Adoption of Chloroform Certification in Lieu of Bleach Plant Effluent Monitoring, A Status Report, 2005 Engineering, Pulping & Environmental Conference

In 2002, EPA promulgated an alternative to the chloroform effluent monitoring requirement contained in the 1998 Effluent Limitations Guidelines for bleached papergrade kraft and sulfite mills (also known as the Cluster Rule). Under this alternative, mills may agree to monitor certain bleach plant operating parameters in lieu of collecting and analyzing weekly effluent samples for chloroform. Maximum values for each parameter are established during a two year compliance demonstration, after which effluent monitoring may be suspended so long as the maximum values established during the compliance demonstration are not exceeded. In the event a maximum value is exceeded, compliance must be demonstrated through bleach plant effluent sampling. Since this alternative was promulgated, approximately 20 mills have actively considered incorporating certification into their NPDES permits and at least 4 mills are successfully operating under the chloroform certification alternative. Cost savings associated with this alternative are mill-specific, but have been estimated to be more than $40,000 per year per mill.