Other Solid Waste Incinerators (OSWI): New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and Emission Guidelines (EG) for Existing Sources
Posted by [email protected] on Sep. 7, 2020
On August 10, 2020, the EPA Administrator signed amendments to the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and Emission Guidelines (EG) for Other Solid Waste Incineration (OSWI) Units. The OSWI NSPS and EG was promulgated pursuant to section 129 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) in 2005.
This action addresses EPA’s obligation under the CAA to conduct a review for the OSWI source category. The review requires EPA to review and revise the maximum achievable control technology standards as necessary, taking into account developments in practices, processes and control technologies, no less often than every 5 years. This proposed review is subject to a court-ordered publication deadline of August 31, 2020, and the final rule is subject to a court-ordered promulgation date of May 31, 2021.
Following a recurring statutory review conducted under Clean Air Act (CAA) section 129, EPA determined that no new cost-effective controls are available. The agency is not making any changes to the standards based on the results of the CAA 129 review. However, based on additional information the agency has obtained since the 2005 final rule, EPA is proposing to amend the standards for small OSWI units by:
- Amending rule applicability provisions to recognize, based on (1) the type of waste being combusted and (2) daily combustion capacity, that some units previously subject to the Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration (CISWI) rule are OSWI units.
- Increasing testing and monitoring flexibilities so small units with rudimentary designs can demonstrate compliance with the OSWI rule.
To address some issues that resulted in a voluntary remand of the 2005 OSWI rule, the agency is proposing to revise standards for small OSWI units based on data from representative units.
EPA is proposing other minor amendments to the rule, including:
- revised regulatory provisions related to emissions during periods of startup, shutdown and malfunction; and
- provisions for electronic reporting of certain notifications and reports.
If finalized as proposed, EPA estimates the amendments would reduce air pollutant emissions from the OSWI source category by about 31 tons per year.
A fact sheet and pre-publication version of the final rule may be accessed here: https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/other-solid-waste-incinerators-oswi-new-source-performance
