# 2026-22788: EPA Revises PVC Factory Rules, Easing Wastewater Limits While Keeping Air Controls

2026-22788, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Polyvinyl Chloride and Copolymer Production Reconsideration; New Major Source Process Wastewater Standards, is a Federal Register rule from Environmental Protection Agency published 2026-11-09, effective 2026-11-09; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22788
- As of: 2026-11-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-22788
- Title: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Polyvinyl Chloride and Copolymer Production Reconsideration; New Major Source Process Wastewater Standards
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Environmental Protection Agency
- Citation: 91 FR 70796
- Published: 2026-11-09
- Effective: 2026-11-09
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2060-AR73
- Last updated: 2026-11-11

## In one line

EPA Revises PVC Factory Rules, Easing Wastewater Limits While Keeping Air Controls

## Summary

The EPA just updated rules for new big factories making PVC and copolymers. They removed some strict limits and paperwork for certain wastewater pollution but kept strong controls on vinyl chloride emissions. These changes start right away on November 9, 2026, helping companies save time and money while still protecting the air.

## Abstract

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing amendments to the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for the Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Copolymer Production source category ("PVC NESHAP") under Clean Air Act (CAA) section 112. For new major sources, the EPA is finalizing the removal of the total non-vinyl chloride organic hazardous air pollutant (HAP) process wastewater emission limit and the associated testing, monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. The EPA is also finalizing that the new major source vinyl chloride emission limit acts as a surrogate for non-vinyl chloride organic HAP emissions from process wastewater. The EPA is not taking final action on other aspects of the reconsideration proposal at this time.

## Effects PRIA read

- New PVC Plants: Wastewater HAP Limit Removed: benefit, high. If you build a new major polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or copolymer production facility, EPA removed the numeric limit for total non-vinyl chloride organic hazardous air pollutants (HAP) in process wastewater and removed the related testing, monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. The EPA…
- Focus on Vinyl Chloride as Wastewater Surrogate: benefit, medium. EPA finalized that the existing new-source vinyl chloride process-wastewater limit (0.28 parts per million by weight (ppmw)) will act as a surrogate for other non-vinyl chloride organic HAP in process wastewater for new major PVC and copolymer sources. That means new major sources need to meet the…

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- [2026-19071](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19071): Partial Repeal of the Carbon Pollution Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units, 2026-09-17
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- [2026-18317](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18317): Updated Definition of “Waters of the United States”, 2026-09-09

## Sources
- [2026-22788 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/11/09/2026-22788/national-emission-standards-for-hazardous-air-pollutants-polyvinyl-chloride-and-copolymer-production)
- [2026-22788 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-11-09/pdf/2026-22788.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-22785, Airworthiness Directives; Lycoming Engines](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22785)
- [Next: 2026-22792, Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22792)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22788 (as of 2026-11-11).