The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule for managing commercial and industrial solid waste incineration units (CISWI) that were built on or before June 4, 2010, and not updated since August 7, 2013. This rule applies to states without approved plans for reducing emissions from these units and entails adopting federal guidelines to decrease pollutants like lead, mercury, and sulfur dioxide. In addition, the rule introduces changes to testing, monitoring, and recording requirements, emphasizing reductions in emissions and the implementation of stricter operational practices to curb pollution. Units in Alaska that qualify as "small, remote incinerators" are exempt from certain standards until further regulations address this category.
Simple Explanation
The EPA made a new rule to help old trash-burning machines pollute less air in places where states don't have their own plans, letting them skip some rules in Alaska because they're in tiny, faraway spots.