After first contesting a draft EPA update to air toxic regulations for lime manufacturers in written feedback, an industry trade group is now targeting the final rule in a lawsuit.
The National Lime Association brought the suit Friday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The filing does not spell out the grounds, which is typical for a Clean Air Act challenge at this stage.
In comments on the draft rule, however, the association last year labeled proposed new emission limits on mercury and other previously unregulated hazardous air pollutants unnecessary, accused EPA of low-balling the projected compliance costs and sought technical changes.
In the final version published in July, EPA substantially upped the anticipated price tag for the stricter regulations and wrapped in added “flexibilities” to aid smaller lime-makers, but went forward with maximum achievable control technology standards for mercury, hydrogen chloride, organic hazardous air pollutants and dioxins/furans. The new regulations are predicted to cut toxic emissions from almost three dozen plants by a total of almost 900 tons annually, according to an EPA summary.
