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


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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.


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