UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 OFFIC IAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER POSTAGE AND FEES PAID ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENC EPA-335 A Environmental News Deister (202) 755-0344 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/ TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1974 EPA SETS FINAL EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS FOR INSULATION FIBERGLASS INDUSTRY The Environmental Protection Agency has established final waste water effluent limitations for the insulation fiberglass industry. This is the first of 30 industries for which EPA will set limits on what they can discharge into navigable waters. Al- ready, EPA has proposed limitations for 28 of these industries, and as soon as the standards have been reviewed, they will be promulgated. Besides limiting pollutants from existing plants, the regulations also include standards for performance for new plants. The effluent limitations will be used by EPA and the States as a basis for issuing waste water discharge permits to individ- ual plants. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 require all cities, industries and certain agricultural activities to obtain these permits. The new water law sets two general requirements for the development of the limitations. They are that existing indus- tries must achieve limitations based upon the "best practicable control technology currently available" by July 1, 1977, and (more) psTR-f,. Return this sheet if you do NOT wish to receive this material ~, or if change of address is needed ~ (indicate change, including zip code). ERA-FORM 1510*1 (REV. ft-72) R-342 ------- -2- the "best available technology economically achieveable" by July 1, 1983. In its proposed limitations for the fiberglass industry to meet the 1977 deadline, EPA required no discharge of process waste water. In its final regulations for the industry, EPA retained the no discharge requirement except for process waste water from advanced air emission control devices when such water cannot be consumed in the process. The regulations set specific limits for pollutants contained in water from such devices. For the 1983 requirement, the final regulations require no discharge of process waste water with no exceptions. NeW plants must also meet the no discharge requirement before they begin operation. The 28 industries for which EPA has proposed limitations are: beet sugar, cement, feedlots, phosphates, electroplating, inorganic chemicals, plastics and synthetics, meat, rubber, ferro alloys, flat glass, asbestos, fruits and vegatables, non- ferrous, timber, cane sugar, fertilizer, leather, soaps and detergents, grain milling, petroleum, organic chemicals, dairy, pulp and paper, builders paper, textiles and seafood. EPA will propose limitations for the remaining two indus- tries within a week or two. They are: steam and electric power plants, and iron and steel. The final regulations covering the fiberglass industry were published in the Federal Register on January 22, 1974. A copy of the regulations is on display in Room 232, West Tower, EPA Headquarters, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, D.C. # # # R-342 ------- |