September 20, 2006—The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing options to reduce air toxics emissions by up to 70 percent from halogenated solvent cleaning operations. Halogenated solvents, also known as degreasers, are used to remove soils such as grease, oils, waxes, carbon deposits, and tars from metal, plastic, fiberglass, and other surfaces.
The proposal includes two options, both of which EPA says would result in increased health protection for the public and cost savings for the industry. The proposals would impose an annual cap on emissions of the solvents methylene chloride, perchloroethylene, and trichloroethylene.
The caps would provide affected facilities with the flexibility to reduce their emissions using any traditional methods available. Although most degreasing operations already emit less than either proposed caps, the proposal would focus on facilities posing the highest risks by requiring them to reduce emissions and meet the cap.
According to EPA, there are nearly 1,900 degreasing operations in the US. EPA estimates that its national rule to limit emissions of air toxics from degreasing operations in 1994 already reduces nationwide emissions of air toxics by 85,300 tons per year.
For more information about the proposal or to comment, visit EPA.
