Based on petitions from 5 steel companies and one trade association, the USEPA proposed amendments to the NESHAP for Integrated Iron and Steel Manufacturing on August 30, 2005 (70 FR 51306).  The following summarizes the proposed changes:

1. Sinter cooler emission limits have changed from a particulate standard to an opacity limitation of 10% since not all sinter coolers are equipped with stacks and other reasons.

2. For controlled sources that discharge inside a blast furnace casthouse, BOPF Shop or building housing the discharge end at a sinter plant, the Table 1 PM standards will not apply.  The roof monitor opacity limitation will apply for that particular building.

3. For ESPs controlling a BOPF, an opacity level of 10 percent will be required for compliance.

4. If opacity limit is exceeded for ESPs or Venturi scrubbers at the BOPF, facility must take corrective action within 1 hour.  If exceedance continues for 24 more hours, an additional corrective action must be taken.  If after 24 hours the limit is still exceeded, source must report a deviation in next semiannual report.

5. Bag leak detection systems will not be required for fabric filters without exhaust stacks (ex., positive pressure baghouses).

6. COMS will be an allowed alternative to bag leak detection systems.  Corrective action would be required if hourly average of 5% opacity is exceeded.

7. Emission units equipped with baghouses that are also equipped with a bag leak detection system or COMS would be required to conduct performance testing only once during the permit term (normally 5 years) instead of twice each permit term.

8. The definition of “ladle metallurgy” will be revised to exclude vacuum degassing operations.

These modifications became effective September 12, 2005.  The first reports with the revised requirements will be due July 1, 2006 for the 2005 reporting year. 

Author: Nancy M. Hirko, Senior Engineer

Date: 10/24/05

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