EPA Finalizes NESHAP Technology Review for Chemical Manufacturing Area Sources
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule to amend existing standards pursuant to the Clean Air Act, which goes into full effect on April 1, 2026.
The regulation establishes strict new leak detection and repair requirements for equipment and heat exchange systems, while introducing first-time standards for pressure vessels and pressure relief devices.
It explicitly prohibits bypassing air pollution control devices and mandates electronic reporting for all compliance and performance data.
Notably, the EPA deferred taking final action on a proposed regulation targeting ethylene oxide emissions to coordinate with major source regulations.
Affected chemical manufacturers must implement an annual instrument monitoring program using EPA Method 21 to detect leaks in pumps, valves, and connectors at a threshold of 10,000 parts per million by volume.
Facilities must also conduct quarterly monitoring on large heat exchange systems using the Modified El Paso Method.
To ensure continued compliance, operators using non-flare control devices must now execute comprehensive performance testing every five years, replacing previous design evaluation exemptions.
These mandates apply to 251 operational facilities across nine chemical manufacturing categories, including agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and synthetic rubber.
The regulations strictly target operations that use, produce, or generate any of 15 specified urban hazardous air pollutants.
However, the rule explicitly exempts heat exchange systems with flow rates under 8,000 gallons per minute, as well as equipment operating in a vacuum or used less than 300 hours annually.
