EPA PROPOSES TWO-YEAR DELAY, LOOSENED EMISSIONS TARGETS FOR CEMENT INDUSTRY STANDARDS

Tamar Hallerman
GHG Monitor
06/29/12

The Environmental Protection Agency this week proposed delaying pollution standards for the Portland cement manufacturing industry by an additional two years and loosening emissions targets, in a move celebrated by industry and criticized by environmental groups. EPA proposed extending the compliance deadline for its 2010 emissions standards for existing cement kilns by two years, from fall 2013 to fall 2015. The agency also proposed looser emissions limits for particle pollution while shifting the way cement kilns must monitor for the pollution source. EPA said the proposal would maintain “significant” reductions in air toxics emissions while also providing more compliance flexibilities for the Portland cement industry. The agency said it would finalize the rule by Dec. 20.

EPA said that the changes were due to input from industry and a December federal court ruling that halted a portion of its 2010 air standards. “The proposed updates to certain emissions limits, monitoring requirements and compliance timelines—which are expected to result in additional cost savings for industry—are being made in response to this court remand and petitions for reconsideration of EPA’s 2010 final rule, which will dramatically cut emissions of mercury, particle pollution, and other air toxics from cement production,” an EPA release said. 

Cement Industry Cheers Move

The Portland Cement Association (PCA) lauded the proposal. “PCA welcomes the Portland cement… proposal released by EPA today to provide the cement industry necessary additional time for compliance with the proposed revised standards,” PCA CEO and President Brian McCarthy said in a statement. “Such time is essential to each cement plant’s ability to complete any planning, engineering, and construction that may be necessary to comply with the standards. The Association also agrees with EPA’s proposal to revise the emission standard for particulate matter.” House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) also spoke out in support of the proposed changes. “We welcome EPA’s proposed changes to make the cement rules more workable and achievable,” he said in a statement. “The revisions will provide businesses with greater certainty, more flexibility and will help protect thousands of American jobs.” He said the previous version of the rule would have threatened to shut down up to 20 percent of U.S. cement manufacturing plants and cost the industry more than $3.4 billion to comply. Upton helped spearhead legislation that passed the House of Representatives last fall that required EPA to repropose more “achievable” rules. 

Meanwhile, environmental groups said they were disappointed with the proposed changes to the rule. Earthjustice called the two-year delay “unlawful,” and argued on its website that the postponement could cause substantial health and environmental damages. “Further delay will have horrible consequences for public health and the environment,” Earthjustice attorney Jim Pew said in a statement. “If the EPA fails to put these protections in place by 2013, how do we know it won’t delay and weaken the rule more in the future?”