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Medical Waste Incinerators and Other Misc. Sources of Mercury

Medical Waste Incinerators and Other Misc. Sources of Mercury. John Glunn Division of Air Resource Management. Status and Magnitude of Florida’s Medical Waste Incinerators. 11 Facilities in FL. All subject to federal and state air rules.

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Medical Waste Incinerators and Other Misc. Sources of Mercury

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  1. Medical Waste Incinerators and Other Misc. Sources of Mercury John Glunn Division of Air Resource Management Mercury Workshop – February 10, 2009 1

  2. Status and Magnitude of Florida’s Medical Waste Incinerators • 11 Facilities in FL. • All subject to federal and state air rules. • 1997 EPA Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerator Rule (40 CFR Part 60, Subpart Ce). • DEP Rule 62-296.401(4), F.A.C. • On 12/01/08, EPA proposed tightening limits - for mercury, from 550 ug/m3 to 9.5 ug/m3. • Previous test reports total less than 4 lbs/yr. February 10, 2009 | 2

  3. Florida’s Medical Waste Incinerators February 10, 2009 | 3

  4. 12/01/08 Proposal Features • Much tighter mercury emission limits - test results from 9 of 11 FL units were below that standard. • Proposal requires initial compliance tests for SO2, NOx, HCl, Cd, Pb, and Hg. • Annual compliance testing for PM, CO and HCl. • Annual inspections of pollution control devices. • One-time testing of ash handling operations. • Use of CO, PM, HCl, multi-metals, Hg and dioxin CEMS, in lieu of compliance testing. February 10, 2009 | 4

  5. DARM Perspective on Proposal • Proposed emission limits are achievable and reflect what facilities can meet. • One-time testing for mercury is not sufficient. Testing should show continuing compliance over time. • Requiring use of CEMs or sorbent trap monitoring for Hg is a viable alternative to stack testing. • Requiring a P2 plan may be the most effective mercury control for this source category. February 10, 2009 | 5

  6. Other Mercury Sources • EPA’s 2005 national emissions inventory identified other potential mercury emission sources: • Oil-fired utilities (314 lbs/yr) • Wastewater treatment/sludge incinerators (102 lbs/yr) • Secondary metal smelting (25 lbs/yr) • Phosphate fertilizer production (10 lbs/yr) • Paper/pulp mills (10 lbs/yr) • Landfills (5.5 lbs/yr) February 10, 2009 | 6

  7. Other Possible Sources of Mercury • In 2000, EPA tested 4 NY crematories and found each cremation averaged 0.46 grams. • In 2004, 84,862 cremations occurred in FL. • At 0.46 g each, emissions would have been about 86 lbs/yr. • Tests of some European crematories have shown higher mercury emissions. • Selenium filters in use at a few new crematories there. February 10, 2009 | 7

  8. Other Possible Sources of Mercury (continued) • Many pre-2002 vehicles have mercury switches with about 1 gram each. These switches can be removed in less than 1 minute. • The National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program pays auto recyclers $4-$6 per switch. • Since 2006, 64,000 switches recovered in FL, preventing 141 lbs of potential mercury emissions from secondary steel smelters. February 10, 2009 | 8

  9. Questions? John.Glunn@dep.state.fl.us (850)921-9509 Mercury Workshop – February 10, 2009 9

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