EPA proposes chemical air emissions rule

Abstract

The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to issue a proposed regulation this week that will reduce air emissions of 112 toxic organic chemicals nearly 80% below current levels. The proposed rule is the outcome of a settlement agreement between the agency and the chemical industry. he so-called HON rule—going by the ungainly rubric of Hazardous Organic NESHAP (national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants)— was mandated by the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990. Its reach is vast: It affects 60 to 70% of all process units in the synthetic organic chemical manufacturing sector, and covers storage vessels, wastewater units, equipment leaks, process vents, and transfer operations. EPA estimates the cost of compliance at $870 million, but the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) projects more than $1 billion. y law, EPA was forced to issue a final but flawed regulation in April 1994. Many issues remained ill-defined or poorly developed, forcing CMA and Dow Chemical to ...