[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 19, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 19556]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9378]



[[Page 19556]]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 63

[FRL-5193-1]


National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants 
(NESHAP); Secondary Lead Smelters; PVC in Feedstock

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

ACTION: Proposed rule; amendments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is given that the EPA is considering amending the 
proposed rule for secondary lead smelters (59 FR 29750, June 9, 1994). 
Information gathered since proposal indicates that the amount of 
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic contained in lead-acid battery scrap 
is declining and should be relegated to trace quantities within the 
next few years. Polyvinyl chloride in scrap is a precursor to 
hydrochloric acid emissions. The EPA is considering whether limits for 
hydrochloric acid contained in the proposal should be withdrawn.

DATES: Comments. Comments must be received on or before May 4, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments. Comments should be submitted (in duplicate, if 
possible) to: Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center (6102), 
Attention Docket No. A-92-43, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 
M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460. The Agency requests that a 
separate copy also be sent to the contact person listed below.
    Docket. Docket No. A-92-43 contains supporting information used in 
developing the proposed standards for secondary lead smelters (59 FR 
29750, June 9, 1994). The docket is located at the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460 in room M-
1500, Waterside Mall (ground floor), and may be inspected from 8:30 
a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. The proposed 
regulatory text and other materials related to this rulemaking are 
available for review in the docket or copies may be mailed on request 
from the Air Docket by calling (202) 260-7548. A reasonable fee may be 
charged for copying docket materials.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information concerning the 
proposed standards and the materials discussed in this notice contact 
Mr. Phil Mulrine at (919) 541-5289, Metals Group, Emissions Standards 
Division (MD-13), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research 
Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since the proposal of standards for 
secondary lead smelters (59 FR 29750, June 9, 1994), the EPA has 
continued to gather information relevant to the rulemaking.
    In the notice of proposed standards for secondary lead smelters, 
the EPA stated, ``All smelting furnaces that process broken batteries 
are potential sources of HCl and Cl2 [chloride] emissions. Many 
used lead-acid batteries contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic 
separators between the battery grids, although the use of PVC plastic 
as a separator material has been discontinued by most battery 
manufacturers. These separators are typically not removed from the 
lead-bearing parts of the battery during the battery breaking and 
separation process. When the PVC plastic is burned in the smelting 
furnace, the chlorides are released as HCl, Cl2, and chlorinated 
hydrocarbons'' (59 FR 29754).
    Information gathered recently relevant to this specific topic 
indicate that the number of used lead-acid batteries in the scrap 
inventory that contain PVC plastic separators has declined sharply in 
recent years from approximately 1 percent of the total available scrap 
in 1990 to less than 0.1 percent in 1994 (Docket No. A-92-43, Item No. 
IV-D-32 and IV-D-34). This trend is expected to continue due to the 
fact that these separators are no longer manufactured in the United 
States (Docket No. A-92-43, Item No. IV-D-38). No other source of 
chlorides has been identified in the feedstocks to these furnaces. 
Consequently, the EPA also expects emissions of HCl and Cl2 to 
follow a similar decline.
    In light of this new information, the EPA is reconsidering the 
conclusion that secondary lead smelters will continue to be a source of 
HCl and Cl2 emissions and the need to regulate these pollutants 
from this source category. At this time, the EPA is considering 
withdrawing the HCl/Cl2 emission standards and associated 
monitoring requirements from the proposed NESHAP. The EPA welcomes 
comment on this new information and the ramifications it may have on 
the final rule.

    Dated: April 7, 1995.
Mary D. Nichols,
Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 95-9378 Filed 4-18-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P