&EPA
United States Office of Water EPA 821-F-02-008
Environmental Protection 4303T May 2002
Agency
Fact Sheet
Amendment to the Cluster Rules for the
Pulp, Paper and Paperboard Point Source
Category: Chloroform Monitoring
Summary
EPA is publishing a regulatory amendment to reduce monitoring requirements for chloroform for
facilities in the Bleached Papergrade Kraft and Soda Subcategory (Subpart B) by allowing those
mills to demonstrate compliance using self-certification. EPA is also publishing a technical
amendment to the OMB approvals under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) to account for the
minimum monitoring requirements for facilities in Subpart B and the Papergrade Sulfite
Subcategory (Subpart E).
Background
On April 15, 1998, EPA promulgated effluent limitations guidelines and emissions standards
(ELGs) to reduce the discharge of toxic, conventional, and nonconventional pollutants in
wastewaters and to reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants from the pulp, paper, and
paperboard industry. As part of the ELGs, minimum monitoring requirements were promulgated
for several pollutants. This technical amendment allows EPA to publish an Information
Collection Request (ICR) covering these requirements for facilities covered by Subparts B and
E.
Chloroform discharges are among the controlled pollutants. To demonstrate compliance with the
chloroform effluent standards, dischargers may follow a monitoring schedule that the April 1998
regulation established, or reduce their monitoring burden by choosing this new certification
option.
This regulatory amendment applies only to mills in Subpart B. It does not otherwise change the
existing regulations.
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Summary of the Amendments
The technical amendment updates the table listing OMB control numbers for approved ICRs,
codified at 40 CFR Part 9, to account for the minimum monitoring requirements for Subparts B
and E, codified at 40 CFR 430.02.
The new regulatory requirement allows mills to demonstrate compliance with the chloroform
standards by certifying to certain process conditions. The discharger may choose this option for
individual fiber lines.
The requirements include (i) a certification regarding use of bleaching chemicals, (ii) data
collection during an initial compliance demonstration period, and (iii) recordkeeping on process
and operating conditions.
Impacts of the Technical Amendment
There are 94 mills that are anticipated to be covered by the minimum monitoring requirements of
40 CFR 430.02. EPA estimates the annual costs to these mills at $20 million, which includes
capital and operation and maintenance expenses.
Benefits of the Regulatory Amendment
There are 80 mills that could take advantage of this opportunity to reduce their monitoring costs
and associated burden. EPA estimates the annual cost savings to be at least $4.4 million.
Additional Information
For more information regarding these amendments, contact Ahmar Siddiqui at the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Engineering and Analysis Division,
(4303T), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, (202) 566-1044 or send an e-mail
to
siddiqui.ahmar@epa.gov. You can view or download the complete text of the Federal Register
notice on the Internet at http ://epa. gov/waterscience/pulppaper.
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