EPA Proposes Standards for New Landfills and Requests Input on Potential Emissions Reductions from Existing Landfills
WASHINGTON, July 9, 2014 /3BL Media/ - On July 1, 2014 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed update to the rule governing the standards of performance for municipal solid waste landfills under the federal New Source Performance Standards (NSPS). In addition, EPA issued advanced notice of proposed rulemaking for the emissions guidelines and compliance times for such landfills. With the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking, the EPA is seeking feedback on options to further reduce emissions from existing landfills.
Both the proposed rule and the advanced notice for rulemaking are expected to be published in the Federal Register in July. Comments are due 60 days after publication. The industry has participated in many meetings over the years with the EPA in providing suggestions with respect to the design, construction and operation of a good landfill gas collection and control system.
“The National Waste & Recycling Association will carefully review the proposed regulation and the advanced notice of rulemaking during the next couple of months,” said Sharon H. Kneiss, president and CEO of NW&RA. “We will provide comments to the Agency that will promote lower emissions, but still be economically realistic and operationally practical to protect the business interests of our members.”
The EPA is proposing a new regulatory category with heightened rules that would apply to landfills that start construction, reconstruction or modification after they are published in the Federal Register. For landfills subject to these new regulations, the most significant change is to the emissions thresholds, which would require installing controls. Other proposed changes include clarifications to landfill gas treatment and to startup, shutdown, and malfunction procedures. Existing landfills would continue to be subject to existing regulations.
The advanced notice of rulemaking is focused on the existing 1,800 landfills currently operating in the United States. The EPA is seeking comment regarding adjustments to the design capacity threshold; the emissions threshold; timing of installing, expanding and removing the gas collection system; and consideration of best management practices.
The EPA documents can be accessed here: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/landfill/landflpg.html.
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The National Waste & Recycling Association is the trade association that represents the private sector waste and recycling services industry. Association members conduct business in all 50 states and include companies that collect and manage garbage, recycling and medical waste, equipment manufacturers and distributors and a variety of other service providers. For more information about how innovation in the environmental services industry is helping to solve today’s environmental challenges, visit www.beginwiththebin.org.
