EPA — again resorting to a procedural gambit that denies the public advance notice of its plans — is waiving emission limits on some types of incinerators when they are used to burn debris stemming from hurricanes and other natural disasters.
In an interim final rule published Tuesday, the agency granted the exemption to commercial and industrial waste incinerators in any area covered by emergency or major disaster declarations. Although the waste would have to be nonhazardous, the waiver would automatically be available if it lasts no more than eight weeks. After that point, operators would have to get EPA’s permission for an eight-week extension, according to the rule.
As climate change worsens the effects of wildfires, hurricanes and tornadoes, the challenge of clearing the enormous amounts of debris has become more pressing.
In a news release, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin framed the break on emission limits as furthering the Trump administration’s goal of speeding cleanups. After Hurricane Helene devastated part of western North Carolina last fall, the lack of a “temporary use provision” kept EPA from approving the state’s request to use commercial and industrial incinerators for debris disposal, according to the rule.
