EPA'snew Industrial Boiler MACT (Maximum Achievable Control Technology) rule affects boilers and process heaters at thousands of U.S. industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities, including chemical manufacturing plants, forest product mills, Universities, and hospitals with stringent new air emission standards and requirements.

Boilers using solid fuels such as coal or wood incur the strictest requirements. ENSR International's Industrial Boiler MACT Compliance Schedule Planner provides facility environmental managers and engineers with a recommended schedule to plan emission testing and applicability determinations, evaluate alternative compliance options, and achieve MACT compliance.

Determining a facility's compliance strategy early on ensures the most cost-effective and flexible approach. Representatives of affected facilities may request a copy or assistance at (800) 722-2440 or www.ensr.com/request.

The new Industrial Boiler MACT rule published in the September 13th Federal Register, established specific air emission standards, process monitoring, recordkeeping, and agency reporting requirements for many existing and future solid, liquid and gaseous fueled boilers and process heaters used throughout the country. Existing facilities affected by the rule must comply by September 13, 2007. Alternative, less stringent compliance options are available to facilities that are able to demonstrate insignificant risk to the surrounding communities.

Due to the effort required for compliance, many facilities have begun determining MACT applicability and evaluating alternative compliance options to meet the 3-year deadline -especially those that will require air pollution control equipment upgrades based on their need to further reduce toxic emissions. According to Craig Doolittle, ENSR senior air measurements manager.

"Because of the significant MACT compliance and retrofit costs per facility, it is important to have a compliance plan that finds potential capital equipment and operating cost savings as well as alternative compliance options." A member of CIBO (Council of Industrial Boiler Owners), ENSR's air quality experts have performed over 10,000 air pollution control and compliance evaluations to help a wide range of industrial facilities save millions in compliance costs. Founded in 1968, ENSR International (www.ensr.com) provides environmental and energy development services from 45 US and 70 worldwide offices. For more information visit www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/mactfnlalph.html.