FACT SHEET Proposed Amendments to the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for Steel Plants: Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF) and Argon-Oxygen Decarburization Vessels ACTION • On April 29, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed amendments to update the 1974 and 1984 New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF), also known as the Standards of Performance for Steel Plants: Electric Arc Furnaces Constructed After October 21, 1974, and On or Before August 17, 1983 (subpart AA); and Standards of Performance for Steel Plants: Electric Arc Furnaces and Argon-Oxygen Decarburization Vessels Constructed After August 17, 1983 (subpart AAa). In this action, EPA also is proposing a new NSPS subpart (subpart AAb) that would apply to Electric Arc Furnaces and Argon-Oxygen Decarburization Vessels Constructed After the date of publication of the proposed rule in the Federal Register. • The EAF source category includes any plant that produces steel in an EAF and that also may use argon-oxygen decarburization (AOD) vessels. • The pollutant addressed by the EAF NSPS is particulate matter (PM), a criteria pollutant. • The EAF source category includes 87 facilities owned by 36 companies. • Based on EPA's review of the NSPS conducted pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA), EPA is proposing the following: o For the current EAF NSPS subparts AA and AAa: ¦ Minor rule corrections and clarifications suggested by EPA Region 5 and industry; and ¦ To add electronic reporting, o For new EAF NSPS subpart AAb: ¦ Lower the opacity limit for EAF melt shop roof vents from 6 percent to 0 percent; ¦ Change the format of the PM emission limit for control devices from grains PM per dry standard cubic feet of control device exhaust for each device, to pounds of PM total facility controlled emissions per ton of steel produced; ¦ Add electronic reporting; ¦ Eliminate startup, shutdown and malfunction exemption for opacity and other standards consistent with a 2008 court decision; and ¦ Require periodic compliance testing once every five years. • EPA will accept comment on the proposed amendments for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. BACKGROUND • CAA section 111 requires EPA to determine the best system of emission reduction (BSER) for the NSPS source category and the degree of emission limitation achievable through ------- application of the BSER (taking into account the cost of achieving such reduction and any non-air quality health and environmental impact and energy requirements). EPA must then promulgate standards of performance for new sources that reflect that level of stringency. The 1974 and 1983 NSPS were established based on BSER available at that time. • The CAA section 111 requires EPA to, "at least every eight years review and, if appropriate, revise," the NSPS. The EPA reviews available data and information to determine if BSER has changed and, if so, proposes revised standards to reflect such changes. HOW TO COMMENT • EPA will accept comment on the proposal for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. • Comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0049, may be submitted by one of the following methods: o Go to https://www.reeulations.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. EPA- HQ-OAR-2002-0049. • 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. o 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, o For further information on EPA Docket Center services and the current status, please visit us online at https://www.epa.eov/dockets. o For additional information, including the full EPA public comment policy, please visit https://www.epa.eov/dockets/commentine-epa-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.eov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/electric-arc- furnaces-eafs-and-areon-oxveen-decarburization-vessels • Today's action and other background information are also available either electronically at https://www.reeulations.eov/. EPA's electronic public docket and comment system. o Materials for this proposed action can be accessed using Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR- 2002-0049. • For further technical information about the proposed rules, contact Donna Lee Jones, EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, at (919) 541-5251 or iones.donnalee@epa.gov. ------- |