Optimizing enclosures to meet MACT standards

In response to the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is developing national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (HAP). The standards are directed at any source that emits more than 10 tons/year of two or more HAPs. The proposed standards, known as maximum achievement control technology (MACT), have affected or will affect existing sources and new sources. In response to the proposed MACT standards, environmental managers opted to upgrade the capture of fugitive emissions to levels approaching or equal to 100% capture efficiency (CE). Other managers opted to construct and install permanent total enclosures for their various processes to encapsulate emission sources completely.