The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to cut emissions of mercury, particle pollution and other harmful pollutants from sewage sludge incinerators, the sixth-largest source of mercury air emissions in the United States.

 

Sewage sludge incinerators are typically located at wastewater treatment facilities. The proposed standards would apply to both multiple hearth and fluidized bed incinerators. Units incinerating sewage sludge at other types of facilities such as commercial, industrial and institutional incinerators will be covered under different air pollution standards. Overall, the proposal would cut mercury emissions from these units by more than 75 percent.

 

EPA will take comment on the proposed rule for 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register. The rule will be finalized in 2011 and become effective in 2015.

 

More information: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/new.html