EPA toughens air toxics limits on lime manufacturing

By Sean Reilly | 07/01/2024 04:29 PM EDT

The agency snubbed requests from West Virginia Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito to relax the proposal.

Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) and Environment and Public Works ranking member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) pushed EPA to change an air toxics rule for lime manufacturing facilities. Alex Wong/Getty Images

EPA has tightened air toxics regulations on lime manufacturing plants along the lines of an earlier proposal, rebuffing calls for major changes from West Virginia’s two senators.

The final rule, signed Friday by agency Administrator Michael Regan to meet a court-ordered deadline, will add emissions limits for mercury, hydrogen chloride and other previously unregulated hazardous pollutants.

The update is the first for the industry in two decades and applies to 34 plants, which will now have three years to comply. At that point, the stricter limits are predicted to cumulatively cut their emissions by almost 900 tons annually, according to EPA.

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The estimated upfront compliance price tag is $485 million, accompanied by $166 million in yearly recurring costs.

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