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PA EPA ANNOUNCES NEW, FLEXIBLE WAYS TO MEET CAA STANDARDS

Release Date: 12/20/96
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PA EPA ANNOUNCES NEW, FLEXIBLE WAYS TO MEET CAA STANDARDS

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1996

EPA ANNOUNCES NEW, FLEXIBLE WAYS TO MEET CLEAN AIR ACT STANDARDS

EPA today announced a final regulation that requires that all industries self regulate air toxic pollutants to protect the public until applicable federal standards are issued. Today's action will minimize industry's paperwork burden, while still protecting public health. Since today's action was proposed in March 1994, EPA has worked in close partnership with stakeholders affected by the rule, including those in industry, state and local governments and environmental groups. Under the 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act, EPA is required to regulate major industrial facilities, by category, that emit one or more of 188 congressionally-listed air toxics. EPA has already issued air toxic standards for 47 different industrial categories (such as the chemical industry), and expects to regulate most remaining industries by the year 2000. Today's action, which implements Section 112 (g) of the Clean Air Act, only regulates facilities where air toxic emissions are likely to be highest -- the construction of new facilities, and the reconstruction of large existing facilities. An existing source would only be affected if it adds or rebuilds a large production line or process that emits air toxics above the "major" source threshold in the Clean Air Act (e.g., above 10 tons annually for any single pollutant, or above 25 tons annually for a combination of pollutants). The final rule provides a transition period for states to make adjustments in their programs to comply with the requirements. This will prevent project delays for facilities that are about to begin construction. The rule is also computer-accessible immediately through EPA's electronic bulletin board system, the Technology Transfer Network (TTN) at 919-541-5742 (backup number for access problems is 919-541-5384) under "Recently Signed Rules" on the TTN's Clean Air Act Amendments bulletin board. It is also available on the EPA web site address "http://ttnwww. rtpnc.epa.gov". For further technical information, contact Kathy Kaufman at 919-541-0102, Gerri Pomerantz at 919-541-2317 or Andy Smith at 919-541-5398.

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