National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Primary Copper Smelting

This action promulgates national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for primary copper smelting. Primary copper smelters can potentially emit significant amounts of certain toxic metals listed as hazardous air pollutants (HAP) in Clean Air Act (CAA) section 112(b)(1). These metals include antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, cobalt, lead, manganese, nickel and selenium. Exposure to these substances has been demonstrated to cause adverse health effects such as diseases of the lung, kidney, central nervous system, and cancer. The final rule establishes emissions limitations and work practice standards for primary copper smelters that are (or are part of) a major source of HAP emissions and that use batch copper converters. The standards reflect the application of the maximum achievable control technology (MACT). When fully implemented, we estimate the rule will reduce annual nationwide HAP emissions from the source category by approximately 23 percent or 22 megagrams per year.