New chloroprene limits in EPA emissions proposals

Washington – The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced new proposals to “significantly reduce” hazardous pollutants from chemicals production facilities.

The enhanced restrictions are intended to cut more than 6 kilotonne per annum of toxic pollution, according to the agency's 6 April announcement.

The proposal would update several regulations that apply to chemical plants, including those that make synthetic organic chemicals, and polymers such as chloroprene rubber.

Particular 'air pollutants' in the EPA's sights include chloroprene monomer, ethylene oxide, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride.

If annual average air concentrations of these chemicals are above 'action-level' at the fence-line, owners and operators would have to find the source and make repairs.

For chloroprene, the proposed action level is 0.3 microgrammes per cubic meter of air, while for ethylene oxide ther figure is 0.2 microgrammes per cubic metre of air. 

Furthermore, the US agency intends to make the monitoring-data public in order to ensure that the information is transparent and available to communities.

The EPA is currently engaged in legal disputes with Denka Performance Elastomers over the assessment of emissions from its polychloroprene plant in LaPlace, Louisiana.