&EPA FACT SHEET United States Environmental Protection Office of Water EPA-821-F-05-002 Agency 4303T August 2005 IRON AND STEEL MANUFACTURING Proposed Amendments to the Effluent Limitations Guidelines for the Iron and Steel Manufacturing Point Source Category EPA published a proposal to make minor changes to the effluent guidelines for the Iron and Steel Manufacturing Industry. The Agency has proposed to restore the provision that authorizes alternative oil and grease limitations and to correct errors in the effective date of those new source performance standards for this industry. Background In October 2002, EPA promulgated an amendment to the iron and steel regulations. This amendment, among other things, changed the scope of the water bubble provision to exclude oil and grease trading. The Agency is concerned about the differences in the types of oil and grease used among iron and steel operations. The water bubble offers regulatory flexibility allowing the iron and steel industry to trade identical pollutants at any mill that discharges into surface waters at more than one location. In response to a petition from the regulated community and upon further review, the Agency made several minor changes that allow oil and grease trading with the restriction described below. About the Proposed Rule The proposal would restore the provision authorizing alternative oil and grease limitations for iron and steel mills that discharge into surface waters at more than one location. The proposed changes to the rule would prohibit the trading of sintering process oil and grease unless the alternative limitations are more stringent than the current rule. The current regulations do contain one restriction that would apply to oil and grease trading. Cokemaking process wastewater trading is prohibited unless the alternative limitations are more stringent than the current rule. Finally, the proposed amendment would correct a date for new source performance standards that was incorrectly transcribed from the version signed by the Administrator in 2002. Environmental Benefits and Cost of the Proposed Rule EPA anticipates no changes in environmental benefits and compliance costs. Additional Information ------- For more information, please call Elwood Forsht at 202-566-1025 or send an email to forsht.elwood@epa. gov. You can also learn more about this proposed rule, including how to submit comments to EPA, by visiting EPA's Internet web site at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience. ------- |