Managing Air Toxics Under the New Clean Air Act Amendments

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 greatly expand EPA's rulemaking authority over toxic or hazardous air pollutants. The law lists 189 chemicals that would be subject to control. Sources that emit 10 tons/yr or more of any one pollutant, or 25 tons/yr or more of any combination thereof, must apply maximum available control technology (MACT). By definition, MACf is at least as stringent as best available control technology (BACf) for similar sources. However, consideration of the cost and feasibility of control, energy impacts and environmental factors will be given in MACf.