Projects should test approaches which may be incorpo-rated into other programs, industries, and facilities. Projects should be technically and administratively feasible and the facility must have the financial capability to implement the program. Projects should incorporate monitoring, reporting, and evaluation programs. Projects must conform to the Executive Order on Environmental Justice. Within the first year of the program, EPA has accepted 13 proposals for Project XL and is considering and additional 14 proposals.
Many proposals have common themes of multimedia permits and plantwide emissions caps.
3M proposes a multimedia permit for three of its facilities which establishes emission caps below existing limits in federal, state, and local regulations. 3M expects to simplify reporting, reduce paperwork, and save money. This permit would allow Merck to refine its ever-changing manufacturing process without the delay of modifying its permits for every change in process. EPA considers this to be an important project which may lead to a streamlined delisting process. EPA continues to accept proposals for Project XL on a rolling basis.