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Source: https://www.epa.gov/eg/iron-and-steel-manufacturing-effluent-guidelines

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Iron and Steel Manufacturing Effluent Guidelines

Photo of a steel mill The EPA promulgated the Iron and Steel (I &S) Effluent Guidelines and Standards (40 CFR Part 420Exit EPA’s website) in 1974, and amended the regulation in 1976, 1982, 1984, 2002, and 2005. The regulation covers any facility that is engaged in iron or steel manufacturing, forming, and finishing, including coke manufacturing. The EPA estimates there are 254 iron and steel facilities discharging directly to surface waters or indirectly through publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). The I&S Effluent Guidelines and Standards are incorporated into NPDES permits for direct dischargers or permits or other control mechanisms for indirect dischargers (see Pretreatment Program). On this page: * What is the Iron and Steel Industry? * Facilities Covered * Related Categories * Rulemaking History * Additional Information

What is the Iron and Steel Industry?

Iron and steel manufacturing processes include cokemaking, sintering, briquetting, ironmaking (including direct-reduced ironmaking), steelmaking, vacuum degassing, ladle metallurgy, casting, hot forming, forging, and finishing (e.g., acid pickling, descaling, cold forming, surface cleaning, hot coating and annealing).

Facilities Covered

Related Information * Stormwater Fact Sheet (Sector F)

The I&S regulation applies to facilities organized into 13 subcategories: * Cokemaking (Subpart AExit EPA’s website) * Sintering (Subpart BExit EPA’s website) * Ironmaking (Subpart CExit EPA’s website) * Steelmaking (Subpart DExit EPA’s website) * Vacuum Degassing (Subpart EExit EPA’s website) * Continuous Casting (Subpart FExit EPA’s website) * Hot Forming (Subpart GExit EPA’s website) * Salt Bath Descaling (Subpart HExit EPA’s website) * Acid Pickling (Subpart IExit EPA’s website) * Cold Forming (Subpart JExit EPA’s website) * Alkaline Cleaning (Subpart KExit EPA’s website) * Hot Coating (Subpart LExit EPA’s website) * Other Operations (direct-reduced iron production, briquetting, forging) (Subpart MExit EPA’s website)

Note: the NAICS group listings are provided as a guide and do not define the coverage of the I&S category. For precise definitions of coverage, see the applicability sections in 40 CFR Part 420Exit EPA’s website.

Diagram of Effluent Guidelines categories covering metals industries Metals coverage under Effluent Guidelines
- Click to enlarge

Rulemaking History

2005 Amendment

The EPA restored the provision that allows the use of alternative oil and grease limitations in NPDES permits (known as the “water bubble”) and corrected errors in the effective dates of NSPS. * Final RuleExit EPA’s website (December 13, 2005) * Proposed RuleExit EPA’s website (August 10, 2005)

2002 Amendment

Revised Subparts A, B and D, and added Subpart M. Also deleted provisions covering obsolete operations: beehive coke ovens, ferromanganese blast furnaces, and open hearth furnace steelmaking. * Final RuleExit EPA’s website (October 17, 2002) * Development Document
Industry description, wastewater characterization, treatment technologies, regulatory compliance cost estimates and pollutant loadings for the final rule * Economic Analysis
Economic impacts of the final rule and comparison with environmental impacts * Environmental Assessment
Environmental impacts of the final rule * Correction NoticeExit EPA’s website (February 14, 2001) * Proposed RuleExit EPA’s website (December 27, 2000)

1984 Amendment

Revisions pursuant to settlement agreement * Documents, including: * Final Rule (May 17, 1984) * Proposed Rule (October 14, 1983) * Final and Interim Final Rule (October 14, 1983)

1982 Amendment

Revised BPT, BAT, PSES, PSNS, and NSPS; and adopted an alternate effluent limitations policy ("water bubble"). * Final Rule (May 27, 1982) * Development Document (May 1982, 440/1-82/024)
Industry description, wastewater characterization, treatment technologies, regulatory compliance cost estimates and pollutant loadings for the final rule * Volume 1 (Overview, pollutants, technologies, costs, selection of BPT, BCT, BAT, NSPS, PSES and PSNS) * Volume 2 (Coke Making, Sintering and Iron Making Subcategories) * Volume 3 (Steel Making, Vacuum Degassing and Continuous Casting Subcategories) * Volume 4 (Hot Forming Subcategory) * Volume 5 (Salt Bath Descaling and Acid Pickling Subcategories) * Volume 6 (Cold Forming, Alkaline Cleaning and Hot Coating Subcategories) * Proposed Rule (January 7, 1981)

1976 Amendment

Established BPT for steel forming and finishing operations within the iron and steel industry * Interim Final Rule (March 29, 1976)

1974 Initial Rulemaking

Established BPT and BAT, NSPS, and PSNS for the basic steelmaking operations within the integrated steel industry * Documents, including: * Final Rule (June 28, 1974) * Proposed Rule (February 19, 1974)

Additional Information

For additional information regarding the Iron and Steel Effluent Guidelines, please contact Ahmar Siddiqui (siddiqui.ahmar@epa.gov) or 202-566-1044.

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