NATICH
NEWSLETTER
£ERA 453N91002
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
B AILAI?©®
State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators
Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials
Produced by the National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse March 1991
Clean Air Act Activities:
Draft Source Category List Developed
One of the early activities man-
dated by the Title III provisions of
the Clean Air Act (CAA) Amend-
ments is the listing of source cate-
gories and subcategories of major
and area sources emitting one or
more listed hazardous air pollu-
tants (HAPs). The development of
this list is critical to the air toxics
program in that it identifies the
source categories and subcate-
gories that will be regulated with
technology-based standards.
Section 112(c) directs the EPA
to develop and publish this list
within 12 months of the date of
enactment of the CAA Amend-
ments. Within 24 months of enact-
ment, the Amendments also re-
quire that EPA publish a schedule
by which categories included on
this list will be regulated. To de-
velop this list, EPA used several
readily available data bases which
contain information on the sources
of air pollution and industrial
activity in the United States.
One of the major sources of
these data was the National Emis-
sions Data System (NEDS). [NEDS
has now been replaced by the Fa-
cility Subsystem of the Aerometric
Information Retrieval System
(AFS)]. This data base provided in-
formation on VOC releases and
PM emissions from sources that
emit more than 100 tons per year.
Speciation profiles that estimate
(continued page 2)
State/Local Agency Spotlight: Alaska
Sets Ammonia Air Quality Standard
by Bill Walker, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
The Alaska Department of En-
vironmental Conservation (ADEC)
has adopted an ambient air quality
standard for ammonia. The regula-
tion specifies that the ambient con-
centration not exceed an 8-hour
average of 3.1 ppm ammonia more
than once per year. The Alaska
Department of Law is to review
the standard before it is signed by
the Lieutenant Governor and
becomes effective.
An ammonia standard was
first proposed in 1988 because of
concerns about the impact of emis-
sions from the Unocal Chemical
Division's ammonia and urea plant
in Nikiski. The facility reported
APR 11991
ammonia emissions of 40 to 50
tons per day, and their 1987 and
1988 Toxic Release Inventory sub-
mittals showed ammonia emissions
to be higher than the total air toxic
emissions from any county in
Region X. (Unocal has since imple-
mented process changes to reduce
emissions and has also revised
their estimation methods. These
changes have resulted in lower
emission estimates. Unocal now
reports routine releases of 16 tons
per day.) Other considerations in
ADEC's decision to develop a stan-
dard were a tree kill near the
facility and citizen complaints.
(continued on page 2)
In This Issue...
Clearinghouse Update 3
Working Group Improves
Consistency Among Florida
Programs 4
AEERL Evaluates Indoor Air
Pollution Sources 4
Maryland Assesses Progress
on Air Tbxics Reductions 5
Air RISC Encourages State
and Local Calls 6
California Revises Air Tbxics
Source Tfest Methods 7
Equipment Leaks Regulatory
Negotiation Completed 8
EPA Sets Municipal Waste
Combustor Standards 8
ORD Introduces A New
Bulletin System 10

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(continued)
the chemical species composition
of these emissions were applied to
derive air toxics emission esti-
mates. Additional data bases
developed by EPA and available
literature were used to identify
facilities in the synthetic organic
chemical manufacturing and use
industries. The Toxic Release In-
ventory collected under SARA
Section 313 has also been used to
/liasKa (continued)
The original 1988 proposed
standard of 0.5 ppm averaged over
8 hours was chosen from the range
of standards and guidelines that
other States had developed for am-
monia. These were based on oc-
cupational exposure limits and
safety factors. A short-term stan-
dard of 20 ppm averaged over 15
minutes was also proposed based
on the complaint and irritation
threshold reported in three studies.
Unocal Chemical challenged
the proposed regulation and joined
with The Fertilizer Institute to
conduct a literature study on the
health effects of ammonia. In 1989
ADEC also began a review of
available literature on the effects
of ammonia on humans, animals,
and plants. They sought technical
assistance from Air RISC* and
worked closely with EPA's En-
vironmental Criteria and Assess-
ment Offices (ECAO) in Cincinnati,
Ohio, and Research Triangle Park,
North Carolina.
Key issues in setting the stan-
dard included identifying a thresh-
old study for adverse effects of am-
monia, defining a No Observed
Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL)
from that study, and selecting ap-
propriate uncertainty or adjust-
ment factors. These were the ma-
jor issues addressed at the public
hearings and a public workshop,
and in communications with both
Unocal and ECAO. Staff at ECAO
provided considerable technical
help in identifying and interpreting
identify air toxic sources.
None of the data bases used to
develop the draft list provide com-
plete source specific information
about all industries that emit air
toxics. For this reason, the current
draft of the source category list
does not distinguish between ma-
jor and area source categories, nor
does it distinguish between source
categories and subcategories. These
distinctions are expected at a later
date, either in the regulatory deve-
lopment process or in response to
information received from the
public. EPA will publish a prelimi-
nary draft of this list of approxi-
mately 760 categories in the Fed-
eral Register in May 1991. After
comments are incorporated, the
final list will appear in the Federal
Register in November 1991.
available information on ammonia.
In developing this standard,
ADEC considered adverse health
effects including irritation, meta-
bolic effects, lung function, and
resistance to bacterial and viral
respiratory diseases. The final
standard is based on a human
study of workers in a soda ash
plant which showed no effect on
lung function from an average ex-
posure of 9.2 ppm ammonia. This
study is supported by others that
showed adverse effects at higher
concentrations - two studies on
rats showed higher susceptibility
to respiratory disease and a human
study reported an urge to cough.
An uncertainty factor of three was
used to account for sensitive
members of the population and
possible adverse effects not con-
sidered by the threshold study.
The average sample collection
period for determining ammonia
exposure was 8.4 hours; therefore,
an 8-hour averaging period was
chosen for the standard.
Environmental and nuisance
effects were not considered in the
current standard. However, in light
of the tree kill near the facility,
ADEC continues to search for in-
formation to support setting a
standard based on protecting
vegetation. A recent study by
ADEC on this concluded that
damage and mortality to trees
within one kilometer of the in-
dustrial complex in North Kenai
has been caused by deposition of
nitrogen compounds. The study
also concluded that nitrogen com-
pound damage to understory
vegetation and arboreal lichens
may extend several kilometers, and
that the forest is likely to suffer
heavy defoliation and mortality
within the next 5 to 10 years.
The ammonia standard will
apply statewide. Other facilities in
Alaska affected by the regulation
include fish processing plants that
use ammonia in their refrigeration
systems and sewage treatment
plants. Ammonia may also be
released from cyanide destruction
processes used in the mining in-
dustry. Another source of am-
monia that may become common is
the unreacted ammonia used in
selective catalytic reduction for
NOx control.
For ammonia emissions that
exceed the ambient standard, the
regulation requires the ADEC to
develop an air quality control plan.
The Department can elect to use
control strategies that include set-
ting permit conditions and
establishing emission standards.
For further information, con-
tact Bill Walker, Alaska Depart-
ment of Environmental Conserva-
tion, P.O. Box O, Juneau, Alaska
99811-1800 or call (907) 465-2666.
*See related articles in the July
1988 and November 1988
Newsletter issues.
.2

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Clearinghouse Update
NATICH Undergoing Reevaluation
Since December 1990, EPA
has been reevaluating NATICH to
determine the kinds of information
that the Clearinghouse should pro-
vide. With the passage of the new
Clean Air Act (CAA) Amend-
ments, State and local air pollution
control agencies, in particular, may
need information that is currently
unavailable through NATICH pub-
lications and the data base. For
this reason, the Clearinghouse
staff plans to update this informa-
tion, starting with the data base.
In December, each Regional
Air Toxics Coordinator sent a
questionnaire to State and local
agencies in their region. The ques-
tions generally asked:
-	What additional information
would you like to access through
NATICH?
-	What information in NATICH is
not useful?
-	What suggestions do you have
for improving NATICH?
-	Would you like to have a two-
way message board on NATICH
that would display specific types
of information?
-	Would you like to have new
EPA guidance and other infor-
mation related to the Clean Air
Act Amendments available
through the Clearinghouse?
Responses to the questions
were received from 23 State agen-
cies, 2 local agencies, and 1 EPA
Regional Office. Overall, these
NATICH users were in favor of
accessing several kinds of data
through NATICH including: (1) the
Integrated Risk Information Sys-
tem (IRIS) data, (2) CAA Amend-
ments permitting information, and
(3) EPA guidance and other infor-
mation related to the CAA Amend-
ments. Many NATICH users
agreed that a two-way message
board would be a useful addition to
NATICH. Those responding to the
questionnaire indicated that a
direct-dial system, such as a bulletin
board system, should be considered
as a possible improvement to the
current system, with which many
users have log-on problems. The
NATICH staff is analyzing the cost
and feasibility of several of the
suggested changes.
If you have suggestions for im-
proving NATICH, please contact
Amy Vasu at (919) 541-0850 or
(FTS) 629-0850.
NATICH Reports Now Available
The 1990 Clearinghouse
reports have recently been pub-
lished and distributed. The reports
include updates to the Biblio-
graphy, the Index to the Biblio-
graphies, the Ongoing Research and
Regulatory Development Projects
report, and the NATICH Data
Base Report on State, Local and
EPA Air Toxics Activities.
These documents are distri-
buted free of charge to governmen-
tal and nonprofit organizations.
The private sector may obtain
copies from Radian Corporation by
sending a written request and ad-
vance payment to Barbara Maxey,
Radian Corporation, Post Office
Box 201088, Austin, Texas 78720-
1088. Document prices are listed
below. The reports are also avail-
able through the National Techni-
cal Information Service at (703)
487-4650; prices were unavailable
at the time of Newsletter
production.
Recent National Air Toxics
Information Clearinghouse Reports
Report Title	Price
Ongoing Research and Regulatory Development	$21.00
Projects (EPA-450/3-90-013, July 1990)
Bibliography of Selected Reports and Federal	$ 17.65
Register Notices Related to Air Tbxics -
Volume 3: Citations -1989 (EPA-450/3-90-014,
July 1990)
Bibliography of Selected Reports and Federal	$42.75
Register Notices Related to Air Tbxics - Index
1989 (EPA-450/3-90-014a, July 1990)
NATICH Data Base Report on State, Local and $55.50
EPA Air Tbxics Activities (EPA-450/3-90-012,
July 1990)
3

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Working Group Improves Consistency
Among Florida Programs
by Eric Fehrmann, Air Toxics Specialist, Pinellas County Air Quality Division, Florida
The Florida Air Toxics Work-
ing Group (FLATWG) was formed
in November 1987 in response to
private sector concern about a lack
of consistency among the State's
permit programs. In particular, in-
dustry sought standard review pro-
cedures and control strategies. The
FLATWG's goal is to develop a
Statewide strategy for air toxic
emissions and source review.
The working group consists of
representatives from the eight
local air programs, the six State
districts, and the State Air Toxics
Coordinator. In addition, "visiting
members" from the public and
private sectors are invited to special
seminars. The FLATWG provides
a forum for discussing questions
the members involved in major
projects may have, such as those
who are developing an emissions
inventory. Members learn from the
experiences of others which helps
the project progress more quickly
and smoothly. The outcome is a
high degree of consistency among
the State's program elements. The
working group meets quarterly
and publishes a newsletter sum-
marizing each meeting.
AEERL Evaluates
Indoor air pollution caused by
household products and materials
can increase an individual's ex-
posure to a variety of contami-
nants. EPA's Office of Research
and Development is conducting
research on several aspects of the
indoor air problem, including
developing methods for evaluating
sources of indoor air pollution *
Evaluation of indoor air pollu-
tion problems requires an under-
standing of the relationship be-
tween sources, air movement, and
outdoor air exchange. The EPA's
The development of a State-
wide library was the first step in
improving information exchange.
Initially, a master list of references
that are available at each agency
was developed and distributed to
each member annually. This has
evolved to having the list distri-
buted on diskette where it is more
easily searched and updated. A
member may select a publication
and order it by telephone.
A larger project has been the
drafting of the Air Toxics Source
Review Strategy. At the November
1990 meeting, the group discussed
final comments from permitting
engineers. Also discussed was the
use of this strategy as Florida's Air
Toxics Permitting legislation.
To assist in the new source
review procedure, FLATWG has
developed a "no threat level list
that contains over 750 chemicals.
"No threat level" is defined as the
estimated ambient air concentra-
tion that, for a specified time
period, is unlikely to cause any
adverse human health effects. The
basis for the list includes ACGIH
TLVs, OSHA Permissible Expo-
sure Limits, SARA Title III Sec-
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory (AEERL) in
Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina, is investigating these
relationships through a three-
phase program approach: (1) en-
vironmental chambers are used to
provide source emission factors for
specific indoor pollutants; (2) an
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) model
has been developed to calculate in-
door pollutant concentrations and
is applied to chamber emissions
data and the air exchange and air
movement indoors; and (3) an IAQ
tion 313 chemicals, and carcino-
gens listed by the National Tox-
icology Program and the Interna-
tional Agency for Research on
Cancer. The working group has
also prepared a LOTUS spread-
sheet that calculates the Accep-
table Ambient Concentrations
used in permitting from the list.
The FLATWG's plans include
finalizing the Air Toxics Source
Review Strategy and considering
its use in drafting legislation,
maintaining the "no threat level"
list, maintaining current informa-
tion on control technologies and
source/ambient measurement, and
providing training on computer
models for source emissions. In ad-
dition, FLATWG wants to stay
familiar with other State and local
program activities, both in air pro-
grams and for other media, and to
assist in developing a Statewide air
toxic emissions inventory.
For more information, contact
Eric Fehrmann, Pinellas County
Air Quality Division, 315 Court
Street, Clearwater, Florida 34616
or call (813) 530-6522.
Sources
test house is used to conduct ex-
periments to evaluate the model
results.
AEERL has evaluated several
sources of indoor air pollution by
this approach, including solid moth
repellents producing paradichloro-
benzene; freshly dry cleaned
clothing as a source of perchloro-
ethylene; and wood finishing pro-
ducts such as wood stain, poly-
urethane finish, and wood floor
wax as a source of VOCs.
AEERL believes that the
(continued on page 5)
Indoor Air Pollution
4

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(continued)
three-phase approach employing
environmental chambers, IAQ
models, and test house experi-
ments is effective in linking
sources of indoor pollutants to
measured concentrations. The
emission factors developed in test
chambers can then be used to
evaluate full-scale indoor environ-
ments. Research continues at
AEERL to validate the approach
for other sources of indoor air
pollution.
For additional information,
contact Bruce A. Tichenor, Indoor
Air Branch, AEERL, U.S. EPA,
Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina 27711 or call (919)
541-2991.
*See related articles in the March
1989 and January 1991
Newsletters.
Maryland Assesses Progress on Air Toxics Reductions
by Karen Gardner and Tad Aburn, Maryland Air Management Administration
On May 26, 1988, the Mary-
land Department of the Environ-
ment (MDE) proposed regulations
to control emissions of toxic air
pollutants (TAPs) (see inset). The
regulations were developed co-
operatively with the Maryland en-
vironmental, industrial, and
academic communities, and
become effective in September
1988 * The purpose of Maryland's
Air Toxics Regulations is to protect
public health from adverse effects
of TAPs. The regulations address
substances that were not previous-
ly regulated by Federal or State
ambient air quality standards.
Maryland's overall approach in
implementing the regulations re-
quires industries to adopt a more
active role in determining appro-
priate controls and environmental
impacts. The program also depends
heavily on EPA's technical assis-
tance centers (CTC, Air RISC,
EMTIC, etc.). Almost every pollu-
tion control plan developed by
companies to comply with Mary-
land's regulations has been in
some way strengthened by support
from EPA's technical assistance
centers.
Highest Priority Sources Sign
Consent Orders
At present, the regulations re-
quire emission controls that will
achieve approximately an 80 per-
cent statewide reduction in car-
cinogens and highly toxic noncar-
cinogens from the industrial/
manufacturing sector. Over six
million pounds emitted in 1988
will be reduced to approximately
one million pounds annually.
The MDE has signed Consent
Orders with 10 of the highest
priority sources in the State. These
Consent Orders alone will result in
statewide reductions in industrial
emissions of chloroform (400 TPY)
by 93 percent, ammonia (700 TPY)
by 90 percent, and benzene (90
TPY) by 89 percent. Many of the
controls required by the Consent
Orders are now in place; others
will, in most cases, be in place in
less than 2 years.
The regulations have had the
most success in reducing emissions
from sources located in the heavily
(continued on page 6)
Maryland's Air Toxics
Regulations Summarized
Maryland developed air toxics regulations to regulate releases of
toxic substances that had not been addressed by national or State am-
bient air quality standards. These regulations include both carcino-
genic and noncarcinogenic toxic pollutants. In general, the require-
ments apply to any source that is required to have an air quality per-
mit and that discharges a toxic air pollutant (TAP). Approximately
450 existing sources are covered by the regulations, with another 250
new sources added each year.
Existing sources must quantify emissions and show that existing
or proposed controls are sufficient to protect public health. Existing
sources must demonstrate compliance for over 600 specifically listed
TAPs by deadlines specified in the regulations. The compliance dead-
line for carcinogens and other highly toxic emissions was July 1,1990,
and, for the remaining listed pollutants, the deadline is January 1,
1992.
The regulations require new sources to minimize emissions using
best available control technology for toxics (T-BACT), quantify the
emissions after controls, and show that these emissions do not en-
danger public health, lb demonstrate this, sources must follow a
three-tiered risk assessment process established in the regulations.
These demonstrations must be completed for all TAPs, as well as any
other pollutant that meets the definition of "health hazard" as
established in Maryland's Worker Right-to-Know law, before a new
source can begin operating.
5

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Maryland (continued)
industrialized area of South Balti-
more. Six of the priority Consent
Orders have been signed with
South Baltimore firms. South
Baltimore emissions of hydrogen
chloride and benzene will be
reduced by 88 percent and 84 per-
cent, respectively. At a recent
press conference held by the
Maryland Chemical Industry
Council, 10 South Baltimore firms
discussed the 68 percent reduction
in total toxic emissions that they
have achieved and how Maryland's
air toxics program will help them
operate in the "green" industrial
environment of the 90's.
Emissions of other noncar-
cinogens are subject to regulation
on January 1, 1992. Additional
emission reductions of these
pollutants (which constitute over
70 percent of total industrial toxic
emissions) are projected to exceed
the more than 80 percent reduc-
tion level to be achieved with the
July 1, 1990 pollutants.
Maryland's Program
Complements Title III
Title III of the amended Clean
Air Act requires major sources of
air toxics to install MACT in 2 to
10 years, but delays consideration
of residual risk for 11 to 18
years.** Maryland's experience in-
dicates that the public will demand
to know what the risks from cer-
tain sources are, especially for ma-
jor new sources, ahead of the
schedule established in Title III.
This, combined with the prob-
ability that Federal risk standards
will not evaluate the risk from in-
dividual sources to the extent that
many State programs like Mary-
land's do, underlines the impor-
tance of State air toxics programs.
These programs in turn see the
continued Federal support as
essential to their programs.
The earlier effective date of
Maryland's air toxics regulations
has prepared industry to meet the
requirements of the Clean Air Act
Amendments. Many major sources
in Maryland that are installing
controls are likely to be considered
by EPA in establishing MACT
standards for the rest of the coun-
try. An additional advantage for
Maryland industry is that the
State-required controls will count
toward the 90 percent and 95 per-
cent emission reductions needed
for compliance deadline extensions.
For further information on
Maryland's program, contact Tad
Aburn, Division Chief, Maryland
Air Toxics Control Division, 2500
Broening Highway, Baltimore,
Maryland 21224 or call (301)
631-3230.
"See related Newsletter articles in
the September 1987 and January
1989 Newsletters.
* *See the Special Edition of the
Newsletter inserted in this
Newsletter.
Air RISC Encourages State and Local Calls
Air RISC Seeks New Projects
The Air Risk Information Sup-
port Center (Air RISC) provides
technical assistance to EPA Re-
gional Offices, State, and local air
pollution control agencies on ques-
tions relating to health, exposure,
and risk assessment. Since its in-
ception in February 1988, Air
RISC has received approximately
1600 requests, over 600 in fiscal
year 1990 alone. Requestors are
often interested in identifying EPA
staff with expertise on a variety of
topics or accessing resources such
as data bases or the libraries.
When questions require more in-
depth evaluation and/or retrieval of
information, Air RISC initiates
specific technical assistance proj-
ects using EPA staff or contractor
assistance. Air RISC also initiates
technical guidance projects where
similar questions of broad national
interest have been received and an
EPA guidance document, workshop,
or citizen's guide is warranted.
The Air RISC is seeking ideas
for technical assistance and gui-
dance projects and believes it can
provide valuable services to the
State and local air pollution control
agencies responding to the man-
dates of the new Clean Air Act.
Air RISC offers a wide range of
services that include but are not
limited to technical reviews of site-
specific risk assessments, litera-
ture searches on the health effects
and toxicology of pollutants, and
advice on exposure assessment
techniques. Call the Air RISC
Hotline at (919) 541-0888 or (FTS)
541-0888 with your questions,
comments, or suggestions. This
assistance is free of charge to State
and local air pollution control
agencies.
New Risk Communication
Publications Distributed
Air RISC announces the avail-
ability of new public education and
risk communication materials.
These are the three citizens'
guides, "Evaluating Exposures to
Toxic Air Pollutants" and "Risk
Assessment for Toxic Air Pollu-
tants," the one-page "Air Pollution
and Health Risks," and the risk
communication manual, "Air Pollu-
tion and the Public: A Risk Com-
munication Guide for State and
Local Agencies." The citizens'
guide on exposure assessment
briefly explains what toxic air
pollutants are, in layman's terms.
It describes the four-step exposure
assessment process: identify
pollutants released, estimate their
releases at the source, estimate
(continued on page 7)
6

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(continued)
their ambient concentrations, and
estimate the number of people ex-
posed. Similarly, the citizens'
guide on risk assessment briefly
explains health risks and describes
the four-step risk assessment pro-
cess: hazard identification, ex-
posure assessment, dose-response
assessment, and risk characteriza-
tion. The one-page handout gives
an overview of health risks of air
pollution and compares common
health risks in everyday life.
The risk communication
manual is intended for use by State
and local agencies to learn more
about and improve communication
skills when educating the public
about environmental and health
risks. It covers the definition, ob-
jectives and problems in risk com-
munication, planning and conduct-
ing risk communication activities,
and explaining risk information to
the public and media.
Air RISC will be providing a
package of these publication
materials to all directors of State
and local air pollution control
agencies over the next few weeks.
Requests for these publications
should be directed to them.
*See related articles in these recent
Newsletter issues: September 1990,
November 1990, and January 1991
California Revises Air Toxics Source Test Methods
The California Air Resources
Board (ARB) staff has proposed
amendments to stationary source
test methods for determining
gaseous chloride and fluoride
(ARB Method 421), VOCs (ARB
Method 422), and aldehydes (ARB
Method 430). The revised methods
were considered for Board adop-
tion on February 14, 1991. Other
methods currently under develop-
ment include a revision of the
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
(PAH) method, and new methods
for multiple metals and mineral
fibers (crystalline silica and man-
made mineral fibers).
Proposed Revisions Described
Revision of ARB Method 421
will provide for the simultaneous
determination of gaseous fluorides
and chlorides. Gaseous fluoride
and chloride emissions from many
sources can be assumed to consist
principally of hydrofluoric and
hydrochloric acids. Gaseous emis-
sions are drawn isokinetically
through an all glass/Teflon EPA
Method 5-type sampling train. The
sodium bicarbonate buffer impinger
solution is analyzed using ion
chromatography. Lab studies show
that 80 to 85 percent of sampled
fluoride is recovered in the im-
pinger catch. A field test has been
conducted; however, final results
are not yet available.
1,3-Butadiene has been added
to the list of VOCs determined by
ARB Method 422. Since field
studies have shown that as much
as 80 percent of the 1,3-butadiene
can be lost in two hours in gas
samples from combustion sources,
an on-site gas chromatograph meth-
od was developed. A Tedlar bag
sampling technique is also includ-
ed in Method 422 as an acceptable
option for non-combustion sources.
ARB Method 430 has been
rewritten to function as a full
sampling and analysis pre-test
protocol, as well as a standard
operating procedure for sampling
and analysis for formaldehyde and
acetaldehyde. These changes were
prompted by EPA and ARB
studies that suggested that the
precision and accuracy of the
method could be significantly im-
proved. This method specifies a
glass/Teflon sampling train. Collec-
tion of the aldehydes occurs in two
impingers containing an acidic 2,4-
dinitrophenyl-hydrazine (DNPH)
solution. Sample extracts are ana-
lyzed by reverse-phase high perfor-
mance liquid chromatography
(HPLC) using an ultraviolet ab-
sorption detector.
Modifications for Four Methods
Considered
ARB Method 429 for PAH is
scheduled for revision. Method
429 determined 16 PAHs using a
modified Method 5 sampling train
and isotope-dilution gas chromato-
graphy-mass spectrometry (GC-
MS) analysis. Issues currently
under discussion include specific
procedures for high-resolution MS
analysis and problems with high
naphthalene detection limits linked
to naphthalene contamination of
some reagents. A method valida-
tion study is planned for early
1991.
Draft Method 436 is a new
multiple metals method based
largely on the EPA draft multiple
metals method. Metals samples
are collected using a glass/Teflon
Method 5-type train. Nitric acid/
hydrogen peroxide, and acidic per-
manganate solutions are used as
impinger solutions. Extracted
samples are analyzed by atomic
absorption spectroscopy (AAS) or
inductively-coupled plasma spec-
troscopy (ICP). Method 436
development activities include a
Statewide study comparing the
multiple metals method to adopted
single metal reference methods, a
field test at a municipal waste in-
cinerator for precision determina-
tion, and a stability study for
metals samples.
Test methods for man-made
mineral fibers and crystalline silica
are under investigation. A field
(continued on page 8)
7

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California (continued)
test for a man-made mineral fiber
method has been performed at a
glass fiber insulation plant using
Method 17. The samples will be
analyzed by transmission electron
microscopy. Results are still pend-
ing. Other recent studies involve
the measurement of source-
directed ambient silica from com-
bustion sources. NIOSH Method
Equipment Leaks
The Regulatory Negotiation
for developing standards for equip-
ment leaks of hazardous organic
compounds has been concluded.
These standards will be one of the
first maximum achievable control
technology standards under the
Clean Air Act Amendments and
will be proposed with the hazard-
ous organic NESHAP (HON) later
this year. The HON will control
emissions from process vents,
transfer, storage, wastewater, and
equipment leaks in the synthetic
organic chemical manufacturing
industry.
Nearly 180 million tons of
municipal waste were generated in
the United States in 1988, an
average of four pounds per person
per day. These figures are ex-
pected to increase by 10 percent by
the year 2000. Currently, 14 per-
cent of all municipal waste is in-
cinerated, 13 percent is recycled,
and 73 percent is landfilled. Accor-
ding to EPA estimates, almost half
of the 6,000 landfills now in use
will be filled or closed down within
5 years, making incineration an in-
creasingly likely option for
municipal waste disposal.
The EPA recently announced
new standards to reduce air emis-
sions from municipal waste com-
7500 was used to measure
crystalline silica during source-
impacted ambient air monitoring
near a rice-hull incinerator. In ad-
dition, the University of California,
Davis, under contract to the ARB,
is conducting a study to character-
ize the ambient crystalline silica
level from open field rice straw
burning.
The members of the negoti-
ating committee, including EPA,
signed an agreement in principle
in November 1990, based on the
regulatory language. Final agree-
ment is expected later this spring
upon completion of and concur-
rence on the preamble language.
The regulation will be printed in
the Federal Register as a notice (not
a rulemaking) at the end of
February.
The standards will reduce
emissions of hazardous organic
compounds from process equip-
ment, such as valves and pumps,
bustors (MWCs) that combust
more than 250 tons per day of
municipal solid waste. These
facilities represent 85 percent of
current capacity. New MWCs (con-
struction began on or after Decem-
ber 20, 1989) will be regulated
under New Source Performance
Standards. Existing MWCs will be
controlled under emission guide-
lines issued by EPA to the States.
The standards are expected to
reduce overall air emissions from
MWCs by 90 percent.
The new standards will control
MWC emissions and NOx by the
application of various control
strategies. MWC emissions include
MWC organics (measured as diox-
The ARB has adopted about
20 test methods for determining
various toxic air contaminant emis-
sions. For more information, con-
tact Catherine Dunwoody, ARB-
MLD, Engineering Evaluation
Branch, P.O. Box 2815, Sacramen-
to, California 95812, or call (916)
323-0301.
at about 450 different kinds of syn-
thetic organic chemical manufac-
turing industry processes. Although
the standards will be more strin-
gent, they will also be more flexi-
ble than current equipment leak
regulations.
For more information, contact
Rick Colyer, Emissions Standards
Division, U.S. EPA, Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards,
Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina 27711, (919) 541-5262 or
(FTS) 629-5262.
*See related article in the January
1990 Newsletter.
Standards
ins and furans), MWC metals
(measured as particulate matter)
and MWC acid gases (measured as
SO2). The standards also require
operating standards, in the form of
Good Combustion Practices, to en-
sure optimum combustion, and
ASME operator certification.
The standards proposed in
December 1989* contained a
recycling provision that would have
required 25 percent separation of
reusable materials at the com-
bustor site, programs to divert
household batteries prior to in-
cineration, and a prohibition
against burning lead-acid vehicle
batteries. The EPA received
(continued on page 9)
Regulatory Negotiation Completed
EPA Sets Municipal Waste Combustor
8

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Municipal Waste Combustor Standards (continued)
numerous comments both in favor
of and opposing the recycling pro-
visions. In considering the com-
ments, EPA found that the costs
and benefits of recycling vary
widely from city to city. Some
cities would achieve significant
benefits, while others would find
the costs prohibitive. The EPA
therefore decided this approach
was inappropriate for a national
standard and dropped the pro-
vision from the final rule (see
inset).
National costs associated with
the new standards are estimated at
$170 million a year by 1994 for
new facilities and $302 million a
year for existing facilities, or
about $1.50 a month for each
household served by either type of
facility.
The 1990 Clean Air Act
Amendments require that EPA
issue specific numerical emissions
limits for lead, cadmium, and mer-
cury within one year of promulga-
tion of the new standards, siting
requirements for new MWCs and
NOx emission limits for existing
MWCs. Standards for incinerators
combusting less than 250 tons per
day of municipal solid waste must
be issued within 2 years.
For additional information,
contact Walt Stevenson, Mail Drop
13, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards, Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina
27711, or call (919) 541-5264.
*See related article in the July 1990
Newsletter.
Recycling Requirement Dropped From Final
Municipal Waste Combustor Standard
Regulations to curb emissions of toxic air pollutants from muni-
cipal waste combustors were proposed in December 1989. The pro-
posed rules included an ambitious waste recycling program as one
way to reduce wastes and cut hazardous emissions.
The recycling provision came under strong attack on several
fronts. The National League of Cities objected to a mandatory re-
cycling program and said that obtaining site approval for new inciner-
ators would become more difficult. Some city governments cited the
price of the program, estimated, for example, at $250 per ton in New
York City. The incinerator industry, which handles 15 percent of trash
disposal, felt it would unfairly shoulder the entire burden of recycling.
The Presidential Council on Competitiveness (a panel created to
oversee proposed rules and assess their impacts on industry) also con-
cluded that the costs and benefits of the program would be too vari-
able for a national regulation. The EPA commented that its decision
to drop the recycling requirement does not mean that the Bush Admin-
istration is stepping back from its campaign promise to reduce waste
through recycling. Although mandatory recycling is not a national re-
quirement, a cost/benefit assessment can be performed on a case-by-
case basis and feasible recycling requirements can be included in oper-
ating permits for MWCs. Environmental groups, however, saw the ac-
tion as a major setback in solving the nation's growing waste problems.
The NATICHNewsletter is published six times a year by the National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse.
The Newsletter is prepared by Radian Corporation under EPA Contract Number 68-D8-0065, Work Assign-
ment 3-1. The EPA Project Officer is Martha Keating, EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, Telephone: (919)541-5346. The Radian Project Director is Susan
Buchanan, P. O. Box 13000, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, (919)541-9100.
The Newsletter is distributed free of charge. To report address changes, write Meredith Haley, Radian Cor-
poration, P. O. Box 13000, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709.
The views expressed in the NATICH Newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the
Environmental Protection Agency. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute any
endorsement or recommendation for use by EPA.
Printed on recycled paper.
9

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ORD Introduces A New Bulletin Board System
The U.S. EPA Office of Re-
search and Development's (ORD's)
Center for Environmental Research
Information operates a bulletin
board system to facilitate commun-
ication and technology transfer
among EPA staff, State and local
agency staff, researchers, and the
private community.
Located in Cincinnati, Ohio,
the bulletin board system contains
an on-line data base of ORD publi-
cations since 1976, over 16,000
citations in all. Each citation in-
cludes the title, authors, abstract,
and ordering information. The
data base is text-searchable. Other
features of the bulletin board
system include bulletins of new in-
formation, message space, public
domain files, and information on
the following five specialty areas:
•	Expert Systems - support,
distribution, updates, and
discussion of ORD's expert
systems;
•	Biotechnology - discussion of
biotechnical approaches to pollu-
tion control;
•	Water - exchange of information
on the regulatory agenda for
EPA's Office of Water and
ORD's water research activities;
•	Regional Operations - primarily
intended for EPA Regional
Highlights, but open to anyone
to further the exchange of
technical support among ORD
and the EPA Regions; and
•	Methods Standardization
/Quality Assurance News - ex-
change information from EPA
Program Offices, Regions, State
agencies, and the private sector
on monitoring methods and
quality assurance techniques.
The bulletin board system is
available to the public, free of
charge. It operates 24 hours a day,
7 days a week. Accessing the
system requires a modem and a
communication software package,
such as Crosstalk, that communi-
cates at 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, and
no parity. The computer must
emulate VT100, full duplex. In-
terested users should dial (513)
569-7610, then type "Database"
[return], and at the prompt type
"Open 1" [return]. The center can
also supply a user's manual.
Eor more information, contact
Jose' Perez at the Center, (513)
569-7272 or (FTS) 684-7272.
Martha Keating
Pollutant Assessment Branch
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
MD-13
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
FIRST CLASS MAIL
U.S. Postage Paid
E.P.A.
Permit No. G-35

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