Integrated Air Toxics

EPA is close to promulgating the first national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for area sources engaged in paint stripping, surface coating of motor vehicles and mobile equipment, and miscellaneous surface coating operations. We predict this will go into the Federal Register early next year. This NESHAP potentially could apply to everyone in the above industry categories regardless of whether they are a major source of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) or not. (A major … [Read more...]

Extension on FESOP and MSOP Permit Terms

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is finalizing a rulemaking which will extend the permit term for Federally Enforceable State Operating Permit (FESOP) renewals and Minor Source Operating Permit (MSOP) renewals from 5 years to 10 years. The permit term for initial MSOPs and FESOPs will remain the same. You can choose to implement this change only if you are on your second or subsequent renewal. This will be processed by the IDEM as either an Administrative Amendment … [Read more...]

Notes on NFPA 33

Recently a client wanted to know why he had to ventilate his paint booth outdoors instead of back into the building. Off the top of my head I told him that it was a safety issue more than an environmental issue, and that the concentration of flammable vapors should not exceed 25% of the Lower Flammability Limit (LFL). This answer was only partially correct. Recently I viewed NFPA 33 (Spray Application Using Flammable or Combustible Materials 2007 ). This publication, and many others, as well as … [Read more...]