Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy

Stakeholder Forum - 1998

IMPLEMENTING THE BINATIONAL TOXICS STRATEGY
Dioxin/Furans Workgroups

April 27, 1999

Workgroup Leaders:
Linda Martin, USEPA Region V
Nan Gowda, USEPA Region V
Sandro Leonardelli Environment Canada, Ontario Region

Facilitator:
John Menkedick, Battelle

After a review of the objectives for the day, the meeting opened with several status updates from areas discussed at the November workgroup meeting.

Status Updates and Discussion

Sandro Leonardelli (EC) presented a review of the Canadian Inventory, finalized in February 1999. He noted the top sectors in Canada and Ontario and discussed the Canada-Wide Standards and the Iron/Steel Strategic Options Process. This discussion included how the top sectors would seek to negotiate D/F reduction targets and time lines.

• The comment was made that D/F stack test data was sent in for the Stelco Sintering Plant, but is not reflected in the inventory. Sandro noted that the data is currently being reviewed by Environment Canada and he did present the Stelco data to the Work Group. Raouf Morcos (EC) indicated that a letter will soon be sent to Stelco regarding the stack test data they submitted. (This issue will be addressed in Action Item 1 below).
• Dale Phenicie (CGLI) and James Skimming (Dofasco) expressed concern on the lack of recognition for data provided on iron sintering emissions at Canadian facilities. The following discussion included several resolutions to this concern:

1. Encouragement and appreciation should be expressed when data is voluntarily provided.
2. Early collaborative discussions on data collection plans and QA/QC needs will help ensure quick acceptance of submitted data.

• Stelco and Dofasco discussed plans to do stack testing on their electric arc furnaces this summer in accord with one of the Iron/Steel Strategic Options Process recommendations. Environment Canada would like to be invited to participate in the testing program.
• A discussion followed to address the issue that all sources, including anthropogenic sources, forest fires and accidental fires (i.e. PVC fires), must be added to inventory.
• The question was raised concerning how ND (not detected) data were handled in the inventories. This question was answered in a previous meeting for the Canadian Inventory (i.e. a non-detect was assumed to be a zero release). Dale Phenicie recalled that ND data were also treated as zero in the U.S. Inventory.
• The possible testing of more hospital incinerators was discussed. Raouf Morcos (EC) indicated that 6 different types of incinerators were tested to provide a cross-sectional emission characterization; the test results were used to develop estimates for all Canadian facilities in the inventory.
• A question was raised about the consideration of natural sources of dioxin emissions, for example from forest fires. The Canadian inventory does not address these areas.

Linda Martin (EPA) presented a review of the U.S. Inventory status.

• Dwain Winters, EPA's dioxin expert, was unable to attend the meeting. EPA offered to address any concerns about the inventory via a separate call with Dwain.
• The U.S. Inventory is not final and is expected to be released by the end of 1999. This document will be released as part of the Dioxin Reassessment document.
• Concern was expressed over need for U.S. sintering data to complement Canadian data. EPA collected data from 2 of the 9 U.S. sinter plants but the data has not yet been released publicly because EPA and the industry are evaluating the test results. (This issue is addressed in Action Item 1 below)

A question was raised concerning the annual updates of the respective inventories.

• The response from EC and EPA was that the U.S. and Canadian inventories will be updated as may be required based on identified needs and available resources.

Dale Phenicie reported on CGLI's efforts to identify voluntary candidates for stack testing of iron sintering and electric arc furnaces (EAFs). He indicated that the U.S. iron/steel industry is focusing on the MACT standards exercise for sinter plants (i.e. the 2 sinter plants that EPA tested) and that nobody volunteered for EAF testing. CGLI's contact with the Stelco plant did provide EC with stack test data for that plant.

An update on the status of lowering the thresholds for dioxin reports to TRI in the U.S. was presented by Linda Martin, and an update on changes to NPRI in Canada was presented by Sandro Leonardelli.

• There was discussion on the role of the workgroup vis-a-vis recommending 0.1 gram limit for dioxin in the Canadian NPRI. Sandro Leonardelli (EC) indicated that the multi-stakeholder NPRI Substances Work Group would be examining the issue at June 10-11, 1999 meeting in Ottawa. He also indicated that stakeholders are welcome to participate in this process and that direct involvement by stakeholders is the best way to influence NPRI decisions on adding D/F and other micro-pollutants to the NPRI. Sandro reported that the NPRI time line was to post the final decision in the Gazette by the end of 1999 so as to incorporate changes into the year 2000 NPRI. It was suggested by stakeholders that NPRI should probably wait until the U.S. adopts a level (3 levels are being considered).
• The workgroup discussed when Dioxin will be added to TRI. The proposal has been put in the Federal Register and EPA is receiving public comments, with probable addition to occur for the year 2000 reporting cycle.

Concern was expressed regarding the lack of a Dioxin workgroup update posted on the web site. (This concern is addressed in Action Items 2 & 3 below). Co-leads committed to ensuring regular updates in future.

Discussion then turned to how to determine topics (sectors) for potential workgroup actions. Workgroup leaders had proposed a list of targeted topics in the agenda for the day, based on the previous workgroup meeting in November, 1998. The workgroup decided instead to discuss the major sources identified in the U.S. and Canadian Inventories. A short list of major sources was drafted, which included:

• Municipal waste incinerators
• Medical waste incinerators
• Residential wood combustion
• Secondary copper smelting
• Iron sintering plants
• Cement kilns
• Steel mill electric arc furnaces
• Diesel fuel combustion
• Utility coal combustion
• Landfill fires 1
• Backyard trash burning 1
• PCP treated wood 2

1. Based on "order of magnitude" estimates from the U.S. Draft Inventory
2. Based on releases into products

During the remainder of the meeting, the workgroup discussed municipal waste incineration, medical waste incineration, residential wood combustion, secondary copper smelters, iron sintering, and electric arc furnaces. These discussions led to the action items from the meeting listed below. Discussion of remaining sources will occur during a conference call scheduled for June 1, 1999.

Two issues were identified as "parking lot issues":

• Electric arc furnaces
• PVC fires

Both issues were resolved at the end of the day, electric arc furnaces in Action Items 1 and 10 below, and accidental PVC fires in Action Item 11 below.

Source/Sector Discussion and Opportunities for Action

Municipal and Medical Waste Incineration

• It was suggested that the quantification of releases to land & water is needed, not just to air.
• A question was made inquiring if information on material segregation can be provided.
• Joe Stepun (WLSSD) offered to provide data about studies conducted on PVC combustion/incineration operations & waste separation. (This task is addressed in Action Item 4 below).
• The suggestion was made to recruit MSW operators to participate in a follow-up conference call.
• The suggestion was made that the workgroup keeps up with the CWS process regarding D/F and municipal incineration.
• The suggestion was made that a group member report back on the current status of MWI/MWC regulations.

Residential Wood Combustion

• The BaP workgroup is also trying to develop a program.
• The suggestion was made that the dioxin workgroup should coordinate with the BaP workgroup on any actions to reduce D/F from the residential wood combustion sector.
• Sandro Leonardelli (EC) presented a brief overview of the Great Eastern Ontario Wood Stove changeout program. He indicated that Environment Canada - Ontario Region was planning a woodstove education campaign for Fall 1999 and was seeking U.S. involvement for a Basin-wide campaign.
• Matthew Bramley (Greenpeace) asked how the Canadian woodstove inventory estimates were developed (This question is resolved in Action Item 7 below).
• A question was asked regarding the current status of woodstove regulations and programs directed at residential wood combustion (This issue is resolved in Action Item 8 below).

Secondary Copper Smelting

• Dale Phenicie (CGLI) offered to make contacts with industry (This task is addressed in Action Item 9 below).
• The suggestion was made that the group identify possible facilities for participating in stack testing.
• The suggestion was made that the group identify all copper recyclers in Ontario.

Sintering Plants/Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs)

• The comment was made that the iron/steel sector is currently occupied with meeting MACT standards in the U.S..
• Dofasco & Stelco are engaged in the SOP process and will probably perform more stack testing this summer.
• Dale Phenicie offered to explore data from EAF facilities in the U.S. (This task is addressed in Action Item 10 below).
  

The suggestion was made to remove Salt Laden Wood from the dioxin strategy because it's production and/or use does not occur in the Great Lakes Basin. Workgroup members were in agreement on this issue.

Action Items & Next Steps

1. EPA and EC will report back with an update on information they have on emissions from iron sintering, electric arc furnaces, and the Magnesium Corporation of America in Utah. Matthew Bramley(Greenpeace) will send information to work group leads on dioxin release from the Utah MagCorp.
2. Materials distributed at the November workgroup meeting will be redistributed to workgroup members and posted on the web.
3. Sandro Leonardelli's overheads will be posted on the web.
4. A conference call will be scheduled to discuss municipal waste and medical waste incineration.
   • Joe Stepun (WLSSD) will present information on material separation efforts at a municipal waste incinerator.
   • Dwain Winters (EPA) will present information on the effect of chlorine in the feedstock (and other feedstock characteristics) on dioxin emissions.
   • Matthew Bramley (Greenpeace) will present information on dioxin emissions from solid and liquid waste at municipal or medical waste incinerators.
   • Joe Stepun, Dwain Winters, and Matthew Bramley will work with Co-leads to plan presentations for the conference call (date and time of call to be announced later).
5. EPA and EC will report back on the status of current regulations on municipal and medical waste incinerators.
6. The website where information on the San Francisco Dioxin Resolution resides will be mailed to workgroup members.
7. EC will report back on how the emission factor was calculated for residential wood combustion.
8. Stephane Gingras (GLU) will research regulations and current programs directed at residential wood combustion and open barrel burning and report back to workgroup.
9. Dale Phenicie will outreach to secondary copper smelters and report back on interest in voluntary emission testing. EPA and EC will provide information on companies and/or plants to be contacted in the basin.
10. Dale Phenicie will explore the interest of U.S. electric arc furnace facilities in conducting voluntary stack tests.
11. A conference call will be held to discuss information related to accidental fires involving PVC incineration. Discussion will include how emission estimates were calculated for accidental fires in the U.S. Draft Inventory as well as information provided by Matthew Bramley (Greenpeace) regarding the data availability for PVC fires. Dwain Winters (EPA) and Raouf Morcos (EC) will be key participants in the call.
12. The workgroup committed to a regular monthly conference call on the first Tuesday of each month at 10:00 am EST (9:00 am CDT):

• June 1st
• July 6th
• August 3rd
• September 7th
• October 5th

Agendas for the call will be posted on the web site 1 week before each call.

The first call on June 1st will finish the discussion of potential workgroup action items related to sectors/sources not covered in the April 27 meeting:

• Cement kilns
• Diesel fuel combustion
• Utility coal combustion
• Landfill fires
• Backyard trash burning

Finally, Linda Martin will be stepping down as co-chair. In her place will be Mr. Nan Gowda from the USEPA. Nan can be reached at :

Nan Gowda
USEPA Region 5
77 West Jackson
Chicago, IL 60604
Mail Code: SRF-5J
Phone: 312-353-9236
FAX: 312-353-8426
E-mail:gowda.nanjunda@epa.gov

Nan had made some suggestions as to a future structure for the working group. He proposed the monthly conference calls and also the division of the group into sub-groups. Everyone can participate on all sub-groups at any time. The sub-group discussion will be held on the July 6th conference call.

The meeting adjourned shortly after 5:00 p.m. EDT.