August 16,2012 

Statement of Fred Thompson 

Associate Director for Sector Policies and Programs Division 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for the 

Portland Cement Manufacturing Industry and Standards of 

Performance for Portland Cement Plants 

Arlington, Texas 

Good morning and thank you for attending this public hearing. My name is Fred Thompson, and I am the 

Associate Director for the Sector Policies and Programs Division in the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. 

I will be chairing today's hearing. Joining me on the panel are: Sharon Nizich and Keith Barnett, also with 

the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, and Maria Martinez and Ruben Casso with EPA's 

Region 6 office. 

We are here today to listen to your comments on all aspects of EPA's proposed amendments to the 

''National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for the Portland Cement Manufacturing 

Industry and Standards of Performance for Portland Cement Plants." EPA published the proposed 

amendments in the Federal Register on July 18, 2012. 

The proposed amendments would retain several key air toxics emission limits in the 20 I 0 rules, including 

limits for mercury, hydrochloric acid and total hydrocarbons. These limits will dramatically cut emissions 

of these harmful pollutants from cement production. 

The proposed amendments would adjust the way cement kilns monitor particulate matter (PM) emissions 

and would make changes to the PM emission limit that would be necessary with the monitoring change. 
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EPA proposed these changes based on new technical information about the capabilities of continuous 

emission monitors for PM. Note that kilns would still be required to continuously monitor PM emissions 

under the proposed amendments. 

The proposal would also extend the compliance date for existing kilns under the air toxics standard by two 

years from September 2013 to September 2015. EPA is seeking comment on this proposed compliance 

date extension. 

In addition, the proposed amendments would revise the open clinker pile standards from the 2010 final 

rule by allowing facilities to choose from a list of work practices to control fugitive emissions; and would 

change an alternative emission limit for organic air toxics that kilns may meet in lieu of meeting a limit for 

total hydrocarbons. 

I would like to draw your attention to the deadline for submitting written comments on the proposal. That 

deadline is tomorrow- August 17, 2012. However, we will hold this hearing record open for an additional 

30 days to allow people to submit supplemental or rebuttal information that is related to testimony at 

. today's hearing. You may submit this type of information until September 17, 2012. There are handouts in 

the registration area with instructions for submitting written comments. EPA will carefully consider your 

comments from today's hearing along with written comments as we move forward to complete the final 

rule. Under a draft settlement agreement, EPA would take final action on this proposal by December 20, 

20 12. 
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We will prepare a written transcript oftoday's hearing. The transcript will be available as part of the 

official record for this rule. 

Let me mention briefly two other air emissions standards that apply to Portland cement manufacturing that 

are not the subject oftoday's hearing. 

The first standards, issued under a separate section of the Clean Air Act, cover cement kilns that burn nonhazardous waste. This is known as the Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incinerator rule, or CISWI 

rule. This rule is currently under reconsideration. Amendments to the CIS WI rule were proposed on 

December 23, 2011. The final rule is undergoing interagency review. 

The second set of standards regulates air toxics emissions from cement kilns that burn hazardous waste. 

These standards, issued in 2005, are known as the Hazardous Waste Combustor National Emissions 

Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. The proposed standards we are taking comment on today apply 

only to cement kilns that do not burn waste of any type, either commercial or hazardous waste. 

Now, let me describe the procedures for today's hearing. 

I will call the scheduled speakers to the table in pairs. When it is your turn to speak, please state your 

name and your affiliation before you begin your testimony. It would help our court reporter if you also 

spell your name. 

ln order to be fair to everyone, we will limit your testimony to 5 minutes each. Please remain seated at the 

table until both speakers have finished. After you finish your testimony, members of the panel may ask 

clarifying questions. If you have a written version of your comments that you would like to be entered into 

the docket, please give a copy to our staff at the registration table. 
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We have a timekeeping system consisting of green, yellow and red lights to help you track your 5 minutes 

to speak. When you begin speaking, the green light will come on. The yellow light will signal that you 

have 1 minute left to speak. When the red light comes on, 5 minutes have passed and I will ask you to 

please complete your testimony. 

Today's hearing will continue until 7 p.m., or later, if necessary, depending on the number of speakers. 

We will take a lunch break from noon until 1:00 p.m. We will reconvene promptly at 1:00 p.m. and 

continue until 7 p.m. If you would like to speak but have not yet registered to do so, please sign up at the 

registration table in the hallway. For those who have already registered to speak, we have tried to 

accommodate your requests for specific time slots. We ask for your patience as we proceed through the 

list of speakers. We may need to make some adjustments as the day progresses. 

If you have any questions during the hearing, please see a staff member at the registration table for 

assistance. Thank you all again for participating today. Let's get started.