Chemicals, paper mills subject to new EPA rule, safety board
By Staff -- Purchasing, 1/15/1998
E PA's new pulp and paper mill standard is "one of the most expensive ever proposed for a single industry," says the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA)AF&PA President W. Henson Moore says the rule's provisions for encouraging new and innovative technologies through incentives has "much potential, which we look forward to studying in depth."
Compliance will cost the industry $2.6 billion in capital and annual industry-wide operating expenses of $273 million, AF&PA estimates. EPA puts the capital cost at $1.8 billion.
EPA says implementation of the rule (in the making since 1993) will reduce pollution over the next eight years from the levels in 1993 as follows: dioxin discharges, 96% and toxic air pollutants, 60%. About half the reductions in mill wastewater dioxin have already been achieved from industry voluntary measures, according to Robert Perciasepi, EPA assistant administrator for water.
EPA says it has introduced a number of cost-saving and regulatory flexibility measures in the final rule. The most significant: eliminating a proposed requirement for installing newer oxygen delinignification technology. Even by EPA's lower estimates, this would have cost an additional $2.9 billion. Another major change is the incentive program for mills to aim for higher air and water standards of cleanliness. Mills have one year to agree to seek more stringent reductions in exchange for more time to comply. This extension varies up to 15 years compared to a compliance timetable of up to eight years if they elect the lower mandatory standard. Another relief for industry is EPA's allowing continued use of chlorine compounds in bleaching (elemental chlorine is banned).
Some countries have imposed totally chlorine-free (TCF) processes on the industry, and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), an environmental group that has taken EPA to court repeatedly to enforce tighter standards, issued a statement saying the final rule fell "critically short" in preventing dangerous toxic chemical discharges and was "a retreat from EPA's original 1993 proposal." It called for adoption of TCF bleaching. NRDC officials say a court suit against the cluster rule is under consideration.
EPA officials say that even with delignification, bleaching chemicals still must be used. Other provisions of the final rule are designed to:
* Recognize different treatment processes for soda and semi-chemical mills and kraft mills.
* Eliminate need for extensive emission source testing.
* Allow reduced treatment for pulping waste waters if some pollutants are segregated.
Chemical Safety Board. Seven years after being authorized by Congress, the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is getting ready to open for business next year. Reason: Late this year, Congress overrode the objections of President Clinton, who like President Bush, refused to fund the new agency. This year, Clinton failed to use his line item veto to deny funds. Although it has only $4 million for its first year, the Board is expected to seek more funds next year. It has broad powers to investigate accidents, identify potential hazards, and recommend regulations to EPA, osha, and other agencies.
The Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) endorsed activating the board and says it will work with CSB to establish "a focused and effective program." As the new agency is modeled after the National Transportation Safety Board; its findings would be excluded from evidence in damage suits arising from accidents.
CSB will have jurisdiction over any firm which makes, processes, handles, or stores chemicals, but will be limited to investigating toxic releases that result in or have the potential for deaths, injuries, or substantial property damage to the general public.
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