EPA is proposing amendments to the 2002 Ethylene Production National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). EPA has evaluated the risks remaining after fully implementing the NESHAP and determined that risks from the Ethylene Production source category are acceptable and that they provide an ample margin of safety to protect public health and the environment. In addition, the agency identified cost-effective developments in practices, processes or control technologies for heat exchange systems and storage vessels that would further reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants.

EPA is also proposing amendments for flares, pressure relief device releases and the decoking of ethylene cracking furnaces, and clarifying that the standards are applicable during periods of startup, shutdown and malfunction. This proposal also includes electronic reporting of notification of compliance status reports and performance test results and reports. These amendments are being proposed to go into effect upon an affected source’s initial startup or within three years from promulgation, whichever is later.

Read the summary fact sheet below.

• Fact Sheet: Proposed National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Generic Maximum Achievable Control Technology Standards Residual Risk and Technology Review for Ethylene Production (PDF)(3 pp, 190 K)