Boiler MACT Rule Update – Still on Hold

For almost a decade boiler manufactures and operators have been waiting for the federal government to determine what must be done to meet stricter emission standards for toxic air pollutants.  As published recently by Power Engineering, industry officials now say the new standards won’t be unveiled until November to December and the EPA’s revised Boiler MACT rule remains under review by the Office of Budget Management’s regulatory affairs division.

The final rule establishes national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants (Mercury, PM, hydrogen chloride and carbon monoxide) for industrial, commercial and institutional boilers.  It applies to major sources that emit 10 or more tons a year of any single pollutant of 25 tons or more a year of any combination.  It will also require annual boiler tune-ups in some instances.  In total, the EPA estimates the cost of adding new controls will exceed $5 billion and some sources indicated that it would force power producers to retire about 4.7 GW of coal-fired capacity, due to high compliance costs.

Once the revised rule is finalized, boilers owners and operators will have three years to comply.  This is in addition to other existing clean-air rules the industry has to comply with.  However, despite the unique challenges the industry may face, boiler manufactures and associated suppliers are ready to tackle future compliance challenges.  Overall, the boiler industry has the technology and know-how available to provide immediate solutions.

“We can only hope that OMB is doing more toward achieving compromises and consensus than just sitting on its hands for political purposes,” explains Randy Rawson, ABMA President and CEO.