New Source Performance Standard
Encyclopedia
New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) are pollution control standards issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). The term is used in the Clean Air Act Extension of 1970 (CAA) to refer to air pollution
emission standards, and in the Clean Water Act
(CWA) referring to standards for discharges of industrial wastewater
to surface water
s.
may produce. These standards are authorized by Section 111 of the CAA and the regulations are published in 40 CFR
Part 60. An NSPS has been established for a number of individual industrial or source categories.
Examples:
for existing sources. In developing NSPS, the CWA requires that EPA determine the "best available demonstrated control technology" for the particular industrial category. This consideration may include setting a "no discharge of pollutants standard" (also called a zero discharge standard) if practicable.
NSPS regulations are published at 40 CFR
Subchapter N (Parts 405-499). NSPS issued by EPA include the following categories:
EPA has published a general definition of "new source" in the federal wastewater permit regulations. More specialized definitions of "new source" are included in some of the individual category regulations, e.g., the definition for the Pulp, Paper and Paperboard category.
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
(EPA). The term is used in the Clean Air Act Extension of 1970 (CAA) to refer to air pollution
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
emission standards, and in the Clean Water Act
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution. Commonly abbreviated as the CWA, the act established the goals of eliminating releases of high amounts of toxic substances into water, eliminating additional water pollution by 1985, and ensuring that...
(CWA) referring to standards for discharges of industrial wastewater
Industrial wastewater treatment
Industrial wastewater treatment covers the mechanisms and processes used to treat waters that have been contaminated in some way by anthropogenic industrial or commercial activities prior to its release into the environment or its re-use....
to surface water
Surface water
Surface water is water collecting on the ground or in a stream, river, lake, wetland, or ocean; it is related to water collecting as groundwater or atmospheric water....
s.
Clean Air Act
NSPS under the CAA dictate the level of pollution that a new stationary sourceAir pollution dispersion terminology
Air pollution dispersion terminology includes the words and technical terms that have a special meaning to those who work in the field of air pollution dispersion modeling...
may produce. These standards are authorized by Section 111 of the CAA and the regulations are published in 40 CFR
Code of Federal Regulations
The Code of Federal Regulations is the codification of the general and permanent rules and regulations published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government of the United States.The CFR is published by the Office of the Federal Register, an agency...
Part 60. An NSPS has been established for a number of individual industrial or source categories.
Examples:
- Landfills
- Boilers
- Petroleum refineries
- Turbines
- Wastewater (air emissions from wastewater treatment systems)
Basic process for establishing standards
- Identify type of emitting facility.
- For each type of facility, identify the type of pollutant control technology that is appropriate.
- From a study of all the plants and all the information available about the plants and their technologies, establish an allowed concentration of the criteria pollutants that is the upper limit of what can be emitted.
Clean Water Act
NSPS under the CWA set the level of allowable wastewater discharges from new industrial facilities. EPA issues NSPS for categories of industrial dischargers, typically in conjunction with the issuance of effluent guidelinesEffluent guidelines
Effluent guidelines are U.S. national standards for wastewater discharges to surface waters and publicly owned treatment works . The United States Environmental Protection Agency issues effluent guidelines for categories of industrial sources of water pollution under Title III of the Clean Water...
for existing sources. In developing NSPS, the CWA requires that EPA determine the "best available demonstrated control technology" for the particular industrial category. This consideration may include setting a "no discharge of pollutants standard" (also called a zero discharge standard) if practicable.
NSPS regulations are published at 40 CFR
Code of Federal Regulations
The Code of Federal Regulations is the codification of the general and permanent rules and regulations published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government of the United States.The CFR is published by the Office of the Federal Register, an agency...
Subchapter N (Parts 405-499). NSPS issued by EPA include the following categories:
- Coal Mining
- Dairy Products Processing
- Inorganic Chemicals Manufacturing (including a zero discharge requirement for several subcategories)
- Iron and Steel Manufacturing
- Oil and Gas Extraction
- Petroleum Refining
- Pulp, Paper and Paperboard
- Sugar Processing (including a zero discharge requirement for one subcategory)
- Textile Mills
EPA has published a general definition of "new source" in the federal wastewater permit regulations. More specialized definitions of "new source" are included in some of the individual category regulations, e.g., the definition for the Pulp, Paper and Paperboard category.
See also
- Air pollutionAir pollutionAir pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
- Effluent guidelinesEffluent guidelinesEffluent guidelines are U.S. national standards for wastewater discharges to surface waters and publicly owned treatment works . The United States Environmental Protection Agency issues effluent guidelines for categories of industrial sources of water pollution under Title III of the Clean Water...
- National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air PollutantsNational Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air PollutantsThe National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants are emissions standards set by the United States EPA for an air pollutant not covered by NAAQS that may cause an increase in fatalities or in serious, irreversible, or incapacitating illness...
- New Source ReviewNew Source ReviewThe New Source Review, is a permitting process created by the US Congress in 1977 as part of a series of amendments to the Clean Air Act. The NSR process requires industry to undergo an Environmental Protection Agency pre-construction review for environmental controls if they propose either...
- Water pollutionWater pollutionWater pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....