Recently, the Flexible Packaging Association attended a public hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rules to reduce emissions of toxic air pollutants from existing and new industrial, commercial, and institutional boilers, process heaters and solid waste incinerators. 

FPA is monitoring the progression of the proposed rules, specifically, the definition development of nonhazardous secondary materials, which would be identified as nonwaste under the Resource, Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

Several industry associations, NonGovernmental Organizations (NGOs), and private citizens testified at the hearing. The industry position was that emissions threshold levels are too low, cannot be met with currently available pollution control equipment, and that the compliance costs are excessively high and would result in loss of jobs. 

The NGOs support EPA’s action and call it necessary to reduce adverse health effects of emissions in adults and children. The Agency is under court order to finalize the rules by December 16, 2010. For more information, contact Ram Singhal, Vice President, Technology & Environmental Strategy at (410) 694-0823 or rsinghal@flexpack.org.