EPA's new maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards for mercury cell chlor-alkali plants are expected to reduce mercury emissions from affected facilities by about 94% from the levels allowed under current regulations. In addition, the new MACT standards completely prohibit new mercury cell chlor-alkali facilities. Although signed by the acting EPA Administrator on August 25, 2003, as of November 15, 2003, the final rule had not yet been published in the Federal Register. When published, the new MACT standards for mercury cell chlor-alkali plants will be codified in 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIIII. Although Subpart IIIII was developed to address the source category "chlorine production," EPA has determined that the MACT standard applies only to the manufacture of chlorine and caustic in mercury cells, since other types of chlor-alkali plants (e.g., diaphragm cell and membrane cell technologies) do not emit mercury. As explained in the article on page 2.19 of this issue, EPA has decided to delete non-mercury cell chlorine production plants from the list of source categories to be subject to MACT standards.
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