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Calciners and Dryers in Mineral Industries: New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)

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Rule Summary

New source performance standards (NSPS) implement Clean Air Act (CAA) section 111(b) and are issued for categories of sources which EPA has listed because they cause, or contribute significantly to, air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare. The primary purpose of the NSPS is to attain and maintain ambient air quality by ensuring that the best demonstrated emission control technologies are installed as industrial infrastructure is modernized. Since 1970, the NSPS have been successful in achieving long-term emissions reductions in numerous industries by assuring cost-effective controls are installed on new, reconstructed, or modified sources. 

This rule covers new sources of emissions from calciners and dryers at mineral processing plants.  These facilities process and dry earth bound materials such as alumina, ball clay, bentonite, diatomite, feldspar, fire clay, fuller’s earth, gypsum, industrial sand, kaolin, lightweight aggregate, magnesium compounds, perlite, roofing granules, talc, titanium dioxide, and vermiculite to be used in various industries.  The main pollutant regulated is particulate matter.

Rule History

07/29/1993 – Correcting Amendment

09/28/1992 – Final rule

04/23/1986 – Proposed Rule

Compliance

Applicability Determination Index (ADI).  The ADI is maintained by EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) and provides a data base of memoranda dealing with applicability issues.  The database is searchable by Subpart.