This rule establishes standards of performance which limit atmospheric emissions of lead from new, modified, and reconstructed facilities at lead-acid battery plants.
How many lead acid battery manufacturing plants are subject to NSPS?
1. NSPS The EPA has found through the BSER review for this source category that there are 40 existing lead acid battery manufacturing facilities subject to the NSPS for Lead-Acid Battery Manufacturing Plants at 40 CFR part 60, subpart KK.
The NSPS applies to all lead acid battery manufacturing plants constructed, reconstructed, or modified since January 14, 1980, if they produce or have the design capacity to produce batteries containing 5.9 megagrams (6.5 tons) or more of lead in one day.
The EPA estimates that, of the 40 existing lead acid battery manufacturing facilities in the U.S., all are subject to the NSPS, and 39 facilities are subject to the NESHAP. One facility is a major source as defined under CAA section 112 and is therefore not subject to the area source GACT standards.
The lead acid battery manufacturing source category consists of facilities engaged in producing lead acid batteries. The EPA first promulgated new source performance standards for lead acid battery manufacturing on April 16, 1982.
What is a lead acid battery?
Industrial batteries include those used for uninterruptible power supplies and other backup power applications, and traction batteries are used to power electric vehicles such as forklifts. The lead acid battery manufacturing process begins with grid casting operations, which entails stamping or casting lead into grids.
What are lead-acid battery standards?
The standards implement Section 111 of the Clean Air Act, and are based on the Administrator's determination that lead-acid battery manufacturing facilities contribute significantly to air pollution, which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.