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Statement of Need: Roughly a quarter of the facilities in this industry are currently regulated by national effluent limitations guidelines. Many facilities have inadequate wastewater treatment, in terms of best available technology. Current effluent limitations guidelines for aprts of this industry were developed 20 years ago and do not always reflect current practices of pollution prevention and wastewater treatment. The MP&M rule enhances protection of public health and the environment by reducing the discharge of toxic metals and organics into the environment.

Summary of the Legal Basis: The Clean Water Act requires EPA to establish effluent limitations guidelines and pretreatment standards to limit the pollutants discharged from point sources. In addition, EPA is bound by a provision in a Consent Decree entered in settlement of Natural Resources Defense Council et al. v. Whitman (D.D.C. No. 89-2980) to propose regulations for this industry by October 2000.

Alternatives: The Agency is deliberating on final regulatory options. Estimates of costs and benefits are not available at the time EPA prepared this entry for the Regulatory Plan.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: The Agency is deliberating on final regulatory options. Estimates of risk and risk reduction are not available at the time EPA prepared this entry for the Regulatory Plan.

Risks: EPA estimates that compliance with this regulation will reduce the annual discharge of conventional pollutants by at least 115 million pounds, priority pollutants by 12 million pounds, and non-conventional metal and organic pollutants by 43 million pounds. These reductions represent significant improvements in water quality. The amounts are substantial in terms of point source controls.