The EPA has proposed a rule to significantly reduce air pollutant emissions from five types of combustion sources that burn hazardous waste. The rule would cut up to 4,000 tons of emissions of hazardous pollutants such as mercury, lead, dioxin, arsenic, soot and sulfur dioxide annually.

The EPA estimates the proposal would affect 150 facilities operating 276 existing hazardous waste-burning sources. The five types of combustion sources are incinerators, cement kilns, lightweight aggregate kilns, steam and heat generation boilers, and hydrochloric acid production furnaces.

The rule would require use of maximum achievable pollution control technology controls and apply to all new and existing hazardous waste combustors, regardless of size. See www.epa.gov/hwcmact/.