National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant Emissions: Group IV Polymers and Resins

The EPA promulgated the Group IV Polymers and Resins national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) on September 12, 1996. The EPA was petitioned to reconsider the equipment leak detection and repair (LDAR) standards contained in the promulgated rule as they pertain to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) facilities. On June 8, 1999, we issued a proposed denial of the petitions for reconsideration and issued a direct final rule amendment to extend the compliance dates specified for equipment leaks for PET affected sources, as a result of the petitions to reconsider the equipment leak standards for PET facilities. After revising costs and hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions reductions using data provided by petitioners and other commenters, the EPA is retaining the equipment leak provisions of the promulgated rule with one exception; we are modifying the definition of a leak for certain ethylene glycol pumps. In addition, we are extending the compliance dates for the PET affected sources to comply with the equipment leak provisions to August 6, 2002, in order to provide PET facilities time to develop an LDAR program.