Risk and Technology Review
The Risk and Technology Review (RTR) is a combined effort to evaluate both risk and technology as required by the Clean Air Act (CAA) after the application of maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards. Section 112(f) of the CAA requires EPA to complete a Report to Congress that includes a discussion of methods the EPA would use to evaluate the risks remaining after the application of MACT standards. These are known as residual risks. EPA published the Residual Risk Report to Congress in March 1999. Section 112(f)(2) directs EPA to conduct risk assessments on each source category subject to MACT standards, and to determine if additional standards are needed to reduce residual risks. Section 112(d)(6) of the CAA requires EPA to review and revise the MACT standards, as necessary, taking into account developments in practices, processes and control technologies. The methodology for conducting these reviews is described in the RTR Assessment Plan. The Science Advisory Board (SAB) consultation on the RTR Assessment Plan is complete and written comments are available at the SAB website.
RTR is divided into Phases, and further divided into groups within these Phases. RTR Phase I consists of the first 8 separate residual risk standards completed through April 2007. RTR Phase II streamlines the residual risk standard development process by grouping together MACT source categories with compliance dates of 2002 and earlier. RTR Phase II is divided into 3 Groups, Groups 1, 2, and 3. The MACT source categories and corresponding EPA contacts for RTR Phase I and Phase II Groups 1 and 2 are listed below. Group 3 information will be added at a later date. Emissions data is presented below for source categories for which we are currently accepting comments.
RTR Phase II Updates
Group 1 - The comment period for the RTR Group 1 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) closed February 11, 2008. (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant Emissions: Group I Polymers and Resins (Polysulfide Rubber Production, Ethylene Propylene Rubber Production, Butyl Rubber Production, Neoprene Production); National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Epoxy Resins Production and Non-Nylon Polyamides Production; National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Source Categories: Generic Maximum Achievable Control Technology Standards (Acetal Resins Production and Hydrogen Fluoride Production, 72 FR 70543). EPA plans to publish the Final Rule by November 2008. All NPRM emission files previously posted to this website can be found in Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0211.
Group 2 - EPA published an ANPRM on March 29, 2007 (Risk and Technology Review, Phase II, Group 2 at 72 FR 29287) and received public comment on the emissions data for 12 MACT standards covering 22 source categories presented on this website. We divided Group 2 into 3 smaller subgroups, 2A, 2B, and 2C, for proposal and promulgation. We proposed Group 2A in October, 2008 and we will promulgate the final rule in November 2008. Group 2B will be proposed in Spring 2009. We plan to propose Group 2C in Summer 2009.
We are currently soliciting comments on the datasets that are presented below for the Group 2A NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 10, 2008. (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant Emissions: Group I Polymers and Resins (Epichlorohydrin Elastomers Production, HypalonTM Production, Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Production, Polybutadiene Rubber Production, and Styrene Butadiene Rubber and Latex Production); National Emission Standards for Marine Vessel Loading Operations; National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Mineral Wool Production; National Emission Standards for Pharmaceuticals Production; and National Emission Standards for the Printing and Publishing Industry). The last day of the comment period is November 24, 2008. Click here for detailed instructions for downloading and updating the emissions data. We revised the instructions for downloading and updating the emissions data on October 15, 2008. The instructions now contain new links to NEI web sites for documentation of the NEI data used in RTR modeling files for Group 2A categories. All comments and updates for Group 2A should be sent to Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0008. Risk results for each source category are presented in the Group 2A Risk Assessment Report which is posted and available for viewing in Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0008.
Information about the RTR effort for Petroleum Refineries can be found at www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/petrefine/petrefpg.html.RTR Group 3 - EPA is preparing a Group 3 ANPRM scheduled for publication in March 2009.
RTR PHASE I PROJECT (complete) | PROJECT LEAD | PHONE NUMBER |
---|---|---|
Coke Ovens |
Jeff Telander | 919-541-5427 |
Dry Cleaning | Warren Johnson | 919-541-5124 |
Industrial Cooling Towers | Phil Mulrine | 919-541-5289 |
Hazardous Organic NESHAP (HON) | Randy McDonald | 919-541-5402 |
Gasoline Distribution | Steve Shedd | 919-541-5397 |
Ethylene Oxide Sterilizers | Dave Markwordt | 919-541-0837 |
Magnetic Tape | Lynn Dail | 919-541-2363 |
Halogenated Solvents | Lynn Dail | 919-541-2363 |
RTR PHASE II Group I (Proposed in December 2007, plan to finalize rule by November 2008) |
PROJECT LEAD | PHONE NUMBER |
---|---|---|
Polymers/Resins I-Polysulfide Rubber | David Markwordt | 919-541-0837 |
Polymers/Resins I-Ethylene-Propylene Rubber | David Markwordt | 919-541-0837 |
Polymers/Resins I-Butyl Rubber | David Markwordt | 919-541-0837 |
Polymer/Resins I-Neoprene | David Markwordt | 919-541-0837 |
Polymers/Resins II-Epoxy Resins | Randy McDonald | 919-541-5402 |
Polymers/Resins II-Non-nylon Polyamides | Randy McDonald | 919-541-5402 |
GMACT- Hydrogen Fluoride | Bill Neuffer | 919-541-5435 |
GMACT- Acetal Resins | Dave Markwordt | 919-541-0837 |
RTR PHASE II Group 2A (Propose in October 2008, plan to finalize rule by November 2008) |
PROJECT LEAD | PHONE NUMBER | Emission Files |
---|---|---|---|
Marine Vessel Loading | David Markwordt | 919-541-0837 | ![]() |
Mineral Wool | Jeff Telander | 919-541-5427 | ![]() |
Polymers/Resins I-Hypalon Production | David Markwordt | 919-541-0837 | ![]() |
Polymers/Resins I-Epichlorohydrine Elastomers | David Markwordt | 919-541-0837 | ![]() |
Polymers/Resins I-Polybutadiene Rubber | David Markwordt | 919-541-0837 | ![]() |
Polymers/Resins I-Styrene-Butadiene Rubber/Latex | David Markwordt | 919-541-0837 | ![]() |
Polymers/Resins I-Nitrile Butadiene Production | David Markwordt | 919-541-0837 | ![]() |
Pharmaceuticals | Brenda Shine | 919-541-3608 | ![]() |
Printing and Publishing | Dave Salman | 919-541-0859 | ![]() |
Download an Adobe Acrobat file of instructions for downloading and updating the emissions data above.We revised the instructions for downloading and updating the emissions data on October 15, 2008.
RTR PHASE II Group 2B (Propose in Spring 2009) |
PROJECT LEAD | PHONE NUMBER |
---|---|---|
Natural Gas Transmission | Greg Nizich | 919-541-3078 |
Oil & Natural Gas | Greg Nizich | 919-541-3078 |
Aerospace | Mohamed Serageldin | 919-541-2379 |
RTR PHASE II Group 2C (Propose Summer 2009) |
PROJECT LEAD | PHONE NUMBER |
---|---|---|
Primary Aluminum | Donnalee Jones | 919-541-5251 |
Ship Building | Mohamed Serageldin | 919-541-2379 |
Polymers/Resins IV-Polystyrene | David Markwordt | 919-541-0837 |
Polymers/Resins IV-Methyl Methacrylate-Butadiene-Styrene | David Markwordt | 919-541-0837 |
Polymers/Resins IV-Methyl Methacrylate-Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Resins | David Markwordt | 919-541-0837 |
Polymers/Resins IV-Nitrile Resins | David Markwordt | 919-541-0837 |
Polymers/Resins IV-Polyethylene Terephthalate | David Markwordt | 919-541-0837 |
Polymers/Resins IV-Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene | David Markwordt | 919-541-0837 |
Polymers/Resins IV-V-Styrene Acrylonitrile | David Markwordt | 919-541-0837 |
RTR PHASE II Group 3 (ANPRM March 2009 |
PROJECT LEAD | PHONE NUMBER |
---|---|---|
Acrylic/Modacrylic Fibers | Jodi Howard | 919-541-4607 |
Chromium Electroplating - Decorative | Phil Mulrine | 919-541-5289 |
Chromium Electroplating - Anodizing | Phil Mulrine | 919-541-5289 |
Chromium Electroplating - Hard Chrome | Phil Mulrine | 919-541-5289 |
Flexible Polyurethane Foam | Jodi Howard | 919-541-4607 |
Ferroalloys | Conrad Chin | 919-541-1512 |
Off-site Waste Treatment | Greg Nizich | 919-541-3078 |
Phosphoric Acid and Phosphate Fertilizers | Keith Barnett | 919-541-5605 |
Polyether Polyols | Randy McDonald | 919-541-5402 |
Polycarbonates | Jodi Howard | 919-541-4607 |
Publicly Owned Treatment Works | Bob Lucas | 919-541-0884 |
Primary Lead Smelting | Chuck French | 919-541-7912 |
Pulp & Paper Production - Pulping and Bleaching Systems at Kraft, Soda, Sulfite, and Semichemical Pulping Mills (Subpart S) | Beth Palma | 919-541-5432 |
Pulp & Paper Production - Chemical Recovery Combustion Sources at Kraft, Soda, Sulfite, and Stand-alone Semichemical Pulping Mills (Subpart MM) | Beth Palma | 919-541-5432 |
Steel Pickling | Phil Mulrine | 919-541-5289 |
Secondary Lead Smelters | Chuck French | 919-541-7912 |
Wood Furniture | Lynn Dial | 919-541-2363 |
Multi-Pollutant Sector Strategies
EPA identified the Pulp and Paper Sector and the Portland Cement Sector as the candidate industries for its first multi-pollutant, sector-based strategy pilots in response to recommendations in the 2004 National Academy of Sciences' (NAS) report "Air Quality Management in the US". The report recommends that EPA develop an integrated program that considers multiple pollutants and multiple effects to set standards and develop planning and control strategies. Pulp and Paper is now undergoing RTR review and is part of Group 3 above. The following Portland Cement emission files are posted for review and comment to support this on-going effort.
Two Adobe Acrobat files of instructions for downloading and updating the emissions data are available for the Portland Cement Sector Strategy. Click here to download the file of instructions for the hazardous waste and non-hazardous waste HAP and CAP emissions data. Click here to download the file of instructions for the dioxin emissions data. The following files contain the Dioxin Mass to TEQ Ratio and the Dioxin Emission Factors Calculations referenced in the instructions for updating the dioxin emissions data.
Dioxin Mass to TEQ Ratio |
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Dioxin Emission Factors Calculations |
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The state of TX provided a crosswalk to match the state EPN (Emission Point Number) IDs and the federal NEI IDs. The EPN IDs were submitted by TX facilities and the NEI IDs were submitted by the state of TX to EPA. The three zipped Excel files below contain the crosswalk data. They provide separate files for: Anderson - Hardin Counties, Harris County, and Harrison - Zavala Counties.
Anderson - Hardin Counties | ![]() |
Harris County | ![]() |
Harrison - Zavala Counties | ![]() |
4/19/07 | WEBEX training demonstrating how to make data revisions by EPA's Anne Pope on April 19, 2007 (Windows Media Audio/Video format) | ![]() |
Section 112(f(2) (2) EMISSION STANDARDS.-- (A) If Congress does not act on any recommendation submit- ted under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall, within 8 years after promulgation of standards for each category or subcate-gory of sources pursuant to subsection (d), promul- gate stand-ards for such category or subcategory if promulgation of such standards is required in order to provide an ample margin of safety to protect public health in accordance with this sec-tion (as in effect before the date of enactment of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990) or to prevent, taking into consid-eration costs, energy, safety, and other relevant factors, an adverse environmental effect. Emission standards promulgated under this subsection shall provide an ample margin of safety to protect public health in accordance with this section (as in effect before the date of enactment of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990), unless the Administrator determines that a more stringent standard is necessary to prevent, taking into consideration costs, energy, safety, and other relevant factors, an adverse environmental effect. If standards promulgated pursuant to subsection (d) and applicable to a category or subcategory of sources emitting a pollutant (or pollutants) classified as a known, probable or possible human carcinogen do not reduce lifetime excess cancer risks to the individual most exposed to emissions from a source in the category or subcategory to less than one in one million, the Administrator shall promulgate standards under this subsection for such source category. (B) Nothing in subparagraph (A) or in any other provision of this section shall be construed as affecting, or applying to the Administrator's interpretation of this section, as in effect before the date of enactment of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and set forth in the Federal Register of September 14, 1989 (54 Federal Register 38044). (C) The Administrator shall determine whether or not to promulgate such standards and, if the Administrator decides to promulgate such standards, shall promulgate the standards 8 years after promulgation of the standards under subsection (d) for each source category or subcategory concerned. In the case of categories or subcategories for which standards under subsection (d) are required to be promulgated within 2 years after the date of enactment of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the Administrator shall have 9 years after promulgation of the standards under subsection (d) to make the determination under the preceding sentence and, if required, to promulgate the standards under this paragraph....
112(d)(6) (6) Review and revision.- The Administrator shall review, and revise as necessary (taking into account developments in practic- es, processes, and control technologies), emission standards promulgated under this section no less often than every 8 years.