On June 15, 2007, U.S. EPA proposed an expansion of the comparable fuel exclusion under the rules implementing Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The new exclusion would cover fuels that are produced from hazardous waste but which generate emissions that are comparable to emissions from burning fuel oil when such fuels are burned in an industrial boiler. Such excluded fuel would be called emission-comparable fuel (ECF). ECF would be subject to the same specifications that currently apply to comparable fuels, except that the specifications for certain hydrocarbons and oxygenates would not apply. ECF generators would benefit from lower operating costs because of lower (or eliminated) waste management fees and because these fuels would substitute for fuels which would otherwise be purchased. ECF burners, which are limited to certain industrial boilers (including utility boilers), could potentially burn ECF provided the boilers meet the design and operating conditions in the proposed rule. In addition, entities storing ECF would not be subject to Subtitle C standards provided they satisfy the management conditions tailored to ECF. For further information, see the Federal Register notice or call Tom Robertson at (800) 229-5299.
On July 16, 2007, U.S. EPA issued six national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAPs) for seven types of area sources. Regulations for Flexible Polyurethane Foam Production and Flexible Polyurethane Foam Fabrication area sources have been combined under one NESHAP. The area source categories and their related Subpart classifications are listed below:
| LLLLLL | Acrylic and Modacrylic Fibers Production Area Sources |
| MMMMMM | Carbon Black Production Area Sources |
| NNNNNN | Chemical Manufacturing Area Sources: Chromium Compounds |
| OOOOOO | Flexible Polyurethane Foam Production and Fabrication Area Sources |
| PPPPPP | Lead Acid Battery Manufacturing Area Sources |
| QQQQQQ | Wood Preserving Area Sources |
An area source is a stationary source of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) which has potential emissions less than the major source thresholds of 10 tons per year of any single HAP and 25 tons per year of all HAPs combined. U.S. EPA has indicated that these sources are sufficiently regulated by existing state and federal regulations; hence, these standards do not contain any new emission control requirements. The standards do include new startup, shutdown, and malfunction requirements for some sources, however, and also include one-time emissions testing and reporting requirements. For further information, see the Federal Register notice or contact Sheri Bussard at (800) 229-7495.
According to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), Mexico will join with the United States and Canada in publishing a register of its industrial pollutant emissions this year for the first time ever. The CEC was established to address regional environmental concerns for North America. Industries in Mexico have only been required to report pollutant emissions data since 2004; prior to that, reporting was voluntary. The 2004 emissions data for all three countries will be assembled and published by August 31, 2007. The CEC also announced the use of a new internet-based geographical mapping tool which will enhance public access to pollutant emission data locally and across North America.
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