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Effluent Guidelines
Pulp and Paper Rulemaking Actions
Amendment to the Cluster Rules for the Pulp, Paper and Paperboard Point Source Category: Chloroform Monitoring
EPA 821-F-02-008; May 2002
Summary
EPA is publishing a regulatory amendment to reduce monitoring requirements for chloroform for facilities in the Bleached Papergrade Kraft and Soda Subcategory (Subpart B) by allowing those mills to demonstrate compliance using self-certification.
Background
On April 15, 1998, EPA promulgated effluent limitations guidelines and emissions standards to reduce the discharge of toxic, conventional, and nonconventional pollutants in wastewaters and to reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants from the pulp, paper, and paperboard industry.
Chloroform discharges are among the controlled pollutants. To demonstrate compliance with the chloroform effluent standards, dischargers may follow a monitoring schedule that the April 1998 regulation established, or reduce their monitoring burden by choosing this new certification option.
This amendment applies only to mills in the Bleached Papergrade Kraft and Soda Subcategory, usually called "Subpart B." It does not otherwise change the existing regulations.
Summary of the Amendment
The new regulatory requirement allows mills to demonstrate compliance with the chloroform standards by certifying to certain process conditions. The discharger may choose this option for individual fiber lines.
The requirements include (i) a certification regarding use of bleaching chemicals, (ii) data collection during an initial compliance demonstration period, and (iii) recordkeeping on process and operating conditions.
Benefits of the Amendment
There are 80 mills that could take advantage of this opportunity to reduce their monitoring costs and associated burden. EPA estimates the annual cost savings to be at least $4.4 million.
Additional Information
For more information regarding this amendment, contact Ahmar Siddiqui at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Engineering and Analysis Division, (4303T), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, (202) 566-1044 or send an e-mail to siddiqui.ahmar@epa.gov. You can view or download the complete text of the Federal Register notice on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/guide/pulppaper/.