FACT SHEET

Proposed Amendments to Air Toxics Standards for
Wood Preserving Area Sources

ACTION

•	On February 28, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the
result of its technical review of the 2007 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants (NESHAP) for the Wood Preserving Area Sources.

•	The Wood Preserving Area Sources category includes facilities that use either a pressure
or thermal treatment process to impregnate chemicals into wood to provide long-term
resistance to attack by fungi, bacteria, insects, or marine borers. Some of the products
produced by the wood preserving industry include posts, cross ties, switch ties, utility
poles, round timber pilings, lumber for aquatic applications, and fire-retardant lumber
products.

•	The 2007 area source rule requires facilities using wood preservatives containing
arsenic, chromium, dioxins, or methylene chloride to meet equipment and management
standards including operating in accordance with a written plan to minimize air
emissions, including emissions from process tanks and equipment, and storage and
preservative handling operations.

•	Following a technology review conducted under the Clean Air Act (CAA), EPA is
proposing that there are no cost-effective developments that would further reduce air
toxics. Therefore, the Agency is not proposing amendments to existing emissions
standards based on the technology review.

•	However, EPA is proposing clarifying edits to the list of applicable General Provisions.

TECHNOLOGY REVIEW

•	The CAA requires EPA to assess, review, and revise air toxics standards, as necessary,
taking into account developments in practices, processes and control technologies.

•	The technology review of the Wood Preserving Area Sources standards did not identify
any developments that would further reduce air toxics emissions for area sources
regulated under the original NESHAP.

BACKGROUND

•	On July 16, 2007, EPA promulgated the NESHAP for area sources engaged in wood
preserving (subpart QQQQQQ; also referred to as "subpart 6Q").

•	The standards address HAP emissions of arsenic, chromium, dioxin, and methylene
chloride from wood preserving area source operations that use wood preservatives
containing any one of these target HAP.

•	There are approximately 325 sources subject to the 6Q NESHAP.


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HOW TO COMMENT

•	EPA will accept comments for 45 days after the proposal is published in the Federal
Register.

•	Comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2021-0133 may be submitted by
one of the following methods:

o Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ and follow the online instructions for

submitting comments,
o Send comments by email to a-and-r-docket@epa.gov. Attention Docket ID No.
EPAHQ-OAR-2021-0133.

•	Out of an abundance of caution for members of the public and our staff, the EPA Docket
Center and Reading Room are closed to the public, with limited exceptions, to reduce
the risk of transmitting COVID-19. Our Docket Center staff will continue to provide
remote customer service via email, phone and webform.

•	We encourage the public to submit comments via https://www.regulations.gov/ or
email, as there may be a delay in processing mail and faxes. Hand deliveries and couriers
may be received by scheduled appointment only.

•	For further information on EPA Docket Center services and their current status, please
visit us online at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

•	Interested parties can download a copy of the proposed rule notice from EPA's website
at the following address: https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/wood-
preserving-area-sources-national-emission-standards-hazardous

•	Today's action and other background information are also available electronically at
https://www.regulations.gov/. EPA's electronic public docket and comment system.

•	For further technical information about the rule, contact John Evans, EPA's Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards, at (919)-541-3633 or evans.john@epa.gov.


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