Emissions Standards for Boilers and Process Heaters and Commercial / Industrial Solid Waste Incinerators
Regulatory Actions
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Adobe PDF files on this page. See EPA's PDF page for more information about getting and using the free Acrobat Reader.
EPA finalizes clean air standards for industrial boilers, and certain incinerators, and non-hazardous secondary materials definition.
December 20, 2012 – EPA issued final changes to Clean Air Act standards for major and area source boilers and commerical/industrial solid waste incinerators. These adjusted standards will achieve extensive public health protections by reducing toxic air pollution, while increasing the rule’s flexibility and addressing concerns raised by industry and labor groups.
- Overview Summary Fact Sheet (PDF) (4pp, 83k)
- Overview Technical Fact Sheet (PDF) (6pp, 73k)
- Adjustments from December 2011 Proposed Reconsideration (PDF) (3pp, 73k)
- Emission Reductions Remain Significant for Comparable Cost (PDF) (2pp, 56 KB)
Final Emission Standards for Area Source Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers
- Final Emissions Standards - Area Source Boilers (PDF) (36pp, 528k) - Federal Register - February 1, 2013
- Fact Sheet - Area Source Boilers (PDF) (5pp, 93k)
Final Emission Standards for Major Source Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional oilers and Process Heaters
- Final Emissions Standards - Major Source Boilers (PDF) (77p, 883k) - Federal Register - January 31, 2013
- Fact Sheet - Major Source Boilers (PDF) (4pp, 114k)
- Regulatory Impact Analysis for Major Source Boilers (PDF) (262pp, 4.3 MB)
Final Emissions Standards for Commercial/Industrial Solid Waste Incinerators (CISWI)
- Final Emissions Standards for CISWI (PDF) (103pp, 1.3 MB) - Federal Register - February 7, 2013
- Fact Sheet for CISWI (PDF) (3pp, 71k)
- Regulatory Impact Analysis for CISWI (PDF) (151pp, 2.1 MB)
For information on the revisions to the Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials (NHSM) Rule, visit http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/define/index.htm
EPA Denies Petitions for Reconsideration of Sewage Sludge Incinerator Rules
April 18, 2012 – EPA issued a notice denying two petitions for reconsideration of its final new source performance standards and emission guidelines for sewage sludge incinerators. Both petitions failed to meet procedural tests for reconsideration as required under the Clean Air Act. In letters sent on April 6, 2012, EPA notified petitioners of the decision to deny the request for reconsideration.
- Notice Denying Petitions for Reconsideration (PDF) (5pp, 280k)
- Letters to Petitioners (PDF) (17pp, 8.0 MB)
EPA proposes reconsiderations for boilers and incinerators, and proposes revisions to the non-hazardous secondary materials rule
December 2, 2011 - EPA issued proposed reconsiderations for rules to reduce emissions of air pollutants from existing and new Boilers and major and area source facilities, and from Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incinerators (CISWI). EPA also proposed revisions to the Non-Hazardous Secondary Material (NHSM) Rule.
- Overview Fact Sheet (PDF) (4pp, 30k)
- Presentation (PDF) (16pp, 550k)
Proposed Emissions Standards for Area Source Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers
- Proposed Emissions Standards - Area Source (PDF) (21pp, 216k) - Federal Register - Dec 23, 2011
- Fact Sheet - Area Source (PDF) (5pp, 32k)
Proposed Emissions Standards for Major Source Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters
- Proposed Emissions Standards - Major Source (PDF) (75pp, 589k) - Federal Register - Dec 23, 2011
- Fact Sheet - Major Source (PDF) (5pp, 32k)
Proposed Emissions Standards for Commercial/Industrial Solid Waste Incinerators (CISWI) and Revisions to the Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials Rule (NHSM)
- Proposed Emissions Standards for CISWI (PDF) (79pp, 460k) - Federal Register - Dec 23, 2011
- Fact Sheet for CISWI (PDF) (4pp, 28k)
- Fact Sheet for NHSM (PDF) (2pp, 57k)
For additional information on NHSM, visit http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/define/index.htm
EPA Announces Timeline for Reconsideration of Air Toxics Standards for Boilers and Certain Incinerators
June 24, 2011 - As part of a filing with the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, the EPA has set a schedule for issuing updated air toxics standards for boilers and certain solid waste incinerators. To ensure that the agency's standards are based on the best available data and the public is given ample opportunity to provide additional input and information, the agency will propose standards by the end of October 2011 and issue final standards by the end of April 2012.
- Motion to Hold Case in Abeyance - Initial Brief - National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Major Sources: Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters (PDF) (5pp, 24k)
- Motion to Hold Case in Abeyance - Initial Brief - Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources and Emission Guidelines for Existing Sources: Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units (PDF) (5pp, 25k)
- Motion to Hold Case in Abeyance - Reply Brief - Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources and Emission Guidelines for Existing Sources: Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units (PDF) (4pp, 13k)
May 16, 2011 - EPA announces next step on air toxics standards for boilers and certain incinerators. Agency is allowing time to seek and review additional public input on new standards.
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (4pp, 27k)
- Notice (PDF) (3pp, 185k) - Federal Register - May 18, 2011
February 21, 2011 - EPA issued final rules that will reduce emissions of air pollutants from existing and new Boilers, Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incinerators (CISWI), and Sewage Sludge Incinerators (SSI).
- Overview Fact Sheet (PDF) (5pp, 49k)
Emissions Standards for Area Source Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers
- Final Rule (PDF) (53pp, 413k) - Federal Register - March 21, 2011
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (5pp, 36k)
- Technical Assistance Fact Sheet (PDF) (3pp, 26k)
- Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) (Area and major source boilers are covered in the same RIA)
- Compliance information
Emissions Standards for Major Source Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters
- Final Rule (PDF) (95pp, 669k) - Federal Register - March 21, 2011
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (5pp, 35k)
- Technical Assistance Fact Sheet (PDF) (3pp, 26k)
- Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) (Area and major source boilers are covered in the same RIA)
Emissions Standards for Commercial/Industrial Solid Waste Incinerators
- Final Rule (PDF) (87pp, 558k) - Federal Register - March 21, 2011
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (5pp, 36k)
- Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA)
Emissions Standards for Sewage Sludge Incinerators
- Final Rule (PDF) (83pp, 579k) - Federal Register - March 21, 2011
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (5pp, 35k)
- Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA)
February 21, 2011 - EPA announces that it will “reconsider” certain aspects of the boiler and commercial/industrial solid waste incinerator (CISWI) rules. The sewage sludge incinerator rule is not part of the reconsideration. The final boiler and CISWI rules reflect reasonable approaches consistent with the requirements of the Clean Air Act. However, some of the issues identified in the comments on our April 2010 proposals raised difficult technical issues that the Agency believes would benefit from additional public involvement.
- CISWI Reconsideration Notice (PDF) (2pp, 50k) - Federal Register - March 21, 2011
February 21, 2011 - EPA announces that it has completed the requirements to issue emissions standards for sources of certain bioaccumulative pollutants and for hazardous air pollutants of particular interest in urban areas.
- Notice (PDF) (1pg, 43k) - Federal Register - March 21, 2011
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (2pp, 104k)
February 21, 2011 - EPA establishes its definition of solid waste.
September 30, 2010 - Proposed emissions standards for sewage sludge incinerators
- Notice (PDF) (85pp, 498k) - Federal Register - October 14, 2010
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (4pp, 39k)
EPA Seeks New Timetable for Reducing Pollution from Boilers and Incinerators
December 7, 2010 - EPA filed a motion in the federal District Court for the District of Columbia, 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 and sewage sludge incinerators. The motion seeks additional time—until April 2012—to re-propose and finalize these standards. The additional time will allow us to address the significant issues raised in public comments in a new proposal, gain additional public comment and information, and finalize a rule that will be protective and legally defensible.
- Motion to Modify Timetable (PDF) (23pp 55k)
- Declaration to the court (PDF) (19pp, 51k)
Outreach Activities
July 23, 2010, 1:00pm - 3:00pm EST Conference Call (PDF) (2pp, 46k) on Combustion Rules and Related Waste Definition ; June 9, 2010 Recorded Webinar and Presentation Materials for Proposed Actions for Solid Waste Definition, Boilers and Commercial/Institutional Solid Waste Incinerators. Follow-up Questions and Answers (PDF) (4pp, 24k) from the June 9 Webinar.
Comment Period Extension and Public Hearing Information on Proposed Rules for Boilers and Process Heaters and Commercial/Industrial Solid Waste Incinerators
- Comment Period Extended to August 23, 2010 - Federal Register - July 22, 2010. This FR notice extends the comment period beyond August 3 as published (3pp, 178k) in Federal Register June 9, 2010
- Arlington speaker list as of June 14, 2010 (PDF) (3pp, 18k)
- Houston speaker list as of June 21, 2010 (PDF) (3pp, 12k)
- Los Angeles speaker list as of June 21, 2010 (PDF) (3pp, 13k)
Definition of Non-Hazardous Solid Waste - EPA is also proposing which non-hazardous secondary materials would be considered solid waste and which would be considered fuel.
Emissions Standards for Area Source Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers
- Proposed Rule (PDF) (40pp, 361k) - Federal Register - June 4, 2010
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (5pp, 32k)
- Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) (PDF) (232pp, 2.4 MB)
- Pollutants emitted (PDF) (5pp, 42k)
- EPA is asking for comments on specific issues (PDF) (5pp, 41k)
Emissions Standards for Major Source Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters
- Proposed Rule (PDF) (68pp, 481k) - Federal Register - June 4, 2010
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (4pp, 30k)
- Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) (PDF) (232pp, 2.4 MB) (note: same as RIA above)
- Map of major source boiler locations
- Pollutants emitted (PDF) (5pp, 42k) (note: same as pollutants emitted above)
- EPA is asking for comments on specific issues (PDF) (6pp, 44k)
Emissions Standards for Commercial/Industrial Solid Waste Incinerators
- Proposed Rule (PDF) (67pp, 439k) - Federal Register - June 4, 2010
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (5pp, 31k)
- Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) (PDF) (155pp, 1.7 MB)
- Map of commercial/industrial solid waste incinerator locations
- Pollutants emitted (PDF) (4pp, 35k)
- EPA is asking for comments on specific issues (PDF) (7pp, 48k)
For more information on these rules, visit the Environmental Justice (EJ) and Rulemaking Information page.