![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters (ICIB)
Status: December 7, 2010 EPA files motion for New Timetable for Reducing Pollution from Boilers and IncineratorsThis site provides more information about two proposed rules published in the Federal Register (FR) on June 4, 2010 which would reduce emissions from boilers and process heaters located at major sources and from boilers located at area sources.
Boilers and process heaters are important sources of air pollution that are in virtually every community. Boilers burn natural gas, coal, wood, oil, or other fuel to produce steam. Process heaters heat raw or intermediate materials during an industrial process. Click here for more information on boilers and process heaters. Public comment period ends August 23, 2010.
- Why are these proposed rules important to me?
- How do I get more information on these proposed rules?
- How do I find out whether facilities in my community may be affected by the proposed rules?
- How do I let EPA know of my or my community's comments about these proposed rules?
- What pollutants are emitted from these sources?
- Are other resources available?
Why are these proposed rules important to me?
Boilers and heaters produce toxic air pollutants. Toxic air pollutants, also known as hazardous air pollutants, are those pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects. These proposed rules are designed to reduce the emissions of toxic air pollutants, which may be affecting your health or the health of your family or neighbors.
How do I get more information on these proposed rules?
The proposed rules are posted on line. There are two rules, one for boilers and process heaters located at major sources and another for boilers located at area sources. Fact Sheets are also available. Additional outreach materials can also be accessed from a bulleted list.
- Boilers and process heaters located at major sources: Proposed Rule (PDF)(75 FR 32006)(68pp, 481k);
Fact Sheet (PDF)(4pp, 30k)
- Boilers located at area sources: Proposed Rule (PDF)(75 FR 31896)(40pp, 361k); Fact Sheet (PDF)(5pp, 32k)
- Friday, July 23, 2010, 1:00pm - 3:00pm EST Conference Call (PDF)(2pp, 46k) on Combustion Rules and Related Waste Definition.
- EPA held a webinar on June 9, 2010 to provide participants more information about these new rules. You can view a taped version of the webinar and presentation materials. The webinar provides information about the specific requirements of these rules and how to comment on them during the comment period. Follow-up Questions and Answers (PDF) (4pp, 24k) from the June 9 Webinar are also available.
- EPA also scheduled public hearings to take oral comment on the proposed rules on June 15, 2010 in Arlington, VA; June 22, 2010 in Houston, TX; and June 22, 2010 in Los Angeles, CA.
How do I find out whether facilities in my community may be affected by the proposed rules?
EPA has a map of boilers that are located at major sources of air pollution (around 13,000 facilities). You can look at the map to see whether a facility is in your community. A map of boilers located at area sources is not available because EPA does not require that smaller sources submit precise location information.
How do I let EPA know of my or my community's comments about these proposed rules?
You can let EPA know about your comments on these proposed rules by submitting comments on or before August 23, 2010. You can comment on any part of the proposed rule. You can submit written comments via online, email, fax, hard copy, or deliver your comments by hand. More information about submitting comments can be found in the proposed rule’s summary sections (first page of Federal Register notice).
Submitting Written Comments. Written comments will be placed in the EPA Docket. The docket is where EPA stores comments and information that it used in its rulemaking. Your written comments must identify the EPA Docket ID number for the rule you are commenting on. The docket numbers associated with the proposed rules are:
- EPA Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0058 -- Boilers and process heaters located at major sources
- EPA Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0790 -- Boilers located at area sources
EPA Is Asking For Comments on Specific Issues. EPA has asked for comment on several specific issues in both the major source rule (PDF) (6pp, 45k) and the area source rule (PDF) (5pp, 43k).
What Pollutants are emitted from these sources?
Information on pollutants emitted (PDF)(5pp, 42k) from boilers and process heaters, along with the health impacts of these pollutants.
Are other resources available?
Environmental Justice (EJ) and Rulemaking Information page.
Technology Transfer Air Toxics Website - Provides links to regulatory, technical and implementation information for Industrial/Commercial/Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters. The site is primarily used by regulatory agencies and sources subject to the standard (regulated entities).
For further information about the proposed boiler rule impacting major sources, contact Mr. Brian Shrager, Energy Strategies Group, Sector Policies and Programs Division (D243-01), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; telephone number: (919) 541-7689; or email address: shrager.brian@epa.gov.
For further information about the proposed boiler rule impacting area sources, contact Ms. Mary Johnson, Energy Strategies Group, Sector Policies and Programs Division (D243-01), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; telephone number: (919) 541-5025; or email address: johnson.mary@epa.gov.
Closely related rules.
Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters (ICIB) and Commercial/Industrial Solid Waste Incinerator Units (CISWI) regulations are closely related because similar units may be considered boilers or incinerator units based on whether or not they burn solid waste materials. See the Commercial/Industrial Solid Waste Incinerator (CISWI) webpage for additional information on incineration requirements.
EPA has proposed a definition of solid waste for non-hazardous secondary material. One potential implication of the proposed definition of solid waste is that some combustion units currently considered boilers would be subject to the proposed incineration standards for energy recovery units if they continue to combust solid waste.