Summary

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new rule on national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants for source category: (1) pulp and paper production; (2) effluent limitations guidelines, pretreatment standards, and new source performance standards; and (3) pulp, paper, and paperboard category. GAO noted that: (1) the rule contains new effluent limitations guidelines and standards under the Clean Water Act for a portion of the pulp, paper, and paperboard industry; (2) the rule also contains national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 for the pulp and paper production source category; (3) EPA is also promulgating best management practices under the Clean Water Act for a portion of the pulp, paper, and paperboard industry; and (4) EPA complied with applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.