American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman has issued the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for the Pulp and Paper Industry, also known as the residual risk and technology review rule.
“EPA’s reaffirmation of the core elements from the 1998 maximum achievable control technologies (MACT) rule is welcome news. Control technologies have not changed since that time, and EPA’s decision is an indication that the current rules have worked to bring pulp and paper mill emissions to an acceptable level.
“Based on a careful review of available information, EPA rejected changes that would have no measurable public health benefit yet would have cost hundreds of millions of dollars. EPA also retained the current emission allowances for venting that are needed for the safe operation of mill equipment and were a critical part of the original MACT.
“We remain concerned, however, with the changes to the start-up, shutdown and malfunction provisions and are still evaluating the implications for mills.”