Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 24, 2024

Title 40 - Protection of Environment last revised: Nov 21, 2024
§ 424.20 - Applicability; description of the covered electric furnaces and other smelting operations with wet air pollution control devices subcategory.

The provisions of this subpart are applicable to discharges resulting from the smelting of ferroalloys in covered electric furnaces or other smelting operations, not elsewhere included in this part, with wet air pollution control devices. This subcategory includes those electric furnaces of such construction or configuration (known as covered, closed, sealed, semi-covered or semi-closed furnaces) that the furnace off-gases are not burned prior to collection and cleaning, and which off-gases are cleaned after collection in a wet air pollution control device such as a scrubber, ‘wet’ baghouse, etc. This subcategory also includes those non- electric furnace smelting operations, such as exothermic (i.e., aluminothermic or silicothermic) smelting, ferromanganese refining, etc., where these are controlled for air pollution by wet air pollution control devices. This subcategory does not include noncontact cooling water or those furnaces which utilize dry dust collection techniques, such as dry baghouses.

§ 424.21 - Specialized definitions.

For the purpose of this subpart:

(a) Except as provided below, the general definitions, abbreviations and methods of analysis set forth in part 401 of this chapter shall apply to this subpart.

(b) The term Mwh shall mean megawatt hour(s) of electrical energy consumed in the smelting process (furnace power consumption).

§ 424.22 - Effluent limitations guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best practicable control technology currently available.

Except as provided in §§ 125.30 through 125.32, any existing point source subject to this subpart shall achieve the following effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best practicable control technology currently available (BPT):

Effluent characteristic Effluent limitations
Maximum for any 1 day Average of daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed—
Metric units (kg/Mwh)
TSS0.4190.209
Chromium total.008.004
Chromium VI.0008.0004
Manganese total.084.042
Cyanide total.004.002
Phenols.006.004
pH( 1)( 1)
English units (lb/Mwh)
TSS.922.461
Chromium total.018.009
Chromium VI.0018.0009
Manganese total.184.092
Cyanide total.009.005
Phenols.013.009
pH( 1)( 1)

1 Within the range 6.0 to 9.0.

Provided, however, That for nonelectric furnace smelting processes, the units of effluent limitations set forth in this section shall be read as “kg/kkg of product” rather than “kg/Mwh,” and the limitations (except for pH) shall be 3.3 times those listed in the table in this section (or, for English units, “lb/ton of product” rather than “lb/Mwh,” and the limitations (except for pH) shall be three times those listed in the table). [39 FR 6809, Feb. 22, 1974, as amended at 39 FR 17841, May 21, 1974; 60 FR 33957, June 29, 1995]
§ 424.23 - Effluent limitations guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available technology economically achievable.

The following limitations establish the quantity or quality of pollutants or pollutant properties, controlled by this section, which may be discharged by a point source subject to the provisions of this subpart after application of the best available technology economically achievable:

Effluent characteristic Effluent limitations
Maximum for any 1 day Average of daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed—
Metric units (kg/Mwh)
Chromium total0.0010.0005
Chromium VI.0001.00005
Manganese total.011.005
Cyanide total.0005.0003
Phenols.0004.0002
English units (lb/Mwh)
Chromium total.002.0012
Chromium VI.0002.0001
Manganese total.023.012
Cyanide total.001.0006
Phenols.0009.0005
Provided, however, That for nonelectric furnace smelting processes, the units of effluent limitations set forth in this section shall be read as “kg/kkg of product” rather than “kg/Mwh,” and the limitations (except for pH) shall be 3.3 times those listed in the table in this section (or, for English units, “lb/ton of product” rather than “lb/Mwh,” and the limitations (except for pH) shall be three times those listed in the table). [44 FR 50744, Aug. 29, 1979]
§ 424.24 - [Reserved]
§ 424.25 - Standards of performance for new sources.

The following standards of performance establish the quantity or quality of pollutants or pollutant properties, controlled by this section, which may be discharged by a new source subject to the provisions of this subpart:

Effluent characteristic Effluent limitations
Maximum for any 1 day Average of daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed—
Metric units (kg/Mwh)
TSS0.0320.016
Chromium total.001.0005
Chromium VI.0001.00005
Manganese total.011.005
Cyanide total.0005.0003
Phenols.0004.0002
pH( 1)( 1)
English units (lb/Mwh)
TSS.071.035
Chromium total.002.0012
Chromium VI.0002.0001
Manganese total.023.012
Cyanide total.001.0006
Phenols.0009.0005
pH( 1)( 1)

1 Within the range 6.0 to 9.0.

Provided, however, That for nonelectric furnace smelting processes, the units of effluent limitations set forth in this section shall be read as “kg/kkg of product” rather than “kg/Mwh,” and the limitations (except for pH) shall be 3.3 times those listed in the table in this section (or, for English units, “lb/ton of product” rather than “lb/Mwh,” and the limitations (except for pH) shall be three times those listed in the table). [39 FR 6809, Feb. 22, 1974, as amended at 39 FR 17841, May 21, 1974]
§ 424.26 - Pretreatment standards for new sources.

Any new source subject to this subpart that introduces process wastewater pollutants into a publicly owned treatment works must comply with 40 CFR part 403.

[60 FR 33957, June 29, 1995]
§ 424.27 - Effluent limitations guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best conventional pollutant control technology.

Except as provided in §§ 125.30 through 125.32, any existing point source subject to this subpart shall achieve the following effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best conventional pollutant control technology (BCT): The limitations shall be the same as those specified for conventional pollutants (which are defined in § 401.16) in § 424.22 of this subpart for the best practicable control technology currently available (BPT).

[51 FR 25000, July 9, 1986]
authority: Secs. 301, 304(b) and (c), 306(b) and (c), 307(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended; 33 U.S.C. 1251,1311,1314,1316,1317; 86 Stat. 816
source: 39 FR 6809, Feb. 22, 1974, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 40 CFR 424.21