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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Regulatory impact analysis of air-pollutant emission standards and guidelines for municipal-waste combustors

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6969844

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the authority of Clean Air Act 111(b) and (d), proposes to regulate air pollutant emissions from new and existing municipal waste combustors (MWCs). MWC emissions cause, or contribute significantly to, air pollution that endangers public health and welfare. The Standards and Guidelines require the reduction of emissions to the air of organic compounds (principally dioxins and furans), metals (cadmium, mercury, chromium, lead, nickel, etc.), acid gases (sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, etc.), nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide. The Standards identify these pollutants as MWC emissions and nitrogen oxides. MWC emissions consist of MWC organics, MWC metals, and MWC acid gases. MWC emissions is the designated pollutant that triggers application of 111(d); the Guidelines do not address nitrogen oxides. Currently, EPA new source review permitting directives to the states recommend control of most of these pollutants at new, large MWCs.

Research Organization:
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA). Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
OSTI ID:
6969844
Report Number(s):
PB-90-154915/XAB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English