Organic liquids distribution (non-gasoline) mact summary

1. What is the purpose of this rule?

The Clean Air Act requires EPA to establish standards to control HAP emissions from source categories identified under section 112(c) of the Act.  An initial source category list was published by EPA in 1992. This list identified Organic Liquids Distribution (Non-gasoline) operations as a source category because these operations are a major source of HAP emissions.

The purpose of this rule is to establish National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) to control hazardous air pollutants emissions at major sources in this source category.  Facilities affected by this rule will be required to install “maximum achievable control technology” (MACT). The primary sources of HAP emissions from this source category are the loss of HAP during the filling of storage tanks with organic liquids, storage of organic liquid in storage tanks, vapor displacement during the loading of organic liquids into transport vehicles and containers, and vapor leakage from transport vehicles at transfer racks during loadings of these vehicles. The HAP emissions are also the result of leaks from equipment such as valves, pumps, and sampling connection systems.

Total baseline HAP emissions from this source category are approximately 5,900 tpy. As a result of this rule, emissions of air toxics will be reduced by 60 percent. The most prevalent air toxics emitted during organic liquids distribution operations include benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, vinyl chloride and xylenes.