I wonder what happens if the utilities say they cannot meet the standards and shut the plants down. Sometimes I think we are not “cruel” enough in our response to overbearing regulations. If they want them shut down, do so.
When developing a MACT standard for a particular source category, the EPA looks at the current level of emissions achieved by best-performing similar sources through clean processes, control devices, work practices, or other methods. These emissions levels set a baseline, often referred to as the “MACT floor” for the new standard. At a minimum, a MACT standard must achieve, throughout the industry, a level of emissions control that is at least equivalent to the MACT floor.
The EPA can establish a more stringent standard when it makes economic, environmental, and public health sense to do so.
The MACT floor differs for existing sources and new sources.
* For existing sources, the MACT floor must equal the average current emissions limitations achieved by the best-performing 12 percent of sources in the source category, if there are 30 or more existing sources.