Effluent Limitations Guidelines, Pretreatment Standards, and New Source Performance Standards: Metal Products and Machinery

This proposed regulation establishes technology-based limits for the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States and into publicly owned treatment works by existing and new facilities that manufacture, maintain or rebuild finished metal parts, products or machines. This proposed regulation will reduce the discharge of toxic pollutants from Metal Products and Machinery (MP&M) facilities by almost a million pounds per year, thereby reducing violations of water quality standards (which were established to protect aquatic life and/ or human health) in water bodies across the country. This proposed regulation will also reduce the metals content of municipal sludge, thereby allowing approximately 184 additional POTWs to land apply another 439,000 dry metric tons of sewage sludge rather than incinerating or landfilling the sludge. As a result of consultations with numerous stakeholders, the preamble solicits comments and data not only on issues raised by EPA, but also on those raised by environmental groups, by state and local governments who will be implementing these regulations, and by industry representatives who will be affected by them. As indicated elsewhere throughout this proposal, the Agency welcomes comment on all options, issues, and proposed decisions and encourages commentors to submit additional data during the comment period (See Section XIX of this preamble). The Agency plans to have additional discussions with interested parties during the comment period to help ensure that the Agency has the views of such parties and the best possible data upon which to base decisions for the final rule. EPA's final rule may be based upon any technologies, rationale or approaches that are a logical outgrowth of this proposal, including any options discussed in this or subsequent documents.