Laserfiche WebLink
<br />01/27/1998 15:12 <br /> <br />5124841903 <br /> <br />GARY MCLEAN INC <br /> <br />PAGE 09 <br /> <br />'What Are Some of the Major General Requirements Under Air Toxics? <br /> <br />The first is that allernission sources wUl be grouped as either a major source (10 tons ot emissions or more per year), <br />or an artt2 source (less than 10 ton8 emissions per year). Keep in mind that these are air emissions, not total soivent <br />consumption. When hazardous waste disposal 19 used, the perc content in that waste is no longer an air emission. <br />Taking that into account, a plant with a solvent mlieage of 6JXX} Ibs/drum can dean about 4,500 Ibs/week before exceeding <br />10 tons of emIssions per year. If solvent mileage is about 9,000 lbs/drum, than about 8,400 Ibs can be cleaned per week if <br />mileage is about 12,000 IDs/drum, than about 14,800 Ibs per week can be done. Finally, 18,000 lbs/drum would typically <br />allow "55,000 Ibs of cleaning per week before 10 tons of emissions are exceeded. Obviously, every plant in the country Can-<>r <br />should be able to-meet the definition of an area sourCE. <br />The drawback to being classified as a major source? "Maximum Available Control Tt!Chnoiogy" will be required, where <br />any new or existing source must achieve emission controls equal to that already being achieved by the best single plant <br />in the industry. Further, future standards on "residual risk" ("possible" carcinogenicity) to the nearest exposed <br />individual living or working around the plant maybe required-and equipment put In to meet a MACT standard might <br />not meet a "residual risk" standard. <br /> <br />What Can We Most Likely Expect In Terms of Regulations? <br /> <br />EPA has already been working on perc standards for two years. Right now, we expect those to be proposed by late 1991, <br />with final regulations expected in mid-to late 1992. IFI has already been meeting with EPA's Air Office. While there art! no <br />guarantees, their current direction on proposed standards for perc drycleaning is as follows: <br />.: New Plants: A requirement for dry-to-dry" no ven.t" refngerated cleaning machines. <br />. Existing Plants: For current dry-to-dry "no vent" machInes, no Further equipment requirements. Por transfer and <br />venled dry-to-dry operations, a requirement (or carbon vapor ad50rbers-with the possibHity that add-un retiigerated <br />condensers may be allowed as an alternative to carbon adsorbers. <br />.' Modified Plants: The Clean Air Act normally requires that an existing plant that ref laces old equipment must then meet <br />the requirements for a new plant. However, EPA may allow the very smallest 0 plants-who will already have been <br />required to install an adsorber or add-on refrigerated condenser-to replace their drycleamng machine or tumbll!:r instead <br />of requiring them to purchase a new dry-to-d.ry refrigerated machine. <br />The industry was successful in getting specific language in the law titating that EPA should look at Uwork practice <br />standards" for industries such as ourselves. This is exactly the direction in which IFI has been encouraging EPA's Air <br />Office, where proper equipment and operations should be specified in a regulation, instead of numerical standards <br />and/or emission monitoring requirements! AdditionaUy, Congress has stated that emissions monitoring need not be <br />required if it is not practical because of technology or economics. <br /> <br />What Other Information Should I Know About? <br /> <br />Within one year, EPA must publish a list of all major and area source categories by industry. In five years, EPA must <br />publish a list of enough area sources to assure that 90 pe:rcent of the emissions of the 30 "most serious" area source <br />pollutants are regulated. Within an additional five years, EPA must regulate these sourc~s. Bec~use of this, we ma~ be <br />fortunate in having the perc standard completed early on, rather than later when EPA 1S lookmg for ways to ach1eve <br />the total 90 percent reduction. <br /> <br />1,1,1-TRICHLOROTHANE AND F-113 PLANTS <br /> <br />What Are the Key Provisions Under the Clean Air Amendments? <br />Because of ozone depletion in the stratosphere, futu.re production of l,l,l-trichloroethane wilt be reduced. The <br />reduction schedule for "regular" fluorocarbons (such as 1=-113) has been reeet, and fluorocarbon substitutes (HCPC's) <br />will also ultimately be phaSed out. <br /> <br />What Can I Expect To Happen? <br /> <br />First, a continued escalation of F-113 prices, whi~h ~re already typically in .a $70 per gall.on range. Phase-out will continue <br />over the next ten years, while production taxes w1ll Increase; as a result, pnces w1ll continue to escalate: <br />For 1.1,1-trlchloroethane, prOduction reductions wiIJ start in 1~3 and continue t? 2002. T~xes win also be pha~d <br />in: per gallon, these will be $1.52 in 1991-92. $1.85 in 1993, $3.33 10 1~94, and $3.44 10 1995. Given both the productl.on <br />reductions and taxes, we are likely to see increases in prices starting next year, although not of a level seen with <br />fluorocarbons. Phase-<Jut schedules-effective each January 1-are as follows: <br /> <br />, ,Year of R8d1ict1on - <br />F-tt3 (Reduction frOm t~8818VeI.) <br />1. 1, 1 [ReduCtiOD from t9891evela) <br /> <br />1991 190iiII 1093 199.4 1995 199& 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 <br />. 85% 80~ 75%, 65% 501M1 40~ 15% lS% 15~ 0 0 0 <br />,100% 100% 90% 8S,," 70% 50'*' 50% 50% 50% 20% 20% 0 <br />