EPA Issues Proposed Expansion to Comparable Fuels Exclusion

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to allow certain manufacturing waste to be safely burned for energy recovery in industrial boilers. This action will remove unnecessary regulatory costs while maintaining current levels of protection of human health and the environment.

EPA is proposing to expand the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act’s Hazardous Waste Comparable Fuels Exclusion to encompass a new category of liquid hazardous waste-derived fuel known as emission-comparable fuel (ECF). ECF is produced from a hazardous waste but generates emissions when burned in an industrial boiler that are comparable to those from burning fuel oil. ECF would be subject to the same regulations that currently apply under the Comparable Fuels Exclusion but would be exempt from the specifications for certain hydrocarbons and oxygenates. It also would have to meet certain storage and burner conditions.