The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking an
extension in the current court-ordered schedule for issuing
rules that would reduce harmful air emissions from large and
small boilers and solid waste incinerators. The additional
time is needed for the agency to re-propose the rules based
on a full assessment of information received since the rules
were proposed.
“After receiving additional data through the
extensive public comment period, the EPA is requesting more
time to develop these important rules,” said Gina McCarthy,
assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Air and
Radiation. “We want to ensure these rules are practical to
implement and protect all Americans from dangerous
pollutants such as mercury and soot, which affect kids'
development, aggravate asthma and cause heart
attacks.”
To meet a court order requiring the EPA to issue
final rules in January 2011, the agency proposed standards
in April 2010. While the EPA requested and received some
information from the industry before the proposal, the
comments the EPA received following the proposal shed new
light on a number of key areas, including the scope and
coverage of the rules and the way to categorize the various
boiler-types.
Industry groups and others offered this information during
the public comment period after the EPA proposed the rule.
After reviewing the data and the more than 4,800 public
comments, the agency believes it is appropriate to issue a
revised proposal that reflects the new data and allows for
additional public comment.
The EPA has estimated that there are more than
200,000 boilers operating in industrial facilities,
commercial buildings, hotels and universities located in
highly populated areas and communities across the country.
The EPA has also estimated that for every $5 spent on
reducing these pollutants, the public will see $12 in health
and other benefits.
The agency is under a current court order to issue
final rules Jan. 16, 2011, and is seeking in its motion to
the court to extend the schedule to finalize the rules by
April 2012.
PAGE 2 Under current law, both on- and off-specification
used oil can be recycled through use as fuel in boilers,
industrial furnaces and space heaters. Approximately 113
million gallons is used for heating purposes by
approximately 100,000 small businesses across the U.S. in
used oil-fired space heaters.
If the proposed rule is finalized, and off-
specification used oil cannot be recycled as fuel, then
automotive maintenance facilities will have to test any used
oil they collect from the public to determine if it meets
specifications. If that happens, automotive maintenance
facilities across the country could simply stop accepting
DIY used oil, and as a result, much of the used oil that has
been safely burned for heat in boilers and space heaters for
many years could end up entering our water supply after
being poured down the drain or on the ground.
The Automotive Service Association (ASA), along with
a coalition of other industry organizations, is supporting
an effort to persuade Lisa Jackson, EPA administrator, to
consider the negative environmental and economic impact that
the proposed boiler rule would have if it is
finalized.
For more information visit www.TakingTheHill.com.
