EPA is finalizing minor amendments to the 2002 Cellulose Products Manufacturing National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). The EPA has evaluated the risks remaining after fully implementing the NESHAP and determined that risks from the Cellulose Ethers Production source category and Miscellaneous Viscose Processes source category are acceptable. In addition, the agency identified no developments in practices, processes or control technologies that would further reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants. EPA is finalizing no significant changes to the original NESHAP for these source categories as a result of the residual risk and technology review and has determined the standards continue to provide an ample margin of safety to protect public health and the environment.

EPA is also finalizing minor amendments to the existing regulation. These amendments clarify that the standards are applicable during periods of startup, shutdown and malfunction; require periodic emissions testing; and require electronic reporting of compliance reports, notifications, and performance test results. These amendments will also provide more flexibility for monitoring requirements. These minor amendments go into effect 180 days from promulgation.

For more information on the rule, visit the regulation page for Cellulose Products Manufacturing: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP).

• Fact Sheet: Final Amendments to Air Toxics Standards for Cellulose Products Manufacturing (PDF)(2 pp, 164 K)