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; Rule Clarifications

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 NESHAP or the HON. In June 1994, petitions for review of the April 1994 rule were filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The petitioners raised over 75 technical issues and concerns with drafting clarity of the rule. On August 26, 1996, the EPA proposed correcting amendments to the rule to address the petitioners' issues. Among the proposed amendments were proposed revisions that would eliminate the need for filing some implementation plans that would otherwise be due December 31, 1996, and would allow the filing of requests for compliance extensions up to four months before the April 1997 compliance date. 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 (HAP) to the level reflecting application of the maximum achievable control technology. Final action on the rest of the amendments proposed on August 26, 1996 will be taken in a separate Federal Register document at a later date.