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Ferroalloy Manufacturing Effluent Guidelines
The EPA promulgated the Ferroalloy Manufacturing Effluent Guidelines and Standards (40 CFR Part 424Exit EPA’s website) in 1974 and 1975. The regulation covers directdirectA point source that discharges pollutants to waters of the United States, such as streams, lakes, or oceans. and indirectindirectA facility that discharges pollutants to a publicly owned treatment works (municipal sewage treatment plant). dischargers. The Effluent Guidelines and Standards are incorporated into NPDES permits for direct dischargers, and permits or other control mechanisms for indirect dischargers (See Pretreatment Program).
On this page:
* What is the Ferroalloy Manufacturing Industry?
* Related Categories
* Facilities Covered
* Rulemaking History
* Additional Information
What is the Ferroalloy Manufacturing Industry?
Ferroalloy manufacturers add chemical elements to molten iron, usually during steelmaking. The alloys impart distinctive qualities to steel and cast iron or serve important functions during production. Ferroalloys are used for deoxidation, alloying, and graphitization of steel and cast iron. There are four major methods used to produce ferroalloy and high purity metallic additives for steelmaking: * Blast furnace * Electric smelting furnace * Alumina- or silicothermic process * Electrolytic deposition.
The major alloys produced are the following: * Silicon alloys (ferrosilicon and calcium silicide) * Chromium alloys (high carbon ferrochromium in various grades and ferrochrome-silicon) * Manganese alloys (standard ferromanganese and silicomanganese).
Ferroalloy manufacturing is included within the following NAICS groups: * 331111 Iron and Steel Mills * 331112 Electrometallurgical Ferroalloy Product Manufacturing
Note: The NAICS listing is provided as a guide and does not define the coverage of the Ferroalloy Manufacturing category. For precise definitions of coverage, see the applicability sections in 40 CFR Part 424Exit EPA’s website. Wastewater is generated mainly as thermal pollution and from air pollution control devices (baghouses, wet scrubbers, and electrostatic precipitators).
Related Categories
Metals coverage under Effluent Guidelines
- Click to enlarge
Facilities Covered
The Ferroalloy Manufacturing regulation is organized into seven subcategories: * Open Electric Furnaces with Wet Air Pollution Control Devices (Subpart AExit EPA’s website) * Covered Electric Furnaces and Other Smelting Operations with Wet Air Pollution Control Devices (Subpart BExit EPA’s website) * Slag Processing (Subpart CExit EPA’s website) * Covered Calcium Carbide Furnaces with Wet Air Pollution Control Devices (Subpart DExit EPA’s website) * Other Calcium Carbide Furnaces (Subpart EExit EPA’s website) * Electrolytic Manganese Products (Subpart FExit EPA’s website) * Electrolytic Chromium (Subpart GExit EPA’s website)
Rulemaking History
1975 Amendment
Subparts D-G
* Documents, including:
* Interim Final Rule (February 24, 1975)
* Development Documents
Industry description, wastewater characterization, treatment technologies, regulatory compliance cost estimates and pollutant loadings for the final rule:
* Calcium Carbide Segment (February 1975)
* Electrolytic Ferroalloys Segment (February 1975)
1974 Initial Rulemaking
Subparts A-C
* Documents, including:
* Final Rule (February 22, 1974)
* Development Document – Smelting and Slag Processing Segment (February 1974)
Industry description, wastewater characterization, treatment technologies, regulatory compliance cost estimates and pollutant loadings for the final rule
* Proposed Rule (October 18, 1973)
Additional Information
For additional information regarding the Ferroalloy Manufacturing Effluent Guidelines, please contact Ahmar Siddiqui (siddiqui.ahmar@epa.gov) or 202-566-1044.
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