National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Source Category: Pulp and Paper Production; Effluent Limitations Guidelines, Pretreatment Standards, and New Source Performance Standards: Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Category

This action promulgates effluent limitations guidelines and standards under the Clean Water Act (CWA) for a portion of the pulp, paper, and paperboard industry, and national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) under the Clean Air Act (CAA) as amended in 1990 for the pulp and paper production source category. EPA is also promulgating best management practices under the CWA for a portion of the pulp, paper, and paperboard industry, and new analytical methods for 12 chlorinated phenolic pollutants and for adsorbable organic halides (AOX). This action consolidates into 12 subcategories what had once been 26 subcategories of effluent limitations guidelines and standards for the pulp, paper, and paperboard industry, and revises the existing effluent limitations guidelines and standards for the Bleached Papergrade Kraft and Soda subcategory and the Papergrade Sulfite subcategory. The revised effluent limitations guidelines and standards require existing and new facilities within these two subcategories to limit the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters of the United States and to limit the introduction of pollutants into publicly owned treatment works. The NESHAP requires existing and new major sources within the pulp and paper production source category to control emissions using the maximum achievable control technology (MACT) to control hazardous air pollutants (HAP). EPA is revising the effluent limitations guidelines and standards for the Bleached Papergrade Kraft and Soda subcategory and the Papergrade Sulfite subcategory primarily to reduce the discharge of toxic and nonconventional chemical compounds found in the effluents from these mills. Discharge of these pollutants into the freshwater, estuarine, and marine ecosystems may alter aquatic habitats, affect aquatic life, and adversely impact human health. Discharges of chlorinated organic compounds from chlorine bleaching, particularly dioxins and furans, are human carcinogens and human