FINAL AMENDMENTS TO AIR TOXICS STANDARDS FOR PORTLAND CEMENT MANUFACTURING FACT SHEET December 20, 2012 – In response to a federal court decision, petitions for reconsideration and technical information received after final rules were issued in 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized amendments to the agency’s air toxics rules for Portland cement manufacturing. The amended rule will maintain dramatic reductions of mercury, acid gases, particulate matter and total hydrocarbons from existing cement kilns across the country, while ensuring that emissions from new kilns remain low. Today’s final amendments apply to two air emissions rules for the Portland cement industry: air toxics standards and new source performance standards. The final air toxics rule retains emission limits for mercury, acid gases and total hydrocarbons from the 2010 rules, along with retaining requirements that kilns continuously monitor compliance with limits for mercury, total hydrocarbons and particulate matter (PM). The air toxics rule also adjusts the way cement kilns continuously monitor PM emissions, and adjusts emissions limits for PM and organic air toxics. Existing kilns must comply with the standards by Sept. 9, 2015, and if needed, may request an additional year. EPA is making conforming changes to the PM limits in the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for new cement kilns. Today’s rule is expected to significantly reduce pollution from Portland cement manufacturing over 2010 levels when fully implemented, cutting emissions of mercury by 93 percent, hydrochloric acid by 96 percent, PM by 91 percent, and total hydrocarbons by 82 percent. The revised rule will maintain important health benefits associated with reducing mercury, acid gases and particulate matter while reducing the cost of compliance. EPA estimates that cement kilns will have to spend $52 million less to implement requirements in the revised rule than the 2010 rule. In developing the emissions limits for the air toxics rule, EPA excluded data from cement kilns that burn non-hazardous solid waste. Those kilns are subject to another rule, the emission standards for Commercial/Industrial Solid Waste Incinerators. Requirements in the final rules The final rules change the monitoring method that facilities use to demonstrate compliance with emissions limits for PM, and make change to the PM emission limits that are necessary as a result. o EPA made these changes based on new real-world technical information that indicated PM emissions could not be reliably measured using the monitoring requirements EPA
had required in the 2010 rule. o The revised monitoring method requires kilns to monitor continuously to demonstrate compliance with the PM limits. The amendments also: o Change the compliance date for existing kilns under the air toxics standards to Sept. 9, 2015. Facilities may request an additional year, if needed. EPA is changing the compliance date because the rule revisions make it necessary for the cement industry to reassess its emission control strategies. o Some facilities are expected to choose different emission controls to meet the revised requirements. o Allow better-performing kilns greater flexibility in meeting the daily operating limits that facilities use to demonstrate continuous compliance. This flexibility applies only to those facilities with PM or organic air toxic emissions that remain below 75 percent of the emission limits in the final rule. o Treat coal mills that use kiln exhaust as a part of the cement kiln. This means emissions from coal mills are included when determining if a kiln is meeting emission limits. o Revise the open clinker pile standards from the 2010 final rule by allowing facilities to choose from a list of work practices to control fugitive emissions. The work practices would apply to any open clinker piles, regardless of the quantity of clinker or the length of time that the clinker pile exists. Facilities
Review: Papers & Proceedings 2009, 99:2, 177–183 http://www.aeaweb.org/articles.php?doi=10.1257/aer.99.2.177 Air Pollution And HeAltH Around tHe World † Fetal Exposures to Toxic Releases and Infant Health By Janet Currie and Johannes F. Schmieder* Every year, millions of pounds of toxic chemicals thought to be linked to developmental problems in fetuses are released into the air. Yet, we have only limited information about the health effects of these releases. A 1998 Environmental Protection…
1. 1. 80 to 85% of electronic products were discarded in landfills or incinerators, which can release certain toxics into the air. 2. 2. E-waste represents 2% of America's trash in landfills, but it equals 70% of overall toxic waste. The extreme amount of lead in electronics alone causes damage in the central and peripheral nervous systems, the blood and the kidneys. 3. 3. 20 to 50 million metric tons of e-waste are disposed worldwide every year. 4. 4. Cell phones and other electronic items contain…
Environmental Pollution and Waste: Air, Water, and Land Media Environmental Sustainability Educational Resources prepared by Gregory A. Keoleian Associate Research Scientist, School of Natural Resources and Environment Co-Director, Center for Sustainable Systems University of Michigan 1 Contents • • • • • • • • Air Pollution Impacts [slide 4] Sources of Air Toxics [slide 5-6] Criteria Air Pollutants [slide 7-9] Trends in National Emissions of Criteria Pollutants…
increasingly grown since the start of the Obama Administration. These regulations include, a limit on Carbon Dioxide Emissions, concentration of selenium in coalmine discharge water, and the mercury air toxin standard (MATS). Limiting the carbon monoxide emissions the EPA hopes to reduce the pollution of this toxic greenhouse gas. Coal fired power plants released 2.2 billion tons od carbon dioxide in 2011, according to the EPA, so a 25 percent cut would result in a reduction of 500 million tons. To attain…
nitrogen (N2) combines with oxygen (O2). • Nitric oxide (NO) has no color, odor, or taste and is nontoxic • Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a reddish-brown gas with a pungent, irritating odor. • Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a colorless, slightly sweet-smelling, non-toxic gas which occurs naturally in the atmosphere. SOURCES • Nitrogen oxides occurs naturally and also are produced by man’s activities. • In nature – a result of bact4erial processes, biological growth and decay, lightning, and forest and grassland fires…
I'm scared, I'm scared about the future of our country. There is poisoness toxins leaking into the air and water, and most of us don't know about it. Hi I'm Kate, and I don't think fracking should be legal in New Zealand. I want to know, how the fracking procedure is undertaken? what happens to the chemicals involved? and what are the risks or side affects involved? After researching several sources I've found a clear example of the procedure. Fracking is a procedure used by oil companies…
toys and cycle helmets. The Lion Mark is used by British toy manufacturers; it shows that the toys meet British Standards. The manufacturer or distributor must indicate clearly on the packaging or the instructions certain risks and minimum age of child. The British Standard BS EN 71 is a recognised standard for the safety of toys which are sold in the UK or Europe. This standard includes that toys must be flame resistant, must not present a risk of poisoning; they should not have any sharp edges…
hazard is not recognized and OSHA standards are not enforced. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the thin membranes lining organs in the chest (pleura) and abdomen (peritoneum). Mesothelioma is closely linked with asbestos; most cases of mesothelioma result from direct exposure to asbestos at work. For smokers, exposure to asbestos can be exceptionally risky. Smokers are 50-84 times more likely to develop lung cancer than normal (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry,…
pollution in the environment. Waste can be infectious, toxic and or radioactive, for improper waste management will create a tremendous threat to residents in these under developed cities worldwide, particularly those residents living close to dumpsites. Depending on a city’s level of waste management, waste may be disposed of in an uncontrolled manner, segregated for recycling purposes or simply burnt which can pollute water, food sources, land, air and vegetation. This method of waste disposal creates…
do not follow safety practices in a University lab or research area you are breaking the law. The following regulations control the manner that you may use chemicals: * Laboratory Safety Standard (regulated by Occupational Health and Safety Administration) * Employee Right-to-Know (ERTK) standards * your department’s Laboratory Safety Plan By completing this tutorial you are meeting one of your regulatory obligations. The information in this tutorial is designed specifically to provide…