First toxic air pollutant risk standards strengthen coke oven controls
On March 31, EPA issued the first in a series of emissions reductions requirements known as residual risk standards, requiring
further reductions in emissions of toxic air pollutants from coke ovens. EPA amended maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards for coke ovens to include more stringent requirements to address health risks remaining after implementing EPA's October 1993 air toxics emission standards.
These final amendments also include requirements for new or reconstructed coke oven batteries that reflect improvements in emission
control practices that have occurred in the years since the 1993
standard. These standards will reduce health risks remaining after a
category of industrial sources has fully implemented technology-based
emissions standards for toxic air pollutants, according to EPA.
Coke ovens convert coal to a higher carbon-content fuel called coke,
which is burned to produce iron at steel mills and foundries. These
standards apply to coke oven emissions from nine batteries of coke ovens
at five coke plants throughout the country. In 1993, EPA issued
technology-based emissions standards for these batteries requiring them
to utilize MACT to reduce toxic air emissions. Since 1990, EPA has
issued 96 MACT regulations that require 174 industry source categories
to eliminate 1.5 million tons per year of 188 toxic air pollutants.
This article originally appeared in the 04/01/2005 issue of Environmental Protection.