UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER . POSTAGE AND FEES PAID U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY EPA-335 A 2EZEnvironmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1975 EPA SETS NEW SOURCE AIR POLLUTION STANDARDS FOR STEEL INDUSTRY The Environmental Protection Agency today announced final air pollution control standards for new or modified electric arc furnaces in steel plants. This type of furnace accounts for an estimated 21 per- cent of all major emissions from the steel industry. As a result of these regulations, electric arc furnace emis- sions should be reduced approximately 95.6 percent from previous uncontrolled levels. The standards apply to both new furnaces, and to exist- ing ones modified in a manner that increases their emissions. The regulations affect any furnace that produces molten steel and heats the steel-producing materials with electric arcs from carbon electrodes. The rules, however, do not affect either furnaces from whch molten steel is cast into the shape of finished products—as in a foundry—or furnaces that continuously add prereduced ore pellets as the primary source of iron. The standards regulate the emission of particulates and the visibility (opacity) of the emissions. Gases emitted from an electric arc furnace control device cannot exceed 12 milligrams of particulates per cubic meter of dry air under standard conditions, and must exhibit less Return this sheet if you do NOT wish to receive this material ~, or if change of address is needed ~ (indicate change, including.zip code). EPA FORM 1510-1 (REV. 8-72) Ryan (202) 755-0344 (more) R-194 ------- -2- than 3 percent opacity. Additional standards are set for those gases not passing through the control device. In addition, affected companies are required to monitor and record their emission levels. Compliance with the standards will be determined through performance tests conducted by the companies involved. EPA must be notified in advance of such compliance tests to permit observation by Federal officials. It is anticipated that approximately .15 additional new or modified furnaces will become subject to these standards each year. Applying these controls will cost about $1.90 per ton of steel billet produced. The current price of such steel is around $190 per ton. In addition to the electric arc regulations, EPA has issued—or will issue—new source air pollution rules for other processes within the steel industry. In March 1974, the Agency promulgated final standards for basic oxygen furnaces. Currently being developed are regulations for sintering plants and for coke ovens—a major contributor to steel industry emissions. These new rules are issued under authority of the 1970 Clean Air Act Amendments, which require EPA to establish performance standards for categories of industries causing or contributing to the endangerment of public health or welfare. The standards reflect the degree of emission limitation achieveable using the best adequately demonstrated technology, taking into account the cost to affected indus- tries . * The new regulations are published in the Federal Register of September 23, 1975. US EPA Headquarters arid Chemical Libraries EPA West Bidg Room 3340 Maiicode 3404T 1301 Constitution Ave NW Washington DC 20004 202-5660556 # # # Repository Material Permanent Cc4isction ------- |