Proposed Revisions to the New Source Performance Standards for

Non Metallic Minerals Processing Plants

On April 16, 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed revisions to 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart OOO, New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for Non-Metallic Mineral Processing Plants.  These revisions affect new, modified, or reconstructed facilities constructed after the date of this proposal at plants processing any of the following 18 non-metallic minerals: crushed and broken stone, clay, sand and gravel, rock salt, gypsum, sodium compounds, pumice, gilsonite, talc, pyrophyllite, boron, barite, fluorospar, feldspar, diatomite, perlite, vermiculite, mica, and kyanite.

The affected processes include new, modified, or reconstructed: crushers, grinding mills, screening operations, bucket elevators, belt conveyors, bagging operations, storage bins, and enclosed truck or railcar loading stations at non-metallic mineral processing plants.

The proposed stack particulate matter (PM) concentration limitation is 0.014 gr/dscf for new, modified, or reconstructed facilities.

The proposed opacity limitations are 12% opacity for crushers and 7% opacity for other fugitive facilities.

Proposed performance testing requirement:  Retest once every 5 years for those affected facilities without ongoing monitoring requirements.

Proposed Wet Material Processing Operation Exemption:  For those facilities without the potential for PM emissions.

The proposed revisions to the NSPS do not reflect the use of new or different control technologies.  They reflect the performance of the controls currently employed.  Any increase in cost will be due to monitoring, testing, recordkeeping and reporting

According to the EPA, starting five years after promulgation of these standards, the environment can realize a reduction of 120 tons/year of PM emissions.

The EPA will accept public comments on the proposed rule for 60 days following the publication in the Federal Register.  The agency is under consent decree to finalize this rule by April 16, 2009.

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