September  2003
                                                                                                                               No. 305

What is Lesser Quantity Emission Rate

Section 112(a)(1) authorizes EPA to promulgate a Lesser Quantity Emission Rate (LQER) to define a major source of a HAP based on potency of the air pollutant, persistence, potential for bioaccumulation, other characteristics of the air pollutant, or other relevant factors. EPA has not promulgated any LQERs.

However, soon after the passage of the Clean Air Act, EPA sought to set major source definitions for the most toxic pollutants. EPA drafted a plan to set lesser quantity emission rates (LQERs) for 47 toxic pollutants. The level below which emitters of these pollutants would be designated as major sources are shown as follows. 

Lesser Quantity Emission Rates (LQERs)

                                                        Tons/yr          Lbs/yr

2,3,7,8 TCDD Dioxin                        0.0001             0.2 

N-nitroso-N-methylurea                   0.001               2.0

Benzidine                                        0.001               2.0

Bis(chloromethyl) ether                   0.001               2.0

N-nitrosodimethylamine                   0.01                 20.

Chromium compounds                     0.01                 20

Asbestos                                        0.01                 20

Hydrazine                                        0.01                 20

Arsenic                                           0.01                 20

1,2 propylenimine                            0.01                 20

2-acetylaminofluroene                    0.01                 20

Aziridine                                          0.01                 20

Dimethylcarbamoyl chloride            0.01                 20

Beryllium compounds                      0.1                   200 

Cadmium compounds                      0.1                   200

Acrylamide                                      0.1                   200

Heptachlor                                       0.1                   200 

Coke oven emissions                       0.1                  200

Nickel compounds                           0.1                   200 

Hexachlorobenzene                        0.1                   200

Mercury                                           0.1                   200

Acrolein                                           1                      2000

2-chloroacetophenone                    1                      2000

Phosgene                                        1                      2000

Chlordane                                        1                      2000

Dichloroethyl ether                          1                      2000 

Toxaphene                                      1                      2000 

1,3-butadiene                                  1                      2000

1,2-diphenylhydrazine                    1                      2000 

Ethylene dibromide                          1                      2000

Ethylene oxide                                 1                      2000

Vinyl chloride                                  1                      2000 

Acrylonitrile                                     1                      2000 

Benzene                                          1                      2000 

Chloromethyl methyl ether               1                      2000 

Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate    1                      2000 

ethyl hydrazine                               1                      2000 

1,2 dibromo-3-chloropropane         1                      2000 

Acrylic acid                                     1                      2000

Manganese compounds                  1                      2000 

Phosphorus                                     1                      2000 

Diazomethane                                 1                      2000

Parathion                                         1                      2000 

Methyl isocyanate                           1                      2000 

Phosphine                                       1                      2000 

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene           1                      2000 

Dibenzofurans                                1                      2000

Beryllium for example was to be limited to 0.1 tons per year or 200 pounds per year. A source emitting more than 200 pounds per year would be designated as a major source and would be required to utilize maximum achievable control technology. Assuming this required 90 percent removal, the source would be required to emit no more than 20 pounds per year.

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