National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Off- Site Waste and Recovery Operations

This action promulgates National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) under the authority of Section 112 of the Clean Air Act for off-site waste and recovery operations that emit hazardous air pollutants (HAP). The NESHAP applies to specific types of facilities that are determined to be major sources of HAP emissions and receive certain wastes, used oil, and used solvents from off-site locations for storage, treatment, recovery, or disposal at the facility. The rule requires use of maximum achievable control technology (MACT) to reduce HAP emissions from tanks, surface impoundments, containers, oil-water separators, individual drain systems and other material conveyance systems, process vents, and equipment leaks. The final rule is estimated to reduce HAP emissions from the source category by approximately 82 percent or 43,000 megagrams per year (47,000 tons per year). In addition, application of MACT required by this rule will achieve similar levels of reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions from the source category. The human health effects associated with exposure to the HAP emissions can range from mild to severe and may include reduction of lung function, respiratory irritation, and neurotoxic effects. Similarly, emissions of VOC are associated with a variety of adverse health and welfare impacts. The HAP and VOC emissions reductions achieved by implementing this rule in combination with similar rules will achieve the primary Clean Air Act goal to ``enhance the quality of the Nation's air resources so as to promote the public health and welfare and productive capacity of its population.'' The intent of this final rule is to protect public health by requiring the maximum degree of reduction of HAP emissions from new and existing sources, taking into consideration the cost of achieving such emission reduction; any non air quality, health, and environmental impacts; and energy requirements.