EPA Sets Stricter NESHAP Standards For Off-Site Waste And Recovery Operations

Effective immediately, a new EPA rule (RIN 2060-AR47) updates the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for off-site waste and recovery operations. This rule implements more stringent toxic air pollutant requirements for process vents and tanks at facilities which treat, recover and/or dispose waste, used solvents, or used oil. The EPA rule will also enforce more stringent leak detection and repair requirements for valves and pumps. The rule requires new and existing affected sources to comply with 40 C.F.R. Part 63, Subpart H rather than 40 C.F.R. Part 61, Subpart V, including Subpart H requirements for connectors in gas and vapor service and in light liquid service. Subpart H (1) lowers the leak definition for valves from 10,000 ppm to 500 ppm, (2) lowers the leak definition for pump seals from 10,000 ppm to 1,000 ppm, and (iii) requires periodic instrument monitoring of connectors with a leak definition of 500 ppm (as opposed to