January 1, 2007—To provide incentives for reduced air toxic emissions, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to amend what are known as the “General Provisions” to its air toxics standards. The proposed amendment would encourage industrial facilities to reduce air toxics emissions so they are no longer considered a “major source” of air pollution.
Facilities known as major sources have the potential to emit more than 10 tons per year of a single toxic air pollutant or 25 tons per year of any combination of toxic air pollutants, explains EPA. If a source emits less than these amounts, it is called an area source.
The proposed amendment would allow a major source to become an area source at any time by limiting its potential to emit toxic air pollutants to below the major source thresholds, says EPA. The limit would be enforced through a permit. Once a major source becomes an area source, it would be subject to an area source standard if there is one for that industry, notes EPA.
EPA will accept comments for 60 days after the proposal is published in the Federal Register. For a fact sheet on this action, or to read the proposal, visit EPA’s site.
