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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.

RTR Phase II Updates

Group 1 - EPA published the final rule for Group 1 in the Federal Register on December 16, 2008.

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.

We solicited 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 was November 24, 2008. The following link was provided with detailed instructions for downloading and updating the emissions data. All comments and updates for Group 2A are contained in Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0008. Risk results for each source category are presented in the Group 2A Risk Assessment Report which is also contained in and available for viewing in Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0008.

Group 3 - EPA is preparing a Group 3 ANPRM.

MACT Codes and Corresponding Subparts

Date	RTR Federal Register Notices	File
12/16/08	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) (Risk and Technology Review)-Final Rule.
10/24/08	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-Correction for Public Comments.
10/10/08	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-Proposed for Public Comment.
12/12/07	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.
5/25/2007	Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM); extension of public comment period.
3/26/2007	Fact Sheet:Advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM):Risk and Technology Review, Phase II, Group 2
3/29/2007	Advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM):Risk and Technology Review, Phase II, Group 2 (72FR14734)

RTR Phase II, Group I Risk Assessment Document (zipped pdf files-7020KB)

RTR PHASE II Group 2A (Proposed in October 2008)	PROJECT LEAD	PHONE NUMBER	Emission Files
Marine Vessel Loading	Steve Shedd	919-541-5397
Mineral Wool	Jeff Telander	919-541-5427
Polymers/Resins I-Hypalon Production	Randy McDonald	919-541-5402
Polymers/Resins I-Epichlorohydrine Elastomers	Randy McDonald	919-541-5402
Polymers/Resins I-Polybutadiene Rubber	Randy McDonald	919-541-5402
Polymers/Resins I-Styrene-Butadiene Rubber/Latex	Randy McDonald	919-541-5402
Polymers/Resins I-Nitrile Butadiene Production	Randy McDonald	919-541-5402
Pharmaceuticals	Brenda Shine	919-541-3608
Printing and Publishing	Dave Salman	919-541-0859

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.

Sector Based Program	Emissions	PROJECT LEADS	PHONE NUMBERS
Portland Cement Hazardous Waste HAP and CAP Emissions		Keith Barnett/Elineth Torres	919-541-5605/919-541-4347
Portland Cement Non-Hazardous Waste HAP and CAP Emissions		Keith Barnett/Elineth Torres	919-541-5605/919-541-4347
Portland Cement Dioxin Emissions		Keith Barnett/Elineth Torres	919-541-5605/919-541-4347

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
Dioxin Emission Factors Calculations

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.    
            

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