National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants; Final Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant Emissions From Wood Furniture Manufacturing Operations

This final rule promulgates standards that limit the emissions of hazardous air pollutants (HAP) from existing and new wood furniture manufacturing operations located at major sources. These final standards implement Section 112(d) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), as amended, which require the Administrator to regulate emissions of HAP listed in Section 112(b) of the CAA. The intent of the standards is to protect the public by requiring new and existing major sources to control emissions to the level attainable by implementing the maximum achievable control technology (MACT), taking into consideration the cost of achieving such emission reductions, any nonair quality and other air quality-related health and environmental impacts, and energy requirements. Many wood furniture manufacturing facilities are major sources of HAP emissions. Individual facilities can emit more than 23 megagrams per year (Mg/yr) (25 tons per year [tons/yr]) of organic HAP, including toluene, xylene, methanol, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, glycol ethers, and formaldehyde. All of these pollutants can cause reversible or irreversible toxic effects following exposure. The potential toxic effects include eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation and blood cell, heart, liver, and kidney damage, as well as reproductive effects. These adverse health effects are associated with a wide range of ambient concentrations and exposure times and are influenced by source-specific characteristics such as emission rates and local meteorological conditions. Health impacts are also dependent on multiple factors that affect human variability such as genetics, age, health status, (e.g., the presence of pre-existing disease), and lifestyle. The EPA is also finalizing Method 311 with the standards. Method 311 will be used to assist in demonstrating compliance with the emission limitations.