KEEPING TABS BY STATE Rather than cap the gas, EPA may
switch focus to ensuring the process and equipment are energy efficient.
Preparing for Future Rules
For now, Radia is unconcerned about the current Tailoring Rule as it pertains to the metalcasting industry. McWane’s iron pipe cast- ing facilities are some of the largest casting plants in the U.S., and only a couple of them are near the 75,000- ton threshold. “As it sits now, I’m not worried about this rule because our facility is not that impacted,” he said. “I can’t imagine that other metalcasters other than pipe produce more than 75,000 tons. And then, we wouldn’t make a
While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency moves its climate change agenda forward, state environmental agencies have their own authority to set emissions standards, as well.
“States may have more stringent requirements,” said Jeet Radia, senior vice president of McWane Inc., Birmingham, Ala. “You can have your eyes on the federal requirements and forget that state level and get burned.” A list of state and territorial agencies can be found at
www.epa.gov/epahome/ state.htm. Metalcasters should keep tabs on their own state’s regulations just as they do on the federal regulations, according to Radia.
when announcing the agency’s plan for establishing greenhouse gas pol- lution standards. With the possibility of the tailor-
ing requirement lowering in the coming years, Radia urges metal- casters to be prepared. “Every metalcaster should look at
“We are following through on our commit- ment to proceed in a measured and careful
way to reduce greenhouse gas pollution.” —EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson
change big enough to trigger the need for a permit.” Radia may not worry about trig-
gering the current rule, but he does regard the rule with forewarning. When EPA set the current threshold at 75,000 tons, the agency indicated it was only the beginning. By April 2016, it expects to complete a rule further addressing Clean Air Act permitting for smaller sources, if needed. “We are following through on
our commitment to proceed in a measured and careful way to reduce greenhouse gas pollution that threatens the health and welfare of Americans and contributes to climate change,” EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said in December 2010
how much greenhouse gas it is emit- ting,” he said. “Right now the only thing [a metalcasting facility] can do is become more energy efficient. Look at using your cupola so that you aren’t burning as much coke. Look at your energy usage profile. Do an energy audit to see areas where you can cut down energy use, particularly in com- bustion processes.” Schifo also recommends metalcast-
ers become involved with industry groups, such as the American Foundry Society, which has a committee dedi- cated to air quality. “It’s important to share data and
ONLINE RESOURCE
For a free tool to calculate your facility’s greenhouse gas emissions, go to www.
afsinc.org/content/view/326.
26 | MODERN CASTING June 2011
information with the industry through these groups so other metalcasting facilities can address the issues in the same manner and we don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” Schifo said. “We all know this is going to be an issue; we don’t have to wait for a crisis to address it.”
Regulation as Energy Policy A few metalcasters may be directly
impacted by the current tailoring rule, but many more are indirectly impacted through the regulatory burden placed on refineries and power plants. “What is significant about the
other categories getting greenhouse gas limits is that they are increasing their regulatory costs and increasing the cost of their product, i.e. energy,” Hannapel said. “So energy costs are going to go up for metalcasting facilities.” On May 12, Brad Muller, vice
president of marketing for Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Co., Charlotte, N.C., testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Commit- tee on Small Business that EPA’s current regulatory authority virtu- ally put the agency in charge of U.S. energy policy. “EPA’s greenhouse gas regulation has the latitude to mandate indus- trial and electric utility fuel switch- ing from coal, a low-cost and low volatile energy source, to natural gas, an energy source with high price volatility,” he said. “Higher natural gas demand means higher natural gas and electricity prices. All of the higher energy and compliance costs placed on the electric utility indus- try, by state law will be automatically passed on to ratepayers.” EPA has argued that its policy on
climate change and greenhouse gas emis- sions is reasonable and effective. “EPA and many of its state part-
ners have now begun implementing safeguards under the Clean Air Act to address carbon pollution from the largest facilities when they are built or expanded,” Jackson said. “A collection of 11 electric power companies called EPA’s action a reasonable approach focusing on improving the energy effi- ciency of new power plants and large industrial facilities.”
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