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Electric Utility Steam Generating Units: Solicitation of Additional Information for Making Regulatory Determination

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[Federal Register: February 29, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 40)]
[Notices]
[Page 10783-10784]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29fe00-59]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[AD-FRL-6544-8]


Electric Utility Steam Generating Units: Solicitation of
Additional Information for Making Regulatory Determination

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of solicitation of additional information.

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SUMMARY: The EPA must determine whether hazardous air pollutant (HAP)
emissions from electric utility steam generating units should be
regulated under section 112 of the Clean Air Act (CAA), as amended, on
or before December 15, 2000. In making this determination, the Agency
is soliciting any additional information that the public may wish to
provide to the EPA prior to the determination.

DATES: Any additional information must be submitted to the EPA no later
than March 31, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Members of the public should submit additional information
to Public Docket No. A-92-55 at the following address: U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Air and Radiation Docket and
Information Center (6102), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. The
docket is located at the above address in Room M-1500, Waterside Mall
(ground floor), and may be inspected from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William Maxwell, Combustion Group,
Emission Standards Division (MD-13), U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, telephone number:
(919) 541-5430, facsimile number: (919) 541-5450, e-mail
maxwell.bill@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 112(n)(1)(A) of the CAA requires the
EPA to perform a study (i.e., utility toxics study) of the hazards to
public health reasonably anticipated to occur as a result of HAP
emissions from electric utility steam generating units, after
imposition of the requirements of the CAA, and to prepare a Report to
Congress containing the results of the study. The Agency is to proceed
with

[[Page 10784]]

rulemaking activities under section 112 to control HAP emissions from
electric utility steam generating units if the EPA finds such
regulation is appropriate and necessary after considering the results
of the study. The utility toxics study was completed and the Final
Report to Congress issued on February 24, 1998. The Agency is required
to make a finding as to whether it is appropriate and necessary to
control HAP emissions from electric utility steam generating units no
later than December 15, 2000.
    In the Final Report to Congress, the EPA stated that mercury is the
HAP emission of greatest potential concern from coal-fired utilities
and noted several areas where additional research and monitoring were
merited. Among the additional research areas noted were: (1) Collection
and assessment of additional data on the mercury content of various
types of coal; (2) collection and assessment of additional data on
mercury emissions; (3) collection and assessment of additional
information on control technologies or pollution prevention options
that are available, or will be available, and the costs of those
options; and (4) further review of the available data on the health
impacts associated with exposure to mercury.
    The EPA has ongoing investigations and analyses pertaining to these
research areas. Three efforts are prominent. First, following issuance
of the Final Report to Congress, the EPA initiated an information
collection request to gather, under the authority of section 114 of the
CAA, data on the mercury content of the coals burned in, and the
exhaust gases from, coal-fired utility units during 1999. In addition,
the EPA, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy and other
parties, is collecting information to assess the effectiveness and
costs of various mercury pollution control technologies and pollution
prevention options. Finally, the EPA has an agreement with the National
Academy of Sciences to perform a review of the available data on the
health impacts associated with exposure to mercury. In addition, the
EPA is conducting or supporting investigations into mercury transport,
human exposure, and other areas.
    As indicated above, section 112(n)(1)(A) of the CAA requires the
Administrator to regulate electric utility steam generating units under
section 112 if such regulation is found to be appropriate and
necessary. The Administrator believes that in addition to considering
the results of the utility toxics study, she may consider any other
available information in making her decision. The activities noted
above will provide some of this other information. The EPA is also
soliciting any additional information that the public may consider
appropriate for consideration during the decision-making process.

    Dated: February 17, 2000.
Robert Perciasepe,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 00-4786 Filed 2-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

 
 

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