United Slates Office of Solid Waste FPA/S30 SW91-OU
Environmental Protect and Emergency Response PSWgi
Agency
Office ol Solid Waste
v>EPA Environmental
Fact Sheet
HAZARDOUS WASTE BOILERS
AND INDUSTRIAL FURNACES
NOW UNDER STRICT
RCRA REGULATIONS
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is publishing regulations
to reduce and control toxic pollutants from industrial furnaces and boilers
burning two million tons of hazardous waste a year. Applicable facilities
must obtain operating permits under the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA) or stop burning hazardous waste. EPA has
determined that improper burning of hazardous waste in these devices can
have serious, adverse impacts on public health and the environment. This
rulemaking brings all facilities burning hazardous waste for energy
recovery or treatment under full regulation for the first time.
BACKGROUND
Hazardous waste can be burned in boilers, industrial furnaces, and
incinerators for specific, but different purposes. Incinerators use
controlled combustion to treat or destroy hazardous waste, and are
regulated by RCRA, Subpart O. Boilers and industrial furnaces
typically use controlled combustion to burn waste for energy or
materials recovery (recycling activities), and have been minimally
regulated by RCRA.
Tliis rulemaking completes the Agency's attempt to regulate boilers and
industrial furnaces. It incorporates public comments on rules proposed
in May 1987, October 1989, and April 1990. As a result, tight controls
on emissions from hazardous waste boilers and industrial furnaces will
now be in place.
Hazardous waste burners affected by this regulation include
nonindustrial, industrial, and utility boilers; cement and light-weight
aggregate kilns; and halogen acid furnaces.
Printed on Recycled Paper
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ACTION
This regulation will impose stringent controls on the burning of
hazardous waste which will bring more waste and more burners within
RCRA control. It applies similar permitting procedures and virtually
identical emission standards to boilers, industrial furnaces, and
hazardous waste incinerators. Public health and the environment will
be protected from emissions of these facilities whether hazardous waste
is burned for the purpose of recycling—energy or materials recovery—
or destruction.
Boilers and industrial furnaces are required to control emissions of:
0 Toxic organic compounds by a 99.99 percent destruction and
removal efficiency (DRE) standard for constituents in the waste,
by limits on stack gas carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations,
and, in specific situations, a limit on hydrocarbon (HC)
concentrations in stack gas and controls on chlorinated dioxin
and furan emissions;
0 Particulate matter to a level of 0.08 gr/dscf;
0 Ten toxic metals by site-specific emission limits based on health
risk assessment; and
0 Hydrogen chloride (HC1) and chlorine gas (C12 ) by site-specific
emission limits based on health risk assessment.
At this time, the Agency is deferring regulation on smelting, melting,
and refining furnaces processing hazardous waste solely for metal
reclamation. In addition, certain other exemptions apply.
0 Burners of small quantities of hazardous waste are exempt.
0 Certain "low-risk" wastes are exempt from certain emission
standards.
CONCLUSION
This regulation applies to all facilities (except metal reclamation
furnaces) that burn hazardous waste for any reason: energy recovery,
materials recovery, or destruction. Because of such broad application,
the importance of determining whether a boiler or industrial furnace is
engaged in bonafide recycling is minimized. Certain recyclers can no
longer claim to be unregulated because they recycle hazardous waste.
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Over 99 percent of all hazardous waste^being burned in boilers and
industrial furnaces will be regulated. Approximately 1,000 facilities are
affected by this rule. Of 900 boilers, the majority are expected to be
exempt from regulation because they burn relatively small quantities of
waste; around 125 will apply for RCRA permits; and about 200 wiU
stop burning hazardous waste. The Agency expects most industrial
furnaces (approximately 75) to apply for permits.
CONTACT '
For additional information or to order a copy of the Federal Register
notice, contact the RCRA Hotline, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30
p m EST. The national, toU-free number is (800) 424-9346; TDD (800)
553-7672 (hearing impaired); in Washington, D.C., the number is (703)
920-9810, TDD (703) 486-3323.
Copies of documents applicable to this rulemaking may be obtained by
writing: RCRA Information Center (RIC), U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Solid Waste (OS-305), 401 M Street SW, Washington,
D.C. 20460.
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