EPA Proposes Changes To Waste Incineration Rules

Burning "waste" or "fuel" triggers potentially very difference air emissions limits. On Dec. 23, 2011, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed Clean Air Act Rules to revise the Identification of Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials that are Solid Wastes (NHSM Rule) and the Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources: Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units (CISWI Rule), as well as two other rules relating to industrial boilers (covered on a separate Alert being issued today). The following is a summary of the proposed changes to the NHSM Rule, with references to the proposed reconsideration of the CISWI Rule where relevant. EPA will only take comment on these changes, and not on the underlying Final Rules. Comments on the proposed Rules must be received on or before Feb. 21, 2012.