NATIONAL AIR TOXICS INFORMATION
CLEARINGHOUSE NEWSLETTER
£% PQA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards Volume 4 Number 1
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711 December 1986
a
State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators
Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials
IN THIS ISSUE:
CLEARINGHOUSE WILL BEGIN ANNUAL DATA COLLECTION AND UPDATE IN FEBRUARY 1
EPA AND STAPPA/ALAPCO TO HOST AIR TOXICS WORKSHOPS 2
CONTROL TECHNOLOGY CENTER CREATED BY OAR, ORD... 2
ALLEGHENY COUNTY PASSES REGULATION TO CONTROL BURNING
OF WASTE-DERIVED LIQUID FUELS 3
BAY AREA AQMD EMPHASIZES RISK REDUCTION 3
CALIFORNIA PUBLISHES TWO-VOLUME DRAFT SOURCE ASSESSMENT MANUAL 4
MISSISSIPPI ANNOUNCES AIR TOXICS PERMIT REVIEW PROGRAM 5
EMERGENCY PLANNING AND COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT OF 1986 IS SIGNED S
EPA USES "REG NEG" TO DRAFT WOODSTOVES NSPS 7
STATE OF MAINE CONDUCTS WOOD SMOKE ASSESSMENT 7
CONEG, NYSERDA CONDUCT WOODSTOVE PERFORMANCE FIELD STUDY 8
INTEGRATED AIR CANCER PROJECT REPORTS WOODSTOVE EMISSION MEASUREMENTS 9
CLEARINGHOUSE WILL BEGIN ANNUAL DATA
COLLECTION AND UPDATE IN FEBRUARY
CHANGES TO INFORMATION REQUEST
FORMS DESCRIBED
Every year, the National Air Toxics Information
Clearinghouse requests that State and local air pollution
control agencies update and expand the information
they have submitted to the Clearinghouse in the
previous years. During the month of February, data col-
lection forms will be distributed by STAPPA and ALAPCO
to the director of each State and local air pollution con-
trol agency. This year's forms include changes to bet-
ter reflect the information needs of both developing and
existing air toxics programs. Changes to the forms
include: additional questions on regulatory program ac-
tivities, including indoor air and source exemptions; ad-
ditions to the permitting and source test questions to in-
corporate Standard Classification Codes (SCC) and a
checkoff for "notable" permits and source tests; in-
creased emphasis on State and local documents and
publications; and the elimination of the form on toxicity
test results. Since the toxicity test results form has been
eliminated, please use the form for State and local
agency documents to describe any toxicity test results
your agency has available.
ON-LINE DATA ENTRY SYSTEM ESTABLISHED
All agencies that have submitted information to the
Clearinghouse will receive printouts of their current in-
formation in the Clearinghouse files, which is intended
to enable easy checking and updating of existing infor-
mation. In addition, the data collection forms will be ac-
companied by a data entry manual describing the pro-
cedures each State and local agency should use to ac-
cess the on-line data entry and editing system that is now
being implemented. This on-line data entry and editing
system will allow authorized State and local agency per-
sonnel to add to or modify the NATICH computer files
for their agency. To ensure that only authorized person-
nel enter or edit data for their specific agency, a securi-
ty system has been established by the National Com-
puter Center. Those users authorized to enter and edit
the NATICH files for their agency will be given a choice
of proceeding with data entry and editing or proceeding
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with the interactive data report programs. Additional
details on the on-line data entry and editing system are
presented in the data entry manual. State and local
agencies that would like to have their user ID authorized
for data entry and editing must contact the Clearing-
house staff, (919) 541-5519 or (FTS) 629-5519 for
assistance. ¦
EPA AND STAPPA/ALAPCC
AIR TOXICS WORKSHOPS
The Environmental Protection Agency and STAPPA/
ALAPCO will jointly present workshops for State and
local air pollution control agency personnel on develop-
ment and implementation of air toxics control programs.
The workshops will each span three and a half days and
will be presented in four locations in early 1987. The an-
ticipated places and dates are: Research Triangle Park,
North Carolina, in March; Boston and Kansas City in
April; and San Francisco in May.
The overall goal of the workshops is enhancement
of State and local air toxics programs. A major objective
is information exchange among State and local agencies
on both policy and technical issues principally
associated with implementing air toxic control programs,
although some aspects of program design will also be
covered. Among the themes to be emphasized are those
identified in EPA national guidance for State and local
program development. These include (1) NESHAP en-
forcement, (2) identification, evaluation, and control of
high risk point sources, (3) the urban air toxics problem,
and (4) enhancement of State and local capabilities to
> TO HOST
address these items as well as other toxic problems iden-
tified by State and local agencies. Other themes to be
addressed are: (1) feedback to EPA regarding the ade-
quacy of current technical/policy support, (2) com-
munication of successful practices of State and local
agencies in developing and carrying out their programs,
and (3) transfer of current technical information relating
to the support of State and local air toxics programs. In
addition, the workshop sessions and materials are in-
tended to identify exemplary practices which promote
greater opportunities for convergence in the design
and/or implementation of State and local programs.
The workshops will include presentations within the
mentioned goals for a broad range of topics that should
benefit both management and technical staffs. In addi-
tion, there will be opportunities to talk with speakers; and
special group sessions will allow participants to discuss
various program development issues.
For additional information, contact Roger Powell,
U.S. EPA, OAQPS, Control Programs Development Divi-
sion, (919) 541-5591 or (FTS) 629-5591.
CONTROL TECHNOLOGY C
CREATED BY OAR, ORD
The Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) and the Of-
fice of Research and Development (ORD) are develop-
ing a pilot Air Toxics Control Technology Center (CTC)
to assist State and local air pollution control programs.
Information from the CTC will be accessible through a
CTC HOTLINE, control technology documents and
workshops.
The CTC's goals are:
• to support State and local agencies in implementation
of air toxics control programs by providing technical
guidance and support on air pollution control
technology,
• to provide a mechanism to transfer available
engineering information of broad interest through
workshops and seminars, control technology
documents, computer software, etc.,
• to provide telephone access to EPA expertise as an
initial, quick response to individual problems,
• to provide more in-depth engineering assistance on
individual problems/sources, and
;enter
• to provide feedback to EPA on the technical support
needs of the State and local agencies.
The types of services the CTC will provide include
direct technical support to provide available information,
data, and engineering analysis on an as-requested
basis. Assistance can be provided on a range of topics,
such as evaluation of sources, identification of control
technology alternatives, development of control costs,
estimation of control technology impacts on water, solid
waste, or air discharges, and evaluation of source testing
methods and problems. If necessary, EPA staff will be
available to provide expert testimony to support State
and local regulatory actions.
Technical guidance will be provided for topics of na-
tional interest that have been identified by State and local
agencies. This may include (1) publishing control
technology documents on add-on control devices, pro-
cess modification, and control of air pollution sources,
(2) designing personal computer software (expert
systems) to help assess air toxics control problems, and
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(3) conducting seminars and workshops.
Requests for assistance will be handled through the
CTC HOTLINE [(919) 541-5571]. Through the HOTLINE,
State and local agencies will be put in contact with ap-
propriate EPA staff that are the most knowledgeable
about the requested topic. Although the CTC cannot pro-
mise to resolve every technical issue that is raised, the
CTC does seek to provide a rapid response based on
whatever control technology expertise or information is
available within the Agency. In some cases, it may be
appropriate to go beyond a rapid-response level of sup-
port and provide additional engineering analysis or sup-
port. Decisions on the extent to which the CTC can res-
pond to requests will depend on a number of factors, in-
cluding public health implications, usefulness of the
results to other State and local agencies, and other CTC
priorities.
For more information about the CTC, contact Lee
Beck, EPA, OAQPS, Emissions Standards and
Engineering Division, (919) 541-5601 or(FTS) 629-5601.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY PASSES REGULATION TO
CONTROL BURNING OF WASTE-DERIVED LIQUID FUELS
In August 1986, as part of its efforts to control toxic
air emissions, the Allegheny County Board of Commis-
sioners (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) passed a regulation
to control combustion of waste-derived liquid fuels
(WDLF).* The regulation will become effective on
January 1,1987.
WDLF include all non-virgin liquid fuels and waste
oils. One requirement of the new regulation governing
these fuels is that all sources wishing to burn these
substances must secure an annual operating permit
specific to the burning of WDLF. Furthermore, the
sources must meet requirements regarding fuel sam-
pling (frequency and methods), analysis (ASTM or other
acceptable methods), exhaust gas stack height (it must
be adequate to prevent adverse ambient impact), and
combustion efficiency (referred to as direct emission
reduction in the regulation).
The regulation's fuel quality requirements establish
upper limits for certain components of the WDLF. These
are as follows:
Arsenic
5 ppm
Cadmium
2 ppm
Chromium
10 ppm
Lead
100 ppm
PCBs
5 ppm
Ash
0.3 percent
Bottoms, sediment, and water
2.0 percent
Total halogens
1,000 ppm
In addition, the flash point of the WDLF cannot be lower
than 100°F.
Furthermore, for equipment below 1 million Btu per
hour rated heat input, the heat of combustion must be
at least 18,000 Btu per pound with a direct emission
reduction of 99 percent. For equipment above 1 million
Btu per hour rated heat input, the regulation requires that
the heat of combustion be at least 8,000 Btu per pound
with a direct emission reduction of 99.9 percent. The fuel
may contain up to 4,000 ppm halogens provided that (1)
the rated heat input of the unit is 5 million Btu per hour
or greater, and (2) a diffusion modeling analysis of the
ambient air quality impact of the emissions, related to
the halogenated compounds under worst case combus-
tion and meteorological conditions, is conducted and no
adverse impact is shown. There are no fuel quality re-
quirements for very large units (50 million Btu per hour
or greater) burning less than 0.25 percent of WDLF by
weight at any time, provided that no WDLF are burned
during start-up or shut-down and that reports showing
the usage of WDLF throughout the year are filed annual-
ly. The regulation allows for alternative standards or pro-
cedures, on a case-by-case basis, if the alternative stan-
dard or procedure is equivalent to or better than the re-
quirements of the regulation, or if it appears that com-
pliance is unreasonable or impossible and that the pro-
posed alternative will minimize the impact on the public.
For further information call Richard Baker,
Allegheny County Health Department, (412) 578-8127. To
obtain a copy of the WDLF Regulation, write Ronald J.
Chleboski, Deputy Director, Allegheny County Health
Department, Bureau of Air Pollution Control, 301 Thirty-
ninth Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15201.
*See related article on New Jersey's regulations
in April 1984 Newsletter.
BAY AREA AQMD EMPHASIZES RISK REDUCTION
Earlier this year, the Bay Area Air Quality Manage-
ment District (BAAQMD) launched a major new program
for the San Francisco Bay region to reduce the risks from
exposure to toxic air contaminants. The new program
complements the existing Federal and State activities
aimed at reducing risks from air toxics.
In California, the Air Resources Board (GARB) iden-
tifies toxic air contaminants and develops control
measures cooperatively with local districts. CARB then
delegates local rule-setting for existing stationary
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sources to the local districts* In order to meet the goal
of reducing the risk posed by exposure to air toxics, the
BAAQMD adopted ten program objectives. The objec-
tives will guide the agency in developing and adopting
requirements for stationary source control. These ten ob-
jectives are to:
1) Work with the California Department of Health Ser-
vices to promote adequate funding for the Depart-
ment for an accelerated review of toxic air
contaminants.
2) Increase monitoring sites for toxic air pollutants
within the district to 15 stations and to expand the
number of contaminants monitored at each station.
3) Include source testing for toxic air contaminants
during routine source test activities.
4) Update toxic emission inventory yearly. This re-
quires annual toxic emission reports from all emit-
ters with periodic verification by actual analysis
conducted by the BAAQMD or an independent
entity.
5) Develop toxic air contaminant regulations in con-
junction with CARB and the requirements of State
legislation.
6) Require risk assessments for new and modified
sources of potentially toxic air contaminants as
deemed appropriate by the District Air Pollution
Control Officer.
7) Conduct full environmental impact report studies
for toxic air contaminants identified in the State air
toxics legislation emitted from new and modified
sources subject to district California Environmen-
tal Quality Act requirements.
8) Comment on toxic emissions in all environmental
impact reports reviewed by the District.
9) Examine criteria, interim standards, and guidelines
used by other agencies and organizations to
regulate air toxics and determine appropriateness
for BAAQMD use to complement, not preempt, the
CARB process.
10) Cooperate with and encourage the implementation
of a prospective epidemiological cancer investiga-
tion and study.
The District currently has several projects underway
to implement these objectives. For example, BAAQMD
currently operates ten air toxics ambient monitoring sta-
tions and plans are being made to add five stations this
fiscal year. Samples taken at the monitoring stations are
analyzed for the following pollutants: benzene, carbon
tetrachloride, chloroform, dibromoethane,
dichloroethane, methylene chloride, perchloroethylene,
toluene, trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, vinyl chloride,
arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium (total and hex-
avalent), lead, and nickel.
In response to the risk assessment program objec-
tive, the District's permit review process for new and
modified sources incorporates the requirement that ap-
plicants submit a facility-specific risk assessment for tox-
ic air contaminants of concern. The risk assessment
identifies the risks associated with toxic air contaminant
emissions from the facility. Emission reductions to an ac-
ceptable risk level are required before a permit is issued.
Each year, approximately 1,000 applications are
received from new and modified sources. To date, the
District has required new resource recovery facilities and
hospital incinerators to submit risk assessments as part
of their permit applications. The California Department
of Health Services reviews the risk assessments submit-
ted for accuracy and adequacy of the methodology used.
The risk assessment and comments from the Depart-
ment of Health Services are used by the District to help
determine whether to issue the permit based on the
predicted health risks and, if so, what limitations should
be included in the permit.
For more information on the BAAQMD program,
contact Steve Hill, Manager of The Toxics Evaluation
Section, (415) 771-6000.
'See related articles on p. 6 in May 1985 Newsletter and
pp. 3-5 of the December 1984 Newsletter.
CALIFORNIA PUBLISHES TWO-VOLUME DRAFT
SOURCE ASSESSMENT MANUAL
The air toxics policy committee of the California Air
Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA) has
released a draft air toxics source assessment manual for
public review. The document's guidelines are for Califor-
nia's air pollution control districts (APCDs) to use in
preparing and reviewing health assessments for poten-
tially toxic pollutants. Many of the procedures outlined
in the document are generally applicable; therefore,
agencies with developing toxic pollutant programs may
also want to review the document. The manual is de-
signed in a loose-leaf format so that users can modify
some sections while retaining others. It is written in a
"how-to" style and contains worksheets that can be
used to summarize the steps in the analysis.
Written with the assistance of an EPA contractor, the
draft document was reviewed by an interagency commit-
tee consisting of representatives from CAPCOA, EPA
Region IX, the California Department of Health Services
(DHS), and the California Air Resources Board. Dr. Nor-
man Gravitz of the DHS served as science advisor to the
project on health effects issues.
The manual will help APCDs perform reviews of per-
mit applications. The general approach to assessing a
specific source is to estimate quantitatively cancer risks
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based on modeled emissions and to compare the
modeling results with guideline values for estimating
adverse noncancer health effects. The manual's first
volume describes both a screening procedure and a
more detailed procedure to be used for sources which
fail the screen. Volume 2 is a collection of appendices
containing background data, tables, and references sup-
porting Volume 1.
Volume 1 covers five technical areas, as described
below:
• Calculation of emissions, featuring a checklist of
possible emitting source categories, a sample list of
pollutants to consider, and an annotated bibliography
of reference documents on emissions and quality
assurance.
• Dispersion modeling, describing both screening pro-
cedures and detailed modeling procedures that can
be used. Screening procedures include a nomogram
and a personal computer version of the PTPLU model
developed by the Air Resources Board. The detailed
procedures refer to EPA guideline models.
• Population exposure, including estimation techniques
for both residential and employment populations. The
approach calculates exposure by locating receptor
points at centroids of population groups (census
tracts, ED/BGs, blocks, etc.).
• Noninhalation pathways, suggesting that an analysis
of the ingestion of deposited particles through soils,
crops, etc., be included in a detailed risk assessment.
A number of risk assessments carried out in Califor-
nia have shown that these pathways can be significant
routes of exposure.
• Health assessment, containing a table of unit risk
values for cancer risk assessment as developed by
EPA or DHS. This section describes procedures for
calculating individual excess lifetime cancer risk and
population excess cancer burden.
Since the DHS does not consider an approach
based upon adjustment of TLVs or other occupational
limits to be acceptable, the review committee deemed
a separate effort was necessary to address adverse non-
cancer health effects. A methodology for this purpose
is currently being developed by the UCLA School of
Public Health in conjunction with the DHS.
Questions regarding the manual should be directed
to Tim Smith, (415) 771-6000.
MISSISSIPPI ANNOUNCES >
PERMIT REVIEW PROGRAI
Relying on its general air pollution control authori-
ty, the State of Mississippi has begun to limit toxic emis-
sions from new sources. The Mississippi Bureau of
Pollution Control requires each new source permit ap-
plicant to specify the proposed emission rate for each
chemical handled or processed. The Bureau uses
dispersion modeling based on the proposed emission
rate to predict the maximum annual average ambient
concentration off the plant property.
For carcinogenic pollutants, the Bureau estimates
individual lifetime cancer risk from the maximum am-
bient concentration modeled. If the risk exceeds 1 in
10,000, the source is asked to evaluate emission reduc-
tion methods and then resubmit the permit application.
If the lifetime cancer risk falls between 1 in 10,000 and
1 in 1,000,000, the Permit Board will consider approval
on a case-by-case basis with cognizance given to the
size of the actual population affected and to public com-
ment. If the risk is less than or equal to 1 in 1,000,000,
the source is recommended to the Permit Board for
\IR TOXICS
M
approval of the permit.
For air toxics not considered to be carcinogenic, the
predicted maximum annual ambient concentration is
compared to 1 percent of the American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists threshold limit value
(TLV). If the modeled ambient air concentration is below
1 percent of the TLV, permit approval is recommended.
If not, the source is asked to resubmit the permit applica-
tion with an improved control proposal and/or refined,
more accurate emission estimates.
In the final permit, a specific limit is included for
each toxic air pollutant. Permits may also include special
conditions for work practices, operation and
maintenance requirements, and upset or malfunction re-
quirements.
For more information about Mississippi's air toxics
permit review process, contact Dwight K. Wylie, Air
Quality Branch, Mississippi Bureau of Pollution Control,
(601) 961-5171.
EMERGENCY PLANNING A
RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT OF 1
TITLE III PROVISIONS OUTLINED
On October 17, 1986, the President signed the
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
JSID COMMUNITY
986 IS SIGNED
(SARA), which included a new Title III entitled the
"Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know
Act of 1986." Title III contains numerous requirements
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for Federal, State, and local governments as well as
private industry in the areas of emergency planning,
community right-to-know, hazardous emissions repor-
ting, emergency notification, and chemical accident
prevention. These requirements build on both EPA's
Chemical Emergency Preparedness Program (CEPP),*
which was initiated in November 1985 to help local com-
munities deal more effectively with possible accidental
releases of acutely toxic chemicals, and on numerous
existing State and local programs aimed at community
right-to-know and preparedness. The key provisions of
Title III are briefly summarized below; more detailed
summaries are also available.
SECTIONS 301 - 303
ADDRESS EMERGENCY PLANNING
An important objective of Title III is to improve local
chemical emergency response capabilities, perhaps the
most basic aspect of which is contingency planning. Ti-
tle III addresses planning on two fronts by: (1) requiring
the establishment of a State and local planning structure
and process, and (2) specifying the minimum contents
of local plans.
The most important requirements of Sections 301
- 303 include:
• EPA must publish a List of Extremely Hazardous
Substances, as well as threshold quantities for those
chemicals, determining which facilities are subject to
planning notification requirements. An interim final list
was published in the Federal Register on November
17, 1986, p. 41570.
• Governors must appoint a State Emergency
Response Commission (ERC).
• ERCs are required to designate local emergency plan-
ning districts.
• Local emergency planning committees are required
to develop comprehensive emergency response
plans.
• Local response plan elements are specified.
• In order to aid in the development of local plans, local
industries must provide the following to local commit-
tees: the name of their emergency coordinator, infor-
mation requested by the committee as a necessary
input in the planning process, and notice of changes
at the facility that have a bearing on emergency
response planning.
• The National Response Team (NRT) must publish
planning-related guidance to aid State and local
governments in their planning efforts.
SECTIONS 311 AND 312 LIST COMMUNITY
RIGHT-TO-KNOW PROVISIONS
An increasing number of States and localities have
enacted community right-to-know laws requiring industry
to make available to the public information about hazar-
dous chemicals manufactured, processed, stored,
transported, or otherwise handled at their facilities.
Title III builds on the momentum behind these ongoing
efforts by establishing a uniform set of minimum right-
to-know reporting requirements applicable nationwide.
Title Ill's reporting requirements center on two specific
forms: (1) the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), and
(2) the Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory
Form (the "Inventory Form").
The key provisions of Section 311 (MSDS) include:
• An owner or operator of a facility required to prepare
an MSDS for any hazardous chemical under the Oc-
cupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHAct)
must submit that form to the appropriate (a) local
emergency planning committee, (b) State ERC, and
(c) local fire department. A revised MSDS must be
submitted upon discovery of significant new hazar-
dous chemical information.
• The local planning committee must make an MSDS
available to any member of the public upon request.
• The Administrator of EPA may establish chemical
quantity thresholds below which this requirement
would not apply.
The key provisions of Section 312 (Inventory Form)
include these:
• An owner or operator of a facility who must prepare
an MSDS under OSHAct must prepare and submit an
emergency and hazardous chemical inventory form
to the same State and local authorities as in Section
311 for any chemical subject to the MSDS re-
quirements of Section 311.
• The information required in this form is divided into
two tiers. Public access to Tier I information is
automatic. ERC's and local committees, however,
must honor requests from facilities that Tier II data
concerning location of chemicals be withheld from the
public.
EMISSIONS REPORTING (SECTION 313)
REQUIREMENTS AUGMENT
EMERGENCY PLANNING
In addition to providing emergency planning and
response officials and the public with information about
the presence, location, and quantity of hazardous
chemicals in their communities, Title III provides a
mechanism, the Toxic Chemical Release Form, for track-
ing releases or emissions of such chemicals into the en-
vironment. The key provisions of Section 313 include:
• An owner or operator of a covered facility must sub-
mit to EPA and designated State officials a Toxic
Chemical Release Form for each toxic chemical
manufactured, processed, or used in excess of
specified threshold quantities.
• The form must be submitted by July 1,1988 and an-
nual updates are required thereafter.
• EPA must establish and maintain the information col-
lected under Section 313 in a computerized national
toxic chemical inventory data base, which must be
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made accessible to the public on a cost-reimbursable
basis.
SECTION 304 COVERS
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION
In contrast to the routine emissions focus of Section
313, Section 304 requires notification in the event of
acute or emergency releases of extremely hazardous
substances (EPA's CEEP list as it may be modified). The
key provisions of Section 304 include:
• An owner or operator is required to provide immediate
notice (by telephone or radio, for example), both to the
appropriate local planning committee and the State
ERC, of certain specified types of releases of extreme-
ly hazardous substances.
• As soon as practicable after a release, the owner or
operator must provide a written follow-up notice con-
cerning the response actions taken and relevant
health effects and medical care information.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS SUMMARIZED
In addition to the major requirements listed above,
other requirements of Title III include: authorization to
provide training programs and grants [Section 305(a)],
a report to Congress on methods for preventing acciden-
tal releases [Section 305(b)], provisions for withholding
trade secret information under the various reporting re-
quirements described above (Section 322), and related
provisions for access to such trade secret information
by health professionals (Section 322).
For additional information on Title III, contact Kent
Berry, EPA, OAQPS, (919) 541-5504 or (FTS) 629-5504.
'See articles in December 1985 Newsletter,
pages 8-9 and 11.
EPA USES "REG IMEG TO C
In September 1986, a negotiating committee of
representatives from the Environmental Protection
Agency, STAPPA/ALAPCO, State and local governments,
the wood heating industry, environmental groups, and
other parties agreed on emission standards for new
residential wood heaters* Work to develop this new
source performance standard (NSPS) began in 1985 in
response to growing concern about woodstoves' con-
tributions to ambient air quality problems. A notice of
results of rulemaking negotiation was published in the
Federal Register on September 30,1986 (51 FR 34672).
Formal proposal of the NSPS will follow in January 1987.
This marks the first time an NSPS has been developed
through regulatory negotiation ("reg neg").
The regulation will limit particulate matter emissions
from both catalytic and noncatalytic wood heaters,
depending upon the type of appliance and the date of
manufacture, as follows:
Phase 1:
Stoves Manufactured Phase II: Stoves
Between July 1, 1986 Manufactured on or
and June 30, 1990 After July 1, 1990
(RAFT WOODSTOVES NSPS
Typical uncontrolled woodstoves emit about 30
grams per hour. The Phase II limits would reduce par-
ticulate emissions by greater than 75 percent over cur-
rent uncontrolled stoves.
Although the standard would limit particulate emis-
sions only, the control technology expected to be used
would also reduce carbon monoxide and polycyclic
organic matter (POM). Residential wood combustion is
estimated to account for approximately 90 percent of
POM emissions from stationary sources. A court settle-
ment on regulations of POM emissions led to EPA put-
ting this NSPS on an expedited schedule.
The regulation would apply to all wood heaters
manufactured or imported on or after July 1,1988, and
sold at retail on or after July 1,1990, with exemptions for
Oregon-certified wood heaters and, under certain con-
ditions, for a limited time, boilers, central furnaces and
wood heaters that are exported. Small manufacturers
(i.e., those who produce fewer than 2,000 woodstoves
per year) would be allowed an additional year to comp-
ly with the regulation.
For additional information, contact Rick Colyer, U.S.
EPA, OAQPS, (919) 541-5578 or (FTS) 629-5578.
Catalytic 5.5 grams/hour 4.1 grams/hour
Noncatalytic 8.5 grams/hour 7.5 grams/hour
*See related articles in May 1985 issue, pp. 3-5;
March 1986, p. 7; June 1986, p. 7; and present issue.
STATE OF MAINE CONDUC
SMOKE ASSESSMENT
By Norman Anderson, Maine Bureau of Health
For several years, pollution from residential wood
burning devices has been a significant air quality con-
TS WOOD
cern in Maine. According to recent estimates, over 30
percent of all Maine households use wood-burning
stoves or central wood-fired heating systems. Many of
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these devices have been installed only during the past
10-15 years, following the oil embargo of 1973, reflecting
the sixfold increase in wood use in the Northeast since
the 1970s.
Wood smoke contains a wide variety of particulate
and gaseous pollutants. Among those of greatest health
interest are carbon monoxide, volatile hydrocarbons,
aldehydes, and polycyclic organic matter. Although tox-
icological information is available for individual
pollutants, few data are available from which to assess
the effects of ambient wood smoke exposures on the
population. Several reasons exist for this lack of data.
First, burn rate can influence both the absolute and
relative quantities of specific pollutants within the wood
smoke mixture. Moreover, the chemical and toxicological
characteristics of wood smoke may be significantly
modified after they are released into the ambient air.
Dispersion and atmospheric chemistry influence the ex-
tent and toxicity of the dose to the affected populations.
These variables can fluctuate over time and from one
community to another. Also, because wood smoke is a
complex chemical mixture, there are significant
analytical problems associated with the adequate
measurement of exposure. Finally, the lack of a chronic
lung disease registry in Maine precludes the use of any
standard morbidity index with which the impacts of wood
smoke and other environmental stresses can be com-
pared.
Available data, though limited, reveal some adverse
health effects associated with exposure to wood smoke.
For example, several compounds present in wood smoke
are irritating to the eyes and upper respiratory system.
In addition, epidemiological studies do indicate an in-
creased incidence of respiratory symptoms in children
living in homes in which wood is burned for heat. More
work should be done to examine the relationship be-
tween acute exposure to wood smoke and the incidence
of respiratory disease or its symptoms. A related concern
pertains to the effects of wood smoke on the developing
respiratory systems of young children. Early damage to
the lung may predispose individuals to chronic
respiratory diseases later in life.
Another concern is raised by laboratory findings
linking carcinogenicity and mutagenicity to several wood
smoke pollutants. Although the potential for wood smoke
to cause cancer in human populations has not been ade-
quately investigated, wood smoke may be presumed, on
the basis of these toxicological studies, to present a
cancer risk to human beings.
The Maine Bureau of Health is conducting a risk
assessment of wood smoke which will examine the mix-
ture as a whole. This approach has been taken because
the toxicity of a mixture may be quite different from the
toxicity of its individual components. The risk assess-
ment appraises the adequacy of the available data, the
health effects associated with exposure to wood smoke,
and recommendations for further studies which could
enhance understanding of wood smoke toxicity.
For additional information, contact Norman Ander-
son, Assistant Toxicologist, Maine Bureau of Health,
(207) 289-5378.
COIMEG, NYSERDA CONDU<
PERFORMANCE FIELD STU
The Coalition of Northeast Governors (CONEG) and
the New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority (NYSERDA) have reached the half-way point
in their two-winter field study comparing high perfor-
mance woodstoves to conventional airtight woodstoves
in Vermont and New York. High-performance stoves in-
clude catalytic stoves, stoves with add-on catalysts, and
high-efficiency stoves with design features such as ex-
tensive baffles, secondary combustion chambers,
secondary draft controls, insulated fireboxes, or other
features which increase stove efficiency to more than 60
percent.
The study, which is co-funded by EPA* has col-
lected results for the 1985-1986 heating season and is
measuring (1) the fuel savings of catalytic stoves, add-
on catalysts and high-efficiency stoves, (2) the creosote
build-up in stovepipe chimneys of both conventional air-
tight and high performance stoves, (3) the durability of
catalytic stoves via laboratory tests of combustors' com-
bustion efficiency after one season, and after two
seasons, (4) the total suspended particulate (TSP)
CT WOODSTOVE
DY
emissions of catalytic high-efficiency and conventional
airtight stoves over two heating seasons, and (5) the
POM emissions in a selected subsample of the stoves
tested for TSP emissions. Two additional study objec-
tives are to report these findings for comparison with
measurements taken of control woodstoves without
catalytic combustors and with high-efficiency design
characteristics and to discover possible stove or catalyst
design or operator characteristics which may improve
catalytic stove performance.
More than 60 volunteer households-half in
Washington City, Vermont, and half in the Warrensburn,
New York, area-were selected to participate in the study.
Prior to the study's inception, participant households
had their chimneys cleaned (and will receive cleanings
twice during each heating season) and had their wood
pile contents measured for moisture content (likewise,
interim measurements of the wood piles will be con-
ducted). Each householder also agreed to keep a daily
log reflecting "unusual events" which might affect fuel
usage.
8
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Besides securing household participants for the
study, CONEG and NYSERDA also solicited manufac-
turer interest in supporting the study through donating
stoves. Twelve stove models representative of stove
designs and emission performance nationwide were
chosen.
Participating households have been grouped in
three categories: (1) those who have catalytic, high-
efficiency stoves, or conventional stoves instrumented
for two years to measure accurately fuel usage, TSP
emissions and temperatures indoors, outdoors, and in
the stack, (2) those who switch from catalytic or high-
efficiency stoves to conventional stoves from the
first heating season to the second or vice versa, and (3)
those who have used catalytic stoves for at least a year
before the 1985-1986 heating season.
Two pieces of specialized equipment are being used
for this project. One is a computerized data acquisition
system/controller, used for recording temperature, wood
weight, coal bed status, and flue gas oxygen concentra-
tion data. This unit, dubbed the Data LOG'r™, also
controls the sampling intervals of the emission sampling
system. The Automated Woodstove Emissions Sampler
(AWES) is controlled by the Data LOG'r. At
preprogrammed times, the AWES pulls flue gas through
a heated filter and an XAD-2 sorbent resin cartridge to
obtain a sample. The AWES is designed to operate unat-
tended for one week, resulting in an integrated sample
for that period.
Among the preliminary test results available so far
were these:
• Wood loading in stove appears to be lighter than
previously thought. Values of 1.9 to 3.8 pounds per
cubic foot appear to be typical.
• Creosote accumulation is highly variable and appears
to be a function of stove operation. In general, the
catalytic and low emission noncatalytic stoves pro-
duced about 25 percent less creosote than the con-
ventional stoves.
• Catalyst operating temperatures indicate that some
combustors may not be operating for a significant frac-
tion of stove operating time. The data are being
analyzed further (along with the new data being taken
during the 1986-1987 heating season) to determine
whether this is caused by operator error (i .e., catalyst
damper bypass inadvertently left open), by stove
design, by actual degradation of the catalyst, or some
combination of these and/or other factors.
• Six catalysts have experienced failures. All six were
early technology design and have been replaced for
the 1986-1987 heating season with advanced
technology materials.
A final report is scheduled for publication in August
1987. For further information, contact EPA Project Officer
Bob McCrillis at the Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory (AEERL), Research Triangle Park,
North Carolina, (919) 541-2733 or (FTS) 629-2733.
*See related story in this issue on EPA's use of the
"reg neg" procedure in preparing the woodstoves
NSPS. EPA's decision to develop this NSPS coincides
with CONEG and NYSERDA's decision to conduct the
study.
INTEGRATED AIR CANCER
WOODSTOVE EMISSION Ml
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and
Research Triangle Institute have conducted emission
measurement tests on an ordinary woodstove under the
aegis of the Agency's Integrated Air Cancer Project
(IACP) * This article summarizes the findings and, more
specifically, presents data relating the mutagenic activity
of the emissions to user variables (i.e., wood species,
wood moisture content, burn rate, and wood load).
The stove used for these experiments was pur-
chased from a major mail-order catalog company. Fuel
consisted of local (central North Carolina) oak and south-
ern yellow pine. Tests were run at two wood moisture
levels by burning seasoned and green split cord wood.
Two burn rate levels were tested: 1.9 kg/hr and 6.5 kg/hr.
The two initial wood load levels investigated were 14 kg
and 8 kg, which correspond to a full stove and a half-full
condition, respectively. Emission samples were collected
through a port in the stack using the EPA Modified
Method 5 sampling train. Sample analyses included total
PROJECT REPORTS
EASUREMENTS
mass, 21 selected polynuclear organic matter (POMs),
mutagenic activity (Ames plate bioassay), and elemen-
tal composition. Carbon monoxide and non-methane
light hydrocarbon emissions were also measured.
One way of looking at the results is to group them
according to each of the four variables studied.
1. Wood Species - Results showed that the sum of the
21 POMs correlated weakly with species (pine higher
than oak). Mutagenic activity correlated close to the
90 percent confidence interval with species (pine
emissions more mutagenic) when the activity was ex-
pressed in terms of revertants per kg of wood burned.
The correlation was much stronger (>95 percent)
when the activity was expressed in revertants per
hour. Emission of potassium correlated very strong-
ly with species (oak higher than pine). Potassium is
a commonly used tracer for wood smoke in ambient
air samples. Total organic emissions and emission of
9
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carbon monoxide did not show any correlation with
species.
2. Wood moisture content - The sum of the 21 POMs
showed a fairly strong correlation with wood moisture
(green higher than seasoned). No other correlations
with moisture were demonstrated.
3. Burn rate - This variable appears to have a significant
effect on several aspects of woodstove emissions. For
example, emission of carbon monoxide, non-
methane light hydrocarbons, and the sum of 21
POMs all correlated positively (higher at the high burn
rate). Mutagenic activity also correlated positively
with burn rate both when the activity was expressed
in terms of revertants per hour and in terms of rever-
tants per kg of wood burned.
4. Wood load - Carbon monoxide and non-methane light
hydrocarbons showed a positive correlation with
wood load (higher at the high load). The sum of 21
POM's appeared to show a slight positive correlation.
None of the other emission characteristics in-
vestigated showed any correlation with wood load.
The IACP will conduct a major field study of
woodstoves in Boise, Idaho, during the 1986-1987
heating season. As part of this effort, additional
laboratory studies similar to those described above are
planned. These lab studies will expand the Agency's
understanding of the effects specific user actions have
on woodstove emissions to include other appliance
types, wood species, and burn cycles typical of the Boise
study area. This will improve understanding of the con-
tribution residential wood burning makes to the at-
mospheric burden and will aid in developing more ac-
curate predictive models. It may also point out to
woodstove users some cleaner stove operating prac-
tices. For further information, contact Robert McCrillis,
EPA, Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory,
(919) 541-2733 or (FTS) 624-2733.
*See related Newsletter articles, February 1985,
May 1985, March 1986, and June 1986.
OAQPS CALLS FOR STATE/I
PARTICIPATION IN AIR TO]
EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
(OAQPS) is soliciting State and local agency participa-
tion in a screening study to monitor ambient levels of tox-
ic air pollutants in 30 cities in the United States. Section
105 grant funds are available in FY87 for participation in
this study. Given sufficient response, OAQPS will
manage a program to collect (1) canister samples for
analysis of selected hydrocarbons and halogenated
organics, (2) cartridge samples for analysis of for-
maldehyde and certain other aldehydes, and (3) hi-vol
filter samples for analysis of benzo(a)pyrene and 14
LOCAL AGENCY
KICS SAMPLING PROGRAM
metals, including cadmium, chromium, arsenic, and
lead. All samples will be shipped to EPA's laboratory in
Research Triangle Park for analysis. This monitoring pro-
gram is scheduled to start in June 1987 and is being
coordinated with the ongoing Non-Methane Organic
Chemicals (NMOC) canister program also being man-
aged by OAQPS. A commitment is needed by January
31,1987, to ensure participation in the 1987 program. For
further information, contact Hal Richter, EPA, OAQPS,
Air Management Technology Branch, (919) 541-5522 or
(FTS) 629-5522.
OAQPS PUBLISHES TOXIC A
PROCEDURES FOR COMPILING AIR TOXICS
EMISSION INVENTORIES NOW AVAILABLE IN
NEW REPORT
The EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Stan-
dards (OAQPS) has published a report entitled "Com-
piling Air Toxics Emission Inventories" that is designed
to offer assistance to those State and local agencies get-
ting started in compiling inventories of air toxics emis-
sions. This report has two major components. The main
body discusses those issues and concepts that should
be taken into account in planning inventory develop-
ment.
The appendices, the second major component of
this report, complement the general discussion. They
present information needed to implement many of these
screening tools detailed in the report body, e.g., source
IR EMISSIONS DOCUMENTS
category/pollutant cross indexes, emission factors, and
apportioning factors.
Single copies of this report (EPA-450/4-86-010) are
available by writing the EPA library at Mail Drop 35,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, or by call-
ing (919) 541-2777 or (FTS) 629-2777. The document (PB
86-238086) is also available for a fee through the Na-
tional Technical Information Service (NTIS) by calling
(703) 487-4650.
EMISSION FACTOR REPORTS FOR ETHYLENE
OXIDE AND CHLOROBENZENES CONTINUE
OAQPS PUBLICATION SERIES
The EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Stan-
dards (OAQPS) has published two more emission fac-
tor reports in its series entitled "Locating and Estimating
10
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Air Emissions from Sources of (Substance)." These two
new reports deal with ethylene oxide and
chlorobenzenes. The respective report numbers are
EPA-450/4-84-007I and EPA-450/4-84-007m.
The purpose of these documents is to assist air
pollution control agencies and others who are interested
in locating potential emitters of these substances to
make preliminary estimates of their emissions. While
supplies last, single copies may be obtained from the
EPA library at the address and telephone number given
above. These reports are available through the National
Technical Information Service. The NTIS order number
for the report on ethylene oxide emissions is PB
87-113973. No NTIS order number has been assigned to
the report on chlorobenzene emissions yet.
REPORT ON TSDF SOIL SAI
EPA's Emission Standards and Engineering Divi-
sion (ESED) has recently completed a report entitled
"Field Sampling and Analysis Protocol for Collecting
and Characterizing Soil Samples from TSDFs"
(EPA-450/3-86-014, October 1986).
This document is a sampling and analysis protocol
to be used in designing programs to collect and
characterize soil samples (surface samples) from pro-
cesses within hazardous waste treatment, storage and
disposal facilities (TSDFs).
Soil characterization data, along with
meteorological data and process operation data, are
used in emission factor equations and dispersion
models to assess the impact of contaminated fugitive
particulate emissions from TSDFs on ambient air. The
MPLING NOW AVAILABLE
sampling procedures collect representative soil samples
from the TSDF processes. The analytical procedures are
designed to determine physical characterization (weight-
loss-on-drying, silt content, and PM-20 content) and
chemical characterization (metals, cyanide, semivolatile
organics, oil and grease, PCBs, and pesticides). Pro-
cedures are described for analysis of separate soil frac-
tions (silt, and if desired, PM-20) to determine the degree
of contamination in that size fraction of the species of in-
terest.
For more information, or to obtain copies of this
report, contact Gene Riley, U.S. EPA, Emission Stan-
dards and Engineering Division, Emission Measurement
Branch (MD-13), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
27711, (919) 541-5543 or (FTS) 629-5543.
CHEMICAL ACCIDENT PRE
SYMPOSIUM TO BE HELD
The American Institute of Chemical Engineers'
Center for Chemical Process Safety, the Environmental
Protection Agency, and the World Bank are co-
sponsoring an International Symposium on Preventing
Chemical Accidents, to be held February 3-5 at the Omni
Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The keynote
speaker will be EPA Administrator Lee M. Thomas. Sym-
VENTION
posium sessions will include: hazard identification,
human factors, reactive chemical hazards, process con-
siderations, storage and transfer, and post release
mitigation.
For additional information, contact Dr. John L.
Woodward, CCPS/AIChE, 345 East 47th Street, New
York, New York 10017, (212) 705-7798.
INFORMATION NEEDED
FLORIDA INTERESTED IN
AMBIENT MONITORING
The Bureau of Air Quality Management of the
Florida Department of Environmental Regulation is in-
terested in State and local agency experience with am-
bient monitoring for air toxics. Specifically, the staff
would like information on equipment that would be
needed for modifying their existing criteria pollutant am-
bient monitoring network and the issues involved in con-
ducting special short-term monitoring studies at a single
location. If your agency has had experience in these
areas, please call Ligia Mora-Applegate, (904) 488-1344.
OAQPS SEEKING NONCANCER
HEALTH EFFECTS WORK
EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
is looking for documented information on adverse non-
cancer health effects (acute and chronic) resulting from
exposure to noncriteria air pollutants in the ambient
air associated with nonaccidental routine releases.
Any State or local agencies that have studied a specific
case(s) or are currently assessing a problem(s) in their
area, please contact lla Cote or Beth Hassett, (919)
541-5519 or (FTS) 629-5519.
11
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NEED HELP?
If your agency needs help in finding information on
a specific air toxics question, you can announce that
need in the National Air Toxics Information Clearing-
house Newsletter. Your colleagues from other State or
local agencies who have such information will be able
to contact you with assistance. In addition, the Clearing-
house staff would like to receive your ideas for future
Newsletter articles. To list an information need in the next
issues or to submit an article or a suggestion for a future
Newsletter article, please call Alice Pelland, Radian
Corporation, (919) 541-9100.
The National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse Newsletter is published by the National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse to assist
State and local air agencies making decisions on noncriteria air pollutant emissions. The Clearinghouse is being implemented by the U.S. En-
vironmental Protection Agency, Strategies and Air Standards Division, Pollutant Assessment Branch as part of a joint effort with the State and
Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators (STAPPA) and the Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials (ALAPCO). The National
Air Toxics Information Newsletter is prepared by Radian Corporation under EPA, Contract Number 68-02-4330, Work Assignment 14. The EPA
Project Officer is Beth Hassett, EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, telephone: (919)
541-5519. The Radian Project Director is Alice Pelland, P.O. Box 13000, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, (919) 541-9100.
The Newsletter is prepared primarily for State and local air pollution control agencies and is distributed free of charge. Those wishing to
report address changes may do so by contacting Nancy Riley, EPA OAQPS (919) 541-5519. Please contact either the Project Director or the Pro-
ject Officer with any comments you might have pertaining to this newsletter or with suggestions for future newsletters. Entries in the newsletter
are written by Radian Corporation or EPA staff unless otherwise indicated.
The views expressed in the National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse Newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of
the Environmental Protection Agency. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation
for use by EPA.
Beth Hassett
Pollutant Assessment Branch
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
MD-12
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
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