changetofiled6.22.16

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DEQ invites you to comment on proposed rules to [Title]. Please note that all information provided when commenting will display below and becomes public record. If you are a student who attends a public university or Oregon Health and Science University, please do not use the form below, but email your comments to Comment-[CodeName]@deq.state.or.us to protect your address according to Oregon Revised Statute 192.501(29).DEQ may modify the proposed rules based on all public comments received by the close of public comment period on [Comment deadline]

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Air Toxics 2016 Temporary

toxics2016temp

Elevated and possibly unsafe levels of metals have been found in the air around two glass manufacturing facilities in Portland. In May 2015, DEQ received the initial results of a study, using a new approach with no standard operating procedures, the U.S. Forest Service conducted looking at moss samples as an indicator or screening tool for contaminants in the air. The results of that study showed that the moss samples in the areas near two colored art glass manufacturers contained high levels of the heavy metals cadmium and arsenic in Southeast and North Portland.

This pilot study prompted DEQ to set up air monitoring systems near a glass company in Southeast Portland. The study collected 24-hour air samples every few days over a 30-day period in October 2015. The results of DEQ’s air monitoring confirmed that the glass company was the likely source of metals air emissions. DEQ completed its quality assurance and quality control review of those samples in late January 2016. DEQ then shared its analysis of the findings with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Multnomah County Health Department.

The DEQ also identified a second area of concern near a glass company in North Portland. The glass companies were operating in compliance with the current law. One company was operating within its permit and the other company is not required to have a permit.

The U.S. Congress amended the Clean Air Act In 1990 to allow EPA to oversee the control of 188 hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) in order to protect human health. The EPA works with local and state governments to implement technologies that control the emission of these chemicals. For glass manufacturing, the industry standards focus on emissions for large facilities, such as those that make beer bottles.

In 2005, with EPA funding, DEQ measured concentrations of air toxics, including metals, at six locations in the Portland area, finding levels of many pollutants above clean air benchmarks. Benchmarks are Oregon’s protective “clean air” goals that DEQ developed to address toxic air pollutants. There are no direct regulatory requirements associated with benchmarks. DEQ established air toxics benchmarks in 2006 that set guidelines for 52 pollutants.

DEQ’s work in 2006 and since then has identified levels of some toxic air pollutants that are still above Oregon’s air toxics benchmarks. This is a significant problem because toxic air pollutants are connected with serious health effects like cancer, respiratory problems and organ damage. DEQ's air toxics benchmarks are very protective air concentrations that people could breathe for a lifetime without increasing their cancer risk beyond a chance of one in a million.

Air toxics emissions from certain types of industrial businesses like small art glass manufacturers are not regulated under federal requirements. Based on sampling DEQ undertook last October, and in recent weeks, DEQ has concluded that uncontrolled furnaces used in such small art glass manufacturing are more likely than not to emit potentially unsafe levels of certain metals, including arsenic, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and nickel. The temporary rules that DEQ proposes for EQC adoption are intended to immediately protect the public health and the environment by ensuring the air emissions from small art glass facilities do not cause unsafe levels of metals in the air nearby. Jill Inahara 503-229-5001 false

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DEQ is asking the EQC to adopt proposed temporary rules limiting metals emissions from small colored art glass manufacturers.

DEQ is addressing the urgent need to control metals emissions from small colored art glass manufacturing facilities. As DEQ recently determined through air monitoring and facility inspections, uncontrolled glass furnaces processing colored glass to which arsenic, cadmium, chromium and nickel are added likely emit these metals at levels that can pose an immediate threat to the health of people nearby. Recent monitoring close to a colored art glass facility with uncontrolled furnace emissions showed metals concentrations at levels that can significantly increase risks of cancer and other health problems.

The proposed rules would fill a regulatory gap by setting operation standards for the smaller art glass businesses that emit air toxics and potentially cause serious health effects.

DEQ invites you to comment on these proposed temporary rules. Please note that all information provided when commenting will display below and becomes public record.

This comment period will close at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, 2016. We may modify the proposed rules based on public comments received by this deadline.

STUDENTS ONLY. DEQ protects public university student email addresses as Oregon Revised Statute 192.501(29) requires. If you are a student who attends a public university or Oregon Health and Science University, you can submit your comments on this form. If you wish to protect your student email address you can omit your email address from the form below.

Note: DEQ recommends using plain text for comments. Formatted text may not render properly.

2016-04-20

5:00 p.m.

Pending

2016-04-20

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DEQ 4-2016

2016-04-21

Advisory committee meetings are open to the public. DEQ publishes meeting notices on http://www.oregon.gov/deq/Pages/Events.aspx. Please notify DEQ of any special physical or language accommodations or if you need information in large print, Braille or another format. To make these arrangements, contact DEQ, Portland, at 503-229-5696 or call toll-free in Oregon at 1-800-452-4011, ext. 5696; fax to 503-229-6762; or email to deqinfo@deq.state.or.us. Hearing impaired persons may call 711.

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http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/bulletin/0616_bulletin/0616_ch340_bulletin.html

6.1.16

Link to GovDelivery Topic number 605; Air Quality 2016 Permanent Rulemaking

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EQC meeting to vote on temporary rules: April 20, 2016

2016-03-16T00:00:00-07:00