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Statement of Need: Section 112(f) of the Clean Air Act requires EPA to assess residual risks that remain after implementation of technology-based standards for each category of major sources of air-toxic emissions. Section 112(f) also mandates EPA to develop additional emission standards for these sources, as necessary, to provide an ample margin of safety. This rule will cover the major sources of air emissions within the halogenated solvent cleaning industry.

Summary of the Legal Basis: Section 112(f) of the Clean Air Act.

Alternatives: Based on its findings, EPA is co-proposed and sought comment on two options to amend to the existing standards. Both options would impose an annual cap on emissions of the solvents methylene chloride, perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene and provide cost savings to the industry. The proposed emission caps provide affected facilities with the flexibility to reduce their emissions using any traditional methods available to reduce emissions from their degreasing operations.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: Costs and benefits were summarized in the NPRM. The differences between the two options is that the annual costs for Option 1 are completely offset by the solvent savings of up to $1 million when compared to the annual costs of Option 2. Option 2 establishes a more stringent emission cap, reduces more individual risks compared to Option 1 and moves more people into the range that EPA considers acceptable with a margin of safety. Option 2 will require an increased number of facilities with risks already less than 1-in-a-million to comply with the standard. No significant small business impacts are expected under either Options 1 or 2.

Risks: Risk information was summarized in the NPRM. EPA completed a risk assessment to evaluate the risks remaining now that hazardous air emissions have been controlled at these facilities through MACT. Residual risks were found to exist from a number of facilities. Also in preparation for the proposed action, EPA completed a technology review to determine if it was necessary to revise the existing standards to account for developments in work practices, processes, and control technologies.