FINAL AMENDMENTS TO AIR TOXICS STANDARDS FOR PHOSPHORIC ACID MANUFACTURING AND PHOSPHATE FERTILIZER PRODUCTION AND STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE FOR PHOSPHATE PROCESSING FACT SHEET ACTION • On July 21, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued final amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Phosphoric Acid Manufacturing and Phosphate Fertilizer Production, and to the Standards of Performance (NSPS) for Phosphate Processing. • The phosphoric acid manufacturing and phosphate fertilizer production standards were promulgated in 1999 and currently 13 facilities are subject to at least one of the rules. Ten of the 13 facilities are considered to be in both source categories. • Following a residual risk review and technology review for both source categories as well as overall review of the standards, the EPA is promulgating the following actions: o Establish emission limits for mercury and total fluoride emissions from phosphate rock calciners at phosphoric acid plants. ¦ Mercury emission limits of 0.014 mg/dcsm at 3-percent oxygen for new sources 0.14 mg/dcsm at 3-percent oxygen for existing sources ¦ Total fluoride emission limits for both new and existing sources is 9.0 x 10"4 lb/ton of rock feed ¦ Control device(s) used in the production line must be in operation for the duration of the periods of startup and shutdown to address emissions from affected sources. o Establish work practice standards to control hydrogen fluoride (HF) emissions from gypsum dewatering stacks and cooling ponds at phosphoric acid plants. o Remove startup, shutdown and malfunction exemptions and add work practice standards to address periods of startup and shutdown. o Modify and correct testing and monitoring provisions o Clarify the applicability for emission points covered by the Phosphoric Acid Manufacturing and Phosphate Fertilizer Production source categories. • EPA also reviewed several New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) that are applicable to these industries. We are finalizing no changes to the existing emission limits for the NSPS as a result of that review. ------- BACKGROUND • On June 10, 1999, EPA promulgated NESHAP for Phosphoric Acid Manufacturing and Phosphate Fertilizer Production. These two standards have undergone minor revisions since promulgation. The two standards have historically been done concurrently as the sources are typically co-located. Currently 13 facilities are subject to at least one of the rules. Ten of the 13 facilities are considered to be in both source categories. • Phosphoric acid is manufactured through the acidulation of phosphate ore. Typically, sulfuric acid, phosphate ore and water are reacted with one another to produce phosphoric acid and gypsum. Gypsum is a waste by-product from the reaction, and it is stored on facility property in large mounds. Most of the phosphoric acid produced domestically is used in phosphate fertilizer production. Phosphate fertilizer is produced through three basic steps: reaction of phosphoric acid with ammonia, granulation and finishing processes. FOR MORE INFORMATION • To download a copy of the final rule notice, go to EPA's World Wide Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/phosph/phosphpg.html. • Today's action and other background information are also available either electronically at http://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 EPA Headquarters, room number 3334 in the EPA 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 final action can be accessed using Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR- 2012-0522. • For further technical information about the rule contact Tina Ndoh of EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards at (919) 541-2750 or Ndoh.tina@epa.gov. 2 ------- |