United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA/600/S8-90/052 Aug. 1990
SEPA Project Summary
Evaluation of Emission
Factors for Formaldehyde from
Certain Wood Processing
Operations
Ted S.White
A search for information on
formaldehyde emissions from wood
veneer operations was performed to
develop emission factors for the
industry. Formaldehyde releases of
246 kg (542 Ib) were reported under
Title III of the Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act
of 1986 (SARA) from a large plywood
plant in Mississippi. However,
existing data found during the study
period were insufficient to allow
reliable emission factors to be
calculated.
This Project Summary was
developed by EPA's Air and Energy
Engineering Research Laboratory,
Research Triangle Park, NC, to
announce key findings of the research
project that is fully documented in a
separate report of the same title (see
Project Report ordering information at
back).
Supplemental Study
The purpose of this study was to
supplement information presented in
"Evaluation of Emission Factors for
Formaldehyde from Certain Wood
Processing Operations," EPA-45073-
87/023 (NTIS PB88-118492), October,
1987, with any additional formaldehyde
emission information that became
available between October 1987 and May
1989. The focus of this effort was existing
data that would allow calculation of
emission factors for four unit operations
in wood veneer plants: (1) formulating the
urea- and phenol-formaldehyde resin
glues, (2) applying the glues, (3) curing,
and (4) storing the finished products.
The methodology used for collecting
emission data included: (1) telephone
surveys of regulatory personnel, industry
contacts, and trade organization con-
tacts; (2) a computerized literature
search; and (3) a search of data bases
containing air toxics emissions data,
including The National Air Toxics
Information Clearinghouse (NATICH),
recent supplements to the Best Available
Control Technology/Lowest Achievable
Emission Rate (BACT/LAER)
Clearinghouse document, and estimates
of 1987 releases of formaldehyde from
plants provided to EPA under the
Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986.
A search for information on
formaldehyde emissions from wood
veneer operations was performed to
develop emission factors for the industry.
Formaldehyde releases of 246 kg (542 Ib)
reported under SARA Title III from a large
plywood plant in Mississippi. However,
existing data found during the study
period were insufficient to allow reliable
emission factors to be calculated.
Mandatory submittals of formaldehyde
release estimates under SARA Title III
and the California Air Toxic Hot Spot Act
of 1987 should become available within
the next few years. These data could
potentially be combined with available
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production statistics for the wood veneer
industry to compile emissions factors.
More reliable data may become available
from compliance tests that follow permit
decisions in States that regulate
formaldehyde emissions from wood
veneer plants now and in the future. A
comprehensive test program performed
in several plants and unit operations
would provide the highest quality, most
useful data for emission factor
development.
red S. White is with Radian Corp., Reseach Triangle Park, N.C. 27709.
T. Kelly Janes is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "Evaluation of Emission Factors for Formaldehyde
from Certain Wood Processing Operations" (Order No. PB 90-254 988
/AS; Cost: $15.00, subject to change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
EPA/600/S8-90/052
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