Consolidated Air Rule (CAR) for the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry (SOCMI) (Renewal)

The synthetic organic chemical manufacturing industry (SOCMI) is regulated by the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) standards. The affected entities are subject to the General Provisions of the NSPS at 40 CFR part 60, subpart A, and any changes or additions to the General Provisions specified at 40 CFR part 60, subparts Ka, Kb, VV, VVa, DDD, III, NNN and RRR. The affected entities are also subject to the General Provisions of the NESHAP at 40 CFR part 63, subpart A, and any changes, or additions to the General Provisions specified at 40 CFR part 63, subparts BB, Y, V, F, G, H and I. As an alternative, SOCMI sources may choose to comply with the above standards under the consolidated air rule (CAR) at 40 CFR Part 65 as promulgated December 14, 2000. Synthetic organic chemical manufacturing facilities subject to NSPS requirements must notify EPA of construction, modification, startups, shutdowns, date and results of initial performance test and excess emissions. Semiannual reports are also required. Synthetic organic chemical manufacturing facilities subject to NESHAP requirements must submit one-time-only reports of any physical or operational changes and the results of initial performance tests. Owners or operators are also required to maintain records of the occurrence and duration of any startup, shutdown, or malfunction in the operation of an affected facility, or any period during which the monitoring system is inoperative. Periodic reports are also required semiannually at a minimum. Amendments to the new source performance standards (NSPS) to reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from storage vessels as 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart Kb are being finalized to reduce burden on storage vessel owners or operators. The revisions apply only to affected storage vessels that have IFRs or EFRs. However, the anticipated reduction in burden is anticipated to be realized only by vessels with an IFR. For IFR storage vessels with a liquid-mounted or mechanical shoe primary seal, visual inspections of the floating roof conducted through manholes and roof hatches on the fixed roof (referred to as top-side inspections) are required at least every 12 months. Inspection of the floating roof from within the fixed roof storage vessel (referred to as internal inspections) is required every time the storage vessel is emptied and degassed, but at no time at intervals greater than once every 10 years. IFR storage vessels with double (vapor mounted) seals must either comply with the annual top-side inspection and an internal inspection (as described above) at least once every 10 years, or alternatively conduct internal inspection of the floating roof every time the storage vessel is emptied and degassed, but at no time at intervals greater than once every 5 years. The revisions will remove the time period thresholds for emptying and degassing events, so internal inspections are only required when the storage vessel is emptied and degassed regardless of the interval between degassing events. Other portions of the NSPS remain unchanged.

The latest form for Consolidated Air Rule (CAR) for the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry (SOCMI) (Renewal) expires 2026-04-30 and can be found here.