National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Surface Coating of Metal Cans

This action promulgates national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for metal can surface coating operations located at major sources of hazardous air pollutants (HAP). The final standards implement section 112(d) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) by requiring these operations to meet HAP emission standards reflecting the application of the maximum achievable control technology (MACT). The final rule will protect air quality and promote public health by reducing emissions of HAP from facilities in the metal can surface coating source category. The HAP emitted by these facilities include ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE) and other glycol ethers, xylenes, hexane, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). These HAP are associated with a variety of adverse health effects which include chronic health disorders (e.g., birth defects and effects on the central nervous system, liver, and heart) and acute health disorders (e.g., irritation of the lung, skin, and mucous membranes, and effects on the central nervous system), and possibly cancer. In general, these findings have only been shown with concentrations higher than those typically found in the ambient air. The final standards are expected to reduce nationwide HAP emissions from major sources in this source category by approximately 6,160 megagrams per year (Mg/yr) (6,800 tons per year (tpy)) or 70 percent from the baseline organic HAP emissions of 8,700 Mg/yr (9,600 tpy).