National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants from the Pulp and Paper Industry

On January 25, 2000 (65 FR 3907), we proposed amendments to the pulp and paper national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) (63 FR 18504, April 15, 1998). The 1998 Pulp and Paper NESHAP is the air component of the integrated air and water rules for the pulp and paper industry (known as the Pulp and Paper Cluster Rules). The NESHAP limit and control hazardous air pollutants (HAP) that are known to cause or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health or environmental effects. These final amendments include changes to the pulping process vent standards, the biological treatment system standards, monitoring requirements, and test methods and procedures to address technical issues identified after promulgation of the 1998 Pulp and Paper NESHAP. Also, drafting errors in the final rule that were identified since proposal of these amendments are being corrected by this action. These amendments do not change the level of control or compromise the environmental protection achieved by the 1998 Pulp and Paper NESHAP. This action also clarifies that downtime due to routine maintenance of pulping process vent control devices is included in the excess emissions allowances. Lastly, in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), we are amending as a final rule the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval table to list the OMB control number issued under the PRA for information collection requirements for the 1998 Pulp and Paper NESHAP.