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112(n) - Studies: Utilities, Coke Ovens, POTWs, Mercury, Hydrogen Sulfide
(n) Other provisions: Requires that the EPA perform studies concerning HAP emissions and control technologies from electric utility steam-generating units, coke oven production, and publicly-owned treatment works. This includes a study of mercury , associated emissions, health and environmental effects, and control technologies for mercury. Additionally, the EPA must assess the public health hazards associated with emissions of hydrogen sulfide from oil and gas extraction, and emissions of hydrofluoric acid in areas that do not have comprehensive health and safety regulations addressing hydrofluoric acid. The Hydrogen Flouride report was issued by the Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office (CEPPO) in September 1993. The report number is EPA 550-R-93-001. "Hydrogen Flouride Study: Report to Congress. Order from NTIS . NTIS order number is PB 94-121308. For information about the mercury study contact Chuck French (french.chuck@epa.gov).
The full text of CAA Section 112(n) follows:
(n)Other provisions.-
(1) Electric utility steam generating units.-
(A) The Administrator shall perform a study of the
hazards to public health reasonably anticipated to occur
as a result of emissions by electric utility steam
generating units of pollutants listed under subsection (b)
after imposition of the requirements of this Act. The
Administrator shall report the results of this study to
the Congress within 3 years after the date of the
enactment of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. The
Administrator shall develop and describe in the
Administrator's report to Congress alternative control
strategies for emissions which may warrant regulation
under this section. The Administrator shall regulate
electric utility steam generating units under this
section, if the Administrator finds such regulation is
appropriate and necessary after considering the results of
the study required by this subparagraph.
(B) The Administrator shall conduct, and transmit to
the Congress not later than 4 years after the date of
enactment of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, a study
of mercury emissions from electric utility steam
generating units, mu-nicipal waste combustion units, and
other sources, including area sources. Such study shall
consider the rate and mass of such emissions, the health
and environmental effects of such emissions, technologies
which are available
to control such emissions, and the costs of such technolo-
gies.
(C) The National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences shall conduct, and transmit to the Congress not
later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, a study to determine the
threshold level of mercury exposure below which adverse
human health effects are not expected to occur. Such study
shall include a threshold for mercury concentrations in
the tissue of fish which may be consumed (including
consumption by sensitive populations) without adverse
effects to public health.
(2) Coke oven production technology study.-
(A) The Secretary of the Department of Energy and the
Administrator shall jointly undertake a 6-year study to
assess coke oven production emission control technologies
and to assist in the development and commercialization of
technically practicable and economically viable control
technologies which have the potential to significantly
reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants from coke
oven production facilities. In identifying control
technologies, the Secretary and the Administrator shall
consider the range of existing coke oven operations and
battery design and the availability of sources of
materials for such coke ovens as well as alternatives to
existing coke oven production design.
(B) The Secretary and the Administrator are authorized
to enter into agreements with persons who propose to
develop, install and operate coke production emission
control technologies which have the potential for signifi-
cant emissions reductions of hazardous air pollutants
provided that Federal funds shall not exceed 50 per
centum of the cost of any project assisted pursuant to
this paragraph.
(C) The Secretary shall prepare annual reports to
Congress on the status of the research program and at the
completion of the study shall make recommendations to the
Administrator identifying practicable and economically
viable control technologies for coke oven production
facilities to reduce residual risks remaining after
implementation of the standard under subsection (d).
(D) There are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000
for each of the fiscal years 1992 through 1997 to carry
out the program authorized by this paragraph.
(3) Publicly owned treatment works.- The Administrator may
conduct, in cooperation with the owners and operators of pub-
licly owned treatment works, studies to characterize emissions
of hazardous air pollutants emitted by such facilities, to
identify industrial, commercial and residential discharges that
contribute to such emissions and to demonstrate control
measures for such emissions. When promulgating any standard
under this section applicable to publicly owned treatment
works, the Administrator may provide for control measures that
include pretreatment of discharges causing emissions of
hazardous air
pollutants and process or product substitutions or limitations
that may be effective in reducing such emissions. The Adminis-
trator may prescribe uniform sampling, modeling and risk
assessment methods for use in implementing this subsection.
(4) Oil and gas wells; pipeline facilities.-
(A) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a),
emissions from any oil or gas exploration or production
well (with its associated equipment) and emissions from
any pipeline compressor or pump station shall not be
aggregated with emissions from other similar units,
whether or not such units are in a contiguous area or
under common control, to determine whether such units or
stations are major sources, and in the case of any oil or
gas exploration or production well (with its associated
equipment), such emissions shall not be aggregated for any
purpose under this section.
(B) The Administrator shall not list oil and gas
production wells (with its associated equipment) as an
area source category under subsection (c), except that the
Administrator may establish an area source category for
oil and gas production wells located in any metropolitan
statistical area or consolidated metropolitan statistical
area with a population in excess of 1 million, if the
Administrator determines that emissions of hazardous air
pollutants from such wells present more than a negligible
risk of adverse effects to public health.
(5) Hydrogen sulfide.- The Administrator is directed to
assess the hazards to public health and the environment
resulting from the emission of hydrogen sulfide associated with
the extraction of oil and natural gas resources. To the extent
practicable, the assessment shall build upon and not duplicate
work conducted for an assessment pursuant to section 8002(m) of
the Solid Waste Disposal Act and shall reflect consultation
with the States. The assessment shall include a review of
existing State and industry control standards, techniques and
enforcement. The Administrator shall report to the Congress
within 24 months after the date of enactment of the Clean Air
Act Amendments of 1990 with the findings of such assessment,
together with any recommendations, and shall, as appropriate,
develop and implement a control strategy for emissions of
hydrogen sulfide to protect human health and the environment,
based on the findings of such assessment, using authorities
under this Act including sections 111 and this section.
(6) Hydrofluoric acid.- Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the
Administrator shall, for those regions of the country which do
not have comprehensive health and safety regulations with
respect to hydrofluoric acid, complete a study of the potential
hazards of hydrofluoric acid and the uses of hydrofluoric acid
in industrial and commercial applications to public health and
the environment considering a range of events including worst-
case accidental releases and shall make recommendations to the
Congress for the reduction of such hazards, if appropriate.
(7) RCRA facilities.- In the case of any category or
subcategory of sources the air emissions of which are regulated
under subtitle C of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, the
Administrator shall take into account any regulations of such
emissions which are promulgated under such subtitle and shall,
to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with the
provisions of this section, ensure that the requirements of
such subtitle and this section are consistent.