Technology Transfer Network - Air Toxics Web Site
Risk and Technology Review
What is the RTR Program?
The Risk and Technology Review (RTR) is a combined effort to evaluate both risk and technology as required by the Clean Air Act (CAA) after the application of maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards. Section 112(f) of the CAA requires EPA to complete a Report to Congress that includes a discussion of methods the EPA would use to evaluate the risks remaining after the application of MACT standards. These are known as residual risks. EPA published the Residual Risk Report to Congress (PDF) in March 1999. Section 112(f)(2) directs EPA to conduct risk assessments on each source category subject to MACT standards, and to determine if additional standards are needed to reduce residual risks. Section 112(d)(6) of the CAA requires EPA to review and revise the MACT standards, as necessary, taking into account developments in practices, processes and control technologies. The methodology for conducting these reviews is described in: Risk and Technology Review (RTR) Risk Assessment Methodologies: For Review by the EPA’s Science Advisory Board with Case Studies – MACT I Petroleum Refining Sources and Portland Cement Manufacturing (EPA-452/R-09-006). The Science Advisory Board (SAB) RTR Methods Review Panel held a meeting on July 28-29, 2009 to review this document, and a final report of their review is available at the SAB website .
The EPA has updated several aspects of the risk assessment methodologies contained in the 2009 document. The updated methodologies are described in, Screening Methodologies to Support Risk and Technology Reviews (RTR): A Case Study Analysis. The SAB reviewed this document in 2017. SAB will be providing a final SAB Panel Report in the Spring of 2018 that will contain the SAB's recommendations to the EPA. More information on the SAB’s review is available at the SAB website.
Recent Actions
- The proposed rule for Surface Coating of Metal Can was published in the Federal Register on June 4, 2019.
- The proposed rule for Surface Coating of Metal Coil was published in the Federal Register on June 4, 2019.
- The proposed rule for Boat Manufacturing was published in the Federal Register on May 17, 2019.
- The proposed rule for Reinforced Plastic Composites Production was published in the Federal Register on May 17, 2019.
- The proposed rule for Asphalt Processing and Asphalt Roofing Manufacturing was published in the Federal Register on May 2, 2019.
- The proposed rule for Engine Test Cells/Stands was signed on April 26, 2019.
- The proposed rule for Stationary Combustion Turbines was published in the Federal Register on April 12, 2019.
- The proposed rule for Hydrochloric Acid Production was published in the Federal Register on February 4, 2019.
- The proposed rule for Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for Power Plants was published in the Federal Register on February 7, 2019.
- The final rule for Friction Materials Manufacturing was published in the Federal Register on February 8, 2019.
- The final rule for Leather Finishing was published in the Federal Register on February 12, 2019.
- The final rule for Wet-Formed Fiberglass Mat Production was published in the Federal Register on February 28, 2019.
- The final rule for Surface Coating of Wood Building Products was published in the Federal Register on March 4, 2019.
- The final rule for Surface Coating of Large Appliances, Metal Furniture, and Fabrics was published on March 15, 2019.
RTR Review Files
RTR review files that contain the risk modeling data will be posted here during the public comment periods for all RTR proposals. To use the emission data files, you must download them to your computer and unzip them to view the data and provide comments.
The below web links under the heading "Additional Resources" contain the detailed instructions for downloading and updating the emission data files.
| RTR | Project Lead | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt Processing and Asphalt Roofing Manufacturing | Tonisha Dawson | 919-541-1454 |
| Engine Test Cells/Stands | James Eddinger | 919-541-5426 |
| Stationary Combustion Turbines | Melanie King | 919-541-2469 |
| Hydrochloric Acid Production | Chuck French | 919-541-7912 |
Current Schedules
The EPA is under a consent decree to complete RTRs for one source category and a court-order to complete RTRs for 33 source categories. The schedules for these categories are shown in the following table:
Other RTR Actions
The EPA has completed the RTRs for the following source categories:
RTR Source Categories and Project Lead Contact Information
Key Excerpts from the Clean Air Act Regarding Residual Risk and Technology Review
Section 112(f(2)
(2) EMISSION STANDARDS.--
(A) If Congress does not act on any recommendation submit-
ted under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall, within 8
years after promulgation of standards for each category or
subcate-gory of sources pursuant to subsection (d), promul-
gate stand-ards for such category or subcategory if
promulgation of such standards is required in order to
provide an ample margin of safety to protect public health
in accordance with this sec-tion (as in effect before the
date of enactment of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990)
or to prevent, taking into consid-eration costs, energy,
safety, and other relevant factors, an adverse environmental
effect. Emission standards promulgated under this subsection
shall provide an ample margin of safety to protect public
health in accordance
with this section (as in effect before the date of enactment
of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990), unless the
Administrator determines that a more stringent standard is
necessary to prevent, taking into consideration costs,
energy, safety, and other relevant factors, an adverse
environmental effect. If standards promulgated pursuant to
subsection (d) and applicable to a category or subcategory
of sources emitting a pollutant (or pollutants) classified
as a known, probable or possible human carcinogen do not
reduce lifetime excess cancer risks to the individual most
exposed to emissions from a source in the category or
subcategory to less than one in one million, the
Administrator shall promulgate standards under this
subsection for such source category.
(B) Nothing in subparagraph (A) or in any other provision
of this section shall be construed as affecting, or applying
to the Administrator's interpretation of this section, as in
effect before the date of enactment of the Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990 and set forth in the Federal Register of
September 14, 1989 (54 Federal Register 38044).
(C) The Administrator shall determine whether or not to
promulgate such standards and, if the Administrator decides
to promulgate such standards, shall promulgate the standards
8 years after promulgation of the standards under subsection
(d) for each source category or subcategory concerned. In
the case of categories or subcategories for which standards
under subsection (d) are required to be promulgated within 2
years after the date of enactment of the Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990, the Administrator shall have 9 years
after promulgation of the standards under subsection (d) to
make the determination under the preceding sentence and, if
required, to promulgate the standards under this paragraph....
112(d)(6)
(6) Review and revision.- The Administrator shall review, and
revise as necessary (taking into account developments in practic-
es, processes, and control technologies), emission standards
promulgated under this section no less often than every 8 years.