EPA Allows Dirty Burns for Disaster Cleanup Rush
Published Date: 8/26/2025
Rule
Summary
The EPA is letting certain commercial and industrial incinerators, including air curtain incinerators, be used temporarily to burn disaster debris without following all usual rules. This helps speed up cleanup after emergencies and affects businesses running these incinerators. The change is immediate but open for public feedback, making disaster recovery faster and smoother without extra costs right now.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Temporary Disaster Use for CISWI Units
If you operate a commercial or industrial solid waste incinerator (CISWI), EPA now allows temporary use of those incinerators to burn disaster debris without complying with the usual Clean Air Act section 129 requirements. This authorization explicitly includes air curtain incinerators and mirrors the temporary-use provisions already applied to other solid waste incinerators. The change is effective immediately as an interim final rule while EPA accepts public comments.
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