FACT SHEET

AMENDMENTS TO STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE FOR PORTLAND CEMENT

PLANTS

ACTION

•	On May 30, 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed amendments to
the new source standards of performance (NSPS) for Portland cement plants. The NSPS
reduce emissions of criteria pollutants such a particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxide
(NOx), and sulfur dioxide (S02).

•	The proposed amendments to the emissions limits apply to new kilns and clinker coolers
(those constructed, modified, or reconstructed after the date the amendments are
proposed in the Federal Register).

•	New kilns and clinker coolers would be required to meet a PM emission limit of 0.086
pounds per ton (lb/ton) of clinker. The current opacity limit for existing kilns and clinker
coolers would not be revised.

•	New kilns would be subject to a NOx emission limit of 1.50 lb/ton of clinker on a 30-day
rolling average.

•	New kilns would also be subject to a SO2 emission limit of 1.33 lb/ton of clinker on a 30-
day rolling average or a performance standard requiring a 90 percent reduction of SO2
emissions. Facilities choosing the 90 percent reduction option for SO2 emissions would
be required to monitor the pH level and conduct repeat performance tests.

•	Bag leak detection systems or PM continuous emission monitoring systems would be
required for new kilns and clinker coolers that use a baghouse; predictive modeling
would be used to monitor the performance of an electrostatic precipitator.

• Continuous emission monitoring systems would be required for new kilns subject to the
NOx or SO2 emission limits.

•	The monitoring and testing requirements for existing sources subject to the NSPS are also
being amended to provide better indicators of compliance.

•	EPA will take public comment on the proposed rule for 60 days following publication in
the Federal Register.

•	EPA will hold a public hearing if requested. The Agency is under a court order to review
the current rule and propose any appropriate changes by May 31, 2008.

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DRAFT

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS AND COSTS

•	EPA estimates that by the year 2014, PM emissions will be reduced by about 890 tons
per year (tpy), NOx emissions will be reduced by about 12,000 tpy, and S02 emissions
will be reduced by about 29,650 tpy as a result of the proposed amendments.

•	The proposed amendments would have a capital cost impact of about $190 million and a
total annualized cost impact of about $50 million per year on the industry with no
significant adverse economic impacts on the industry. A small plant may incur an
economic impact of between 1 and 2 percent, but would not be considered at risk of
closure.

•	This rule will affect 20 new kilns over the next 5 years

BACKGROUND

•	New source performance standards (NSPS) implement Clean Air Act (CAA) section

111(b) and are issued for categories of sources which cause, or contribute significantly to,
air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.

•	Section 111 of the CAA requires that NSPS reflect the application of the best system of
emission reductions that (taking into consideration the cost of achieving such emission
reductions, any non-air quality health and environmental impacts, and energy
requirements) the Administrator determines has been adequately demonstrated. This
level of control is commonly referred to as best demonstrated technology (BDT).

•	The Clean Air Act requires EPA to periodically review and revise the standards of
performance to reflect improvements in methods of reducing emissions.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

•	To download a copy of the proposed amendments from EPA's website, go to "Recent
Actions" at the following address: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/.

•	Today's proposed amendments are also available either electronically in EPA's electronic
public docket and comment system, or in hardcopy at EPA's Air and Radiation Docket
and Information Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Room 3334, Constitution
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC (Docket Number EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0877). The Public
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding
legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744,

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and the telephone number for the Docket Center is (202) 566-1742.

• For further information about the proposed amendments, contact Mr. Keith Barnett of
EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards at (919) 541-5605 or
barnett.keith@epa.gov.

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