ABSTRACT
Cotton gins emit particulate and lint fiber into the atmosphere as a result of the ginning process. All the gins in Texas are required to install a minimum of Baseline Best Available Control Technology (BBACT) in order to obtain a permit to construct or operate. Gins that are located in densely populated areas or those which are in violation of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) regulations may be required to install additional controls to come into compliance. TNRCC permit engineers have the authority to require the installation of additional controls to reduce emission factors. The selection of the control strategies is the prerogative of the ginner. However, some control strategies may result in the cotton gin going out of business. The definition of BACT incorporates a phrase that requires consideration for economic reasonableness. It is the premise of this research that a cotton ginner will be able to utilize the requirement that a mandated BACT abatement system must include consideration of"economic reasonableness" to negotiate an appropriate abatement strategy.
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