Effluent Guidelines

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

Iron and Steel

Proposed Rule

Fact Sheet; EPA 821-F-00-012; November 2000

EPA is proposing to revise the Effluent Limitations Guidelines, Pretreatment Standards, and New Source Performance Standards for the Iron and Steel Manufacturing Point Source Category. This proposed regulation would establish technology-based effluent limitations guidelines for the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States and into publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) from the operation of new and existing iron and steel mills.

Background on Effluent Guidelines

Effluent limitations guidelines are national regulations that control the discharge of pollutants to surface waters and to publicly-owned treatment works (POTWs). Effluent guidelines are specific to each industry. Although the effluent limitations are based on specific processes or treatment technologies to control pollutant discharges, EPA does not require dischargers to use a specific technology. Individual facilities may meet the requirements by adopting existing treatment technologies and processes that meet their needs.

The effluent guidelines program is one of EPA's most successful environmental protection programs. Effluent guidelines reduce the discharge of pollutants that have serious environmental impacts, including pollutants that kill or impair fish and other aquatic organisms; cause health problems through contaminated water, fish, or shellfish; and degrade aquatic ecosystems. Since 1974, EPA has promulgated effluent limitations guidelines and standards for more than 50 industrial categories.

Scope of Proposed Regulation

The proposed regulation applies to discharges from facilities engaged in iron or steel manufacturing, forming, and finishing, including coke manufacturing. The manufacturing processes include cokemaking, sintering, briquetting, ironmaking, steelmaking, vacuum degassing, ladle metallurgy, casting, hot forming, acid pickling, descaling, acid regeneration, cold forming, surface cleaning (e.g., acid cleaning, alkaline cleaning), and surface coating (e.g., hot dip coating, electroplating).

The proposal reflects many of the recent advances in process operations, water conservation practices, waste management practices, and wastewater treatment.

Costs and Environmental Benefits

EPA estimates that the rule will reduce the annual discharge of toxic and non-conventional pollutants by 210 million pounds. The benefits include reductions in serious health problems and improvements to recreational waters near these facilities. EPA estimates that the annual value of these benefits will range from $1.1 million to $2.7 million. The Agency expects compliance costs to be $61.4 million annually.

Public Meeting

A public meeting for the proposed regulation is scheduled on February 20, 2001 in the EPA Auditorium located at 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, DC. The meeting is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

316(b) | UNDS | NPDES