On Sept. 4, 2007, the EPA proposed amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) from petroleum refineries to address the risk remaining after application of the 1995 standards (72 Fed. Reg. 50716). The proposal also provided the results of the agency's eight-year review of developments in practices, processes and control technologies that have occurred since the emissions standards were adopted.

Based on the results of the residual risk and technology review, the EPA has proposed two options for wastewater treatment systems and storage vessels. For wastewater treatment systems, the first option would not require any additional controls as necessary to address residual risk or under the technology review. The second option would require refineries to apply new or additional requirements for wastewater treatment systems. For storage vessels, the first option would also not require any additional controls as necessary to address residual risk or under the technology review, and the second option would require refineries to apply new or additional requirements for storage vessels.

The EPA also proposed two options for an amendment to add emissions standards for cooling towers. Comments must be received on or before Nov. 5, 2007.