The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule to limit volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal sites.
EPA said the rule, issued under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), will help reduce public health problems, particularly cancer, caused by toxic air emissions.
The rule will require air tight covers and vapor control devices for affected units. EPA estimated the rule will reduce cancer cases associated with toxic emissions from these facilities to two cases/year from about 48/year.
"The regulation will also result in a nationwide reduction of more than 1 million tons of smog-forming emissions, which can cause respiratory problems," EPA said.
The agency said the final rule will reduce VOC emissions from tanks' surface impoundments, and containers by more than 95%. It will apply to about 2,300 existing and any new facilities nationwide that require a RCRA permit to operate.
"The majority of these units are concentrated in urban areas and are privately owned by large companies that generate the waste," EPA said.
About 20,000 hazardous waste generators also will be affected because the rule applies to generator tanks and containers used for hazardous waste storage.
EPA said hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities are the largest industrial sources of VOC emissions in the U.S. VOC emissions are the main ingredient in smog formation and contribute to toxic air pollution.
It said organic toxic emissions from the regulated facilities include numerous carcinogens such as acrylonitrile, benzene, and carbon tetrachloride, as well as other noncarcinogenic toxics.
EPA estimated the rule will cost industry a capital investment of about $290 million and expenses of about $110 million/year.
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