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Title 40

Displaying title 40, up to date as of 10/13/2026. Title 40 was last amended 10/13/2026.
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Subpart Y—Primary Rare Earth Metals Subcategory

Source:

50 FR 38371, Sept. 20, 1985, unless otherwise noted.

§ 421.270 Applicability: Description of the primary rare earth metals subcategory.

The provisions of this subpart are applicable to discharges resulting from the production of rare earth metals and mischmetal by primary rare earth metals facilities processing rare earth metal oxides, chlorides, and fluorides.

§ 421.271 Specialized definitions.

In addition to what is provided below:

(a) The general definitions, abbreviations, and methods of analysis set forth in 40 CFR part 401 shall apply to this subpart.

(b) The term rare earth metals refers to the elements scandium, yttrium, and lanthanum to lutetium, inclusive.

(c) The term mischmetal refers to a rare earth metal alloy comprised of the natural mixture of rare earths to about 94-99 percent. The balance of tha alloy includes traces of other elements and one to two percent iron.

§§ 421.272-421.273 [Reserved]

§ 421.274 Standards of performance for new sources.

Any new source subject to this subpart shall achieve the following new source performance standards:

(a) Dryer Vent Water Quench and Scrubber.

NSPS for the Primary Rare Earth Metals Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of mischmetal produced from wet rare earth chlorides
Hexachlorobenzene 0.042 0.042
Chromium (total) 1.544 0.626
Lead 1.168 0.542
Nickel 2.295 1.544
Total suspended solids 62.600 50.080
pH (1) (1)
1 Within the range of 7.5 to 10.0 at all times.

(b) Dryer vent caustic wet air pollution control.

NSPS for the Primary Rare Earth Metals Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of mischmetal produced from wet rare earth chlorides
Hexachlorobenzene 0.007 0.007
Chromium (total) 0.272 0.110
Lead 0.206 0.095
Nickel 0.404 0.272
Total suspended solids 11.010 8.808
pH (1) (1)
1 Within the range of 7.5 to 10.0 at all times.

(c) Electrolytic cell water quench and scrubber.

NSPS for the Primary Rare Earth Metals Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of total mischmetal produced
Hexachlorobenzene 0.094 0.094
Chromium (total) 3.474 1.409
Lead 2.629 1.221
Nickel 5.165 3.474
Total suspended solids 140.900 112.700
pH (1) (1)
1 Within the range of 7.5 to 10.0 at all times.

(d) Electrolytic cell caustic wet air pollution control.

NSPS for the Primary Rare Earth Metals Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of total mischmetal produced
Hexachlorobenzene 0.000 0.000
Chromium (total) 0.000 0.000
Lead 0.000 0.000
Nickel 0.000 0.000
Total suspended solids 0.000 0.000
pH (1) (1)
1 Within the range of 7.5 to 10.0 at all times.

(e) Sodium hypochlorite filter backwash.

NSPS for the Primary Rare Earth Metals Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of total mischmetal produced
Hexachlorobenzene 0.004 0.004
Chromium (total) 0.134 0.054
Lead 0.101 0.047
Nickel 0.199 0.134
Total suspended solids 5.430 4.334
pH (1) (1)
1 Within the range of 7.5 to 10.0 at all times.

§ 421.275 Pretreatment standards for existing sources.

Except as provided in 40 CFR 403.7 and 403.13, any existing source subject to this subpart which introduces pollutants into a publicly owned treatment works must comply with 40 CFR part 403 and achieve the following pretreatment standards for existing sources. The mass of wastewater pollutants in primary rare earth metals process wastewater introduced into a POTW must not exceed the following values:

(a) Dryer vent water quench scrubber.

PSES for the Primary Rare Earth Metals Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of mischmetal produced from wet rare earth chlorides
Hexachlorobenzene 0.042 0.042
Chromium (total) 1.544 0.626
Lead 1.168 0.542
Nickel 2.295 1.544

(b) Dryer vent caustic wet air pollution control.

PSES for the Primary Rare Earth Metals Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of mischmetal produced from wet rare earth chlorides
Hexachlorobenzene 0.007 0.007
Chromium (total) 0.272 0.110
Lead 0.206 0.095
Nickel 0.404 0.272

(c) Electrolytic cell water quench and scrubber.

PSES for the Primary Rare Earth Metals Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of total mischmetal produced
Hexachlorobenzene 0.094 0.094
Chromium (total) 3.474 1.409
Lead 2.629 1.221
Nickel 5.165 3.474

(d) Electrolytic cell caustic wet air pollution control.

PSES for the Primary Rare Earth Metals Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of total mischmetal produced
Hexachlorobenzene 0.000 0.000
Chromium (total) 0.000 0.000
Lead 0.000 0.000
Nickel 0.000 0.000

(e) Sodium hypochlorite filter backwash.

PSES for the Primary Rare Earth Metals Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of total mischmetal produced
Hexachlorobenzene 0.004 0.004
Chromium (total) 0.134 0.054
Lead 0.101 0.047
Nickel 0.199 0.134

§ 421.276 Pretreatment standards for new sources.

Except as provided in 40 CFR 403.7, any new source subject to this subpart which introduces pollutants into a publicly owned treatment works must comply with 40 CFR part 403 and achieve the following pretreatment standards for new sources. The mass of wastewater pollutants in primary rare earth metals process wastewater introduced into a POTW shall not exceed the following values:

(a) Dryer vent water quench and scrubber.

PSNS for the Primary Rare Earth Metals Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of mischmetal produced from wet rare earth chlorides
Hexachlorobenzene 0.042 0.042
Chromium (total) 1.544 0.626
Lead 1.168 0.542
Nickel 2.295 1.544

(b) Dryer vent caustic wet air pollution control.

PSNS for the Primary Rare Earth Metals Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of mischmetal produced from wet rare earth chlorides
Hexachlorobenzene 0.007 0.007
Chromium (total) 0.272 0.110
Lead 0.206 0.095
Nickel 0.404 0.272

(c) Electrolytic cell water quench and scrubber.

PSNS for the Primary Rare Earth Metals Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of total mischmetal produced
Hexachlorobenzene 0.094 0.094
Chromium (total) 3.474 1.409
Lead 2.629 1.221
Nickel 5.165 3.474

(d) Electrolytic cell caustic wet air pollution control.

PSNS for the Primary Rare Earth Metals Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of total mischmetal produced
Hexachlorobenzene 0.000 0.000
Chromium (total) 0.000 0.000
Lead 0.000 0.000
Nickel 0.000 0.000

(e) Sodium hypochlorite filter backwash.

PSNS for the Primary Rare Earth Metals Subcategory

Pollutant or pollutant property Maximum for any 1 day Maximum for monthly average
mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of total mischmetal produced
Hexachlorobenzene 0.004 0.004
Chromium (total) 0.134 0.054
Lead 0.101 0.047
Nickel 0.199 0.134

§ 421.277 [Reserved]