FINAL AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR
POLLUTANTS FOR CLAY CERAMICS MANUFACTURING

FACT SHEET

ACTION

•	On October 10, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized
amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Clay
Ceramics Manufacturing, codified in 40 CFR 63, subpart KKKKK (Clay Ceramics
Manufacturing NESHAP).

•	The Clay Ceramics Manufacturing NESHAP includes provisions for two distinct
subcategories, including ceramic tile (e.g., pressed floor tile, pressed wall tile and other
pressed tile) and sanitaryware (e.g., sinks and toilets).

•	Although a majority of these final amendments apply specifically to manufacturers of
sanitaryware products, the action includes general provisions for emissions averaging,
which provides alternative compliance requirements for all facilities subject to the Clay
Ceramics Manufacturing NESHAP.

•	In this action, EPA is finalizing revisions to the Clay Ceramics Manufacturing NESHAP. The
final action reflects minor changes to the proposed amendments based on public comment
and includes provisions to:

o Revise the temperature monitoring methodology for demonstrating continuous

compliance with dioxin/furan emissions limits from first-fire tunnel kilns;
o Provide an alternative to the monitoring provisions for visual emissions from tunnel
kiln exhaust stacks;

o Amend the requirements for weekly visual inspections of system ductwork and

control devices for water curtain spray booths;
o Define cooling stacks and differentiate them from kiln exhaust stacks for

compliance purposes; and
o Include provisions to allow emissions averaging for particulate matter and mercury
as well as make revisions to the definition of affected source and recordkeeping
and reporting requirements.

•	These final amendments will offer flexibility to the industry while maintaining the emission
and operational standards of the 2015 final rule.

BACKGROUND

• The initial Clay Ceramics Manufacturing NESHAP was published on May 16, 2003. These
standards were subsequently challenged and vacated by the Court of Appeals for the D.C.
Circuit in 2007.


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•	Following the vacatur, EPA collected additional data and information to support new
standards for the clay ceramics industry. Those new standards were finalized on October
26, 2015.

•	On December 23, 2015, Kohler Company petitioned EPA for reconsideration of the Clay
Ceramics Manufacturing NESHAP final rule.

•	On August 20, 2018, EPA proposed amendments to the Clay Ceramics Manufacturing
NESHAP final rule based on information provided by Kohler Company in its petition and
other information collected by EPA.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

•	Interested parties can download a copy of the final rule notice from EPA's website at the
following address: https://www.epa.gov/stationarv-sources-air-pollution/clay-ceramics-
manufacturing-national-emission-standards-hazardous.

•	Today's action and other background information are also available either 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 EPA Headquarters Library, room number
3334 in the WJC West Building, 1301 Constitution Ave., 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-
2013-0290.

o For further technical information about the rule, contact Brian Storey, Sector
Policies and Programs Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, at
(919) 541-1103 or storey.brian@epa.gov.

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