2019-19091: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Taconite Iron Ore Processing Residual Risk and Technology Review

Summary

This proposal presents the results of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) residual risk and technology reviews (RTRs) for the National Emission Standards for the Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Taconite Iron Ore Processing, as required under the Clean Air Act (CAA). Based on the results of the risk review, the EPA is proposing that risks from emissions of air toxics from this source category are acceptable and that the existing standards provide an ample margin of safety. Furthermore, under the technology review, the EPA identified no cost-effective developments in controls, practices, or processes to achieve further emissions reductions. Therefore, the EPA is proposing no revisions to the existing standards based on the RTRs. However, in this action the EPA is proposing: The removal of exemptions for periods of startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM) and clarifying that the emissions standards apply at all times; the addition of electronic reporting of performance test results and compliance reports; minor technical corrections and amendments to monitoring and testing requirements that would reduce the compliance burden on industry while continuing to be protective of the environment; and that regulation of a certain type compound emitted by one of the facilities, known as elongated mineral particulate, is not required under CAA section 112 because this compound is not a hazardous air pollutant (HAP) pursuant to the CAA. This action, if finalized, would result in improved monitoring, compliance, and implementation of the existing standards.

The agency’s own summary, as published.

What this changes

Amends 1 part of the Code of Federal Regulations — the standing rules this notice rewrites.

• 40 CFR 63 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Source Categories