National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Source Categories: Organic Hazardous Air Pollutants From the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry and Other Processes Subject to the Negotiated Regulation for Equipment Leaks

On April 22, 1994 and June 6, 1994, the EPA issued the "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Source Categories: Organic Hazardous Air Pollutants from the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry and Other Processes Subject to the Negotiated Regulation for Equipment Leaks." This rule is commonly known as the Hazardous Organic National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) or the HON. On January 20, 2000, the EPA proposed amendments to the definition of the term "process vent" and to add procedures for identifying "process vents" in order to ensure consistent interpretation of the term. The EPA also proposed revisions to several provisions of the rule to reflect the terminology used in the revised definition of process vent. These changes were proposed to reduce the burden associated with developing operating permits for facilities subject to the rule. The January 20, 2000 document also proposed to add provisions to allow off-site control of process vent emissions and to add provisions for establishing a new compliance date under certain circumstances. In that action, EPA also proposed to add an alternative procedure for use in determining compliance with wastewater treatment requirements. Today's action takes final action on those proposed amendments. These amendments to the rule will not change the basic control requirements of the rule or the level of health protection it provides. The rule requires new and existing major sources to control emissions of hazardous air pollutants to the level reflecting application of the maximum achievable control technology.