EPA proposal strengthens air pollution standards for MSW incineration facilities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a proposal to strengthen Clean Air Act standards for large facilities that burn municipal solid waste. If finalized, EPA says the updated standards would reduce emissions of nine pollutants, including smog- and soot-forming sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, by approximately 14,000 tons per year.

“By reducing harmful pollution and improving air quality, this rule will also advance environmental justice for nearby communities already overburdened with pollution," EPA Administrator Michael Regan says. “EPA is committed to working with communities and state, local and tribal governments to ensure that large facilities burning municipal waste utilize the most up-to-date and cost-effective control technologies to reduce pollution and protect public health."

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The proposed standards apply to 57 facilities with 152 units that have the capacity to combust more than 250 tons per day of municipal solid waste. Nearly 4 million Americans live within 3 miles of these facilities, which EPA says are disproportionately located in low-income communities and communities of color.

EPA says these standards are based on emissions levels achieved by the best controlled and lower emitting sources and would limit emissions of sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, lead, cadmium, mercury and dioxins/furans.

The Clean Air Act requires EPA to evaluate these standards every 5 years to consider developments in pollution control technologies and techniques. EPA last revised these standards in 2006.

After accounting for compliance costs, EPA says the net present value of health benefits from the proposed rule is approximately $14 billion over 20 years. Reductions of mercury, lead and other air pollutants required by the proposal are expected to result in additional unquantified economic and public health benefits, EPA reports. The agency believes this action is likely to advance environmental justice by reducing existing disproportionate and adverse effects on overburdened communities.

EPA will accept comments on the proposal for 60 days.