the phrase ``PM and opacity emissions
control devices'' with the phrase ``baghouses (fabric filters or
cartridge collectors).''
Comment: One commenter requested that the EPA provide a mechanism
by which a secondary lead smelting facility could avoid submission of a
redundant SOP manual in response to the proposed requirements in 40 CFR
60.124 and 60.124a, given the similarities between those provisions and
the SOP required by NESHAP subpart X (40 CFR 63.548).
Response: The EPA disagrees with the commenter that an additional
mechanism is needed that would allow secondary lead smelting facilities
to avoid submission of redundant SOP manuals in response to the
proposed requirements in 40 CFR 60.124 and 60.124a. Proposed 40 CFR
60.124(l) and 60.124a(l) state: ``If an affected source is subject to
the monitoring requirements specified in 40 CFR part 63, subpart X
(National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants from
Secondary Lead Smelting) and those requirements are as stringent or
more stringent than the monitoring requirements specified in paragraphs
(a) through (j) of this section, compliance with the monitoring
requirements specified in 40 CFR part 63, subpart X also demonstrates
compliance with the monitoring requirements specified in paragraphs (a)
through (k) of this section.'' The EPA believes that this specification
in NSPS subparts L and La already addresses the concern raised by the
commenter.
Comment: One commenter noted that proposed NSPS subparts L and La
(40
[[Page 80602]]
CFR 60.124(f)(4) and 60.124a(f)(4)) refer to the document ``Office of
Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) Fabric Filter Bag Leak
Detection Guidance'' (EPA-454/R-98-015; September 1997). The commenter
stated that the EPA guidance document is 26 years old and may be
inconsistent with current guidance provided by manufacturers of bag
leak detection systems. The commenter requested that the EPA revise
proposed NSPS subparts L and La (40 CFR 60.124(f)(4) and 60.124a(f)(4))
to clarify that a smelter may install and operate the bag leak
detection system in a manner consistent with the manufacturer's written
specifications and recommendations if there is any conflict between the
manufacturer's instructions and the OAQPS guidance.
Response: The EPA agrees with the clarification suggested by the
commenter. Therefore, the final text of 40 CFR 60.124(f)(4) and
60.124a(f)(4) as set forth in the amendatory text portion of this final
rule.
Comment: One commenter contended that the proposed requirements in
NSPS subparts L and La (40 CFR 60.124(k), 60.124a(k), 60.125(c)(10),
and 60.125a(c)(10)) for facilities to establish and record parametric
monitoring values for each control device used to comply with the PM
and opacity emission standards are not consistent with the requirements
of NESHAP subpart X (40 CFR 63.550(a)), which only requires parametric
monitoring and recordkeeping for scrubbers. The commenter stated that
the proposed requirements in NSPS subparts L and La (40 CFR 60.124(k)
and 60.124a(k)) for secondary lead smelting facilities to establish,
during the initial or periodic performance test, the value or range of
values of the monitoring parameter(s) for each control device used to
comply with the PM and opacity emission standards was overly vague and
potentially would require the establishment of monitoring parameters
for pollution control devices (e.g., WESPs) that are employed, but are
not part of BSER, or afterburners that are employed, but have little or
no role in PM control. The commenter added that the proposed NSPS
subparts L and La include monitoring and recordkeeping provisions that
provide sufficient criteria for the proper operation of applicable
control devices (the commenter provided several citations to the
proposed rules). The commenter stated that the EPA should revise the
proposed language to specify that a secondary lead smelting facility is
not required to establish and record parametric monitoring values for
PM control devices (other than scrubbers) if the facility demonstrates
compliance with NSPS subparts L and/or La (40 CFR 60.124 and/or
60.124a) by complying with the monitoring provisions of NESHAP subpart
X.
Response: Although the EPA strives to improve the consistency
between NSPS subparts L and La and NESHAP subpart X, where possible,
the EPA's decision-making regarding the requirements for the NSPS must
be driven by the requirements of CAA section 111 and the regulatory
provisions necessary to implement standards of performance promulgated
pursuant to that authority. We have determined that parametric
monitoring of control devices is necessary for demonstrating ongoing
compliance with the PM and opacity emission standards between the
demonstrations provided by the periodic performance tests. We also
disagree with the commenter that the text in proposed NSPS subparts L
and La (40 CFR 60.124(k) and 60.124a(k)) is overly vague. The rules
specify establishment of monitoring parameter values ``for each control
device used to comply with the PM and opacity emission standards'' of
the NSPS. Regarding the commenter's contention that the proposed text
could potentially require the establishment of monitoring parameters
for control devices (e.g., WESP) and afterburners, this is consistent
with the EPA's intent. The EPA determined that BSER for PM emissions
and opacity from new, modified, or reconstructed blast furnaces is an
afterburner followed by efficient PM controls, which would include
controls such as a WESP.
Comment: One commenter said that the phrase ``and those
requirements are as stringent or more stringent than the monitoring
requirements specified in paragraphs (a) through (j) of this section''
in proposed NSPS subparts L and La (40 CFR 60.124(l) and 60.124a(l))
introduces regulatory confusion as to whether compliance with the
monitoring provisions of NESHAP subpart X also demonstrates compliance
with the proposed monitoring requirements of NSPS subparts L and La.
The commenter asserted that the EPA should either eliminate the phrase
from the regulatory text or, at a minimum, state in the preamble to the
final NSPS rulemaking that the current monitoring provisions of NESHAP
subpart X are as stringent or more stringent than the monitoring
requirements specified in the proposed NSPS.
Response: The EPA believes that the current monitoring provisions
of NESHAP subpart X are at least as stringent as the monitoring
requirements specified in the final NSPS subparts L and La.
Nonetheless, the EPA continues to find it appropriate to finalize the
proposed language at 40 CFR 60.124(l) and 60.124a(l) with respect to
the NESHAP subpart X monitoring requirements. NESHAP undergo periodic
reviews pursuant to CAA section 112, and, to the extent that NESHAP
subpart X were revised during a future review, or otherwise modified,
such that the monitoring requirements were no longer as stringent or
more stringent than those finalized in subparts L and La, it would no
longer be appropriate to permit the use of the monitoring requirements
in NESHAP subpart X in lieu of those required by the NSPS.
Comment: One commenter said that proposed NSPS subparts L and La
(40 CFR 60.124 and 60.124a) require that the monitoring systems comply
with the applicable requirements specified in the NSPS General
Provisions (40 CFR 60.13) but noted that 40 CFR 60.13(a) states that
the section is only applicable ``upon promulgation of performance
specifications for continuous monitoring systems under appendix B to
this part.'' The commenter contended that, because proposed NSPS
subparts L and La do not require continuous monitoring systems to
demonstrate compliance with emission limits, the EPA should revise the
proposed language in 40 CFR 60.124 and 60.124a to include the following
text: ``The owner shall comply with the applicable monitoring
requirements specified in 40 CFR 60.13 upon promulgation of performance
specifications in 40 CFR part 60--Appendix B for the continuous
monitoring systems required in this section. The Procedures of 40 CFR
part 60--Appendix F do not apply because the continuous monitoring
systems required in this section are not used to demonstrate compliance
with emission limits on a continuous basis.''
Response: The EPA disagrees with the commenter that additional text
is needed in 40 CFR 60.124 or 60.124a. As the commenter noted, 40 CFR
60.124 and 60.124a state that the owner shall comply with the
applicable monitoring requirements specified in 40 CFR 60.13. Although
the proposed NSPS subparts L and La do not require facilities to use
continuous opacity monitoring systems (COMS) or continuous emissions
monitoring systems (CEMS) to comply with the standards, NSPS subparts L
and La do not preclude facilities from using COMS or CEMS. The
performance standards are required if the continuous monitoring system
is used to demonstrate compliance with emission limits on a continuous
basis.
[[Page 80603]]
F. Definitions
1. Proposed Definitions
The EPA proposed to incorporate the definitions shown in Table 1 of
this preamble into 40 CFR 60.121 (Definitions) of existing 40 CFR part
60, subpart L and 40 CFR 60.121a (Definitions) of the proposed 40 CFR
part 60, subpart La. These proposed definitions were intended to
improve the clarity of the NSPS subparts and to reduce potential
confusion among industry and regulatory agencies by aligning the
descriptions of the affected sources that would be regulated by 40 CFR
part 60, subparts L and La to be more consistent with the definitions
within the NESHAP at 40 CFR part 63, subpart X, as shown in Table 1.
These proposed changes did not affect the applicability of existing
NSPS subpart L.
Table 1--Part 60 Process Equipment Definitions Proposed for NSPS Subparts L and La
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current definition Proposed for NSPS
Equipment in NSPS subpart L NESHAP subpart X subparts L and La
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blast furnace......................... Any furnace used to A smelting furnace A smelting furnace
recover metal from consisting of a consisting of a
slag. vertical cylinder atop vertical cylinder atop
a crucible, into which a crucible, into which
lead-bearing charge lead-bearing charge
materials are materials are
introduced at the top introduced at the top
of the furnace and of the furnace and
combustion air is combustion air is
introduced through introduced through
tuyeres at the bottom tuyeres at the bottom
of the cylinder, and of the cylinder, and
that uses coke as a that lead compounds are
fuel source and that is chemically reduced to
operated at such a elemental lead metal.
temperature in the
combustion zone
(greater than 980
Celsius) that lead
compounds are
chemically reduced to
elemental lead metal.
Reverberatory furnace................. Includes the A refractory-lined A refractory-lined
following types of furnace that uses one furnace that uses one
reverberatory or more flames to heat or more flames to heat
furnaces: the walls and roof of the walls and roof of
stationary, the furnace and lead- the furnace and lead-
rotating, rocking, bearing scrap to such a bearing scrap such that
and tilting. temperature (greater lead compounds are
than 980 Celsius) that chemically reduced to
lead compounds are elemental lead metal.
chemically reduced to Reverberatory furnaces
elemental lead metal. include the following
types: stationary,
rotating, rocking, and
tilting.
Pot furnace........................... Not defined......... Refining kettle means an Pot furnace is a type of
open-top vessel that is refining kettle, which
constructed of cast is an open-top vessel
iron or steel and is constructed of cast
indirectly heated from iron or steel and is
below and contains indirectly heated from
molten lead for the below and contains
purpose of refining and molten lead for the
alloying the lead. purpose of refining and
Included are pot alloying the lead.
furnaces, receiving
kettles, and holding
kettles.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. How the Final Rule Definitions Differ From the Proposed Definitions
After considering the comments on the proposed definitions, the EPA
is not adopting the proposed changes to the definitions for blast
furnace, reverberatory furnace, and pot furnace in current NSPS subpart
L. For NSPS subpart La, the EPA is maintaining in 40 CFR 60.121a
(Definitions) the definitions of ``blast furnace,'' ``lead,''
``reverberatory furnace,'' and ``secondary lead smelter'' specified in
current NSPS subpart L (instead of adopting the proposed definitions in
Table 1, above) and finalizing the definition of ``process fugitive
emissions source.'' Table 2 of this preamble shows the final process
definitions for NSPS subpart La.
Table 2--Part 60 Final Definitions for NSPS Subpart La
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equipment Final NSPS subpart La
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blast furnace..................... Blast furnace means any furnace used
to recover metal from slag.
Lead.............................. Lead means elemental lead or alloys
in which the predominant component
is lead.
Reverberatory furnace............. Reverberatory furnace includes the
following types of reverberatory
furnaces: stationary, rotating,
rocking, and tilting.
Process fugitive emissions source. A source of PM emissions at a
secondary lead smelter that is
associated with lead smelting or
refining including, but not limited
to, smelting furnace charging
points; smelting furnace lead and
slag taps; pot and refining
furnaces; and casting kettles.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Definition Comments and Responses
Comment: One commenter provided several comments and
recommendations regarding the proposed definitions in NSPS subparts L
and La. The commenter said that the EPA should revise the proposed
definition of ``secondary lead smelter'' to use the term ``lead-bearing
material'' rather than ``lead-bearing scrap material'' and either
include or cross-reference the definition of ``lead bearing material''
from NESHAP subpart X (40 CFR 63.542). The commenter noted that the
proposed definitions in NSPS subparts L and La did not define either
``lead-bearing material'' or ``lead-bearing scrap material.'' The
commenter said that the EPA should clarify that these terms in the
proposed definitions of ``blast furnace'' and ``reverberatory
[[Page 80604]]
furnace'' (40 CFR 60.121(a) and 60.121a(a)), mean the same as ``lead-
bearing material'' as defined in NESHAP subpart X (40 CFR 63.542).
The commenter stated that the EPA should align the proposed
definition of ``blast furnace'' in 40 CFR 60.121(d) and 60.121a(d) with
the NESHAP definition for ``blast furnace'' used in NESHAP subpart X
(40 CFR 63.542) by including the phrases ``uses coke as a fuel source''
and ``(greater than 980 Celsius)'' to eliminate potential confusion
about applicability and the possibility of any gaps between the NESHAP
and NSPS definitions. The commenter said that the EPA should align the
proposed definition of ``reverberatory furnace'' in NSPS subparts L and
La (40 CFR 60.121(a) and 60.121a(a)) with the NESHAP subpart X
definition by excluding the last sentence of the proposed definition to
eliminate potential confusion about applicability and the possibility
of any gaps between the NESHAP and NSPS definitions: ``Reverberatory
furnaces include the following types: stationary, rotating, rocking,
and tilting furnaces.''
The commenter said that the proposed definitions for ``lead'' in
NSPS subparts L and La (40 CFR 60.121(c) and 60.121a(c)) should include
the term ``lead alloy,'' rather than ``alloy,'' because ``alloy''
arguably could refer to certain unspecified non-lead alloys. The
commenter stated that the EPA should change the term ``alloy'' to
``lead alloy'' and add the definition of ``lead alloy'' from NESHAP
subpart X (40 CFR 63.542) to NSPS subparts L and La.
The commenter also noted that the proposed NSPS subparts L and La
did not define the term ``smelting'' used in the proposed secondary
lead smelter definition and said that the EPA should either include or
cross-reference the definition of ``smelting'' from NESHAP subpart X
(40 CFR 63.542).
The commenter asserted that the EPA should clarify that, for a
refining kettle that meets the pot furnace definition, the new pot
furnace includes all of the typical refining kettle components
including (as applicable): footers, structural steel, kettle or pot
(constructed of cast iron or steel), indirect heating system (burners,
piping, monitors, combustion air system, and flue), cover, fume
collection system (hood), agitator (mixer, motor, drive, and mount),
furnace shell, refractory lining, lead pump, electrical components
(switches, controllers, etc.), and process monitors. The commenter
noted that this clarification is important because facilities regularly
replace both the kettle and the refractory lining component of the pot
furnace during the pot furnace's useful life and replacing the kettle
or the refractory lining of a pot furnace potentially could be
misinterpreted as reconstruction without appropriate clarification on
this issue.
The commenter also stated that the EPA should revise the definition
of ``pot furnace'' at proposed 40 CFR 60.121(e) and 60.121a(e) as
follows to clarify that the definition does not apply to receiving
kettles, holding kettles, or R&D kettles: ``(e) Pot furnace means a
type of refining kettle, which is an open-top vessel constructed of
cast iron or steel and is indirectly heated from below and contains
molten lead for the purpose of refining and alloying the lead. For
avoidance of doubt, the term ``pot furnace'' excludes the following
types of refining kettles: (i) receiving kettles and holding kettles
where refining or alloying activities do not occur; and (ii) pot
furnaces with a maximum capacity less than 5 tons molten metal that are
operated fewer than 4000 hours per year.''
The commenter noted that the important distinction between pot
furnaces used for refining and alloying, on the one hand, and refining
kettles used for receiving or holding molten lead, on the other hand,
is not present in the proposed rule. Instead, the commenter said that
the EPA proposed a definition of pot furnaces in 40 CFR 60.120(e) and
60.120a(e) as ``a type of refining kettle, which is an open-top vessel
constructed of cast iron or steel and is indirectly heated from below
and contains molten lead for the purpose of refining and alloying the
lead.''
Response: These proposed definitions were intended to improve the
clarity of the NSPS subparts and to reduce potential confusion among
industry and regulatory agencies by aligning the descriptions of the
affected sources that would be regulated by NSPS subparts L and La to
be more consistent with the definitions within the NESHAP subpart X.
However, after considering the comments received regarding the proposed
process equipment definitions and because of potential future changes
to the definitions in NESHAP subpart X pursuant to the EPA's upcoming
review of NESHAP subpart X, which applies to new and existing sources,
the EPA is not finalizing the proposed process equipment definition
changes in subpart L and La. The EPA had determined that it is more
appropriate to complete the NESHAP review first before finalizing any
changes to the existing definitions in NSPS subparts L and La for blast
furnace, lead, reverberatory furnace, and secondary lead.
As part of the NESHAP review process, the EPA will acquire new
information regarding secondary lead process equipment, which could
result in revisions to the existing NESHAP definitions or development
of new definitions. Were the EPA to finalize the proposed definitions
in NSPS subparts L and La at this time, such future revisions to the
definitions in NESHAP subpart X may create new inconsistencies. In this
case, finalizing the proposed definitions to NSPS subparts L and La
would not increase clarity and consistency as intended. Instead, any
definition changes made in NSPS subparts L and La at this time with the
intent of improving the consistency between the NSPS and NESHAP
definitions would be mistimed, and the EPA might need to consider
further revising the NSPS definitions established in this action in the
future to reflect the equipment definitions specified in the post-
review NESHAP. Because the EPA has decided not to finalize the revised
definitions, the EPA does not need to provide detailed responses to the
comments suggesting specific revisions to those definitions.
In addition, after revisiting the process definitions that have
been in NSPS subpart L since 1983, we find that no changes are needed
to improve clarity as initially thought at proposal. Therefore, we are
not finalizing any changes to the existing definitions in NSPS subpart
L or in NSPS subpart La. Instead, we are maintaining the blast furnace,
lead, reverberatory furnace, and secondary lead smelter definitions
currently specified in NSPS subpart L. However, we are adding to NSPS
subpart La a definition for ``process fugitive emissions source'' to
accommodate the final PM standard for pot furnaces (see the discussion
in section IV.A.2. of this preamble). Also, regarding the comments that
the EPA should include the term ``lead alloy,'' rather than ``alloy,''
the current subpart L and new subpart La both state that ``Lead means
elemental lead or alloys in which the predominant component is lead.''
This definition is clear that the only alloys affected by the rule are
alloys in which the predominant component is lead. The term ``alloys in
which the predominant component is lead'' essentially means the same
thing as ``lead alloys''. Therefore, we did not make any changes to the
definition of lead or add a new definition for lead alloys to subparts
L or La.
With regard to the comment that the EPA should include a definition
of smelting or provide a cross reference, because of potential future
changes to
[[Page 80605]]
the definitions in NESHAP subpart X (including for ``smelting'')
pursuant the EPA's upcoming review of NESHAP subpart X (discussed
above), which applies to new and existing sources, the EPA decided not
to add a new definition for smelting in subpart L or La at this time
because of potential inconsistencies once the EPA completes the next
NESHAP review.
Regarding the comment that EPA should revise the definition of
``pot furnace'', this may have been an important clarification for the
NSPS final rule if the EPA finalized the proposed pot furnace specific
emissions limit of 3 mg/dscm. However, as explained in a previous
response, instead of a pot furnace specific limit, the EPA is
promulgating a PM limit of 4.9 mg/dscm for process fugitive emissions,
which includes pot furnaces, but also includes other process fugitive
emissions sources (such as refining kettles, holding kettles, alloying
units). Therefore, we conclude that the specific definition
clarifications requested by the commenter are no longer necessary for
implementation of the NSPS and can wait until the EPA completes the
next NESHAP review.
G. Effective Date and Compliance Dates
Pursuant to CAA section 111(b)(1)(B), the effective date of the
final rule requirements in NSPS subpart La and amendments to NSPS
subpart L will be the promulgation date, which is the date of
publication of the final rule in the Federal Register. Affected sources
that commence construction, reconstruction, or modification after
December 1, 2022, must comply with all requirements of NSPS subpart La
no later than the effective date of the final rule or upon startup,
whichever is later.
V. Summary of Cost, Environmental, and Economic Impacts
A. What are the air quality impacts?
The final amendments to 40 CFR part 60, subpart La:
Reduce the PM emissions limit for blast and reverberatory
furnaces from 50 to 10 mg/dscm.
Establish new PM emissions limits for process fugitive
emissions sources of 4.9 mg/dscm.
Lower the opacity limit for blast and reverberatory
furnaces from 20 percent to 5 percent.
Lower the opacity limit for pot furnaces from 10 percent
to 5 percent.
New or reconstructed blast, reverberatory, and pot furnaces will
also be subject to the NESHAP (40 CFR part 63, subpart X) requirements
for new sources, while modified blast, reverberatory, and pot furnaces
will also be subject to the NESHAP requirements for existing sources.
NESHAP subpart X regulates particulate lead emissions from process
vent, process fugitive, and fugitive dust sources. The emissions
capture systems and control devices that are already required by the
NESHAP to comply with the lead limits for blast furnaces, reverberatory
furnaces, and process fugitive emissions sources will also control PM
emissions regulated by the NSPS. Therefore, the final 40 CFR part 60,
subpart La will not result in actual reductions of PM emissions.
However, codifying the lower PM and opacity limits in the final 40 CFR
part 60, subpart La will significantly reduce the PM and opacity
allowable emissions of affected sources that commence construction,
reconstruction, or modification after December 1, 2022.
B. What are the secondary impacts?
Indirect or secondary air emissions impacts result from the
increased energy usage associated with the operation of control devices
(e.g., increased secondary emissions of criteria pollutants from
electricity generating power plants). The EPA does not expect that
facilities will need any additional control devices or other equipment
to meet the final NSPS requirements beyond those that would already be
needed to comply with the NESHAP. Therefore, the EPA does not attribute
any secondary impacts to the final 40 CFR part 60, subpart La.
C. What are the cost impacts for regulated facilities?
For 40 CFR part 60, subparts L and La, the EPA requires that
facilities conduct periodic performance tests to measure PM emissions
using EPA Method 5 (Determination of Particulate Matter Emissions from
Stationary Sources). The NESHAP (40 CFR part 63, subpart X) also
requires periodic tests for lead using EPA Method 12 (Determination of
Inorganic Lead Emissions from Stationary Sources) or EPA Method 29
(Metal Emissions from Stationary Sources). Because both of the NESHAP
test methods analyze the PM captured on the internal surfaces of the
sampling probe and on a sampling train filter to determine the lead
concentration, facilities can conduct an additional gravimetric
analysis of the EPA Method 12 or EPA Method 29 probe rinse and filter
to determine PM emissions, rather than performing separate tests using
EPA Method 5. The EPA estimates that the additional gravimetric
analysis of the EPA Method 12 or EPA Method 29 particulate filter costs
approximately $300 per test per year. To estimate the total cost
associated with the final periodic PM performance tests under 40 CFR
part 60, subparts L and La, the EPA assumed that each respondent under
the respective subparts would conduct 3 p.m. tests per year (1 for each
furnace type). See section V.C. of this preamble for more details on
cost estimates.
For 40 CFR part 60, subpart La, the EPA is also requiring that
facilities periodically determine the opacity of blast furnace,
reverberatory furnace, and process fugitive source emissions. For NSPS
subpart La, the EPA is requiring that facilities conduct initial and
periodic tests using EPA Method 9 or ASTM D7520-16. Alternatively,
facilities can use EPA Method 22 (Visible Determination of Fugitive
Emissions) to determine no visible emissions from blast furnace,
reverberatory furnace, and process fugitive emissions sources. To
estimate the cost of the initial and periodic opacity tests for NSPS
subpart La, the EPA assumed that new facilities would be able to
determine no visible emissions using EPA Method 22, rather than using
EPA Method 9. The EPA assumed that new facilities would train facility
personnel to implement EPA Method 22 (at a one-time cost of $426 per
facility), but not incur additional capital costs associated with
conducting the EPA Method 9 observations.
We estimate that 2 of the 11 existing facilities will be modified
or reconstructed over the next five years such that these 2 facilities
will be subject to subpart La, and the other 9 facilities will be
subject to subpart L. Therefore, for 40 CFR part 60, subpart L, the
total incremental cost for the periodic PM testing over the 3-year
period is $16,200 three tests per year at $300 per test for 9
respondents for years 2 and 3 (facilities subject to subpart L have
already conducted initial performance tests for PM emissions and
opacity). For 40 CFR part 60, subpart La, the total incremental cost
for PM testing over the 3-year period is $8,100 (i.e., three tests per
year at $300 per test for the two existing facilities that the EPA
assumes will undergo reconstruction and one new facility) and the total
incremental cost for opacity testing is $426 for EPA Method 22 training
(i.e., $426 one-time cost for the new facility). Based on a review of
facility operating permits, the two existing facilities that we
determined could be reconstructed over the 3-year period (thereby
triggering NSPS subpart La applicability) already conduct periodic
opacity tests using EPA Method 9. Therefore, the EPA did not estimate
opacity testing costs for the two potential reconstructed facilities.
The
[[Page 80606]]
estimated total incremental cost for emissions testing for two
reconstructed sources and one new source projected over the 3-year
period is $8,526.
The EPA did not estimate cost impacts for the final monitoring
requirements in 40 CFR part 60, subparts L and La because this action
will allow subject facilities to comply with these subparts by
complying with the applicable monitoring requirements for new sources
specified in the NESHAP (40 CFR part 63, subpart X). Therefore, there
is no additional monitoring burden.
D. What are the economic impacts?
The EPA conducted an economic impact analysis (EIA) and small
business screening assessment for this final action, as discussed in
the proposal for this action and detailed in the memorandum, Economic
Impact Analysis for Final Revisions and Amendments to the New Source
Performance Standards for Secondary Lead Smelters, which is available
in the docket for this action. The economic impacts of this final
action were estimated by comparing total annualized compliance costs to
revenues at the ultimate parent company level. This is known as the
cost-to-revenue or cost-to-sales test. This ratio provides a measure of
the direct economic impact to ultimate parent company owners of
facilities while presuming no impact on consumers.
As discussed in the proposal for this action, we estimate that the
total cost for emissions testing, reporting, and recordkeeping
projected over the 3-year period for the 9 sources subject to NSPS
subpart L is $80,000. The average annual cost per facility is
approximately $3,000. The 9 facilities subject to NSPS subpart L are
owned by seven different parent companies with an annual average
revenue of $4.5 billion in 2021. As discussed in section V.C. of this
preamble, we assume the other 2 existing facilities will be modified or
reconstructed and therefore will be subject to subpart La. The economic
impact associated with this cost as an annual cost per sales, for the
average parent company in the industry, is less than 0.0001 percent and
is not expected to result in a significant market impact, regardless of
whether it is fully passed on to the consumer or fully absorbed by the
affected firms.
In addition, the cost analysis assumed that facilities subject to
final 40 CFR part 60, subpart La would conduct initial and periodic
tests for PM emissions and opacity, but would not need to install
control devices to meet the final PM and opacity emissions limits
because the new, modified, or reconstructed facility would install the
same types of controls already necessary to comply with NESHAP subpart
X. The EPA also assumed that facilities subject to the final NSPS
subpart La would not incur monitoring costs attributed to the new NSPS.
The EPA views the testing costs to be upper-bound estimates on the
potential compliance costs of the final 40 CFR part 60, subparts L and
La. Even under the upper-bound cost assumptions described above, the
EPA expects the potential economic impacts of this final action will be
small.
As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), we performed
an analysis to determine if any small entities might be
disproportionately impacted by the final requirements. The EPA does not
know with certainty which existing facilities may be reconstructed or
modified in the future and subject to NSPS subpart La, and therefore
cannot perform an accurate cost-to-sales analysis. However, based on an
assessment of the projected growth in the secondary lead smelting
industry, the EPA believes it is unlikely that any future facilities
will be reconstructed or modified by a small business.
E. What are the benefits?
The final revisions to 40 CFR part 60, subparts L and La clarify
both rules, improve the practical enforceability of the rules, and
enhance compliance and enforcement. The EPA expects that implementing
the final amendments to 40 CFR part 60, subparts L and La will help
ensure that control systems used to reduce PM and opacity emissions
from affected sources are properly operated and maintained over time.
Additionally, the final amendments to require electronic reporting
of emissions test results in 40 CFR part 60, subparts L and La will
ultimately reduce the burden on regulated facilities, delegated air
agencies, and the EPA, and also improve access to data, minimize data
reporting errors, and eliminate paper waste and redundancies.
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 environmental justice (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.'' \2\ 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,\3\ 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 this action under
development.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ See https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice.
\3\ See https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/technical-guidance-assessing-environmental-justice-regulatory-analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Agency has conducted an analysis of the demographics of the
populations living near existing facilities in the Secondary Lead
Smelting source category. Because this action finalizes standards of
performance for new, modified, and reconstructed sources that commence
construction after December 1, 2022, the locations of the construction
of new secondary lead smelters are not known. As discussed above, we
assumed two existing facilities might be modified. However, it is not
known with any
[[Page 80607]]
certainty which of the existing secondary lead smelters might be
modified or reconstructed. Therefore, the demographic analysis was
conducted for the 11 existing secondary lead smelters as a proxy for
the characterization of the demographics in areas where new, modified,
or reconstructed source might be located in the future.
Section F. (``What analysis of environmental justice did we
conduct?'') of the proposal preamble (87 FR 73708) presents the full
results of the demographic analysis. The analysis included an
assessment of individual demographic groups of the populations living
within 5 kilometers (km) and within 50 km of the existing facilities.
We then compared the data from the analysis to the national average for
each of the demographic groups. The results show that, for populations
within 5 km of the 11 secondary lead smelters, the percent Hispanic or
Latino population is higher than the national average (38 percent
versus 19 percent). The percent of ``other and multiracial population''
and people living in linguistic isolation within the same geographic
area are higher than the national average (12 percent versus 8 percent
and 8 percent versus 5 percent, respectively). The percent of the
population over 25 without a high school diploma is higher than the
national average (19 percent versus 12 percent), while the percent of
the population living below the poverty line is similar to the national
average. The results of the analysis of populations within 50 km of the
11 secondary lead smelters are similar to the 5 km analysis.
The technical report, Analysis of Demographic Factors for
Populations Living Near Secondary Lead Smelting Source Category
Operations, which is available in the docket for this action (Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0481), presents the methodology and the results of
the demographic analysis.
As indicated above, the locations of any new secondary lead
smelting facilities that would be subject to NSPS subpart La are not
known. Also, it is not known with any certainty which existing
secondary lead smelters may be modified or reconstructed and subject to
the NSPS subpart La. Thus, we are limited in our ability to estimate
the potential EJ impacts of this rule. However, we anticipate the
changes to the NSPS will generally minimize or reduce future emissions
in surrounding communities of new, modified, or reconstructed
facilities, including those communities with higher percentages of
people of color. Furthermore, the EPA expects that the NSPS subpart La,
will ensure compliance with the PM emissions and opacity limits at all
times (including periods of SSM) via initial and periodic emissions
testing. NSPS subpart La also codifies standards of performance
reflecting improvements in PM control technologies that have occurred
in the industry since promulgation of the current NSPS subpart L.
Therefore, effects of emissions on populations in proximity to any
future affected sources, including in communities potentially
overburdened by pollution, which are often people of color, low-income,
and Indigenous communities, will be minimized due to compliance with
the standards of performance being finalized in this action.
VI. 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.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
The information collection activities in this final rule have been
submitted for approval to OMB under the PRA. The updated Information
Collection Request (ICR) document that the EPA prepared for NSPS
subpart L has been assigned EPA ICR number 1128.13, and the new ICR
prepared for the final NSPS subpart La has been assigned EPA ICR number
2729.01. You can find copies of the ICRs in the docket for this rule,
and they are briefly summarized here. The information collection
requirements are not enforceable until OMB approves them.
The EPA is finalizing amendments to the existing NSPS (40 CFR part
60, subpart L) that:
Require periodic testing for PM emissions.
Incorporate monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting
requirements that are consistent with NESHAP subpart X.
Require electronic reporting of performance test results.
A summary of the ICR for NSPS subpart L follows:
Respondents/affected entities: Secondary lead smelting facilities.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory (40 CFR part 60,
subpart L).
Estimated number of respondents: Nine existing facilities subject
to 40 CFR part 60, subpart L.
Frequency of response: Annually.
Total estimated burden: The annual recordkeeping and reporting
burden for facilities to comply with all the requirements in the NSPS
is estimated to be 228 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR
1320.3(b).
Total estimated cost: The annual recordkeeping and reporting costs
for all facilities to comply with all the requirements in the NSPS is
estimated to be $27,000 (per year).
The EPA is also finalizing a new subpart (40 CFR part 60, subpart
La) for new, modified, or reconstructed facilities that commenced
construction, reconstruction, or modification after December 1, 2022,
that:
Includes definitions for ``blast furnace,'' ``lead,''
``reverberatory furnace,'' and ``secondary lead smelter'' that are the
same as NSPS subpart L.
Includes a definition for ``process fugitive emissions
source'' to be consistent with the definition used in NESHAP subpart X.
Establishes a tighter PM limit (10 mg/dscm) for blast and
reverberatory furnaces.
Establishes a new PM limit (4.9 mg/dscm) for process
fugitive emissions sources.
Establishes a tighter opacity limit (5 percent) for blast,
reverberatory, and process fugitive emissions sources.
Removes the exemptions for periods of SSM.
Requires initial and periodic testing for PM emissions and
opacity.
Incorporates monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting
requirements that are consistent with the NESHAP (40 CFR part 63,
subpart X).
Requires electronic reporting of performance test results.
A summary of the ICR for NSPS subpart La follows:
Respondents/affected entities: Secondary lead smelting facilities.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory (40 CFR part 60,
subpart La).
Estimated number of respondents: Three facilities (two
reconstructed and one new source) in the next 3 years.
Frequency of response: Annually.
Total estimated burden: The annual recordkeeping and reporting
burden for facilities to comply with all the requirements in the NSPS
is estimated to be 127 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR
1320.3(b).
Total estimated cost: The annual recordkeeping and reporting costs
for all
[[Page 80608]]
facilities to comply with all the requirements in the NSPS is estimated
to be $14,000 (per year).
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for the
EPA's regulations in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9. When OMB
approves this ICR, the Agency will announce that approval in the
Federal Register and publish a technical amendment to 40 CFR part 9 to
display the OMB control number for the approved information collection
activities contained in this final rule.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
I certify that this action will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities (SISNOSE) under the
RFA.
This action will not impose any significant requirements on small
entities. Details of the analysis in support of this determination are
presented in the memorandum titled, Economic Impact Analysis and Small
Business Screening Assessment for Final Revisions and Amendments to the
New Source Performance Standards for Secondary Lead Smelters, which is
available in the docket for this action (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-
0481).
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
This action does not contain an unfunded mandate of $100 million or
more as described in UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, and does not
significantly or uniquely affect small governments. This action imposes
no enforceable duty on any state, local, or tribal governments, and
there are no nationwide annualized costs of this final rule for
affected industrial sources in 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 (65 FR 67249; November 9, 2000). It will not have
substantial direct effects on tribal governments, on the relationship
between the Federal government and Indian Tribes or on the distribution
of power and responsibilities between the Federal government and Indian
Tribes, as specified in Executive Order 13175. This final rule imposes
requirements on owners and operators of secondary lead smelting
facilities and not tribal governments. The EPA does not know of any
secondary lead smelting facilities owned or operated by Indian tribal
governments. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this action.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental
Health Risks and Safety Risks
Executive Order 13045 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 it is not a significant regulatory action under section
3(f)(1) of Executive Order 12866, and because the EPA does not believe
the environmental health or safety risks addressed by this action
present a disproportionate risk to children.
The EPA does not believe there are disproportionate risks to
children because the new NSPS subpart La lowers PM emissions and
opacity from new, modified, or reconstructed secondary lead smelters
compared to the current NSPS, which will benefit children's health.
Additionally, the periodic PM emissions and opacity testing
requirements of NSPS subparts La and L, and the updated monitoring,
recordkeeping, and reporting requirements, improve compliance with
emission limits, which also benefits children's health.
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
This action is not subject to Executive Order 13211, because it is
not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) and 1 CFR
Part 51
This action involves technical standards. The EPA is requiring use
of EPA Method 5 (Determination of Particulate Matter emissions from
Stationary Sources) to measure filterable PM and EPA Method 9 (Visual
Determination of the Opacity of Emissions from Stationary Sources) to
determine visible emissions from blast and reverberatory process vents
and process fugitive emissions. Therefore, the EPA conducted searches
for the Secondary Lead Smelting NSPS through the Enhanced National
Standards Systems Network Database managed by the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI). We also contacted voluntary consensus
standards (VCS) organizations and accessed and searched their
databases.
We conducted searches for EPA Methods 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2F,
2G, 2H, 3, 3A, 3C, 4, 5, 9, 12, 22, and 29 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 reference method, the EPA reviewed it as a
potential equivalent method. We reviewed all potential standards to
determine the practicality of the VCS for this rule. This review
requires significant method validation data that meet the requirements
of EPA Method 301 for accepting alternative methods or scientific,
engineering, and policy equivalence to procedures in the EPA reference
methods. The EPA may reconsider determinations of impracticality when
additional information is available for a particular VCS. No applicable
VCS were identified for EPA Methods 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2F, 2G,
2H, 3, 3A, 3C, 4, 5, 12, 22, or 29.
In this final action, the EPA incorporates by reference the VCS
ASTM D7520-16, ``Standard Test Method for Determining the Opacity of a
Plume in the Outdoor Ambient Atmosphere approved April 1, 2016'' which
is an instrumental method to determine plume opacity in the outdoor
ambient environment as an alternative to visual measurements made by
certified smoke readers in accordance with EPA Method 9. The concept of
ASTM D7520-16, also known as the Digital Camera Opacity Technique or
DCOT, is a test protocol to determine the opacity of visible emissions
using a digital camera. This method is based on previous method
development using digital still cameras and field testing of those
methods. The purpose of ASTM D7520-16 is to set a minimum level of
performance for products that use DCOT to determine plume opacity in
ambient environments.
The DCOT method is an acceptable alternative to EPA Method 9 with
the following caveats:
During the digital camera opacity technique (DCOT)
certification procedure outlined in section 9.2 of ASTM D7520-16, you
or the DCOT
[[Page 80609]]
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 SOP 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 recordkeeping procedures outlined in
40 CFR 63.10(b)(1) for the DCOT certification, compliance report, data
sheets, and all raw unaltered JPEG files used for opacity and
certification determination.
You or the DCOT vendor must have a minimum of four
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 any one 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. This method
describes procedures to determine the opacity of a plume, using digital
imagery and associated hardware and software, where opacity is caused
by PM emitted from a stationary point source in the outdoor ambient
environment. The opacity of emissions is determined by the application
of a DCOT that consists of a digital still camera, analysis software,
and the output function's content to obtain and interpret digital
images to determine and report plume opacity.
The ASTM D7520-16 document is available from ASTM at https://www.astm.org or 1100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-
2959, telephone number: (610) 832-9500, fax number: (610) 8329555;
[email protected].
The EPA is finalizing the use of the guidance document, EPA-454/R-
98-015, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS Fabric
Filter Bag Leak Detection Guidance, September 1997. This document
provides guidance on the use of triboelectric monitors as fabric filter
bag leak detectors. The document includes fabric filter and monitoring
system descriptions; guidance on monitor selection, installation,
setup, adjustment, and operation; and quality assurance procedures.
Several types of instruments are available to monitor changes in
particulate emission rates for the purpose of detecting fabric filter
bag leaks or similar failures. The principles of operation of these
instruments include electrical charge transfer and light scattering.
The document is available at https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=2000D5T6.PDF.
Additional information for the VCS search and determinations can be
found in the docket for this final action (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2022-0481).
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations and
Executive Order 14096: Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to
Environmental Justice for All
Executive Order 14096 (88 FR 25251, Apr. 26, 2023) directs federal
agencies to advance the goal of environmental justice for all. This
action builds upon and supplements the efforts of Executive Order 12898
(59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994) to address environmental justice.
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 communities with environmental justice concerns. The
locations of future new, modified, and reconstructed secondary lead
smelters are not known with any certainty. Therefore, we evaluated the
populations living near existing secondary lead smelters as a proxy for
the characteristics of the demographics in areas where a new, modified,
or reconstructed source might locate in the future. The result of the
analysis shows that the percent Hispanic or Latino population, ``other
and multiracial population'' and people living in linguistic isolation
within the same geographic area, over 25 without a high school diploma
are higher than the national average.
The EPA believes that this action is likely to reduce existing
potential disproportionate and adverse effects on communities with
environmental justice concerns. We anticipate the changes to the NSPS
will generally minimize or reduce future emissions in these communities
that are in proximity to new, modified, or reconstructed facilities.
Specifically, the EPA expects that the Standards of Performance for
Secondary Lead Smelters Constructed after December 1, 2022, will ensure
compliance with the PM and opacity limits at all times (including
periods of SSM) via initial and periodic emissions testing and
parametric monitoring of control devices. Subpart La also codifies
improvements in PM control technologies that have occurred in the
industry since promulgation of the current NSPS subpart L. Therefore,
effects of emissions on populations in proximity to any future affected
sources, including in communities with environmental justice concerns,
will be minimized due to compliance with the standards of performance
being finalized in this action.
The information supporting this Executive Order review is contained
in a technical report, Analysis of Demographic Factors for Populations
Living Near Secondary Lead Smelting Source Category Operations,
available in the docket for this action (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-
0481), and in section IV.F. of the proposed rule's preamble (87 FR
73708), as well as summarized in section V.F. of this preamble.
K. Congressional Review Act (CRA)
This action is subject to the CRA, and the EPA will submit a rule
report to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of
the United States. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5
U.S.C. 804(2).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 60
Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedures,
Air pollution control, Incorporation by reference, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Michael S. Regan,
Administrator.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Environmental
Protection Agency amends title 40, chapter I of the Code of Federal
Regulations as follows:
PART 60--STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE FOR NEW STATIONARY SOURCES
0
1. The authority citation for part 60 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart A--General Provisions
0
2. Amend Sec. 60.17 by revising paragraphs (h)(206) and (j)(2) to read
as follows:
Sec. 60.17 Incorporations by reference.
* * * * *
(h) * * *
(206) ASTM D7520-16, Standard Test Method for Determining the
Opacity of a Plume in the Outdoor Ambient
[[Page 80610]]
Atmosphere, approved April 1, 2016; IBR approved for Sec. Sec.
60.123(c)(6); 60.123(c)(6)(i); 60.123(c)(6)(ii); 60.123(c)(6)(v);
60.123a(c)(6)(ii); 60.123a(c)(6)(ii)(A); 60.123a(c)(6)(ii)(B);
60.123a(c)(6)(ii)(E); 60.271(k); 60.272(a) and (b); 60.273(c) and (d);
60.274(h); 60.275(e); 60.276(c); 60.271a; 60.272a(a) and (b);
60.273a(c) and (d); 60.274a(h); 60.275a(e); 60.276a(f); 60.271b;
60.272b(a) and (b); 60.273b(c) and (d); 60.274b(h); 60.275b(e);
60.276b(f); 60.374a(d).
* * * * *
(j) * * *
(2) EPA-454/R-98-015, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
(OAQPS), Fabric Filter Bag Leak Detection Guidance, September 1997,
https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=2000D5T6.PDF; IBR approved
for Sec. Sec. 60.124(f); 60.124a(f); 60.273(e); 60.273a(e);
60.273b(e); 60.373a(b); 60.2145(r); 60.2710(r); 60.4905(b); 60.5225(b).
* * * * *
Subpart L--Standards of Performance for Secondary Lead Smelters for
Which Construction, Reconstruction, or Modification Commenced After
June 11, 1973, and On or Before December 1, 2022
0
3. Revise the heading for subpart L to part 60 to read as set forth
above.
0
4. Amend Sec. 60.120 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:
Sec. 60.120 Applicability and designation of affected facility.
* * * * *
(b) Any facility under paragraph (a) of this section that commences
construction or modification after June 11, 1973, and on or before
December 1, 2022, is subject to the requirements of this subpart.
0
5. Amend Sec. 60.122 by revising paragraph (a)(1) to read as follows:
Sec. 60.122 Standard for particulate matter.
(a) * * *
(1) Contain particulate matter (PM) in excess of 50 milligrams per
dry standard cubic meter, mg/dscm (0.022 grains per dry standard cubic
feet, gr/dscf).
* * * * *
0
6. Revise Sec. 60.123 to read as follows:
Sec. 60.123 Test methods and procedures.
(a) Initial performance tests. The owner or operator shall conduct
performance tests to demonstrate initial compliance with the PM
emission and opacity standards specified in Sec. 60.122.
(b) Periodic performance tests. After November 20, 2023, the owner
or operator shall conduct periodic performance tests to demonstrate
compliance with the PM emissions standards specified in Sec.
60.122(a). The owner or operator shall conduct the first periodic test
by no later than July 31, 2024. The owner or operator shall conduct
subsequent periodic tests according to the schedule specified in
paragraph (b)(1) or (2) of this section.
(1) Conduct performance tests no later than 12 months following the
previous compliance test.
(2) Conduct performance tests no later than 24 months following the
previous compliance test if the previous compliance test measured PM
emissions of 25 mg/dscm or less and the owner or operator has obtained
approval from the Administrator for a written request to extend the
period of the periodic performance test. The extension request will be
deemed automatically approved if the owner or operator submits the
results of a PM performance test of 25 mg/dscm or less, the owner or
operator submits the request for the extension within 4 months after
the subject compliance test, and the Administrator does not provide a
response to such request within 6 months of submission.
(c) Test methods. In conducting the performance tests required in
Sec. 60.8, the owner or operator shall use the following EPA reference
test methods and procedures in appendix A of this part or other methods
and procedures as specified in this section, except as provided in
Sec. 60.8(b).
(1) EPA Method 1 at appendix A-1 to this part to select sampling
port locations and the number of traverse points.
(2) EPA Method 2 at appendix A-1 to this part or EPA Method 5D at
appendix A-3 to this part, section 8.3 for positive fabric filters, to
measure the volumetric flow rate of the gas stream.
(3) EPA Method 3, 3A, or 3B at 40 CFR part 60, appendix A-2 to
determine the dry molecular weight of the stack gas and concentrations
of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the sample gas.
(4) EPA Method 4 at appendix A-3 to this part to determine the
moisture content of the gas stream.
(5) EPA Method 5 or 5D at appendix A-3 to this part to measure PM
concentrations. The EPA Method 5 tests shall be conducted during
representative periods of furnace operation, including charging and
tapping, and the sampling time and sample volume for each test run
shall be at least 60 minutes and 0.90 dscm (31.8 dscf), respectively.
As an alternative to using EPA Method 5, owners or operators may
measure PM emissions by the following methods:
(i) EPA Method 12 at appendix A-5 to this part (see section 16.1 of
Method 12) to measure PM and inorganic lead concentrations.
(ii) EPA Method 29 at appendix A-8 to this part to measure metal
(lead) concentrations and PM (see section 1.2 of Method 29).
(6) EPA Method 9 at appendix A-4 to this part and the procedures
specified in Sec. 60.11 for determining opacity. ASTM D7520-16
(incorporated by reference at Sec. 60.17) is an acceptable alternative
to EPA Method 9 with the specified conditions in paragraphs (c)(6)(i)
through (v) of this section.
(i) During the digital camera opacity technique (DCOT)
certification procedure outlined in section 9.2 of ASTM D7520-16
(incorporated by reference at Sec. 60.17), the owner or operator or
the DCOT vendor shall 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).
(ii) The owner or operator shall also have standard operating
procedures (SOPs) 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 (incorporated by reference
at Sec. 60.17). Records shall be maintained in a form suitable and
readily available for expeditious review.
(iii) The owner or operator shall follow the recordkeeping
procedures outlined in Sec. 63.10(b)(1) for the DCOT certification,
compliance report, data sheets, and all raw unaltered JPEGs used for
opacity and certification determination.
(iv) The owner or operator or the DCOT vendor shall 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 any one
reading and the average error shall not exceed 7.5 percent opacity.
(v) 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 (incorporated
by reference at Sec. 60.17) and this section is on the owner or
operator, DCOT operator, and DCOT vendor.
0
7. Add Sec. Sec. 60.124 and 60.125 to subpart L to read as follows:
[[Page 80611]]
Sec. 60.124 Monitoring requirements.
(a) The owner shall comply with the applicable monitoring
requirements specified in the NSPS General provision Sec. 60.13.
(b) The owner shall prepare, and at all times operate according to,
a SOP manual that describes in detail procedures for inspection,
maintenance, and bag leak detection and corrective action plans for all
baghouses (fabric filters or cartridge filters) used to reduce PM and
opacity emissions from any affected source subject to the emissions
standards in Sec. 60.122.
(c) The owner shall submit the SOP manual for the baghouses (fabric
filters or cartridge collectors) described in paragraph (b) of this
section to the Administrator or delegated authority for review and
approval.
(d) The procedures specified in the SOP manual for inspections and
routine maintenance shall, at a minimum, include the requirements of
paragraphs (d)(1) through (9) of this section.
(1) Daily monitoring of the pressure drop across each baghouse
cell.
(2) Weekly confirmation that dust is being removed from hoppers
through visual inspection, or equivalent means of ensuring the proper
functioning of removal mechanisms.
(3) Daily check of compressed air supply for pulse-jet baghouses.
(4) An appropriate methodology for monitoring cleaning cycles to
ensure proper operation.
(5) Monthly check of bag cleaning mechanisms for proper functioning
through visual inspection or equivalent means.
(6) Monthly check of bag tension on reverse air and shaker-type
baghouses. Such checks are not required for shaker-type baghouses using
self-tensioning (spring loaded) devices.
(7) Quarterly confirmation of the physical integrity of the
baghouse through visual inspection of the baghouse interior for air
leaks.
(8) Quarterly inspection of fans for wear, material buildup, and
corrosion through visual inspection, vibration detectors, or equivalent
means.
(9) Continuous operation of a bag leak detection system.
(e) The procedures specified in the SOP manual for baghouse
maintenance shall include, at a minimum, a preventative maintenance
schedule that is consistent with the baghouse manufacturer's
instructions for routine and long-term maintenance.
(f) The bag leak detection system required by paragraph (d)(9) of
this section, shall meet the specification and requirements of
paragraphs (f)(1) through (8) of this section.
(1) The bag leak detection system shall be certified by the
manufacturer to be capable of detecting PM emissions at concentrations
of 50.0 mg/dscm (0.022 gr/dscf) or less.
(2) The bag leak detection system sensor shall provide output of
relative PM loadings.
(3) The bag leak detection system shall be equipped with an alarm
system that will alarm when an increase in relative particulate
loadings is detected over a preset level.
(4) The owner shall install and operate the bag leak detection
system in a manner consistent with the guidance provided in EPA-454/R-
98-015, Office of Air quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) Fabric
Filter Bag Leak Detection Guidance, (incorporated by reference, see
Sec. 60.17) or the manufacturer's written specifications and
recommendations for installation, operation, and adjustment of the
system.
(5) The initial adjustment of the system shall, at a minimum,
consist of establishing the baseline output by adjusting the
sensitivity (range) and the averaging period of the device, and
establishing the alarm set points and the alarm delay time.
(6) Following initial adjustment, the owner shall not adjust the
sensitivity or range, averaging period, alarm set points, or alarm
delay time, except as detailed in the approved SOP manual required
under paragraph (b) of this section. The owner cannot increase the
sensitivity by more than 100 percent or decrease the sensitivity by
more than 50 percent over a 365-day period unless such adjustment
follows a complete baghouse inspection that demonstrates that the
baghouse is in good operating condition.
(7) For negative pressure, induced air baghouses, and positive
pressure baghouses that are discharged to the atmosphere through a
stack, the owner shall install the bag leak detector downstream of the
baghouse and upstream of any wet acid gas scrubber.
(8) Where multiple detectors are required, the system's
instrumentation and alarm may be shared among detectors.
(g) The owner shall include in the SOP manual required by paragraph
(b) of this section a corrective action plan that specifies the
procedures to be followed in the case of a bag leak detection system
alarm. The corrective action plan shall include, at a minimum, the
procedures used to determine and record the time and cause of the alarm
as well as the corrective actions taken to minimize emissions as
specified in paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) of this section.
(1) The procedures used to determine the cause of the alarm shall
be initiated within 30 minutes of the alarm.
(2) The cause of the alarm shall be alleviated by taking the
necessary corrective action(s) that may include, but not be limited to,
those listed in paragraphs (g)(2)(i) through (vi) of this section.
(i) Inspecting the baghouse for air leaks, torn or broken filter
elements, or any other malfunction that may cause an increase in
emissions.
(ii) Sealing off defective bags or filter media.
(iii) Replacing defective bags or filter media, or otherwise
repairing the control device.
(iv) Sealing off a defective baghouse compartment.
(v) Cleaning the bag leak detection system probe, or otherwise
repairing the bag leak detection system.
(vi) Shutting down the process producing the PM emissions.
(h) Baghouses equipped with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)
filters as a secondary filter used to control emissions from any source
subject to the PM and opacity emission standards in Sec. 60.122 are
exempt from the requirement to be equipped with a bag leak detection
system. The owner or operator shall monitor and record the pressure
drop across each HEPA filter system daily. If the pressure drop is
outside the limit(s) specified by the filter manufacturer, the owner or
operator shall take appropriate corrective measures, which may include
but not be limited to those given in paragraphs (h)(1) through (4) of
this section.
(1) Inspecting the filter and filter housing for air leaks and torn
or broken filters.
(2) Replacing defective filter media, or otherwise repairing the
control device.
(3) Sealing off a defective control device by routing air to other
control devices
(4) Shutting down the process producing the particulate emissions.
(i) Baghouses followed by a wet electrostatic precipitator (WESP)
used as a secondary control device for any source subject to the PM and
opacity emission standards in Sec. 60.122 are exempt from the
requirement to be equipped with a bag leak detection system.
(j) If a wet scrubber is used to demonstrate continuous compliance
with the PM emissions standards for blast and reverberatory furnaces
specified in Sec. 60.122(a), the owner or operator shall monitor and
record the pressure drop and water flow rate of the wet scrubber during
the initial
[[Page 80612]]
performance or periodic compliance test conducted to demonstrate
compliance with the PM emissions limit under Sec. 60.122(a).
Thereafter, the owner or operator shall monitor and record the pressure
drop and water flow rate values at least once every hour and maintain
the pressure drop and water flow rate at levels no lower than 30
percent below the pressure drop and water flow rate measured during the
initial performance or compliance test.
(k) During the initial performance test required by Sec.
60.123(a), or any periodic performance test required by Sec.
60.123(b), the owner or operator shall establish the value or range of
values of the monitoring parameter(s) for each control device used to
comply with the PM and opacity emission standards specified in Sec.
60.122.
(l) If an affected source is subject to the monitoring requirements
specified in 40 CFR part 63, subpart X (National Emissions Standards
for Hazardous Air Pollutants from Secondary Lead Smelting) and those
requirements are as stringent or more stringent than the monitoring
requirements specified in paragraphs (a) through (j) of this section,
compliance with the monitoring requirements specified in 40 CFR part
63, subpart X also demonstrates compliance with the monitoring
requirements specified in paragraphs (a) through (k) of this section.
Sec. 60.125 Notification, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements.
(a) The owner or operator shall comply with the applicable
notification and recordkeeping requirements specified in Sec. 60.7 and
the reporting requirements specified in the NSPS General Provisions
Sec. 60.19.
(1) Records shall be maintained in a form suitable and readily
available for expeditious review, according to Sec. 60.7(f). However,
electronic recordkeeping and reporting may be used if suitable for the
specific case (e.g., by electronic media such as Excel spreadsheet, on
CD or hard copy), and when required by this subpart.
(2) Records shall be kept on site for at least 2 years after the
date of occurrence, measurement, maintenance, corrective action,
report, or record, according to Sec. 60.7(f).
(b) The SOP manual required in Sec. 60.124(b) shall be submitted
to the Administrator in electronic format for review and approval of
the initial submittal and whenever an update is made to the procedure.
(c) The owner or operator shall maintain for a period of 2 years,
records of the information listed in paragraphs (c)(1) through (10) of
this section.
(1) Electronic records of the bag leak detection system output.
(2) An identification of the date and time of all bag leak
detection system alarms, the time that procedures to determine the
cause of the alarm were initiated, the cause of the alarm, an
explanation of the corrective actions taken, and the date and time the
cause of the alarm was corrected.
(3) All records of inspections and maintenance activities required
under Sec. 60.124(d) as part of the practices described in the SOP
manual for baghouses required under Sec. 60.124(b).
(4) Electronic records of the pressure drop and water flow rate
values for wet scrubbers used to control PM emissions from blast or
reverberatory furnaces as required in Sec. 60.124(j).
(5) Records of the occurrence and duration of each malfunction of
operation (i.e., process equipment) or the air pollution control
equipment and monitoring equipment.
(6) Records of actions taken during periods of malfunction to
minimize emissions in accordance with Sec. 60.11(d), including
corrective actions to restore malfunctioning process and air pollution
control and monitoring equipment to its normal or usual manner of
operation.
(7) Records of all alarms from the bag leak detection system
specified in Sec. 60.124(d)(9).
(8) Records maintained as part of the practices described in the
SOP manual for baghouses required under Sec. 60.124(b), including an
explanation of the periods when the procedures were not followed, and
the corrective actions taken.
(9) Record of the periods when the pressure drop and water flow
rate of wet scrubbers used to control process fugitive sources dropped
below the levels established in Sec. 60.124(j), and an explanation of
the corrective actions taken.
(10) Records of the rationale for the control device monitoring
parameter value(s), established as specified in Sec. 60.124(k),
monitoring frequency, and averaging time. Include all data and
calculations used to develop the value and a description of why the
value, monitoring frequency, and averaging time demonstrate continuous
compliance with the applicable emission standard.
(d) In addition to the reporting requirements specified in Sec.
60.7 and Sec. 60.19, the owner or operator shall submit the results of
the initial and periodic performance tests within 60 days after the
date of completing each performance test required by this subpart,
following the procedures specified in paragraphs (d)(1) through (3) of
this section.
(1) Data collected using test methods supported by the EPA's
Electronic Reporting Tool (ERT) as listed on the EPA's ERT website
(https://www.epa.gov/electronic-reporting-air-emissions/electronic-reporting-tool-ert) at the time of the test. Submit the results of the
performance test to the EPA via the Compliance and Emissions Data
Reporting Interface (CEDRI), which can be accessed through the EPA's
Central Data Exchange (CDX) (https://cdx.epa.gov). The data shall be
submitted in a file format generated using the EPA's ERT.
Alternatively, the owner or operator may submit an electronic file
consistent with the extensible markup language (XML) schema listed on
the EPA's ERT website.
(2) Data collected using test methods that are not supported by the
EPA's ERT as listed on the EPA's ERT website at the time of the test.
The results of the performance test shall be included as an attachment
in the ERT or an alternate electronic file consistent with the XML
schema listed on the EPA's ERT website. Submit the ERT generated
package or alternative file to the EPA via CEDRI.
(3) Confidential business information (CBI).
(i) The EPA will make all the information submitted through CEDRI
available to the public without further notice to the owner or
operator. Do not use CEDRI to submit information that the owner or
operator claims as CBI. Although we do not expect persons to assert a
claim of CBI, if the owner or operator wishes to assert a CBI claim for
some of the information submitted under paragraph (a)(1) or (2) of this
section, the owner or operator shall submit a complete file, including
information claimed to be CBI, to the EPA.
(ii) The file shall be generated using the EPA's ERT or an
alternate electronic file consistent with the XML schema listed on the
EPA's ERT website.
(iii) Clearly mark the part or all of the information that the
owner or operator claims to be CBI. Information not marked as CBI may
be authorized for public release without prior notice. Information
marked as CBI will not be disclosed except in accordance with
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
(iv) The preferred method to receive CBI is for it to be
transmitted electronically using email attachments, File Transfer
Protocol, or other online file sharing services. Electronic submissions
shall be transmitted directly to the OAQPS CBI Office at the
[[Page 80613]]
email address [email protected], and as described above, should include
clear CBI markings and be flagged to the attention of the Group Leader,
Measurement Policy Group. If assistance is needed with submitting large
electronic files that exceed the file size limit for email attachments,
and if the owner or operator does not have a file sharing service,
please email [email protected] to request a file transfer link.
(v) If the owner or operator cannot transmit the file
electronically, the owner or operator may send CBI information through
the postal service to the following address: OAQPS Document Control
Officer (C404-02), OAQPS, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, Attention Group Leader,
Measurement Policy Group. The mailed CBI material should be double
wrapped and clearly marked. Any CBI markings should not show through
the outer envelope.
(vi) All CBI claims shall be asserted at the time of submission.
Anything submitted using CEDRI cannot later be claimed CBI.
Furthermore, under CAA section 114(c), emissions data is not entitled
to confidential treatment, and the EPA is required to make emissions
data available to the public. Thus, emissions data will not be
protected as CBI and will be made publicly available.
(vii) The owner or operator shall submit the same file submitted to
the CBI office with the CBI omitted to the EPA through CEDRI via the
EPA's CDX as described in paragraphs (d)(1) and (2) of this section.
(e) Claims of EPA system outage. If the owner or operator is
required to electronically submit a report through CEDRI in the EPA's
CDX, the owner or operator may assert a claim of EPA system outage for
failure to timely comply with that reporting requirement. To assert a
claim of EPA system outage, the owner or operator shall meet the
requirements outlined in paragraphs (e)(1) through (7) of this section.
(1) The owner or operator shall have been or will be precluded from
accessing CEDRI and submitting a required report within the time
prescribed due to an outage of either the EPA's CEDRI or CDX systems.
(2) The outage shall have occurred within the period of time
beginning five business days prior to the date that the submission is
due.
(3) The outage may be planned or unplanned.
(4) The owner or operator shall submit notification to the
Administrator in writing as soon as possible following the date the
owner or operator first knew, or through due diligence should have
known, that the event may cause or has caused a delay in reporting.
(5) The owner or operator shall provide to the Administrator a
written description identifying:
(i) The date(s) and time(s) when CDX or CEDRI was accessed and the
system was unavailable;
(ii) A rationale for attributing the delay in reporting beyond the
regulatory deadline to EPA system outage;
(iii) A description of measures taken or to be taken to minimize
the delay in reporting; and
(iv) The date by which the owner or operator proposes to report, or
if the owner or operator has already met the reporting requirement at
the time of the notification, the date the owner or operator reported.
(6) The decision to accept the claim of EPA system outage and allow
an extension to the reporting deadline is solely within the discretion
of the Administrator.
(7) In any circumstance, the report shall be submitted
electronically as soon as possible after the outage is resolved.
(f) Claims of force majeure. If the owner or operator is required
to electronically submit a report through CEDRI in the EPA's CDX, the
owner or operator may assert a claim of force majeure for failure to
timely comply with that reporting requirement. To assert a claim of
force majeure, the owner or operator shall meet the requirements
outlined in paragraphs (f)(1) through (5) of this section.
(1) The owner or operator may submit a claim if a force majeure
event is about to occur, occurs, or has occurred or there are lingering
effects from such an event within the period of time beginning five
business days prior to the date the submission is due. For the purposes
of this section, a force majeure event is defined as an event that will
be or has been caused by circumstances beyond the control of the
affected facility, its contractors, or any entity controlled by the
affected facility that prevents the owner or operator from complying
with the requirement to submit a report electronically within the time
period prescribed. Examples of such events are acts of nature (e.g.,
hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods), acts of war or terrorism, or
equipment failure or safety hazard beyond the control of the affected
facility (e.g., large scale power outage).
(2) The owner or operator shall submit notification to the
Administrator in writing as soon as possible following the date the
owner or operator first knew, or through due diligence should have
known, that the event may cause or has caused a delay in reporting.
(3) The owner or operator shall provide to the Administrator:
(i) A written description of the force majeure event;
(ii) A rationale for attributing the delay in reporting beyond the
regulatory deadline to the force majeure event;
(iii) A description of measures taken or to be taken to minimize
the delay in reporting; and
(iv) The date by which the owner or operator proposes to report, or
if the owner or operator has already met the reporting requirement at
the time of the notification, the date the owner or operator reported.
(4) The decision to accept the claim of force majeure and allow an
extension to the reporting deadline is solely within the discretion of
the Administrator.
(5) In any circumstance, the reporting shall occur as soon as
possible after the force majeure event occurs.
0
8. Add subpart La consisting of Sec. Sec. 60.120a through 60.125a to
part 60 to read as follows:
Subpart La--Standards of Performance for Secondary Lead Smelters for
Which Construction, Reconstruction, or Modification Commenced After
December 1, 2022
Sec.
60.120a Applicability and designation of affected facility.
60.121a Definitions.
60.122a Standard for particulate matter.
60.123a Test methods and procedures.
60.124a Monitoring requirements.
60.125a Notification, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements.
Subpart La--Standards of Performance for Secondary Lead Smelters
for Which Construction, Reconstruction, or Modification Commenced
After December 1, 2022
Sec. 60.120a Applicability and designation of affected facility.
(a) The provisions of this subpart are applicable to the following
affected facilities in secondary lead smelters: Process fugitive
emissions sources, blast (cupola) furnaces, and reverberatory furnaces.
(b) Any facility under paragraph (a) of this section that commences
construction, reconstruction, or modification after November 20, 2023,
is subject to the requirements of this subpart.
Sec. 60.121a Definitions.
As used in this subpart, all terms not defined herein shall have
the meaning given them in the Act and in subpart A of this part.
Blast furnace means any furnace used to recover metal from slag.
[[Page 80614]]
Lead means elemental lead or alloys in which the predominant
component is lead.
Process fugitive emissions source means a source of particulate
matter (PM) emissions at a secondary lead smelter that is associated
with lead smelting or refining including, but not limited to, smelting
furnace charging points; smelting furnace lead and slag taps; pot and
refining furnaces; and casting kettles.
Reverberatory furnace includes the following types of reverberatory
furnaces: stationary, rotating, rocking, and tilting.
Secondary lead smelter means any facility producing lead from a
lead-bearing scrap material by smelting to the metallic form.
Sec. 60.122a Standard for particulate matter.
(a) On and after the date on which the performance test required to
be conducted by Sec. 60.8 is completed, no owner or operator subject
to the provisions of this subpart shall discharge or cause the
discharge into the atmosphere from a blast (cupola) or reverberatory
furnace any gases which:
(1) Contain PM in excess of 10 milligrams per dry standard cubic
meter, mg/dscm (0.0044 grains per dry standard cubic feet, gr/dscf).
(2) Exhibit opacity greater than 5 percent.
(b) On and after the date on which the performance test required to
be conducted by Sec. 60.8 is completed, no owner or operator subject
to the provisions of this subpart shall discharge or cause the
discharge into the atmosphere from any process fugitive emissions
source any gases which:
(1) Contain PM in excess of 4.9 mg/dscm (0.0021 grains per dry
standard cubic feet, gr/dscf).
(2) Exhibit opacity greater than 5 percent.
(c) The PM and opacity emissions standards specified in paragraphs
(a) and (b) of this section apply at all times, including periods of
startup, shutdown, and malfunction.
Sec. 60.123a Test methods and procedures.
(a) Initial performance tests. The owner or operator shall conduct
performance tests to demonstrate initial compliance with the PM and
opacity emission standards specified in Sec. 60.122a.
(b) Periodic performance tests. Following the initial compliance
demonstration required by paragraph (a) of this section, the owner or
operator shall conduct periodic performance tests to demonstrate
compliance with the PM and opacity emissions standards specified in
Sec. 60.122a according to the schedule specified in paragraph (b)(1)
or (2) of this section.
(1) Conduct performance tests no later than 12 months following the
previous compliance test.
(2) Conduct performance tests up to 24 calendar months following
the previous compliance test if the previous compliance test measured
PM emissions equal to or less than the concentrations specified in
paragraphs (b)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section and the owner or operator
has obtained approval from the Administrator for a written request to
extend the period of the periodic performance test. The extension
request will be deemed automatically approved if the owner or operator
submits the results of a PM performance test equal to or less than the
applicable concentrations specified in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) and (ii) of
this section, the owner or operator submits the request for the
extension within 4 months after the subject compliance test, and the
Administrator does not provide a response to such request within 6
months of submission.
(i) 5 mg/dscm for blast and reverberatory furnaces.
(ii) 2.4 mg/dscm for process fugitive emissions sources.
(c) Test methods. In conducting the performance tests required in
Sec. 60.8, the owner or operator shall use the following EPA reference
test methods and procedures in appendix A of this part or other methods
and procedures as specified in this section, except as provided in
Sec. 60.8(b).
(1) EPA Method 1 at appendix A-1 to this part for selecting
sampling port locations and the number of traverse points.
(2) EPA Method 2 at appendix A-1 to this part at appendix A-1 to
this part or EPA Method 5D at appendix A-3 to this part, section 8.3
for positive fabric filters, to measure the volumetric flow rate of the
gas stream.
(3) EPA Method 3, 3A, 3B, or 3C at appendix A-1 to this part to
determine the dry molecular weight of the stack gas and the
concentrations of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the sample gas.
(4) EPA Method 4 at appendix A-3 to this part to determine the
moisture content of the gas stream.
(5) EPA Method 5 or 5D at appendix A-3 to this part for measuring
PM concentrations. The EPA Method 5 or 5D tests shall be conducted
during representative periods of furnace operation, including charging
and tapping, and the sampling time and sample volume for each test run
shall be at least 60 minutes and 0.90 dscm (31.8 dscf), respectively.
As an alternative to using EPA Method 5, owners or operators may
measure PM emissions by the following methods:
(i) EPA Method 12 at appendix A-5 to this part (see section 16.1 of
Method 12) to measure inorganic lead concentrations and PM.
(ii) EPA Method 29 at appendix A-8 to this part to measure metal
(lead) concentrations and PM (see section 1.2 of Method 29).
(6) EPA Method 9 at appendix A-4 to this part and the procedures
specified in Sec. 60.11 for determining opacity. Owners or operators
may use the following methods as alternatives to EPA Method 9 as
applicable and appropriate:
(i) EPA Method 22 (Visual Determination of Fugitive Emissions) at
appendix A-7 to this part for determining no visible emissions.
(ii) ASTM D7520-16 (incorporated by reference at Sec. 60.17) is an
acceptable alternative with the specified conditions in paragraphs
(c)(6)(ii)(A) through (E) of this section.
(A) During the digital camera opacity technique (DCOT)
certification procedure outlined in section 9.2 of ASTM D7520-16
(incorporated by reference at Sec. 60.17), the owner or operator or
the DCOT vendor shall 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).
(B) The owner or operator shall also have standard operating
procedures (SOPs) 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 (incorporated by reference
at Sec. 60.17).
(C) The owner or operator shall follow the recordkeeping procedures
outlined in Sec. 63.10(b)(1) for the DCOT certification, compliance
report, data sheets, and all raw unaltered JPEGs used for opacity and
certification determination.
(D) The owner or operator or the DCOT vendor shall 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 any one
reading and the average error shall not exceed 7.5 percent opacity.
(E) 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
[[Page 80615]]
(incorporated by reference at Sec. 60.17) and this section is on the
owner or operator, DCOT operator, and DCOT vendor.
Sec. 60.124a Monitoring requirements.
(a) The owner shall comply with the applicable monitoring
requirements specified in Sec. 60.13.
(b) The owner shall prepare, and at all times operate according to,
an SOP manual that describes in detail procedures for inspection,
maintenance, and bag leak detection and corrective action plans for all
baghouses (fabric filters or cartridge filters) used to reduce PM and
opacity emissions from any affected source subject to the emissions
standards in Sec. 60.122a.
(c) The owner shall submit the SOP manual for the baghouses (fabric
filters or cartridge collectors) described in paragraph (b) of this
section to the Administrator or delegated authority for review and
approval.
(d) The procedures specified in the SOP manual for inspections and
routine maintenance shall, at a minimum, include the requirements of
paragraphs (d)(1) through (9) of this section.
(1) Daily monitoring of the pressure drop across each baghouse
cell.
(2) Weekly confirmation that dust is being removed from hoppers
through visual inspection, or equivalent means of ensuring the proper
functioning of removal mechanisms.
(3) Daily check of compressed air supply for pulse-jet baghouses.
(4) An appropriate methodology for monitoring cleaning cycles to
ensure proper operation.
(5) Monthly check of bag cleaning mechanisms for proper functioning
through visual inspection or equivalent means.
(6) Monthly check of bag tension on reverse air and shaker-type
baghouses. Such checks are not required for shaker-type baghouses using
self-tensioning (spring loaded) devices.
(7) Quarterly confirmation of the physical integrity of the
baghouse through visual inspection of the baghouse interior for air
leaks.
(8) Quarterly inspection of fans for wear, material buildup, and
corrosion through visual inspection, vibration detectors, or equivalent
means.
(9) Continuous operation of a bag leak detection system.
(e) The procedures specified in the SOP manual for baghouse
maintenance shall include, at a minimum, a preventative maintenance
schedule that is consistent with the baghouse manufacturer's
instructions for routine and long-term maintenance.
(f) The bag leak detection system required by paragraph (d)(9) of
this section, shall meet the specification and requirements of
paragraphs (f)(1) through (8) of this section.
(1) The bag leak detection system shall be certified by the
manufacturer to be capable of detecting PM emissions at concentrations
of 50.0 mg/dscm (0.022 gr/dscf) or less.
(2) The bag leak detection system sensor shall provide output of
relative PM loadings.
(3) The bag leak detection system shall be equipped with an alarm
system that will alarm when an increase in relative particulate
loadings is detected over a preset level.
(4) The owner shall install and operate the bag leak detection
system in a manner consistent with the guidance provided in EPA-454/R-
98-015, Office of Air quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) Fabric
Filter Bag Leak Detection Guidance (incorporated by reference, see
Sec. 60.17) or the manufacturer's written specifications and
recommendations for installation, operation, and adjustment of the
system.
(5) The initial adjustment of the system shall, at a minimum,
consist of establishing the baseline output by adjusting the
sensitivity (range) and the averaging period of the device, and
establishing the alarm set points and the alarm delay time.
(6) Following initial adjustment, the owner shall not adjust the
sensitivity or range, averaging period, alarm set points, or alarm
delay time, except as detailed in the approved SOP manual required
under paragraph (b) of this section. The owner cannot increase the
sensitivity by more than 100 percent or decrease the sensitivity by
more than 50 percent over a 365-day period unless such adjustment
follows a complete baghouse inspection that demonstrates that the
baghouse is in good operating condition.
(7) For negative pressure, induced air baghouses, and positive
pressure baghouses that are discharged to the atmosphere through a
stack, the owner shall install the bag leak detector downstream of the
baghouse and upstream of any wet acid gas scrubber.
(8) Where multiple detectors are required, the system's
instrumentation and alarm may be shared among detectors.
(g) The owner shall include in the SOP manual required by paragraph
(b) of this section a corrective action plan that specifies the
procedures to be followed in the case of a bag leak detection system
alarm. The corrective action plan shall include, at a minimum, the
procedures used to determine and record the time and cause of the alarm
as well as the corrective actions taken to minimize emissions as
specified in paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) of this section.
(1) The procedures used to determine the cause of the alarm shall
be initiated within 30 minutes of the alarm.
(2) The cause of the alarm shall be alleviated by taking the
necessary corrective action(s) that may include, but not be limited to,
those listed in paragraphs (g)(2)(i) through (vi) of this section.
(i) Inspecting the baghouse for air leaks, torn or broken filter
elements, or any other malfunction that may cause an increase in
emissions.
(ii) Sealing off defective bags or filter media.
(iii) Replacing defective bags or filter media, or otherwise
repairing the control device.
(iv) Sealing off a defective baghouse compartment.
(v) Cleaning the bag leak detection system probe, or otherwise
repairing the bag leak detection system.
(vi) Shutting down the process producing the PM emissions.
(h) Baghouses equipped with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)
filters as a secondary filter used to control emissions from any source
subject to the PM and opacity emission standards in Sec. 60.122a are
exempt from the requirement to be equipped with a bag leak detection
system. The owner or operator shall monitor and record the pressure
drop across each HEPA filter system daily. If the pressure drop is
outside the limit(s) specified by the filter manufacturer, the owner or
operator shall take appropriate corrective measures, which may include
but not be limited to those given in paragraphs (h)(1) through (4) of
this section.
(1) Inspecting the filter and filter housing for air leaks and torn
or broken filters.
(2) Replacing defective filter media, or otherwise repairing the
control device.
(3) Sealing off a defective control device by routing air to other
control devices.
(4) Shutting down the process producing the particulate emissions.
(i) Baghouses followed by a wet electrostatic precipitator (WESP)
used as a secondary control device for any source subject to the PM and
opacity emission standards in Sec. 60.122a are exempt from the
requirement to be equipped with a bag leak detection system.
(j) If a wet scrubber is used to demonstrate continuous compliance
with the PM emissions standards for blast and reverberatory furnaces
specified in Sec. 60.122a(a), the owner or
[[Page 80616]]
operator shall monitor and record the pressure drop and water flow rate
of the wet scrubber during the initial performance or annual compliance
test conducted to demonstrate compliance with the PM emissions limit
under Sec. 60.122a(a). Thereafter, the owner or operator shall monitor
and record the pressure drop and water flow rate values at least once
every hour and maintain the pressure drop and water flow rate at levels
no lower than 30 percent below the pressure drop and water flow rate
measured during the initial performance or compliance test.
(k) During the initial performance test required by Sec.
60.123a(a), or any periodic performance test required by Sec.
60.123a(b), the owner or operator shall establish the value or range of
values of the monitoring parameter(s) for each control device used to
comply with the PM and opacity emission standards specified in Sec.
60.122a.
(l) If an affected source is subject to the monitoring requirements
specified in 40 CFR part 63, subpart X (National Emissions Standards
for Hazardous Air Pollutants from Secondary Lead Smelting) and those
requirements are as stringent or more stringent than the monitoring
requirements specified in paragraphs (a) through (j) of this section
compliance with 40 CFR part 63, subpart X also demonstrates compliance
with the monitoring requirements specified in paragraphs (a) through
(k) of this section.
Sec. 60.125a Notification, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements.
(a) The owner or operator shall comply with the applicable
notification and recordkeeping requirements specified in Sec. 60.7 and
the reporting requirements specified in Sec. 60.19.
(1) Records shall be maintained in a form suitable and readily
available for expeditious review, according to Sec. 60.7(f). However,
electronic recordkeeping and reporting may be used if suitable for the
specific case (e.g., by electronic media such as Excel spreadsheet, on
CD or hard copy), and when required by this subpart.
(2) Records shall be kept on site for at least 2 years after the
date of occurrence, measurement, maintenance, corrective action,
report, or record, according to Sec. 60.7(f).
(b) The SOP manual required in Sec. 60.124a(b) shall be submitted
to the Administrator in electronic format for review and approval of
the initial submittal and whenever an update is made to the procedure.
(c) The owner or operator shall maintain for a period of 2 years,
records of the information listed in paragraphs (c)(1) through (10) of
this section.
(1) Electronic records of the bag leak detection system output.
(2) An identification of the date and time of all bag leak
detection system alarms, the time that procedures to determine the
cause of the alarm were initiated, the cause of the alarm, an
explanation of the corrective actions taken, and the date and time the
cause of the alarm was corrected.
(3) All records of inspections and maintenance activities required
under Sec. 60.124a(d) as part of the practices described in the SOP
manual for baghouses required under Sec. 60.124a(b).
(4) Electronic records of the pressure drop and water flow rate
values for wet scrubbers used to control PM emissions from blast or
reverberatory furnaces as required in Sec. 60.124a(j).
(5) Records of the occurrence and duration of each malfunction of
operation (i.e., process equipment) or the air pollution control
equipment and monitoring equipment.
(6) Records of actions taken during periods of malfunction to
minimize emissions in accordance with Sec. 60.11(d), including
corrective actions to restore malfunctioning process and air pollution
control and monitoring equipment to its normal or usual manner of
operation.
(7) Records of all alarms and corrective actions taken for the bag
leak detection system specified in Sec. 60.124a(d)(9).
(8) Records maintained as part of the practices described in the
SOP manual for baghouses required under Sec. 60.124a(b), including an
explanation of the periods when the procedures were not followed, and
the corrective actions taken.
(9) Record of the periods when the pressure drop and water flow
rate of wet scrubbers used to control process fugitive sources dropped
below the levels established in Sec. 60.124a(j), and an explanation of
the corrective actions taken.
(10) Records of the rationale for the control device monitoring
parameter value(s), established as specified in Sec. 60.124a(k),
monitoring frequency, and averaging time. Include all data and
calculations used to develop the value and a description of why the
value, monitoring frequency, and averaging time demonstrate continuous
compliance with the applicable emission standard.
(d) In addition to the reporting requirements specified in
Sec. Sec. 60.7 and 60.19, within 60 days after the date of completing
each performance test required by this subpart, the owner or operator
shall submit the results of the initial and periodic performance tests
following the procedures as specified in paragraphs (d)(1) through (3)
of this section.
(1) Data collected using test methods supported by the EPA's
Electronic Reporting Tool (ERT) as listed on the EPA's ERT website
(https://www.epa.gov/electronic-reporting-air-emissions/electronic-reporting-tool-ert) at the time of the test. Submit the results of the
performance test to the EPA via the Compliance and Emissions Data
Reporting Interface (CEDRI), which can be accessed through the EPA's
Central Data Exchange (CDX) (https://cdx.epa.gov). The data shall be
submitted in a file format generated using the EPA's ERT.
Alternatively, the owner or operator may submit an electronic file
consistent with the extensible markup language (XML) schema listed on
the EPA's ERT website.
(2) Data collected using test methods that are not supported by the
EPA's ERT as listed on the EPA's ERT website at the time of the test.
The results of the performance test shall be included as an attachment
in the ERT or an alternate electronic file consistent with the XML
schema listed on the EPA's ERT website. Submit the ERT generated
package or alternative file to the EPA via CEDRI.
(3) Confidential business information (CBI). (i) The EPA will make
all the information submitted through CEDRI available to the public
without further notice to the owner or operator. Do not use CEDRI to
submit information the owner or operator claims as CBI. Although we do
not expect persons to assert a claim of CBI, if the owner or operator
wishes to assert a CBI claim for some of the information submitted
under paragraph (a)(1) or (2) of this section, the owner or operator
shall submit a complete file, including information claimed to be CBI,
to the EPA.
(ii) The file shall be generated using the EPA's ERT or an
alternate electronic file consistent with the XML schema listed on the
EPA's ERT website.
(iii) Clearly mark the part or all of the information that the
owner or operator claims to be CBI. Information not marked as CBI may
be authorized for public release without prior notice. Information
marked as CBI will not be disclosed except in accordance with
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
(iv) The preferred method to receive CBI is for it to be
transmitted electronically using email attachments, File Transfer
Protocol, or other online file sharing services. Electronic
[[Page 80617]]
submissions shall be transmitted directly to the OAQPS CBI Office at
the email address [email protected], and as described above, should
include clear CBI markings and be flagged to the attention of the Group
Leader, Measurement Policy Group. If assistance is needed with
submitting large electronic files that exceed the file size limit for
email attachments, and if the owner or operator does not have a file
sharing service, please email [email protected] to request a file
transfer link.
(v) If the owner or operator cannot transmit the file
electronically, the owner or operator may send CBI information through
the postal service to the following address: OAQPS Document Control
Officer (C404-02), OAQPS, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, Attention Group Leader,
Measurement Policy Group. The mailed CBI material should be double
wrapped and clearly marked. Any CBI markings should not show through
the outer envelope.
(vi) All CBI claims shall be asserted at the time of submission.
Anything submitted using CEDRI cannot later be claimed CBI.
Furthermore, under CAA section 114(c), emissions data is not entitled
to confidential treatment, and the EPA is required to make emissions
data available to the public. Thus, emissions data will not be
protected as CBI and will be made publicly available.
(vii) The owner or operator shall submit the same file submitted to
the CBI office with the CBI omitted to the EPA through CEDRI via the
EPA's CDX as described in paragraphs (d)(1) and (2) of this section.
(e) If the owner or operator is required to electronically submit a
report through CEDRI in the EPA's CDX, the owner or operator may assert
a claim of EPA system outage for failure to timely comply with that
reporting requirement. To assert a claim of EPA system outage, the
owner or operator shall meet the requirements outlined in paragraphs
(e)(1) through (7) of this section.
(1) The owner or operator shall have been or will be precluded from
accessing CEDRI and submitting a required report within the time
prescribed due to an outage of either the EPA's CEDRI or CDX systems.
(2) The outage shall have occurred within the period of time
beginning five business days prior to the date that the submission is
due.
(3) The outage may be planned or unplanned.
(4) The owner or operator shall submit notification to the
Administrator in writing as soon as possible following the date the
owner or operator first knew, or through due diligence should have
known, that the event may cause or has caused a delay in reporting.
(5) The owner or operator shall provide to the Administrator a
written description identifying:
(i) The date(s) and time(s) when CDX or CEDRI was accessed and the
system was unavailable;
(ii) A rationale for attributing the delay in reporting beyond the
regulatory deadline to EPA system outage;
(iii) A description of measures taken or to be taken to minimize
the delay in reporting; and
(iv) The date by which the owner or operator propose to report, or
if the owner or operator has already met the reporting requirement at
the time of the notification, the date the owner or operator reported.
(6) The decision to accept the claim of EPA system outage and allow
an extension to the reporting deadline is solely within the discretion
of the Administrator.
(7) In any circumstance, the report shall be submitted
electronically as soon as possible after the outage is resolved.
(f) If the owner or operator is required to electronically submit a
report through CEDRI in the EPA's CDX, the owner or operator may assert
a claim of force majeure for failure to timely comply with that
reporting requirement. To assert a claim of force majeure, the owner or
operator shall meet the requirements outlined in paragraphs (f)(1)
through (5) of this section.
(1) The owner or operator may submit a claim if a force majeure
event is about to occur, occurs, or has occurred or there are lingering
effects from such an event within the period of time beginning five
business days prior to the date the submission is due. For the purposes
of this section, a force majeure event is defined as an event that will
be or has been caused by circumstances beyond the control of the
affected facility, its contractors, or any entity controlled by the
affected facility that prevents the owner or operator from complying
with the requirement to submit a report electronically within the time
period prescribed. Examples of such events are acts of nature (e.g.,
hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods), acts of war or terrorism, or
equipment failure or safety hazard beyond the control of the affected
facility (e.g., large scale power outage).
(2) The owner or operator shall submit notification to the
Administrator in writing as soon as possible following the date the
owner or operator first knew, or through due diligence should have
known, that the event may cause or has caused a delay in reporting.
(3) The owner or operator shall provide to the Administrator:
(i) A written description of the force majeure event;
(ii) A rationale for attributing the delay in reporting beyond the
regulatory deadline to the force majeure event;
(iii) A description of measures taken or to be taken to minimize
the delay in reporting; and
(iv) The date by which the owner or operator proposes to report, or
if the owner or operator has already met the reporting requirement at
the time of the notification, the date the owner or operator reported.
(4) The decision to accept the claim of force majeure and allow an
extension to the reporting deadline is solely within the discretion of
the Administrator.
(5) In any circumstance, the reporting shall occur as soon as
possible after the force majeure event occurs.
[FR Doc. 2023-25275 Filed 11-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P