Boilers or process heaters located at a major source of hazardous air pollutants are required to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). Existing sources must comply by September 13, 2007. The rule is intended to reduce emissions of metals, hydrogen chloride, particulate matter and sulfur dioxide.
The final rule provides flexibility for plant managers to meet the final emission limits by altering their work practices in ways that will reduce emissions, or they may install emission control devices such as fabric filters and scrubbers to chemically or physically remove air toxics from the boiler or process heater emission streams. Currently, the only pollution prevention option is a boiler upgrade.
