The EPA is coming to Houston on November 27 to hold a public hearing on NESHAP (National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants). It will be the only one of its kind in the country. The hearing will provide an opportunity to formally ask the EPA to set fair standards, so that families living close to the refineries can have a chance to breathe cleaner air.

Background:
The pollutants in this regulation number somewhere between 180 and 190 and include benzene and 1,3 butadiene, which are known carcinogens. Unlike criteria pollutants, there are no national standards regulating acceptable levels of these compounds in the ambient environment. Along with NESHAP are the MACT standards, or Maximum Achievable Control Technologies. In short, new emissions sources have to have the best and newest emissions control devices, and existing sources have to meet an average of what are considered the best twelve percent of operating sources.

The NESHAP regulations also include a section on health risk. The Clean Air Act sets the maximum allowable incidence of cancer over a lifetime resulting from air toxics exposure at one in one million (1 in 1,000,000). The National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) allows cancer rates 100 times greater for those living near refineries than the rate for the general population.

Save the Date:
November 26th- Candlelight Vigil for Health and Clean Air in Hartman Park at 7PM (9311 East Avenue P, Houston, TX 77012)