Boiler MACT Regulations

In March 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a rule imposing stricter emissions limits on industrial and commercial boilers and process heaters. This rule, known as Boiler MACT (maximum achievable control technology), was written to require the highest degree of reduction of emissions of hazardous air pollutants possible, while considering the costs of achieving such reductions.

Due to significant problems with the rule, the EPA stayed its implementation pending further reconsideration. However, on January 9, 2012, the D.C. District Court struck down this stay, causing manufacturers great uncertainty as they worked to install new boilers or retrofit existing units.

On January 31, 2013, the EPA published its final Boiler MACT rule. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and business and environmental groups filed legal challenges in a federal appeals court. The NAM also petitioned the EPA to reconsider this latest rule, along with related rules involving air pollutants for area sources (Boiler GACT, or generally available control technology) and commercial and solid waste incineration (CISWI) units.

The EPA estimates that the MACT portion of the rule alone will impose capital costs of near $5 billion, plus $1.5 billion more in annual operating costs. The NAM will continue to advocate for achievable and affordable Boiler MACT regulations.