[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 40 (Tuesday, February 29, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10783-10784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4786]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[AD-FRL-6544-8]


Electric Utility Steam Generating Units: Solicitation of 
Additional Information for Making Regulatory Determination

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of solicitation of additional information.

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SUMMARY: The EPA must determine whether hazardous air pollutant (HAP) 
emissions from electric utility steam generating units should be 
regulated under section 112 of the Clean Air Act (CAA), as amended, on 
or before December 15, 2000. In making this determination, the Agency 
is soliciting any additional information that the public may wish to 
provide to the EPA prior to the determination.

DATES: Any additional information must be submitted to the EPA no later 
than March 31, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Members of the public should submit additional information 
to Public Docket No. A-92-55 at the following address: U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Air and Radiation Docket and 
Information Center (6102), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. The 
docket is located at the above address in Room M-1500, Waterside Mall 
(ground floor), and may be inspected from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William Maxwell, Combustion Group, 
Emission Standards Division (MD-13), U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, telephone number: 
(919) 541-5430, facsimile number: (919) 541-5450, e-mail 
[email protected]. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 112(n)(1)(A) of the CAA requires the 
EPA to perform a study (i.e., utility toxics study) of the hazards to 
public health reasonably anticipated to occur as a result of HAP 
emissions from electric utility steam generating units, after 
imposition of the requirements of the CAA, and to prepare a Report to 
Congress containing the results of the study. The Agency is to proceed 
with

[[Page 10784]]

rulemaking activities under section 112 to control HAP emissions from 
electric utility steam generating units if the EPA finds such 
regulation is appropriate and necessary after considering the results 
of the study. The utility toxics study was completed and the Final 
Report to Congress issued on February 24, 1998. The Agency is required 
to make a finding as to whether it is appropriate and necessary to 
control HAP emissions from electric utility steam generating units no 
later than December 15, 2000.
    In the Final Report to Congress, the EPA stated that mercury is the 
HAP emission of greatest potential concern from coal-fired utilities 
and noted several areas where additional research and monitoring were 
merited. Among the additional research areas noted were: (1) Collection 
and assessment of additional data on the mercury content of various 
types of coal; (2) collection and assessment of additional data on 
mercury emissions; (3) collection and assessment of additional 
information on control technologies or pollution prevention options 
that are available, or will be available, and the costs of those 
options; and (4) further review of the available data on the health 
impacts associated with exposure to mercury.
    The EPA has ongoing investigations and analyses pertaining to these 
research areas. Three efforts are prominent. First, following issuance 
of the Final Report to Congress, the EPA initiated an information 
collection request to gather, under the authority of section 114 of the 
CAA, data on the mercury content of the coals burned in, and the 
exhaust gases from, coal-fired utility units during 1999. In addition, 
the EPA, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy and other 
parties, is collecting information to assess the effectiveness and 
costs of various mercury pollution control technologies and pollution 
prevention options. Finally, the EPA has an agreement with the National 
Academy of Sciences to perform a review of the available data on the 
health impacts associated with exposure to mercury. In addition, the 
EPA is conducting or supporting investigations into mercury transport, 
human exposure, and other areas.
    As indicated above, section 112(n)(1)(A) of the CAA requires the 
Administrator to regulate electric utility steam generating units under 
section 112 if such regulation is found to be appropriate and 
necessary. The Administrator believes that in addition to considering 
the results of the utility toxics study, she may consider any other 
available information in making her decision. The activities noted 
above will provide some of this other information. The EPA is also 
soliciting any additional information that the public may consider 
appropriate for consideration during the decision-making process.

    Dated: February 17, 2000.
Robert Perciasepe,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 00-4786 Filed 2-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P