Proposed Amendments to Air Toxics Standards for the Chemical
Recovery Combustion Sources and the Kraft Pulp Mill New Source
Performance Standards: Fact Sheet
ACTION
•	On October 22, 2019, the US. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed
amendments to: (1) the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
(NESHAP) for Pulp Mill Chemical Recovery Combustion Sources, and (2) the New
Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for Kraft Pulp Mills.
•	The proposed amendments address technical corrections for both existing
and new source standards.
•	These actions provide clear guidance for sources to demonstrate
continuous compliance.
•	This action would apply to facilities that produce chemical pulp and utilize
dynamic or low energy entrainment smelt dissolving tank scrubbers.
•	EPA will accept comment on the proposed amendments for 60 days after
publication in the Federal Register.
AMENDMENTS
•	These amendments are being proposed to improve regulatory clarity and clarify
continuous compliance demonstration requirements for standards applicable to both
new and existing sources.
•	The amendments:
o Correct inadvertent cross-reference errors; and
o Clarify how facilities establish fan amperage operating limits for certain smelt
dissolving tank wet scrubber designs.
BACKGROUND
•	The Pulp and Paper Chemical Recovery Combustion Sources NESHAP was issued,
pursuant to section 112(d) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), in January 2001 and amended in
2003.
•	On October 11, 2017, EPA published final amendments to the 2001 NESHAP, as part of
the risk and technology review, for new and existing sources used in chemical recovery
processes at kraft, soda, sulfite, and stand-alone semichemical pulp mills. This final
action established October 11, 2019, as the compliance date for existing sources.
•	On April 4, 2014, EPA published NSPS for Kraft Pulp Mills, which included emission
standards for units commencing construction, reconstruction or modification after
May 23, 2013.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
•	To download a copy of the proposed rule notice, go to EPA's website at
https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/kraft-soda-sulfite-and-stand-
alone-semichemical-pulp-mills-mact-ii.
•	Today's action notice and other background information are also available ether
electronically at https://www.regulations.gov/. EPA's electronic public docket and
comment system, or in hardcopy at the EPA Docket Center's Public Reading Room.
o The Public Reading Room is located at the EPA Headquarters library, room number
3334 in the WJC West Building, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.
Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., eastern standard time, Monday
through Friday, excluding federal holidays,
o Visitors are required to show photographic identification, pass through a metal
detector and sign the EPA visitor log. All visitor materials will be processed through an
X-ray machine as well. Visitors will be provided a badge that must be visible at all
times.
o Materials for this proposed action can be accessed using Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2014-0741.
•	For further technical information about the rule, contact Dr. Kelley Spence at the
EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, at (919) 541-3158 or at
spence.kelley@epa.gov.
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