What: On October 1, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for the lead smelting industry.
Why: The proposed rule impacts any facility engaged in the production of purified lead from lead scrap by melting and separating lead from metal and non-metallic contaminants and by reducing lead compounds to elemental lead. Processes associated with secondary lead smelting, such as battery breaking, smelting in reverberatory, blast, rotary, and electric furnaces, refining, alloying, and casting, are also covered by the proposed rule.
The EPA is not proposing changes to the NESHAP but is taking comments on the conclusion that the regulation provides an ample margin of safety to protect public health. In addition, the EPA is proposing:
- Revisions related to emissions during periods of startup, shutdown, and malfunction.
- Adding requirements for electronic reporting.
- Revising monitoring requirements.
- Other minor technical revisions.
The EPA found that the proposal would only impact four small facilities at a rate of less than one percent of their revenue. On this basis, the agency has certified that the rule will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities.
Action: Comments are due November 17, 2025. A public hearing must be requested by October 6, 2025. If a hearing is requested, it will be held virtually on October 16, 2025, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm ET. Additional information on a public hearing, if one is held, may be found on EPA.gov.
FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE:
PUBLIC HEARING INFO:
Secondary Lead Smelting: National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
CONTACT:
Nick Goldstein
EMAIL:
Alerts Archive
Is your small business or entity being impacted by a proposed rule? If yes, write a comment letter to the proposing agency.