Rubber Tire Manufacturing: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)

Rule Summary

This action finalizes national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for new and existing sources at rubber tire manufacturing facilities. These facilities manufacture tires used for agricultural equipment, airplanes, and on road vehicles such as cars buses, and trucks.

The main sources regulated are:

rubber processing;
the use of cements, solvents and associated mixtures in the tire production;
tire cord production;
puncture sealant application.

The EPA has identified rubber tire manufacturing facilities as major sources of hazardous air pollutants (HAP) emissions. These standards will implement section 112(d) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) by requiring all such major sources to meet HAP emission standards that reflect the application of maximum achievable control technology (MACT). These HAP include hexane, toluene, formaldehyde, styrene and methanol, which are associated with a variety of adverse health effects, such as chronic health disorders (e.g., polyneuropathy, degenerative lesions of the nasal cavity) and acute health disorders (e.g., respiratory irritation, nausea, blurred vision, and headaches). The final NESHAP reduces air toxic emissions from solvents, cements and coating material used in the tire manufacturing industry by approximately 1,100 tons annually.