United States	Press Office (A-107)
Environmental Protection	Washington DC 20460
Agency
v>EPA
Environmental
News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, APRIL 21, 19 80
Johnson (202) 755-0344
EPA PROPOSES
STANDARD FOR
BENZENE
R-68
The Environmental Protection Agency today
proposed to curb benzene emissions from maleic
anhydride plants by an estimated 5,400 tons per year.
Maleic anhydride is a chemical used in industries
for manufacturing plastics, pesticides, fumaric acid,
alkyd resins, lubricating additives and other products.
Benzene is a known carcinogen linked to leukemia,
other blood disorders (cytopenias and aplastic anemia),
and potentially inheritable chromosomal aberrations.
Benzene was listed as a "hazardous air pollutant"
under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act on June 8, 19 77.
"The proposed standard, which would regulate benzene
emissions from the process vents of maleic anhydride
production units, would require essentially 97 percent
control of benzene emissions from existing sources,
and elimination of benzene emissions from new sources,"
said EPA Administrator Douglas M. Costle.
"The permissible limit of benzene discharged into
the atmosphere from the process vents of existing
plants would be 0.30 pounds of benzene per 100
pounds of benzene fed to the process reactor(s).
New plants would achieve 100 percent control of
benzene emissions by substituting another feedstock,
such as n-butane, for benzene."
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Other stationary sources of benzene emission include ethylbenzene-
styrene plants, petroleum refineries, benzene storage, nitrobenzene
plants, chlorobenzene plants, coke by-products plants, ethylene
manufacture, gasoline stations and linear alkyl benzene production.
Standards are currently being developed to cover some of these
sources.
The reduction of benzene in the atmosphere resulting from the
proposed standard would directly affect the approximately 10 million
persons living within 12.5 miles of benzene emitting plants.
Maleic anhydride plants account for 35 percent of the total
benzene emissions discharged from all stationary sources, and
are by far the largest single source of benzene emissions in the
chemical industry. Benzene emissions from fugitive and storage
sources are under consideration for future standards.
The maleic anhydride production process contains several components:
the reactor(s), the product recovery absorber (which releases over
98 percent of the total benzene emissions from a maleic anhydride
plant), and the refining system. Only production units making
over 500 megagrams (550 tons) of maleic anhydride and/or maleic
acid per year would be affected by the proposed rulemaking. This
level of production distinguishes between commercial-sized plants
and laboratory facilities. Existing commercial-sized plants produce
more than 500 megagrams (550 tons) each year.
"The proposed standard for existing sources, which is based on
best available technology for reducing benzene emissions,
considering environmental, economic and energy impacts, could
be achieved through either thermal incineration or carbon absorption,"
Costle said.
Considering that several plants currently have controls, total
capital costs for meeting the proposed standard at the 8 existing
plants affected by the proposed regulations would be approximately
$6.6 million; total annualized costs for these facilities would
increase by $2.5 million. The eight facilities that would be
affected by the proposed regulation are: Ashland in Neal, West
Virginia; Monsanto in St. Louis, Missouri; DENKA in Houston, Texas;
Reichhold in Elizabeth, New Jersey; Reichhold in Morris, Illinois;
Tenneco in Fords, New Jersey; U.S. Steel in Neville Island,
Pennsylvania; and Koppers in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. Maleic
anhydride would increase in cost by about 1.2 percent.
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A public hearing on the listing of benzene as a hazardous air
pollutant and the proposed regulation for maleic anhydride plants
is scheduled for May 20, 1980 at the Olde Colony Motor Lodge in
Alexandria, Virginia. Persons wishing to present oral testimony
at the hearing should contact Ms. Deanna Tilley, Standards and
Development Branch (MD-13), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27711; telephone 919-541-5421;
FTS 629-5421.
Written comments on the regulations should be submitted by June 17
to Central Docket Section (A-130), Attention: Docket Number
OAQPS 79-3, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street,
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.
The supporting background documents for the proposed emission
standard for hazardous air pollutants may be obtained from the
EPA Library (MD-35), Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27711; tele-
phone 919-541-2777. Refer to:
Benzene Emissions from Maleic Anhydride Plants - Background
Information Document for Proposed Standard^
Assessment of Health Effects of Benzene Germane to Low-Level
Exposures,
Assessment of Human Exposures to Atmospheric Benzene,, and
Carcinogen Assessment Groups' Report on Population Risk to
r-68 Ambient Benzene Exposures.
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