Large Municipal Waste Combustors (LMWC): New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and Emissions Guidelines
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Rule Summary
Section 129 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) directs the Administrator to develop regulations under section 111 of the Act limiting emissions of nine air pollutants (i.e., particulate matter, carbon monoxide, dioxins/furans, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen chloride, lead, mercury, and cadmium) from four categories of solid waste incineration units: municipal solid waste; hospital, medical and infectious solid waste; commercial and industrial solid waste; and other solid waste.
The new source performance standards (NSPS) and Emission Guidelines (EG) for new and existing large municipal waste combustors fulfill the requirements of sections 111 and 129 for incinerators that combust greater than 250 tons per day of municipal solid waste. The rule and guidelines, which address only the incineration of nonhazardous solid wastes, protect public health and the environment by reducing emissions of harmful air pollutants.
Rule History
04/14/2025 - Closing of the Comment Period (pdf)
01/08/2025 - Reopening of the Comment Period (90 FR 4708)
01/23/2024 - Proposed Rule (89 FR 4243) (Voluntary Remand Response and 5-year Review)
03/20/2007 – Notice of Reconsideration of Final Rule (72 FR 13016)
05/10/2006 – Final Rule (89 FR 4243) (Subparts Cb and Eb - 71 FR 27324)
12/19/2005 – Proposed Rule (Subparts Cb and Eb - 70 FR 75348)
11/16/2001 – Proposed Rule (66 FR 57829) & Direct Final Rule (66 FR 57823) (CO Malfunction Provisions Subparts Cb and Eb)
07/12/2001 – Proposed Rule (66 FR 36547) & Direct Final Rule (66 FR 36473) (Subpart Cb and Eb)
05/24/2000 – Direct Final Federal Plan (65 FR 33461)
04/08/1999 – Federal Register Correction (64 FR 17219) (Subpart FFF)
11/12/1998 – Final Federal Plan (63 FR 63191) (Subpart FFF)
01/23/1998 – Proposed Federal Plan (63 FR 3509) (Subpart FFF)
08/25/1997 – Proposed Rule (62 FR 44929) & Direct Final Rule (62 FR 45124) (Technical amendments to subparts Cb and Eb)
08/25/1997 – Proposed Rule (62 FR 44931) & Direct Final Rule (62 FR 45116) (Court ordered amendments to subparts Cb and Eb)
12/19/1995 – Final Rule (60 FR 65387) (subparts Eb and Cb)
12/19/1995 – Proposed Rule (60 FR 65437) & Direct Final Rule (60 FR 65382) (subpart Ea)
09/20/1994 – Proposed Rules (subparts Cb (59 FR 48228) and Eb (59 FR 48198))
02/11/1991 – Final Rule (56 FR 5488)
12/20/1989 – Proposed Rules (subpart Ea - 54 FR 52251)
Additional Resources
December 20, 2023 Proposal
Informational Webinar Resources
- Presentation for EPA's Proposed Amendments to LMWC Rule (pdf)
- Proposed Large Municipal Waste Combustors Webinar Recording
Legacy Docket Numbers:
Related Rules
Compliance
Applicability Determination Index (ADI). The ADI is maintained by EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) and provides a data base of memoranda dealing with applicability issues. The database is searchable by Subpart.
Implementation
Status of Section 111(d)/129 State Plans (SP) for Large Municipal Waste Combustors (MWC) Units