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This proposal addresses the agency's residual risk and technology review (RTR) of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Ethylene Production. The Ethylene Production NESHAPs, subparts XX and YY, were promulgated pursuant to section 112(d) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) on July 12, 2002, and further amended on April 13, 2005. The NESHAP established emission limitations and work practice requirements based on maximum achievable control technology (MACT) for controlling emissions of hazardous air pollutants (HAP) from ethylene process vents, storage vessels, transfer racks, equipment, heat exchange systems, and waste streams. The major HAP emitted from ethylene process vents, storage vessels, transfer racks, equipment, heat exchange systems, and waste streams include benzene, 1,3-butadiene, hexane, toluene, and naphthalene. This action implements the residual risk review requirements of CAA section 112(f)(2) and the technology review requirements of CAA section 112(d)(6). CAA 112(f)(2) directs EPA to revise the NESHAP if such revisions are required to provide an ample margin of safety to protect public health or to prevent, taking relevant factors into account, an adverse environmental effect. CAA section 112(d)(6) requires the EPA to review and revise the MACT standards as necessary, taking into account developments in practices, processes and control technologies, no less often than every eight years. Pursuant to a court order, the EPA is obligated to complete the final action by March 13, 2020. In consideration of this deadline, which also applies to 19 other RTR source categories, we established an internal schedule for this RTR to be proposed and finalized prior to the consent decree deadline.

Overall Description of Deadline: Final Rule 3/13/2020--Court Order: United States District Court for the District of Columbia; California Communities Against Toxics, et al. v. Scott Pruitt; Case 1:15-cv-00512-TSC; 3/13/17.