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Secondary Lead Smelters: New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)

Secondary Lead Smelters: New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)
Basic Information
Legal Authorities
  • 42 U.S.C. §1857(c)
Federal Register Citations
  • 88 FR 80594
  • 40 FR 46259
  • 39 FR 32852
  • 39 FR 9317
  • 38 FR 15406
Code of Federal Regulations Citations
  • 40 CFR Part 60 Subpart L
  • 40 CFR Part 60 Subpart La

On this page:

  • Rule Summary
  • Rule History
  • Additional Resources

Rule Summary

The secondary lead smelting industry consists of facilities that recycle lead-bearing scrap material, typically lead acid batteries, into elemental lead or lead alloys.

The promulgated standards limit emissions of particulate matter (1) from blast- (cupola) and reverberatory furnaces to no more than 50 mg/dscm (10.022 gr/dscf) and to less than 20 percent opacity, and (2) from pot furnaces having charging capacities equal to or greater than 250 kilograms to less than 10 percent opacity.

On November 9th the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized amendments to the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for Secondary Lead Smelters (40 CFR part 60, subpart L) and finalized a new NSPS subpart La that applies to affected sources constructed, reconstructed, or modified after the publication date of the final rule in the Federal Register. Secondary lead smelting facilities recycle lead-bearing scrap material, mainly lead acid batteries, into elemental lead or lead alloys. The process of smelting separates lead from other metals and nonmetallic contaminants. The process occurs in blast, reverberatory, and rotary kiln furnaces. There are 11 secondary lead smelters in the U.S. that are subject to the NSPS. Following a review of the NSPS, EPA is finalizing: 

  • Requirements for initial and periodic performance tests for particulate matter (PM) and opacity,
  • Other requirements include incorporating the monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements, including electronic reporting of performance tests, to be more consistent with the NESHAP for the current NSPS subpart L (which was promulgated in 1974) and a new NSPS subpart La, 
  • Updated more stringent PM and opacity emissions limits under the new NSPS subpart La for blast, reverberatory, and pot furnaces that applies to secondary lead smelters constructed, reconstructed, or modified after December 1, 2022,
  • These PM and opacity emissions limits under the new subpart La will apply at all times, including during periods of startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM). 

Rule History

11/20/2023 - Final Rule (88 FR 80594)

01/17/2023 - Extension of Public Comment Period (88 FR 2563)

12/01/2022 - Proposed rule (87 FR 73708)

10/06/1975 - Final rule (40 FR 46250) (PDF) 2.86 MB

07/15/1974 - Proposed rule.

03/08/1974 - Final rule (39 FR 9308) (PDF), 2.32 MB.

06/11/1973 - Proposed rule. 

Related Rules

Secondary Lead Smelting: National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)

Additional Resources

Fact Sheet: Final Amendments to the Air Toxics Standards for Secondary Lead Smelters (pdf) (177.4 KB)

RLSO of the Final Amendments to Air Toxics Standards for Secondary Lead Smelters (pdf) (225.14 KB)

Memorandum detailing the proposed regulations edits for 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart L and La (pdf) (238.93 KB)

Fact Sheet: Proposed Amendments to Air Toxics Standards for Secondary Lead Smelters (pdf) (209.82 KB)

Stationary Sources of Air Pollution

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    • National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
      • Area Source Standards
      • Risk and Technology Review Status
    • New Source Performance Standards
    • Good Neighbor Plan for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards
  • Small Business Assistance Program
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Last updated on March 27, 2025
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