Lowering the threshold for reporting lead under
the Toxic Release Inventory under the conditions of a proposed rule would cost industry
around $116,250,000 during the first year of the program, EPA estimates. This estimate
includes the costs of staff to become familiar with the new requirements, to complete the
required Form R and recordkeeping, and to perform other related tasks. After these initial
costs, the agency estimates that the cost to industry in following years would be about
$60 million each year. EPA estimates that 15,043 facilities would be newly required to
file Form R under the new reporting threshold for lead; nearly 6,000 of these facilities
would have to participate in the program for the first time.
Nearly 200,000 facilities would need to analyze their operations
to determine if they would be covered under the new regulations. The electronics and motor
vehicle industries would be most significantly affected by the new rules. Bulk petroleum
stations and the coal mining industry would also be significantly affected. The proposed
rule would lower the reporting threshold for lead from 25,000 pounds annually and 10,000
pounds annually (for the production of lead and the use of lead, respectively) to 10
pounds each year. It would also do away with the de minimus exemptions for lead-containing
mixtures that are a part of the existing rule.
Comments on the proposed rule should be submitted to: Document
Control Office (7407), Office of Pollution Preventions and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M St, SW, Washington DC 20460. They may also be sent via email to oppt.ncic@epamail.epa.gov. Comments should
identify the docket number OPPTS-400140.
__________________ EPA Lead Threshold News
