Release Date:
The Obama administration recently proposed easing rules aimed at reducing toxic air pollution from industrial boilers and incinerators, though administration officials restated that the regulation's health benefits will not be compromised.
The regulation changes would require pollution controls at the 5,500 largest and most polluting boilers nationwide, such as those at refineries and chemical plants. An additional 195,000 smaller boilers would be able to meet the rule through routine tune-ups. The majority of boilers nationwide, about 1.3 million, would not be covered by the rule, however, as these boilers are too small and emit too little pollution to warrant controls.
"We have found a way to get better protections, lower emissions and lower costs as well," said Environmental Protection Agency air pollution official, Gina McCarthy. She said the agency aims to implement affordable, practical regulations that provide vital health benefits that Americans deserve.
Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, issued a statement saying the boiler rules would still do significant harm to job growth in the manufacturing industry.
"We will continue to urge the EPA to extend the compliance time frame and consider a more reasonable approach to setting the emission standards to ensure additional jobs are not put at risk," Timmons said.
For more information on complying with Boiler MACT rules, visit http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/boiler/boilerpg.html.