v>EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
March 2006
EPA530-F-06-006
www.epa.gov/osw
Changes to Pollution Emission
Standards for Hazardous Waste
Combustors:  Administrative Stay
And Proposed New Standards
   Action
       EPA is issuing a three-month administrative stay for one of the National Emission Standards for
   Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) requirements for hazardous waste combustors. The Agency is
   issuing the temporary administrative stay while reconsidering the paniculate matter standard for new
   cement kilns that burn hazardous waste.  The stay is effective when published in the Federal
   Register.
       In a second action, EPA is issuing a proposed rule soliciting comment on a revised paniculate
   matter standard for new sources based on data submitted in a petition from the cement manufacturing
   industry. These new paniculate matter data were not available when the NESHAP was issued in
   October 2005.
       The national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants require hazardous waste
   combustors to meet air pollutant emission standards reflecting the application of the maximum
   achievable control technology (MACT).  Combustors affected by this rule detoxify or recover energy
   from hazardous waste, and include incinerators, cement kilns, lightweight aggregate kilns, boilers and
   process heaters, and hydrochloric acid production furnaces. EPA estimates that 145 facilities operate
   265 devices that burn hazardous waste.
       These technology-based standards reduce emission of hazardous air pollutants, including lead,
   mercury, arsenic, dioxin and furans, and hydrogen chloride and chlorine gas. In addition, emissions of
   paniculate matter are also reduced. Better control of air pollutants is expected to result in fewer cases
   of chronic bronchitis, reduced hospitalizations for severe respiratory conditions and cardiovascular
   problems  in adults and children, and fewer cancer cases. Populations residing near hazardous waste
   combustors may benefit the most from implementation of the MACT standards.
       EPA also recently amended NESHAP to change the implementation date for new or revised bag
   leak detection system monitoring provisions to October 14,2008.

   Background
       EPA promulgated MACT standards on September 30,  1999.  These emission standards created a
   technology-based national cap for hazardous air pollutant emissions  from the combustion of
   hazardous waste.
       A number of parties, representing both industrial and environmental communities, requested
   judicial review of this rule, and challenged its emission standards and several implementation
   provisions. The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Court vacated the
   emission standards and allowed EPA to issue interim standards.
       EPA issued new standards on October 12,2005.

   For More Information
       This fact sheet and other documents  are available on the Internet at http://www.epaoswer/
   hazwaste/combust.  For answers to specific questions, visit http://www.custhelp.com and click on
   Find an Answer or Ask a Question.

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